Grotto Downtown

I went to The Grotto for a Valentine’s dinner with friends. The place is gorgeous and being downtown makes it feel extra special. Valet out front was easy and only about $12 which was nice. Our server was really friendly at first but kind of disappeared toward the end which was weird. The appetizers were good but definitely not shareable like we expected. Overall the food was really good and we still had a nice time. Beautiful restaurant, just a few service quirks.

The presentation of the food at Grotto Downtown was beautiful, and it tasted just as good; fresh and full of flavor. The atmosphere was great and the service was excellent. We went for lunch to celebrate one of our team members' 25th work anniversary, and we all had a wonderful time there.

Amazing experience! Food was scrumptious. Iyonna’s service was exceptional. We had chicken Marsala, tomato bruschetta and pizza. Everything was fresh and delicious.

Solid Italian spot. Food was fairly good. Did not try the pizza that looked amazing. Great wine selection. Amazing service. Unfortunately a fire alarm went off during dinner that went on for an hour.

Grotto in downtown Houston is an absolute must-visit. From the moment we sat down, the experience was elevated by our server, Ianna. She was exceptional—knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely invested in making sure we had the best experience possible. She walked us through the menu, made thoughtful recommendations, and explained everything in a way that made it easy to choose exactly what we wanted. Her confidence and familiarity with the dishes made us feel like we were in very good hands. Every course was fantastic, but the desserts took the entire meal to another level. Decadent doesn’t even begin to describe it—it was indulgent, beautifully prepared, and the perfect ending to an already incredible dining experience. Between the atmosphere, the food, and especially the outstanding service from Ianna, Grotto delivered an unforgettable evening. If you’re anywhere near downtown Houston, do yourself a favor and try this place. Just make sure you save room for dessert—you won’t regret it.

We went twice to Grotto Downtown and had an excellent experience both times. We ordered the Short Rib Gnocchis and they were absolutely outstanding, rich in flavor, perfectly balanced, and with an ideal texture. You can really taste the quality and care in the preparation. The service was also very good. The servers stood out for their detailed explanations of the dishes and helpful recommendations, which made the overall experience even better. We would definitely come back. Highly recommended.

The meatballs were great, I was making sure to get every bit of sauce. Great flavor! The waiter recommended adding the pasta to the shrimp piatta and it was to die for!

We had an amazing experience at grotto. The food was all very fresh. The pizza didn’t make us feel bloated because they use high quality ingredients. Oscar was our server and he was exceptional! Thank you for a great Wednesday night!

Rigo was fantastic - super attentive and on top of our large party. Incredible service during a busy night!

Delicious food. Very attentive service from Rigo. Fun and lively atmosphere! I will be back!

This is a nice bistro connected to the downtown convention center. A short walk from the baseball park and across the street from the Marriott Marquee. Which puts it as an excellent meeting place during a conference or before a game. The food is excellent, the noise level down enough to hear your friends and the ambiance is warm and cozy. What more can one ask for?

Took too long to order. Sat at bar. Blanked. A manager too focused on walking about and not getting stuck in. 1 bar person running up the till. Not enough staff for a Saturday in spring break and world baseball classics. Avoid during busy periods.

The vibe of this place was very nice! Grotto has an upscale ambiance in the heart of downtown. We had 2 big tables of around 12 each and they accommodated for us. The service was pretty quick even for the last hour of dinner. I'm lacking photos for some dishes here but I'll give my honest thoughts! Apps: The Garlic Knots were very soft and yummy. The Fritto Misto was fried to a golden crisp and had a black pepper aioli that I really enjoyed. Lastly we got the Short Rib Gnocchi, the short rib taste really stood out but I think it was bit dense for my liking. Main: For my main dish our server suggested the Capra. It was Gemelli pasta with a DELICIOUS semi spicy Calabrian crema rosa sauce. The sauce is really what made the dish standout to me as I rarely find pastas with a kick in flavor. Would absolutely come here just for this again. Dessert: I had the Strawberry Cassata and I think the soaked angel food cake texture may not be for me but flavor wise it was unique/quite sweet. Next time I think I'll try the Mezzanote (Dark Chocolate Cake) or the Affogato & Bomboloni Notes: I do wish portions were a bit bigger!

This is not like the Grotto Galleria. This one is lower end, smaller menu that caters to out of towners or those going to a downtown event.

My co-worker and I asked for a recommendation at the hotel across the street where we were staying. They recommended Grotto. From the moment we entered we felt like this was a great decision. The host offered us a lovely table by the window. We were there during happy hour and they had excellent selection of cocktails. 3-7 pm for happy hour is amazing! We chose 3 selections. We started with the rosemary focaccia bread with honey ricotta and olives. The bread was simply delicious and a very large portion. It was soft with the perfect amount of rosemary. Then we selected the kale salad that had a variety of veggies and meat with a delicious vinaigrette dressing. Our entree was a pasta dish with wild mushrooms, pancetta, and fried egg on top. It was unique and delicious. I wish we had a place like this back home because this would enter my rotation. If you're here for business of fun, I suggest you check it out. Our server was Ella and she was attentive and offered great suggestions.

