Blue Grotto

08/01/07

Best Restaurant in Metro Atlanta--Period.

by food_goon at Citysearch

My boyfriend and I take people to The Blue Grotto every time we have out of town guests. Over the past few years, we've introduced the restaurant to a diverse group of people. Everyone has loved it!

The food is delicious and the service is consistently good. The food always arrives extremely quickly. On occasion the owner has even stopped by our table to let us know he appreciates our business. Most times when I've gone, the restaurant has not been very crowded- which I've never understood considering how good the food is. But I'm sure it makes for better service- so I'm not complaining.

We usually order the Calamari...which is the first thing to arrive. It's terrific for sharing, and just might be the best Calamari I've had anywhere. It comes with roasted peppers and a delicious yellow sauce.

My favorite thing on the menu is the pistachio fried shrimp. The beef medallion is also terrific. My boyfriend's favorites are the lamb chops and the crawfish quesadilla. The crab cakes are also very good.

The other reviews have noted that this restaurant is expensive...which in my opinion refers mostly to the drinks. I think the food is reasonable considering it's unique and high quality. You can definitely order two things off the menu for between $12-$20 and be full. Big eaters might order three things.

The restaurant has a modern and trendy look to it. In closing, I can't think of another restaurant in Atlanta that I like even half as much. It's the only place I would recommend without a single reservation. Enjoy!

• Pros: Great Food, Unique Menu, Fast Service
• Cons: None

11/20/06

Cool Restaurant

by kemeers at Citysearch

I went to Blue Grotto with my boyfriend on one of our first dates and I really enjoyed it. The drinks were good, the tapas was tasty (though smaller than most tapas offerings at other restaurants) and the staff was very cool. My only complaint was I thought it was a bit over-priced. However, it's cool to have a place like this in the Marietta/Sandy Springs area and I'll go here before driving downtown.

• Pros: Very Cool Vibe, Location, Staff, Taste
• Cons: Little Pricey

11/07/06

Too Noisy

by bjp2592 at Citysearch

The food and drinks are excellent but we found the restaurant to be too noisy. Go during off hours and it would be better but it was too hard to talk.

• Pros: Good food and drinks
• Cons: Too Noisy

07/26/06

Great little place in Sandy Springs!!

by divine01 at Citysearch

This place has cool decor and great food!! I enjoyed it so much I had them cater a party for me. Recommened!!

• Pros: Cool place, reasonable prices
• Cons: none

11/10/05

Refreshing Sandy Springs paradise whets the appetite with martinis and Mediterranean-inspired tapas.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
From decor to waitstaff, Blue Grotto brims with the appeal of a hip, inviting Aegean Sea cave. Plush couches provide the perfect perch for 30- and 40-something diners who want to hear the rhythm of the nearby waterfall while surveying the restaurant's mahogany and teal blue tables. Ocean, celadon and peach walls and ceilings shimmer occasionally, thanks to Murano glass shells and pendant lighting. Servers are welcoming, but not obtrusive.

The Food
The Mediterranean menu showcases the jewels of the sea, with samplings of seared and steamed fish, shrimp and scallop dishes. The gulf red snapper with mango glaze is a highlight with its hint of sweetness. Tender beef medallion cubes atop garlic mashed potatoes accompanied by a chimichurri sauce provide heartier fare. For more traditional tapas, empanadas wrap roasted corn, potatoes and spicy chorizo sausage in a flaky--not greasy--crust.

08/10/05

Great Place - Great Food - Great Service!!!

by emilysfriend at Citysearch

We have visited Blue Grotto several times. The tapas menu is one of the finest in Atlanta. A few of our favorites include: Pistachio Fried Shrimp with Cucumber Salad & Sweet Chili Pepper Sauce; Mini Crab Cakes with Saffron Aioli; Grilled Pork Tenderlion with Spiced Apples; Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce & Cucumber Salad; Beef Madallion with Garlic Mashed Potato & Chimichurri Sauce; Crawfish Quesadilla with Diced Tomatoes; Oven Roasted Vegetable Platter with Roasted Garlic, Pesto & Balsamic Glaze - hard to believe these are tapas! The mood is very fresh & upbeat. The staff & management are both attentive and professional. Our friends were so impressed that they have selected Blue Grotto as the location for an engagement party this month.

• Pros: Great Atmosphere, Good Service, Speciality Drinks

08/06/05

pricey cozy place

by ramkrish24 at Citysearch

4 of us went to blue grotto one evening and the place was packed given the small size of this restaurant. The tapas were very tasty but the cocktails arent worth the money. Because of the small portions you have a tendency to keem 'em coming. We ended up spending close to $200 for 4 though we had only 7 drinks in total and we were shocked at the money we spent that evening. Again, the food was very tasty but if you want value for the time and money you spend on a friday evening, this is not the place.

• Pros: tasty tapas, friendly service
• Cons: tightly spaced tables, too fast service, very pricey

08/05/05

Great Food

by vyaaj at Citysearch

This is the place to go if you want great food. Each dish has a distinct taste. Your palates will burst with enjoyment. Don't take my word for it. Try it and you will believe.

07/20/05

Hip, unique tapas dining

by leigh555 at Citysearch

With a funky, modern, and very imaginative décor, this is a wonderful little hideout unfortunately we never knew existed! The atmosphere is a decent mix but get there early because they fill up pretty fast. The liquor drinks are a bit more pricey than expected but they have a great reasonably-priced wine list with many choices no matter your preference and a nifty martini list with everything from a creamy cocoa banana martini to more fruity varieties. And the food...well, the food was just Terrific!!! We had two rounds of the Pistachio-crusted shrimp with red chili sauce and it was awesome! And, if you buy two tapas during their happy hour, you get a free drink...can't go wrong with that!!! Overall, a wonderful dining experience you will want to tell your friends about.

• Pros: Unique menu, Funky, hip decor, Happy hour special
• Cons: Can get a bit noisy