Grotto Ristorante

Loved our Sunday night fried chicken dinner! The portions are enormous and it fed all of us for several days, lol! The pizza bread and dipping oil was sooo good!!! Our server was terrific even though the restaurant was completely packed with holiday guests. Highly recommend!! Too bad we're not locals. Otherwise we'd definitely be regulars!!

Exceptional service and flavors!!! We recently dined at Grotto in Galveston as a party of six, and the standout of the evening was our wonderful waitress, Chloe. She managed to meet the diverse needs of our group with ease and warmth. From my own gluten sensitivity, to my children’s pizza cravings, to my elderly in laws who needed a little extra attention, she took care of everyone without missing a beat. Her attentiveness set the tone for a smooth and enjoyable evening. I was initially concerned when I learned the online gluten sensitive menu no longer applies, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the updated menu at the restaurant actually offered more flexibility than expected. Chloe helped me navigate the choices and the kitchen was able to adapt several dishes. I ordered the red snapper topped with jumbo lump crab meat, which was fresh, flavorful, and thoroughly satisfying. For my children, the spicy multi meat pizza was a hit. While it carried a bit of heat, it was still approachable for younger palates. Dessert was another highlight, though I didn’t indulge myself, the tray looked both impressive and tempting. My in laws chose the chocolate cake, which they raved about for its rich taste and generous portion, easily large enough to share. If there’s one note to keep in mind, it’s that the atmosphere can be loud. This makes it a lively, family friendly spot, but expect to raise your voice a little if you want to chat across the table.

The ocean view was absolutely beautiful — such a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere. We had Caesar salad, chicken pasta, steak, lasagna, calamari, and spaghetti, and everything was delicious. The staff was kind and attentive. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy a nice meal with a great view in Galveston!

Hands down the best restaurant in which I've ever had the pleasure of dining. My lovely Wife and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary at the San Luis Resort, and after standing in The Steakhouse for 10 minutes waiting to be acknowledged, we decided to try Grotto Ristorante. We were immediately greeted with the upmost respect, and treated with honor the entire duration. The food was divine, and our waitress was the best we've ever had. They even gave us a free desert for our anniversary, which really put the icing on the cake. Thank you, and we can't wait to come back!

We had an excellent time. Chloe, our server, was very attentive, thoughtful, professional, and conversational. Good atmosphere; heat food. The elegant dessert presentation was a nice touch!

Absolutely fantastic!! Special thank you to Isabel (server) Jerid (Manager) and the bartender (didn't get her name but she made the most delicious Cosmopolitan for me, my 1st time having!!) The food?! DELISH! Everything from the bread at start to dessert! The service? Incredible! Isabel was knowledgeable and attentive in the most pleasant way! Jerid as well. Would definitely recommend and return!

I stopped in here just to get a pizza to go and I must not have looked wealthy enough, because a gentleman who waltzed in 5 minutes before closing time was served his meal of: a drink, complimentary bread, an appetizer, and a pasta dish right away. Whereas I had been there for 30 minutes already and still didn't have my pizza. I never got any complimentary bread either; I felt like my business was unwanted and I was completely ignored. Maybe if I had ogled the pretty, young bartender like the loud mouth Texan did, I would’ve been served faster. And then to top it off the pizza was awful; it was flavorless, greasy, and yet somehow as dry as cardboard. I also ordered a sangria but I wasn't impressed with that either; it also tasted very bland and like it was hastily made and had not steeped in the fruit at all. It looked pretty but that was it. All together, I was not impressed.

Nice restaurant but the food and the service were 3-4 star level. Our server needed more training or help, one of the two, maybe both but her attitude was good. Overall the experience was good I just would have liked fewer issues. Issues like waitress taking a long time to return to take order, appetizer not coming until I asked… etc. The meatball appetizer was pretty good once we got it. The Crabcake entree was fresh but could have had a bit more flavor. The pasta dishes the family had were well received and seemed good.

Some of the best Italian I have had ! And I am a meatball snob ! The meatballs and chicken Alfredo were amazing ! We also had the tomato soup and it was delicious. The cheesecake is truly phenomenal! Best part is the server was just as phenomenal as the food ! And it's very well priced for the quality and quantities you get ! My complements to the staff and management !

I would recommend this place if you go during happy hour and please know that you can only get happy hour pricing for food if you sit at the bar (there are like 10 chairs so hopefully one will be available). My coworkers and I were visiting for a work conference and I'd say the restaurant wasn't busy, but the kitchen staff seemed to be overwhelmed. It took an hour just to get our soups and salads out. The calamari was absolutely inedible. I tried it on two separate occasions and will never try that jerky version of calamari again. The staff were very attentive (except for the long wait for the food). I loved the pasta fagioli and my coworkers didn't like their tomato basil soup. When it comes to eating there again, I probably wouldn't but it was extremely convenient since I was staying at the hotel.

Fantastic place for dinner! Service was amazing. The environment is classy, elegant, and intimate with dim lighting- perfect place for a date or a romantic dinner. Our waitress was on top of it! She was attentive and honest, explaining the specials and new additions to the menu. I was confused as to where happy hour is, because our waitress said it's not at the tables but did not specify where it was (since the website says it ends at 6:30PM). Maybe clarifying on the website would help. I was sad and disappointed when I saw the new menu did not have the gnocchi entree- wish they had kept it because it was my favorite dish here. But I decided to get the grilled chicken and pasta, which was still good. Favorite part of the meal was the peach bellinis, which are quite refreshing and sweet. The lemon drop martini was also pretty good and strong. Enjoyed the complimentary bread too.

Grotto was the Italian restaurant inside the San Luis Hotel Resort overlooking the pool! We came one night during our stay and had a pretty good meal! The calamari was delicious and that marinara sauce was amazing! The Caesar salad lacked some flavor and the trio tomato pappardelle was not my favorite but maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. The red sauce was good so maybe I should've stuck to something red. Service was great and it was nice and easy to be able to walk down for dinner and back up after our meal. The restaurant was fairly small in the back corner but the service was nice with a good ambiance.

Really fantastic food! The seafood pasta was amazing! I wish we had eaten there twice!

Had dinner with a large group the other night, and we had a great time! I ordered the Trio Tomato Papardelle with grilled Chicken, and it was very filling and tasty! The tomatoes were cooked well, as was the chicken. The strawberry shortcake was also great!! The whipped cream was light and refreshing

food was good! I liked my spaghetti and the lemonade refills just kept on coming!! It was an amazing time with very dark ambiance.

We dined at Grotto Ristorante recently, and found the atmosphere to be very enjoyable.  The food was even better! Service was very friendly and attentive, with the staffers being very helpful accommodating my friend's gluten-free eating habits.  Everything we tried was very tasty, but my hands-down favorite dish was the Spaghetti Bolognese.  Tip: The venue is actually located inside the San Luis Resort.

Everything was delicious. We also had meatballs but forgot to take a pic. I love that the spaghetti had a ton of sauce and meat. It was not dried at all. Would definitely recommend and return. It is a small restaurant though but it over looks the pool.

One of the worst service experiences I've ever had... We had a reservation and didn't get a drink for 25 minutes. We had a server that came over and apologized for the wait, handed us menus and walked away. Didn't ask if we wanted anything to drink. 10 minutes later a different server came over to take our drink order. The steak house at the same hotel had amazing service. Don't waste your time and money here. Food is average.

We were staying in the San Luis Resort and came down for dinner. On Sunday and Monday they have a deal for two for $39.95. The family style meal includes Cesar Salad, Spaghetti, Fried Chicken, Load of bread and Cheesecake. The spaghetti lacked a little flavor, but it wasn't bad. Chicken just needed some hot sauce and it was fine. The staff helped us a pick a nice Chianti. I loved the funny artwork. I've been to the Houston location and they have the same theme of artwork. For some reason the food at the Houston location did have more flavor. The staff is friendly and helpful. I'd check it out what when in town.

Very nice Italian in The San Luis. Calamari was lightly breaded & seasoned just right. Meatballs are fantastic and not too much sauce. Caesar salad was ordinary. The entrees were all wonderful! Snapper Romano, Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi, Salmon Brioso and spaghetti & meatballs were perfectly prepared and nice portions. Dessert is decadent! See the cart. Service & setting is really nice & yet casual.

