My wife and I first went here on our first wedding anniversary five years ago. Back then, we arrived late, so most people were finishing their meals. Seated in a booth away from the crowds, we appreciated the privacy. We were surprised and delighted with the food and service given the late arrival (ever notice how the quality can go downhill as the after the rush at many places?). Two weeks ago we returned to re-live our experience. Since our first visit, they'd remodeled, the place was packed as it often is, so were seated next to a family with a couple rambunctious small kids. Although we actually loved the children, the owner came by twice out of concern that we were OK with it. Once again we were surprised and delighted with everything. Sooooooo much better than Olive Garden. Perhaps not the haute cuisine Italian some are willing to pay for, but excellent for the price. The constantly filled parking lot certainly says they're doing right for a lot of people.
(4)
Bob M.
This review is for a take out pizza meal--I am still looking for a good takeout pizza and Ernesto's has been on my list for quite a while to check out. The restaurant has that neighborhood Italian-American feel about it, and that was pretty much what we got in the medium combo pizza and the Michael's Insalata that we ordered. The crust of the pizza was thick, chewy and could have spent a little more time in a hotter oven. The toppings were generous but very unremarkable. One rather odd thing is that the pizza is cut into squares rather than slices, which with the size we got yielded 14 pieces--quite a bit of pizza. The salad was chopped romaine with the usual suspects that one would get in an old school Italian-American antipasto salad. It came with a house made vinaigrette heavy on vinegar and light on anything else. It would take some serious doctoring to make it palatable. A very generous serving, though. The medium pizza and this salad could easily feed six very hungry people for $26. It has cured me of my curiosity about this place, however. I don't think we caught them on a bad day; I feel this is what they are striving to serve and it was a disappointment.
(2)
Sandra W.
I've actually given this place three shots at a good review. The first time we ate here, I ordered the chicken marsala and I'm sorry to say I have had tastier marsala. But I was willing to award them three stars on that visit. The second time I went there, I had the salad bar, which was decent. But our last visit was the proverbial straw. My daughter had a piccata and I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. Worst clam sauce ever. Bland bland bland. I couldn't taste anything but oil, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't olive oil. My daughter only ate about 3/4 of her entree. It was a one-star meal. Sorry Ernestos. We love the idea of your classic cuisine and we've been looking for it (in vain I might add) since we moved to Portland. Your place has a lot of potential but if the food is bland, it's not going to happen. Hire a chef that actually knows how to use spices.
(2)
Leah H.
Came here to celebrate a birthday with a group of around 12 people or so. We were seated in a section all to ourselves which was really nice. Our server was very kind and attentive. She was totally on top of keeping bread on the table all night. They even let us bring in our own cakes and cut/served them for us. That is about it as far as the positive aspects of our visit. I ordered the pesto because I wasn't wanting any meat or much cheese and there were not really much for options that would fit into that. The dish tasted like alfredo sauce with basil added. So much for avoiding cheese. The pasta was wayyyyy overcooked. It felt and looked pretty much like baby food. Most of everyone else at the table got some form of noodle covered in marinara sauce. Not a single plate looked even reasonably appetizing. I tasted some of the sauce on a calzone and it was just bland. Everything looked like a gut-bomb covered in too much cheese. And I get it, maybe some people like it. But to me...no...just no. The worst thing about this experience though was the price tag. Most entrees were somewhere around $17 or more. As I sat through my cheesy basil goop plate I secretly daydreamed about the marvelous dishes I could be getting from Decarli for the same amount of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
(2)
Liz K.
Friendly staff. Service is spotty -- sometimes very fast & attentive, other times they fall a bit behind. But we've never felt ignored. They always seem to be trying. Their pastas and entrees are solidly good. Ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi, and the chicken and eggplant parm are all delicious. The pizza is -- and I'm not exaggerating here -- the worst I have ever had. All the ingredients tasted canned, the sauce was tasteless, the crust was cardboard, and the whole thing was really salty. We were told no one had EVER complained about the pizza before, which made us wonder if we got an off night? The biggest downfall of this restaurant has got to be that their ingredients aren't very fresh. You don't notice it too much when food is covered in sauce and cheese, but the salads (and the salad bar) are pretty sad. The side of vegetables are also pretty bland. But overall, it's a good place to get Italian-American comfort food.
(3)
John K.
They have a great lunch buffet! Lunch buffet is not expensive $8.50
(4)
J B.
Sure, it's just OK. It's not great by any stretch - it's bordering on "MEH". My wife and I went on date night because friends had recommended the place (I'm starting to wonder if my friends were all part of some sort of cult that required removal of taste buds and forced, gross indiscretion). Date night is so freaking rare that I want to be wow'ed to the point that I'm ready to run through the streets stark naked with jubilation over my dinner. Instead, I found myself apologizing to my wife for having taken her there - not something I want to be doing on date night if you catch my drift **nudge, nudge**. The service was decent although we must have gone at geriatric hour because I had at least twenty-five years on my side over everyone else at the restaurant (and I'm no spring chicken). The bread they serve everyone was stale (which is gross) and tells me that ownership is cheap - either don't serve it or serve fresh bread for Pete sake! Anyhow, I ordered chicken marsala and it was just OK. I've had a lot better, even in Beaverton. My wife ordered gnocchi and it wasn't even as good as my chicken. The spaghetti with meat sauce that came with my dinner was unappetizingly watery. Come on, mix in a strainer people, it's that metal bowl with hecka holes through which water leaves the food BEFORE you serve it. So that's the story of my first/last at this joint. Ciao. Go if you dare, but if I were you and you're not averse to burning another gallon of fuel or so, get over to Nonna Emelia in Aloha. You will NOT regret it. Heck, Buggatti's in Beaverton blows doors over this place as well.
(3)
Nikki G.
Great service. Expensive. I make better pasta at home. Not going back.
(2)
Bryce H.
If you like Calazones, this is the place for you. Bring a big appetite, you'll need it for they are huge. You could easily feed three or four. The atmosphere is fun and Italian. A little pricey, but worth it. And don't forget to order the spumoni ice cream. Another very good dish is the chicken parmesan. Again very large portions. Treat yourself or someone special.
(5)
Lee C.
Tried the Wednesday lunch buffet. A few typical Italian style items are offered, along with an ample salad bar. The salad bar is the star of this show. When one thinks of the grandeur of Italian quisine and the complete absence of grandeur or even good taste in the items offered, one can only say that this restaurant should just quit offering what it does for a buffet -- good cooking is NOT featured. Also, to gain access to sphagetti or the soups, one has to take a lid off of the container but there's no place to put the lid while dipping -- in other words, no attempt is made to convenience the diner. Even the pizza is un-spectacular or even adequate. Overall, a two-star rating is being generous.
(2)
james c.
We had good food and good service. We certainly had none of the problems some other diners have had. Service was friendly and prompt. Waitress did combine my immediate drink order with a several minute later wine order but that might have been a bartender delivery issue. We have been here twice in a few weeks. The pizza is not to my taste but the pasta is good, not best ever but good variety for a reasonable price. Wife and friends tried chicken dish one visit and veal another and were pleased. This is a good place for a simple Italian meal. We will be back.
(4)
Jacob G.
This review is more like 2.5 stars but I don't feel like giving it 3 up there. Anyhoo, Ernesto's is ol' school Italian-American so it's got those red and white checkered tablecloths and wine bottles and such. However, we were here for the food and not those nor the awesome red chairs they have in the bar area. Is it me, or is white and yellow cheese not supposed to be on chicken Parmesan? The meat sauce on my spaghetti was kind of strange, too. Couldn't put my finger on it. In all, this is not the best Italian in town.
(2)
Dale R.
My first dinner here, we shared the antipasto plate and a medium pizza. Both were much better than we have had at any of the other local Italian restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere, clean with great service & decent prices. Good selection on the menu make this a great experience overall. I will return and bring my friends and family, too. Our tab for a medium combo pizza, antipasto plate and a glass of wine was $30. Pizza had plenty of ingredients, not too much tomato sauce, and a medium thick, chewy crust. They cut it into squares, not pie slices, but who cares? After eating most of the antipasto plate, we could not finish even half of the pizza. BTW, the antipasto plate had a good mix of meats, olives, peppers, and cheese.
(5)
Honeybee M.
My boyfriend and I really enjoy eating at this restaurant. The food, decor, and music remind me of Italian restaurants back home in New Jersey. We are always made to feel welcome and comfortable whenever we come here, kind of like eating at your Italian grandma or great aunt's house.
(4)
Sharilynn T.
I will not be the only one in a QUIET, non-profit PROTEST against Ernesto's. Never have we experienced such righteous and rude behavior when simply asking for a volume/non-profit 503 [c][3] discount for a fundraising event with over 200 people to be served at the end of the month. I have been going there for years, for lunches and family events, and I will now CHOOSE to no longer go there.
(1)
Beth M.
Three words: I've had better. Two words: Not good. One word: Meh Seriously...go East on Beav-Hills and eat at La Prima Trattoria and have yourself a real meal for a comparable price.
(2)
David M.
Great neighborhood dinning. Outstanding Service. Have not had a meal I didn't enjoy. Would recommend to all my friends and I have!
(4)
Jenn W.
Their food is worse than Olive Garden. Their marinara sauce is bad..the staple of Italian food. Nothing is good on their menu. Go to Giovannis or Geraldis.
(2)
jeri j.
I really enjoy this place every time I have gone! I celebrated my first A I got in collage here alone and what a treat. food is always good and so are the portions.
(4)
Robin S.
I love this place. This is authenitc Italian food. Their Chicken parm is the best along with their pesto. Everything is made fesh. the atmosphere is light and the owner very nice. The people that work there friendly and the prices are good. I go back often. It is a good place to take a date and eat with family. Large groups are also welcome.
(4)
david m.
Ernesto's is a decent run-of-the-mill, nonthreatening American-Italian Restaurant with a few pluses, namely the service and the buffet. If you're all about the food, there are better options in town. If you want a place to take people without scaring them with the food, they had a good mix of red-sauce pasta items, other pasta & non-pasta entrees, and pizza. I ordered from a page with 'smaller' servings and it was plenty of food, the regular portions are pretty big. Food snobbery aside! - Ernesto's was perfect for our 11-person group ranging from 4-year-olds, a teenager, and a mix of adults and seniors. Our server was attentive without being pushy, and coordinated a custom dish for someone with special dietary needs. What really stood out was that we'd brought our own birthday cake, and our server provided everything we needed to serve it. One of our party also customized their meal by ordering a chicken dish with vegetables and then filling it out with quinoa and salad from the buffet. I ordered spaggetti and meatballs because I was craving it, it was pretty generic and I found myself jealous of my neighbor's creamy chicken & mushroom pasta. Not what I'd pick for date night in food-centric Portland, but darn good enough for feeding a crowd.
(3)
Rustie D.
This place reminds me of my family - loud, expressive, and usually entertaining. The food is good, wholesome, and very tasty. The portions are plentiful, and the bread basket is always full. The restaurant is run family style with "mama" running rough-shod over everyone. The service is a hit/miss kind of thing. The last time we were there, the food was hot and tasty, but they were short a server, so "mama" had to step in, and that was a hoot. They are no more pricey than Olive Garden, but the quality is surely not manufactured - factory turn out. I don't come here very often because of my budget, but whenever I feel like good Italian, I come here. I recommend their eggplant parm...yum!
(4)
Katie C.
I came to Ernesto's the other night for my friend's older brother's rehearsal dinner and found the place to be warm, inviting and incredibly charming. The ambiance and decor was very reminiscent of an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood from my childhood [Vince's], with touches of faux grape vines strewn about, Tuscan-inspired wall murals and those oh-so-stereotypical red checkered tablecloths you come to expect to see at any authentic Italian restaurant. As for the food + service, it was great! The waitstaff was attentive + friendly and the food came out in a timely progression. We dined family-style and shared plates of fettuccine alfredo, hearty meatballs, garlic chicken and ravioli. Guests had the choice to polish off their meals with either spumoni or a berry sorbet and everyone got their fair share of wine and beer. All and all, a great experience, though my *one* piece of advice is for the owners to invest some funds into updating the decor. While there's nothing technically wrong with it, I couldn't help but find it a little bit too predictable and Ernesto's could truly set themselves apart if they were to modernize the look and feel of the place. Just a suggestion. =)
(3)
Bobby D.
Yes it's true, another italian restaurant with a lunch buffet! This restaurant is located in a ( well you guessed it) strip mall! It's on the south side of beaverton hillsdale highway just off of apple way. I've gone here with friends for the lunch buffet many times. Each day they serve different entrees in the buffet. The buffet has the standard pizza, salad bar, and several entrees. The food is good and they got a 95 out of 100 on their last health inspection of 6/2/08. Getting real close to a perfect score! I have to go back to this one for sure since the food really is not that bad (probably as good as it gets for the area that i know of so far) the service was good and i don't have to worry too much about getting some nasty food borne illness or hair in my food!!!
(4)
Josh B.
I guess I had a bad experience here... We went later at night, we were told it was too late to order a calzone or a pizza. The service was slow even though there was nobody else there. When our food finally arrived it tasted as if my pasta had set out for a few hours to dry out, my meatballs were dry, my Ravioli was cold, hard and try... The prices reflect that you would get better food and service, but you don't. I see so many people write good reviews for this place, i might be tempted to try this place again if my first experience did not suck so bad.
(1)
Ann K.
Date Visited: Saturday 4/5/08 (Dinner) I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this restaurant. Ernesto's is situated off 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale) and Apple Way (by the AAA office). It's nestled into the corner of the strip mall there, by a fish store. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect anything. Once inside, the smells start to make their way to your nose. I love Italian food, but haven't had a great deal of it in the last year (outside of pizza, if that even counts), so I was probably more excited about the experience than most. I went with Meetin Portland, so there were about 10 of us. Other than the fact that they couldn't do separate checks (which made paying a little frantic), it was a nice restaurant and had really good food. We ordered drinks and were served garlic/cheese bread. Right there, if nothing else went right, I think that's a big deal. I mean....it's not just a nice Italian bread that you dip into an oil/vinegar concoction (don't get me wrong....I enjoy this), but it's GARLIC and CHEESE bread. The cheese isn't melted and oozing or anything (it may even be a fake cheese for all I know), but I'm not picky. The menu has a lot of options for any Italian fan. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which came with your choice of salad (Ceasar or Dinner Side) and then a small dish of pasta (spaghetti or ravioli). Portion-wise, it was more than enough and I brought over half of it home (along with some of the garlic/cheese bread). No room for dessert, but some at our table had spumoni and some had Tiramisu. The tiramisu looked heavenly and anyone who had a taste said it was very good. I am looking forward to going to Ernesto's again and again. It's not cheap Italian, but it's GOOD Italian and expect to pay $20 for food and drink. It's worth it.
(4)
Sara V.
My husband and I just had dinner here for the first time and it was great. The food was good, the wine was reasonably priced, the wait staff was very attentive, and the coffee tiramisu and lemon tiramisu were some of the best we've ever had. Like eating heaven! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Wendy G.
DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A GLUTEN SENSITIVITY! They will tell you things are GF (like the meat sauce) when they definitely are not. Also, they will make mistakes, like giving you wheat pasta instead of GF, argue with you, and hardly apologize or take anything off of the bill when you point out the error, no matter how nice you are about it. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this place - I love red sauce Italian food and it is in a very convenient location for me, but I've given it several chances and been disappointed every time. Skip this place and find somewhere else that is better to their customers.
(1)
Rosemary P.
We went here for Valentine's Day. While not the most romantic place, the food was wonderful! I had the manicotti, which was to die for, and the tiramisu for desert, which again, was to die for. Not only was the food great but the service was fast and super friendly! I will definitely go here again, i haven't found a comparable Italian restaurant anywhere.
(5)
Kel L.
4 Stars for consistency. When we are looking for a no fuss meal, and know it will always be pretty good, this is where we go. Service is good, food is good and we can let our hair down. This is a family place and there is zero pretention to be found (which is so comforting). Their food is a lot like the Italian-American food I had a as child. They also do a few specials which are lighter and less Americanised, but not as innovative as the new-hip Italian places in PDX. Wine list, eh..give it a miss. No note-worthy wines to mention. We often dine here on a week night, so we aren't worried about the wine. I would recommend any dish on their menu, including pizza. Don't expect Downtown, Pearl type Italian, this is home cooking and done well.
(4)
Matt R.
This is your cookie-cutter "Italian" restaurant that actually plays more to stereotypes than actual Italian cooking. It has everything you can expect from this type of establishment: loud (albeit family friendly) space, plentiful and completely tasteless food, rushed servers and moderate prices. If you want to eat a pound of overcooked pasta with sauce straight from the can, definitely come to Ernesto's. Putting red and white checkered tablecloths and chianti bottle/candles on the tables is about what you can expect from this place. I think most of the reviewers on this site could probably whip up better Italian food than Ernesto's.
(1)
Paul A.
Way too expensive for the quality and atmosphere. The food is good but not worth the price. It IS after all spaghetti.
(3)
Bettie P.
I just went here today for the first time for their $8.95 lunch buffet. It was pretty good, and worth the $8.95. They have 2 buffet tables, one for salad. Everything on there was good and fresh. The other buffet had spaghetti noodles; and 3 different sauces. I got the alfredo, and it was delicious. They also had mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, BBQ ribs. Fresh sliced prime rib has au jus and creamy horseradish. They dont have dessert on the buffet, but the pistachio pudding on the salad bar is good. Service was good and fast and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and old-style. Bathroom was CLEAN and nice!
My wife and I first went here on our first wedding anniversary five years ago. Back then, we arrived late, so most people were finishing their meals. Seated in a booth away from the crowds, we appreciated the privacy. We were surprised and delighted with the food and service given the late arrival (ever notice how the quality can go downhill as the after the rush at many places?). Two weeks ago we returned to re-live our experience. Since our first visit, they'd remodeled, the place was packed as it often is, so were seated next to a family with a couple rambunctious small kids. Although we actually loved the children, the owner came by twice out of concern that we were OK with it. Once again we were surprised and delighted with everything. Sooooooo much better than Olive Garden. Perhaps not the haute cuisine Italian some are willing to pay for, but excellent for the price. The constantly filled parking lot certainly says they're doing right for a lot of people.
(4)
Bob M.
This review is for a take out pizza meal--I am still looking for a good takeout pizza and Ernesto's has been on my list for quite a while to check out. The restaurant has that neighborhood Italian-American feel about it, and that was pretty much what we got in the medium combo pizza and the Michael's Insalata that we ordered. The crust of the pizza was thick, chewy and could have spent a little more time in a hotter oven. The toppings were generous but very unremarkable. One rather odd thing is that the pizza is cut into squares rather than slices, which with the size we got yielded 14 pieces--quite a bit of pizza. The salad was chopped romaine with the usual suspects that one would get in an old school Italian-American antipasto salad. It came with a house made vinaigrette heavy on vinegar and light on anything else. It would take some serious doctoring to make it palatable. A very generous serving, though. The medium pizza and this salad could easily feed six very hungry people for $26. It has cured me of my curiosity about this place, however. I don't think we caught them on a bad day; I feel this is what they are striving to serve and it was a disappointment.
(2)
Sandra W.
I've actually given this place three shots at a good review. The first time we ate here, I ordered the chicken marsala and I'm sorry to say I have had tastier marsala. But I was willing to award them three stars on that visit. The second time I went there, I had the salad bar, which was decent. But our last visit was the proverbial straw. My daughter had a piccata and I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. Worst clam sauce ever. Bland bland bland. I couldn't taste anything but oil, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't olive oil. My daughter only ate about 3/4 of her entree. It was a one-star meal. Sorry Ernestos. We love the idea of your classic cuisine and we've been looking for it (in vain I might add) since we moved to Portland. Your place has a lot of potential but if the food is bland, it's not going to happen. Hire a chef that actually knows how to use spices.
(2)
Julie C.
I honestly have NO idea why there are negative reviews on here at all! I have been going to this restaurant for years! I remember when they were in the very end of the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyers a million years ago and they were wonderful then and even better now! I love their new location as it's not far from where they were before and still convenient for me to get to. Every time I go, I'm NEVER disappointed! They have the best focaccia bread before your food comes to stave off your hunger. They have wonderful clam linguine which is my favorite but last night I tried their cannelloni and it was AMAZING! The fillings of these little treasures were busting with flavor with the meat and cheese being equally distributed! If you get an entree, it most always comes with your choice of soup or salad. (Side note: You can ask for a spinach salad as well...the dressing on it is delish! It's not on the menu...shhh!) I love their Lambrusco, a chilled red wine that really compliments the red sauce dishes. Last night for dessert (Valentine's) they had a Raspberry Truffle that was to die for. It was a special dessert but any desserts they have are wonderful! Even the owner was involved last night and seated us! Please go and judge for yourself but they are a gem in the SW Portland area.
(5)
Kimberly F.
This is my favorite italian resturant in the Portland MEtro area! It's a hiden little gem. The food is delicious, the service great, the price affordable and the environment is relaxing and intimate. Love love love it!!
(5)
Amy B.
Best pizza in Beaverton, hands down! We've been here many times over the years including a large family gathering for my daughter's graduation, the service and the food have always been just great.
(4)
Cheryl D.
I went here with my Sister last week and had high hopes, I had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is nice, clean and well decorated. The service at a late lunch was not great (even though there were not many folks eating). I ordered the lunch Manicotti and it came with an OK salad and some bread, finally after a long wait my meal came and it was ONE tube of pasta about 7 inches long by 2 inches wide, ONE TUBE. I have never eaten Manicotto or Canilloni and gotten one lonly tube of pasta. It was laughable that I paid 8 bucks for that. I should have gotten the Buffet for a few bucks more, they had Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, plus a full salad bar. I will never step foot into this place again, if that is the best they can do.
(2)
Brian L.
Pizza is amazing. The pasta dishes can sometimes have too much sauce and too rich. Clam chowder is too rich though ministrone is good. Love the bread.
(3)
Paul A.
Way too expensive for the quality and atmosphere. The food is good but not worth the price. It IS after all spaghetti.
(3)
Onnicha K.
This place is my go to for Italian with my family and friends...the food was okay but the service is perfect.!
(4)
Emily C.
Horrible manager. She was extremely rude and grumpy! Not the level of service you would expect in the food industry. The food was Bland, over cooked noodles in definitely not-from-scratch sauce. We came here because they were on our passport card and we won't be back. Save your money and your taste buds and go to Decarli.
(1)
Myra F.
I'm going to give Ernesto's 5 stars for a few reasons. First, I hadn't eaten there in a while and I remember it being very mediocre, so my expectations were low. I did have to wait to be seated, but just for a minute. Who these days can afford a full time greeter in a small neighborhood restaurant? 6 of us were immediately seated and greeted by a very sweet and enthusiastic waitress. Our drinks, salads, and focaccia arrived immediately. They make all their own dressings and the salads were a perfect size and perfectly dressed and fresh. I asked if they make the gnocchi and again our sweet waitress enthusiastically answered yes. I ordered the gnocchi with marinara. I love to cook and I love good old fashioned Italian American cooking.That's what I got. 6 of us had 6 different dinners and everyone was pleased. The portions are large and the food delicious!
(5)
Aaron B.
Our new favorite local Italian date night. The atmosphere is perfect, reminds me of actually being in Italy. The people are wonderful and even gave us a $10 gift card to use on our next visit. The tiramisu was amazing. We look forward to coming here often.
(5)
Jon G.
Great place for family night. We enjoyed our meals and the service was prompt and attentive. I was surprised to see a salad bar but it was fresh and well stocked. We will definitely be back for a casual family night.
(4)
Ayla C.
Been here several time and we always leave satisfied. My only complaint is that my salad was way too drenched in ranch, and I love ranch!
(4)
Porshe M.
Great food! Love their secret recipe for marinara sauce! Fabulous service! Bethany is a delight! We will be back!
