Grappa

With some regret I have to be honest that the earlier great experiences have dropped to just pretty good.
In no small part to their small changes to the app and cocktail menus and substantially to their never having the GF meatballs that were a menu fave of my most important dining partner.
While the food has always continued to be quite enjoyable, when you are looking forward to resisted a pleasant past experience and it can’t be repeated, the let down is unavoidable.
We have also had a couple of service slips, still very good but not as awesome as when it opened. The same people who were working the door, the bar, and importantly the tables for the first five visits have (it appears) largely vanished, and a star vanished with them.
When the place is packed the din kills conversation. On a quiet Monday for dinner you might be able to toss a frisbee around the place gets so empty. Odd!

Grappa must be included on a list titled The Best Rochester, NY has to offer! If your idea of Italian food is anything like Olive Garden or Pizza Hut stay away, you will not understand this place. This is real Italian dinning with a nouveau flair. Menu: Inspired. Staff: Top notch. Atmosphere: Understated elegance. I love this place.

My review is only for breakfast and drinks at the bar, I can’t say knowledgeably about the dinner or lunch service.
I ate breakfast here during my stay at Hilton Garden Inn, it was above average and affordable. Nothing that will blow you away, it is designed for a business travelers to grab breakfast and then go. So the options were kinda limited.
After meeting all day, I went here to grab a cocktail. The bartender was very friendly and asked few questions for my preferences. I have to say that it was by far one of the worst old fashioned, I’ve had. Too much bitter, not enough sweetness, it’s not well balanced.
It’s a brand new place so I’m guessing they are still learning.

Everything on the menu is great. The appetizers are fantastic and the pizza is incredible. Highly recommended when in Rochester.

Customer service gets 5 stars as I was contacted by the manager about my experience. I will give grappa another chance after this. I look forward to a better experience as I have heard from many that it is really delicious.

Came here on Valentine’s Day with reservations made on the Unilocal site a week in advance. it was pretty crowded for good reason, but it was not loud at all which was surprising.
great service, quick as well, i was surprised we got our food as quick as we did. Had the pearl of wisdom drink: amazing! bread before the meal was warm and soft with awesome Italian seasoning to dip. we also got 2 Free cannoli for the holiday which was a nice surprise.
i got the Spiced clams and they were amazing after being skeptical. i was worried about the flavor and if it was going to be too spicy. it was listed as a small plate which was enough for me for dinner with around about 10 clams? maybe more?
can’t wait to return here in the summer to sit by the fire pit again

My first visit to Grappa was a great experience! I came with a somewhat large group. Despite the fact that we had reservations, we still had to wait. But the upside is that as a part of the hotel, there is plenty of room to wait with your group.
The food was excellent — from the calamari to the salad to the main entrees, I was impressed. I went with Linguini and Clams in the traditional white sauce, and it was delicious. Probably the best L&C that I’ve had since I lived at home and my dad made it as part of our regular dinner lineup. Brought back memories.
I’ll admit that the place is a little pricey, but I think you’re getting your money’s worth. I think I had 10 large in-​shell clams with a significant portion of pasta. The seafood dishes are a little more expensive in comparison to some of the others.
Drinks were tasty. I indulged a little. Take a chance on «steady as she rose.» It was simply delicious with the right mix of sweet and tart. Maybe it was a little too like candy… but that’s kind of my thing.
Location in College-​town is nice. A definite benefit for hotel patrons I would say. And it’s nice that there is plenty of off-​street parking in the lot. It makes it much easier especially with winter snows.
I’m definitely going to be back — probably for my birthday dinner! Can’t wait.

Well, I give three stars.
For the price, the portion was not so great.
Ambiance was industrial type– very nicely decorated, but bare.
It did not have a welcoming feel when you walked in to this place.
(They were not using the side door from outside to get in, their main door is through the hotel door.)
They only do happy hour deals on the bar– which there are only few seating.
Food they serve was delicious, I was happy with the quality of the food, but I can get the same quality with lesser price other places.
I was hoping this to be a restaurant that is not sorely for people who is staying at the hotel, but it was very much so.
If you don’t have any food allergies, I think it is only a OK restaurant to go to.
(Meaning it may be a great spot if you want to eat great food that are gluten free)
I would like to visit again hoping to feel different than how I felt for the first time.

Great atmosphere, delicious food, awesome service. I got the house salad (they have smaller portion, FYI and it’s the perfect amount and the white pizza. Both were delicious. Will be back! Great drink selection, and you get cannolis with your check!
Negatives were the two top tables were on top of eachother. I was so close to the couples next to us I could hear their whole conversation. Also the waitress forgot to bring us one of our drinks, but other than that service was great.

Grappa is a great fancy Italian restaurant.
Their menu is not expansive, and they work on all the dishes to make them extra special. I have been there twice and I have loved the meals and service. I won’t go into too many details because they update their menu and change items often. It is a great way to keep things interesting, but it also means that your favorite item might not be there next time you visit (like the amazing seafood with Israeli couscous)
Even though there’s a large parking lot in front of the restaurant, it can be difficult to find a spot on a busy weekend since they are part of a hotel and there are many businesses around. Some of the cocktails are a bit harsh for my taste, and the place can get really loud. But still I had a great time with my friends, and will definitely go again.

