Came for a dinner meeting and everyone received their food except us. Hard to get staff attention. Currently here right now and still haven't gotten any of our food. Would not recommend Update finally got the food after a complaint, overall taste well read more

La Griglia - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've been going to La Griglia with my stepfather and my daughters for 15 years. Sadly last night will be last time. The new restaurant is very uptight and rushed. Our waiter hovered our entire meal and tried to upsell everything we ordered. The waiter told my daughter they do not serve Shirley temples, and did not hesitate to say "we do not serve Shirley temples at this establishment, to her". Rude. Also, he charged us for an entree ravioli and served an appetizer. The entrees are now al la carte? I'm so tired of restaurants over charging for the simplest produce with zero flavor. Last but not least the cookies are now unavailable after dinner. This was one our favorite things to have during dessert. You've taken away the essence of what was a nice family restaurant. Even the seasoned waitstaff we know seemed different. Bad idea. read more

Patio ambiance was very nice. Hanging hen was very good. The carbonara was kind of dry. The service was good, but my server wasn't very knowledgeable in regard to the menu and drinks. It was pretty apparent he was new. The olive oil Martini hits hard. I would visit again. read more

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Wanted to try the new location. Read article about the new location, the amount of money spent on the porch, the more upscale this restaurant is versus the old location etc. I arrived a little early for my reservation but was seated while I waited on my guest to arrive. Ordered a dirty vodka martini w/ blue cheese olives. All though it came from the bar as a traditional vodka martini with vermouth and ever so slightly dirty, just traditional. I really don't like vermouth in my martini and i like it much dirtier but I didn't specify so I drank it. When my guest arrived I was sure to order theirs the way I like it as they prefer it that way also. I had plenty of time to admire the outside seating area. Very beautifully done. Retractable roof, trees growing through openings in the roof very nice wood work on areas that didn't retract. Over all, a very, very nice arrangement. Heaters are secured to the ceilings and are closer to some tables than others. A couple of ladies came later and sat down at the table next to me but further from the heater. I had asked numerous times to turn heater down because I was cooking. They would turn them off, because it was either off or on, but then very quickly I realized I was cooking again. I then realized our table wanted no heat and the other table wanted heat. The ladies were wearing sleeveless dresses so weren't dressed warm enough for the outside seating. Anyway I relented because didn't want to be "that guy". Each one of us ordered something different. Snapper , veal and seafood pasta. All was very good. Service was excellent. All in all I enjoyed the restaurant the atmosphere and the food. Parking is valet but lot was filling up fast as it shares with another restaurant. I have to point out the Cesar salad was fantastic. I plan on going back and bringing my wife to let her enjoy the outside seating. Ill just know to keep in mind location of table vs heaters. The heaters are not very high up so you can feel them very very well. As I stated the restaurant is more upscale so be prepared to dig deeper in the pocket vs the old location. read more

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The food, service and decor was all very much what I expected from this restaurant and we had a most enjoyable evening. My only complaint is the "strictly enforced" dress code must not be "strictly enforced" if you are a "special someone" A very tall man (I can only assume was perhaps a professional basketball player) came in with his date/wife and had baggy shorts on past his knees and untied tennis shoes. His date/wife was dressed very nice. I have NO problem with what he was wearing! I just do not understand the "strictly enforced" dress code that is noted by the entrance to the restaurant and on the website. ‍ We live in Houston, there are a lot of "special people" here; shouldn't your dress code apply to all? read more

Food subpar service was horrible ambiance was very nice but very loud and it's feels very tight

The mushroom lasagna was phenomenal. I would get it any time. It is pricey Service was good. read more

I have been to this restaurant a total of three times, the first two times were magical. I was met with amazing service, incredible hospitality, and the overall vibe felt welcoming. This last visit I was met with the complete opposite. When my party arrived we were told we had to wait for the table we had reserved. Which is totally fine, until we watched 3 more parties of the same size walk in and all get sat immediately. Our server treated us as a burden all night. He kept taking the cocktail menu away the whole night while we were all actively drinking and when i asked for it back he took 20 minutes and another server had gotten it to us already. I tried to tell him there was an issue with the bill because he was walking by ignoring our table (we were getting charged for drinks we didn't order) and he dismissively looked at me and walked off as i tried telling him , had to get another server and tell them. The service here truly sucked! read more

I have been to La Griglia a few times, the pizza is very good, the pasta's OK. My partner and I went last night and will not return (we will get the pizza to go). We ordered Bucatini Amatriciana and a Pepperoni pizza ($30 total). We ordered 2 margarita's and 2 Mexican mules. The server asked if we had a tequila preference and we asked for their house/well. We were unfortunately surprised when we got the bill and were charged $20 per drink (Casamigas) plus $4 for each margarita for the Cointreau (total $88 for 4 drinks). We have had drinks at our past visits at a reasonable cost. The ambiance is formal and not comfortable, the servers have generally been standoffish. The pizza is the highlight; but not worth visiting the restaurant. read more

Had a nearly perfect weeknight dinner with friends. Service was great throughout as multiple members of the team tended to and checked in on us. The Portabello Salmoriglio in particular was fantastic and was the favorite dish for the table overall, as it came as close to tasting like a steak as I can remember from a mushroom. The Ahi Tuna was good, but not as memorable. The other elements of the dish were solid, but the tuna itself just didn't have an ideal texture. The Gnocchi Alla Ragu was tasty overall, but the pasta itself did eat a little overcooked. The Gulf Snapper Livornese, however, was incredible. That was easily my favorite dish of the night and one of the best snapper dishes I've ever had. The fish was cooked perfectly and all of the components balanced well, avoiding the issue of any one aspect becoming soggy or mushy. read more

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Tried to seat us outside when we had a reservation for inside. It's 93 degrees outside. Save your money and go elsewhere

Food was absolutely great, service is very disappointing and lacks every attention to detail. No bread service received, self service for wine refill, celebrated anniversary which was mentioned at reservation and check in - no recognition. At old location used to be a free desert, which was a nice touch and in line with other restaurants. At the new location.. no such thing.. not a change for the better here. Prices increased, service notably decreased. I used to love this place, the magic appears to be gone. read more

Food:5 Service: 5 (Wait staff, Fernando was polite and respectful and attentive). Ambience:4 Restroom:4 Great food, reasonably priced. Family environment. Highly recommend. We eat there again. read more

Incredible experience. Highly recommend coming here. Food and drinks are great. Try the carbonara read more

La Griglia - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Fantastic food and vibes! I highly recommend the Italian margarita it is really delicious!!! So delicious I could have two! ;) any of their pasta is divine it's cooked to perfection! And the brownies brought out for my birthday with vanilla bean ice cream hit the spot! Yes and they have clean bathrooms and the lighting was pretty on point and there so I'm not mad about it! read more

La Griglia - Italian margarita - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The service the ambience was a great experience. I would have really enjoyed the fish if it really would have been grilled as the menu stated. The fish had a breading that I did not particularly like. The au gratin potatoes were absolutely amazing. The flaming fettuccine Alfredo is one that must be tried. Absolutely amazing. read more

La Griglia - Grilled Red Fish - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great restaurant on a new location with a great ambience, outstanding service and wonderful Italian dishes. read more

La Griglia - This dessert is a must at La griglia!!!! when this dessert arrived to the table we were all desperate to try it. Key Lime Pie - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

We came here on a whim Saturday night with a reservation for 3 people at 6:30pm. The place was quite busy, so that is a good sign! The interior is vibrant - colorful murals on the walls with eclectic tile work on the columns. Once seated, we were brought our drinks and the complimentary breadbasket you read about in almost every review: there are several different types of bread included, most notably "pizza bread" which is literally just cheese pizza thinly sliced into slivers. It is unique, fun, and makes you feel like this place is here for a good time. Our only slight hiccup with the experience came down to the service - I think all restaurants are struggling these days to have enough help; our service was friendly but sporadic. We would go long periods of time seeing no one, but it didn't really affect our overall experience. Food hit the spot - everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. I opted for the Gnocchi alla Ragu; the pillowy gnocchis were complimented by the deep Ragu flavor, although I wish the meat was a little more prominent. Others at the table had the mushroom lasagna (very rich and decadent) and the pepperoni pizza (sounds boring, but was really well executed). All in all, a great spot to check out for nice-yet-approachable night out. Parking is either valet or free in the garage behind the strip center. read more

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What a wonderful experience and such a beautiful restaurant. It's now one of my favorite patios in Houston. The new location is really breathtaking and the new menu has so many amazing things that it's hard to choose from. We got the carpaccio, the Tartufo pizza and the Short Rib Capellini and everything was delicious. Henry was our server and he was cheerful, pleasant and super attentive. The star of the show was the key lime pie. Do not leave without ordering it! It cannot be missed! read more

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I was a patron of the West Gray location for many years for consistent food and service. That has changed. The new location in the Harlow District (West Dallas Street) seems like the restaurant morphed trying to come back to its roots when Tony Vallone ran it. I was so excited to see what this rebranding entailed, and was deeply disappointed. The new place was beautiful with a nice patio, but the menu was completely gutted and the food seemed unfamiliar to the wait staff, who knew the old menu all too well. The new "white coat" outfits seemed pretentious. I wish they did not go that direction trying to be something they were not. They used to be down to earth and real. The previous short-rib dish, which used to be on a bed of mashed potatoes with fresh vegetables turned into stale short-rib raviolis with peas. This was something I should have passed up. The Pasta Alla Ruota was terrible. It came tableside where they heated the noodles and threw it into a cheese wheel. It was finished with black truffles and truffle oil. It seemed like the cook still needed practice with the cart as he was trying so hard not to tip the cart over. The fettuccine crumbled in your mouth and the cheese sauce seemed sandy. A fettuccine alfredo from Olive Garden for a fraction of this price is much better than this was. I miss the beautiful murals and all the nice colors of the West Gray location. This new location is definitely smaller and is not the late La Griglia I knew so well. The only thing going for it is the fresh paint. If you knew the old La Griglia, completely erase your old memories, lower your expectations, and come to this rebranded one with an open mind. It definitely has big shoes to fill that the old location did so well. read more

Went for lunch on a Friday. Food was edible. No taste. (Dancie" salad".) Pizza bread and breads mediocre at best. Regular water should be filtered. Service by waiter was slow. Water servers too much. Valet seemed only option. I will not be going again. read more

We like the new location. We were on the outdoor patio. We got the chicken Parmesan and veal Parmesan. We also got a lettuce salad that was just ok. The service was good. The veal Parmesan is big enough for two. We will come back. read more

BEAUTIFUL new locations (not sure when they moved off West Grey). Food was great, but stupid expensive for some red snapper and crab meat on top. Going to go back and dine-in this time though, curious to see if it is as good as it was years ago when Tony was still around and owned it. read more

We came here for a light dinner and a drink. I haven't dined here for awhile and I was pleased to see some of the old staff. The crab and shrimp cheesecake still was a hit. It was simply delicious. Not to mention the complimentary bread and pizza basket. The coffee was hot and ever so fresh! Prices have gone up, but they have everywhere else as well. read more

Amazing first date experience here! From the valet service which was predominantly all girls to the intricate and romantic ambience inside! I had the most delicious espresso martini that wasn't sweet at all; followed by a delicious glass of cabernet. I ordered the braised short ribs for my entree together with polenta! It was so amazingly filling - I wasn't even able to finish it. They serve your table with mini pizzas to whet your appetite. Food is so delicious!!! Will come back! read more

We came here a birthday. I asked the hostess to let our server know about the birthday and requested the Italian wedding cake. She said they were out of it, but I saw it on another table later on. Our server was very short with us at times and when he brought the check he just literally tossed it on the table and walked off. The food was decent but the service was not the best. This restaurant is past its prime, and the only reason I come back is for the Italian wedding cake (aka strawberry ricotta cake). read more

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Walked in on a Saturday night with my friend for dinner. We had a reservation and we were late but there weren't that many people there so we got seated immediately. Our server was friendly and attentive. We started off with a bread basket and the best one in there were samples of cheese pizza. Very unique idea and the small samples tasted delicious. Only good thing in the basket in my opinion. We also ordered an order of half Margherita and Prosciutto & Arugula pizza. The pizza was very good and a shareable size. For my entrée, I ordered the Cappellini Amatriciana pasta dish. It consisted of angel hair pasta and red tomato sauce. The dish comes with pancetta, but I asked for it without it. Overall, I think the food wasn't bad and the service was good. I would come here again. read more

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Two stars because the restaurant is attractive in a Manhattan-supper-club kind of way (but those b&w photos of old movie stars are such a cliche), minus stars if that were possible as this is La Griglia in name only. No prices on the website menu should have been my first clue: Beware if you have to ask... Like I said, fancy-schmancy with waiters in white tuxes (in December???). We acknowledged ours from the old location, but he couldn't have cared less. Service was lackluster from the waiter and his sub-waiter. No wine list offered, a la carte vegetable forgotten even after a reminder, check dropped on the table without being requested and without a thank-you. From beginning to end we had the feeling if they didn't recognize you at this La Griglia, you weren't worth knowing. That is so different from the former location on West Gray where every visit seemed like a party, and everyone was a welcome guest. Same with food. From the pizza-till-you-say-stop of old, our table received four small strips of cold pizza and two stale rolls, no butter. That gratis dish of cookies after dinner and before dessert? The cookies now ARE dessert, at $18 a pop. My favorite rigatoni peperonata was gone from the menu; my husband's frutti de mare was a far stingier portion than before as was his bone-in veal chop. The piselli salad was a gigantic mound of Boston lettuce with a nice, light dressing and lashings of peas. I never thought I'd complain about too much prosciutto, but its prosciutto was tasteless. My main course was the mushroom lasagna, a log of mixed mushrooms in a rich wine sauce over one slice of pasta and a bare hint of something cheese-like. Every taste was just like the one before and looked nothing like the one pictured from another diner. Tiramisu, described as being made with lady fingers, was a round disc of sponge cake. Someone is playing fusion in the kitchen! Then came the real dessert, the bill. That lonely veal chop was $78. Dinner for two with 2 cocktails, one glass of wine, one salad, one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert was $223. And then a sweet $7 valet charge (not posted). Yes, this has been a long review. I figure you must have been interested to keep reading. So La Griglia has three strikes against it: food, service and value. We're out. read more

La Griglia - Forest mushroom lasagna - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I guess when your restaurant is this level and someone has bad experience, management doesn't care what complaints that you have. Really sucks that over the years I've eaten here and enjoyed but now... times have changed read more

La Griglia - Pretty but horrible mess with chewy shell! Poor technique by chef! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've been enjoying La Griglia for 20+ years now - here are my thoughts on it today! Service | 8.9/10 The service is super friendly & on top of every detail! Whether it's a large celebration or a small & intimate date, they'll be ready for you and all your party's asks. Price vs Experience | 7.7/10 - $$$ The atmosphere is fantastic - vibrant-painted walls, modern & antique aesthetic, chic vibe - it checks out! We decided to go with the Restaurant Week Menu (a 3-course meal). The appetizer was slightly smaller than expected and a bit sweet, but it was still unique and worth finishing. The meals were great & the desserts were not finish-able since we were stuffed! The breads get to you eventually! It's roughly what you'd expect for the price you pay. I do feel like it could've been just slightly cheaper, but we still found it worthwhile overall for the ticket price! Bread Sticks + Pizza Slices | - - They are what they are - simply bread! The servers do run past the pizza oven on occasion and grab a few slices of un-cheesed pizza slices to throw into the mix. That's always a nice surprise. PRO TIP: I'd highly recommend asking for a side of olive oil (+ balsamic vinegar) to enjoy it even more. PRO TIP 2: Be sure not to enjoy these "free" apps too much - don't spoil your dinner! Sweet Potato Gnocchi | 6/10 We are HUGE Gnocchi fans - unfortunately, this gnocchi was a bit too sweet for us. The sauce was a nice attempt to balance, but not enough. Blackened Mahi Mahi | 8.2/10 Fantastically cooked & flavorful Mahi Mahi lying on a bed of nice vegetable risotto. The risotto was smooth & almost gooey! The mango salsa on top was nice, but was definitely overpowered by the rest. However, it was a nice, small, tangy addition! Seafood Cappellacci (not pictured) | 8.8/10 This was my favorite dish. My girlfriend ordered it - & man, oh man! It was delicious! Tomatoes & a nice lemon pesto sauce surround many delicious cappellacci pasta pieces beautifully packed with baby shrimp. Chef's kiss to this one. Heath Bar Cake | 7.8/10 Rich, decadent - a dream for all chocolate cake lovers! It combines a smooth & light mascarpone filling with a thick & cool chocolate cake base. Bourbon Bread Pudding | 7.35/10 That pretzel gelato on top is delicious! I'm not a big bread pudding fan - but my girlfriend is. It looks thick, but it's so smooth to get through. Italian Cookies + Biscotti | - - This is another fun part of La Griglia! Italian traditions of their biscotti towards the end (instead of a mint lol). I've been coming here since I was a kid. Still fantastic service, cool vibes, and great food! read more

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The good: The ambient is very beautiful, music choice was just excellent. The service was stellar! All Professional and attentive staff. Drink selection was varied and the lady tending the bar made the best virgin mojito consistently. It was fresh and beautiful. The awful part: the menu said tear drop tomatoes with the salmon dish which we ordered. However,the food came with green cherry tomatoes that weren't fresh. The salmon dish( which is salmon smashed/flattened) was tasteless, as you get to the middle of the fish, there are chunks of salt, on both plates of salmon we ordered! and the fried eggs dish was cold. The wagyu beef cheese burger, the third dish, tasted old, like it's been frozen a while and also flavorless. Overall ambient and service, great. Food, was just terrible. read more

La Griglia is truly one of Tilman's finest restaurants. The atmosphere is vibrant, the service is excellent, and the food never disappoints. Always a great spot for a special night out! read more

Came here for a weekday lunch and sat on the patio. Enjoyed the bread basket and the Italian cobb salad. It's pretty big, so I had enough leftovers to make for a side dish. The combination of flavors and textures was well-balanced. Service was friendly and paced accordingly. I ordered the pistachio gelato for dessert, and it was a hefty 4 scoops! They also bring out a small plate of tri-color cookies and other sweets for dessert. Overall a good experience. read more

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I'd give La Griglia 5 stars if it wasn't for the terribly slow server we got stuck with. Everything else was perfection! The martinis were yummy and their food divine! Great for a family dinner or date night. read more

La Griglia - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I had dinner here this evening with a group of friends to celebrate my fiancés birthday. I was very excited for this occasion but it turned out to be a very disappointing experience to say the least. When seated, we were helped first by an assistant server - who was thankfully very attentive throughout the night. Settled in, we wait a very long time for our main server to take our order. When he does eventually come around I sense a lack of warmth and welcome I feel most upscale Italian restaurant servers have given me in the past. He did not offer to recommend any dishes and i felt rushed to order in fear that he would leave us again for who knows how long. Anyways, then, after a lengthy wait, the food arrives. I got the flounder piccata and my fiancé got the pasta alla ruota. Both of these dishes were delicious, but i can't help but complain that the portions were absurdly small for the pricing. On that note, i understand the pricing is for the whole experience and the quality of the ingredients. My flounder was one fillet with sauce for 36 dollars? I was willing to justify it. However, really it was the lack of hospitality from our main server that completely soured our almost content dinner. This was most apparent when at the end of the dinner, we have trouble with the cake we brought in. The assistant server initially at the beginning of dinner took it to the back to keep in the fridge. And when we ask for it back, the main server tells us that they do not cut cake because of COVID. I say ok we can cut it. He does not realize the cake was taken back earlier, and I explain that it was. He tells us that they were not suppose to take it back there in the first place. I apologize and again just ask for the cake back. We are then returned the cake with no silverware or plates, which we take as our cue to check out and leave. It was a very confusing and uncomfortable ending to our already unsatisfying dinner. read more

Oh my gosh, what a wonderful dining experience. We had dinner here on Sunday evening. I can honestly say that everything was a "10". The cocktails, the entrées, and desserts were superb. Not to mention the service, atmosphere, and the decor. This is my new favorite restaurant while visiting Houston! read more

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Wife and I always enjoy a good date night where the atmosphere really is lively and the decor has a romantic flare. La Griglia never disappoints. Food delicious, presentation on point, and staff is very knowledgeable. read more

La Griglia - Just us. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

My favorite Italian restaurant in Houston. Their soup (of the day) has always been delicious. I order it every single time. I also love their Fruta di Mare pasta. Wow. They have great cocktails like their White Negroni. I think I'll go there next. read more

Excellent service, very good food, and a welcoming ambience made for a very good experience at La Griglia.

We sat at the patio, around 5 pm for a late lunch. Ambiance was very nice, food was ok, servers were friendly but the head server (he took our order) was not friendly/welcoming at all! I don't know if it was because our kids were with us (although they were quiet and behaving well), we didn't get a good vibe from him since the beginning. Definitely not kid friendly. We are not going back. read more