I am a lifetime resident of this beautiful coastal town. I always thought the Grotto was the place to eat, it must be because we could never afford to eat there growing up...Boy was I wrong! I booked the restaurant last week for my mom's birthday. 12 guest including my 2 small children. First of all the waitstaff were very... more

This grotto should be kept hidden! Like a cave, the Grotto is in a not so obvious spot,overlooking not only a marina, but an RV trailer park. Views of the inhabitants laundry hanging is not picturesque. The lights were dimmed, to that of cave-level, and a request was made to bring them up a little. The "drink" man complied, and... more

The Grotto works for what it offers. Don't go expecting a "fine dine" experience. It is friendly and well grooved in its appeal to tourits and locals alike. Service was prompt and efficient and although baked potatoes arrived cold, they were quickly replaced. The wine list was very affordable with a Mondavi Fume Blanc for $16. The fish was average,... more

We ate dinner in this restaurant on a Thursday Night. We both ordered a seafood dish, a speciality of the restaurant. I ordered a grilled prawn dinner in white wine sauce, my wife a seafood pasta plate. The waitress was a young gal, interested only in getting a paycheck, not in providing a service for her reward. She lacked in... more

If you want soggy, overcooked, over fried, over-buttered seafood straight out of the freezer, this is the place for you. Maybe it is fitting that everything was "swimming" in oil, sauce, or dressing: the fish, the coleslaw, or the salads. We blew a good $50 on what is probably the worst meal I've ever had while travelling on the California... more

We use to eat at the Grotto some 30 years ago when we live in Crescnt City at thier at thier old location. It was a g oood as We remembered it. We had the prawns and they were cooked tp perfection. The chowder was better than We remembered it. My advice is to skip lunch and go for dinner,... more

Recommended by our hotel (Best Western) the prime rib was pretty good and the prawns were slightly under cooked. Wait staff seemed like they couldn't be bothered and were highly stressed, although it was Vday. A very traditional atmosphere. Might go back for lunch not dinner. more

My husband and I ordered the halibut, which was one of the best. The clam chowder was good, but everything else was just okay. Sort of "old school" menu and experience. Good enough, but nothing I would go out of my way to. We ate there because it was a Sunday night and some of the other places we wanted... more

This is not an exaggeration. The truth is bad enough. I have been dining out for over 25 years of my adult life from 1 star to 5 star restaurants. All I can say is that I feel insulted from my dining experience. I have never felt this way even through experiences of bad service or poor quality food. My... more