Stopped in on Friday to make reservation for party of 10 in their private room. Was told manager would respond. Left phone #, email address, and a voicemail today to make arrangements. Have not heard a word. Strange way to run a new higher end restaurant.
Subsequent to a rough communication experience, I was contacted by the General Manager, who was both apologetic and understanding of my initial frustrations.
Our event was held and kudos to the entire staff at Grappa.
The experience was memorable, the food was great and presented perfectly, and our server handled the evening flawlessly.
I appreciate their execution and would recommend Grappa without hesitation.

Pretty enjoyable place and I would go back but some stuff that bugged me. We had reservations and were seated at a pretty uncomfortable high top table meanwhile several people had recently been seated in front of us after walking in. If ur taking reservations maybe consider holding the table for people that have committed to coming to ur place.
The wings were pretty good but very strong Rosemary flavor and a bit greasy in the buttery sauce but some may really like them. Cooked well and beautifully presented.
Meatball was excellent, fillet was a nice steak, Brussels sprouts were the best I ever had.
I added steak tips to my Caesar salad, which had anchovies (optional). Too many cherry tomatoes for my taste but nice VERY garlicky creamy dressing that I liked. Steak tips were fair, not bad but I might try the chicken next time.
The bread and oil dip before the meal was excellent.
One other thing that bugged me was the signature cocktail we ordered (one of three) was a very light pour, maybe only ²⁄₃ of the way filled, if even. I said something to the waiter who apologized and it’s not his fault but at $ 11.50 per, I’d have expected it coming off the bill or maybe bringing another one, which we ordered anyways.
It only happened on one drink but this place is obviously very into appearance and presentation. I worked at a nice bar before. If you don’t properly make the drink, do it again. Don’t make your wait staff deal with your error in measuring.
Also VERY slow service but we were ok with it on this occasion because we were enjoying our time with friends.
I Like this place but there are a few things to work on. Not much, just a few tweaks and this place is 4 or 5 stars.

Boyfriend and I decided to give this place a go a few weeks ago, but due to finals and holidays and life in general, I’ve gotten a bit behind on writing a review.
Anyways, we went midweek for dinner. I had made a reservation the night before, and got a confirmation call at 9 the next morning to confirm the reservation. When we got there, it wasn’t super busy but it wasn’t dead either. The host knew my name as soon as I said we had a reservation, which was nice (it’s the little things, I guess). We were seated right away, and were given water and bread to munch on. I really enjoyed the bread, which was very fresh. I also got the Through the Woods cocktail, which was blackberry, thyme, and prosecco. It was good, although I kind of wished there was more thyme to it.
We also got two appetizers: The mussels and the calamari. My boyfriend loves calamari; I’m not really a fan. He said that the calamari was very good, although he did mention that he wished there was more of the crunchy batter (also mentioning that the way they serve it is likely healthier because it isn’t thickly coated in it). The mussels were delicious and garlicky and brothy and came with great grilled bread (which was also garlicky — no complaints though, it was seriously SO good).
After the appetizers, we ordered the funghi pizza, which was okay. It wasn’t bad or anything, but it wasn’t something that we’d likely order again. The pasta entrees looked great, but after the appetizers, there was just no way that we would be able to work pasta in. Maybe next time!

Grappa is an excellent, mid-​range date location. The atmosphere strikes a sweet balance between modern and friendly, and the space is open and bright.
I’ve tried a number of things on their menu. But first, let me start off by saying that the warm bread and olive oil dip to start with is A++.
Cocktails:
Through the woods: blackberries, thyme, and prosecco. Love it. So refreshing!
Food:
Fettuccine cabonara — I love myself a good cabonara. They make theirs with some cream added.
Veal Parmesan — Veal was so tender! Was not a huge fan of the someone tart tomato sauce on the spaghetti.
I’ve also enjoyed the orecchiette bolognese and beet salad.
Dessert: I’ve been impressed with all the desserts I’ve tried so far. Just the perfect touch of sweetness, and the size is ideal to make you feel satisfied and not overwhelmed. Ricotta Cannolis are my favorite here! I’m not usually a fan of cannoli, but I loved their version. The ricotta was creamy, and just the right touch of sweetness. The dark chocolate cannoli shell were perfect! I could eat these all day. The citrus Panna-​Cotta was super refreshing and light! The tiramisu is solid.
I gotta come here for just drinks and dessert sometime because that’s where they really shine!

I was here for the Unilocal holiday party and you could not ask for better service and food! They had endless options of Brushetta, meatballs, greens and beans, pasta carbonara, frutte di mare (the couscous was a little fishy), bolognese, and every Italian dessert on the planet. I would recommend the tiramasu! Everything was outstanding and the mistress cocktail married all of my favorite flavors — spicy tequila, cucumbers, etc?
Anyway I will definitely be back for more grappa!

