Came for the gellato and stayed for the Cioppino. I saw a video of the chef making his gellato so…read moreI knew we had to try it. At first I thought this place was a romantic intimate restaurant but it was very casual. Not a tablecloth in sight. We decided to take a table for our gelato because it was too hot to eat it outside. Once inside we were captivated by the smell of the food. Mind you we just had lunch less than an hour ago. So just for the plot we ordered an appetizer so we can get a sense of they type of food here. Being disappointed by so many places on the seawall, we had little hope. Little hope is all we needed honestly. Our server was truly italian and was welcoming in a quiet way. Very gentle. Also ask for the Cioppino. We were handed four menus and none had it on their menu except it was pictured in the cover of one of the menus. So we just pointed to it. This one, it had no name it was just the menu cover. Soon the Cioppino arrived pipping hot in a deep bowl a tomato and seafood base stew topped with clams, mussels, shrimp, squid, fish and served with toasted Italian bread. You could tell this was no premade Cisco slop, this was spoon to pot, flavors so real you could taste the freshness of the seafood and veggies. It was truly a delight. Only thing I feel it should come with more bread. We like to sop it up. Okay now for the gelato, oh I need a moment. First I accidentally ordered the wrong flavor. Sometimes the universe gives you what you don't even know you want. I'm not big on sweets a small treat suffices for me so when I tell you I want a Home Depot bucket size all to my self I mean it. Look at the picture you'll never guess the flavor. It was Salted Caramel Butter Popcorn. The gelato so perfect and smooth with the thinnest paper thin slivers of what I believe are chocolate shavings. Don't worry the chocolate does not affect the flavors of the salted caramel, in fact, it enhances those flavors and completes the entire flavor profile. I might need to drive five hours to have it again and I am really considering doing so. Do not pass up the chance to try their gelato, it will change your life.

It has been said, "the best things in life are simple." Absolutely! My grandkids laughter, my…read moredaughter's love, and the gaze from my beautiful wife. I got to enjoy all of those things last night in the company of our new friends at Mario's! Dishes we enjoyed were the Rigatoni in vodka sauce, pasta and Alfredo sauce but the pinnacle of the servings was the daily special of a freshly caught redfish, lightly breaded and sautéed in butter paired with green beans, served over linguine in a light creamed lemon sauce. Fantastic!!! The service was great and to top it off we indulged with their homemade gelato! Chocolate Hazelnut and Almond for me, a Grapefruit sorbet along with many other options we just had to sample. The staff is well trained and it was a pleasure to share our evening with them. Mario's is a must when in Galveston. Oh, and the seaside views are also hard to beat which adds a nice atmosphere to enjoy in the company of great people.

The service, food, and environment is excellent. We love the seafood raviolis, the grilled octopus…read morecatch of the day appetizers was delicious, and the bread is always crispy, soft, and buttery. We love coming here every time we're in town!

Amazing food and service! The best! When we come to Galveston we always make sure we come hereread more

It is a romantic and beautifully authentic Italian restaurant in the heart of the historic area of…read moreGalveston. The food was incredible! All homemade pasta. Delicious sauces. Authentic preparation. And a simple menu, not pages and pages of dishes like other places. The wait staff were friendly, professional, accommodating, helpful, and made the dining experience that much more pleasant. We will definitely be returning!

Excellent. Easy five stars. The best way to ensure high quality and consistency is to have the…read moreowner and head chef present in the restaurant. Chef Pina came to our table to make sure everything was up to her very high standards. We had white bean soup, which was phenomenal, the recipe is vegan, only four ingredients according to Chef Pina but tastes so rich and delicious you would think it was based on a hearty bone broth. Crisp Caesar salad lightly dressed, eggplant Parmesan, tender and delicious, and the veal osso bucco, which to me is always a measure of how a less expensive cut of meat can be (and was) transformed into something utterly delectable. A light and creamy panna cotta with a tart mixed berry topping for desert, very delicate and not too sweet. We chose a crisp sparkling Prosecco from the extensive wine list to accompany a truly memorable meal. The restaurant is attractively decorated despite a slightly awkward layout due to the historic nature of the building it is housed in. Prices are in line with the stellar quality of the food, and our service was excellent. Oh yeah, the bread and oil are as good as everyone says. Special occasion or midweek lunch your dining dollars will be very well spent at Trattoria La Vigna.

