The world of the diverse menu at "European Italian Restaurant Gracciano" in Imabari

European Italian Restaurant Gracciano" in Imabari City is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy casual Italian and Western cuisine. The restaurant attracts many people with its cuisine that combines fresh local ingredients with authentic Italian flavors.

Exquisite Harmony of Casual Italian and Western Cuisine

The restaurant, named after "Via Graciano" in Italy, opened in 2013. General Manager Koji Ihara, who has been involved with the restaurant since its opening, describes its concept as "casual Italian food like never before.

Ihara says, "In addition to Italian cuisine such as pasta and pizza, we have also prepared a Western menu in consideration of the local characteristics. The restaurant also offers omelette rice, hamburgers, fried chicken, and other dishes, and the subtitle "European-style Italian diner" expresses this sentiment.

From Italian to Western cuisine! A wide variety of menu items for your satisfaction!

At "Graciano's", a wide range of dishes can be enjoyed for both lunch and dinner, including pasta, pizza, and Western-style dishes.

The most popular pasta dishes are "eggplant and mozzarella cheese in tomato sauce" and "spaghetti with shrimp and bacon in cream soup. Also, for pizza, the classic "Margherita" and "Pizza Graciano" with lots of cheese are favorites.

Mr. Utsunomiya, who is in charge of pizza making, says, "The dough is fermented slowly for more than 24 hours to achieve a crispy outside and chewy inside texture. When baking, we use a stone oven to bake the pizza at high temperatures all at once to bring out the savory flavor," he says. The cheese and tomato sauce used are also carefully selected. Mozzarella cheese is imported from Italy, and depending on the season, it is even purchased directly from a famous store in Kumamoto, whose freshness and special flavor enhances the overall taste of the pizza, he says.

Salads with homemade "carota dressing" are also popular. It is a puree of grated carrots with a hint of sweetness," says Ihara. This dressing is popular even among children who do not like salads.

Fusion of Local Ingredients and Authentic Italian Flavor

At "Graciano's," we are particular about the ingredients we use: vegetables are procured from the local market, and much of the seafood is also locally grown. The restaurant is conscious of being a community-based restaurant.

On the other hand, many of the specialty ingredients, such as cheese and tomato sauce, are purchased directly from Italy. By using high quality ingredients imported directly from Italy, we are able to recreate the authentic taste of Italy," says Ihara. The fusion of local ingredients and authentic flavors creates a unique charm.

Looking to the future, Ihara says, "I would like to keep the Western-style menu, but raise the quality even higher. The plan is to offer high quality food while narrowing down the menu so as not to lose out to the major chain restaurants.

Graciano's offers authentic Italian and Western cuisine in a casual atmosphere. This is the reason why it continues to be loved by the locals.