Grotto Grill, Bandera

Man, the food at this place is EXCELLENT, the guy really knows his stuff. The presentations are fantastic, unique, and imaginative. Bandera is lucky to have this little gem. Imagine if the service and attitude were anything like the food (they're not)! These people would be dancing all the way to the bank. Too bad.....if they could offer the complete package of food and service, they'd really be on to something. But the food is so good, I'll definitely be back. Maybe that's their business model, to rock them with the food, but shortchange them on service and graciousness.....but I warn them that an attitude like that has been the death of many a restaurant.

If you have Celiac's or gluten intolerance do not eat here. They are not careful with their food preparation. They served me a salad with bread on top. When I reminded them that I had told them I could not eat anything with bread in it, they were upset with me and did not want to take it back. They finally did, after I told them how ill it would make me if I just removed the bread, and i could not eat it. However, I got a very strong reaction later, I know they simply re-served it do me. It used to be my favorite lunch place, but I will not eat there again.

This funky place reminds me of 6th street in Austin. Small menu but wonderful. The homemade freeform pizzas are fantastic... Really creative weekend dinner specials. Unusual soups are terrific, like the duck soup and also black bean beef rib chili! Don't be in a rush as everything is prepared when ordered. Hesitant to praise this place because it's a little gem and hate to see it become too crowded.

This place is truly amazing! First, it's in the middle of nowhere but manages to turn out cuisine that you'd stand on line for hours in NYC to get and pay five times as much in the process. Jason Boyd is a genius with food as his creative art and is absolutely dazzling in his ability to turn out consistantly great dishes with very little help in the kitchen. All dishes are prepared when ordered, nothing is left on a steam table and every salad is freshly prepared and all with in-house dressings. This means that one can order the same salad daily and although each will have exactly the same ingredients, every salad will be a touch different and always perfect. His handling of fish, fowl or meat is equally stunning with sauces and garnishes that combine tastes in a most creative fashion and every surprize is a pleasant one. In cooler weather, his soups are to die for. A caution, however, as every dish is individually prepared, there is no fast food. If you're looking to grab a quick bite and hit the road, better you go to Sonic. If however, you're looking to dine and a 25 minute wait won't kill you, you owe it to your palate to go to the Grotto. Be prepared for a happening. The beer and wine list changes with the tides and specials are put together with serendipity. Some really fabulous dishes have come and gone with the whim of this chef who wants only to give his customers fresh, healthy foods; prepared with a style and panache that would be hard to find in Paris. I know, I've lived in both places and I'll take Bandera's Grotto.

The owner/chef has a wonderful way with food. The flavors mesh with each other extraordinarily well without it being overly 'busy'. Stop in, take a load off and be prepared to be amazed! It will make you wish your stomach could hold more - but, one can always return and you will find yourself doing so.