06/07/09

Don't Waste Your Time or Money!

by VGIRL2002

We had a reservation and still had to wait a while to be seated. The location of the table was awkward because throughout dinner, servers and customers kept knocking into our chairs. The wine list was not accurate. We tried ordering 2 different bottles and were told that they were unavailable and that they were in the process of printing a new wine list. We settled on a bottle from one year, but they brought us a bottle from a different year and tried to tell us that was the one on the menu. It wasn't! We later spoke to the manager about it and he didn't seem to care. There was never any salt on the table, even though we kept requesting it. We finally had to borrow some from another table. The salads were served after a very long wait and the main dishes were served early. A request for more bread was finally honored when they brought dessert. If this sounds like a fun evening to you-enjoy! We won't be returning!!

• Pros: Good Bread
• Cons: Bad service, Average food, Misleading Wine List

12/23/08

Unimpressed

by HoustonGirl004

Went for dinner for the first time the other night. The restaurant was full so my group of 3 sat in the bar area. We had TERRIBLE service and did not ever have one specific server that waited on us. We had to constantly ask for things such as refills. The restaurant was also out of their complimentary bread that night which was a disappointment. I had the Agnolotti which consisted of 4 large yet very thin raviolis. It was decent. I had the tiramisu for dessert which was excellent and the best part of my experience. I won't be returning. I am SURE there is better Italian food (and service) in Houston.

06/24/07

Beautiful interior, Exceptional service

by crystalcafe

I have been here once, and I was very impressed. The interior of the restaurant is very elegant with neutral floors, ceilings, and seating, but colorful walls covered in playful paintings. The waiters (we had two serving our table of 6, plus people coming by to refill water just as frequently as necessary) were extremely friendly and ready to be at our service. In fact, even as I walked past wait staff to get to the restroom, I was treated very politely with "Excuse me"s and smiles. The food and drink was very excellent - I had spinach ravioli with a delicious tiramisu cake for dessert, followed by a perfectly mixed rose bellini from the bar. Sure, the tab was pricey, but with such a great over all experience, it's the perfect place for a special occasion. The only downfall? The food was so delicious that I wish their servings were larger.

• Pros: Location, Service, Quality of food, Ambience
• Cons: Portions could be bigger...

11/27/06

The hoi polloi gab over tasty Italian dishes at this noisy, oversized cafe.

by Contributor

The Scene
Colorful murals depicting disorderly diners, charming Italian pottery and a display of vibrant antipasti greets diners. If you aren't in the upbeat Italian mood, you'll get there, along with the chatty, well-heeled clientele from nearby suburbia or the Galleria who fill the expansive room.

The Food
Although food and service varies depending on location, count on constants. A peachy Bellini pairs well with tenderly fried calamari and gutsy marinara. Ravioli napped in heady vodka rosa sauce is rave-worthy, as is the crunchy Italian chopped salad mounded with iceberg, prosciutto, Gorgonzola, bacon and balsamic vinaigrette. Fish lovers should try the snapper scarpariello, coated in crispy bread crumbs and topped with tangy red-wine sauce and jumbo shrimp. Cool panna cotta garnished with lime zest explodes with citrus flavor.

• Pros: outdoor diningfull bar
• Cons: loudinconsistent service

11/21/06

Mostly good food great happy hour some beautiful people

by ukcolin

Always loved this place even before it moved and was bought by Landry's. Great bar staff, trendy happy hour, good chioce of wines. Surprised and pleased that Landry's managed to keep the trendy slightly clique-ish atmosphere. Never cheap but always worthwhile. Waiters can be great or bad, service the same. If you look like you eat out alot and will tip this is the coolest place to eat. Lots of beautiful people generally good food be suspicious of whatever dish the waiter is pushing ther may be a reason they have too much left over. The crab claws in red stuff are great. With the huge variety in the bread basket you can just nibble appetizers and drink wine for a great evening. Food is good. Parking can be a problem if it looks busy use the valet they will earn their money.

• Pros: great food trendy great happy hour beautiful people
• Cons: prices not cheap parking can bedifficult but bar is good place to wait or even eat.

