Granita Enoteca — Restaurant in Keene

In general, food and service were really excellent. And we're grateful for checking vaccination cards, as public safety is at stake, so no problem there. But there's still room for improvement. (I'd have taken off a fraction of a point, but couldn't justify going all the way to 4, so I'm rounding up with calling the experience 5 star.) First, there was at least one server who was very sloppy about mask use, so that could use some attention. But also, and this may seem a small point but it's one that matters, we at one point asked for a wine that was unavailable and were offered a replacement, but with no mention of cost. It was a good wine, for sure, but there was no mention of its specific cost. Later, we noticed that single glass of wine was $28, which was probably as much or more than the food item it was up against. There are some VERY expensive wines on the menu, to be sure, and maybe the wine it was replacing was more expensive than we had remembered, some maybe someone thought it comparable, but that is a LOT to pay for a glass of wine, and especially without mentioning its price in the moment of selling the customer. (The wine list had gone away and there was no quick reference of price at that moment, and it was not something we thought to ask about for a mere glass. Bringing back the wine+price list to help decide would have been adequately subtle.) And yes, the entire bill for our meal ran to over $200, so in the grand scheme of things, we were prepared to pay a lot. Maybe that makes the restaurant think this is small money to us. It is not. It was a big occasion, not an every day meal, so we tried not to fuss to not spoil the occasion. Yet it's small things like this that one remembers and that make it less likely we'd go there for a less important meal. "Oh, the place with the $28 glass of wine?" The need to be on guard about this will distract from future experiences. For wine lovers, maybe this is normal, but for us, we've had wines we really liked for MUCH less, so unless we are self-identified wine lovers, we'd have been happy if Granita had a cheaper house wine as the standard, and more focus on the food, which unlike the wine, should be the centerpiece of the experience because it is VERY good, is the actual thing the restaurant makes specially and personally and uniquely, and is what we were there for. I get that some people think the wine makes the meal, but that is a special class of customer and unless they're to be the only customer, a recognition of that divide would have been good. Even so, the food and service were 5-star. No...

Not quite the dining experience one would expect. Trying to be fine dining, but needs work.

I can't comment on the ambiance much other than we ended up sitting by the bar (not by choice but happened to be the available table, made reservations more than a week in advance), so we had to endure the constant sound of the martini shaker every five minutes and the parade of guests coming in the front door.

Service was good, waitress was very attentive. The cadence of ordering, food delivery and follow up felt appropriate. Would have been 4-5 stars on service if not for the mix up on the mains noted below.

Pasta dishes were OK. We were told all the pastas were hand made in house. The gnocchi were excellent. The rigatoni was also good but questionable whether it was handmade.

For mains, I ordered filet mignon, the menu claimed prime grade but it was devoid of any intermuscular fat and cut tougher than any prime filet I recall. I used to work for the company that was the biggest processor of prime beef in Chicago. I spent three years of my career touring meat cutting and dry aging operations in the US. I found the steak grade highly suspect. Overall meal was bland and the potatoes resembled loose reconstituted Idaho spuds from a box.

Another member at our table ordered the same filet. Theirs was easily two ounces smaller. I noted to the waitress the size difference and the level of doneness, she said something to the effect of "sorry we're new here, we'll make sure for future orders to fix that". When your paying to $62 for a $10 piece of beef, the appropriate response is we'll take it back to the kitchen.

The servers mixed up plates not once but twice. First I got served the wrong plate all together, then I was served the other filet at the table that was cooked more. I noticed immediately the one I was served was the more well done of the two, and when asked the waitress, she incorrectly confirmed my plate was correct.

Overall it was a good meal at a restaurant that's trying to fill.a very limited niche in Keene. Granita feels like it is trying to bring the NYC or Boston restaurant culture to Keene, but not quite...

Dining at Granita Enoteca is not just your average dinner out. Dining at Granita Enoteca is an experience. From the start, you walk into a beautifully designed, open, and airy dining room. You are met with a kind and attentive host, who quickly escorts you to your seat. Within moments, you're asked about your water preference, which is delivered promptly along with a delightful bread board with olives, butter, and a delicious olive oil. Your server is along shortly to take your drink order.. but this is really where the "experience" begins. If you choose wine, they have a sommelier on site to answer questions for servers and patrons alike on their bottle and glass options. There are several options for wine flights. As well as whiskey flights! Which is always a fun option. Prior to our meal, we were served a deliciously refreshing amuse bouche to set our palate for our dinner. We ordered the prawns and polenta for our appetizer - and let me tell you. What a dish that is!! So beautifully balanced, and I genuinely think I could have that dish every day for the rest of my life, and never tire of it! My husband had the Squid Ink Pasta with Braised Octopus and Uni with a Maine Lobster Cream Sauce. It wasn't what we were expecting, which is what made it so fun! I ordered the Filet cooked (perfectly) medium, with the potatoes and mushrooms on the side. Our server was knowledgable, funny, and perfectly attentive. She was very helpful and seemed enthusiastic about the menu - excited to share about the restaurant's focus on local farms and relationships within the area to provide fresh, sustainable ingredients.

I could continue to go on and on! Our dinner was just on Friday (3 days ago) and I have already told no less than 40 people about how wonderful our time spent at Granita Enoteca was. I have had beautiful meals all over the world. Granita is likely my new number one, and I cannot believe it's just a short drive from our home. What luck!! My husband and I are already looking forward to getting back there to explore more of the menu. What an amazing jewel this spot is in the heart of the...