La Grotta Cucina Italiana

Maria Yosepha

5.0

Perfect place for an intimate dinner with family or your special someone. This cozy and classic Italian restaurant has been around for the longest time and never ceases to fail to impress. The interior is old school and warm while at the same time well lit. The service is professional. Their parking is at the back, so you’d have to go around, which is a bit hassle. But I appreciated how they let us pass through the kitchen to the dining area because my grandmother was with us, otherwise I assume we’d have to go around the block.We were serenaded by a live acoustic band as we enjoyed our dinner. With the standard complimentary bread and its dips and spreads, we ordered their tomato soup which had the aroma of basil and their clam soup. We also had their paninis and their Italian cold cuts (the name is too long haha). Both are absolutely delicious! You need to eat the panini with their chili oil to truly appreciate its taste. We had their pizzas: Bianca and Calabrese Piccante. The Calabrese Piccante was so flavorful and fresh! Their Bianca was delicious of course, but I prefer the Calabrese. We had their pasta: Aglio Olio, hands down one of the best I’ve had. I love that they added bits of shrimp that was so delicious with the bits of garlic. Ravioli Di Soinaci, delicious and fragrant and filling! Tagliatelle di tartufo crudo, which is basically mushroom and truffle pasta! Delicious, never fails to impress and satisfy, must order! I love the solid pieces of fresh mushrooms there. Vongole, it was delicious with a generous amount of clams. Marinara, like the vongole had a generous amount of seafood in it, mussels and squid and shrimp. Condito sogliola, their sole fish. The citrus flavors perfectly mingled with the fresh fish! It was actually a great main dish that stood out in the night surprisingly! Risotto, full of flavor, mixed with slices of fresh mushroom. Perfect creaminess. It did not make you want to stop eating after some bites. Well balanced flavors and texture!We had their Steak and their Lamb shank as well, which I can’t find in website’s menu. Both are good. The steak was medium well, I’d prefer it medium rare, but delicious and well seasoned. The lamb shank was tender and packed with flavor from the tomato sauce. Food: 5/5Interior: 5/5Service: 5/5Value for Money: 5/5 (Though expensive, the portions are generous and you will be full and get your money’s worth.)

Jemima Semaya

4.0

Really good Italian resto that's not ultra expensive. We liked everything we ordered. Insalata Caprino was a good light salad of greens and tomatoes in a balsamic dressing speckled with flavorful pecorino cheese and shreds of goat cheese. The pecorino really adds oomph. Had this with a decent brewed coffee.For mains we shared Penne Bocelli pasta and Risotto Finanziera. The pasta was served with beef tenderloin strips in a lightly spicy tomato sauce. A seemingly simple dish but really flavorful. The Risotto is with chicken pieces and finished with mascarpone cheese. Again great flavor from the cheese. We are a Tiramisu for dessert. Tasty but kinda too moist - possibly from microwaving a frozen cake. We had good Sangiovese wine and Red Sangria with our meal and shots of limoncello with dessert. Give La Grotta a try when you're in the mood for Italian.

Agus Trihan

3.0

I like their Vegetable Soup, it's a bit sour but it a tastefully good way. The veggies in it weren't overcooked. The salad dishes were basically okay. Serving time was fast. The place's interiors looked old though. Affordable prices.

Hazel Ebitner

4.0

the place is quiet and cozy. quite expensivelinguine alla vongole - caution: addictive, well depends on your tastebuds i guesspizza bianca - a good pair with the vongole as it creates a balance to the tasteserving is fair.price - willing to spend

Dominic

4.0

(Let me tell you in advance that this is a fine dining place so expect the price to be quite pricey, plus was not able to take photos of the dishes served) While you wait for your orders, you get a basket of warm set of bread with a plate of balsamic vinegar, a butter, and liver spread which you can refill. Truffle Pasta (Tagliatelle Di Tartufo Crudo, 430 Pesos) is amaaazing. You get a big serving of a creamy and really heavy dish topped with porcini that will satisfy your craving. The Pollo Vesuviana (big chicken breast in tomato sauce, 600 Pesos) does not disappoint, too, as it comes with some veggies on the side a portion of really tasty baby potatoes (but does not come with rice so you have to order a separate one). Ripe Mango shake was delicious as it should be. Just quite disappointed with the lamb chops (Costata di Agnello, 890 Pesos) as it had big bones rather than getting a bigger portion of meat.

