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    The Grotto Speakeasy

    4.5 (10 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    The Grotto Speakeasy Photos

    THE GROTTO SPEAKEASY ATMOSPHERE

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    The Lagoon and Naked and Famous
    Shimon K.

    Amazing cocktails and outstanding service from a top bartender. Sergey is exceptional at his craft. Highly recommend.

    A couple of cocktails
    Mr. H.

    Like any true Speakeasy tables are at a premium. See Mahmed for reservations at Cetrella, Might be availability for 55ppl at any one time. Service time for order to table, at capacity could be an issue with one bartender. Atmosphere is nice, their signature cocktail selection should be expanded a bit more. A live band in this space could prove challenging in the talk to listen ratio. Overall it was a nice experience, and one I'd likely do again.

    Dirty martini (Mahon gin, no vermouth) chilled to perfection!

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    Ask the Community - The Grotto Speakeasy

    Review Highlights - The Grotto Speakeasy

    The El Alto folks had built a bar in the basement a d now the Cetrella folks have opened Grotto.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Bar Underdog

    Bar Underdog

    4.2(57 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    I think it's kind of funny that there is such a discourse amongst other reviews about whether or…read morenot this place is a speakeasy. As a speakeasy enthusiast myself I definitely agree to the fact that it is "hidden" but also it does kinda give corporate vibes a little bit - maybe we can say they "gentrified" the speakeasy experience which is honestly so funny for Palo Alto. But anyways I don't think a classification should stop you from visiting it. The food is actually surprisingly really good. We came with a pescatarian and honestly while the offerings for snacks were a bit slim, every option was really good. I feel like this was the first time where I understood the price even the the quantity is no where close to be desired. One shrimp is like $6 and I was like whoah. Service is definitely more laid back and it's overall just like a more chill atmosphere. I'm fortunate to work nearby so I'll definitely visit this place a few times after work to blow off some steam... And the drinks! Yes they are good! They are also quite strong! Would come back again but also if you're conscious of budget then I'm not sure if you'll find the same value proposition.

    Note: I believe the menu has changed since my last visit…read more Stopped by Bar Underdog for a quick drink and was recommended their take on a martini from the "Traditional" section. It came out quickly, crisp, and as cold as it gets. I also tried a shrimp dish from the "Steamed" section, and it was delicious. Their chicken was also larger than I expected, making it a good bang for your buck, especially if you plan on grabbing a few drinks. Excited to come back and try more of their cocktails!

    Photos
    Bar Underdog - Fru-ti Punch and Old Soul

    Fru-ti Punch and Old Soul

    Bar Underdog
    Bar Underdog

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    Limón - Seafood paella

    Limón

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$

    I am writing to address a disappointing experience I had at your restaurant on July 28th. I had a…read morereservation for three people at 4:45 PM, and upon arrival, the hostess was in the process of offering us a nice table. However, a staff member named Viri intervened and insisted we be seated at a different table. When I requested a different location, I was told it was unavailable due to other reservations. As someone who works in the restaurant industry, I am familiar with how reservation systems function; I noted that the restaurant remained largely empty during our visit. At one point, we were even asked to vacate a table we had sat down at before eventually being placed near the hostess station. I am bringing this to your attention because I felt our treatment was inconsistent with standard hospitality. I would like to encourage your leadership team to ensure that all customers are treated with cordiality and respect, regardless of their ethnicity or attire.

