By David J. LeMaster
Seen right: Strawberry Cassata, Key Lime Pie, Mezzanotte, Pistachio Gelato, Strawberry Gelato, Zucotto.
Photography by Jim Caldwell
Visitors to Grotto will be tempted to gorge themselves on the array of breads, bread sticks, and garlic toast in the basket immediately placed in front of them. Be warned: The bread is magnificent, but you’ll want to save room for your even more magnificent meal. Grotto was voted Best Italian Food in Houston by AOL City Guide, and was a Best Italian Food Audience and Editorial Winner through City Search. The reasons are obvious. Grotto’s food, prepared in authentic wood burning pizza ovens, is exemplary.
Grotto’s vaulted ceilings and exciting, colorful murals create a unique Italian atmosphere. I took the advice of my server and tried Breast of Chicken Francese, a delectable blend of artichokes, lemons, and mushrooms in a white wine sauce and served with a penne al bosco. The dish was colorful and delicious. Grotto also specializes in pastas, especially the excellent Pasta Grotto, consisting of shrimp, calamari, chopped roma tomatoes, and pesto sauce. The menu includes an array of mouthwatering pizzas, ten different kinds of salads, and an extensive list of appetizers including Oysters “Mimmo” (Italian-style fried oysters with lemon, garlic and herb sauce), crab claws, and Scampi Grotto: shrimp sautéed with mushrooms, garlic, white wine, and lemon. Beyond these favorites, the menu features unique and delicious seafood, pasta, and chicken dishes guaranteed to please even the most discriminating palate.
The dessert tray offers three levels of scrumptious desserts ranging from a strawberry dish to cream pie to the giant, three-layered chocolate cake. The cake looked great on the tray but tasted even better, its base chocolate body perfectly moist, covered with a chocolate icing and encased in a hard chocolate crust. Chocolate lovers, you simply can’t miss it.
I give Grotto my highest compliment — I’m going back again as soon as I can!
Hours of operation: Sunday and Monday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.-midnight.
Menu Highlights
APPETIZERS
Capesante San Daniele
Seared sea scallops wrapped in prosciutto served over cauliflower parmigiano, and Barolo wine sauce
Meatballs Homemade with Marinara
Simply the Best
Cannelloni
Homemade airy, light pasta stuffed with chicken and spinach, with béchamel and marinara
PIZZA
Margherita
Roma tomatoes and mozzarella
Morty
Grotto’s Homemade Sausage with artichokes, mushrooms, and roasted peppers
PASTA
Ravioli di Mare
Homemade seafood ravioli tossed with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and shrimp in a white wine sauce
Mezzaluna
Half-moon spinach ravioli, mushrooms and roma tomatoes with a delicate sage essence
Linguine Pescatore
Linguine with shrimp, calamari, mussels, crab claws, and clams with herbs, tomatoes, and white wine sauce
PRANZO
Snapper Siciliano
Capellini crusted red snapper topped with jumbo lump crab and roma tomatoes in a garlic shrimp sauce
Veal San Pietro
Scaloppine of veal topped with artichokes, mushrooms, and frascati wine sauce, with Italian-style spinach and roasted potatoes
Pollo Positano
Chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella, sweet peppers, Italian sausage, and spinach in a marsala sauce, served with Italian-style spinach
Salmon Griglia
Grilled salmon fillet with grilled shrimp, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and a caper lemon white wine sauce
DESSERT
Three layer chocolate cake
Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate
Tiramisú
The classic Italian treat
Key Lime Pie
A light end to a perfect meal
Seen above: (clockwise from upper left): Linguine Pescatore, Crispy Shrimp and Calamari Salad, Involtini di Pollo, Snapper Siciliano, and Shrimp Paillard.
Grotto
• 4715 Westheimer (at Loop 610), Houston, Texas 77027
(713) 622-3663
More Information - Websites, Maps and Directions
• 9595 Six Pines (Market Square), The Woodlands, Texas 77380
(281) 419-4252
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