Business Details
28 Years
experience
Your Top Choice for Italian Dining in Westwood, NJ
Granita Grille has been a cornerstone of Westwood, New Jersey's culinary scene since 1998, delivering authentic Italian cuisine rooted in generations of family tradition. Founded by Ralph and Julie Colantuono, our restaurant combines Ralph's Naples-born culinary heritage with decades of hands-on experience to craft meals that celebrate Italy's rich flavors. We prioritize fresh, high-quality ingredients across our menu, offering gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options to accommodate diverse dietary needs. Our BYOB policy reflects our commitment to flexible, welcoming hospitality, while weekend live music and private dining spaces enhance the communal dining experience.Recognized repeatedly as Bergen County's top Italian restaurant, we maintain rigorous standards through daily oversight from our executive chef and direct owner involvement. Our catering services extend this excellence to off-site events, ensuring every guest interaction reflects our core values of authenticity, quality, and community engagement.
Services
Italian Cuisine
Catering Services
BYOB Dining
Live Music
Family Dinners
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- We offer 26 years of authentic Italian culinary expertise with family recipes from Naples, Italy
- Our menu features gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options prepared with fresh ingredients
- Enjoy BYOB dining with no corkage fees in our welcoming, rustic atmosphere
- Live weekend music enhances the authentic Italian dining experience
- Award-winning catering services for both on- and off-premise events
What people say
Fresh seafood
Authentic Italian flavors
Warm hospitality
Lively weekend music
Award-winning service
Services
Italian Cuisine
Granita Grille delivers authentic Italian cuisine crafted from generations-old family recipes. Our menu features handmade pasta, premium meats, and fresh seafood prepared daily. Each dish uses locally sourced ingredients to maintain traditional flavors while accommodating modern dietary preferences including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
Catering Services
Our full-service catering handles events from intimate gatherings to large celebrations. We offer customizable menus featuring signature Italian dishes, with options for both on-site and off-site events. Professional service includes setup, dietary accommodations, and coordination for weddings, corporate events, and private parties in Westwood and surrounding areas.
BYOB Dining
Granita Grille provides a flexible BYOB experience with no corkage fees. Guests may bring their preferred wines, beers, or spirits to complement meals. Our staff assists with proper storage and service of personal beverage selections, enhancing the dining experience while maintaining a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for all patrons.
Live Music
Weekend live music performances create an authentic Italian dining ambiance. Our regular musicians play classic and contemporary Italian-inspired sets, with opportunities for audience requests. This entertainment feature enhances date nights and special occasions while maintaining focus on quality food service during performances.
Family Dinners
Prepared family-style dinner packages serve four or more guests with traditional Italian dishes. These takeout-only options include multiple courses and portion sizes designed for shared meals. Menus rotate weekly with seasonal specialties while maintaining core favorites, available for pickup during regular business hours.
People
Ralph Colantuono
Owner and Executive Chef
Ralph Colantuono, a Naples, Italy native with over 26 years in Westwood, NJ, established Granita Grille in 1998. He combines traditional Italian cooking techniques with local ingredients to create authentic dishes. His leadership maintains quality standards across daily operations and special events.
Questions
What type of cuisine do you serve?
We specialize in authentic Italian cuisine using traditional recipes and fresh ingredients, including handmade pasta, seafood, and meat dishes.
Do you offer catering services?
Yes, we provide full-service catering for events on- or off-premise with customizable Italian menus and dietary accommodations.
What are your BYOB policies?
We welcome BYOB with no corkage fees, allowing guests to bring their preferred wines, beers, or spirits.
When is live music available?
Live music performs every Friday and Saturday night, with audience requests accommodated during performances.
Are takeout family dinners available?
Yes, our rotating weekly family dinner packages serve four or more guests with traditional Italian meals for pickup.
What dietary options exist?
We offer gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options across all menu categories with advance notice for special preparations.
Reviews (6)
Anne Matrone
Jan 03, 2022
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Good food and excellent service. The staff was so friendly and made you feel at home The Bolognese was one of the best I've had!
Jason Gregory
Nov 10, 2021
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Ralph and team are at the top of the class in Bergen County. Great atmosphere and even better food. The staff is friendly and attentive and Ralph will even swing by and say hello.
James Mets
Oct 18, 2021
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My family just held a repast for a funeral at Granita Grill. The owners went out of their way to open the restaurant early for a large gathering of over 30 people. The food was excellent. The service was top notch. The whole experience was the perfect environment to lift our spirits while having excellent food.
PaulCRothstein
Sep 26, 2021
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Im giving this place 4 stars because it deserves it. Ate there first time on Saturday, ate outdoors, promptly seated. We had fried calamari and rice balls for appy. Both were very good, the calamari was not the best but very good, very crunchy coating may be too much for some. My wife had the scallops and loved it. I had the pork osso bucco over mushroom risotto. It was delicious! Service was spot on, attentive, friendly, could not be beat. Live music added to ambiance and drowned out street noise, not the train LOL. The point here is the food was very good and the best part 2 aooys and 2 dinners
Dan
Jul 21, 2021
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Granita Grille with so many Italian eateries in our area you rise above the rest. This one is in my steady rotation. For anyone who likes stuffed artichoke IT IS THE BEST!! All the standards are very good and the specials are creative and well executed. Pleasant service owner does a good job of making sure your happy. Fair price cant go wrong.
Katia Belibasis
Jul 14, 2021
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Best atmosphere to bring family. Big delicious meals with the best red sauce and penne vodka sauce around.
