Forkboy on Grotto Ristorante...

Update: 7/15/2008 Grotto is closed.

Last night I and the Mr. dined at Grotto Ristorante in Uptown on McKinney Ave. I had always wanted to try it but it took a birthday dinner to get me there. I also pass by the place every morning on my way in to the office. So I and the Mr. decided to take advantage of the beautiful evening and take the M Line Streetcar to the restaurant. My first impression was “wow, what a huge bar!” The place just seemed to pull you in and welcome you. Grotto used to be independent but is now apart of the Landry’s chain.

The Food…
The menu reminded me somewhat of the long lost and severely missed Nero’s Italian on Lower Greenville. Dishes like Paglia e Fieno, Fra Diavolo, a great wine list, exceptional deserts really brought back fond memories of my favorite Dallas restaurant. The gigantic menu held a bevy of Italian staples. The Mr. had a Pizza Margherita (9.95). This pizza was about the size of a medium Pizza Hut pizza. Very thin crust with basil, roma tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. It was delicious. We often forget that pizza should be simple, easy, and not loaded down with a bunch of crap that is going to give you heart burn later. I was really in the mood for soup and decided on the Zuppa Mariata (5.95), aka “traditional wedding soup.” This was a blend of chicken broth, chicken meatballs, Italian greens, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and pasta served with a garnish of rustic bread. If there was chicken meatballs in this soup then I certainly wasn’t able to taste them or even find them. I didn’t send it back since I was at a table of twelve and did not want to be difficult. The soup was ok even without the chicken. The carrots and celery had a nice crunch to them, although I would have preferred them to be a bit more cooked. I think a hint of cilantro would have really brought out the flavors of the broth and greens. The soup was just "ok." The wine we had was very good. I had a Cartlidge & Brown Pinot Noir. I found it to be worth the $9 per glass fee. This wine was incredibly smooth and mild and just a delight to drink. The Mr. had the Red Diamond Merlot and it was equally as pleasing. I am not a huge fan of merlot but I liked this one. Not to heavy and overbearing. Next time I will skip the soup for a pasta dish-probably the Paglia e Fieno. We all passed around deserts. I highly recommend the cheese cake-it was like butta!!

The Service…
The wait staff was all pleasant and knowledgeable. For twelve people our waiter was good and no mistakes were made. I loved the fact that black cloth napkins were used. I hate white napkins. The waiter also refolded the napkin if you got up.


The Atmosphere…
The space is open and large but very inviting. The bar is at the front of the house and is a huge piece of black granite with mahogany everywhere. There is also a small area with a few tables and a roaring fireplace. And with the lights as dim as they were I just wanted to snuggle up near the fire. We sat by the open kitchen. Usually this would annoy me but not this time. The kitchen is separated by glass. I could see the chefs flipping their creations over an open flame. It was all fun to watch. Over all I was impressed with everything but the soup. I will definitely be going back.


Food: 3.5
Service: 4.5
Atmosphere: 4.0
Health Score: 90 (very good) as of 1/23/08

Grotto Ristorante
2222 McKinney Ave.
Dallas, Tx 75201

http://www.grottorestaurants.com/