Grato

"Pizza is the headliner at Buccan’s sister restaurant in West Palm. But Grato’s housemade pastas and small plates are the real reasons to come. Stick to Mediterranean dishes, order yourself a frozen Moscow mule, and bring friends who are down for a fun dinner. Just know you might have to wrestle a man in a Peter Millar vest to get a seat at the bar. Grato is more casual (and louder) than its wildly popular sister restaurant across the bridge. But it can get just as packed, so make a reservation and prep those vocal cords for some shouting. Food Rundown video credit: Virginia Otazo Meatballs It’s hard to decide what to love more: the meatballs or polenta they come with. So fork off half a juicy meatball and drag it along the plate to scoop up as much creamy polenta, pesto, and marinara as it can hold. photo credit: Grato Butternut Squash Caramelle They look like striped candy wrappers and are filled with sweet butternut squash. It’s a seasonal pasta—so you may not always see it. But if you do, order it. We could pop these suckers all day if there weren’t such things as consequences or high cholesterol. photo credit: Virginia Otazo Mushroom Pizza This pizza is covered in more mushrooms than a damp forest floor. If you’re on a date, maybe skip this since it’s so heavy you’ll have trouble eating more than one slice. If you’re here with a group, order it. photo credit: Grato Half Chicken Bossam A hard slap on the back should be given to whoever’s cooking this plump, tender chicken. But a baby in the womb has a stronger kick than the accompanying kimchi cucumber salad. Skip this. You’re supposed to make little wraps. But the hassle of constructing them isn’t worth the flat flavors." - Virginia Otazo

"Situated on the edge of the El Cid neighborhood, Grato is an Italian restaurant opened by chef Clay Conley in 2016. Elevated pizza combinations include a black truffle pizza made with bechamel sauce, fontina cheese, and gruyere cheese. Grato has become a popular neighborhood spot where diners are as likely to walk over for a date night meal as they are to enjoy a big family brunch on the weekend." - J. Miller