At first glance of the exterior, you may never know Grato is home to a James Beard Award Nominee. The “neighborhood joint” in West Palm Beach is the brainchild of Chef Clay Conley whose motto is simple: serving up simple, delicious food.
While many chefs today add extra ingredients to bolster their creativity, Chef Clay’s dishes shine because of their simplicity. That doesn’t mean you won’t find some inventive finds on the menu here.
Open daily for dinner and brunch on Sundays, Grato (meaning “grateful” in Italian) features a reasonably priced menu that features small and large plates, pizzas, and pastas available in full and half size portions. We, for one, are extremely grateful this rustic Italian restaurant with a laid-back vibe is celebrating its eighth year of operation at this popular spot.
Belly up to the bustling bar and order one of their craft cocktails like the Spicy Flamingo Margarita or opt for a classic like a gin martini or glass of wine from their impressive list.
Be sure to try their meatball starter. Three meatballs in a tangy tomato sauce arrive in a cast iron atop creamy polenta. Be sure to save a few bites of their warm homemade bread for mopping up every last bit of sauce.
Other standouts on their Small Plates offerings include octopus taboulleh made so much more flavorful with the addition of cucumber, mint, and preserved lemon yogurt.
Their 12-inch woodfired pizza offerings are a favorite staple in the neighborhood.
Tasty offerings include the popular Diavola topped with smoked mozzarella, pepperoni, peppers, onions and hot honey; the simply prepared Margherita with fresh mozzarella and basil; and a decadent Local Mushroom with black truffle, fontina cheese, and grilled scallions.
They even have a Detroit-style pan pizza along with a black truffle pie topped with Gruyere and chives.
Their signature orecchiette is filled with Florida rock shrimp and made even better with the addition of fennel and roasted cherry tomatoes in a white wine sauce. The ultimate indulgence is the chicken parm, an enormous sampling of juicy chicken lightly fried accompanied by a side of fresh spaghetti.
Desserts here are all homemade and include everything from ice cream and sorbet to cookies and cream cheesecake. Pair it up with an espresso martini for a dining experience sure to remember.
Grato is located at 1901 South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, Florida.
