Grazianos Downtown Cafe - Kingston (NY)

5 /5 Valentina L: If you’re looking for truly authentic Italian cooking, this place is an absolute gem. The moment you step inside, you’re wrapped in the aroma of whatever the chef is cooking… right there in front of you. The space is tiny, almost charmingly cramped, like part storage room, part old European grandparents’ home, but honestly that’s what makes it feel so real. The food is delicious! Speaking to the chef, you can see he loves what he does and it reflects in his food! I always say love is an ingredient and you can tell here, it wasn’t missed. Service was great and our waitress was warm and kind. If you want an Italian meal that feels like a secret passed down through generations, this is the spot. Highly recommend! Grazie, Graz! See you soon! Martino & Valentina

5 /5 Greg van Inwegen: One of the best dining experiences of my life. Chef Graz created a vegan gnocchi concoction on-the -fly with nuts, capers, olives, etc plus fresh herbs that was amazing. So many tastes and surprisingly light. This cozy nook has casual ambience being at a great chef friend’s home in Italy. I will be back!

5 /5 Michael Krupnick: Bravo! Incredible menu and flavors, we had no idea what an experience we were in for. Friendly staff, highly recommend.

5 /5 Christopher Shemanski: We stumbled upon Downtown Cafe while searching for a great Italian meal to celebrate my birthday, drawn in by all the rave reviews and it exceeded every one of them. This unpretentious, cozy, and whimsical spot delivered in every aspect. From the moment we arrived, the kindness and hospitality of our server, Cassandra, stood out. She managed multiple tables gracefully while still making us feel like her top priority. Meanwhile, Graziano was in the kitchen crafting one delicious dish after another. We started with the crispy pork belly served over a generous mound of greens, perfectly balanced with a bright dressing and delightful surprises like pickled vegetables, grapes, and tomatoes. For our entrées, we enjoyed the pasta pescatore—loaded with shrimp, clams, scallops, and calamari—and a tender veal cutlet over homemade linguine. To top off the evening, we shared a light and refreshing strawberry shortcake that felt like the perfect finale. Cassandra even went above and beyond by letting other guests know it was my birthday; with everyone singing along and even knew my name! From food to service to atmosphere, Downtown Cafe delivered a 10/10 experience. I couldn’t imagine a better place to celebrate my birthday in Kingston.

5 /5 Amber Nicole Alston: Grazianos is undoubtedly the quirkiest restaurant youll ever step into. The focus isnt on aesthetics; it feels like youve walked into your uncles kitchen or a cousins backyard barbecue. The chef, dressed casually in a t-shirt, mans a residential stove, and the outdoor seating—part of which is an open garage—features a mix of old wooden tables and plastic patio sets. We came for a birthday celebration after hearing great things about the food, so the setting caught us off guard at first. But we quickly got over it because the food is mind-blowingly good. In a time when many restaurants prioritize being Instagram-worthy over serving satisfying meals, Grazianos is a refreshing change. We had to wait a bit to get our waitresss attention, but once we did, she was friendly and helpful. We ordered the gorgonzola salad, which was fresh and delicious, with a mix of fruits and veggies that I wouldn’t have thought would go together but made for an incredible dish. We also had the gnocchi and the angel hair pasta with saffron and cream—both were outstanding. We couldnt stop raving about how good everything was. You can tell that a lot of love and care goes into each dish and that every ingredient is fresh. I highly recommend Grazianos to anyone visiting. Just know youre in for a bit of quirk, and if youre looking for fancy, this isnt the place. But for authentic, absolutely delicious Italian food with generous portions, this is the best place to go!