(5)
David D.
Great warm bread and good spaghetti. Waitress was attentive. First time for dinner but had lunch multiple times. Always good.
(4)
Michelle W.
Great food, exceptional service! They were all so nice and made the dining experience for our 2 year old great too! They even gave him a new toy truck to keep him occupied! I had the fettuccine and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and both were delicious and we have enough for left overs!!!! We will definitely be back!!! Very clean. Nice atmosphere!
(5)
Deanna N.
This is a family generational staple of our's. We've had wedding and bar mitzvah rehearsal dinners here in there back room after years of just going with our family. Its quintessential comfort food old school style. Family owned and run one can not go wrong with staples like spaghetti and meat sauce and spumoni. Its just one of those places you take you 90+ year old grandparents and you toddlers too and everyone is pleased.
(4)
Jessica V.
This place is great! We had our church dinner with over 30 couples and the service was great! Our waitress's was very attentive and the food was great! Lasagna is amazing!
(5)
David C.
First off, we were greeted at the door, a typical welcome, my impression was, "I have to be friendly because I need a paycheck". The wait staff, was interesting.. I almost felt a sense of irritability. There was a mis-communication, and instead of sincerely playing it off, or accepting responsibility for not listening, I felt some irritability, not OK at a restaurant. I had Veal Parmesan. It was pretty good, no different than if I ordered it at Olive Garden (yuk). Long story short, I expect top service, and exceptional food from a specialty Italian restaurant, with moderate prices...
(2)
Brendan C.
I've been coming to Ernesto's for over a decade. It's my mom's favorite restaurant. While I can understand some of the negative reviews listed, since the food seems to not be consistent, it is always good. I feel like it teeters from good to great. Not what exactly, but I love their bread and especially their wine choices. I used to eat everything from here, 3 pasta combo, linguine, seafood, pizza, you name it I've probably tried it. It's great for families and takeout, good atmosphere, clean restaurant. Good for locals
(4)
Diane C.
Decent solid American-Italian cuisine. The food is not stellar but very work-a-day. This seems a good place for families, as it had food that came out pretty quickly, large tables available, and there was no blaring music to mar conversations. The bread that came before the meal (complementary) was very good, herb-y, and hot. The caesar salad dressing was pretty bland. That said, we had the seafood linguine which was good, and the 3-pasta-combo which all tasted pretty much the same, just had slight variations in how the pasta was presented.
(3)
Amy L.
It's been years since i went, but i can still remember it as I've of the best Italian meals I've had. Expensive but excellent.
(5)
Amanda M.
Avoid anything with chicken. I've had the chicken Alfredo and a chicken pizza and both times the bland taste of the chicken has overpowered the dish and is not appealing. Also they put dark meet chunks on the pizza which added to the bad chicken-y taste. Once again too much money for what you get.
(3)
Trevor F.
We visited this place on a recommendation and all I can say is I wish we hadn't wasted our time. When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to greet us and we waited for 10 minutes before the hosted returned. She was not pleasant and very short. There were two couples waiting to be seated. They took our name and put it on their list and we were clearly third in line. They told us the wait was about 20-25 minutes. As we waited several other couples came in behind us and were added to the list. After a 40 minute wait we were next to be seated... But then the hostess called the couple that had come in after us. Odd but I thought maybe they had called ahead, so I let it pass. Then we were again skipped and the second couple to come in after us were called and seated. We went to the hostess stand to see what was going on and the hostess assured us we were next. I asked her why we'd been skipped in the first place and she nervously explained that bigger parties would be seated at bigger tables and the small parties at small tables. Understandable, I told her, however both times we were skipped they had been 2 person parties, the same as ours. She looks over her list and tells me it looks like she had skipped us ONCE. Very matter-of-factly. No apology, no explanation. I corrected her that we'd been skipped twice and she obviously couldn't care less about the fact. She simply said we'd be seated shortly and then moved to leave. I told her not to worry about it. Take us off the list. I wouldn't give my business to a place that obviously doesn't care to have it in the first place. She shrugged and crossed us off. We went down the street to a quick inexpensive Italian place, noodles. I'll never go back to Ernestos.
(1)
Jared B.
The true meaning of family style Italian. Adam and crew were nothing short of amazing which at the end of our meal included complimentary gifts for my daughters! As always I judge all Italian food on its bolognese (meat sauce). Excellent flavor. It was truly a taste of home and this will definitely not be the last time we dine at Ernestos. Oh, and btw while your waiting, make sure you pop your head into the lounge. Truly old school in the most complimenting of ways.
(5)
J B.
Sure, it's just OK. It's not great by any stretch - it's bordering on "MEH". My wife and I went on date night because friends had recommended the place (I'm starting to wonder if my friends were all part of some sort of cult that required removal of taste buds and forced, gross indiscretion). Date night is so freaking rare that I want to be wow'ed to the point that I'm ready to run through the streets stark naked with jubilation over my dinner. Instead, I found myself apologizing to my wife for having taken her there - not something I want to be doing on date night if you catch my drift **nudge, nudge**. The service was decent although we must have gone at geriatric hour because I had at least twenty-five years on my side over everyone else at the restaurant (and I'm no spring chicken). The bread they serve everyone was stale (which is gross) and tells me that ownership is cheap - either don't serve it or serve fresh bread for Pete sake! Anyhow, I ordered chicken marsala and it was just OK. I've had a lot better, even in Beaverton. My wife ordered gnocchi and it wasn't even as good as my chicken. The spaghetti with meat sauce that came with my dinner was unappetizingly watery. Come on, mix in a strainer people, it's that metal bowl with hecka holes through which water leaves the food BEFORE you serve it. So that's the story of my first/last at this joint. Ciao. Go if you dare, but if I were you and you're not averse to burning another gallon of fuel or so, get over to Nonna Emelia in Aloha. You will NOT regret it. Heck, Buggatti's in Beaverton blows doors over this place as well.
(3)
Nikki G.
Great service. Expensive. I make better pasta at home. Not going back.
(2)
Bryce H.
If you like Calazones, this is the place for you. Bring a big appetite, you'll need it for they are huge. You could easily feed three or four. The atmosphere is fun and Italian. A little pricey, but worth it. And don't forget to order the spumoni ice cream. Another very good dish is the chicken parmesan. Again very large portions. Treat yourself or someone special.
(5)
Tony F.
My wife and I had never been to Ernesto's, so we figured it was time to head on in. Now, this review might upset some of the die hard fans of Ernesto's, but I am not going to be apologetic. As someone who grew up an Italian American, studied Italian cuisine, cooked it as a Chef for many years, and someone who has travelled throughout Italy, I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We ordered their Margarita Pizza...that's my first pickiness. A Margarita is a Mexican cocktail made with tequila. A Margherita Pizza on the other hand is a pizza made with olive oil, diced roma tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. This pizza had a red sauce base, provolone cheese (a much tougher cheese than mozzarella when cooked) , thick sliced romas that were placed on the pizza cold which chills the pizza down to room temperature long before it's time, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. No garlic. The crust was tough, and too thick. A tough dough can be fine in a thinner crust, but when you have to struggle with a fork to cut the pizza? Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the pizza, and that's a shame. The restaurant has a nice, warm, comfortable dining area, but the pizza turned us off. One of the things I always demanded of my waitstaff is that they know the food they are serving. To the waiter that I overheard telling a customer that "Tiramisu is an Italian American dessert...." No, no it's not....it's origins, while somewhat cloudy, are purely Italian, and most likely from Venice. There is nothing American about the dish. We may go back for pasta sometime, some of them looked good, if not a little over priced. With so many other restaurants out there, we may not go back. Since Ernesto's has been around for 25+ years, it's clear that it is a restaurant of choice for many people. There are also a lot of people out there that think jarred Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce choice. I'm just saying.....
(2)
Janet M.
Actually, it's more of a 2.5 This is a good place to take family that loves a chain restaurant, because it FEELS a little like that, although it's independent. The food is adequate, the service is usually very nice, and it's got a funky 1970's Italian restaurant feel that our older relatives feel comfy in. Order something baked with cheese and marinara and you will be ok. Canneloni, lasagna, eggplant parmesan. Don't expect pasta miracles, it's hot and filling. The salad is icebergy, the bread was warm but unremarkable... there's spumoni... have some chianti and you will get through it. My 80 year old dad loves it. So did my inlaws. My daughter ( I blanch thinking about this) loved her spaghetti with parmesan and butter.,.. it was SWIMMING in butter. She was covered in butterfat, we had to hose her off when she got home. Enough said. Oh, wait, don't order the carbonara... my husband had heart pain for weeks after, it was that creamy and buttery... but not in a delicious way. In an over the top rich kind of way.
(3)
Kevin F.
I had the linguini with clams. Clams in the shell was overdone. Whatever type of meat that was ground up and put in the noodles (I think it was supposed to be clams but resembled more of canned tuna) was horrible. Covering it with copious amount of garlic would not cover that the food was spoiled, even though the chef attempted. I had very few bites of my food, my wife's food was delicious. I was sick much of last night, still sick today. Ernest NO thank you's is my new name for this place. Never again. Our waitress was nice. The Boneyard IPA on tap was the best part of my meal. A great IPA and not one you find around.
(1)
Sean K.
Disclaimer: I was not feeling well - sleep deprived - and was having stomach problems after my dinner here.. So my review may not be unbiased/accurate, but I will nonetheless will be objective. My friends and I - about 15 of us - went to Ernesto's for a nice graduation dinner. From the outside, this place didn't look so great but the interior was nice. Pictures, Italian-themed props, fairly open dining area, separate bar area all were positives. I was excited to have some good Italian food for once.. :) Then I opened the menu and saw not-crazy-expensive-but-moderately-expensive prices, coupled with A-OK selection of pasta, salad and desserts. Mind you, I was starving and not that many of them sounded that GREAT for me. Nothing really stood out yelling, "Eat Me!" I went ahead with Ernesto's Classic Trio (?) that consisted lasagna, chicken parm, and enchilada. It sounded almost good as Vodka chicken, which I learned later that it was pretty good. I don't blame Ernesto's food for giving me a stomach problem that night. I was overdosed with caffeine with an empty stomach, and I paid the price... I was able to finish enchilada and chicken parm but that was it... my poor stomach could not handle the delicious, cheesy, thick tomato sauce used on my dish. Mind you, it was pretty alright and I ate FAST since I was soooo hungry. Oh yeah, for you big eaters, portion size isn't great either... :( Service was good. Waitress who served us was little awkward - it looked as if she wasn't comfortable.. that's all - but did her job admirably. She split our checks without any problems and was able to give each of them to the right person. I never ran out of bread and water either. However, in the end, I would not pay the amount of money I paid that night to have a decent-at-best Italian food. I definitely had better food pretty much every city I have been to and would not be back here again unless it's a group thing again.
(3)
Bettie P.
I just went here today for the first time for their $8.95 lunch buffet. It was pretty good, and worth the $8.95. They have 2 buffet tables, one for salad. Everything on there was good and fresh. The other buffet had spaghetti noodles; and 3 different sauces. I got the alfredo, and it was delicious. They also had mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, BBQ ribs. Fresh sliced prime rib has au jus and creamy horseradish. They dont have dessert on the buffet, but the pistachio pudding on the salad bar is good. Service was good and fast and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and old-style. Bathroom was CLEAN and nice!
4 Stars for consistency. When we are looking for a no fuss meal, and know it will always be pretty good, this is where we go. Service is good, food is good and we can let our hair down. This is a family place and there is zero pretention to be found (which is so comforting). Their food is a lot like the Italian-American food I had a as child. They also do a few specials which are lighter and less Americanised, but not as innovative as the new-hip Italian places in PDX. Wine list, eh..give it a miss. No note-worthy wines to mention. We often dine here on a week night, so we aren't worried about the wine. I would recommend any dish on their menu, including pizza. Don't expect Downtown, Pearl type Italian, this is home cooking and done well.
(4)
Matt R.
This is your cookie-cutter "Italian" restaurant that actually plays more to stereotypes than actual Italian cooking. It has everything you can expect from this type of establishment: loud (albeit family friendly) space, plentiful and completely tasteless food, rushed servers and moderate prices. If you want to eat a pound of overcooked pasta with sauce straight from the can, definitely come to Ernesto's. Putting red and white checkered tablecloths and chianti bottle/candles on the tables is about what you can expect from this place. I think most of the reviewers on this site could probably whip up better Italian food than Ernesto's.
(1)
Terry S.
08/28 YES the clam chowder was awesome! Nice TV's in the nice quiet lounge.
(5)
Ben D.
I honestly don't understand folks sometimes. I really can't see how people find this place's food acceptable. Especially with the premium they put on their prices. The lasagna tasted like cardboard. I've never experienced this before, but it literally tasted like cardboard. The marinara had an odd taste that I couldn't quite place due to it being drowned in cheese. Greasy greasy cheese. I had four bites and then boxed it up for my teenage son who will eat anything. My wife had the chicken cacciatore and she swears it was frozen chicken tenders similar to what you give the kids on those nights when you only have five minutes to make dinner. She liked the sauce however. I don't even know what to say about the spaghetti. We also ordered my favorite thing for an appetizer. Something impossible to mess up: roasted garlic. The garlic was poor. It was at that point I became worried. There was something served on the plate with it that we didn't recognize at first. After much messing around with our forks we decided it must be roasted pepper slices...maybe. The hostess who greeted us could not be bothered. She would clearly rather we had not bothered her. Our waitress was very pleasant and did her job well. She was attentive and interested. I just don't understand. With the Italian options we have at our disposal in Portland and even in Beaverton, for much better prices, why would you come here? We won't again.
We returned after a year's absence and took the family to dinner. We may be wrong but it appeared the prices on some items were lower. The food, overall, was very good. They continue to produce good Italian food. Remember that some Italian foods have to simmer for hours so you can't expect great Italian scallopini very night. We are 100% Italian and raised with slow cooked Italian. Ernesto's comes close and it will be one we continue to recommend.
(4)
Darlyn C.
Whatever you do, don't waste your time or money.. Seriously, the food was bland, little flavor and lacked seasoning, There were 4 of us and we ordered different entrees. The sauce did not taste homemade at all. Pasta was overcooked. My seafood piccata tasted like plain noodles with unseasoned seafood and canned in water artichokes on top and dry. The shrimp scampi was garlic less. The salad bar was good but I had to find a server request and wait about 5 minutes.. We had a reservation, checked in and they said they were setting up our table. They promptly forgot us, we asked when the table was going to be ready and she asked who we were. It was like going to someone's home who didn't know how to cook and was trying. Wine was good but they didn't make that. We will not go back and suggest you don't
(1)
Dan G.
I was told this was supposed to be an authentic Italian restaurant, there must be a lot of confusion about Italian food, because in my opinion, the food here is not Italian, I was disappointed, I would say food at this place is American with some Italian influence. I think the people who suggested this to be an Italian restaurant, have never really been to Italy and eaten real Italian food. In Italy, marinara sauce first is never served with meat, it is supposed to be served with sea food dishes, and it does not have so much garlic flavor. I tried the Jumbo Ravioli with marinara sauce, the sauce was loaded with garlic. Also on the menu they had items such as Spaghetti with meatballs, which is not an Italian dish, but German, even if probably many may think to be an Italian thing, and they combine cheese with sea food which is unheard in an authentic Italian restaurant. However the people who serve are nice and very friendly, that I really appreciated!
(3)
Rodney W.
Ernesto's has the comfort of Italian cuisine down. From the cozily rustic decor and atmosphere to the generously-portioned food, Ernesto's is a date-night delight. My wife and I come here from time to time for a pleasant night out, and we're never disappointed. The staff always treat us with respect and warmth, providing us top-notch service with great attitudes and positivity. The food itself is worth raving about. Our Meals: Calzone, and Gnocchi. Both dishes are delicious. The calzone is the perfect size for two people, with a doughy crust bursting like a savory cornucopia filled with meat, veggies and cheese. The gnocchi is also a dish easily shared between two. Coming in a lip-smacking meat sauce, the dumplings are miniscule pillows of spice and awesome. If you like pasta, try the gnocchi. If you've never had gnocchi, try the gnocchi. Ernesto's is a reliable standby for reasonably-priced Italian comfort food.
(5)
Sara V.
My husband and I just had dinner here for the first time and it was great. The food was good, the wine was reasonably priced, the wait staff was very attentive, and the coffee tiramisu and lemon tiramisu were some of the best we've ever had. Like eating heaven! We will definitely be back!
(5)
david m.
Ernesto's is a decent run-of-the-mill, nonthreatening American-Italian Restaurant with a few pluses, namely the service and the buffet. If you're all about the food, there are better options in town. If you want a place to take people without scaring them with the food, they had a good mix of red-sauce pasta items, other pasta & non-pasta entrees, and pizza. I ordered from a page with 'smaller' servings and it was plenty of food, the regular portions are pretty big. Food snobbery aside! - Ernesto's was perfect for our 11-person group ranging from 4-year-olds, a teenager, and a mix of adults and seniors. Our server was attentive without being pushy, and coordinated a custom dish for someone with special dietary needs. What really stood out was that we'd brought our own birthday cake, and our server provided everything we needed to serve it. One of our party also customized their meal by ordering a chicken dish with vegetables and then filling it out with quinoa and salad from the buffet. I ordered spaggetti and meatballs because I was craving it, it was pretty generic and I found myself jealous of my neighbor's creamy chicken & mushroom pasta. Not what I'd pick for date night in food-centric Portland, but darn good enough for feeding a crowd.
(3)
Rustie D.
This place reminds me of my family - loud, expressive, and usually entertaining. The food is good, wholesome, and very tasty. The portions are plentiful, and the bread basket is always full. The restaurant is run family style with "mama" running rough-shod over everyone. The service is a hit/miss kind of thing. The last time we were there, the food was hot and tasty, but they were short a server, so "mama" had to step in, and that was a hoot. They are no more pricey than Olive Garden, but the quality is surely not manufactured - factory turn out. I don't come here very often because of my budget, but whenever I feel like good Italian, I come here. I recommend their eggplant parm...yum!
(4)
Katie C.
I came to Ernesto's the other night for my friend's older brother's rehearsal dinner and found the place to be warm, inviting and incredibly charming. The ambiance and decor was very reminiscent of an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood from my childhood [Vince's], with touches of faux grape vines strewn about, Tuscan-inspired wall murals and those oh-so-stereotypical red checkered tablecloths you come to expect to see at any authentic Italian restaurant. As for the food + service, it was great! The waitstaff was attentive + friendly and the food came out in a timely progression. We dined family-style and shared plates of fettuccine alfredo, hearty meatballs, garlic chicken and ravioli. Guests had the choice to polish off their meals with either spumoni or a berry sorbet and everyone got their fair share of wine and beer. All and all, a great experience, though my *one* piece of advice is for the owners to invest some funds into updating the decor. While there's nothing technically wrong with it, I couldn't help but find it a little bit too predictable and Ernesto's could truly set themselves apart if they were to modernize the look and feel of the place. Just a suggestion. =)
(3)
Leah H.
Came here to celebrate a birthday with a group of around 12 people or so. We were seated in a section all to ourselves which was really nice. Our server was very kind and attentive. She was totally on top of keeping bread on the table all night. They even let us bring in our own cakes and cut/served them for us. That is about it as far as the positive aspects of our visit. I ordered the pesto because I wasn't wanting any meat or much cheese and there were not really much for options that would fit into that. The dish tasted like alfredo sauce with basil added. So much for avoiding cheese. The pasta was wayyyyy overcooked. It felt and looked pretty much like baby food. Most of everyone else at the table got some form of noodle covered in marinara sauce. Not a single plate looked even reasonably appetizing. I tasted some of the sauce on a calzone and it was just bland. Everything looked like a gut-bomb covered in too much cheese. And I get it, maybe some people like it. But to me...no...just no. The worst thing about this experience though was the price tag. Most entrees were somewhere around $17 or more. As I sat through my cheesy basil goop plate I secretly daydreamed about the marvelous dishes I could be getting from Decarli for the same amount of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
(2)
Liz K.
Friendly staff. Service is spotty -- sometimes very fast & attentive, other times they fall a bit behind. But we've never felt ignored. They always seem to be trying. Their pastas and entrees are solidly good. Ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi, and the chicken and eggplant parm are all delicious. The pizza is -- and I'm not exaggerating here -- the worst I have ever had. All the ingredients tasted canned, the sauce was tasteless, the crust was cardboard, and the whole thing was really salty. We were told no one had EVER complained about the pizza before, which made us wonder if we got an off night? The biggest downfall of this restaurant has got to be that their ingredients aren't very fresh. You don't notice it too much when food is covered in sauce and cheese, but the salads (and the salad bar) are pretty sad. The side of vegetables are also pretty bland. But overall, it's a good place to get Italian-American comfort food.
(3)
John K.
They have a great lunch buffet! Lunch buffet is not expensive $8.50
(4)
Jacob G.
This review is more like 2.5 stars but I don't feel like giving it 3 up there. Anyhoo, Ernesto's is ol' school Italian-American so it's got those red and white checkered tablecloths and wine bottles and such. However, we were here for the food and not those nor the awesome red chairs they have in the bar area. Is it me, or is white and yellow cheese not supposed to be on chicken Parmesan? The meat sauce on my spaghetti was kind of strange, too. Couldn't put my finger on it. In all, this is not the best Italian in town.
(2)
Dale R.
My first dinner here, we shared the antipasto plate and a medium pizza. Both were much better than we have had at any of the other local Italian restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere, clean with great service & decent prices. Good selection on the menu make this a great experience overall. I will return and bring my friends and family, too. Our tab for a medium combo pizza, antipasto plate and a glass of wine was $30. Pizza had plenty of ingredients, not too much tomato sauce, and a medium thick, chewy crust. They cut it into squares, not pie slices, but who cares? After eating most of the antipasto plate, we could not finish even half of the pizza. BTW, the antipasto plate had a good mix of meats, olives, peppers, and cheese.
(5)
Honeybee M.
My boyfriend and I really enjoy eating at this restaurant. The food, decor, and music remind me of Italian restaurants back home in New Jersey. We are always made to feel welcome and comfortable whenever we come here, kind of like eating at your Italian grandma or great aunt's house.
(4)
Sharilynn T.
I will not be the only one in a QUIET, non-profit PROTEST against Ernesto's. Never have we experienced such righteous and rude behavior when simply asking for a volume/non-profit 503 [c][3] discount for a fundraising event with over 200 people to be served at the end of the month. I have been going there for years, for lunches and family events, and I will now CHOOSE to no longer go there.
(1)
Beth M.
Three words: I've had better. Two words: Not good. One word: Meh Seriously...go East on Beav-Hills and eat at La Prima Trattoria and have yourself a real meal for a comparable price.
(2)
David M.
Great neighborhood dinning. Outstanding Service. Have not had a meal I didn't enjoy. Would recommend to all my friends and I have!
(4)
Jenn W.
Their food is worse than Olive Garden. Their marinara sauce is bad..the staple of Italian food. Nothing is good on their menu. Go to Giovannis or Geraldis.
(2)
jeri j.
I really enjoy this place every time I have gone! I celebrated my first A I got in collage here alone and what a treat. food is always good and so are the portions.
(4)
Robin S.
I love this place. This is authenitc Italian food. Their Chicken parm is the best along with their pesto. Everything is made fesh. the atmosphere is light and the owner very nice. The people that work there friendly and the prices are good. I go back often. It is a good place to take a date and eat with family. Large groups are also welcome.
(4)
Lee C.
Tried the Wednesday lunch buffet. A few typical Italian style items are offered, along with an ample salad bar. The salad bar is the star of this show. When one thinks of the grandeur of Italian quisine and the complete absence of grandeur or even good taste in the items offered, one can only say that this restaurant should just quit offering what it does for a buffet -- good cooking is NOT featured. Also, to gain access to sphagetti or the soups, one has to take a lid off of the container but there's no place to put the lid while dipping -- in other words, no attempt is made to convenience the diner. Even the pizza is un-spectacular or even adequate. Overall, a two-star rating is being generous.