We have tried in past to visit Grotto in other sites but due to limited hours (many are closed…read moreMonday, tues, weds) and finally found what we have been missing. Do yourself a favor and find one open next time you have the opportunity. This one is located inside San Luis Resort. Valet parking is free with a stamp they will place on your valet ticket. The restaurant is small and cozy. Sitting next to the Cove pool at twilight was very nice. We had the antipasto (italian charcuterie board) it was loaded with meats and cheeses and shared with bread on our table of 7. A little on the spicy side. We had our 3 older teen/young adult boys who came with us to the beach. 5 boys between 17-24 and they all got some bites in. For drinks the older had peach Bellini (which is frozen) and the martini. For seconds we had espresso martini and the sour. I personally liked the drinks not too sweet and the martini was dry with the espresso martini heavy on the coffee side. For entrees boys did some pizza the boglonase, Alfredo sauce with crab (they can customize a dish) and the chicken Luis was mine and delicious 10/10. Husbands had the shrimp Rocco a newer dish which was 11/10 for flavor and style Our server was super attentive and perfect. Now dessert. They have a large cart overflowing with deliciousness. Please ask to see the cart. We ended up with 5 items shared (there were more to choose but everyone has their limits) the triple chocolate was one of the most moist and chocolatey cake ive tasted. And a huge oversized slice. My foodie son could not eat it all! Key lime pie, brownie and tiramisu (also a huge serving taken for a midnight snack) Overall we definitely found out what we've been missing and will be back sooner rather than later.

You walk into Grotto and immediately understand the assignment: this place wants to look like a…read morepolished, upscale hotel restaurant more than a traditional Italian spot. The large windows bring in loads of daylight, and the modern, clean design gives the room a bright, contemporary feel. It's stylish without being dramatic, and everything feels curated to suggest you're in for something special. The menu leans into classic Italian‑American comfort with a high‑end gloss -- pastas, seafood, veal, steaks -- all presented with the confidence of a restaurant that knows it photographs well. And the food is good. Not great, not transportive, not "I must tell everyone about this," just solidly competent. You can tell the kitchen knows how to execute, but you also get the sense that nothing here is trying to surprise you. And then there's the pizza -- priced like it's been flown in from a Michelin‑starred pizzeria on the Amalfi Coast. It's fine, but the bill will make you blink twice. The whole experience feels intentionally elevated, which makes it even more noticeable when the flavors don't quite match the visual promise. Grotto is a great place when you want a night out that feels upscale: a nice dinner, a celebratory vibe, a setting that makes everything seem a little more important. Just know you're paying premium prices for an experience that's more about atmosphere and execution than culinary revelation -- especially if you order the pizza.

I am overdue writing this review. We celebrated my birthday at Gonzalo's. Upon arrival, we…read morewere met by Angela and her staff with a wonderful setting for our party of 14 people. Angela had wine ready to pour and appetizers for the group. Food was amazing and service was second to none. We frequent here as often as we can and Angela always welcomes us like family. This is one of the best restaurants on Galveston Island and I highly encourage you to experience the food and hospitality of this gem of a locally owned Italian eatery.

This place was cute. They helped me select the perfect dish and it was amazing…read more The food was fresh, flavorful and not oily. We ordered at the counter inside. Or you can pick the QR Code at the table. I enjoyed the entire experience.

We had a late breakfast at Millers , the vibe was very comfortable , the views of the ocean were…read moreperfect. The Food was excellent! Hot, fresh , and at a fair price. HOWEVER , Our server , EJ , he was amazing. Didn't hover or ignore us but was on point with what we needed throughout the entire meal. He made the whole experience worth coming back. Best food and service since we hit Galveston y'all.