Lovely Italian restaurant and where we were blown away by the authentic flavors. The pasta and seafood were perfect and the sauce was rich and flavorful. The tiramisu for dessert was a delightful end to the meal, with its creamy texture and just the right amount of sweetness. The service was friendly and attentive, making for a truly enjoyable dining experience. I wish we weren't traveling through so we could go back to try more dishes.

Made a reservation just in case for a Saturday night. Probably could have made it in without one though. Not too busy, but you never know with summer crowds. Not pictured- bread basket and olive oil. Bread is fresh and always tasty. Also started off with the Cesar salad. Generous portion and we split it. We also wanted the same entree so decided to split that. Light flavorful seafood pasta dish that I tend to get each time. Like the smaller noodles. Could definitely order solo and take leftovers or go for it and eat it all, but def would slow down if you're getting dessert. Again split a slice- classic cheesecake with strawberries. The other desserts also looked really good so go with what you like! They were really good about splitting the salad and entree in the back for us and bringing out our own plates which I always appreciate.

Grotto is a Landry's owned restaurant & seeing as how we had already eaten at 6 or 7 of them on our trip & always had a great experience we were confident this meal would be just as good. We could see Grotto ( located inside the beautiful San Luis resort ) from our Hotel Balcony a few blocks away so we ended up walking there. We were greeted & seated immediately & we were very impressed with the incredible ambience and warmth. We decided on the Primo Pizza & the Spaghetti Bolognese. Both were out of this world! Absolutely some of the best, if not the best Italian food we've ever had. For being in such a beautiful, upscale restaurant the prices were quite fair ( 2 entrees & 4 cocktails ) for $88.66. We highly recommend Grotto restaurant 100 percent! Another great experience, thank you Landry's!

Awesome pizza. Called restaurant for pick up from our room while we stayed San Luis Resort . Definitely going back

One of the better dinners we've had in a while!!! Everyone's meal was delicious. Steak was very well cooked and came with yummy sides. My salmon was perfectly cooked and the risotto was creamy and the best savory treat. Their signature martini was really good- not too sweet. Bread service comes out immediately with olive oil dipping sauce. Our family got pasta which was all well prepared and beautiful to look at. Restaurant sits in the back of the San Luis where you get both pool and ocean views. Highly recommend.

We had our anniversary dinner there this year, our two kids tagged along, and I got to say everything was great. Amazing hotel setting, all the elegant touches you would expect with that. My kids are pretty well behaved and they were well received at this restaurant. They found enough in the decore and the experience to be entertained and engaged. Now for the food, I had the chicken parmigiana and super tender with great flavor, the pasta was cooked to perfection. My wife had the plate with pasta, shrimp, and lump crab meat, she really enjoyed it. They don't seem to have a kids menu, so we ordered the kids and pizza and it too was a hit. The calamari was cooked perfectly, not too chewy, def recommend. We indulged and went for the chocolate cake and the tierra massu, you can't go wrong with that combo. The valet, receptionist, and waiters were all just amazing. Carlos made our experience extra enjoyable. We have been to way fancier (more expensive) restaurants and Grotto stacks up against any of them.

Grotto restaurant is inside San Luis Resort. The ambiance is sophisticated. The view of the pool is enticing (we wanted to stay at this resort as the pool looked so inviting). My experience of this restaurant is very different than my partner, who loved his snapper, delicious bread with garlic basil olive oil dip and cocktail. I also enjoyed the bread so much that we asked for a second basket. We were very disappointed with the fried artichokes. I thought it would be like the Italian Jewish artichokes but these were just canned artichokes dipped in breading and fried. It was heavy, salty and it tasted sour. When my branzino came it looked fancy. However, the vegetable bedding consisting of corn, potatoes and mushrooms, was overpowered by the tomato paste. I only picked the few mushroom pieces and did not eat the rest. The two pieces of shrimp were scrumptious. My fish on the other hand tasted bland. I finished it as I was hungry but I can't say I enjoyed it. As my partner enjoyed his snapper a lot he wants to go back if we ever visit Galveston again. I don't share his enthusiasm.

