Bites Nearby: Gratto Italian Tapas Bar One of Geneva's Hottest Dining Spots

opened its doors to downtown Geneva in 2008 serving Italian inspired tapas, pizza and panini. The menu and wine changes monthly in order to offer customers the freshest ingredients possible.

Decor

Rustic and comfortable are the two words to best describe Gratto’s atmosphere. Wine bottles are as much a part of the decor as they are a part of the menu, and it gives diners the feeling of being in a true Italian trattoria. There is a cozy outdoor seating area for fresh air dining during the spring and summer, and the downtown location makes it a perfect spot to enjoy a bite and a glass of wine while people watching.

The Drinks

Wine is the name of the game here, and there’s an ever-changing wine list to fit their equally changing menu. The owners often offer specials on wines by the glass or bottle. You can often find a $5 glass of a higher end Merlot or Shiraz.

Tapas

Gratto’s tapas menu goes above and beyond what you would expect from a restaurant of this size.

• The Garanchio Torta ($13) takes a jumbo lump crab cake and places it over burnt butter spinach, then tops it with shoe string potatoes, roasted corn, and a brandy mustard sauce.
• Chevere el Forno ($8) is an Italian style baked goat cheese, and comes served with tomatoes and crusty bread.
• Oysters ala Gratto ($10) takes the Rockefeller to new heights with a sambucca hollandaise sauce and crisp bacon.
• The Roasted Pepper Caprese Salad ($4) is a delicious little dish to nosh on over a glass of wine. 

Dishes

All pasta dishes during dinner include a cup of soup.

• Seafood lovers should try the Linguini Frutti DiMara ($13), which uses fresh seafood and shellfish in a spicy red sauce over linguini.
• Tortellacci Fontina ($15) is cheese stuffed pasta with sauteed cherry tomatoes and spinach, served in a creamy cheese sauce.
• Vitello Marsala ($20), is a thin veal cutlet with wild mushrooms in a rich wine sauce; it comes served with a side of pasta. 

Sides

• Roasted Herb Potatoes ($5) are a flavor-packed little dish with plenty of garlic and herbs in a delicious wine sauce.
• The Rigatoni Abruzzese ($10) uses pasta tubes and a fresh tomato sauce to show off Gratto’s homemade Italian sausage. 

Service

Gratto has a knowledgeable wait staff and friendly hostesses. It can be hard to get a servers attention when they are busy, but they will usually be around to attend to diners needs.




Address: 207 S. 3rd. St., Geneva, IL

Cost: $$