My husband and I stopped in for a quick bite before the Rockets game. Super close to the Toyota Center so a great place to go to before an event or game. The restaurant is super cozy on the inside and they had a ton of indoor and outdoor seating! We split a bunch of appetizers which were all good. They have a happy hour M-F, 4pm-7pm. Our waiter was super attentive and we will definitely be back to eat dinner soon!

This restaurant is attached to the convention centre in Downtown Houston. The order consisted of Chilled Cucumber- garnished with almonds, and drizzled with a vinaigrette, it was the best cucumber salad. Roasted Butternut Squash soup - my fav soup, and I was not disappointed, it was really yummy. Pasta Verdure- the vegetarian pasta looked great , tasted even greater. The simple dish was just the right balance between pasta and salad, perfect to my liking. Next came the dessert, the Thiramisu ! If was too huge to finish so got it to-go. It had all the flavors of coffee, cream and so much more. Ambience is very welcoming . Great place, must visit.

Great place to grab food before an Astros game. We like ordering a pizza and other appetizers before heading to the stadium.

We loved the ambience and atmosphere. The entrees were delightful and full filling. My wife and I had a great anniversary dinner. We will return.

Really lovely evening dining at Grotto while in town for a conference. They are serving up fantastic food and outstanding drinks in an elegant yet inviting atmosphere. Stand outs were the short rib gnocchi, espresso martini and crème brûlée. Would absolutely return here if I'm ever in Houston again.

We had a nice meal at Grotto. Our food and drinks were solid but not next level especially compared to other options at a similar price range. The focaccia bread was a great appetizer and we enjoyed chopped salad and lobster bisque soup. The drinks we got were the gin and tonic and Italian Manhattan. Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Grotto but feel there are better options in the respective price category. Note- Grotto has valet parking for a fee.

The ambiance was nice. Wait, the staff was kind. We enjoyed all of our food. The marinara was spicy and delicious.

Not as good as I remember when I went to the Westheimer location years ago. Place was empty they tried to seat us in the worst table. Waitress was not friendly, did not come to table often, was to busy to listen, had to ask for a coffee refill and was told there may not be any when it arrived it was cold, had to pay $8 to add pasta to Shrimp Piccata. Sherry enjoyed her food. I would not go back Sherry said she would.

Had a great experience after an evening walk with a great friend and her kiddo. The staff was so welcoming and the ambiance very conducive to great conversations. I had a clam pasta and it was a great twist almost of a chicken piccata but clams!!! The youngling had a personal pizza which was just ravaged and my friend stayed true to the Piccadilly. They had a good deal for HRW on the wine and we shared a great bottle for a decent price. I can say park at the Marriott or across the wat at discovery green. There is no on site parking for the restaurant.

Unfortunately this was the worst service. The hostess, wait staff, bartender and managers were grumpy and rude. We had 6 tables and all experienced the same thing. It's a shame. Customer service training might go a long way.

I pop in Grotto every time I'm in Houston. You can always count on a beautiful atmosphere, good food, and attentive wait staff. The prices are a bit on the higher side, considering the portions, but everything you receive will be delicious. I do wish that there were more meatless/vegetarian options available, but I'm sure that's something the team has an eye on in the ever-evolving culinary landscape. If you're attending a conference at the convention center, or staying at the nearby hotels, this is a lovely place for a nicer dinner The patio during warmer weather is also a nice vibe.

Everything about this place was on point! Very friendly hostess and servers. The food was great and the location was perfect for our stay. The inside is beautiful, although we sat outside. Very clean and comfortable, and everything we ordered tasted amazing.

The worst run restaurant/ bar I have ever been to. Was in Houston for NCA cheer comp. They couldn't have been more in unprepared for the amount of people attending event! Only 2 bartenders working. Waited 30 minutes for drinks on Saturday. Came back Sunday for a quick drink and sat on patio with 20 other Cheer parents and was refused service. They said they were closing the patio in 40 minutes for a party and would serve us. This was the stupidest thing I have ever heard. They just lost a lot of revenue and we would have moved when they needed us to. You're in the service industry you morons! Not the refuse service industry.

This is my kiddos favorite spot to eat meatballs. Try the tomato soup and dunk the fried mozzarella in it!!! Service is always so welcoming and on point. They have their holiday decorations out and really makes for great pictures. Plus is next to discover green so we can go to the park and ice skate!

