Loved it here! Behind an unassuming, discreet door with a seahorse handle, lies a moodily lit Italian restaurant with a speakeasy sensibility, wrapped in deep reds and black and cool tunes. We sat at the bar, 2 of us, I believe if there's 3+ you'll be given a booth. Highly recommend the bergamot groppino and tuna caponata, and whatever that torta dessert is. Also, deep fried olives!?! Ymm 👌

A restaurant I’ve seen everywhere and heard nothing but rave reviews about. Neptune’s Grotto had been on my list for a while, and with an upcoming Sydney trip, I knew I had to lock in a booking — major FOMO if I didn’t. On my last visit to Sydney, I dined at Clam Bar, Neptune’s Grotto’s sister restaurant, and absolutely loved it. While I was tempted to return, this felt like the perfect opportunity to experience something new from the same group — and Neptune’s Grotto truly exceeded expectations. Located underground beneath Clam Bar, the restaurant immediately transports you into a cave-like, grotto-inspired space. Vaulted ceilings, a long bar running the length of the room, intimate booth seating, and tables softly lit by wine bottle candles create an atmosphere that is both elegant and romantic. From the moment you walk in, it feels like the ultimate date-night destination. Service was exceptional from start to finish. We were warmly greeted on arrival, promptly seated, and offered water before our orders were taken. Everything arrived impressively quickly without feeling rushed. For drinks, we ordered the Sbagliato and the Neptune’s Sour, both beautifully balanced and expertly made. Entrées included the Zucchine alla Scapece, Mortadella, and Tuna Caponata — the perfect way to start the meal, each dish packed with flavour and thoughtfully executed. For mains, we shared the Tagliatelle al Ragù and the Gramigna alla Salsiccia, and honestly, we were blown away. The pasta was rich, deeply flavoured, perfectly portioned for sharing, and beautifully presented. We left feeling completely satisfied and genuinely impressed. The service throughout was attentive — we never once had to flag someone down. I’m so glad I finally made it here and will absolutely be recommending Neptune’s Grotto to anyone heading to Sydney.

Came here for my belated birthday dinner and it was fantastic! We ordered the grandma slice, pumpkin and ricotta agnolotti, veal cotoletta, fioretti, crispy potatoes and a divine chocolate mousse dessert (cannot exactly recall the name). Everything was absolutely delicious and I cannot wait to come back! I cannt recommend Neptune’s grotto enough. Make sure to book in advance!

We chose Neptune’s Grotto out of curiosity, as it came highly recommended and is very popular on social media. The restaurant is beautiful, with dim lighting and a great atmosphere that creates a really nice vibe for dinner. We started with the eggplant parmigiana, which was very good, and the focaccia, which was fine. The tagliatelle al ragù had great flavour, though it was slightly on the salty side.
The veal cotoletta alla Milanese is definitely a standout and well worth trying. We paired our mains with two different glasses of wine. While the wines themselves were enjoyable, the service around the wine felt minimal, and one of the glasses (a Barolo) arrived too cold. No one came to ask for feedback on the wine. A bit more attention in this regard would have elevated the experience even more. Overall, it was a pleasant dinner with good food and a lovely atmosphere. A solid Italian restaurant and definitely worth trying.

There is bar & booth seating at this cosy establishment. It was a Sunday dinner & they were doing a good trade. This feels like you are in a subterranean bunker with statues! The service was very good. The food was not huge portions for the price, but it was filling. The agnolotti pasta with hazelnuts was tasty with the extra crunch. The eggplant parmigiana was excellent. My dining partners thought their choices were okay. Check your bill as there was an extra item added to ours.