Grappolo Cucina Italiana — Restaurant in Winter Park

Disappointing to say the least.

I came across this restaurant through an Instagram post claiming they served authentic Italian cuisine, which immediately piqued my interest since I love Italian food. I made a reservation for the following week, excited to give it a try.

The restaurant is located in beautiful Winter Park. The exterior and interior were both appealing, so I had high hopes going in. Unfortunately, the experience quickly fell apart. It was warm inside with very little A/C, which didn’t make things any better. We were seated right away, but it took 20 minutes before a waiter even greeted us to take our drink order — unacceptable, especially when the restaurant wasn’t even busy.

We received some complimentary bread about 10 minutes later, but it was just okay. After waiting 30 minutes, we finally placed our food order. I was looking forward to the Gnocchi al Filetto e Tartufo, which is supposed to come with filet mignon. The food came out fairly quickly, which made me suspect it was premade. I also asked for the mushrooms to be removed, but was told they could not accommodate that request — odd for a supposedly upscale place.

When the plate arrived, the server asked if we wanted Parmesan cheese. We said yes, but then he disappeared for what felt like another 10 minutes. While waiting, I noticed there were only three small pieces of filet mignon — yet the plate was loaded with huge chunks of mushrooms, far more than any decent portion of meat. That alone was disappointing for a $26 dish.

There was also virtually no flavor in the gnocchi or sauce, so I waited for the Parmesan hoping it might help. When the server finally returned, he brought a small bowl of pre-grated Parmesan — not freshly grated tableside, which was another letdown. The cheese did nothing to enhance the meal, and I left half the plate untouched.

Coming from New York and living in New Jersey, I know authentic Italian food — and this was not it. Between the poor service, lack of flavor, and uncomfortable dining environment, I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for a true Italian...

We had high hopes for this new restaurant, but unfortunately, the service really missed the mark. We had a 6pm reservation, but when we arrived, the host claimed she had called us at 5:30 to move it to 7pm because the table wasn’t ready. We showed both her and the owner that the only missed calls were at 5:57 and 5:59 — we were already parked and walking in at that point. Sure enough, the table still wasn’t ready when we walked in.

They also tried to charge us for a birthday dessert without mentioning there would be a cost, which should have been communicated upfront.

To make up for the situation, the owner said he’d send my sister a $50 voucher and took down her email — but she’s still received nothing. Then, after my mom left a negative review, the host called my sister three times asking about it, which felt very unprofessional.

The food was genuinely good, which is the shame of it all. You can tell they’re a new restaurant by the way they handle their service. Hopefully they improve. Also, the AC doesn’t work, which made the dining experience uncomfortable.

Update to the response: If your goal was to get the correct email from my sister then you failed. What was unprofessional was the way the host handled that call. She started the call off argumentative about the review my mother left and my sister hung up the phone because she wasn’t even given a chance to speak. But I’m not surprised considering that same host we encounter was not only rude, but a liar as well based off the interaction we had with her. And I understand busy times, I am a restaurant manager myself, so that’s why you limit large party reservations and space them out appropriately. I would have rather you told us that you wouldn’t be able to take our reservation to give us the chance to take our...

When the moon hits the sky and you’re looking for pie, Orlando ain’t Napoli. Sometimes, it feels like a pizza desert - until now. Do yourself a favor and snag a table at Grappolo Cucina Italiana, a delightful little spot nestled at the edge of Park Avenue in Winter Park, close to BurgerFi and a stone’s throw to Rollins College. It’s so good, even Dean Martin is singing in his grave.

While small and quaint, Grappolo feels like a home. It’s comfortable and charming, albeit a little loud given the layout and open spacing. There are patio sidewalk tables, perfect for people watching and having passersby ogle at your delectable dinner - but the summer months will render these spots unthinkable. Wait for winter, and fight for an outdoor table.

As for the food? AMORE. I love when the tables bread is warm. It really sets the tone for what to expect, and it did not disappoint. The pizza is divine, with a crust that moves the heavens. Try the Biano - the pistachios are an inspiration, and the fat mozzarella spreads lusciously over the mortadella. A killer pie.

Try the beef carpaccio as well - a total treat, and melts in your mouth. We also had one of the salads with pears and balsamic, which combined such a unique set of flavor notes.

You won’t get out without talking to Massimo, the restaurateur, who is incredibly warm and welcoming. Originally from the Old Country, he and his staff bring a passion and authenticity to the food that is simply unmatched. When I told him how great the service was, h exploded with joy and embraced his employee - and that made it feel a little more like home.

DO NOT MISS THIS TREASURE. It’s new and need your patronage. Give a local Italian joint the love it deserves, so it can keep wowing us with this...