I visited this little Italian shop twice during my to Houston. The first visit was phenomenal. I had the pescatore which was amazing. Expensive? Yes, but deliciously full of seafood. We also tried the fried mozzarella. Definitely a small plate. I can only describe it as very fancy mozzarella balls (instead of sticks). The second visit was kinda iffy. I joined my party late and apparently what transpired before my arrival may have led to the crappy service. From what I heard, we moved to a larger table but not without some drama. Anyhow, two of us late arrivals each ended up ordering the pepperoni pizza. It came out much later than the other meals. In fact, I received my bill before my food. I think the server was in a rush to leave because it came up later that his shift was ending. Then before food actually came out, the server asked if we wanted to eat there or have our meals to go. While the pizza was very good. The hospitality was lacking hard. Didn't even get water until after I was half way through my meal. If wasn't for this second experience, easy 5 star.

Was in town for the Jonas Brothers concert and staying down the street. The garlic knots were good, and the Grotto salad was top notch delicious. The eggplant parmigiana was not my favorite, but the cacio e pepe that came with it was amazing. Maybe the best pasta I've ever had. So light and flavorful. The Tuscan Sangria was pretty good, as was the Peach Bellini. Would definitely come back when I'm in Houston.

The food was fantastic. The service was phenomenal. We love the atmosphere. It did get a little noisy as it got busier, but that was fine too. We really enjoyed our evening here.

Had dinner at Grotto in downtown Houston. The Caesar salad was fresh and tasty, and the Bolognese pasta was solid -- a little sweet, but the traditional meatball helped balance it out. Unfortunately, the service was disappointing. Sat at the bar (my usual solo dining spot) and aside from taking my order, the bartenders barely acknowledged me. Ordered a bottle of sparkling water that never even showed up. Good food, but the lackluster service definitely took away from the experience

Fine dining pasta. Every time I come here is better and better. I absolutely loved my salmon & pea risotto. Actually everything we ordered was delicious. The only downside about this place is that the parking is a little difficult. If you're at the George r brown for a meeting this is an easy walking distance place to have a nice meal.

The food was great we had the gnocchi, margarita pizza and crème brûlée. The pizza was good but the others were AMAZING! Service was great. We were seated right away and our server was prompt in taking care of us. She also made great recommendations on the food! Ambiance was trendy and nice. Great place for date night.

Stopped here for a drink after checking in for a conference being held at the attached convention center. The location of this restaurant is convenient, you can access it without leaving the convention center. I had drinks here with a friend but it was a great pit stop to recharge ourselves and our phones. We sat at the bar which had outlets conveniently located. They were busy but the service was ok. It's a bit noisy but not overbearing, just background chatter.

I pleasantly surprised with Grotto. It's an easy casual walk in place, good for small groups. The food was really good. The skewers and short rib gnocchi had me sold instantly. There are TVs and a bar to watch sports. Servers were friendly and available as needed. I will be back.

Bar Review! Ventured into Grotto's Downtown location for a late lunch quick snack. The inside is beautifully designed! Their menu features pastas, pizzas, salads, and entrees all with Italian flare. We decided to sit at the bar as we weren't going to stay long. We loved seeing staff work on making pizzas to serve as we waited for our food. We ended up ordering the Arancini which came with 5 balls within the dish. The flavor was alright: balls were fried a bit too long, should be served with a spoon for the bottom sauce, and I didn't get much of the truffle flavor. The bar service when we visited was very slow. At times, no one was back there to check in on us or refill waters. I will say, other dishes served to guests around us looked great! The pizzas seem to be the highlight/specialty of this spot! Lastly, the pricing felt a bit high for portions. I understand its Downtown Houston but quality or portions needed to be a bit better to have it make sense.

Had such a good night at Grotto. The spot could not be more convenient if you're staying by the Marriott or hitting the Convention Center. The food was on point but those short ribs stole the show, hands down the best I've ever had. Mussels in tomato sauce were Perfect. Meatball small plates were Just the right size for sharing. Desserts were excellent. And shoutout to Keisha, our server, who kept the whole vibe fun, easy, and flawless. She's the reason the night went from great to five-star.

Food was great...we shared apps and small plates. Each one was done well and carefully. Nice roomy interior with rustic deco. Friendly and attentive service. Fine Pilsner draft and delicious desserts.

Family dinner delicious food and good customer service one the best peach Bellini excellent choice in the downtown area

We didnt actually get to eat here. Myself, my husband, and our two kids (ages 6 and 8) came here to celebrate a special evening. We arrived at 5pm, the restaraunt was pretty empty. We asked at the hostess stand if they had a kid's menu. The three people there gave us a smirk and said they had kids items, but no kids menu. We were then seated in the corner. 15 minutes later, no server ever came to our table. We left and ate a wonderful dinner at Federal Grill instead. Do yourself a favor and walk the extra 6 blocks.

I want to leave some honest feedback about an incredible interaction with Kate, the hostess from Grotto. She was so upbeat, and was extremely personable, even though a massive convention was consuming a lot of her time.. She was attentive and extremely accommodating. I will 100% be returning!!