Nestled inside the San Luis resort, the evening atmosphere at the Grotto is deep, dark, and delicious! We walked over from the neighboring hotel - had to take the long way since a helicopter was about to land (yes, in case you're wondering, it was Mr Fertitta's). Beautiful outdoor areas and incredible hotel interior. Plan to make reservations as this is quite the evening hot spot- and for good reason! We were seated quickly, enjoyed the flaky warm bread and dipping oils (add balsamic vinegar and its perfect!) Ordered an app of fried artichokes- crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside. With a splash of lemon and the marinara sauce, these were a real treat! Hubby and I are splitting salads tonight - a shrimp Caesar and a Caprese salad. The caprese was something else! They've turned a traditional appetizer salad into a truly Devine meal with slabs, not slices but SLABS, of beefsteak tomatoes and 1/2" thick cuts of fresh mozzarella. Add to that the boat of balsamic glaze and *chef's kiss* perfection on a plate. We were sadly too full to enjoy dessert, so we'll have to come back for the strawberry cream cake that looks so amazing. Also- our server, Teagan, did an outstanding job - making sure we perfectly happy with the entire experience! Well done!

Excellent food! Wonderful service. And relaxing ambiance. Love the fried artichokes!! And crab cake is so good!!! View of beach is really nice! Like to go there for special occasions

The young man seating patrons appeared to never have seated a female that is a solo. Having worked in the F&B arena, training needs to be revisited on seating a party of one. Luckily I did not break out into Natalie Maines "March March" lyrics, I'm an army of one, there will be other opportunities that I am confident of. Solo folks are not from Area 51. No reservation did I have, it's a Monday night. I want a happy hour drink, an app and dinner. My $60 is an overpriced Monday night dinner but was good. No dress code needed, but reservations are. I could have eaten at the bar and it would have been no different than the tiny table I was seated at. The staff at this resort are typically not from Texas or the US. I find them delightful to talk with, and this time was no exception. The fried artichokes clocked at $7 on the happy hour app $6 less than the same app on the dinner menu, a word to the wise. The $16 Tito's martini a ripoff but splashed nicely over the table and was wiped up promptly. The large veal parm would have fed two, and 1/2 was boxed up for a repeat. As 6:00 rolled around the restaurant filled up, became louder and no doubt the wine flowed. I opted for no dessert but a yummy cappuccino from Starbucks around the bend, they were delighted to serve a solo female.

Hard one to rate because the staff, ambiance and atmosphere were fantastic but the food was average at best and the prices are a bit high. No seasoning on anything, bread was best part but that was free so never feel like it's worth it when that happens. All in all in was a nice night, but spaghetti, meatballs, ravioli and two drinks should not be $130 with tip, especially when it's that average, so we will not be returning.

Ordered the Margarita pizza- absolutely disgusting- overpriced, no flavor. Would not recommend. Don't fall for the hype

Excellent service, nice ambiance and great food. One of our favorite local restaurants. Drinks are wonderful. Try for a window seating or corner booth.

Fathers Perspective: Family had a spectacular experience pre-Covid. Was looking for a repeat 5/27/23. Did not happen. Waiter was a pro, but the kitchen clearly wanted us in, spend and out as quickly as possible. Appetizer came quickly and was sublime (fried artichokes). So we were thank for that. But we hadn't even finished them when dinner appeared. That doesn't suggest fresh and unsurprisingly, we found a find a film on the sauce which implied it had been sitting. Long story short, for a few hundred bucks, I expect a dinner experience; instead I felt like I was at a McDonalds. Daughters perspective (written by her): I would give this place a 2.5 star rating. When we got there, our waiter was quite nice to us, so that is good. We got our appetizer which were Fried Artichokes, and those were pretty good! Now, here's where it gets bad. We got our main meals, and mine was quite good! My dad's meal was good, but didn't have enough pescatore. My mom's meal was.. not that good. It was a beef dish with risotto. Her beef had obviously been sitting for a long time and the sauce was FILMING! Disgusting! After dinner, we ordered some Lemon Sorbet. When they showed us what it was supposed to look like, it was beautiful two scoops of sorbet with a lemon on top. When they served it to us, it was just two sloppy scoops of sorbet. Disappointing. I forgot to mention how rushed the service was, and when we told the manager how we felt, she didn't seem to care. How rude. We probably won't be going back.