(2)
james c.
We had good food and good service. We certainly had none of the problems some other diners have had. Service was friendly and prompt. Waitress did combine my immediate drink order with a several minute later wine order but that might have been a bartender delivery issue. We have been here twice in a few weeks. The pizza is not to my taste but the pasta is good, not best ever but good variety for a reasonable price. Wife and friends tried chicken dish one visit and veal another and were pleased. This is a good place for a simple Italian meal. We will be back.
(4)
Bobby D.
Yes it's true, another italian restaurant with a lunch buffet! This restaurant is located in a ( well you guessed it) strip mall! It's on the south side of beaverton hillsdale highway just off of apple way. I've gone here with friends for the lunch buffet many times. Each day they serve different entrees in the buffet. The buffet has the standard pizza, salad bar, and several entrees. The food is good and they got a 95 out of 100 on their last health inspection of 6/2/08. Getting real close to a perfect score! I have to go back to this one for sure since the food really is not that bad (probably as good as it gets for the area that i know of so far) the service was good and i don't have to worry too much about getting some nasty food borne illness or hair in my food!!!
(4)
Josh B.
I guess I had a bad experience here... We went later at night, we were told it was too late to order a calzone or a pizza. The service was slow even though there was nobody else there. When our food finally arrived it tasted as if my pasta had set out for a few hours to dry out, my meatballs were dry, my Ravioli was cold, hard and try... The prices reflect that you would get better food and service, but you don't. I see so many people write good reviews for this place, i might be tempted to try this place again if my first experience did not suck so bad.
(1)
Ann K.
Date Visited: Saturday 4/5/08 (Dinner) I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this restaurant. Ernesto's is situated off 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale) and Apple Way (by the AAA office). It's nestled into the corner of the strip mall there, by a fish store. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect anything. Once inside, the smells start to make their way to your nose. I love Italian food, but haven't had a great deal of it in the last year (outside of pizza, if that even counts), so I was probably more excited about the experience than most. I went with Meetin Portland, so there were about 10 of us. Other than the fact that they couldn't do separate checks (which made paying a little frantic), it was a nice restaurant and had really good food. We ordered drinks and were served garlic/cheese bread. Right there, if nothing else went right, I think that's a big deal. I mean....it's not just a nice Italian bread that you dip into an oil/vinegar concoction (don't get me wrong....I enjoy this), but it's GARLIC and CHEESE bread. The cheese isn't melted and oozing or anything (it may even be a fake cheese for all I know), but I'm not picky. The menu has a lot of options for any Italian fan. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which came with your choice of salad (Ceasar or Dinner Side) and then a small dish of pasta (spaghetti or ravioli). Portion-wise, it was more than enough and I brought over half of it home (along with some of the garlic/cheese bread). No room for dessert, but some at our table had spumoni and some had Tiramisu. The tiramisu looked heavenly and anyone who had a taste said it was very good. I am looking forward to going to Ernesto's again and again. It's not cheap Italian, but it's GOOD Italian and expect to pay $20 for food and drink. It's worth it.
(4)
Wendy G.
DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A GLUTEN SENSITIVITY! They will tell you things are GF (like the meat sauce) when they definitely are not. Also, they will make mistakes, like giving you wheat pasta instead of GF, argue with you, and hardly apologize or take anything off of the bill when you point out the error, no matter how nice you are about it. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this place - I love red sauce Italian food and it is in a very convenient location for me, but I've given it several chances and been disappointed every time. Skip this place and find somewhere else that is better to their customers.
(1)
Rosemary P.
We went here for Valentine's Day. While not the most romantic place, the food was wonderful! I had the manicotti, which was to die for, and the tiramisu for desert, which again, was to die for. Not only was the food great but the service was fast and super friendly! I will definitely go here again, i haven't found a comparable Italian restaurant anywhere.
(5)
Sandra W.
I've actually given this place three shots at a good review. The first time we ate here, I ordered the chicken marsala and I'm sorry to say I have had tastier marsala. But I was willing to award them three stars on that visit. The second time I went there, I had the salad bar, which was decent. But our last visit was the proverbial straw. My daughter had a piccata and I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. Worst clam sauce ever. Bland bland bland. I couldn't taste anything but oil, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't olive oil. My daughter only ate about 3/4 of her entree. It was a one-star meal. Sorry Ernestos. We love the idea of your classic cuisine and we've been looking for it (in vain I might add) since we moved to Portland. Your place has a lot of potential but if the food is bland, it's not going to happen. Hire a chef that actually knows how to use spices.
(2)
Leah H.
Came here to celebrate a birthday with a group of around 12 people or so. We were seated in a section all to ourselves which was really nice. Our server was very kind and attentive. She was totally on top of keeping bread on the table all night. They even let us bring in our own cakes and cut/served them for us. That is about it as far as the positive aspects of our visit. I ordered the pesto because I wasn't wanting any meat or much cheese and there were not really much for options that would fit into that. The dish tasted like alfredo sauce with basil added. So much for avoiding cheese. The pasta was wayyyyy overcooked. It felt and looked pretty much like baby food. Most of everyone else at the table got some form of noodle covered in marinara sauce. Not a single plate looked even reasonably appetizing. I tasted some of the sauce on a calzone and it was just bland. Everything looked like a gut-bomb covered in too much cheese. And I get it, maybe some people like it. But to me...no...just no. The worst thing about this experience though was the price tag. Most entrees were somewhere around $17 or more. As I sat through my cheesy basil goop plate I secretly daydreamed about the marvelous dishes I could be getting from Decarli for the same amount of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
(2)
Darlyn C.
Whatever you do, don't waste your time or money.. Seriously, the food was bland, little flavor and lacked seasoning, There were 4 of us and we ordered different entrees. The sauce did not taste homemade at all. Pasta was overcooked. My seafood piccata tasted like plain noodles with unseasoned seafood and canned in water artichokes on top and dry. The shrimp scampi was garlic less. The salad bar was good but I had to find a server request and wait about 5 minutes.. We had a reservation, checked in and they said they were setting up our table. They promptly forgot us, we asked when the table was going to be ready and she asked who we were. It was like going to someone's home who didn't know how to cook and was trying. Wine was good but they didn't make that. We will not go back and suggest you don't
(1)
Dan G.
I was told this was supposed to be an authentic Italian restaurant, there must be a lot of confusion about Italian food, because in my opinion, the food here is not Italian, I was disappointed, I would say food at this place is American with some Italian influence. I think the people who suggested this to be an Italian restaurant, have never really been to Italy and eaten real Italian food. In Italy, marinara sauce first is never served with meat, it is supposed to be served with sea food dishes, and it does not have so much garlic flavor. I tried the Jumbo Ravioli with marinara sauce, the sauce was loaded with garlic. Also on the menu they had items such as Spaghetti with meatballs, which is not an Italian dish, but German, even if probably many may think to be an Italian thing, and they combine cheese with sea food which is unheard in an authentic Italian restaurant. However the people who serve are nice and very friendly, that I really appreciated!
(3)
Rodney W.
Ernesto's has the comfort of Italian cuisine down. From the cozily rustic decor and atmosphere to the generously-portioned food, Ernesto's is a date-night delight. My wife and I come here from time to time for a pleasant night out, and we're never disappointed. The staff always treat us with respect and warmth, providing us top-notch service with great attitudes and positivity. The food itself is worth raving about. Our Meals: Calzone, and Gnocchi. Both dishes are delicious. The calzone is the perfect size for two people, with a doughy crust bursting like a savory cornucopia filled with meat, veggies and cheese. The gnocchi is also a dish easily shared between two. Coming in a lip-smacking meat sauce, the dumplings are miniscule pillows of spice and awesome. If you like pasta, try the gnocchi. If you've never had gnocchi, try the gnocchi. Ernesto's is a reliable standby for reasonably-priced Italian comfort food.
(5)
Duane S.
My wife and I first went here on our first wedding anniversary five years ago. Back then, we arrived late, so most people were finishing their meals. Seated in a booth away from the crowds, we appreciated the privacy. We were surprised and delighted with the food and service given the late arrival (ever notice how the quality can go downhill as the after the rush at many places?). Two weeks ago we returned to re-live our experience. Since our first visit, they'd remodeled, the place was packed as it often is, so were seated next to a family with a couple rambunctious small kids. Although we actually loved the children, the owner came by twice out of concern that we were OK with it. Once again we were surprised and delighted with everything. Sooooooo much better than Olive Garden. Perhaps not the haute cuisine Italian some are willing to pay for, but excellent for the price. The constantly filled parking lot certainly says they're doing right for a lot of people.
(4)
Bettie P.
I just went here today for the first time for their $8.95 lunch buffet. It was pretty good, and worth the $8.95. They have 2 buffet tables, one for salad. Everything on there was good and fresh. The other buffet had spaghetti noodles; and 3 different sauces. I got the alfredo, and it was delicious. They also had mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, BBQ ribs. Fresh sliced prime rib has au jus and creamy horseradish. They dont have dessert on the buffet, but the pistachio pudding on the salad bar is good. Service was good and fast and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and old-style. Bathroom was CLEAN and nice!
(3)
Terry S.
08/28 YES the clam chowder was awesome! Nice TV's in the nice quiet lounge.
(5)
Ben D.
I honestly don't understand folks sometimes. I really can't see how people find this place's food acceptable. Especially with the premium they put on their prices. The lasagna tasted like cardboard. I've never experienced this before, but it literally tasted like cardboard. The marinara had an odd taste that I couldn't quite place due to it being drowned in cheese. Greasy greasy cheese. I had four bites and then boxed it up for my teenage son who will eat anything. My wife had the chicken cacciatore and she swears it was frozen chicken tenders similar to what you give the kids on those nights when you only have five minutes to make dinner. She liked the sauce however. I don't even know what to say about the spaghetti. We also ordered my favorite thing for an appetizer. Something impossible to mess up: roasted garlic. The garlic was poor. It was at that point I became worried. There was something served on the plate with it that we didn't recognize at first. After much messing around with our forks we decided it must be roasted pepper slices...maybe. The hostess who greeted us could not be bothered. She would clearly rather we had not bothered her. Our waitress was very pleasant and did her job well. She was attentive and interested. I just don't understand. With the Italian options we have at our disposal in Portland and even in Beaverton, for much better prices, why would you come here? We won't again.
I'm going to give Ernesto's 5 stars for a few reasons. First, I hadn't eaten there in a while and I remember it being very mediocre, so my expectations were low. I did have to wait to be seated, but just for a minute. Who these days can afford a full time greeter in a small neighborhood restaurant? 6 of us were immediately seated and greeted by a very sweet and enthusiastic waitress. Our drinks, salads, and focaccia arrived immediately. They make all their own dressings and the salads were a perfect size and perfectly dressed and fresh. I asked if they make the gnocchi and again our sweet waitress enthusiastically answered yes. I ordered the gnocchi with marinara. I love to cook and I love good old fashioned Italian American cooking.That's what I got. 6 of us had 6 different dinners and everyone was pleased. The portions are large and the food delicious!
(5)
Aaron B.
Our new favorite local Italian date night. The atmosphere is perfect, reminds me of actually being in Italy. The people are wonderful and even gave us a $10 gift card to use on our next visit. The tiramisu was amazing. We look forward to coming here often.
(5)
Jon G.
Great place for family night. We enjoyed our meals and the service was prompt and attentive. I was surprised to see a salad bar but it was fresh and well stocked. We will definitely be back for a casual family night.
(4)
Ayla C.
Been here several time and we always leave satisfied. My only complaint is that my salad was way too drenched in ranch, and I love ranch!
(4)
Porshe M.
Great food! Love their secret recipe for marinara sauce! Fabulous service! Bethany is a delight! We will be back!
(5)
David D.
Great warm bread and good spaghetti. Waitress was attentive. First time for dinner but had lunch multiple times. Always good.
(4)
Michelle W.
Great food, exceptional service! They were all so nice and made the dining experience for our 2 year old great too! They even gave him a new toy truck to keep him occupied! I had the fettuccine and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and both were delicious and we have enough for left overs!!!! We will definitely be back!!! Very clean. Nice atmosphere!
(5)
Deanna N.
This is a family generational staple of our's. We've had wedding and bar mitzvah rehearsal dinners here in there back room after years of just going with our family. Its quintessential comfort food old school style. Family owned and run one can not go wrong with staples like spaghetti and meat sauce and spumoni. Its just one of those places you take you 90+ year old grandparents and you toddlers too and everyone is pleased.
(4)
Jessica V.
This place is great! We had our church dinner with over 30 couples and the service was great! Our waitress's was very attentive and the food was great! Lasagna is amazing!
(5)
Onnicha K.
This place is my go to for Italian with my family and friends...the food was okay but the service is perfect.!
(4)
Emily C.
Horrible manager. She was extremely rude and grumpy! Not the level of service you would expect in the food industry. The food was Bland, over cooked noodles in definitely not-from-scratch sauce. We came here because they were on our passport card and we won't be back. Save your money and your taste buds and go to Decarli.
(1)
Richard B.
We returned after a year's absence and took the family to dinner. We may be wrong but it appeared the prices on some items were lower. The food, overall, was very good. They continue to produce good Italian food. Remember that some Italian foods have to simmer for hours so you can't expect great Italian scallopini very night. We are 100% Italian and raised with slow cooked Italian. Ernesto's comes close and it will be one we continue to recommend.
(4)
Darlyn C.
Whatever you do, don't waste your time or money.. Seriously, the food was bland, little flavor and lacked seasoning, There were 4 of us and we ordered different entrees. The sauce did not taste homemade at all. Pasta was overcooked. My seafood piccata tasted like plain noodles with unseasoned seafood and canned in water artichokes on top and dry. The shrimp scampi was garlic less. The salad bar was good but I had to find a server request and wait about 5 minutes.. We had a reservation, checked in and they said they were setting up our table. They promptly forgot us, we asked when the table was going to be ready and she asked who we were. It was like going to someone's home who didn't know how to cook and was trying. Wine was good but they didn't make that. We will not go back and suggest you don't
(1)
Dan G.
I was told this was supposed to be an authentic Italian restaurant, there must be a lot of confusion about Italian food, because in my opinion, the food here is not Italian, I was disappointed, I would say food at this place is American with some Italian influence. I think the people who suggested this to be an Italian restaurant, have never really been to Italy and eaten real Italian food. In Italy, marinara sauce first is never served with meat, it is supposed to be served with sea food dishes, and it does not have so much garlic flavor. I tried the Jumbo Ravioli with marinara sauce, the sauce was loaded with garlic. Also on the menu they had items such as Spaghetti with meatballs, which is not an Italian dish, but German, even if probably many may think to be an Italian thing, and they combine cheese with sea food which is unheard in an authentic Italian restaurant. However the people who serve are nice and very friendly, that I really appreciated!
(3)
Rodney W.
Ernesto's has the comfort of Italian cuisine down. From the cozily rustic decor and atmosphere to the generously-portioned food, Ernesto's is a date-night delight. My wife and I come here from time to time for a pleasant night out, and we're never disappointed. The staff always treat us with respect and warmth, providing us top-notch service with great attitudes and positivity. The food itself is worth raving about. Our Meals: Calzone, and Gnocchi. Both dishes are delicious. The calzone is the perfect size for two people, with a doughy crust bursting like a savory cornucopia filled with meat, veggies and cheese. The gnocchi is also a dish easily shared between two. Coming in a lip-smacking meat sauce, the dumplings are miniscule pillows of spice and awesome. If you like pasta, try the gnocchi. If you've never had gnocchi, try the gnocchi. Ernesto's is a reliable standby for reasonably-priced Italian comfort food.
(5)
Diane C.
Decent solid American-Italian cuisine. The food is not stellar but very work-a-day. This seems a good place for families, as it had food that came out pretty quickly, large tables available, and there was no blaring music to mar conversations. The bread that came before the meal (complementary) was very good, herb-y, and hot. The caesar salad dressing was pretty bland. That said, we had the seafood linguine which was good, and the 3-pasta-combo which all tasted pretty much the same, just had slight variations in how the pasta was presented.
(3)
Amy L.
It's been years since i went, but i can still remember it as I've of the best Italian meals I've had. Expensive but excellent.
(5)
Amanda M.
Avoid anything with chicken. I've had the chicken Alfredo and a chicken pizza and both times the bland taste of the chicken has overpowered the dish and is not appealing. Also they put dark meet chunks on the pizza which added to the bad chicken-y taste. Once again too much money for what you get.
(3)
Amy B.
Best pizza in Beaverton, hands down! We've been here many times over the years including a large family gathering for my daughter's graduation, the service and the food have always been just great.
(4)
Cheryl D.
I went here with my Sister last week and had high hopes, I had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is nice, clean and well decorated. The service at a late lunch was not great (even though there were not many folks eating). I ordered the lunch Manicotti and it came with an OK salad and some bread, finally after a long wait my meal came and it was ONE tube of pasta about 7 inches long by 2 inches wide, ONE TUBE. I have never eaten Manicotto or Canilloni and gotten one lonly tube of pasta. It was laughable that I paid 8 bucks for that. I should have gotten the Buffet for a few bucks more, they had Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, plus a full salad bar. I will never step foot into this place again, if that is the best they can do.
(2)
Brian L.
Pizza is amazing. The pasta dishes can sometimes have too much sauce and too rich. Clam chowder is too rich though ministrone is good. Love the bread.
(3)
Trevor F.
We visited this place on a recommendation and all I can say is I wish we hadn't wasted our time. When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to greet us and we waited for 10 minutes before the hosted returned. She was not pleasant and very short. There were two couples waiting to be seated. They took our name and put it on their list and we were clearly third in line. They told us the wait was about 20-25 minutes. As we waited several other couples came in behind us and were added to the list. After a 40 minute wait we were next to be seated... But then the hostess called the couple that had come in after us. Odd but I thought maybe they had called ahead, so I let it pass. Then we were again skipped and the second couple to come in after us were called and seated. We went to the hostess stand to see what was going on and the hostess assured us we were next. I asked her why we'd been skipped in the first place and she nervously explained that bigger parties would be seated at bigger tables and the small parties at small tables. Understandable, I told her, however both times we were skipped they had been 2 person parties, the same as ours. She looks over her list and tells me it looks like she had skipped us ONCE. Very matter-of-factly. No apology, no explanation. I corrected her that we'd been skipped twice and she obviously couldn't care less about the fact. She simply said we'd be seated shortly and then moved to leave. I told her not to worry about it. Take us off the list. I wouldn't give my business to a place that obviously doesn't care to have it in the first place. She shrugged and crossed us off. We went down the street to a quick inexpensive Italian place, noodles. I'll never go back to Ernestos.
(1)
Jared B.
The true meaning of family style Italian. Adam and crew were nothing short of amazing which at the end of our meal included complimentary gifts for my daughters! As always I judge all Italian food on its bolognese (meat sauce). Excellent flavor. It was truly a taste of home and this will definitely not be the last time we dine at Ernestos. Oh, and btw while your waiting, make sure you pop your head into the lounge. Truly old school in the most complimenting of ways.
(5)
David C.
First off, we were greeted at the door, a typical welcome, my impression was, "I have to be friendly because I need a paycheck". The wait staff, was interesting.. I almost felt a sense of irritability. There was a mis-communication, and instead of sincerely playing it off, or accepting responsibility for not listening, I felt some irritability, not OK at a restaurant. I had Veal Parmesan. It was pretty good, no different than if I ordered it at Olive Garden (yuk). Long story short, I expect top service, and exceptional food from a specialty Italian restaurant, with moderate prices...
(2)
Brendan C.
I've been coming to Ernesto's for over a decade. It's my mom's favorite restaurant. While I can understand some of the negative reviews listed, since the food seems to not be consistent, it is always good. I feel like it teeters from good to great. Not what exactly, but I love their bread and especially their wine choices. I used to eat everything from here, 3 pasta combo, linguine, seafood, pizza, you name it I've probably tried it. It's great for families and takeout, good atmosphere, clean restaurant. Good for locals
(4)
Tony F.
My wife and I had never been to Ernesto's, so we figured it was time to head on in. Now, this review might upset some of the die hard fans of Ernesto's, but I am not going to be apologetic. As someone who grew up an Italian American, studied Italian cuisine, cooked it as a Chef for many years, and someone who has travelled throughout Italy, I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We ordered their Margarita Pizza...that's my first pickiness. A Margarita is a Mexican cocktail made with tequila. A Margherita Pizza on the other hand is a pizza made with olive oil, diced roma tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. This pizza had a red sauce base, provolone cheese (a much tougher cheese than mozzarella when cooked) , thick sliced romas that were placed on the pizza cold which chills the pizza down to room temperature long before it's time, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. No garlic. The crust was tough, and too thick. A tough dough can be fine in a thinner crust, but when you have to struggle with a fork to cut the pizza? Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the pizza, and that's a shame. The restaurant has a nice, warm, comfortable dining area, but the pizza turned us off. One of the things I always demanded of my waitstaff is that they know the food they are serving. To the waiter that I overheard telling a customer that "Tiramisu is an Italian American dessert...." No, no it's not....it's origins, while somewhat cloudy, are purely Italian, and most likely from Venice. There is nothing American about the dish. We may go back for pasta sometime, some of them looked good, if not a little over priced. With so many other restaurants out there, we may not go back. Since Ernesto's has been around for 25+ years, it's clear that it is a restaurant of choice for many people. There are also a lot of people out there that think jarred Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce choice. I'm just saying.....
(2)
Janet M.
Actually, it's more of a 2.5 This is a good place to take family that loves a chain restaurant, because it FEELS a little like that, although it's independent. The food is adequate, the service is usually very nice, and it's got a funky 1970's Italian restaurant feel that our older relatives feel comfy in. Order something baked with cheese and marinara and you will be ok. Canneloni, lasagna, eggplant parmesan. Don't expect pasta miracles, it's hot and filling. The salad is icebergy, the bread was warm but unremarkable... there's spumoni... have some chianti and you will get through it. My 80 year old dad loves it. So did my inlaws. My daughter ( I blanch thinking about this) loved her spaghetti with parmesan and butter.,.. it was SWIMMING in butter. She was covered in butterfat, we had to hose her off when she got home. Enough said. Oh, wait, don't order the carbonara... my husband had heart pain for weeks after, it was that creamy and buttery... but not in a delicious way. In an over the top rich kind of way.
(3)
Kevin F.
I had the linguini with clams. Clams in the shell was overdone. Whatever type of meat that was ground up and put in the noodles (I think it was supposed to be clams but resembled more of canned tuna) was horrible. Covering it with copious amount of garlic would not cover that the food was spoiled, even though the chef attempted. I had very few bites of my food, my wife's food was delicious. I was sick much of last night, still sick today. Ernest NO thank you's is my new name for this place. Never again. Our waitress was nice. The Boneyard IPA on tap was the best part of my meal. A great IPA and not one you find around.
(1)
Sean K.
Disclaimer: I was not feeling well - sleep deprived - and was having stomach problems after my dinner here.. So my review may not be unbiased/accurate, but I will nonetheless will be objective. My friends and I - about 15 of us - went to Ernesto's for a nice graduation dinner. From the outside, this place didn't look so great but the interior was nice. Pictures, Italian-themed props, fairly open dining area, separate bar area all were positives. I was excited to have some good Italian food for once.. :) Then I opened the menu and saw not-crazy-expensive-but-moderately-expensive prices, coupled with A-OK selection of pasta, salad and desserts. Mind you, I was starving and not that many of them sounded that GREAT for me. Nothing really stood out yelling, "Eat Me!" I went ahead with Ernesto's Classic Trio (?) that consisted lasagna, chicken parm, and enchilada. It sounded almost good as Vodka chicken, which I learned later that it was pretty good. I don't blame Ernesto's food for giving me a stomach problem that night. I was overdosed with caffeine with an empty stomach, and I paid the price... I was able to finish enchilada and chicken parm but that was it... my poor stomach could not handle the delicious, cheesy, thick tomato sauce used on my dish. Mind you, it was pretty alright and I ate FAST since I was soooo hungry. Oh yeah, for you big eaters, portion size isn't great either... :( Service was good. Waitress who served us was little awkward - it looked as if she wasn't comfortable.. that's all - but did her job admirably. She split our checks without any problems and was able to give each of them to the right person. I never ran out of bread and water either. However, in the end, I would not pay the amount of money I paid that night to have a decent-at-best Italian food. I definitely had better food pretty much every city I have been to and would not be back here again unless it's a group thing again.
