Grotta Palazzese

I’m glad I got to see the place, but I’d only recommend it if the price is truly affordable for you. At nearly €500 per person, it’s one of the most overpriced meals I’ve had, and I’ve reviewed hundreds of places, including many three-star Michelin restaurants. The food was decent, but not Michelin level. You’re mainly paying for the setting and the view. At half the price, I’d have given five stars. The location is spectacular, a cave in a cliff above the ocean, with an incredible view. One of the most Instagrammable places I’ve seen. I had the tasting menu with wine pairing, and the food was good. Service was uneven. The staff were friendly, though they seemed a bit understaffed. This review is only about the restaurant. I didn’t stay at the hotel.

The setting is fabulous and memorable, and the staff were friendly and polite, happy to chat and knowledgeable about the food and wine. The food was nice, with an excellent pudding, but it could have been much better. We were glad we went, though I’d return to the hotel and skip the restaurant. It’s a bucket list place, but the meal doesn’t justify the price. We drove down from Snowdonia in Wales, setting off Monday evening for the four-day trip, and reached Grotto Palazzese around 16:00 Friday. Getting the wide car through medieval Italian streets was nerve-racking. I expected the alloys to get damaged, but they stayed untouched. Somehow we came out beside the hotel entrance. From outside it looked like an ordinary house, but inside felt like the Tardis. Once staff confirmed we were overnight guests and not a Brit who’d blocked the private car service, the valet took the car to park. When we came back out, it was still there, surrounded by about 50 tourists taking photos, and smelled of a fried clutch. The valet asked how to reverse it. I showed him he needed to push harder to find reverse, but he stalled it another 14 times, and the fly-off handbrake seemed to nearly finish him off. It was a wide, right-hand-drive manual GT, so I don’t blame him for finding it difficult. Our suite was already full of our luggage, and they seemed to do everything for us. It was better than I’d imagined, with a stunning view and controls on an I-Pad. There was also a separate gated street entrance and a small outdoor table where we could enjoy the complimentary fruit. We had drinks on the street while waiting for our restaurant seating. It was busy, and the waiting staff were courteous enough. There were three seven-course tasting menus, fish, meat, or vegetarian, plus a reasonable wine list and wine pairing. We both chose seafood with the pairing. In hindsight, we should have chosen different menus to compare. The courses were tasty but nothing outstanding. One was spaghetti in yellow tomato sauce, which surprised and disappointed me when I was paying a thousand euros for the meal, even if a Michelin chef prepared it. The wine pairing disappointed too. We should have put the 180 euros each, or whatever it was, toward one nice bottle. The main fish tasted like tinned sardines. I enjoyed mine, but Rita sent hers back. They offered an alternative, which we declined. We didn’t feel rushed.

We went at 8 pm, when it was already dark, so we couldn’t really see the sea. I’d have preferred an earlier booking, to enjoy the view in daylight and stay as it got dark. Even so, the atmosphere was intimate and unique, with live jazz and delicious food, and the place was unforgettable. My partner and I made a considerable financial effort to eat here, and I don’t regret it. I just wish the service matched the price. When we arrived, there was nobody at reception to tell us whether to wait or sit down, and there was a stain on the tablecloth. I feel lucky I got to see the place. This review is about the restaurant.

We left before ordering. After sitting for 20 minutes without drinks, bread, or anyone taking our order, we got up and walked out. When someone finally came to ask what we wanted, I had a question and they answered it, then walked away without taking the order. About ten minutes later, staff picked up the bread plates as if clearing the table, though we still had no bread or drinks. We’d booked months ahead for the first seating at 6:00 pm. They sat us down with a tablet for drinks and a menu, and greeted us coldly. We expected excellent food and service for such an expensive evening. We waited ten minutes to order a glass of wine and a beer. Five minutes later they said they were out of beer, even though they’d just opened, and the wine never arrived. Most tables were occupied, with people eating and drinking, but staff ignored us. We got no water either. The ambiance is beautiful, though the crashing ocean makes the cave quite loud. At a minimum of $250 EU per person, it wasn’t worth it. I strongly recommend keeping your distance if you’re thinking of visiting.