Blue Grotto

• Cuisine(s): Pizza
  Hours: Sun 4pm-10pm, Mon-Sat 11am-10:30pm
  Price: $$$ $$, $$$
  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, cash
• Attire: Casual
  Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Private Party, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly
  Serving: Lunch, Dinner
  Alcohol: Full bar
• Reservations: Accepted, Recommended for Large Parties
  Parking: Free, Lot Available, Street

Description

There's nothing blue or cavelike about this chic pizzeria, which turned a long-neglected Brookside retail space into a soaring two-story restaurant. With an exhibition kitchen on the first floor, it's a sleek, stunning series of dining areas in tones of charcoal, slate and ebony. All of those hard surfaces make it noisy on busy weekend nights, but that's part of this restaurant's appeal, perhaps. Chef Chris Graham bakes his pies in a fragrant, wood-burning oven so that the crust is light and just slightly crackly, and covers them with a limited number of appealing combinations such as the bubbling quattro formaggio with ricotta, asiago, aged Gouda and goat cheese; and the Four Seasons, with black olives, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts and roasted crimini mushrooms. The signature dishes are beautiful, but the desserts lack style