(3)
Julie C.
I honestly have NO idea why there are negative reviews on here at all! I have been going to this restaurant for years! I remember when they were in the very end of the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyers a million years ago and they were wonderful then and even better now! I love their new location as it's not far from where they were before and still convenient for me to get to. Every time I go, I'm NEVER disappointed! They have the best focaccia bread before your food comes to stave off your hunger. They have wonderful clam linguine which is my favorite but last night I tried their cannelloni and it was AMAZING! The fillings of these little treasures were busting with flavor with the meat and cheese being equally distributed! If you get an entree, it most always comes with your choice of soup or salad. (Side note: You can ask for a spinach salad as well...the dressing on it is delish! It's not on the menu...shhh!) I love their Lambrusco, a chilled red wine that really compliments the red sauce dishes. Last night for dessert (Valentine's) they had a Raspberry Truffle that was to die for. It was a special dessert but any desserts they have are wonderful! Even the owner was involved last night and seated us! Please go and judge for yourself but they are a gem in the SW Portland area.
(5)
Kimberly F.
This is my favorite italian resturant in the Portland MEtro area! It's a hiden little gem. The food is delicious, the service great, the price affordable and the environment is relaxing and intimate. Love love love it!!
(5)
Paul A.
Way too expensive for the quality and atmosphere. The food is good but not worth the price. It IS after all spaghetti.
08/28 YES the clam chowder was awesome! Nice TV's in the nice quiet lounge.
(5)
Bob M.
This review is for a take out pizza meal--I am still looking for a good takeout pizza and Ernesto's has been on my list for quite a while to check out. The restaurant has that neighborhood Italian-American feel about it, and that was pretty much what we got in the medium combo pizza and the Michael's Insalata that we ordered. The crust of the pizza was thick, chewy and could have spent a little more time in a hotter oven. The toppings were generous but very unremarkable. One rather odd thing is that the pizza is cut into squares rather than slices, which with the size we got yielded 14 pieces--quite a bit of pizza. The salad was chopped romaine with the usual suspects that one would get in an old school Italian-American antipasto salad. It came with a house made vinaigrette heavy on vinegar and light on anything else. It would take some serious doctoring to make it palatable. A very generous serving, though. The medium pizza and this salad could easily feed six very hungry people for $26. It has cured me of my curiosity about this place, however. I don't think we caught them on a bad day; I feel this is what they are striving to serve and it was a disappointment.
(2)
Jacob G.
This review is more like 2.5 stars but I don't feel like giving it 3 up there. Anyhoo, Ernesto's is ol' school Italian-American so it's got those red and white checkered tablecloths and wine bottles and such. However, we were here for the food and not those nor the awesome red chairs they have in the bar area. Is it me, or is white and yellow cheese not supposed to be on chicken Parmesan? The meat sauce on my spaghetti was kind of strange, too. Couldn't put my finger on it. In all, this is not the best Italian in town.
(2)
Bobby D.
Yes it's true, another italian restaurant with a lunch buffet! This restaurant is located in a ( well you guessed it) strip mall! It's on the south side of beaverton hillsdale highway just off of apple way. I've gone here with friends for the lunch buffet many times. Each day they serve different entrees in the buffet. The buffet has the standard pizza, salad bar, and several entrees. The food is good and they got a 95 out of 100 on their last health inspection of 6/2/08. Getting real close to a perfect score! I have to go back to this one for sure since the food really is not that bad (probably as good as it gets for the area that i know of so far) the service was good and i don't have to worry too much about getting some nasty food borne illness or hair in my food!!!
(4)
Josh B.
I guess I had a bad experience here... We went later at night, we were told it was too late to order a calzone or a pizza. The service was slow even though there was nobody else there. When our food finally arrived it tasted as if my pasta had set out for a few hours to dry out, my meatballs were dry, my Ravioli was cold, hard and try... The prices reflect that you would get better food and service, but you don't. I see so many people write good reviews for this place, i might be tempted to try this place again if my first experience did not suck so bad.
(1)
Ann K.
Date Visited: Saturday 4/5/08 (Dinner) I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this restaurant. Ernesto's is situated off 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale) and Apple Way (by the AAA office). It's nestled into the corner of the strip mall there, by a fish store. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect anything. Once inside, the smells start to make their way to your nose. I love Italian food, but haven't had a great deal of it in the last year (outside of pizza, if that even counts), so I was probably more excited about the experience than most. I went with Meetin Portland, so there were about 10 of us. Other than the fact that they couldn't do separate checks (which made paying a little frantic), it was a nice restaurant and had really good food. We ordered drinks and were served garlic/cheese bread. Right there, if nothing else went right, I think that's a big deal. I mean....it's not just a nice Italian bread that you dip into an oil/vinegar concoction (don't get me wrong....I enjoy this), but it's GARLIC and CHEESE bread. The cheese isn't melted and oozing or anything (it may even be a fake cheese for all I know), but I'm not picky. The menu has a lot of options for any Italian fan. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which came with your choice of salad (Ceasar or Dinner Side) and then a small dish of pasta (spaghetti or ravioli). Portion-wise, it was more than enough and I brought over half of it home (along with some of the garlic/cheese bread). No room for dessert, but some at our table had spumoni and some had Tiramisu. The tiramisu looked heavenly and anyone who had a taste said it was very good. I am looking forward to going to Ernesto's again and again. It's not cheap Italian, but it's GOOD Italian and expect to pay $20 for food and drink. It's worth it.
(4)
Sara V.
My husband and I just had dinner here for the first time and it was great. The food was good, the wine was reasonably priced, the wait staff was very attentive, and the coffee tiramisu and lemon tiramisu were some of the best we've ever had. Like eating heaven! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Liz K.
Friendly staff. Service is spotty -- sometimes very fast & attentive, other times they fall a bit behind. But we've never felt ignored. They always seem to be trying. Their pastas and entrees are solidly good. Ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi, and the chicken and eggplant parm are all delicious. The pizza is -- and I'm not exaggerating here -- the worst I have ever had. All the ingredients tasted canned, the sauce was tasteless, the crust was cardboard, and the whole thing was really salty. We were told no one had EVER complained about the pizza before, which made us wonder if we got an off night? The biggest downfall of this restaurant has got to be that their ingredients aren't very fresh. You don't notice it too much when food is covered in sauce and cheese, but the salads (and the salad bar) are pretty sad. The side of vegetables are also pretty bland. But overall, it's a good place to get Italian-American comfort food.
(3)
John K.
They have a great lunch buffet! Lunch buffet is not expensive $8.50
(4)
Wendy G.
DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A GLUTEN SENSITIVITY! They will tell you things are GF (like the meat sauce) when they definitely are not. Also, they will make mistakes, like giving you wheat pasta instead of GF, argue with you, and hardly apologize or take anything off of the bill when you point out the error, no matter how nice you are about it. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this place - I love red sauce Italian food and it is in a very convenient location for me, but I've given it several chances and been disappointed every time. Skip this place and find somewhere else that is better to their customers.
(1)
Rosemary P.
We went here for Valentine's Day. While not the most romantic place, the food was wonderful! I had the manicotti, which was to die for, and the tiramisu for desert, which again, was to die for. Not only was the food great but the service was fast and super friendly! I will definitely go here again, i haven't found a comparable Italian restaurant anywhere.
(5)
J B.
Sure, it's just OK. It's not great by any stretch - it's bordering on "MEH". My wife and I went on date night because friends had recommended the place (I'm starting to wonder if my friends were all part of some sort of cult that required removal of taste buds and forced, gross indiscretion). Date night is so freaking rare that I want to be wow'ed to the point that I'm ready to run through the streets stark naked with jubilation over my dinner. Instead, I found myself apologizing to my wife for having taken her there - not something I want to be doing on date night if you catch my drift **nudge, nudge**. The service was decent although we must have gone at geriatric hour because I had at least twenty-five years on my side over everyone else at the restaurant (and I'm no spring chicken). The bread they serve everyone was stale (which is gross) and tells me that ownership is cheap - either don't serve it or serve fresh bread for Pete sake! Anyhow, I ordered chicken marsala and it was just OK. I've had a lot better, even in Beaverton. My wife ordered gnocchi and it wasn't even as good as my chicken. The spaghetti with meat sauce that came with my dinner was unappetizingly watery. Come on, mix in a strainer people, it's that metal bowl with hecka holes through which water leaves the food BEFORE you serve it. So that's the story of my first/last at this joint. Ciao. Go if you dare, but if I were you and you're not averse to burning another gallon of fuel or so, get over to Nonna Emelia in Aloha. You will NOT regret it. Heck, Buggatti's in Beaverton blows doors over this place as well.
(3)
Nikki G.
Great service. Expensive. I make better pasta at home. Not going back.
(2)
Bryce H.
If you like Calazones, this is the place for you. Bring a big appetite, you'll need it for they are huge. You could easily feed three or four. The atmosphere is fun and Italian. A little pricey, but worth it. And don't forget to order the spumoni ice cream. Another very good dish is the chicken parmesan. Again very large portions. Treat yourself or someone special.
(5)
Lee C.
Tried the Wednesday lunch buffet. A few typical Italian style items are offered, along with an ample salad bar. The salad bar is the star of this show. When one thinks of the grandeur of Italian quisine and the complete absence of grandeur or even good taste in the items offered, one can only say that this restaurant should just quit offering what it does for a buffet -- good cooking is NOT featured. Also, to gain access to sphagetti or the soups, one has to take a lid off of the container but there's no place to put the lid while dipping -- in other words, no attempt is made to convenience the diner. Even the pizza is un-spectacular or even adequate. Overall, a two-star rating is being generous.
(2)
james c.
We had good food and good service. We certainly had none of the problems some other diners have had. Service was friendly and prompt. Waitress did combine my immediate drink order with a several minute later wine order but that might have been a bartender delivery issue. We have been here twice in a few weeks. The pizza is not to my taste but the pasta is good, not best ever but good variety for a reasonable price. Wife and friends tried chicken dish one visit and veal another and were pleased. This is a good place for a simple Italian meal. We will be back.
(4)
Dale R.
My first dinner here, we shared the antipasto plate and a medium pizza. Both were much better than we have had at any of the other local Italian restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere, clean with great service & decent prices. Good selection on the menu make this a great experience overall. I will return and bring my friends and family, too. Our tab for a medium combo pizza, antipasto plate and a glass of wine was $30. Pizza had plenty of ingredients, not too much tomato sauce, and a medium thick, chewy crust. They cut it into squares, not pie slices, but who cares? After eating most of the antipasto plate, we could not finish even half of the pizza. BTW, the antipasto plate had a good mix of meats, olives, peppers, and cheese.
(5)
Honeybee M.
My boyfriend and I really enjoy eating at this restaurant. The food, decor, and music remind me of Italian restaurants back home in New Jersey. We are always made to feel welcome and comfortable whenever we come here, kind of like eating at your Italian grandma or great aunt's house.
(4)
Sharilynn T.
I will not be the only one in a QUIET, non-profit PROTEST against Ernesto's. Never have we experienced such righteous and rude behavior when simply asking for a volume/non-profit 503 [c][3] discount for a fundraising event with over 200 people to be served at the end of the month. I have been going there for years, for lunches and family events, and I will now CHOOSE to no longer go there.
(1)
Beth M.
Three words: I've had better. Two words: Not good. One word: Meh Seriously...go East on Beav-Hills and eat at La Prima Trattoria and have yourself a real meal for a comparable price.
(2)
David M.
Great neighborhood dinning. Outstanding Service. Have not had a meal I didn't enjoy. Would recommend to all my friends and I have!
(4)
Jenn W.
Their food is worse than Olive Garden. Their marinara sauce is bad..the staple of Italian food. Nothing is good on their menu. Go to Giovannis or Geraldis.
(2)
jeri j.
I really enjoy this place every time I have gone! I celebrated my first A I got in collage here alone and what a treat. food is always good and so are the portions.
(4)
Robin S.
I love this place. This is authenitc Italian food. Their Chicken parm is the best along with their pesto. Everything is made fesh. the atmosphere is light and the owner very nice. The people that work there friendly and the prices are good. I go back often. It is a good place to take a date and eat with family. Large groups are also welcome.
(4)
david m.
Ernesto's is a decent run-of-the-mill, nonthreatening American-Italian Restaurant with a few pluses, namely the service and the buffet. If you're all about the food, there are better options in town. If you want a place to take people without scaring them with the food, they had a good mix of red-sauce pasta items, other pasta & non-pasta entrees, and pizza. I ordered from a page with 'smaller' servings and it was plenty of food, the regular portions are pretty big. Food snobbery aside! - Ernesto's was perfect for our 11-person group ranging from 4-year-olds, a teenager, and a mix of adults and seniors. Our server was attentive without being pushy, and coordinated a custom dish for someone with special dietary needs. What really stood out was that we'd brought our own birthday cake, and our server provided everything we needed to serve it. One of our party also customized their meal by ordering a chicken dish with vegetables and then filling it out with quinoa and salad from the buffet. I ordered spaggetti and meatballs because I was craving it, it was pretty generic and I found myself jealous of my neighbor's creamy chicken & mushroom pasta. Not what I'd pick for date night in food-centric Portland, but darn good enough for feeding a crowd.
(3)
Rustie D.
This place reminds me of my family - loud, expressive, and usually entertaining. The food is good, wholesome, and very tasty. The portions are plentiful, and the bread basket is always full. The restaurant is run family style with "mama" running rough-shod over everyone. The service is a hit/miss kind of thing. The last time we were there, the food was hot and tasty, but they were short a server, so "mama" had to step in, and that was a hoot. They are no more pricey than Olive Garden, but the quality is surely not manufactured - factory turn out. I don't come here very often because of my budget, but whenever I feel like good Italian, I come here. I recommend their eggplant parm...yum!
(4)
Katie C.
I came to Ernesto's the other night for my friend's older brother's rehearsal dinner and found the place to be warm, inviting and incredibly charming. The ambiance and decor was very reminiscent of an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood from my childhood [Vince's], with touches of faux grape vines strewn about, Tuscan-inspired wall murals and those oh-so-stereotypical red checkered tablecloths you come to expect to see at any authentic Italian restaurant. As for the food + service, it was great! The waitstaff was attentive + friendly and the food came out in a timely progression. We dined family-style and shared plates of fettuccine alfredo, hearty meatballs, garlic chicken and ravioli. Guests had the choice to polish off their meals with either spumoni or a berry sorbet and everyone got their fair share of wine and beer. All and all, a great experience, though my *one* piece of advice is for the owners to invest some funds into updating the decor. While there's nothing technically wrong with it, I couldn't help but find it a little bit too predictable and Ernesto's could truly set themselves apart if they were to modernize the look and feel of the place. Just a suggestion. =)
(3)
Kel L.
4 Stars for consistency. When we are looking for a no fuss meal, and know it will always be pretty good, this is where we go. Service is good, food is good and we can let our hair down. This is a family place and there is zero pretention to be found (which is so comforting). Their food is a lot like the Italian-American food I had a as child. They also do a few specials which are lighter and less Americanised, but not as innovative as the new-hip Italian places in PDX. Wine list, eh..give it a miss. No note-worthy wines to mention. We often dine here on a week night, so we aren't worried about the wine. I would recommend any dish on their menu, including pizza. Don't expect Downtown, Pearl type Italian, this is home cooking and done well.
(4)
Matt R.
This is your cookie-cutter "Italian" restaurant that actually plays more to stereotypes than actual Italian cooking. It has everything you can expect from this type of establishment: loud (albeit family friendly) space, plentiful and completely tasteless food, rushed servers and moderate prices. If you want to eat a pound of overcooked pasta with sauce straight from the can, definitely come to Ernesto's. Putting red and white checkered tablecloths and chianti bottle/candles on the tables is about what you can expect from this place. I think most of the reviewers on this site could probably whip up better Italian food than Ernesto's.
(1)
Jon G.
Great place for family night. We enjoyed our meals and the service was prompt and attentive. I was surprised to see a salad bar but it was fresh and well stocked. We will definitely be back for a casual family night.
(4)
Ayla C.
Been here several time and we always leave satisfied. My only complaint is that my salad was way too drenched in ranch, and I love ranch!
(4)
Porshe M.
Great food! Love their secret recipe for marinara sauce! Fabulous service! Bethany is a delight! We will be back!
(5)
Ben D.
I honestly don't understand folks sometimes. I really can't see how people find this place's food acceptable. Especially with the premium they put on their prices. The lasagna tasted like cardboard. I've never experienced this before, but it literally tasted like cardboard. The marinara had an odd taste that I couldn't quite place due to it being drowned in cheese. Greasy greasy cheese. I had four bites and then boxed it up for my teenage son who will eat anything. My wife had the chicken cacciatore and she swears it was frozen chicken tenders similar to what you give the kids on those nights when you only have five minutes to make dinner. She liked the sauce however. I don't even know what to say about the spaghetti. We also ordered my favorite thing for an appetizer. Something impossible to mess up: roasted garlic. The garlic was poor. It was at that point I became worried. There was something served on the plate with it that we didn't recognize at first. After much messing around with our forks we decided it must be roasted pepper slices...maybe. The hostess who greeted us could not be bothered. She would clearly rather we had not bothered her. Our waitress was very pleasant and did her job well. She was attentive and interested. I just don't understand. With the Italian options we have at our disposal in Portland and even in Beaverton, for much better prices, why would you come here? We won't again.
I'm going to give Ernesto's 5 stars for a few reasons. First, I hadn't eaten there in a while and I remember it being very mediocre, so my expectations were low. I did have to wait to be seated, but just for a minute. Who these days can afford a full time greeter in a small neighborhood restaurant? 6 of us were immediately seated and greeted by a very sweet and enthusiastic waitress. Our drinks, salads, and focaccia arrived immediately. They make all their own dressings and the salads were a perfect size and perfectly dressed and fresh. I asked if they make the gnocchi and again our sweet waitress enthusiastically answered yes. I ordered the gnocchi with marinara. I love to cook and I love good old fashioned Italian American cooking.That's what I got. 6 of us had 6 different dinners and everyone was pleased. The portions are large and the food delicious!
(5)
Aaron B.
Our new favorite local Italian date night. The atmosphere is perfect, reminds me of actually being in Italy. The people are wonderful and even gave us a $10 gift card to use on our next visit. The tiramisu was amazing. We look forward to coming here often.
(5)
David D.
Great warm bread and good spaghetti. Waitress was attentive. First time for dinner but had lunch multiple times. Always good.
(4)
Michelle W.
Great food, exceptional service! They were all so nice and made the dining experience for our 2 year old great too! They even gave him a new toy truck to keep him occupied! I had the fettuccine and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and both were delicious and we have enough for left overs!!!! We will definitely be back!!! Very clean. Nice atmosphere!
(5)
Deanna N.
This is a family generational staple of our's. We've had wedding and bar mitzvah rehearsal dinners here in there back room after years of just going with our family. Its quintessential comfort food old school style. Family owned and run one can not go wrong with staples like spaghetti and meat sauce and spumoni. Its just one of those places you take you 90+ year old grandparents and you toddlers too and everyone is pleased.
(4)
Jessica V.
This place is great! We had our church dinner with over 30 couples and the service was great! Our waitress's was very attentive and the food was great! Lasagna is amazing!
(5)
Onnicha K.
This place is my go to for Italian with my family and friends...the food was okay but the service is perfect.!
(4)
Emily C.
Horrible manager. She was extremely rude and grumpy! Not the level of service you would expect in the food industry. The food was Bland, over cooked noodles in definitely not-from-scratch sauce. We came here because they were on our passport card and we won't be back. Save your money and your taste buds and go to Decarli.
(1)
Richard B.
We returned after a year's absence and took the family to dinner. We may be wrong but it appeared the prices on some items were lower. The food, overall, was very good. They continue to produce good Italian food. Remember that some Italian foods have to simmer for hours so you can't expect great Italian scallopini very night. We are 100% Italian and raised with slow cooked Italian. Ernesto's comes close and it will be one we continue to recommend.
(4)
Diane C.
Decent solid American-Italian cuisine. The food is not stellar but very work-a-day. This seems a good place for families, as it had food that came out pretty quickly, large tables available, and there was no blaring music to mar conversations. The bread that came before the meal (complementary) was very good, herb-y, and hot. The caesar salad dressing was pretty bland. That said, we had the seafood linguine which was good, and the 3-pasta-combo which all tasted pretty much the same, just had slight variations in how the pasta was presented.
(3)
Amy L.
It's been years since i went, but i can still remember it as I've of the best Italian meals I've had. Expensive but excellent.
(5)
Amanda M.
Avoid anything with chicken. I've had the chicken Alfredo and a chicken pizza and both times the bland taste of the chicken has overpowered the dish and is not appealing. Also they put dark meet chunks on the pizza which added to the bad chicken-y taste. Once again too much money for what you get.
(3)
Trevor F.
We visited this place on a recommendation and all I can say is I wish we hadn't wasted our time. When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to greet us and we waited for 10 minutes before the hosted returned. She was not pleasant and very short. There were two couples waiting to be seated. They took our name and put it on their list and we were clearly third in line. They told us the wait was about 20-25 minutes. As we waited several other couples came in behind us and were added to the list. After a 40 minute wait we were next to be seated... But then the hostess called the couple that had come in after us. Odd but I thought maybe they had called ahead, so I let it pass. Then we were again skipped and the second couple to come in after us were called and seated. We went to the hostess stand to see what was going on and the hostess assured us we were next. I asked her why we'd been skipped in the first place and she nervously explained that bigger parties would be seated at bigger tables and the small parties at small tables. Understandable, I told her, however both times we were skipped they had been 2 person parties, the same as ours. She looks over her list and tells me it looks like she had skipped us ONCE. Very matter-of-factly. No apology, no explanation. I corrected her that we'd been skipped twice and she obviously couldn't care less about the fact. She simply said we'd be seated shortly and then moved to leave. I told her not to worry about it. Take us off the list. I wouldn't give my business to a place that obviously doesn't care to have it in the first place. She shrugged and crossed us off. We went down the street to a quick inexpensive Italian place, noodles. I'll never go back to Ernestos.
(1)
Jared B.
The true meaning of family style Italian. Adam and crew were nothing short of amazing which at the end of our meal included complimentary gifts for my daughters! As always I judge all Italian food on its bolognese (meat sauce). Excellent flavor. It was truly a taste of home and this will definitely not be the last time we dine at Ernestos. Oh, and btw while your waiting, make sure you pop your head into the lounge. Truly old school in the most complimenting of ways.
(5)
David C.
First off, we were greeted at the door, a typical welcome, my impression was, "I have to be friendly because I need a paycheck". The wait staff, was interesting.. I almost felt a sense of irritability. There was a mis-communication, and instead of sincerely playing it off, or accepting responsibility for not listening, I felt some irritability, not OK at a restaurant. I had Veal Parmesan. It was pretty good, no different than if I ordered it at Olive Garden (yuk). Long story short, I expect top service, and exceptional food from a specialty Italian restaurant, with moderate prices...
(2)
Brendan C.
I've been coming to Ernesto's for over a decade. It's my mom's favorite restaurant. While I can understand some of the negative reviews listed, since the food seems to not be consistent, it is always good. I feel like it teeters from good to great. Not what exactly, but I love their bread and especially their wine choices. I used to eat everything from here, 3 pasta combo, linguine, seafood, pizza, you name it I've probably tried it. It's great for families and takeout, good atmosphere, clean restaurant. Good for locals
(4)
Kevin F.
I had the linguini with clams. Clams in the shell was overdone. Whatever type of meat that was ground up and put in the noodles (I think it was supposed to be clams but resembled more of canned tuna) was horrible. Covering it with copious amount of garlic would not cover that the food was spoiled, even though the chef attempted. I had very few bites of my food, my wife's food was delicious. I was sick much of last night, still sick today. Ernest NO thank you's is my new name for this place. Never again. Our waitress was nice. The Boneyard IPA on tap was the best part of my meal. A great IPA and not one you find around.
(1)
Kimberly F.
This is my favorite italian resturant in the Portland MEtro area! It's a hiden little gem. The food is delicious, the service great, the price affordable and the environment is relaxing and intimate. Love love love it!!
(5)
Tony F.
My wife and I had never been to Ernesto's, so we figured it was time to head on in. Now, this review might upset some of the die hard fans of Ernesto's, but I am not going to be apologetic. As someone who grew up an Italian American, studied Italian cuisine, cooked it as a Chef for many years, and someone who has travelled throughout Italy, I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We ordered their Margarita Pizza...that's my first pickiness. A Margarita is a Mexican cocktail made with tequila. A Margherita Pizza on the other hand is a pizza made with olive oil, diced roma tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. This pizza had a red sauce base, provolone cheese (a much tougher cheese than mozzarella when cooked) , thick sliced romas that were placed on the pizza cold which chills the pizza down to room temperature long before it's time, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. No garlic. The crust was tough, and too thick. A tough dough can be fine in a thinner crust, but when you have to struggle with a fork to cut the pizza? Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the pizza, and that's a shame. The restaurant has a nice, warm, comfortable dining area, but the pizza turned us off. One of the things I always demanded of my waitstaff is that they know the food they are serving. To the waiter that I overheard telling a customer that "Tiramisu is an Italian American dessert...." No, no it's not....it's origins, while somewhat cloudy, are purely Italian, and most likely from Venice. There is nothing American about the dish. We may go back for pasta sometime, some of them looked good, if not a little over priced. With so many other restaurants out there, we may not go back. Since Ernesto's has been around for 25+ years, it's clear that it is a restaurant of choice for many people. There are also a lot of people out there that think jarred Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce choice. I'm just saying.....
(2)
Janet M.
Actually, it's more of a 2.5 This is a good place to take family that loves a chain restaurant, because it FEELS a little like that, although it's independent. The food is adequate, the service is usually very nice, and it's got a funky 1970's Italian restaurant feel that our older relatives feel comfy in. Order something baked with cheese and marinara and you will be ok. Canneloni, lasagna, eggplant parmesan. Don't expect pasta miracles, it's hot and filling. The salad is icebergy, the bread was warm but unremarkable... there's spumoni... have some chianti and you will get through it. My 80 year old dad loves it. So did my inlaws. My daughter ( I blanch thinking about this) loved her spaghetti with parmesan and butter.,.. it was SWIMMING in butter. She was covered in butterfat, we had to hose her off when she got home. Enough said. Oh, wait, don't order the carbonara... my husband had heart pain for weeks after, it was that creamy and buttery... but not in a delicious way. In an over the top rich kind of way.
(3)
Sean K.
Disclaimer: I was not feeling well - sleep deprived - and was having stomach problems after my dinner here.. So my review may not be unbiased/accurate, but I will nonetheless will be objective. My friends and I - about 15 of us - went to Ernesto's for a nice graduation dinner. From the outside, this place didn't look so great but the interior was nice. Pictures, Italian-themed props, fairly open dining area, separate bar area all were positives. I was excited to have some good Italian food for once.. :) Then I opened the menu and saw not-crazy-expensive-but-moderately-expensive prices, coupled with A-OK selection of pasta, salad and desserts. Mind you, I was starving and not that many of them sounded that GREAT for me. Nothing really stood out yelling, "Eat Me!" I went ahead with Ernesto's Classic Trio (?) that consisted lasagna, chicken parm, and enchilada. It sounded almost good as Vodka chicken, which I learned later that it was pretty good. I don't blame Ernesto's food for giving me a stomach problem that night. I was overdosed with caffeine with an empty stomach, and I paid the price... I was able to finish enchilada and chicken parm but that was it... my poor stomach could not handle the delicious, cheesy, thick tomato sauce used on my dish. Mind you, it was pretty alright and I ate FAST since I was soooo hungry. Oh yeah, for you big eaters, portion size isn't great either... :( Service was good. Waitress who served us was little awkward - it looked as if she wasn't comfortable.. that's all - but did her job admirably. She split our checks without any problems and was able to give each of them to the right person. I never ran out of bread and water either. However, in the end, I would not pay the amount of money I paid that night to have a decent-at-best Italian food. I definitely had better food pretty much every city I have been to and would not be back here again unless it's a group thing again.
(3)
Julie C.
I honestly have NO idea why there are negative reviews on here at all! I have been going to this restaurant for years! I remember when they were in the very end of the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyers a million years ago and they were wonderful then and even better now! I love their new location as it's not far from where they were before and still convenient for me to get to. Every time I go, I'm NEVER disappointed! They have the best focaccia bread before your food comes to stave off your hunger. They have wonderful clam linguine which is my favorite but last night I tried their cannelloni and it was AMAZING! The fillings of these little treasures were busting with flavor with the meat and cheese being equally distributed! If you get an entree, it most always comes with your choice of soup or salad. (Side note: You can ask for a spinach salad as well...the dressing on it is delish! It's not on the menu...shhh!) I love their Lambrusco, a chilled red wine that really compliments the red sauce dishes. Last night for dessert (Valentine's) they had a Raspberry Truffle that was to die for. It was a special dessert but any desserts they have are wonderful! Even the owner was involved last night and seated us! Please go and judge for yourself but they are a gem in the SW Portland area.
(5)
Amy B.
Best pizza in Beaverton, hands down! We've been here many times over the years including a large family gathering for my daughter's graduation, the service and the food have always been just great.
(4)
Cheryl D.
I went here with my Sister last week and had high hopes, I had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is nice, clean and well decorated. The service at a late lunch was not great (even though there were not many folks eating). I ordered the lunch Manicotti and it came with an OK salad and some bread, finally after a long wait my meal came and it was ONE tube of pasta about 7 inches long by 2 inches wide, ONE TUBE. I have never eaten Manicotto or Canilloni and gotten one lonly tube of pasta. It was laughable that I paid 8 bucks for that. I should have gotten the Buffet for a few bucks more, they had Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, plus a full salad bar. I will never step foot into this place again, if that is the best they can do.
(2)
Brian L.
Pizza is amazing. The pasta dishes can sometimes have too much sauce and too rich. Clam chowder is too rich though ministrone is good. Love the bread.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Duane S.
My wife and I first went here on our first wedding anniversary five years ago. Back then, we arrived late, so most people were finishing their meals. Seated in a booth away from the crowds, we appreciated the privacy. We were surprised and delighted with the food and service given the late arrival (ever notice how the quality can go downhill as the after the rush at many places?). Two weeks ago we returned to re-live our experience. Since our first visit, they'd remodeled, the place was packed as it often is, so were seated next to a family with a couple rambunctious small kids. Although we actually loved the children, the owner came by twice out of concern that we were OK with it. Once again we were surprised and delighted with everything. Sooooooo much better than Olive Garden. Perhaps not the haute cuisine Italian some are willing to pay for, but excellent for the price. The constantly filled parking lot certainly says they're doing right for a lot of people.
(4)Bob M.
This review is for a take out pizza meal--I am still looking for a good takeout pizza and Ernesto's has been on my list for quite a while to check out. The restaurant has that neighborhood Italian-American feel about it, and that was pretty much what we got in the medium combo pizza and the Michael's Insalata that we ordered. The crust of the pizza was thick, chewy and could have spent a little more time in a hotter oven. The toppings were generous but very unremarkable. One rather odd thing is that the pizza is cut into squares rather than slices, which with the size we got yielded 14 pieces--quite a bit of pizza. The salad was chopped romaine with the usual suspects that one would get in an old school Italian-American antipasto salad. It came with a house made vinaigrette heavy on vinegar and light on anything else. It would take some serious doctoring to make it palatable. A very generous serving, though. The medium pizza and this salad could easily feed six very hungry people for $26. It has cured me of my curiosity about this place, however. I don't think we caught them on a bad day; I feel this is what they are striving to serve and it was a disappointment.
(2)Sandra W.
I've actually given this place three shots at a good review. The first time we ate here, I ordered the chicken marsala and I'm sorry to say I have had tastier marsala. But I was willing to award them three stars on that visit. The second time I went there, I had the salad bar, which was decent. But our last visit was the proverbial straw. My daughter had a piccata and I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. Worst clam sauce ever. Bland bland bland. I couldn't taste anything but oil, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't olive oil. My daughter only ate about 3/4 of her entree. It was a one-star meal. Sorry Ernestos. We love the idea of your classic cuisine and we've been looking for it (in vain I might add) since we moved to Portland. Your place has a lot of potential but if the food is bland, it's not going to happen. Hire a chef that actually knows how to use spices.
(2)Leah H.
Came here to celebrate a birthday with a group of around 12 people or so. We were seated in a section all to ourselves which was really nice. Our server was very kind and attentive. She was totally on top of keeping bread on the table all night. They even let us bring in our own cakes and cut/served them for us. That is about it as far as the positive aspects of our visit. I ordered the pesto because I wasn't wanting any meat or much cheese and there were not really much for options that would fit into that. The dish tasted like alfredo sauce with basil added. So much for avoiding cheese. The pasta was wayyyyy overcooked. It felt and looked pretty much like baby food. Most of everyone else at the table got some form of noodle covered in marinara sauce. Not a single plate looked even reasonably appetizing. I tasted some of the sauce on a calzone and it was just bland. Everything looked like a gut-bomb covered in too much cheese. And I get it, maybe some people like it. But to me...no...just no. The worst thing about this experience though was the price tag. Most entrees were somewhere around $17 or more. As I sat through my cheesy basil goop plate I secretly daydreamed about the marvelous dishes I could be getting from Decarli for the same amount of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
(2)Liz K.
Friendly staff. Service is spotty -- sometimes very fast & attentive, other times they fall a bit behind. But we've never felt ignored. They always seem to be trying. Their pastas and entrees are solidly good. Ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi, and the chicken and eggplant parm are all delicious. The pizza is -- and I'm not exaggerating here -- the worst I have ever had. All the ingredients tasted canned, the sauce was tasteless, the crust was cardboard, and the whole thing was really salty. We were told no one had EVER complained about the pizza before, which made us wonder if we got an off night? The biggest downfall of this restaurant has got to be that their ingredients aren't very fresh. You don't notice it too much when food is covered in sauce and cheese, but the salads (and the salad bar) are pretty sad. The side of vegetables are also pretty bland. But overall, it's a good place to get Italian-American comfort food.
(3)John K.
They have a great lunch buffet! Lunch buffet is not expensive $8.50
(4)J B.
Sure, it's just OK. It's not great by any stretch - it's bordering on "MEH". My wife and I went on date night because friends had recommended the place (I'm starting to wonder if my friends were all part of some sort of cult that required removal of taste buds and forced, gross indiscretion). Date night is so freaking rare that I want to be wow'ed to the point that I'm ready to run through the streets stark naked with jubilation over my dinner. Instead, I found myself apologizing to my wife for having taken her there - not something I want to be doing on date night if you catch my drift **nudge, nudge**. The service was decent although we must have gone at geriatric hour because I had at least twenty-five years on my side over everyone else at the restaurant (and I'm no spring chicken). The bread they serve everyone was stale (which is gross) and tells me that ownership is cheap - either don't serve it or serve fresh bread for Pete sake! Anyhow, I ordered chicken marsala and it was just OK. I've had a lot better, even in Beaverton. My wife ordered gnocchi and it wasn't even as good as my chicken. The spaghetti with meat sauce that came with my dinner was unappetizingly watery. Come on, mix in a strainer people, it's that metal bowl with hecka holes through which water leaves the food BEFORE you serve it. So that's the story of my first/last at this joint. Ciao. Go if you dare, but if I were you and you're not averse to burning another gallon of fuel or so, get over to Nonna Emelia in Aloha. You will NOT regret it. Heck, Buggatti's in Beaverton blows doors over this place as well.
(3)Nikki G.
Great service. Expensive. I make better pasta at home. Not going back.
(2)Bryce H.
If you like Calazones, this is the place for you. Bring a big appetite, you'll need it for they are huge. You could easily feed three or four. The atmosphere is fun and Italian. A little pricey, but worth it. And don't forget to order the spumoni ice cream. Another very good dish is the chicken parmesan. Again very large portions. Treat yourself or someone special.
(5)Lee C.
Tried the Wednesday lunch buffet. A few typical Italian style items are offered, along with an ample salad bar. The salad bar is the star of this show. When one thinks of the grandeur of Italian quisine and the complete absence of grandeur or even good taste in the items offered, one can only say that this restaurant should just quit offering what it does for a buffet -- good cooking is NOT featured. Also, to gain access to sphagetti or the soups, one has to take a lid off of the container but there's no place to put the lid while dipping -- in other words, no attempt is made to convenience the diner. Even the pizza is un-spectacular or even adequate. Overall, a two-star rating is being generous.
(2)james c.
We had good food and good service. We certainly had none of the problems some other diners have had. Service was friendly and prompt. Waitress did combine my immediate drink order with a several minute later wine order but that might have been a bartender delivery issue. We have been here twice in a few weeks. The pizza is not to my taste but the pasta is good, not best ever but good variety for a reasonable price. Wife and friends tried chicken dish one visit and veal another and were pleased. This is a good place for a simple Italian meal. We will be back.
(4)Jacob G.
This review is more like 2.5 stars but I don't feel like giving it 3 up there. Anyhoo, Ernesto's is ol' school Italian-American so it's got those red and white checkered tablecloths and wine bottles and such. However, we were here for the food and not those nor the awesome red chairs they have in the bar area. Is it me, or is white and yellow cheese not supposed to be on chicken Parmesan? The meat sauce on my spaghetti was kind of strange, too. Couldn't put my finger on it. In all, this is not the best Italian in town.
(2)Dale R.
My first dinner here, we shared the antipasto plate and a medium pizza. Both were much better than we have had at any of the other local Italian restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere, clean with great service & decent prices. Good selection on the menu make this a great experience overall. I will return and bring my friends and family, too. Our tab for a medium combo pizza, antipasto plate and a glass of wine was $30. Pizza had plenty of ingredients, not too much tomato sauce, and a medium thick, chewy crust. They cut it into squares, not pie slices, but who cares? After eating most of the antipasto plate, we could not finish even half of the pizza. BTW, the antipasto plate had a good mix of meats, olives, peppers, and cheese.
(5)Honeybee M.
My boyfriend and I really enjoy eating at this restaurant. The food, decor, and music remind me of Italian restaurants back home in New Jersey. We are always made to feel welcome and comfortable whenever we come here, kind of like eating at your Italian grandma or great aunt's house.
(4)Sharilynn T.
I will not be the only one in a QUIET, non-profit PROTEST against Ernesto's. Never have we experienced such righteous and rude behavior when simply asking for a volume/non-profit 503 [c][3] discount for a fundraising event with over 200 people to be served at the end of the month. I have been going there for years, for lunches and family events, and I will now CHOOSE to no longer go there.
(1)Beth M.
Three words: I've had better. Two words: Not good. One word: Meh Seriously...go East on Beav-Hills and eat at La Prima Trattoria and have yourself a real meal for a comparable price.
(2)David M.
Great neighborhood dinning. Outstanding Service. Have not had a meal I didn't enjoy. Would recommend to all my friends and I have!
(4)Jenn W.
Their food is worse than Olive Garden. Their marinara sauce is bad..the staple of Italian food. Nothing is good on their menu. Go to Giovannis or Geraldis.
(2)jeri j.
I really enjoy this place every time I have gone! I celebrated my first A I got in collage here alone and what a treat. food is always good and so are the portions.
(4)Robin S.
I love this place. This is authenitc Italian food. Their Chicken parm is the best along with their pesto. Everything is made fesh. the atmosphere is light and the owner very nice. The people that work there friendly and the prices are good. I go back often. It is a good place to take a date and eat with family. Large groups are also welcome.
(4)david m.
Ernesto's is a decent run-of-the-mill, nonthreatening American-Italian Restaurant with a few pluses, namely the service and the buffet. If you're all about the food, there are better options in town. If you want a place to take people without scaring them with the food, they had a good mix of red-sauce pasta items, other pasta & non-pasta entrees, and pizza. I ordered from a page with 'smaller' servings and it was plenty of food, the regular portions are pretty big. Food snobbery aside! - Ernesto's was perfect for our 11-person group ranging from 4-year-olds, a teenager, and a mix of adults and seniors. Our server was attentive without being pushy, and coordinated a custom dish for someone with special dietary needs. What really stood out was that we'd brought our own birthday cake, and our server provided everything we needed to serve it. One of our party also customized their meal by ordering a chicken dish with vegetables and then filling it out with quinoa and salad from the buffet. I ordered spaggetti and meatballs because I was craving it, it was pretty generic and I found myself jealous of my neighbor's creamy chicken & mushroom pasta. Not what I'd pick for date night in food-centric Portland, but darn good enough for feeding a crowd.
(3)Rustie D.
This place reminds me of my family - loud, expressive, and usually entertaining. The food is good, wholesome, and very tasty. The portions are plentiful, and the bread basket is always full. The restaurant is run family style with "mama" running rough-shod over everyone. The service is a hit/miss kind of thing. The last time we were there, the food was hot and tasty, but they were short a server, so "mama" had to step in, and that was a hoot. They are no more pricey than Olive Garden, but the quality is surely not manufactured - factory turn out. I don't come here very often because of my budget, but whenever I feel like good Italian, I come here. I recommend their eggplant parm...yum!
(4)Katie C.
I came to Ernesto's the other night for my friend's older brother's rehearsal dinner and found the place to be warm, inviting and incredibly charming. The ambiance and decor was very reminiscent of an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood from my childhood [Vince's], with touches of faux grape vines strewn about, Tuscan-inspired wall murals and those oh-so-stereotypical red checkered tablecloths you come to expect to see at any authentic Italian restaurant. As for the food + service, it was great! The waitstaff was attentive + friendly and the food came out in a timely progression. We dined family-style and shared plates of fettuccine alfredo, hearty meatballs, garlic chicken and ravioli. Guests had the choice to polish off their meals with either spumoni or a berry sorbet and everyone got their fair share of wine and beer. All and all, a great experience, though my *one* piece of advice is for the owners to invest some funds into updating the decor. While there's nothing technically wrong with it, I couldn't help but find it a little bit too predictable and Ernesto's could truly set themselves apart if they were to modernize the look and feel of the place. Just a suggestion. =)
(3)Bobby D.
Yes it's true, another italian restaurant with a lunch buffet! This restaurant is located in a ( well you guessed it) strip mall! It's on the south side of beaverton hillsdale highway just off of apple way. I've gone here with friends for the lunch buffet many times. Each day they serve different entrees in the buffet. The buffet has the standard pizza, salad bar, and several entrees. The food is good and they got a 95 out of 100 on their last health inspection of 6/2/08. Getting real close to a perfect score! I have to go back to this one for sure since the food really is not that bad (probably as good as it gets for the area that i know of so far) the service was good and i don't have to worry too much about getting some nasty food borne illness or hair in my food!!!
(4)Josh B.
I guess I had a bad experience here... We went later at night, we were told it was too late to order a calzone or a pizza. The service was slow even though there was nobody else there. When our food finally arrived it tasted as if my pasta had set out for a few hours to dry out, my meatballs were dry, my Ravioli was cold, hard and try... The prices reflect that you would get better food and service, but you don't. I see so many people write good reviews for this place, i might be tempted to try this place again if my first experience did not suck so bad.
(1)Ann K.
Date Visited: Saturday 4/5/08 (Dinner) I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this restaurant. Ernesto's is situated off 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale) and Apple Way (by the AAA office). It's nestled into the corner of the strip mall there, by a fish store. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect anything. Once inside, the smells start to make their way to your nose. I love Italian food, but haven't had a great deal of it in the last year (outside of pizza, if that even counts), so I was probably more excited about the experience than most. I went with Meetin Portland, so there were about 10 of us. Other than the fact that they couldn't do separate checks (which made paying a little frantic), it was a nice restaurant and had really good food. We ordered drinks and were served garlic/cheese bread. Right there, if nothing else went right, I think that's a big deal. I mean....it's not just a nice Italian bread that you dip into an oil/vinegar concoction (don't get me wrong....I enjoy this), but it's GARLIC and CHEESE bread. The cheese isn't melted and oozing or anything (it may even be a fake cheese for all I know), but I'm not picky. The menu has a lot of options for any Italian fan. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which came with your choice of salad (Ceasar or Dinner Side) and then a small dish of pasta (spaghetti or ravioli). Portion-wise, it was more than enough and I brought over half of it home (along with some of the garlic/cheese bread). No room for dessert, but some at our table had spumoni and some had Tiramisu. The tiramisu looked heavenly and anyone who had a taste said it was very good. I am looking forward to going to Ernesto's again and again. It's not cheap Italian, but it's GOOD Italian and expect to pay $20 for food and drink. It's worth it.
(4)Sara V.
My husband and I just had dinner here for the first time and it was great. The food was good, the wine was reasonably priced, the wait staff was very attentive, and the coffee tiramisu and lemon tiramisu were some of the best we've ever had. Like eating heaven! We will definitely be back!
(5)Wendy G.
DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A GLUTEN SENSITIVITY! They will tell you things are GF (like the meat sauce) when they definitely are not. Also, they will make mistakes, like giving you wheat pasta instead of GF, argue with you, and hardly apologize or take anything off of the bill when you point out the error, no matter how nice you are about it. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this place - I love red sauce Italian food and it is in a very convenient location for me, but I've given it several chances and been disappointed every time. Skip this place and find somewhere else that is better to their customers.
(1)Rosemary P.
We went here for Valentine's Day. While not the most romantic place, the food was wonderful! I had the manicotti, which was to die for, and the tiramisu for desert, which again, was to die for. Not only was the food great but the service was fast and super friendly! I will definitely go here again, i haven't found a comparable Italian restaurant anywhere.
(5)Kel L.
4 Stars for consistency. When we are looking for a no fuss meal, and know it will always be pretty good, this is where we go. Service is good, food is good and we can let our hair down. This is a family place and there is zero pretention to be found (which is so comforting). Their food is a lot like the Italian-American food I had a as child. They also do a few specials which are lighter and less Americanised, but not as innovative as the new-hip Italian places in PDX. Wine list, eh..give it a miss. No note-worthy wines to mention. We often dine here on a week night, so we aren't worried about the wine. I would recommend any dish on their menu, including pizza. Don't expect Downtown, Pearl type Italian, this is home cooking and done well.
(4)Matt R.
This is your cookie-cutter "Italian" restaurant that actually plays more to stereotypes than actual Italian cooking. It has everything you can expect from this type of establishment: loud (albeit family friendly) space, plentiful and completely tasteless food, rushed servers and moderate prices. If you want to eat a pound of overcooked pasta with sauce straight from the can, definitely come to Ernesto's. Putting red and white checkered tablecloths and chianti bottle/candles on the tables is about what you can expect from this place. I think most of the reviewers on this site could probably whip up better Italian food than Ernesto's.
(1)Paul A.
Way too expensive for the quality and atmosphere. The food is good but not worth the price. It IS after all spaghetti.
(3)Bettie P.
I just went here today for the first time for their $8.95 lunch buffet. It was pretty good, and worth the $8.95. They have 2 buffet tables, one for salad. Everything on there was good and fresh. The other buffet had spaghetti noodles; and 3 different sauces. I got the alfredo, and it was delicious. They also had mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, BBQ ribs. Fresh sliced prime rib has au jus and creamy horseradish. They dont have dessert on the buffet, but the pistachio pudding on the salad bar is good. Service was good and fast and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and old-style. Bathroom was CLEAN and nice!
(3)Martin I.
Friendly staff but bad food and even worse décor. The décor is so out dated that you feeling you are stepping into the 70's. Their food have been consistently bad and use too much salt. I live a few blocks away from this place and don't even go there any more.
(3)Duane S.
My wife and I first went here on our first wedding anniversary five years ago. Back then, we arrived late, so most people were finishing their meals. Seated in a booth away from the crowds, we appreciated the privacy. We were surprised and delighted with the food and service given the late arrival (ever notice how the quality can go downhill as the after the rush at many places?). Two weeks ago we returned to re-live our experience. Since our first visit, they'd remodeled, the place was packed as it often is, so were seated next to a family with a couple rambunctious small kids. Although we actually loved the children, the owner came by twice out of concern that we were OK with it. Once again we were surprised and delighted with everything. Sooooooo much better than Olive Garden. Perhaps not the haute cuisine Italian some are willing to pay for, but excellent for the price. The constantly filled parking lot certainly says they're doing right for a lot of people.
(4)Bob M.
This review is for a take out pizza meal--I am still looking for a good takeout pizza and Ernesto's has been on my list for quite a while to check out. The restaurant has that neighborhood Italian-American feel about it, and that was pretty much what we got in the medium combo pizza and the Michael's Insalata that we ordered. The crust of the pizza was thick, chewy and could have spent a little more time in a hotter oven. The toppings were generous but very unremarkable. One rather odd thing is that the pizza is cut into squares rather than slices, which with the size we got yielded 14 pieces--quite a bit of pizza. The salad was chopped romaine with the usual suspects that one would get in an old school Italian-American antipasto salad. It came with a house made vinaigrette heavy on vinegar and light on anything else. It would take some serious doctoring to make it palatable. A very generous serving, though. The medium pizza and this salad could easily feed six very hungry people for $26. It has cured me of my curiosity about this place, however. I don't think we caught them on a bad day; I feel this is what they are striving to serve and it was a disappointment.
(2)Sandra W.
I've actually given this place three shots at a good review. The first time we ate here, I ordered the chicken marsala and I'm sorry to say I have had tastier marsala. But I was willing to award them three stars on that visit. The second time I went there, I had the salad bar, which was decent. But our last visit was the proverbial straw. My daughter had a piccata and I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. Worst clam sauce ever. Bland bland bland. I couldn't taste anything but oil, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't olive oil. My daughter only ate about 3/4 of her entree. It was a one-star meal. Sorry Ernestos. We love the idea of your classic cuisine and we've been looking for it (in vain I might add) since we moved to Portland. Your place has a lot of potential but if the food is bland, it's not going to happen. Hire a chef that actually knows how to use spices.
(2)Julie C.
I honestly have NO idea why there are negative reviews on here at all! I have been going to this restaurant for years! I remember when they were in the very end of the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyers a million years ago and they were wonderful then and even better now! I love their new location as it's not far from where they were before and still convenient for me to get to. Every time I go, I'm NEVER disappointed! They have the best focaccia bread before your food comes to stave off your hunger. They have wonderful clam linguine which is my favorite but last night I tried their cannelloni and it was AMAZING! The fillings of these little treasures were busting with flavor with the meat and cheese being equally distributed! If you get an entree, it most always comes with your choice of soup or salad. (Side note: You can ask for a spinach salad as well...the dressing on it is delish! It's not on the menu...shhh!) I love their Lambrusco, a chilled red wine that really compliments the red sauce dishes. Last night for dessert (Valentine's) they had a Raspberry Truffle that was to die for. It was a special dessert but any desserts they have are wonderful! Even the owner was involved last night and seated us! Please go and judge for yourself but they are a gem in the SW Portland area.
(5)Kimberly F.
This is my favorite italian resturant in the Portland MEtro area! It's a hiden little gem. The food is delicious, the service great, the price affordable and the environment is relaxing and intimate. Love love love it!!
(5)Amy B.
Best pizza in Beaverton, hands down! We've been here many times over the years including a large family gathering for my daughter's graduation, the service and the food have always been just great.
(4)Cheryl D.
I went here with my Sister last week and had high hopes, I had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is nice, clean and well decorated. The service at a late lunch was not great (even though there were not many folks eating). I ordered the lunch Manicotti and it came with an OK salad and some bread, finally after a long wait my meal came and it was ONE tube of pasta about 7 inches long by 2 inches wide, ONE TUBE. I have never eaten Manicotto or Canilloni and gotten one lonly tube of pasta. It was laughable that I paid 8 bucks for that. I should have gotten the Buffet for a few bucks more, they had Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, plus a full salad bar. I will never step foot into this place again, if that is the best they can do.
(2)Brian L.
Pizza is amazing. The pasta dishes can sometimes have too much sauce and too rich. Clam chowder is too rich though ministrone is good. Love the bread.
(3)Paul A.
Way too expensive for the quality and atmosphere. The food is good but not worth the price. It IS after all spaghetti.
(3)Onnicha K.
This place is my go to for Italian with my family and friends...the food was okay but the service is perfect.!
(4)Emily C.
Horrible manager. She was extremely rude and grumpy! Not the level of service you would expect in the food industry. The food was Bland, over cooked noodles in definitely not-from-scratch sauce. We came here because they were on our passport card and we won't be back. Save your money and your taste buds and go to Decarli.
(1)Myra F.
I'm going to give Ernesto's 5 stars for a few reasons. First, I hadn't eaten there in a while and I remember it being very mediocre, so my expectations were low. I did have to wait to be seated, but just for a minute. Who these days can afford a full time greeter in a small neighborhood restaurant? 6 of us were immediately seated and greeted by a very sweet and enthusiastic waitress. Our drinks, salads, and focaccia arrived immediately. They make all their own dressings and the salads were a perfect size and perfectly dressed and fresh. I asked if they make the gnocchi and again our sweet waitress enthusiastically answered yes. I ordered the gnocchi with marinara. I love to cook and I love good old fashioned Italian American cooking.That's what I got. 6 of us had 6 different dinners and everyone was pleased. The portions are large and the food delicious!
(5)Aaron B.
Our new favorite local Italian date night. The atmosphere is perfect, reminds me of actually being in Italy. The people are wonderful and even gave us a $10 gift card to use on our next visit. The tiramisu was amazing. We look forward to coming here often.
(5)Jon G.
Great place for family night. We enjoyed our meals and the service was prompt and attentive. I was surprised to see a salad bar but it was fresh and well stocked. We will definitely be back for a casual family night.
(4)Ayla C.
Been here several time and we always leave satisfied. My only complaint is that my salad was way too drenched in ranch, and I love ranch!
(4)Porshe M.
Great food! Love their secret recipe for marinara sauce! Fabulous service! Bethany is a delight! We will be back!
(5)David D.
Great warm bread and good spaghetti. Waitress was attentive. First time for dinner but had lunch multiple times. Always good.
(4)Michelle W.
Great food, exceptional service! They were all so nice and made the dining experience for our 2 year old great too! They even gave him a new toy truck to keep him occupied! I had the fettuccine and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and both were delicious and we have enough for left overs!!!! We will definitely be back!!! Very clean. Nice atmosphere!
(5)Deanna N.
This is a family generational staple of our's. We've had wedding and bar mitzvah rehearsal dinners here in there back room after years of just going with our family. Its quintessential comfort food old school style. Family owned and run one can not go wrong with staples like spaghetti and meat sauce and spumoni. Its just one of those places you take you 90+ year old grandparents and you toddlers too and everyone is pleased.
(4)Jessica V.
This place is great! We had our church dinner with over 30 couples and the service was great! Our waitress's was very attentive and the food was great! Lasagna is amazing!
(5)David C.
First off, we were greeted at the door, a typical welcome, my impression was, "I have to be friendly because I need a paycheck". The wait staff, was interesting.. I almost felt a sense of irritability. There was a mis-communication, and instead of sincerely playing it off, or accepting responsibility for not listening, I felt some irritability, not OK at a restaurant. I had Veal Parmesan. It was pretty good, no different than if I ordered it at Olive Garden (yuk). Long story short, I expect top service, and exceptional food from a specialty Italian restaurant, with moderate prices...
(2)Brendan C.
I've been coming to Ernesto's for over a decade. It's my mom's favorite restaurant. While I can understand some of the negative reviews listed, since the food seems to not be consistent, it is always good. I feel like it teeters from good to great. Not what exactly, but I love their bread and especially their wine choices. I used to eat everything from here, 3 pasta combo, linguine, seafood, pizza, you name it I've probably tried it. It's great for families and takeout, good atmosphere, clean restaurant. Good for locals
(4)Diane C.
Decent solid American-Italian cuisine. The food is not stellar but very work-a-day. This seems a good place for families, as it had food that came out pretty quickly, large tables available, and there was no blaring music to mar conversations. The bread that came before the meal (complementary) was very good, herb-y, and hot. The caesar salad dressing was pretty bland. That said, we had the seafood linguine which was good, and the 3-pasta-combo which all tasted pretty much the same, just had slight variations in how the pasta was presented.
(3)Amy L.
It's been years since i went, but i can still remember it as I've of the best Italian meals I've had. Expensive but excellent.
(5)Amanda M.
Avoid anything with chicken. I've had the chicken Alfredo and a chicken pizza and both times the bland taste of the chicken has overpowered the dish and is not appealing. Also they put dark meet chunks on the pizza which added to the bad chicken-y taste. Once again too much money for what you get.
(3)Trevor F.
We visited this place on a recommendation and all I can say is I wish we hadn't wasted our time. When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to greet us and we waited for 10 minutes before the hosted returned. She was not pleasant and very short. There were two couples waiting to be seated. They took our name and put it on their list and we were clearly third in line. They told us the wait was about 20-25 minutes. As we waited several other couples came in behind us and were added to the list. After a 40 minute wait we were next to be seated... But then the hostess called the couple that had come in after us. Odd but I thought maybe they had called ahead, so I let it pass. Then we were again skipped and the second couple to come in after us were called and seated. We went to the hostess stand to see what was going on and the hostess assured us we were next. I asked her why we'd been skipped in the first place and she nervously explained that bigger parties would be seated at bigger tables and the small parties at small tables. Understandable, I told her, however both times we were skipped they had been 2 person parties, the same as ours. She looks over her list and tells me it looks like she had skipped us ONCE. Very matter-of-factly. No apology, no explanation. I corrected her that we'd been skipped twice and she obviously couldn't care less about the fact. She simply said we'd be seated shortly and then moved to leave. I told her not to worry about it. Take us off the list. I wouldn't give my business to a place that obviously doesn't care to have it in the first place. She shrugged and crossed us off. We went down the street to a quick inexpensive Italian place, noodles. I'll never go back to Ernestos.
(1)Jared B.
The true meaning of family style Italian. Adam and crew were nothing short of amazing which at the end of our meal included complimentary gifts for my daughters! As always I judge all Italian food on its bolognese (meat sauce). Excellent flavor. It was truly a taste of home and this will definitely not be the last time we dine at Ernestos. Oh, and btw while your waiting, make sure you pop your head into the lounge. Truly old school in the most complimenting of ways.
(5)J B.
Sure, it's just OK. It's not great by any stretch - it's bordering on "MEH". My wife and I went on date night because friends had recommended the place (I'm starting to wonder if my friends were all part of some sort of cult that required removal of taste buds and forced, gross indiscretion). Date night is so freaking rare that I want to be wow'ed to the point that I'm ready to run through the streets stark naked with jubilation over my dinner. Instead, I found myself apologizing to my wife for having taken her there - not something I want to be doing on date night if you catch my drift **nudge, nudge**. The service was decent although we must have gone at geriatric hour because I had at least twenty-five years on my side over everyone else at the restaurant (and I'm no spring chicken). The bread they serve everyone was stale (which is gross) and tells me that ownership is cheap - either don't serve it or serve fresh bread for Pete sake! Anyhow, I ordered chicken marsala and it was just OK. I've had a lot better, even in Beaverton. My wife ordered gnocchi and it wasn't even as good as my chicken. The spaghetti with meat sauce that came with my dinner was unappetizingly watery. Come on, mix in a strainer people, it's that metal bowl with hecka holes through which water leaves the food BEFORE you serve it. So that's the story of my first/last at this joint. Ciao. Go if you dare, but if I were you and you're not averse to burning another gallon of fuel or so, get over to Nonna Emelia in Aloha. You will NOT regret it. Heck, Buggatti's in Beaverton blows doors over this place as well.
(3)Nikki G.
Great service. Expensive. I make better pasta at home. Not going back.
(2)Bryce H.
If you like Calazones, this is the place for you. Bring a big appetite, you'll need it for they are huge. You could easily feed three or four. The atmosphere is fun and Italian. A little pricey, but worth it. And don't forget to order the spumoni ice cream. Another very good dish is the chicken parmesan. Again very large portions. Treat yourself or someone special.
(5)Tony F.
My wife and I had never been to Ernesto's, so we figured it was time to head on in. Now, this review might upset some of the die hard fans of Ernesto's, but I am not going to be apologetic. As someone who grew up an Italian American, studied Italian cuisine, cooked it as a Chef for many years, and someone who has travelled throughout Italy, I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We ordered their Margarita Pizza...that's my first pickiness. A Margarita is a Mexican cocktail made with tequila. A Margherita Pizza on the other hand is a pizza made with olive oil, diced roma tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. This pizza had a red sauce base, provolone cheese (a much tougher cheese than mozzarella when cooked) , thick sliced romas that were placed on the pizza cold which chills the pizza down to room temperature long before it's time, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. No garlic. The crust was tough, and too thick. A tough dough can be fine in a thinner crust, but when you have to struggle with a fork to cut the pizza? Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the pizza, and that's a shame. The restaurant has a nice, warm, comfortable dining area, but the pizza turned us off. One of the things I always demanded of my waitstaff is that they know the food they are serving. To the waiter that I overheard telling a customer that "Tiramisu is an Italian American dessert...." No, no it's not....it's origins, while somewhat cloudy, are purely Italian, and most likely from Venice. There is nothing American about the dish. We may go back for pasta sometime, some of them looked good, if not a little over priced. With so many other restaurants out there, we may not go back. Since Ernesto's has been around for 25+ years, it's clear that it is a restaurant of choice for many people. There are also a lot of people out there that think jarred Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce choice. I'm just saying.....
(2)Janet M.
Actually, it's more of a 2.5 This is a good place to take family that loves a chain restaurant, because it FEELS a little like that, although it's independent. The food is adequate, the service is usually very nice, and it's got a funky 1970's Italian restaurant feel that our older relatives feel comfy in. Order something baked with cheese and marinara and you will be ok. Canneloni, lasagna, eggplant parmesan. Don't expect pasta miracles, it's hot and filling. The salad is icebergy, the bread was warm but unremarkable... there's spumoni... have some chianti and you will get through it. My 80 year old dad loves it. So did my inlaws. My daughter ( I blanch thinking about this) loved her spaghetti with parmesan and butter.,.. it was SWIMMING in butter. She was covered in butterfat, we had to hose her off when she got home. Enough said. Oh, wait, don't order the carbonara... my husband had heart pain for weeks after, it was that creamy and buttery... but not in a delicious way. In an over the top rich kind of way.
(3)Kevin F.
I had the linguini with clams. Clams in the shell was overdone. Whatever type of meat that was ground up and put in the noodles (I think it was supposed to be clams but resembled more of canned tuna) was horrible. Covering it with copious amount of garlic would not cover that the food was spoiled, even though the chef attempted. I had very few bites of my food, my wife's food was delicious. I was sick much of last night, still sick today. Ernest NO thank you's is my new name for this place. Never again. Our waitress was nice. The Boneyard IPA on tap was the best part of my meal. A great IPA and not one you find around.
(1)Sean K.
Disclaimer: I was not feeling well - sleep deprived - and was having stomach problems after my dinner here.. So my review may not be unbiased/accurate, but I will nonetheless will be objective. My friends and I - about 15 of us - went to Ernesto's for a nice graduation dinner. From the outside, this place didn't look so great but the interior was nice. Pictures, Italian-themed props, fairly open dining area, separate bar area all were positives. I was excited to have some good Italian food for once.. :) Then I opened the menu and saw not-crazy-expensive-but-moderately-expensive prices, coupled with A-OK selection of pasta, salad and desserts. Mind you, I was starving and not that many of them sounded that GREAT for me. Nothing really stood out yelling, "Eat Me!" I went ahead with Ernesto's Classic Trio (?) that consisted lasagna, chicken parm, and enchilada. It sounded almost good as Vodka chicken, which I learned later that it was pretty good. I don't blame Ernesto's food for giving me a stomach problem that night. I was overdosed with caffeine with an empty stomach, and I paid the price... I was able to finish enchilada and chicken parm but that was it... my poor stomach could not handle the delicious, cheesy, thick tomato sauce used on my dish. Mind you, it was pretty alright and I ate FAST since I was soooo hungry. Oh yeah, for you big eaters, portion size isn't great either... :( Service was good. Waitress who served us was little awkward - it looked as if she wasn't comfortable.. that's all - but did her job admirably. She split our checks without any problems and was able to give each of them to the right person. I never ran out of bread and water either. However, in the end, I would not pay the amount of money I paid that night to have a decent-at-best Italian food. I definitely had better food pretty much every city I have been to and would not be back here again unless it's a group thing again.
(3)Bettie P.
I just went here today for the first time for their $8.95 lunch buffet. It was pretty good, and worth the $8.95. They have 2 buffet tables, one for salad. Everything on there was good and fresh. The other buffet had spaghetti noodles; and 3 different sauces. I got the alfredo, and it was delicious. They also had mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, BBQ ribs. Fresh sliced prime rib has au jus and creamy horseradish. They dont have dessert on the buffet, but the pistachio pudding on the salad bar is good. Service was good and fast and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and old-style. Bathroom was CLEAN and nice!
(3)Martin I.
Friendly staff but bad food and even worse décor. The décor is so out dated that you feeling you are stepping into the 70's. Their food have been consistently bad and use too much salt. I live a few blocks away from this place and don't even go there any more.
(3)Kel L.
4 Stars for consistency. When we are looking for a no fuss meal, and know it will always be pretty good, this is where we go. Service is good, food is good and we can let our hair down. This is a family place and there is zero pretention to be found (which is so comforting). Their food is a lot like the Italian-American food I had a as child. They also do a few specials which are lighter and less Americanised, but not as innovative as the new-hip Italian places in PDX. Wine list, eh..give it a miss. No note-worthy wines to mention. We often dine here on a week night, so we aren't worried about the wine. I would recommend any dish on their menu, including pizza. Don't expect Downtown, Pearl type Italian, this is home cooking and done well.
(4)Matt R.
This is your cookie-cutter "Italian" restaurant that actually plays more to stereotypes than actual Italian cooking. It has everything you can expect from this type of establishment: loud (albeit family friendly) space, plentiful and completely tasteless food, rushed servers and moderate prices. If you want to eat a pound of overcooked pasta with sauce straight from the can, definitely come to Ernesto's. Putting red and white checkered tablecloths and chianti bottle/candles on the tables is about what you can expect from this place. I think most of the reviewers on this site could probably whip up better Italian food than Ernesto's.
(1)Terry S.
08/28 YES the clam chowder was awesome! Nice TV's in the nice quiet lounge.
(5)Ben D.
I honestly don't understand folks sometimes. I really can't see how people find this place's food acceptable. Especially with the premium they put on their prices. The lasagna tasted like cardboard. I've never experienced this before, but it literally tasted like cardboard. The marinara had an odd taste that I couldn't quite place due to it being drowned in cheese. Greasy greasy cheese. I had four bites and then boxed it up for my teenage son who will eat anything. My wife had the chicken cacciatore and she swears it was frozen chicken tenders similar to what you give the kids on those nights when you only have five minutes to make dinner. She liked the sauce however. I don't even know what to say about the spaghetti. We also ordered my favorite thing for an appetizer. Something impossible to mess up: roasted garlic. The garlic was poor. It was at that point I became worried. There was something served on the plate with it that we didn't recognize at first. After much messing around with our forks we decided it must be roasted pepper slices...maybe. The hostess who greeted us could not be bothered. She would clearly rather we had not bothered her. Our waitress was very pleasant and did her job well. She was attentive and interested. I just don't understand. With the Italian options we have at our disposal in Portland and even in Beaverton, for much better prices, why would you come here? We won't again.
(1)Tien D.
The restaurant decor looks quite nice and the staff is friendly. I came here with my fiancé's family for dinner. We both shared the seafood picatta and the salad. The salad tasted amazing. As for the picatta, it was a little too watery and sour for my tastes, but then again I'm not italian and I don't know what an authentic italian dish like seafood picatta is supposed to taste like. Take my review with a grain of salt. Food was a little on the pricy side as well. Overall it was a beautiful restaurant with friendly staff, but not somewhere I would return to, as there are so many more restaurants in Portland that have great quality for the price.
(3)Richard B.
We returned after a year's absence and took the family to dinner. We may be wrong but it appeared the prices on some items were lower. The food, overall, was very good. They continue to produce good Italian food. Remember that some Italian foods have to simmer for hours so you can't expect great Italian scallopini very night. We are 100% Italian and raised with slow cooked Italian. Ernesto's comes close and it will be one we continue to recommend.
(4)Darlyn C.
Whatever you do, don't waste your time or money.. Seriously, the food was bland, little flavor and lacked seasoning, There were 4 of us and we ordered different entrees. The sauce did not taste homemade at all. Pasta was overcooked. My seafood piccata tasted like plain noodles with unseasoned seafood and canned in water artichokes on top and dry. The shrimp scampi was garlic less. The salad bar was good but I had to find a server request and wait about 5 minutes.. We had a reservation, checked in and they said they were setting up our table. They promptly forgot us, we asked when the table was going to be ready and she asked who we were. It was like going to someone's home who didn't know how to cook and was trying. Wine was good but they didn't make that. We will not go back and suggest you don't
(1)Dan G.
I was told this was supposed to be an authentic Italian restaurant, there must be a lot of confusion about Italian food, because in my opinion, the food here is not Italian, I was disappointed, I would say food at this place is American with some Italian influence. I think the people who suggested this to be an Italian restaurant, have never really been to Italy and eaten real Italian food. In Italy, marinara sauce first is never served with meat, it is supposed to be served with sea food dishes, and it does not have so much garlic flavor. I tried the Jumbo Ravioli with marinara sauce, the sauce was loaded with garlic. Also on the menu they had items such as Spaghetti with meatballs, which is not an Italian dish, but German, even if probably many may think to be an Italian thing, and they combine cheese with sea food which is unheard in an authentic Italian restaurant. However the people who serve are nice and very friendly, that I really appreciated!
(3)Rodney W.
Ernesto's has the comfort of Italian cuisine down. From the cozily rustic decor and atmosphere to the generously-portioned food, Ernesto's is a date-night delight. My wife and I come here from time to time for a pleasant night out, and we're never disappointed. The staff always treat us with respect and warmth, providing us top-notch service with great attitudes and positivity. The food itself is worth raving about. Our Meals: Calzone, and Gnocchi. Both dishes are delicious. The calzone is the perfect size for two people, with a doughy crust bursting like a savory cornucopia filled with meat, veggies and cheese. The gnocchi is also a dish easily shared between two. Coming in a lip-smacking meat sauce, the dumplings are miniscule pillows of spice and awesome. If you like pasta, try the gnocchi. If you've never had gnocchi, try the gnocchi. Ernesto's is a reliable standby for reasonably-priced Italian comfort food.
(5)Sara V.
My husband and I just had dinner here for the first time and it was great. The food was good, the wine was reasonably priced, the wait staff was very attentive, and the coffee tiramisu and lemon tiramisu were some of the best we've ever had. Like eating heaven! We will definitely be back!
(5)david m.
Ernesto's is a decent run-of-the-mill, nonthreatening American-Italian Restaurant with a few pluses, namely the service and the buffet. If you're all about the food, there are better options in town. If you want a place to take people without scaring them with the food, they had a good mix of red-sauce pasta items, other pasta & non-pasta entrees, and pizza. I ordered from a page with 'smaller' servings and it was plenty of food, the regular portions are pretty big. Food snobbery aside! - Ernesto's was perfect for our 11-person group ranging from 4-year-olds, a teenager, and a mix of adults and seniors. Our server was attentive without being pushy, and coordinated a custom dish for someone with special dietary needs. What really stood out was that we'd brought our own birthday cake, and our server provided everything we needed to serve it. One of our party also customized their meal by ordering a chicken dish with vegetables and then filling it out with quinoa and salad from the buffet. I ordered spaggetti and meatballs because I was craving it, it was pretty generic and I found myself jealous of my neighbor's creamy chicken & mushroom pasta. Not what I'd pick for date night in food-centric Portland, but darn good enough for feeding a crowd.
(3)Rustie D.
This place reminds me of my family - loud, expressive, and usually entertaining. The food is good, wholesome, and very tasty. The portions are plentiful, and the bread basket is always full. The restaurant is run family style with "mama" running rough-shod over everyone. The service is a hit/miss kind of thing. The last time we were there, the food was hot and tasty, but they were short a server, so "mama" had to step in, and that was a hoot. They are no more pricey than Olive Garden, but the quality is surely not manufactured - factory turn out. I don't come here very often because of my budget, but whenever I feel like good Italian, I come here. I recommend their eggplant parm...yum!
(4)Katie C.
I came to Ernesto's the other night for my friend's older brother's rehearsal dinner and found the place to be warm, inviting and incredibly charming. The ambiance and decor was very reminiscent of an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood from my childhood [Vince's], with touches of faux grape vines strewn about, Tuscan-inspired wall murals and those oh-so-stereotypical red checkered tablecloths you come to expect to see at any authentic Italian restaurant. As for the food + service, it was great! The waitstaff was attentive + friendly and the food came out in a timely progression. We dined family-style and shared plates of fettuccine alfredo, hearty meatballs, garlic chicken and ravioli. Guests had the choice to polish off their meals with either spumoni or a berry sorbet and everyone got their fair share of wine and beer. All and all, a great experience, though my *one* piece of advice is for the owners to invest some funds into updating the decor. While there's nothing technically wrong with it, I couldn't help but find it a little bit too predictable and Ernesto's could truly set themselves apart if they were to modernize the look and feel of the place. Just a suggestion. =)
(3)Leah H.
Came here to celebrate a birthday with a group of around 12 people or so. We were seated in a section all to ourselves which was really nice. Our server was very kind and attentive. She was totally on top of keeping bread on the table all night. They even let us bring in our own cakes and cut/served them for us. That is about it as far as the positive aspects of our visit. I ordered the pesto because I wasn't wanting any meat or much cheese and there were not really much for options that would fit into that. The dish tasted like alfredo sauce with basil added. So much for avoiding cheese. The pasta was wayyyyy overcooked. It felt and looked pretty much like baby food. Most of everyone else at the table got some form of noodle covered in marinara sauce. Not a single plate looked even reasonably appetizing. I tasted some of the sauce on a calzone and it was just bland. Everything looked like a gut-bomb covered in too much cheese. And I get it, maybe some people like it. But to me...no...just no. The worst thing about this experience though was the price tag. Most entrees were somewhere around $17 or more. As I sat through my cheesy basil goop plate I secretly daydreamed about the marvelous dishes I could be getting from Decarli for the same amount of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
(2)Liz K.
Friendly staff. Service is spotty -- sometimes very fast & attentive, other times they fall a bit behind. But we've never felt ignored. They always seem to be trying. Their pastas and entrees are solidly good. Ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi, and the chicken and eggplant parm are all delicious. The pizza is -- and I'm not exaggerating here -- the worst I have ever had. All the ingredients tasted canned, the sauce was tasteless, the crust was cardboard, and the whole thing was really salty. We were told no one had EVER complained about the pizza before, which made us wonder if we got an off night? The biggest downfall of this restaurant has got to be that their ingredients aren't very fresh. You don't notice it too much when food is covered in sauce and cheese, but the salads (and the salad bar) are pretty sad. The side of vegetables are also pretty bland. But overall, it's a good place to get Italian-American comfort food.
(3)John K.
They have a great lunch buffet! Lunch buffet is not expensive $8.50
(4)Jacob G.
This review is more like 2.5 stars but I don't feel like giving it 3 up there. Anyhoo, Ernesto's is ol' school Italian-American so it's got those red and white checkered tablecloths and wine bottles and such. However, we were here for the food and not those nor the awesome red chairs they have in the bar area. Is it me, or is white and yellow cheese not supposed to be on chicken Parmesan? The meat sauce on my spaghetti was kind of strange, too. Couldn't put my finger on it. In all, this is not the best Italian in town.
(2)Dale R.
My first dinner here, we shared the antipasto plate and a medium pizza. Both were much better than we have had at any of the other local Italian restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere, clean with great service & decent prices. Good selection on the menu make this a great experience overall. I will return and bring my friends and family, too. Our tab for a medium combo pizza, antipasto plate and a glass of wine was $30. Pizza had plenty of ingredients, not too much tomato sauce, and a medium thick, chewy crust. They cut it into squares, not pie slices, but who cares? After eating most of the antipasto plate, we could not finish even half of the pizza. BTW, the antipasto plate had a good mix of meats, olives, peppers, and cheese.
(5)Honeybee M.
My boyfriend and I really enjoy eating at this restaurant. The food, decor, and music remind me of Italian restaurants back home in New Jersey. We are always made to feel welcome and comfortable whenever we come here, kind of like eating at your Italian grandma or great aunt's house.
(4)Sharilynn T.
I will not be the only one in a QUIET, non-profit PROTEST against Ernesto's. Never have we experienced such righteous and rude behavior when simply asking for a volume/non-profit 503 [c][3] discount for a fundraising event with over 200 people to be served at the end of the month. I have been going there for years, for lunches and family events, and I will now CHOOSE to no longer go there.
(1)Beth M.
Three words: I've had better. Two words: Not good. One word: Meh Seriously...go East on Beav-Hills and eat at La Prima Trattoria and have yourself a real meal for a comparable price.
(2)David M.
Great neighborhood dinning. Outstanding Service. Have not had a meal I didn't enjoy. Would recommend to all my friends and I have!
(4)Jenn W.
Their food is worse than Olive Garden. Their marinara sauce is bad..the staple of Italian food. Nothing is good on their menu. Go to Giovannis or Geraldis.
(2)jeri j.
I really enjoy this place every time I have gone! I celebrated my first A I got in collage here alone and what a treat. food is always good and so are the portions.
(4)Robin S.
I love this place. This is authenitc Italian food. Their Chicken parm is the best along with their pesto. Everything is made fesh. the atmosphere is light and the owner very nice. The people that work there friendly and the prices are good. I go back often. It is a good place to take a date and eat with family. Large groups are also welcome.
(4)Lee C.
Tried the Wednesday lunch buffet. A few typical Italian style items are offered, along with an ample salad bar. The salad bar is the star of this show. When one thinks of the grandeur of Italian quisine and the complete absence of grandeur or even good taste in the items offered, one can only say that this restaurant should just quit offering what it does for a buffet -- good cooking is NOT featured. Also, to gain access to sphagetti or the soups, one has to take a lid off of the container but there's no place to put the lid while dipping -- in other words, no attempt is made to convenience the diner. Even the pizza is un-spectacular or even adequate. Overall, a two-star rating is being generous.
(2)james c.
We had good food and good service. We certainly had none of the problems some other diners have had. Service was friendly and prompt. Waitress did combine my immediate drink order with a several minute later wine order but that might have been a bartender delivery issue. We have been here twice in a few weeks. The pizza is not to my taste but the pasta is good, not best ever but good variety for a reasonable price. Wife and friends tried chicken dish one visit and veal another and were pleased. This is a good place for a simple Italian meal. We will be back.
(4)Bobby D.
Yes it's true, another italian restaurant with a lunch buffet! This restaurant is located in a ( well you guessed it) strip mall! It's on the south side of beaverton hillsdale highway just off of apple way. I've gone here with friends for the lunch buffet many times. Each day they serve different entrees in the buffet. The buffet has the standard pizza, salad bar, and several entrees. The food is good and they got a 95 out of 100 on their last health inspection of 6/2/08. Getting real close to a perfect score! I have to go back to this one for sure since the food really is not that bad (probably as good as it gets for the area that i know of so far) the service was good and i don't have to worry too much about getting some nasty food borne illness or hair in my food!!!
(4)Josh B.
I guess I had a bad experience here... We went later at night, we were told it was too late to order a calzone or a pizza. The service was slow even though there was nobody else there. When our food finally arrived it tasted as if my pasta had set out for a few hours to dry out, my meatballs were dry, my Ravioli was cold, hard and try... The prices reflect that you would get better food and service, but you don't. I see so many people write good reviews for this place, i might be tempted to try this place again if my first experience did not suck so bad.
(1)Ann K.
Date Visited: Saturday 4/5/08 (Dinner) I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this restaurant. Ernesto's is situated off 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale) and Apple Way (by the AAA office). It's nestled into the corner of the strip mall there, by a fish store. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect anything. Once inside, the smells start to make their way to your nose. I love Italian food, but haven't had a great deal of it in the last year (outside of pizza, if that even counts), so I was probably more excited about the experience than most. I went with Meetin Portland, so there were about 10 of us. Other than the fact that they couldn't do separate checks (which made paying a little frantic), it was a nice restaurant and had really good food. We ordered drinks and were served garlic/cheese bread. Right there, if nothing else went right, I think that's a big deal. I mean....it's not just a nice Italian bread that you dip into an oil/vinegar concoction (don't get me wrong....I enjoy this), but it's GARLIC and CHEESE bread. The cheese isn't melted and oozing or anything (it may even be a fake cheese for all I know), but I'm not picky. The menu has a lot of options for any Italian fan. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which came with your choice of salad (Ceasar or Dinner Side) and then a small dish of pasta (spaghetti or ravioli). Portion-wise, it was more than enough and I brought over half of it home (along with some of the garlic/cheese bread). No room for dessert, but some at our table had spumoni and some had Tiramisu. The tiramisu looked heavenly and anyone who had a taste said it was very good. I am looking forward to going to Ernesto's again and again. It's not cheap Italian, but it's GOOD Italian and expect to pay $20 for food and drink. It's worth it.
(4)Wendy G.
DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A GLUTEN SENSITIVITY! They will tell you things are GF (like the meat sauce) when they definitely are not. Also, they will make mistakes, like giving you wheat pasta instead of GF, argue with you, and hardly apologize or take anything off of the bill when you point out the error, no matter how nice you are about it. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this place - I love red sauce Italian food and it is in a very convenient location for me, but I've given it several chances and been disappointed every time. Skip this place and find somewhere else that is better to their customers.
(1)Rosemary P.
We went here for Valentine's Day. While not the most romantic place, the food was wonderful! I had the manicotti, which was to die for, and the tiramisu for desert, which again, was to die for. Not only was the food great but the service was fast and super friendly! I will definitely go here again, i haven't found a comparable Italian restaurant anywhere.
(5)Sandra W.
I've actually given this place three shots at a good review. The first time we ate here, I ordered the chicken marsala and I'm sorry to say I have had tastier marsala. But I was willing to award them three stars on that visit. The second time I went there, I had the salad bar, which was decent. But our last visit was the proverbial straw. My daughter had a piccata and I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. Worst clam sauce ever. Bland bland bland. I couldn't taste anything but oil, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't olive oil. My daughter only ate about 3/4 of her entree. It was a one-star meal. Sorry Ernestos. We love the idea of your classic cuisine and we've been looking for it (in vain I might add) since we moved to Portland. Your place has a lot of potential but if the food is bland, it's not going to happen. Hire a chef that actually knows how to use spices.
(2)Leah H.
Came here to celebrate a birthday with a group of around 12 people or so. We were seated in a section all to ourselves which was really nice. Our server was very kind and attentive. She was totally on top of keeping bread on the table all night. They even let us bring in our own cakes and cut/served them for us. That is about it as far as the positive aspects of our visit. I ordered the pesto because I wasn't wanting any meat or much cheese and there were not really much for options that would fit into that. The dish tasted like alfredo sauce with basil added. So much for avoiding cheese. The pasta was wayyyyy overcooked. It felt and looked pretty much like baby food. Most of everyone else at the table got some form of noodle covered in marinara sauce. Not a single plate looked even reasonably appetizing. I tasted some of the sauce on a calzone and it was just bland. Everything looked like a gut-bomb covered in too much cheese. And I get it, maybe some people like it. But to me...no...just no. The worst thing about this experience though was the price tag. Most entrees were somewhere around $17 or more. As I sat through my cheesy basil goop plate I secretly daydreamed about the marvelous dishes I could be getting from Decarli for the same amount of money. Oh well. Lesson learned.
(2)Darlyn C.
Whatever you do, don't waste your time or money.. Seriously, the food was bland, little flavor and lacked seasoning, There were 4 of us and we ordered different entrees. The sauce did not taste homemade at all. Pasta was overcooked. My seafood piccata tasted like plain noodles with unseasoned seafood and canned in water artichokes on top and dry. The shrimp scampi was garlic less. The salad bar was good but I had to find a server request and wait about 5 minutes.. We had a reservation, checked in and they said they were setting up our table. They promptly forgot us, we asked when the table was going to be ready and she asked who we were. It was like going to someone's home who didn't know how to cook and was trying. Wine was good but they didn't make that. We will not go back and suggest you don't
(1)Dan G.
I was told this was supposed to be an authentic Italian restaurant, there must be a lot of confusion about Italian food, because in my opinion, the food here is not Italian, I was disappointed, I would say food at this place is American with some Italian influence. I think the people who suggested this to be an Italian restaurant, have never really been to Italy and eaten real Italian food. In Italy, marinara sauce first is never served with meat, it is supposed to be served with sea food dishes, and it does not have so much garlic flavor. I tried the Jumbo Ravioli with marinara sauce, the sauce was loaded with garlic. Also on the menu they had items such as Spaghetti with meatballs, which is not an Italian dish, but German, even if probably many may think to be an Italian thing, and they combine cheese with sea food which is unheard in an authentic Italian restaurant. However the people who serve are nice and very friendly, that I really appreciated!
(3)Rodney W.
Ernesto's has the comfort of Italian cuisine down. From the cozily rustic decor and atmosphere to the generously-portioned food, Ernesto's is a date-night delight. My wife and I come here from time to time for a pleasant night out, and we're never disappointed. The staff always treat us with respect and warmth, providing us top-notch service with great attitudes and positivity. The food itself is worth raving about. Our Meals: Calzone, and Gnocchi. Both dishes are delicious. The calzone is the perfect size for two people, with a doughy crust bursting like a savory cornucopia filled with meat, veggies and cheese. The gnocchi is also a dish easily shared between two. Coming in a lip-smacking meat sauce, the dumplings are miniscule pillows of spice and awesome. If you like pasta, try the gnocchi. If you've never had gnocchi, try the gnocchi. Ernesto's is a reliable standby for reasonably-priced Italian comfort food.
(5)Duane S.
My wife and I first went here on our first wedding anniversary five years ago. Back then, we arrived late, so most people were finishing their meals. Seated in a booth away from the crowds, we appreciated the privacy. We were surprised and delighted with the food and service given the late arrival (ever notice how the quality can go downhill as the after the rush at many places?). Two weeks ago we returned to re-live our experience. Since our first visit, they'd remodeled, the place was packed as it often is, so were seated next to a family with a couple rambunctious small kids. Although we actually loved the children, the owner came by twice out of concern that we were OK with it. Once again we were surprised and delighted with everything. Sooooooo much better than Olive Garden. Perhaps not the haute cuisine Italian some are willing to pay for, but excellent for the price. The constantly filled parking lot certainly says they're doing right for a lot of people.
(4)Bettie P.
I just went here today for the first time for their $8.95 lunch buffet. It was pretty good, and worth the $8.95. They have 2 buffet tables, one for salad. Everything on there was good and fresh. The other buffet had spaghetti noodles; and 3 different sauces. I got the alfredo, and it was delicious. They also had mashed potatoes, bread, green beans, BBQ ribs. Fresh sliced prime rib has au jus and creamy horseradish. They dont have dessert on the buffet, but the pistachio pudding on the salad bar is good. Service was good and fast and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxed and old-style. Bathroom was CLEAN and nice!
(3)Terry S.
08/28 YES the clam chowder was awesome! Nice TV's in the nice quiet lounge.
(5)Ben D.
I honestly don't understand folks sometimes. I really can't see how people find this place's food acceptable. Especially with the premium they put on their prices. The lasagna tasted like cardboard. I've never experienced this before, but it literally tasted like cardboard. The marinara had an odd taste that I couldn't quite place due to it being drowned in cheese. Greasy greasy cheese. I had four bites and then boxed it up for my teenage son who will eat anything. My wife had the chicken cacciatore and she swears it was frozen chicken tenders similar to what you give the kids on those nights when you only have five minutes to make dinner. She liked the sauce however. I don't even know what to say about the spaghetti. We also ordered my favorite thing for an appetizer. Something impossible to mess up: roasted garlic. The garlic was poor. It was at that point I became worried. There was something served on the plate with it that we didn't recognize at first. After much messing around with our forks we decided it must be roasted pepper slices...maybe. The hostess who greeted us could not be bothered. She would clearly rather we had not bothered her. Our waitress was very pleasant and did her job well. She was attentive and interested. I just don't understand. With the Italian options we have at our disposal in Portland and even in Beaverton, for much better prices, why would you come here? We won't again.
(1)Tien D.
The restaurant decor looks quite nice and the staff is friendly. I came here with my fiancé's family for dinner. We both shared the seafood picatta and the salad. The salad tasted amazing. As for the picatta, it was a little too watery and sour for my tastes, but then again I'm not italian and I don't know what an authentic italian dish like seafood picatta is supposed to taste like. Take my review with a grain of salt. Food was a little on the pricy side as well. Overall it was a beautiful restaurant with friendly staff, but not somewhere I would return to, as there are so many more restaurants in Portland that have great quality for the price.
(3)Myra F.
I'm going to give Ernesto's 5 stars for a few reasons. First, I hadn't eaten there in a while and I remember it being very mediocre, so my expectations were low. I did have to wait to be seated, but just for a minute. Who these days can afford a full time greeter in a small neighborhood restaurant? 6 of us were immediately seated and greeted by a very sweet and enthusiastic waitress. Our drinks, salads, and focaccia arrived immediately. They make all their own dressings and the salads were a perfect size and perfectly dressed and fresh. I asked if they make the gnocchi and again our sweet waitress enthusiastically answered yes. I ordered the gnocchi with marinara. I love to cook and I love good old fashioned Italian American cooking.That's what I got. 6 of us had 6 different dinners and everyone was pleased. The portions are large and the food delicious!
(5)Aaron B.
Our new favorite local Italian date night. The atmosphere is perfect, reminds me of actually being in Italy. The people are wonderful and even gave us a $10 gift card to use on our next visit. The tiramisu was amazing. We look forward to coming here often.
(5)Jon G.
Great place for family night. We enjoyed our meals and the service was prompt and attentive. I was surprised to see a salad bar but it was fresh and well stocked. We will definitely be back for a casual family night.
(4)Ayla C.
Been here several time and we always leave satisfied. My only complaint is that my salad was way too drenched in ranch, and I love ranch!
(4)Porshe M.
Great food! Love their secret recipe for marinara sauce! Fabulous service! Bethany is a delight! We will be back!
(5)David D.
Great warm bread and good spaghetti. Waitress was attentive. First time for dinner but had lunch multiple times. Always good.
(4)Michelle W.
Great food, exceptional service! They were all so nice and made the dining experience for our 2 year old great too! They even gave him a new toy truck to keep him occupied! I had the fettuccine and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and both were delicious and we have enough for left overs!!!! We will definitely be back!!! Very clean. Nice atmosphere!
(5)Deanna N.
This is a family generational staple of our's. We've had wedding and bar mitzvah rehearsal dinners here in there back room after years of just going with our family. Its quintessential comfort food old school style. Family owned and run one can not go wrong with staples like spaghetti and meat sauce and spumoni. Its just one of those places you take you 90+ year old grandparents and you toddlers too and everyone is pleased.
(4)Jessica V.
This place is great! We had our church dinner with over 30 couples and the service was great! Our waitress's was very attentive and the food was great! Lasagna is amazing!
(5)Onnicha K.
This place is my go to for Italian with my family and friends...the food was okay but the service is perfect.!
(4)Emily C.
Horrible manager. She was extremely rude and grumpy! Not the level of service you would expect in the food industry. The food was Bland, over cooked noodles in definitely not-from-scratch sauce. We came here because they were on our passport card and we won't be back. Save your money and your taste buds and go to Decarli.
(1)Richard B.
We returned after a year's absence and took the family to dinner. We may be wrong but it appeared the prices on some items were lower. The food, overall, was very good. They continue to produce good Italian food. Remember that some Italian foods have to simmer for hours so you can't expect great Italian scallopini very night. We are 100% Italian and raised with slow cooked Italian. Ernesto's comes close and it will be one we continue to recommend.
(4)Darlyn C.
Whatever you do, don't waste your time or money.. Seriously, the food was bland, little flavor and lacked seasoning, There were 4 of us and we ordered different entrees. The sauce did not taste homemade at all. Pasta was overcooked. My seafood piccata tasted like plain noodles with unseasoned seafood and canned in water artichokes on top and dry. The shrimp scampi was garlic less. The salad bar was good but I had to find a server request and wait about 5 minutes.. We had a reservation, checked in and they said they were setting up our table. They promptly forgot us, we asked when the table was going to be ready and she asked who we were. It was like going to someone's home who didn't know how to cook and was trying. Wine was good but they didn't make that. We will not go back and suggest you don't
(1)Dan G.
I was told this was supposed to be an authentic Italian restaurant, there must be a lot of confusion about Italian food, because in my opinion, the food here is not Italian, I was disappointed, I would say food at this place is American with some Italian influence. I think the people who suggested this to be an Italian restaurant, have never really been to Italy and eaten real Italian food. In Italy, marinara sauce first is never served with meat, it is supposed to be served with sea food dishes, and it does not have so much garlic flavor. I tried the Jumbo Ravioli with marinara sauce, the sauce was loaded with garlic. Also on the menu they had items such as Spaghetti with meatballs, which is not an Italian dish, but German, even if probably many may think to be an Italian thing, and they combine cheese with sea food which is unheard in an authentic Italian restaurant. However the people who serve are nice and very friendly, that I really appreciated!
(3)Rodney W.
Ernesto's has the comfort of Italian cuisine down. From the cozily rustic decor and atmosphere to the generously-portioned food, Ernesto's is a date-night delight. My wife and I come here from time to time for a pleasant night out, and we're never disappointed. The staff always treat us with respect and warmth, providing us top-notch service with great attitudes and positivity. The food itself is worth raving about. Our Meals: Calzone, and Gnocchi. Both dishes are delicious. The calzone is the perfect size for two people, with a doughy crust bursting like a savory cornucopia filled with meat, veggies and cheese. The gnocchi is also a dish easily shared between two. Coming in a lip-smacking meat sauce, the dumplings are miniscule pillows of spice and awesome. If you like pasta, try the gnocchi. If you've never had gnocchi, try the gnocchi. Ernesto's is a reliable standby for reasonably-priced Italian comfort food.