11/18/06

Good food questionable service

by luvs2travel

Just got checked in across the st at the Hotel D (don't bother), risked life & limb trying to cross the rd. We were happily surprised at how cute the restaurant was. It wasn't busy as it was a weeknight evening around 8ish. Why they stuck us behind the desert cart along the way is beyond us. It did make for some funny jokes, which the waiter didn't seem to approve of. We didn't see him very often so it didn't matter much. Our food was pretty good and we'd probably go back.

• Pros: Cute decorations, good food
• Cons: indifferent waiter

10/30/06

BEST ITALIAN FOOD!

by penelopediaz98

I just went to Grotto yesterday (again). I am never disappointed with the food or service in this restaurant. I love it! - The food is AMAZING! and the bread is really the reason to go!

• Cons: Too much lighting

08/13/06

Last trip for me ...

by fillabuck

We tried the restaurant in The Woodlands in the Market St. shopping area and it was awful. I don't know where to beging ... slow service, salad drenched in vinegar, the main course was not even edible. I am pretty harsh on restaurants but my three guests were all in agreement. What happened to the quality that I was accustomed to in the Westheimer location. This is the second bad experience in this place and guaranteed it will be my last.

• Pros: Couldn't find anything ...
• Cons: food .... enough said !

06/16/06

My last experience ensures I won't return.

by tfnewman

The last time I dined at the Grotto I attended a party of 11 close friends to celebrate the birthday of one of their family members. The service could not have been more disappointing. Despite having reservations two weeks in advance, we were seated in the same party room with 50 or more high school prom revelers who were (understandably) loud and raucous. Despite the number of people, the room was assigned only two waiters. We had to specifically request everything - drink refills, a look at the dessert tray, even menus and silverware (which we had not been provided 20 minutes after having been seated). Naturally, the food took far too long to arrive and much was not as we had ordered. We then had to request the check and wait another 20 minutes for the check to arrive (It was FOUR HOURS after we had been seated, and we were understandably anxious to leave). We then made the mistake of reminding the waiter that we had requested that the check be split (into three parts) at the beginning of the meal - he insisted that we had not and then informed us that "fine restaurants" don't do that anyway. Furious, I went to the hostess and asked to see the manager. The manager was flip and argumentative. As I voiced my concerns, he arrogantly attempted to convince me that poor service slow food was "part of the Italian eating experience" - when I explained that my dinner companions WERE Italian (five of them having come over from Italy) he glibly replied "Look, sir, what do you want me to do? I mean, what do you want for your 'troubles'?"

The food was marginally above average - but the Olive Garden style service and McDonald's professionalism ruined the evening. Actually, in fairness to Olive Garden and McDonald's, I've never had such an experience at either. The Grotto paints itself as an "upscale" Italian eatery - but if you're going to be pretentious, you should have the food and service to back it up.

I'll never go back.

Here are my tips, Grotto: Don't seat anyone in the same party room with 50 teenagers. Give your customers menus, silverware and water without making them ask. Get the food out less than an hour after it's ordered (and AS it was ordered). Assign enough waiters to handle the number of customers. Make sure they are polite. Tell them to keep the glasses refilled. Offer a dessert menu (without having to ask). Bring the check quickly. SPLIT THE CHECK FOR THE CUSTOMERS. And, MOST IMPORTANTLY - if a customer asks to see the manager, treat their concerns as though they are legitimate (especially if they are). Work out these "kinks" and you might keep what customers you still have.

• Pros: Not many - the food is acceptable
• Cons: Too many to mention, but can be summed up with - RUDE and INCONSIDERATE

07/15/05

Not fine dining

by k_stafford

We have a fond memory of our dinner at Grotto on Woodway (now closed) - we still remember the to-die-for stuffed chicken. We thought to try the one on 610 on a Tuesday at 7pm, and we ended up walking out as soon as we walked in. We could barely get past the clog of smoking, drinking bar patrons near the front to get to the host stand, and once there the noise was so deafening I would have had to shout to get us a table. We decided instead to to somewhere else for dinner. We love the food at Grotto - perhaps next time we'll order takeout from them.

• Pros: food
• Cons: noise, crowds, smoking