This is my top pick for date night because of their gluten free entrees. Grappa is wonderfully accommodating with really tasty gluten free pasta options that made my boyfriend worry he was eating real pasta. Lucky for him it’s just super quality and tastes like the real thing. As for me, my go-​to the is orrechiette with bolognese. It’s so rich in flavor and always better when made with a blend of meats (beef, pork & veal). The staff is wonderfully accommodating. They brought out GF bread for Dan so he didn’t feel left out as I dove into the warm bread and olive oil dip delivered to our table after placing our orders. Mussels for an appetizer are wonderful too. I didn’t love the beans and greens — lacked depth in flavor and seasoning. Fettuccine carbonara is wonderful and with GF pasta, indistinguishable from the real thing. Dan’s go-​to. I also recommend the filet mignon. It was a little chewy, but the mashed potatoes made up for everything. So light, fluffy, and creamy.
Cocktails are tasty as is their wine selection.
— Through the woods: blackberries, thyme & prosecco. Refreshing and fruity.
— Monte Hope: gin, pear/​rosemary blend, prosecco. Crisp and delightful. A little sweeter.
— Sister Rosemary: Vodka base with St. Germain, lime, rosemary, cardamom bitters. Spicy and herby.
— For wine, I go for the cava, malbec, or chianti.
I recommend calling ahead for reservations. We have tried to pop in for dinner on a busy weekend night and they’re booked solid. Better to be safe than sorry.
If you’re looking for a party room, they have separate dining space that can fit 20 people. Great for a special occasion or birthday dinner.

This place exceeded my expectations! I loved all parts of my experience. Our server was knowledgeable and had great recommendations it being our first time there. We got the meatball, calamari and wings as appetizers–
My favorites were the meatball and calamari. Everything was fresh and the meatball was flavorful and moist. As for my entrée I ordered the steak filet– amazing! Cooked just right, charred a bit on the outside with extraordinary flavor with each bite.
We got a dessert also– a home made apple pie of sorts… Was the cherry on the top of a great meal! Will definitely be back

Coming in I wasn’t expecting much since it is located in college town a student-​centric area. No reservation for lunch but there was plenty of space, and they were quick to serve. Their staff is pretty young but friendly and willing to help. As for food and drinks, I ordered their classic Fiery Ginger. Although it was spicy and sweet and easy to drink, I don’t think it was worth the price tag of $ 9. But if you were to order a drink I would recommend that one. Ginger infused with chipotle peppers make a perfect mix.
We then ordered the funghi pizza, roasted portobello, button mushrooms and truffle oil. As a mushroom lover this was the dream, the oil really brought out all the flavours and the dough was so fresh. Would definitely order again.
I would come again for convenience and food but there are much better bars in Rochester to go to.

I love Grappa! I have been here 3 times. One time for drinks and then the other two times for dinner/​apps. The food is amazing. I haven’t had anything I didn’t like. The pizzas are delicious, the wings are perfect and the spicy meatballs are where it’s at! I have one of the best martinis here and they have a killer happy hour!
The first time I went the service was very slow, BUT it didn’t go unnoticed by management and they hooked us up with a free app! The food was so good that it didnt even matter and we were chatting so it wasn’t a problem.
The last time i was here I ate with my parents, which was awesome because they never like to go anywhere new, they are old school and stick to what they know and like. Service was MUCH quicker and I was so happy to see my dad loved his linguine with clams. We ate here after we decided to choose the Hilton attached to Grappa as our wedding venue, and after hearing my father loved the food, I was ecstatic! My father is Armenian so food is a huge thing for him and if he didn’t like the food at Grappa, there would have been a good chance we wouldn’t have had our wedding there (the chef for Grappa is the same chef for the wedding).
Over all, I love this place. I love the look of it, the food is great and the pricing also is really reasonable. Definitely recommend Grappa!

Wow! What a great first impression. We went on a Sunday at 5 p.m. And the best part about that place is that they have happy hour every day of the week! Although it is only 4 to 6 they have basically buy one get one free, beer, food, cocktails, I have yet to see a better happy hour. Although I get out of work at 5 o’clock during the week it would be nice if most happy hours went to 7, I don’t like to feel rushed.
We tried Grappa for the first time, and if you don’t know what it is you need to try it at least once. We will probably never order it again but you need to do it at least once, the alcohol is very strong.
I had the sangria and I am a sangria snob, but the sangria tasted like it had alcohol in it and I loved it. I’m used to getting sangria that tastes like fruit juice and is overly priced.
The food was delicious, the drinks were delicious and we had two the best bartenders ever. Elizabeth, who I found out was a manager later, took awesome care of us and explained everything. Jessica took over and was just as great!
The building is beautiful and has a great set up for outside seating, once again we took advantage of the beautiful weather Rochester has to offer.
Like I said, first great impression and we will definitely be back. We took a look at the dinner menu and are bringing a couple of our friends in the next week. Thank you so much Grappa!