This was definitely the most awful experience I have ever had dining out. The setting is amazing but that is the only good thing about this restaurant. The food was worse than terrible there was absolutely no way any part of our dinner warranted the...price they were charging of 195 euros. The service was dreadful, it started out well all the fuss you would expect from a fine dining experience , but as our meal went on they became less interested never asking us how our food was and if we were OK for everything, either they didn't care or they knew that complaints would be coming. When we did complain they weren't very helpful. I am vegetarian and had to pay full price for food that I wouldn't even insult myself by cooking. The desserts came out and it was obvious they had been pre plated earlier in the day and were just taken out of the fridge. I would be embarrassed to work for an establishment like that with their absolute disregard for what is right, and how good food should be done. I would advise anyone please do not waste your time or money going here you are paying for the view only, its nice but not worth 200 euros!More

Fantastic View, Fantastically overpriced, Fantastically terrible food, Fantastically terrible service. Food was cold, and overcooked. Wait staff couldn't care less if you were enjoying your meal or even if you were there for that matter. Close to a $1,000 for four people is absolutely over...the top. What a rip-off.More

I booked the location for our 20th honeymoon birthday. The location is indeed fantastic and one of a kind... nothing to say about that. But except the location and atmosphere, the food was not as it should be in such a setting. My first dish...(scalops) were cold and my main dish (lamb) was too dry, tough and cold as well. Really disappointed. For the price of about 450 EURO I expect more than only eating in a nice atmosphere. A positive note : the free taxi shuttle service between a reserved parking location outside the city center and the restaurant was nice and very well arranged !More

The restaurant is a pretentious place that present it self as a high end restaurant but it is not! Though beautiful location the food, that was described and looked delicious was at better tasteless or not good. The service was not professional - they offered...blankets since it was cold, when we asked the waiter rolled his eyes, table next to us complained and another waiter was arguing with them.More

I lack the words to adequately explain the level of tourist trap this restaurant is. It’s difficult to have mediocre Italian food but that’s what it was at best (start to finish, plating to flavor, everything!). The Service was less than average and we paid...430 EUR for two (we had one glass of wine). It’s simply not worth it even though the view is spectacular.More

This is a seriously overpriced and underdelivering restaurant. It was absolutely freezing. We thought that being cold weather this expensive restaurant would at least have some gas heaters to warm things up. But no, no effort was made to warm up the guests. The food...was really hit and miss. Some dishes were nice and tasty, others like the zucchini flowers were heavy and awful, unlike the like tempura batters I am used to in Australia. When you pay the big dollars, you expect an A-grade result. Ignore the photos of this place, and get your nice coastal photos elsewhere. Not worth it.More

Stay away. Total tourist trap. The most gorgeous setting in existence where you’ll spend $1000 for what can best be described as Carrabas tried their hardest to do a tasting menu with a wine pairing. We’re not super snooty ppl that put down everything, we’re...also people that have no problem dropping $700 on a Michelin Star meal. The food was atrocious, the wine pairings nonsensical, the olive oil rancid. Honestly the first time in my life I didn’t enjoy bread and olive oil at a restaurant. The first time in Italy that I didn’t enjoy the pasta. Literally turned to my wife and said, after 3 years of living in Europe that was the first restaurant that broke my heart. Just a soulless capitalist money grab. Only time in my life I’ve stopped a tasting menu half way through and said I do not even want to continue. The food and wine were literal trash. Went down the street and had some of the best pasta dishes in my life at Osteria Piga for €10. Please, please, please save your money, ignore the Instagram posts and avoid this restaurant at all costs. It’s the Olive Garden in a cave….and honestly that’s an insult to the Olive Garden that they don’t deserve. At least the Olive Garden prices accordingly and knows what they are. €800 for two to dine here is laughably embarrassing. By the way…the place was totally empty for an 8:30pm reservation on a Friday night. That should tell you all you need to know. People have caught on to this scam. Don’t fall victim.More

We had enyoj very much dinner with my wife. Place is absolutely fabulous. Food was great and portions bigger than expected. Staff was friendly and helpful. Not to mention the view, which is exceptional. We are recomending it and would for sure visit it again.

What a rip off and over hyped place. The worst 5 star hotel I’ve stayed at, purely for the purpose of eating at the grotto restaurant that I’ve heard and seen so much about only to be left extremely disappointed. It’s insanely over expensive for...bad/mediocre service. Don’t waste your time or money here. They force you to at least order three courses and the food is just so plain and ordinary there is nothing that justifies how expensive it is. Seriously disappointed and the hotel staff were unhelpful and not the most service minded and friendly. I was there with my mum celebrating why would have been my parents 30th wedding anniversary and I called to get a cake made for her and they forgot. The next day I complained to the staff and they dismissed me and did nothing care at all. They could have maybe offered us a breakfast or something or just an apology. Very horrible experienceMore

We had the worst culinary experience at Ristorante Grotta Palazzese. Food and service were not up to expectations of the high price. The prices are not justified and impose a menu per person with only 3 courses, no appetizers: one starter, one main course and...a tiny dessert are included for 190 euros per person without drinks. We did not not finish any of the meals as it was not tasty at all. The lobster was not cooked. I could not swallow it. We just wanted to run away after paying the bill on-site. Only the view is enjoyable. Plus we were charged 150 euros in advance in order to secure a table. We will only be refunded 150 euros deposit a month later. This is a scandal. I advise any traveller NOT to visit this restaurant.More

We went to Grotta Palazzese 6 perople for dinner. During the 2 1/2 hours there we never got the feeling that any of the staf really cared abount the guests. The restaurant was not full, but still there was no attention. We ordered the big...menu with wine wine pairing, but the wine was not served until we had eaten most of each dish. We asked for water several times without getting it and the food was cold (when it was supposed to be warm) and in general the food was of a very inferior quality. Sometimes the waiter informed us about the type of wine we got, sometimes not. We ordered the biggest tasting menu with 7 courses, but only got 4 courses. When we asked about this, the waiter just apologized and said it was a computer error. They charged almost the same for 4 courses as 7 courses, only EUR 40 difference out of EUR 230 per person without wine), instead we could get a cheap bottle of spumante for free!! In the end when we paid they refused to deduct our EUR 400 deposit from the bill, they preferred to “return it later”. And it is an open restaurant and it is windy and cold out of summer season. The restaurant is a tourist trap and the quality is inferior, service is very bad, I will not recommend to anyone to go there.More

Worst dining experience in Italy. I understand it is a prefix menu but other than taking my order no one ever approached my table unless to clear a plate regardless if I was finished. I was given the wrong wine (which they tried to charge...me for) and had to refill my own glass though out dinner and get up and ask for my check after sitting 45 min after my meal. Not one person even checked on food or table. Beautiful setting, Mediocre food, terrible service especially for $250 a person.More