Went to Galveston with my daughter for vacation. Was able to get a reservation for dinner when we wanted. The restaurant is small, pretty and had a great atmosphere. We started with an appetizer of Calamari Toto. Absolutely delicious! The calamari was so tender and the dipping sauce was just perfect. They bring you a basket of the most delicious bread and herbed oil to dip. We ate all but one piece it was that good. We shared our entrees which was Ravioli Bolognese and Margherita Pizza. The portions were huge. There was many pieces of ravioli and the bolognese sauce was perfect! Not too much sauce as to not overpower the ravioli. The pizza was larger than expected and we couldn't stop eating it and saying how good it was. Ingredients were fresh. Our waitress was so nice and friendly. Just a great dinner experience! I can't wait to go back and take my husband for a date night. We were so full we had no room for dessert. They roll a tiered cart up to your table with lots of delicious desserts to choose from.

Had a great dinner, I made a reservation but didn't need one, they had plenty of space on a Friday at 8pm. The service was good, servers were attentive. The star of the show was the food, I had the beyond bolognese and it was literally the best vegan/vegetarian pasta I've ever had; the sauce is to die for! My sister had the ravioli bolognese and she enjoyed it. My little sister had the Caesar salad and it was so bland. The only downside is the place wasn't as nice as the website made it seem, it's more casual, than expected. Either way I had a great time and they ended the meal with a free dessert for my birthday! I got the angel food cake and would not recommend, but thankfully it was free! This place is also very affordable, I would definitely come back!

The restaurant was beautiful, the service was excellent and the food was amazing!!! I would definitely eat here again! Highly recommend!

Service (Oscar was our waiter) was terrific and the manager was also very attentive. Food was okay. The Primo Pizza was overwhelmed with meatballs that dominated the other toppings. Likewise,the Linguine Pescatore was very good but it would have been better over angle hair pasta, so that the thick noodles don't drown out delicate seafood ingredients. Dessert was excellent: chocolate cake.

Grotto is located in the San Luis Hotel along the Galveston Seawall. We live relatively close to Galveston so we have a tendency to eat here often. I have also eaten at Grotto Downtown and Grotto in The Woodlands. I'm not sure if it is the atmosphere or the view overlooking the hotel pool or simply that the food is better here, but we like this location better than any of the others. I would recommend a reservation especially during peak season. Food: We really like their seafood pasta choices. Depending upon how hungry you are and the appetizers that you order, you may be able to split some of their seafood pasta dishes. If you want to do something a little lighter, they have really good brick oven pizza as well. They also have a decent selection of wine pairings. They have a really good anti-pasta appetizer that will easily feed four people. Be very careful if you are ordering the anti-pasta for two as you will fill up on meats and cheeses before your dinner arrives. Attire: If you are eating here in the evening, the dress is "nicer casual" or business casual. You will also see the occasional person wearing a jacket. If you show up "sloppy casual", you will definitely be under-dressed. Keep it classy. Please, gentlemen, no flip-flops. Bottom line - Pretty good Italian food with a seafood flair. A great place to eat even if you are not staying in the hotel. A nice view overlooking the pool. Reservations recommended. Bon appétit.

What a great experience! We sat at the bar and Yulii was our bartender, the service was great. My Italian husband loved the meatballs, said they were as good as his grandmothers! Brandi, the manager, surprised us with the butter cake which was amazing! We will definitely return when we are in town.

Good quality food and dessert. Highly recommend the place. Decent staff and a generally a good vibe in the restaurant.

We had a dinner with my wife at Grotto and we liked the food there, very nice and good service. We will go there one more time.

Top notch service and delicious food. I hadn't been to the Grotto since before it was purchased by Landry's, and was a little mad they got rid of my favorite dish! But I soon found another crave worthy creation- the Trio Tomato Pappardelle! It was creamy without being too heavy, and the tomatoes really shone. We had happy hour as well, the bruschetta and pizzas were amazing. Drinks were all very good, we were partial to the frozen Bellinis.

