OUR STORY

The Palio, our namesake, is a celebrated Italian horserace that runs through Siena, Italy twice each year and is the inspiration for our robust food and spirits. Palio is not just a restaurant, it’s a way of life! Palio is bold, vibrant, and embodies the spirit of The Palio di Siena horse race. It is full of life, emotions and energy. The competitive nature of The Palio is emboldened in the spirit of our staff in their quest to be the best at creating a memorable dining experience for each of our guests. The flags strewn throughout the restaurant represent different contradas or neighborhoods in Italy and remind us of the lively and convivial cultural influences that come together in a festival of fun, food, and friendship. Palio in Grand Rapids is designed with an intensity that is as wild and colorful as the horse race itself. Vivid red and yellow accents accentuate the animated style, while cool white marbled bar tops and warm wooden tabletops with black clothed booth seating combine for a vivacious aesthetic. The restaurant seats over 150 guests inside and the outdoor patio seats up to 50. During the warmer months, three large garage-doors open the front of the restaurant to the outdoors. Palio is open for both lunch and dinner, and features a happy hour with food and drink specials. Palio is a perfect gathering place welcoming guests into our spirited and distinctive eatery.

The menu is also bold, vibrant and full of character with a profusion of flavors in our chef-inspired cuisine. Palio features authentic Italian cuisine that includes large pizzas made from our industrial gas fired stone pizza oven, bolognese, carbonara, lasagna, and many other re-invented classics prepared with freshly cut herbs from Palio’s own in-house herb garden. The wine and beverage list includes craft beer, unique hand-crafted cocktails and extensive wine and grappa lists.

The original Palio Ristorante in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded in 1991, includes a record of the Palio di Siena horserace winners on a mural along the back dining room wall. As a Mainstreet Ventures’ (MSV) restaurant, Palio adheres to a standard of excellence to deliver quality, consistency and enjoyment of each guest’s dining experience. Each MSV location prepares food from all scratch kitchens and each head chef offers creative features with a focus on seasonal, local produce. Our mission is to consistently exceed our guest’s expectations by providing memorable dining experiences in each of our creative and distinctive restaurants.

“gli italiani cucinano come fanno l’amore…con passione e senza regole!”