    Just WOW! This experience at Limón was so unforgettable. When you first walk in, you immediately…read moreget hit with awesome vibes. The restaurant was very pretty, with a sleek and floral theme. Also, I noticed some herby smell which was pleasant so extra hats off to that detail. I placed a reservation of 5 at 7:45 pm on a Friday night with me and my family, and we had no issues getting to our table. We were a bit late, however staff made sure that we get seated in no time. Once we got sat down, we got our menus and took some time to decide what to order. Our amazing friend and waitress Elizabeth made sure to give us time to thoroughly look through the menu and decide on what we were going to eat. She was very friendly and caring, and was so excited to take our order, which elevated her experience. Her suggestions were perfect for our family. We ordered the Mixto Clásico ceviche, 2 orders of truffle mac and cheese, Arroz Con Mariscos, Pollo A La Brasa (Half chicken), Beef Anticuchero Roll, and Lengua a La Parilla. In five minutes, the staff already brought the ceviche, which included calamari, fish, veggies, and the taro chips. It was refreshing and citrusy. After we finished that , then another 3 minutes goes by, and everything arrived. I was so shocked on how fast they serve especially because of how busy they were. All the dishes were so fresh and cooked to perfection. The mac was so creamy, cheesy, and delectable especially because of the truffles. The pollo a la brasa was cooked nice and tender, served with fries, and that yellow sauce was addicting, literally ON CRACK. The lengua was great, the mashed potatoes along with the lengua, shrimp, and spicy sauce gave it texture and flavor. The nikkei beef antichchuero roll I was surprised with. Sushi in a Peruvian restaurant? However, I did not expect to be one of the best and interesting rolls I have tried ever. The arroz con mariscos was my favorite by far. It really reminds me of a Spanish paella, with a seafood galore presented with a bed of rice and veggies. It was very filling and delicious. Of course, we couldn't just end there, we obviously had to go for dessert. We chose the Tres Leches cake, and it was presented with chocolate, caramel, and strawberry sauce which was sweet and smooth. Paired with the cake, it was so good and a genius combination. In the end, when leaving, our staff asked us if we needed any extra help with anything before we left, which was a very kind gesture. When we left, the staff kindly greeted us a warm goodbye, and thanked Elizabeth especially for helping us order these great assortments of dishes. In the end, we left with our stomachs full of food and great memories. I am already looking forward to my next visit here, and please, give this Peruvian spot a try, because you will never go back to any other ones besides this spot.

    Photos
    Limón - Inside of the Límon restaurant

    Inside of the Límon restaurant

    Limón - Fried seafood combination, ok.

    Fried seafood combination, ok.

    Limón - Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda ($15)

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    Fortaleza Blanco w/ club soda ($15)

    Second Story - Smoked salmon mini cone

    Second Story

    4.4(124 reviews)
    13.0 mi

    Long story short, Second Story was one of the best cocktail bar's I've ever been to. We went there…read morelast night for our friend's birthday party, and we were just ordering drinks from the bar. The bartender (manager?), Filippos, recognized we had a lot of people, and proactively got us a comfortable seating area for all of us. Thank you Filippos for being so thoughtful and hospitable! And once we got seated, we had a server named Tikka, who was amazing. She made our whole night smooth and memorable. The service was above and beyond. Also, shout out to Dakota, one of the best bartenders. He was super friendly (even though it was very busy) and wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of. In terms of drinks, I recommend the Vesper and So Fresh So Clean. All their drinks are exceptional. The ambiance was the most impressive part. It's very spacious and you don't feel cramped like other cocktail bars. And they have two bars that are both well-staffed, so no one is annoyed trying to order a drink. Even when it's crowded, you don't have to wait. Thank you, for all the hard work behind the scenes to create best-in-class customer service and cocktails.

    What a wonderful night it was! A huge Thank you to Melissa…read moreand her team who executed the perfect Happily ever after party for my son and daughter in law. The night was exactly what they wanted; Great friends, incredible cocktails, yummy food, music and a whole lot of Love and Laughter!!! Do not hesitate to book a party at SS,

    Photos
    Second Story - Salt and stone catering menu (June 2026)

    Salt and stone catering menu (June 2026)

    Second Story - La Bamba. So good

    La Bamba. So good

    Second Story - Caesar salad

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    Caesar salad

    The Post - Breakfast Burrito with Sausage

    The Post

    3.6(475 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Private events
    Full bar

    I came here to get a meal in this Los Altos neighborhood and I came across this American restaurant…read morebar. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. There seemed to have enough patrons during the weekday lunch period from local workers looking for a business lunch and I also saw two families with kids. The restaurant had one server for all of the people, he had his hands full. There is a full bar and extensive wines and liquors to choose from, if you feel like a mid-day drink. There are five booths for 4 people, two tables for six, three tall tables for two, one tall table for four, and some tables for outdoor dining. The restaurant has easy listening music. It's a good place for a relaxing meal during your day. The menu is attached, with lunch specials. There is also a parking lot located behind the restaurant and available street parking in front. I would be comfortable coming here again with a few friends to socialize. The poki bowl was quite good, it hit the spot for me. There are three televisions in the restaurant for sports watching as well.

    Probably one of the top 5 fried chicken sandwiches and fries I've had in the bay area…read moreVery nice fresh puffy bun, big piece of Mary's chicken thigh seasoned, breaded, and fried to perfection, decent pickles inside giving acidity. Fries were fried nicely and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside.