It was my birthday, and we were on vacation, and I selected Miller's for my birthday dinner…read more Despite being a holiday week, we were able to walk right in and be seated right away at a table looking out at the beach. The wait staff was super friendly, and very attentive. I liked the fact that there were appetizer options that you could as a half order, as many times the appetizers are so large that once you're finished, you have no room for your meal. We decided on a half order of the hush puppies. They came out hot, crispy, and so delicious! For our meals, I got the fried shrimp, and my boyfriend got the fish and chips. Both of us enjoyed our meals, but I have to give a special shout out to my side of mac & cheese. This can be iffy at most restaurants, as you never know if it's going to be dry from being under a warming oven in the kitchen. This was probably the best side of mac & cheese I've ever gotten in any restaurant! It was moist and delicious!! The parking lot at Miller's isn't large, but we were lucky to get a spot. It is also well located on the seawall, so it is only a short walk to other shops and attractions. We thoroughly enjoyed our birthday celebration at Miiller's!

Authentic muffulettas and a true taste of history! The Maceo…read morefamily's history and recipes are unique and well worth experiencing. We traveled to Galveston to visit the store and restaurant firsthand. For years, we followed Ronnie Maceo's story and were saddened by his passing. Thankfully, his daughter, Concetta, has continued the family legacy. We were fortunate to meet her during our visit. She was incredibly gracious, and spending time with her made the experience even more memorable. The food was absolutely delicious, and we couldn't leave without stocking up on spices and sauces. It's amazing how much history, culture, and tradition are packed into this one place. The gumbo roux is the perfect rich, dark color, and the flavor is everything you hope for--authentic, hearty, and reminiscent of New Orleans. Concetta also shared the weekly specials, giving us even more reasons to return. Needless to say, every future trip to Galveston will include a stop at Maceo's. I highly recommend adding Maceo's to your bucket list. See you there!

I don't get down to Galveston very often, but as soon as I heard about Maceo Spice & Import…read moreCompany, I knew I'd be making a trip. My wife and I ordered a muffuletta and a turkey sandwich along with small cups of gumbo and red beans and rice. All were excellent. The service was a bit slow, but we arrived about the same time as the Sunday church crowd, so I think that's to be expected. The restaurant is also a store, and they have a good variety of products, despite being rather small. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the Galveston area!

It embarrasses me as a BOI who lived in Galveston for 27 years to say that the first time I ever…read moreate at Mario's Ristorante was a few nights ago. I've gone down 61st countless times, but not once have I ever set foot inside this longtime Italian culinary institution. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ordered from here, either. Mario's was on my radar for the evening on Wednesday after I toured the new Ball High (Class of 2000). I failed to resist the siren song of the dinner buffet, which takes place every Wednesday from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. For about $17, diners could have their pick of the five or so pizzas in addition to entrees, pasta, salads, and deserts. I decided to have a slice of each pizza -- cheese, pepperoni, supreme, meat lovers, etc. -- since I was a newbie to the establishment. The slices were the usual hand tossed and not too thick. The cheese-to-toppings ratio was pretty even. Fortunately, I enjoyed each, so much so that I felt stuffed as I worked on my third slice. After pizza, I assembled a plate consisting of fried fish, potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken pasta. My taste buds were continuously treated to straight-up Old World Italian deliciousness. I couldn't get enough of the fried fish and chicken pasta. It took me a while to finish the spaghetti because I was beyond the point of full. I had no choice but to forego the chicken masala and seafood rice pilaf. Mario's, which has existed since 1967, has the undeniable feel of an old school pizzeria. Guests can actually feel the warmth emanating from the kitchen as well as the staff. When dining in, be sure to ask for Wyatt. He'll make you feel right at home. Whitney is another person you ought to get to know also. I believe that a lot of my Wednesday evenings will be spent here.

Friendly fast service, food is delicious. No customizations or substitutions on menu though.read more