Grano, a new Italian restaurant, has opened in Stoneybatter, with the owner's Mum flying over from Italy to supervise the fresh pasta making. Italian born Roberto Mungo has been living in Dublin for the past six years, most recently working as a sommelier for Wallace Wine Bars, and says the aim of Grano is to create "a contemporary cuisine that respects the roots and traditions of Italian cooking."
The menu is inspired by Roberto's childhood in Southern Italy, and they're collaborating with Italian farmers to source cured meats, flour, cheeses, olive oil and tomatoes, amongst others. Pasta is made fresh each day at the pasta counter (which at the moment features Roberto's mother, Mamma Roma, straight from Calabria) and there's a small selection of starters, meat and fish dishes.
The predominantly organic wine list is all Italian, with three whites and three reds by the glass, and there's a lot on it we want to drink. There's also a good value early bird at €19 for two courses or €24 for three, served Tuesday to Thursday evenings until 7pm and from 12pm - 7pm on Sundays.
In his hometown of Borgia, Roberto's mother and grandmother ran a local Osteria making fresh pasta every day for the neighbourhood, and he said it was the memory of his mother making fresh maccheroni every sunday with the smell of ragu bubbling in the background that was the inspiration for Grano. He wanted to open a restaurant in Stoneybatter as he said its sense of community reminded him of home.
Grano is open now from Tuesday - Sunday with lunch from Wednesday to Sunday.
Grano
Unit 5, Norseman Court, Manor Street, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
Tues 17:00 - 22:00. Wed - Thu 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:00. Fri 12:00 - 15:00. Sat 12:00 - 22:30. Sun 12:00 - 22:00.
Phone: (01) 538 2003
