Grano Vivo Pizzeria In Pontedera

In Pontedera, Grano Vivo is a well-known gourmet pizzeria, attracting customers thanks in part to the high expectations it generates. The place presents itself very well: a refined, pleasant atmosphere, with an open-view oven that contributes to a welcoming and modern atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you enter with a certain curiosity and anticipation, perhaps for an evening with friends and family, as in our case. The start was promising: we tried the so-called "pizza sushi," a creative and successful idea. Fragrant, delicate, and balanced in flavor—a dish definitely worth trying. The less convincing part, however, came with the pizzas. We chose a multigrain dough, expecting something unique and worthy of the place's reputation. Unfortunately, the pizzas arrived lukewarm, verging on cold, and this significantly impacted the experience: the result was a product that lacked expression, with flavors that struggled to emerge. More than bad, the pizza seemed dull, lacking the character one expects from a gourmet restaurant. Another aspect that matters a lot to us is digestibility: the next day, the feeling was a bit heavy, despite the relatively simple pizzas we chose. This suggests that the dough, at least on this occasion, wasn't perfectly balanced. Overall, it was a mixed experience: a pleasant atmosphere and some interesting ideas, but a pizza that didn't live up to expectations. With more attention to serving temperature and dough balance, the experience could certainly improve. It's still a place with potential, and it probably deserves another chance to show off its potential.

Mine was a delightful evening. The atmosphere was beautiful, refined, and well-maintained, with a relaxing play of light. The staff is very kind, always smiling and helpful. Then comes the star of the evening: PIZZA!! It surprises you with its colors and aromas, and then comes the explosion of flavors combined with great skill! The dough is spectacular because it's light, very digestible, and cooked to perfection! I highly recommend it, and if you pay a little more, it's truly worth it!

Every time we go back it maintains a very high level

As a Neapolitan, I wasn't convinced by the taste: it was a far cry from traditional pizza. And "tre cotture" (three cookings) don't exist in Naples.

We had a great time, the place was large and very beautiful, the staff were very kind and welcoming and the pizzas were super good, thanks Grano Vivo!

I had no complaints about the food because it was all good. The only flaw was a waiter's unfortunate remark toward me, when he dared to joke (twice) about my veganism, making me feel uncomfortable. Considering his role in the customer experience, I found him completely out of place, and even more so, with ignorant arguments about the matter that he could have easily avoided, not knowing who was in front of him and how his words would be heard. The complete opposite was the lady who took our orders, who was very kind and understanding, even in explaining the ingredients (in my specific case, as I'm also intolerant). Furthermore, despite having made a reservation, we waited over an hour for the pizzas, with the waitress apologizing (after a single appetizer that arrived shortly afterward), but I didn't understand the reason, given that there were people who arrived after us who received theirs well before us.

Try the multigrain pizza, excellent dough!!! Really nice atmosphere!

Food: Unpretentious pizza. I tried the traditional dough and it wasn't the best. The gluten structure is poorly structured, and it drastically loses its flavor when cooled, a sign of the use of medium-protein flours. Digestibility isn't top-notch. Some combinations are nonsensical (sausage and pistachio, as is the pesto on parmigiana). Service: The waiter who served us seemed unprofessional. The pizzas arrived one at a time, spaced out—there were eight of us—and it took over five minutes from the first to the last. They run double shifts on weekends, which wasn't specified when booking. We left our table at their request while we still had our drinks to finish, a mistake they acknowledged when they issued the bill. Ambience: The place is rather chaotic in its table layout, giving it a much more pub-like feel than a pizzeria. The veranda is better, but in any case, it's cramped. Prices: Despite all the odds, even the traditional pizzas are priced a good 20% higher than average, which, given the context, seems completely unjustified. Overall, a disappointment, especially given the expectations raised on social media.

Excellent for those with celiac disease

I can't give it more than three stars because I think it's gotten worse over time. I went to this pizzeria in December. I don't feel like we waited very long, and the pizzas all arrived at the table at the same time, so it was a positive experience. The prices are a little high considering it's pizza, but if the ingredients are good and you're comfortable, the price is secondary in my opinion. We went back for dinner after a few months, and the wait was incredibly long. Pizzas were brought to two people, while the others were left waiting to eat (as I saw at other tables, the same thing happened). Half a pizza came out at a time, and the larger tables were left waiting, waiting, and waiting again. Everyone was so crowded that they couldn't even move, with the chairs of the neighboring diners pushing you with every move. I'd like to offer some advice, and I hope it's taken as such, not as a harsh criticism. I understand that demand is increasing and there's a strong desire to work, so there's a tendency to overdo it! It's better, however, to have one less table, and 6/8/10 fewer people, but to be able to serve everyone together, have people sit comfortably, and pay more attention to the customer, rather than "striking while the iron is hot," because then you risk people not being comfortable and losing customers.