The service was so slow. My entire came 40 minutes after we ordered. Multiple entrees had clearly been sitting under the heat lamp for a long while. Every dish had a lot of spice and garlic and was dried out from heat lamps. Very expensive for such low quality.

Went to Grottos for an friends birthday and I have zero complaints. That's it that's the post. lol Service was excellent, food was excellent, everything was great. I don't say that much about restaurants but I literally have nothing to say. When we arrived, we were immediately seated. We also beat the lunch rush so that helped. Our waiters were efficient, attentive and knowledgeable about their menu. As a shareable item we had the bruschetta trio which were 3 different types of bruschetta. Loved it. I probably would come back just for that. I could go on and on but this is a place I would come back to over and over and highly recommend!

Great atmosphere and service.The food is really good and a good wine list as well. I recommend this restaurant .

As a downtown resident I've tried 4 times at this place. More than I should have. The food is mediocre. We sat outside and it took forever and a day to get a water while it's 100 degrees outside. Their "meatballs" came out burnt... not sure how that happened there. Basic food. Basic service.

Just WOW!!!! Again, another restaurant where I would eat every single day. The meatballs were some of the best meatballs I've ever had, small, crispy with a fantastic tomato sauce. The focaccia was perfectly leavened, light, crispy and soft. The short rib gnocchi were great, even if I wasn't a huge fan of the lemon hint in it. The pasta dish was absolutely perfect, it came originally with just shrimp, but I asked to add angel hair pasta to it and the crème brûlée absolute perfection

The food and service were great! We stopped in for a small bite before a concert and they got us in and out in perfect time. The restaurant had a comfortable feel and we enjoyed sitting next to the window.

Pricey, but that's to be expected since you're downtown and right across from the baseball stadium. Food was good and the Italian margaritas was tasty.

Ohhhh baby! This food was good and different. We walked in and were immediately seated. Tried drinks and a few appetizers. The food is different, refreshing and comes in small shareable portions. Would definitely return

This place has cockroaches. We saw two on the floor. The food wasn't bad though and the waiters were friendly.

We walked in on a Saturday night with no reservations and although they were busy, we were still able to get a table right away. The restaurant is very pretty and they have a nice outdoor area with fire pits, but it was still a little too cold outside for that. To start I ordered the meatballs. While the presentation was nice, I was a little disappointed by how small they were. My boyfriend got the tomato basil soup and it was deliciousss. For my entree I had the eggplant parmigiana with a the black pepper pasta (I forget the name of the dish). Everything was tasty and the service was good.

Fantastic dishes. I tried the bolognese, Caesar salad, and braised beef gnocchi. All incredible. The cocktails are nice too

Honestly, I'm back and forth on how to rate this place. The ambiance is super cool, industrial is my vibe, and the whole ordeal was pretty dope. I came here on a date with my husband on a Monday or Tuesday, and this place was packed as heck! I was hoping because it was earlier in the week it would be not as busy but that was my misconception. We sat in an intimate corner in the back where it wasn't super loud. I enjoyed that. The waitress was chill and nice. We ordered cheese balls, margherita pizza, and lobster bisque. The lobster bisque was phenomenal. As far as bisques go lobster bisque is definitely on the top of my list. And so I came in with low expectations, but it superseded my expectations. The margherita pizza was really good too, I added goat cheese because I love goat cheese. It was good, I was hoping for less bread and more toppings but it came out the other way around. Flavors wise it was pretty good. The cheese ball things were good too. But all in all, for the price we paid, I don't thing it was worth it. It was good good, really good for the bisque, but each of these things you can get elsewhere at a fairer price. I know it's inflated probably due to it being literally connected to George R Brown. Essentially, I saw the bill and thought to myself, " I could have gotten more food at a cheaper price." It's cool to visit but my wallet hurt a little bit too much after that, without a full stomach.

Love the ambiance, beautiful setting. $30 for two small Caesar salads like this seemed excessive. Skewers and pizza were excellent. Waiter seemed preoccupied and didn't check on us much.

Wonderful spot for great food and amazing staff! My group dined at the Grotto Downtown recently and I have to rave to everyone I know about this place. The food was delicious and the service was awesome. We had the Bucatini, Ravioli, Rigatoni, skewers and a chicken dish and they were all totally tasty. The Meatzza pizza was a highlight. The lobster bisque was delightful and the Caesar salad was perfectly dressed (with anchovies, too). Rigo and his colleagues were quite welcoming and attentive and everyone in my group overwhelmingly praised my choice of restaurants. And it has a nice ambiance and is in a great location, just a short walk from the Astros' ballpark and it's part of the George R. Brown Convention Center. Next time I'm downtown Houston I'm definitely returning to this awesome restaurant.