Grotto

This is a hidden gem for sure! Walked over from the gov center t stop- it didn't feel like the safest location especially since it was dark out when we went, but it was okay. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. The restaurant is tiny- tables are still nicely spaced but it's a packed space for sure- a little hard to hear each other speak. The complimentary bread was like nothing i've ever had- super rich, almost like a pound cake-baguette mashup, with a VERY strong olive flavored oil. We did the pre-fixe option and ordered the fonduta and duck confit to start. I thought the fonduta was nothing special- it was good steak but essentially felt like dipping steak and mushrooms in butter. The duck confit was AMAZING! Meat was falling off the bone, crispy outside but juicy meat, the sauce was delicious and a really big serving! Next, we both got the chicken under a brick- also a huge serving as well! The truffle flavor was strong but the dish overall was a little bland, but the seasoned parts were definitely delicious. To end, we got the tiramisu and cioccolato. The chocolate cake was rich, fudgy, and paired perfectly with the gelato. I found the tiramisu to be ok- the lady fingers were crunchy and it just wasn't for me. The service was amazing! Our server remembered our order seamlessly and was super friendly.The duck honestly really made my experience memorable. I am already thinking of the next time i'll be back!

The ambient lighting was romantic. I enjoyed their prix fixe menu items. Our waiter helped us pick our drinks to pair with our meals.

This place is cozy and amazing! Nice dim lighting and exposed brick.The service was pretty good as everyone that helped us was welcoming a polite.The food was great! I had the duck leg for appetizer and it was insanely good! You can tell the pasta is homemade! I enjoyed my Fra Diavolo with shrimp! Flavor was on point and the shrimp were a good size. I tried the sangria and was not a fan of it but switched to wine which worked.I will definitely be back!

Food was overall incredibly underwhelming and lacked any prominent flavor compared to what you would expect from a fine Italian restaurant. The short rib gnocchi, for example; while the gnocchi itself was plump and had good texture, and the short ribs were quite tender, the sauce tasted burned and was far too heavy on the red wine. And don't even get me started on what was undoubtedly the worst tiramisu I've ever had. I can admire their unique presentation of serving it like a sundae, but I could not excuse their stale ladyfingers, which just crumbled apart instead of being soft and soaked in expresso.As for the ambiance, the restaurant was crowded, small, and compact. I don't even want to get into the what the bathroom was like. Of course, what can you expect when the restaurant is literally underground? Overall, Boston has plenty of fantastic Italian restaurants. However, for what we were served and the amount we were charged, Grotto is definitely not one of them.

This place is such a hidden gem with warm and cozy vibes all around. Glad the cavatelle is a primi dish, if it were an entree...things would get out of hand because the only thing wrong with it, is that it's too good. Moved onto the bolognese (some of the finest in the city) and short rib gnocchi. Everything was well prepared and we appreciated the thoughtful touch of having heated plates for warm dishes, and cold plates for the dessert.

Really nice date night dinner spot. My wife booked it for my birthday and in short, the food was fantastic and the service spot on. Like a lot of restaurants in Boston, it's in the basement of a brownstone (so it felt) but the atmosphere inside is cozy enough and we were comfortable. We started with the cavatelle which was awesome (recommended by our waiter). Then we split the salmon and chicken parm. Salmon was very good but the chicken parm was very different.. it sat in a sweeter sauce and was smothered in parmesan. Was amazing and I would order again.

Last night, my fiancé and I ventured into the world of Italian cuisine to celebrate her birthday at Grotto, and boy, did it leave us in a food coma worth every bite! The journey began with navigating parking options, which included street parking and parking lots. But to save yourself from the parking puzzle, I'd recommend hitching a ride with Uber and cruising right up to the door.Upon entering Grotto, we were greeted by a cozy, intimate space adorned with charming brick walls. The noise level occasionally spiked, thanks to some enthusiastic patrons who couldn't contain their love for Italian food (or perhaps they were shouting for joy over their dishes). Pro tip: a louder music volume might keep the chatterboxes in check.The service was swift, and we dove right into the Primi, Secondi, and Dolce menu at $46 per person. Here's a glimpse of our gastronomic extravaganza:My Order:* Garlic Soup (Black Truffle, Parmesan, Bread crumbs): like a warm hug from Nonna on a cold day* Carne (Grilled tenderloin, Parmesan Risotto, Asparagus, Red wine sauce): a symphony of tenderness, cheesiness, and deliciousness* Budino (Banana bread pudding, Spiced Walnuts and caramel, Salted Caramel ice cream): dessert heaven, need I say more?My Fiancé's Order:* Cavatelle (House prepared ricotta pasta, Sausage, Peas, Mushroom, Pancetta, Cream): Nana-approved goodness in every bite* Pesce (Seared farm-raised salmon in a creamy lemon and butter sauce, Grilled broccolini & spinach): cooked to fin-tastic perfection* Tiramisu (Ladyfingers, Mascarpone, Espresso, Cocoa, Whipped Cream): espresso-lly delightful, finger-lickin' good!Our taste buds were treated to a rollercoaster ride of flavors and textures, each dish an ode to the chef's mastery of Italian cuisine. The Carne's tender steak and heavenly Parmesan Risotto left me questioning if I'd stumbled into a dream, while my fiancé - an Italian food connoisseur - raved about the authenticity of her Cavatelle and the succulent salmon.As we reached the grand finale of our meal, the decadent Tiramisu and Banana Bread Pudding left us floating on a cloud of dessert bliss. Kudos to the chef for their excellent timing and attention to detail!And now, the cherry on top: the price. For all the food we ordered, plus 2 drinks each and a 20% gratuity, our total was a jaw-dropping $137.16. Talk about a steal for such an exquisite dining experience!In conclusion, Grotto has won us over with its humorously noisy charm, mouthwatering dishes, and wallet-friendly prices. If you're in the mood for Italian cuisine that will make you laugh, cry (tears of joy, of course), and come back for more, Grotto is the place to be. Buon appetito!

Lovely Dine-out week meal at Grotto! My friend and I split the beet and goat cheese spinach salad and the sweet potato ravioli (sans bacon), both of which were phenomal! I almost got too full eating both of these. For my main, I had the mushroom risotto, which was also good and came with a sizable portion, so I ended up taking some home. We paired our meals with glasses of house Chianti ($12). To finish, we split the tiramisu and chocolate cake, both of which were delicious. Can't wait to come back!

Went here for a date night and was a great setting for it! Got the duck confit (tasty and relatively cheap as an appetizer), the cozze mussels (whatever they put in the sauce was DIVINE, I wish I knew how to make it like that), the bolognese, and the spaghetti and meatballs (similar dishes in a sense, both flavorful with the spaghetti being more herby and light tasting while the bolognese was a richer and very tasty entree). Both pastas were much larger portions than we had expected, and we happily packed up any leftovers for another meal. Overall a great experience and would go there again! Also, they have 5$ off any appetizer, entree, and dessert combo as a bonus.

A quaint spot with a romantic ambiance. Perfect for a date night. Very impressed with the service and the food was out of this world! I ordered what I thought was a very basic dish, chicken parmigiana. It was anything buy basic! The chicken was stuffed with cheese and cooked to perfection, and I'm still dreaming of the delicious marinara. My boyfriend ordered the short rib gnocchi and equally enjoyed his dish. Our waiter suggested a bottle of wine which perfectly complemented our meals. We also had dessert and a first course. Very affordable for a nice night out.