Zyra Gramatika

4.0

From the outside, it looks like your run in the mill restos around Makati and sometimes it even blends in the background. We had our company lunch here only a few weeks ago.From the inside it gives you that simple restaurant feels but do not be fooled - La Grotta Cucina Italiana is indeed a cave full of delectable Italian treasures so if you're looking for Authentic Italian food (seriously), La Grotta is the place to go!Everything I've tried there tasted delicious (especially their lamb meal 'Stinco Al Brasato' and Bianca) so if you're in the area, this is a must-try!I'm giving it a 4.5 as the aesthetics from the outside needs improvement but the food (which are reasonably priced), the ambience, the service, and everything else is definitely commendable.

Cihanacara

5.0

You want to talk about unassuming secrets in makati, you can't not mention La Grotta! Amazing traditional Italian food, their service is amazing and the general ambiance is my favourite! Going here is like stepping into a Scorsese film like good fellows! Old style service, waiters in suits, and just good wholesome food! The food comes out slow so take that into account but it makes for the experience. Put your phone down and chat to your friends Over wine while you wait!

Peigy Biantoro

4.0

La Grotta is one of Makati City's pride and gems for its authentic Italian dishes. It's unpretentious and the quaint ambiance makes it more fascinating.The Panini was an outrageous appetizer. The shrimps and sundried tomatoes were a total complement and the flavors were just amazing. Add chili oil and expect it be more lush. Their Rigatoni Ragu Fornaia was heaven sent. The meat sauce was creamy and at the same time just as good as the Panini. Those al dente rigatonis had the perfect texture to it. Good bite! Of course, no Italian lunch would be complete without the pizza. Decided to try their Favorito. Somewhat close to a four cheese type of pizza, but even better. The ricotta cheese was aplenty. The salami had this chorizo flavor to it which gave esch slice an explosion of flavors. The crust was perfectly baked and had the right thickness that would make each bite more pleasant. Definitely not the last time. Thank god it's near our place. I loved the dining experience here. Delizioso! 😊

Charm Llorente

4.0

Finally, we get to dine at La Grotta. Last Saturday, around past 6PM, there are few diners for early dinner. The place appears to be old, but I can tell its a fancy place. Its like an Italian resto, I can see in the movies. Servers are extra attentive. My date call the shots. And I trust him for this. La Grotta has big servings. We had:Panini- focacia bread rolled with arugula, sundried tomato and shrimp- hmmm I can eat this everyday. Bread is warm when served, plus the cruch of arugula.. superb! And dipping it in a chili sauce.. its heaven! Taglia Telle Di Tartufo Crudo- flat pasta mixed with porcini topped with parma ham in truffle cream sauce. - tartufo never fails my taste buds. Truffle cream sauce is great, but has an “umay” factor. Good thing we split the order in half, which is enough for me. One serving is good for two. Verdict: 👻 food- big serving. Quality food. And all we had are satisfying. I highly recommend thw “panini”. Its my new favorite! 👻place- old yet classy. Perfect date place I shlould say. The place has performers, and I love the sound. 👻 all in all I enjoyed my dining♥️

Agus Hamdan Sogiron

5.0

Authentic Italian restaurant in Makati. A casual dining during day time. In the evening, there were musicians that serenades every table making it a romantic dining experience for everyone.Before our order arrives, they serve us with some toasty and soft homemade bread, with olive oil and vinegar for dips. Their Panini and Spaghetti Marinara are incredibly delicious. An order of these two are already enough for 2 person. The serving size is quite big and we request them to split our order of spaghetti into two plates. Pizzas here are definitely worth a try too. Their pricing considering its location is just fine for me, not too expensive.