The food, the service and the atmosphere all matched this great vibe, which is rare. Outstanding service by Alex!

We were in town for a massive competition, and one of the girls had Celiac disease, so we had been recommended to The Grotto as having safe gluten-free options so we made reservations for our first night in town. Our girl is hyper-sensitive to cross-contamination, but the service staff asked all the right questions and took her needs so seriously even on an insanely crowded night, that we felt so comfortable. She LOVED the food, and the rest of our party did too - which is rare at many places with GF options! She begged to go back the next night, but with the size of the crowd in town, there were no reservations to be had. We stopped by, explained to Kate at the front desk why we were so hopeful to eat there again, and she was able to move mountains to get us in that night. It completely made our night, and we are so so grateful for her accommodation so we could have another safe AND delicious dinner! Thank you, Kate, and the rest of the Grotto staff and chefs - we will absolutely be back next year (with reservations for both nights this time!). read more

I love coming to this location when I'm downtown near the convention center! It's conveniently located by the George R. Brown convention center and adjacent to two large hotel chains popular for conferences. The food is always good at Grotto and they have excellent wine! On this visit, the playlist was 90's - 2000's top 40 and I song I knew was playing as I walked in which is always a good sign for me! Service was friendly and our server was attentive. I tried the chef's bruschetta which featured apricot, almonds, brussel sprouts, and feta cheese! It was different and good. read more

Had a business dinner at Grotto Downtown and it all was pretty good! We had pizza's, pastas and some appetizers that all were very tasty. I would like to start out by giving a big shoutout to Ari who was the best server anyone could ask for. She should be promoted or given a bonus or something! Thanks, Ari! The ambiance was nice. Outdoor and indoor seating and private dining for parties with a nice bar. I am a bit of a pizza snob, and while it was good I'm reserving my 5 stars for my top fav pizza's and this didn't make that cut. The pasta's were awesome though, and the appetizers were great. I'd definitely pop back in, especially if you are at the convention center or headed to a ball game. Thanks! read more

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While in Houston at a convention, I stepped out from the event and only had to walk a few feet to Grotto. What a delight! The interior is artsy and fun, with dark wood and unique lighting. I got there before the rush, so I had most of the restaurant to myself, and that was very pleasant. The service was impeccable. I was sat quickly, greeted professionally, my server came over immediately. He offered suggestion (and they were spot on for my taste), I had my water and a drink within minutes, and within 10 minutes I had my food. It was delicious. I are alone, and enjoyed every minute - thats not something I normally say. I hate eating alone. But I felt welcomed there. And when I asked for if the waiter know where the hotel was from the restaurant, he quickly pulled out his phone and looked it up for me and then made sure I understood the directions. Now... thats service! read more

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We had such a wonderful night at grotto. We had a large group and had an individual room with the sliding door that closed off. You were able to control the music independently here which was very nice. The food was very amazing and the service was impeccable. read more

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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? read more

Grotto Downtown - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I went in for lunch last week opening day of Astros. I ordered the Frito Miso and the pepperoni pizza. Oh my God delicious. The service was great. I said at the bar the ambience was wonderful. Lots of people friendly people. read more

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Omg this place was amazing!! We got a pizza and the shrimp pasta and both were delicious. The vibe is super cute and the staff was super friendly. For how busy it was, service was great and the food came out quick! Definitely would come back here when in Houston. read more

Grotto Downtown - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We had an incredible dinner Grotto. The food was incredible and our waiter steve was the absolute best. We were celebrating a colleagues retirement and he went out of his way to make her feel special and make sure we all had an incredible experience. This is by far the best restaurant we went to while we were in Houston and the reason why was because of the incredible service we received. So warm, so friendly, Truly above and beyond. Definitely go here if you're in Houston and definitely ask to sit in Steve's section. read more

I never know what I'm going to get when I go to restaurants by tourist attractions and hotels... however I was extremely surprised by how great this place was... came in around 5pm on Friday.. decently busy but I was able to sit at the bar on the chairs without backs (which upset me at first but ended up being very comfortable). I was alone but didn't feel judged or anything which was nice. I got the sangria and the francese dish. Everything came out fast. I don't love red sangrias but this one was excellent... and the food... I would've drank the sauce if they gave me a glass.. so so good I was obsessed and almost at all of it and it was a nice big portion. Ambience is warm and friendly.. if I'm ever back in the area I'll have to come again! read more

Grotto Downtown - Sangria - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

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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! read more

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Shannon was so amazing handling a large volleyball team and parents... Separate checks!! Food was perfect after a long tournament..

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

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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! read more

Grotto Downtown - Short Rib Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Crème brûlée was awesome - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

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Great food, great customer service, everything went well. My only concern and obviously this isn't the restaurants fault in any shape or form but man was I at Grottos or at Chuck E. Cheese this past Saturday? Children everywhere bumping around you as you eat and being obnoxious. Wish the parents did something about it but oh well. Uncontrollable and not grottos fault thank you for the great experience and dish nonetheless read more

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

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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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Gamberoni. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

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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. read more

Ate at Grotto downtown twice today between volleyball matches. Alicia was an excellent server that took care of us both times.

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. read more

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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.

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. read more

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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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 read more

Grotto Downtown - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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! read more

Grotto Downtown - Tomato basil soup, meatballs, garlic knots, fried cheese, beef skewers - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Crème brûlée - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Bar area - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

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

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. read more

Grotto Downtown - Strawberry Cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas