Trattoria GrappoloStaff was very warm and friendlyStaff was very warm and friendly on a busy Mother's Day!, Food was excellent as always!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMNice findIn the small town of santa ynez, this restaurant has a lively atmosphere with delicious pastas and a great wine list.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFINE DINING IN COWBOY COUNTRYFresh local foods exquisitely prepared, fine local wine list, comfortable ambience - a wonderful experience.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Option AroundThis is a great, but little, place with a very solid set of offerings. Wine list is excellent if a bit marked up price-wise. The dishes are good. They are not four star quality or to die for; but they are definitely the best option around. The staff were fantastic though. Our server, the hostess, even the waiter's assistants. We had a great time. Note: they cram you in there like sardines. And you want to get the inside out pizza appetizer. Trust me.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA great little findA great little restaurant with white tablecloths, with enclosed open-air porch option to enjoy a relaxing lunch or dinner. Extensive and expensive wine list to choose from. The food was delicious and the waiter was very attentive. My friend and I met for a leisurely lunch and stayed for two hours with no indication from the staff that we needed to hurry off. A lovely meeting place for good food.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place will go back!We were in town for the wine festival. We got there early and there was no wait, seated immediately, "Your table is ready", which never happens. We had great service, the waiter knew his wine and his suggestions were excellent. I ordered the clamari for the table and it was grilled with chees stuffing and the perfect amount char yet tender. My wife had afresh salad and the other couple had the special salad, all three was excellent. My capresse was ample but surprisingly bland. However the pork chop more than made up for it. My friend ordered a special pasta combo he likes, and the waiter never batted an eye and said, certainly the chef could accommodate a special request. His dish was delicious. Great place, glad we went!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMEven if you have reservationEven if you have reservation the wait is at minimum 20 minutes. They can't seem to get it together.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding! We eat at hereOutstanding! We eat at here whenever we are in town!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server Eric was amazing.Our server Eric was amazing. We were torn between a couple or food items and he made outstanding suggestions where we could try both the items we were torn between in choosing. He made excelent wine choices to pair with our food choices and what a great combination. The food was awesome and we have been telling everyone that we see to go to Grappolo's. We will surley be going again and again and asking for Eric our server.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Grappolo's and Eric who made our night so special4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food here never disappointsThe food here never disappoints and this time was no different. The pastas are so full of flavor and fresh ingredients and portions are ample. It is a small restaurant so the tables are close together but that just gave us a chance to meet and talk with some interesting people at the table next to us. Wait staff were very helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back again.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was a wonderful experience.It was a wonderful experience. They didn't make you feel rushed. It was very relaxing and the food was delicious.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMMake a reservation becauseMake a reservation because if you dont you will be waiting a very long time to get into this amazing restaurant. The food is authentic, the atmosphere is engergetic and the servers allow you to sit and dine without bothering you.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious !!!This is our favorite restaurant !! The food is amazing always comes to the table hot and fresh. Fun and lively atmosphere .3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent Italian CuisineExcellent food! Service was wonderful! Crowded and noisy but in a fun atmosphere.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMAuthentic Italian food servedAuthentic Italian food served in a high energy atmosphere. Every dish our party tried was delicious. The pastas are home-made and each sauce is different. The lasanga was a special and was perfect. Tortelloni was delicious. Try the eggplant appetizer;better than anything in Rome.
Big wine list with many choices and price ranges. Koehler Chardonnay at $35 a bottle was a steal.
It was a birthday celebration and the staff at Grappolo made it very special.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and wine list.Excellent food and wine list. Ambience took an interesting turn when all the lights in the dining room went out right after our food was served. The kitchen lights and registers stayed on so it was business as usual as far as food prep and payment went.. I-Phone flashlights came out for those who needed to actually read the menu's. All in all a great evening.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThe valleys bestWe live here in the valley and are foodies. We eat out for a date night every Friday or Saturday night. Grappolo is by far the best restaurant in the valley. Everything we have ever had here is delicious!! The only thing that some may not like about the restaurant that it is very small and they pack them in so it can be quite noisy. The penne pasta with mushrooms is my husbands favorite I love their salads and all the pizzas are the best. The chicken and steaks are amazing too!!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOur favorite local restaurantA favorite for us locals but also for visitors to the area. Grappolo's staff is friendly and attentive, the atmosphere warm and relaxing, and the food is unbeatable. If you are a regular (which for us is only once every month or two), the staff remembers your favorite wines, salads etc. Since Grappolo opened, we have had every item on the menu and many specials, and have never been disappointed. Everything is prepared fresh on site. The recipes are wonderful, and the presentation exceptional. One may sit at the counter and watch the food being prepared.
The wine list is excellent, as are the desserts. We recommend Grappolo 100%.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe special that evening wasThe special that evening was sole in white wine, butter and caper sauce which was fabulous. The fish was ample in size, moist and tender. One of their best dishes. The capresse salad is also excellent with generous enough portions for two to share the order. Staff at Grappolos is always friendly and ready to be helpful.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMBruchetta (out-of-the-worldBruchetta (out-of-the-world tomatoes) on flatbread and calamari stuffed with smoked mozzarella were fabulous. The two fish entre's, sole and sea bass were perfectly cooked, and my daughter's pasta with sausage was surprisingly light, if not bordering on delicate (a nice balance). Residing an hour away, this was my fifth time here in a little over two months.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOff Night in the KitchenNormally I love this place and go whenever I am in Santa Ynez. This visit was a rare disappointment as the food was sub par. The wine was great but the Cesar Salad was from poorly selected Romaine and very little dressing, no way worth the price. Tortellini, which I almost always get, had one section that tasted fishy (and shouldn't contain any) and one section that tasted like Comet Cleanser (yech!). Clearly an off night for a normally fantastic place. I plan to come back, and give them another try.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM