After reading a few stellar 5-star yelp reviews, I decided to make Friday night dinner reservations at Gran Canal Caffe. (I suggest making reservations a few days in advance.) I'm glad that I did and will certainly be returning in the future.
Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by the bartender and waited just a few minutes to be seated. The wine list is pretty extensive and surprisingly affordable for such a small restaurant. We ordered the pear and baked Brie for an appetizer and it was oh-my-god yummy. The Brie was gooey and runny and warm, which is just how it should be! Our meals included starter salads, which were pleasant. (Note: Try the limoncello dressing if you have a chance. It's light, yet flavorful.) The main dishes were really good, as well. Hubby had the pasta aioli and I had the shrimp San Marco.
The reason that I rate my experience at the Caffe as 4 stars, instead of 5, is two-fold: first, our server was overwhelmed by a large party and several others tables. We waited a pretty long time to ask for refills, etc. Second, the menu, while delicious, is pretty limited to pastas and a few meat dishes. There are only a couple fish and poultry options and most of them are pasta based.
Overall, a nice dinner and charming restaurant that I'll recommend to friends and family.