    Photos
    The Post - Indoor bar

    Indoor bar

    The Post - Fried Chicken & Waffles

    Fried Chicken & Waffles

    The Post - Outdoor dining area

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    Outdoor dining area

    Valley Goat - Hamachi Poke

    Valley Goat

    4.2(681 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    We booked a dinner reservation here to celebrate my boyfriend's job promotion and had a great…read moreexperience. The staff were all so friendly and provided excellent service. They were attentive and made sure our water glasses were always full. The interior is beautiful with all of the plants. Their goat empanadas are popular for a reason, the aroma was amazing when it was served to our table. I really enjoyed it as an appetizer and the sauce paired well. The sautéed green beans with fish sauce aioli were umami heaven. It was just as delicious as I remembered, when I visited Girl & The Goat in Chicago a few years ago. The sticky pork shank was tender and fell right off the bone. I made lettuce wraps with the pork, pickled veggies, and sauces provided - wow, everything tasted so delicious! We also ordered the skirt steak to share, which was good, but a bit chewy. I definitely recommend getting the pork shank. Overall, Valley Goat has unique and tasty dishes that I don't think I can find elsewhere around South Bay. My family from out of town will be visiting soon, I'm excited to bring them here for brunch or dinner!

    Definitely make reservations as this place is uber popular. We had to sit at the bar but definitely…read morefine as our waitress was really nice. They had a special vegan menu for my friend. I definitely want to return for dinner as the menu looks more appetizing than the lunch menu. I had a hard time deciding what to get for lunch. Will return for dinner and hopefully it'll be a 5 star food experience.

    Photos
    Valley Goat - DJ Booth?

    DJ Booth?

    Valley Goat - Goat Empanadas ($18) limey huacatay

    Goat Empanadas ($18) limey huacatay

    Valley Goat - Goat gibson ($22), blush spritz ($20)

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    Goat gibson ($22), blush spritz ($20)

    Broma - Hamachi Crudo Tacos

    Broma

    3.8(90 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    I tried calling to share feedback, but they did not answer which I feel is important to note…read more We don't mind paying for a quality experience--especially for special occasions--which is why we chose Broma to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, we left regretting that decision. From the start, the experience felt unwelcoming when we were seated with our 3-year-old daughter. There was no single overtly disrespectful moment, but the overall tone and repeated small interactions made us feel like we were being judged for having a child with us. At one point, when our daughter accidentally dropped her fork while playing, the reaction we received came across as frustration, which added to that feeling. We understand not every restaurant is designed for young children, but Broma presents itself as a place for friends and family. Instead, we felt like we had to constantly manage and overcorrect normal toddler behavior, which created stress and took away from what should have been a special occasion. Because of that, we didn't feel comfortable raising concerns during the meal when the server checked in--we were more focused on getting through the experience without drawing additional attention. We were also offered an off-menu item without any mention of price. The menu we were given did not list the smash burger, so when I ordered a double, I had no context for the cost. The final price was a surprise, and we would have made a different decision with that information upfront. The food itself did not match the price point. The "smash burger" was not prepared in the style typically expected, and overall the meal felt underwhelming for the cost. Lastly, the billing was confusing. The paper receipt listed "gratuity," while the digital receipt labeled the same charge as a "service charge," making it unclear whether an additional tip was expected. That lack of clarity does not align with the level of transparency expected at this price point. We don't mind paying for a great experience, especially for meaningful occasions, but this visit did not meet that standard and ultimately left us regretting our choice to celebrate here.

    Atmosphere-wise, this place is great. The live music by the bar gives the space a nice energy…read morewithout making it feel too loud or chaotic. The food, however, was not especially impressive. I would not rush back for the food alone. The seafood pasta was too acidic/sour and somewhat underwhelming, so it did not quite land for me and led to the stomach discomfort that lasted into the next day. The quality and presentation do not match the price tag. Also, "broma" means "joke/prank" in Spanish, so naturally I found myself wondering whether the two Black Iberian pigs on the wall were part of the joke. :) I would come back for the vibe, the bar area, and maybe to give the food another try.

    Photos
    Broma
    Broma - Budín de pan

    Budín de pan

    Broma - Redondo Iglesias Jamon de Serrano

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    Redondo Iglesias Jamon de Serrano

    The Grotto Speakeasy - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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