Bar Gran Sasso

Gran Sasso is what Columbia needed. The atmosphere is comforting, nostalgic, and feels like you are somewhere special. The service is impeccable. They love the food, the drinks, and the people…and it shows!

I love that they now offer reservations but I was able to get a quick seat at the bar too.

I'm not one to leave reviews, but this charming Italian spot is what Columbia has been missing! I've dined at the bar several times now, and it does not disappoint. White lights, real wine crates and memorabilia from the owner's Italian family heritage just adds to the coziness of this place. The craft cocktails are top notch and the food is authentic and delicious. Not to mention the fabulous wine list! The owner has tremendous knowledge and passion over the wine and its food pairings. A great date night spot, a must go if you are in Columbia - you won't be disappointed.

What a unique dining experience for Columbia! This small Italian bar is filled with eclectic European ambiance with attentive staff to match. You can start out by mixing and matching a plate of Cicchetti (think Italian small bites) while you settle in. Get the meatballs!! You can’t go wrong with any of their specials, the Chef cooks with authenticity. Excited to see the place with the upcoming expansion!

Came here for a date night with my boyfriend and the food was great, but we were definitely disappointed at the fact that we almost sat in the Enzo’s side of the restaurant at a makeshift barrel table with two outdoor metal chairs that were wet.

We got the the restaurant early to wait outside in line. Once they opened, we thought we were going to get seated in the nice bar gran sasso room, but the manager decided to let groups of 4 go ahead of us even though we were ahead of them in line, and then tried to seat us at a makeshift table. If we’re going to spend $100 on dinner, we’d like to sit at a proper table. We decided to leave and asked them to call us back when they had an actual bar seat or table available. We saw another couple get seated at a makeshift table right in front of the door and they left as well. We got a call back an hour later and sat at the bar. The food and drinks were good, I wouldn’t get the bar snacks again though. The meatballs and cavetalli al mido mio were excellent though! The bar tender was friendly and provided great service, the owner not so much. Service can really make or break a place so I hope they find a better solution to seating arrangements for couples.

My advice if you plan on stopping by for a date night, come with a group of 4 so you have a higher chance of getting a nice table and get in line by 6 pm!

This is the best thing to open in Columbia in the last decade. Open on the weekends and Mondays, this 30-seat spot is perfectly designed for the quick after work or brief weekend afternoon or pre-supper bite. Perfectly crafted, ice-cold Italian cocktails, an impressive selection of amari and wine by the glass and the bottle, and unique shooters all at a price that doesn’t fracture your wallet. For small bites, they have a curated menu with salads and warm selections and a daily variety of delicious, creative cicchetti (think three-bite pieces of soft bread topped with select Italian meats, cheeses, and fresh produce), fresh breads, nuts, and other antipasto all priced perfectly. We enjoyed an exceptional martini, the best aperol spritz we’ve had stateside, and a delightfully barely sweet limoncello spritz with the meatballs and more cicchetti than we’ll admit. We’ll be back again and again, but we’ll also encourage our friends be mindful of those 30 seats and the concept being executed and keep your mini vacays to Italy brief!