I had this after having a dinner that I didn't like, so I was kind of stuffed; but the pasta seafood was sooo good I have to leave a review. I ordered from the bar and got the marinara lemon infused seafood pasta (Iinguine pescatore) it had calamari, scallop, shrimp and mussels but I asked for no mussels and an extra scallop instead. The marinara sauce was one of the best I have ever tasted. It was mildly spicy and seasoned just right. Infused with Italian herbs and spices. It had a hardy tomato flavor. This sauce really made the dish. The pasta was al-dente and the seafood was fresh. The other thing worth mentioning was the olive spread. The bread was nothing special. Good but nothing special. The olive oil dip was infused with basil and chopped garlic it was amazing!!!!! I will be stealing this for my oil dips at home. Overall so glad to have stumbled onto this place for my second dinner of the night.

Food and service were excellent! Busy evening. Tiramisu was fabulous! Would definitely revisit when back at the San Luis Resort!

Excellent Italian food and service, a refreshing change from all the fast food of the Galveston sea wall. The portions were a nice size, and the sauce was very good. I had the Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi which was interesting and very flavorful. We will definitely stop back on our next weekend visit to the coast.

Food was good, but way over priced. Service was great. Overlooks the pool, which isn't always appetizing.

Totally the place to eat in Galveston. Food was to die for. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Family friendly, there is a bit of noise. Totally appropriate for any crowd. Highly recommended.

This restaurant has many other locations around the Houston area, and this location is most known for their seafood selections. It's perfectly situated inside of the San Luis Resort, and it was the perfect end of a beach day. I ended up getting the primo pizza because I didn't feel like getting a pasta dish. It ended up being a great choice, the crust is perfectly crunchy and thin without being dry, and the toppings make the dish perfectly balanced. The pizza itself was very delicious, but since we had bread and some drinks prior to it, I was only able to eat two slices before taking the rest home. The pizza itself is a great choice if you want to share with your party, for example one pizza and one pasta dish. I would highly recommend going with a group sharing a couple of dishes and enjoying the nice ocean view. Definitely one of Galveston's more upscale and classic restaurants, and I would highly recommend coming on a night out with the family.

We were all excited to have a mea here during a recent conference. Heard so many good things about this restaurant, and it is in one of the nicest hotels in Galveston. I great setting, sitting on top of a hill, looking out over the seawall and into the ocean. And on top of that, there was a great menu thanks to Houston/Galveston Restaurant Week. On the upside, the food was great and I left very full (with some leftovers to boot). The beer selection was ok, given that I assume that they cater more to the wine drinking crowd. On the downside, we got our meals about 45 or more minutes after we placed our orders, people at larger tables who arrived after us were served first, and we were very late leaving the restaurant (which was an issue as we all had an early morning for the conference that we were attending). Whatever the reason, the folks here clearly weren't prepared for a full restaurant and did nothing to alleviate the situation. I would have hoped that the manager would have come to visit our table to reassure us that our meals were on the way. Oh well...

Great food, quiet dark setting at dinner. We were seated right away. Food was excellent. Chapino was great. Service was absolutely excellent.

The cheesecake saved the review! I stayed at the san luis and picked up my food downstairs, I ordered the "Meatzza" pizza and it was GREASY, the bottom of the pizza was soggy and the toppings fell off because it couldn't hold its own. The calamari breading was soggy and barley on the calamari. BUT THE CHEESECAKE, Oh man, that was on point!

We go here a couple times a month. We love this place! We haven't had a dish we didn't like and the wait staff goes out of their way to make your experience a good one. We recommend the waiter Joseph. *My boyfriend always gets the Shrimp and Crab Capellini*

Perfect place for a business meeting. Galveston has changed tremendously and San Louis Resort!! A place to be. Great service, outstanding quality. Give it try.

Loved having my birthday dinner here. Barton was a great waiter. He brought over the dessert cart and explained every dessert option in detail. His recommendation of the Mozzarella in Padella was great. Simple, yet worth trying. Shrimp and Crab Capellini was devine. Sauce was so good. Pollo Francese was great for my husband, too. Artichoke was fresh and exceptional. Strawberry Cassata Cake was outstanding. My husband enjoyed the Tiramisu. Overall, great experience.

Ordered take out while staying at The San Luis Resort. The food was pretty good the pizza was a nice flat bread style with a good crunch. The Caesar salad was good as well. Good choice for staying within your comfort zone of eating while on vacation.

The food was fantastic! They had several gluten sensitive options to choose from. The service was phenomenal and the ambience was perfect. I highly recommend the peach Bellini and the grilled snapper with lump crab meat soooo good!