Chester is home to the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s Restaurant of the Year 2019: Grano Arso. This contemporary Italian restaurant is known for its interesting menu, specialty cocktails, and a focus on creating handmade pastas and breads using fresh-milled grains sourced from New England.

The destination restaurant is housed in Chester’s old Savings Bank building, which was built in 1902. Joel and Lani Gargano opened the doors in November 2017 and its seats have been happily filled ever since.

The restaurant has a reputation for offering superior food, a changing menu that coincides with fresh seasonal vegetables, unique cocktails and great atmosphere, all staffed with a knowledgeable friendly team of employees. Joel Gargano gave credit for the award to the team.

“Honestly, this award has very little to do with me and more to do with everyone on our team,” said chef Joel Gargano. “We appreciate our team and all the hard work they do for us and the fact that they want to be part of our vision of what a restaurant can be.”

The Garganos found out about their win on the night of the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s “Crazies” Award Gala, which was held in early December at Foxwoods Casino.

“It’s a real honor to be recognized for this award; we are so proud,” said Gargano.

He said that his menus are seasonal to make the most of local ingredients, including grains, most of which come from Maine Grains in Maine, and fresh seasonal vegetables, which are mainly from Wellstone Farm in Higganum.

“My philosophy has a lot to do with letting the food be the food and not screwing it up,” Gargano said. “We get our freshly milled flour shipped to us once a week.”

Gargano, a graduate from Johnson & Wales’ culinary program in Rhode Island, honed his craft at restaurants such as Providence’s Chez Pascal and Millwright’s in Simsbury. He also worked with Jonathan Benno at Lincoln Ristorante in New York and was an instructor at the Culinary Institute of New York.

Gargano first discovered Chester back when he was working at a high-end restaurant in New Haven and he visited the town during one of its famed Sunday Farmer’s Market days.

“Chester is such a wonderful town and a great community,” Gargano said. “When we were looking for spaces and this one became available, we were so excited, because it was already all set up to be a restaurant and it was in a location in downtown Chester that we knew we be a great place to have a restaurant like ours. The reception from the whole community has been unbelievable, right from the start, and we are so thankful to be here and to be prospering.”

For more information about Grano Arso, 6 Main Street, Chester, visit www.granoct.com or call 860-322-3143.