West Street Italian bar/restaurant Grappa recently announced a bottomless brunch offering, where you can chow down on freshly made pizza and pasta dishes while being served unlimited prosecco, cocktails, beer and wine.
The brunches take place every Friday to Sunday, and 90-minute slots are available to book from midday until 6pm. Exposed’s BB team of four opted for the later booking, entering the downstairs bar area of the spacious two-floor venue to the sounds of the resident DJ playing a mix of pumping feelgood tunes spanning everything from house to RnB – with even a bit of ABBA thrown in!
There are two menus to choose from, priced at £35pp and £40pp. The former gets you the staples: a range of classic pizzas with a couple of pasta options including Wild Boar Lasagne and Penne Arrabbiata (sides an optional extra), served with bottomless glasses of prosecco, Aperol spritz, bellinis, mimosas and various soft drinks. However, for an extra five pounds, we’d strongly recommend getting the £40 deal if you can spare it. This opens up a range of delicious premium cocktails (the Italian Mojitos were a strong favourite), wines and beers, as well as giving you the choice of additional pizzas and Grappa’s signature pasta dishes.
Upon arrival, we were quickly furnished with welcome drinks and a jug of water (hydration is key!) and were left to soak up the atmosphere while browsing the menu. Service was quick and attentive, with friendly staff always on hand for a top-up and happy to talk us through the drinks and dishes on offer.
I opted for the hearty Parpadelle Polpette – ribbons of pappardelle pasta cooked to a perfect al dente, coated in a thick, velvety tomato sauce, and served with rich, tender lamb meatballs topped by shards of parmesan. My fellow diners also plumped for some traditional favourites: creamy Spaghetti Carbonara, indulgent Wild Boar Lasagne and the straightforward but always satisfying Marinara Pizza.
With two of our group having eaten at Grappa before, we fully expected the food to be enjoyable – and true to form, it did not disappoint. However, it was the cocktails on offer that blew us away and quickly became the talking point of the meal. The Italian Mojito – a refreshing twist on the Cuban classic, enhanced with Disaranno and strawberry syrup for a sweeter finish – was the star of the show. If you’re in the mood to try more, the light and refreshing Hugo Spritz and the tangy Malfy Lemon Spritz were also strong contenders.
As the vibes (shoutout again to the DJ who kept the energy levels high throughout) were picking up heading into Saturday evening on West Street, we decided to stay for another round of drinks once our slot had ended, giving us the chance to toast the end of a truly “buono brunch senzo fendo.”
If you’re after a brunch that’s a step away from the usual offerings of Eggs Benedict and French toast, and instead want to enjoy a range of classic Italian flavours with a modern twist, you can book your spot at Grappa via grappasheffield.com or by calling 0114 698 1950.