(5)Diane C.
Decent solid American-Italian cuisine. The food is not stellar but very work-a-day. This seems a good place for families, as it had food that came out pretty quickly, large tables available, and there was no blaring music to mar conversations. The bread that came before the meal (complementary) was very good, herb-y, and hot. The caesar salad dressing was pretty bland. That said, we had the seafood linguine which was good, and the 3-pasta-combo which all tasted pretty much the same, just had slight variations in how the pasta was presented.
(3)Amy L.
It's been years since i went, but i can still remember it as I've of the best Italian meals I've had. Expensive but excellent.
(5)Amanda M.
Avoid anything with chicken. I've had the chicken Alfredo and a chicken pizza and both times the bland taste of the chicken has overpowered the dish and is not appealing. Also they put dark meet chunks on the pizza which added to the bad chicken-y taste. Once again too much money for what you get.
(3)Amy B.
Best pizza in Beaverton, hands down! We've been here many times over the years including a large family gathering for my daughter's graduation, the service and the food have always been just great.
(4)Cheryl D.
I went here with my Sister last week and had high hopes, I had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is nice, clean and well decorated. The service at a late lunch was not great (even though there were not many folks eating). I ordered the lunch Manicotti and it came with an OK salad and some bread, finally after a long wait my meal came and it was ONE tube of pasta about 7 inches long by 2 inches wide, ONE TUBE. I have never eaten Manicotto or Canilloni and gotten one lonly tube of pasta. It was laughable that I paid 8 bucks for that. I should have gotten the Buffet for a few bucks more, they had Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, plus a full salad bar. I will never step foot into this place again, if that is the best they can do.
(2)Brian L.
Pizza is amazing. The pasta dishes can sometimes have too much sauce and too rich. Clam chowder is too rich though ministrone is good. Love the bread.
(3)Trevor F.
We visited this place on a recommendation and all I can say is I wish we hadn't wasted our time. When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to greet us and we waited for 10 minutes before the hosted returned. She was not pleasant and very short. There were two couples waiting to be seated. They took our name and put it on their list and we were clearly third in line. They told us the wait was about 20-25 minutes. As we waited several other couples came in behind us and were added to the list. After a 40 minute wait we were next to be seated... But then the hostess called the couple that had come in after us. Odd but I thought maybe they had called ahead, so I let it pass. Then we were again skipped and the second couple to come in after us were called and seated. We went to the hostess stand to see what was going on and the hostess assured us we were next. I asked her why we'd been skipped in the first place and she nervously explained that bigger parties would be seated at bigger tables and the small parties at small tables. Understandable, I told her, however both times we were skipped they had been 2 person parties, the same as ours. She looks over her list and tells me it looks like she had skipped us ONCE. Very matter-of-factly. No apology, no explanation. I corrected her that we'd been skipped twice and she obviously couldn't care less about the fact. She simply said we'd be seated shortly and then moved to leave. I told her not to worry about it. Take us off the list. I wouldn't give my business to a place that obviously doesn't care to have it in the first place. She shrugged and crossed us off. We went down the street to a quick inexpensive Italian place, noodles. I'll never go back to Ernestos.
(1)Jared B.
The true meaning of family style Italian. Adam and crew were nothing short of amazing which at the end of our meal included complimentary gifts for my daughters! As always I judge all Italian food on its bolognese (meat sauce). Excellent flavor. It was truly a taste of home and this will definitely not be the last time we dine at Ernestos. Oh, and btw while your waiting, make sure you pop your head into the lounge. Truly old school in the most complimenting of ways.
(5)David C.
First off, we were greeted at the door, a typical welcome, my impression was, "I have to be friendly because I need a paycheck". The wait staff, was interesting.. I almost felt a sense of irritability. There was a mis-communication, and instead of sincerely playing it off, or accepting responsibility for not listening, I felt some irritability, not OK at a restaurant. I had Veal Parmesan. It was pretty good, no different than if I ordered it at Olive Garden (yuk). Long story short, I expect top service, and exceptional food from a specialty Italian restaurant, with moderate prices...
(2)Brendan C.
I've been coming to Ernesto's for over a decade. It's my mom's favorite restaurant. While I can understand some of the negative reviews listed, since the food seems to not be consistent, it is always good. I feel like it teeters from good to great. Not what exactly, but I love their bread and especially their wine choices. I used to eat everything from here, 3 pasta combo, linguine, seafood, pizza, you name it I've probably tried it. It's great for families and takeout, good atmosphere, clean restaurant. Good for locals
(4)Tony F.
My wife and I had never been to Ernesto's, so we figured it was time to head on in. Now, this review might upset some of the die hard fans of Ernesto's, but I am not going to be apologetic. As someone who grew up an Italian American, studied Italian cuisine, cooked it as a Chef for many years, and someone who has travelled throughout Italy, I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We ordered their Margarita Pizza...that's my first pickiness. A Margarita is a Mexican cocktail made with tequila. A Margherita Pizza on the other hand is a pizza made with olive oil, diced roma tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. This pizza had a red sauce base, provolone cheese (a much tougher cheese than mozzarella when cooked) , thick sliced romas that were placed on the pizza cold which chills the pizza down to room temperature long before it's time, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. No garlic. The crust was tough, and too thick. A tough dough can be fine in a thinner crust, but when you have to struggle with a fork to cut the pizza? Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the pizza, and that's a shame. The restaurant has a nice, warm, comfortable dining area, but the pizza turned us off. One of the things I always demanded of my waitstaff is that they know the food they are serving. To the waiter that I overheard telling a customer that "Tiramisu is an Italian American dessert...." No, no it's not....it's origins, while somewhat cloudy, are purely Italian, and most likely from Venice. There is nothing American about the dish. We may go back for pasta sometime, some of them looked good, if not a little over priced. With so many other restaurants out there, we may not go back. Since Ernesto's has been around for 25+ years, it's clear that it is a restaurant of choice for many people. There are also a lot of people out there that think jarred Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce choice. I'm just saying.....
(2)Janet M.
Actually, it's more of a 2.5 This is a good place to take family that loves a chain restaurant, because it FEELS a little like that, although it's independent. The food is adequate, the service is usually very nice, and it's got a funky 1970's Italian restaurant feel that our older relatives feel comfy in. Order something baked with cheese and marinara and you will be ok. Canneloni, lasagna, eggplant parmesan. Don't expect pasta miracles, it's hot and filling. The salad is icebergy, the bread was warm but unremarkable... there's spumoni... have some chianti and you will get through it. My 80 year old dad loves it. So did my inlaws. My daughter ( I blanch thinking about this) loved her spaghetti with parmesan and butter.,.. it was SWIMMING in butter. She was covered in butterfat, we had to hose her off when she got home. Enough said. Oh, wait, don't order the carbonara... my husband had heart pain for weeks after, it was that creamy and buttery... but not in a delicious way. In an over the top rich kind of way.
(3)Kevin F.
I had the linguini with clams. Clams in the shell was overdone. Whatever type of meat that was ground up and put in the noodles (I think it was supposed to be clams but resembled more of canned tuna) was horrible. Covering it with copious amount of garlic would not cover that the food was spoiled, even though the chef attempted. I had very few bites of my food, my wife's food was delicious. I was sick much of last night, still sick today. Ernest NO thank you's is my new name for this place. Never again. Our waitress was nice. The Boneyard IPA on tap was the best part of my meal. A great IPA and not one you find around.
(1)Sean K.
Disclaimer: I was not feeling well - sleep deprived - and was having stomach problems after my dinner here.. So my review may not be unbiased/accurate, but I will nonetheless will be objective. My friends and I - about 15 of us - went to Ernesto's for a nice graduation dinner. From the outside, this place didn't look so great but the interior was nice. Pictures, Italian-themed props, fairly open dining area, separate bar area all were positives. I was excited to have some good Italian food for once.. :) Then I opened the menu and saw not-crazy-expensive-but-moderately-expensive prices, coupled with A-OK selection of pasta, salad and desserts. Mind you, I was starving and not that many of them sounded that GREAT for me. Nothing really stood out yelling, "Eat Me!" I went ahead with Ernesto's Classic Trio (?) that consisted lasagna, chicken parm, and enchilada. It sounded almost good as Vodka chicken, which I learned later that it was pretty good. I don't blame Ernesto's food for giving me a stomach problem that night. I was overdosed with caffeine with an empty stomach, and I paid the price... I was able to finish enchilada and chicken parm but that was it... my poor stomach could not handle the delicious, cheesy, thick tomato sauce used on my dish. Mind you, it was pretty alright and I ate FAST since I was soooo hungry. Oh yeah, for you big eaters, portion size isn't great either... :( Service was good. Waitress who served us was little awkward - it looked as if she wasn't comfortable.. that's all - but did her job admirably. She split our checks without any problems and was able to give each of them to the right person. I never ran out of bread and water either. However, in the end, I would not pay the amount of money I paid that night to have a decent-at-best Italian food. I definitely had better food pretty much every city I have been to and would not be back here again unless it's a group thing again.
(3)Julie C.
I honestly have NO idea why there are negative reviews on here at all! I have been going to this restaurant for years! I remember when they were in the very end of the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyers a million years ago and they were wonderful then and even better now! I love their new location as it's not far from where they were before and still convenient for me to get to. Every time I go, I'm NEVER disappointed! They have the best focaccia bread before your food comes to stave off your hunger. They have wonderful clam linguine which is my favorite but last night I tried their cannelloni and it was AMAZING! The fillings of these little treasures were busting with flavor with the meat and cheese being equally distributed! If you get an entree, it most always comes with your choice of soup or salad. (Side note: You can ask for a spinach salad as well...the dressing on it is delish! It's not on the menu...shhh!) I love their Lambrusco, a chilled red wine that really compliments the red sauce dishes. Last night for dessert (Valentine's) they had a Raspberry Truffle that was to die for. It was a special dessert but any desserts they have are wonderful! Even the owner was involved last night and seated us! Please go and judge for yourself but they are a gem in the SW Portland area.
(5)Kimberly F.
This is my favorite italian resturant in the Portland MEtro area! It's a hiden little gem. The food is delicious, the service great, the price affordable and the environment is relaxing and intimate. Love love love it!!
(5)Paul A.
Way too expensive for the quality and atmosphere. The food is good but not worth the price. It IS after all spaghetti.
(3)Martin I.
Friendly staff but bad food and even worse décor. The décor is so out dated that you feeling you are stepping into the 70's. Their food have been consistently bad and use too much salt. I live a few blocks away from this place and don't even go there any more.
(3)Terry S.
08/28 YES the clam chowder was awesome! Nice TV's in the nice quiet lounge.
(5)Bob M.
This review is for a take out pizza meal--I am still looking for a good takeout pizza and Ernesto's has been on my list for quite a while to check out. The restaurant has that neighborhood Italian-American feel about it, and that was pretty much what we got in the medium combo pizza and the Michael's Insalata that we ordered. The crust of the pizza was thick, chewy and could have spent a little more time in a hotter oven. The toppings were generous but very unremarkable. One rather odd thing is that the pizza is cut into squares rather than slices, which with the size we got yielded 14 pieces--quite a bit of pizza. The salad was chopped romaine with the usual suspects that one would get in an old school Italian-American antipasto salad. It came with a house made vinaigrette heavy on vinegar and light on anything else. It would take some serious doctoring to make it palatable. A very generous serving, though. The medium pizza and this salad could easily feed six very hungry people for $26. It has cured me of my curiosity about this place, however. I don't think we caught them on a bad day; I feel this is what they are striving to serve and it was a disappointment.
(2)Jacob G.
This review is more like 2.5 stars but I don't feel like giving it 3 up there. Anyhoo, Ernesto's is ol' school Italian-American so it's got those red and white checkered tablecloths and wine bottles and such. However, we were here for the food and not those nor the awesome red chairs they have in the bar area. Is it me, or is white and yellow cheese not supposed to be on chicken Parmesan? The meat sauce on my spaghetti was kind of strange, too. Couldn't put my finger on it. In all, this is not the best Italian in town.
(2)Bobby D.
Yes it's true, another italian restaurant with a lunch buffet! This restaurant is located in a ( well you guessed it) strip mall! It's on the south side of beaverton hillsdale highway just off of apple way. I've gone here with friends for the lunch buffet many times. Each day they serve different entrees in the buffet. The buffet has the standard pizza, salad bar, and several entrees. The food is good and they got a 95 out of 100 on their last health inspection of 6/2/08. Getting real close to a perfect score! I have to go back to this one for sure since the food really is not that bad (probably as good as it gets for the area that i know of so far) the service was good and i don't have to worry too much about getting some nasty food borne illness or hair in my food!!!
(4)Josh B.
I guess I had a bad experience here... We went later at night, we were told it was too late to order a calzone or a pizza. The service was slow even though there was nobody else there. When our food finally arrived it tasted as if my pasta had set out for a few hours to dry out, my meatballs were dry, my Ravioli was cold, hard and try... The prices reflect that you would get better food and service, but you don't. I see so many people write good reviews for this place, i might be tempted to try this place again if my first experience did not suck so bad.
(1)Ann K.
Date Visited: Saturday 4/5/08 (Dinner) I can't believe more people haven't reviewed this restaurant. Ernesto's is situated off 10 (Beaverton-Hillsdale) and Apple Way (by the AAA office). It's nestled into the corner of the strip mall there, by a fish store. From the outside, you wouldn't really expect anything. Once inside, the smells start to make their way to your nose. I love Italian food, but haven't had a great deal of it in the last year (outside of pizza, if that even counts), so I was probably more excited about the experience than most. I went with Meetin Portland, so there were about 10 of us. Other than the fact that they couldn't do separate checks (which made paying a little frantic), it was a nice restaurant and had really good food. We ordered drinks and were served garlic/cheese bread. Right there, if nothing else went right, I think that's a big deal. I mean....it's not just a nice Italian bread that you dip into an oil/vinegar concoction (don't get me wrong....I enjoy this), but it's GARLIC and CHEESE bread. The cheese isn't melted and oozing or anything (it may even be a fake cheese for all I know), but I'm not picky. The menu has a lot of options for any Italian fan. I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which came with your choice of salad (Ceasar or Dinner Side) and then a small dish of pasta (spaghetti or ravioli). Portion-wise, it was more than enough and I brought over half of it home (along with some of the garlic/cheese bread). No room for dessert, but some at our table had spumoni and some had Tiramisu. The tiramisu looked heavenly and anyone who had a taste said it was very good. I am looking forward to going to Ernesto's again and again. It's not cheap Italian, but it's GOOD Italian and expect to pay $20 for food and drink. It's worth it.
(4)Sara V.
My husband and I just had dinner here for the first time and it was great. The food was good, the wine was reasonably priced, the wait staff was very attentive, and the coffee tiramisu and lemon tiramisu were some of the best we've ever had. Like eating heaven! We will definitely be back!
(5)Liz K.
Friendly staff. Service is spotty -- sometimes very fast & attentive, other times they fall a bit behind. But we've never felt ignored. They always seem to be trying. Their pastas and entrees are solidly good. Ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, gnocchi, and the chicken and eggplant parm are all delicious. The pizza is -- and I'm not exaggerating here -- the worst I have ever had. All the ingredients tasted canned, the sauce was tasteless, the crust was cardboard, and the whole thing was really salty. We were told no one had EVER complained about the pizza before, which made us wonder if we got an off night? The biggest downfall of this restaurant has got to be that their ingredients aren't very fresh. You don't notice it too much when food is covered in sauce and cheese, but the salads (and the salad bar) are pretty sad. The side of vegetables are also pretty bland. But overall, it's a good place to get Italian-American comfort food.
(3)John K.
They have a great lunch buffet! Lunch buffet is not expensive $8.50
(4)Wendy G.
DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A GLUTEN SENSITIVITY! They will tell you things are GF (like the meat sauce) when they definitely are not. Also, they will make mistakes, like giving you wheat pasta instead of GF, argue with you, and hardly apologize or take anything off of the bill when you point out the error, no matter how nice you are about it. It's a shame because I really wanted to like this place - I love red sauce Italian food and it is in a very convenient location for me, but I've given it several chances and been disappointed every time. Skip this place and find somewhere else that is better to their customers.
(1)Rosemary P.
We went here for Valentine's Day. While not the most romantic place, the food was wonderful! I had the manicotti, which was to die for, and the tiramisu for desert, which again, was to die for. Not only was the food great but the service was fast and super friendly! I will definitely go here again, i haven't found a comparable Italian restaurant anywhere.
(5)J B.
Sure, it's just OK. It's not great by any stretch - it's bordering on "MEH". My wife and I went on date night because friends had recommended the place (I'm starting to wonder if my friends were all part of some sort of cult that required removal of taste buds and forced, gross indiscretion). Date night is so freaking rare that I want to be wow'ed to the point that I'm ready to run through the streets stark naked with jubilation over my dinner. Instead, I found myself apologizing to my wife for having taken her there - not something I want to be doing on date night if you catch my drift **nudge, nudge**. The service was decent although we must have gone at geriatric hour because I had at least twenty-five years on my side over everyone else at the restaurant (and I'm no spring chicken). The bread they serve everyone was stale (which is gross) and tells me that ownership is cheap - either don't serve it or serve fresh bread for Pete sake! Anyhow, I ordered chicken marsala and it was just OK. I've had a lot better, even in Beaverton. My wife ordered gnocchi and it wasn't even as good as my chicken. The spaghetti with meat sauce that came with my dinner was unappetizingly watery. Come on, mix in a strainer people, it's that metal bowl with hecka holes through which water leaves the food BEFORE you serve it. So that's the story of my first/last at this joint. Ciao. Go if you dare, but if I were you and you're not averse to burning another gallon of fuel or so, get over to Nonna Emelia in Aloha. You will NOT regret it. Heck, Buggatti's in Beaverton blows doors over this place as well.
(3)Nikki G.
Great service. Expensive. I make better pasta at home. Not going back.
(2)Bryce H.
If you like Calazones, this is the place for you. Bring a big appetite, you'll need it for they are huge. You could easily feed three or four. The atmosphere is fun and Italian. A little pricey, but worth it. And don't forget to order the spumoni ice cream. Another very good dish is the chicken parmesan. Again very large portions. Treat yourself or someone special.
(5)Lee C.
Tried the Wednesday lunch buffet. A few typical Italian style items are offered, along with an ample salad bar. The salad bar is the star of this show. When one thinks of the grandeur of Italian quisine and the complete absence of grandeur or even good taste in the items offered, one can only say that this restaurant should just quit offering what it does for a buffet -- good cooking is NOT featured. Also, to gain access to sphagetti or the soups, one has to take a lid off of the container but there's no place to put the lid while dipping -- in other words, no attempt is made to convenience the diner. Even the pizza is un-spectacular or even adequate. Overall, a two-star rating is being generous.
(2)james c.
We had good food and good service. We certainly had none of the problems some other diners have had. Service was friendly and prompt. Waitress did combine my immediate drink order with a several minute later wine order but that might have been a bartender delivery issue. We have been here twice in a few weeks. The pizza is not to my taste but the pasta is good, not best ever but good variety for a reasonable price. Wife and friends tried chicken dish one visit and veal another and were pleased. This is a good place for a simple Italian meal. We will be back.
(4)Dale R.
My first dinner here, we shared the antipasto plate and a medium pizza. Both were much better than we have had at any of the other local Italian restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere, clean with great service & decent prices. Good selection on the menu make this a great experience overall. I will return and bring my friends and family, too. Our tab for a medium combo pizza, antipasto plate and a glass of wine was $30. Pizza had plenty of ingredients, not too much tomato sauce, and a medium thick, chewy crust. They cut it into squares, not pie slices, but who cares? After eating most of the antipasto plate, we could not finish even half of the pizza. BTW, the antipasto plate had a good mix of meats, olives, peppers, and cheese.
(5)Honeybee M.
My boyfriend and I really enjoy eating at this restaurant. The food, decor, and music remind me of Italian restaurants back home in New Jersey. We are always made to feel welcome and comfortable whenever we come here, kind of like eating at your Italian grandma or great aunt's house.
(4)Sharilynn T.
I will not be the only one in a QUIET, non-profit PROTEST against Ernesto's. Never have we experienced such righteous and rude behavior when simply asking for a volume/non-profit 503 [c][3] discount for a fundraising event with over 200 people to be served at the end of the month. I have been going there for years, for lunches and family events, and I will now CHOOSE to no longer go there.
(1)Beth M.
Three words: I've had better. Two words: Not good. One word: Meh Seriously...go East on Beav-Hills and eat at La Prima Trattoria and have yourself a real meal for a comparable price.
(2)David M.
Great neighborhood dinning. Outstanding Service. Have not had a meal I didn't enjoy. Would recommend to all my friends and I have!
(4)Jenn W.
Their food is worse than Olive Garden. Their marinara sauce is bad..the staple of Italian food. Nothing is good on their menu. Go to Giovannis or Geraldis.
(2)jeri j.
I really enjoy this place every time I have gone! I celebrated my first A I got in collage here alone and what a treat. food is always good and so are the portions.
(4)Robin S.
I love this place. This is authenitc Italian food. Their Chicken parm is the best along with their pesto. Everything is made fesh. the atmosphere is light and the owner very nice. The people that work there friendly and the prices are good. I go back often. It is a good place to take a date and eat with family. Large groups are also welcome.
(4)david m.
Ernesto's is a decent run-of-the-mill, nonthreatening American-Italian Restaurant with a few pluses, namely the service and the buffet. If you're all about the food, there are better options in town. If you want a place to take people without scaring them with the food, they had a good mix of red-sauce pasta items, other pasta & non-pasta entrees, and pizza. I ordered from a page with 'smaller' servings and it was plenty of food, the regular portions are pretty big. Food snobbery aside! - Ernesto's was perfect for our 11-person group ranging from 4-year-olds, a teenager, and a mix of adults and seniors. Our server was attentive without being pushy, and coordinated a custom dish for someone with special dietary needs. What really stood out was that we'd brought our own birthday cake, and our server provided everything we needed to serve it. One of our party also customized their meal by ordering a chicken dish with vegetables and then filling it out with quinoa and salad from the buffet. I ordered spaggetti and meatballs because I was craving it, it was pretty generic and I found myself jealous of my neighbor's creamy chicken & mushroom pasta. Not what I'd pick for date night in food-centric Portland, but darn good enough for feeding a crowd.
(3)Rustie D.
This place reminds me of my family - loud, expressive, and usually entertaining. The food is good, wholesome, and very tasty. The portions are plentiful, and the bread basket is always full. The restaurant is run family style with "mama" running rough-shod over everyone. The service is a hit/miss kind of thing. The last time we were there, the food was hot and tasty, but they were short a server, so "mama" had to step in, and that was a hoot. They are no more pricey than Olive Garden, but the quality is surely not manufactured - factory turn out. I don't come here very often because of my budget, but whenever I feel like good Italian, I come here. I recommend their eggplant parm...yum!
(4)Katie C.
I came to Ernesto's the other night for my friend's older brother's rehearsal dinner and found the place to be warm, inviting and incredibly charming. The ambiance and decor was very reminiscent of an Italian restaurant in my neighborhood from my childhood [Vince's], with touches of faux grape vines strewn about, Tuscan-inspired wall murals and those oh-so-stereotypical red checkered tablecloths you come to expect to see at any authentic Italian restaurant. As for the food + service, it was great! The waitstaff was attentive + friendly and the food came out in a timely progression. We dined family-style and shared plates of fettuccine alfredo, hearty meatballs, garlic chicken and ravioli. Guests had the choice to polish off their meals with either spumoni or a berry sorbet and everyone got their fair share of wine and beer. All and all, a great experience, though my *one* piece of advice is for the owners to invest some funds into updating the decor. While there's nothing technically wrong with it, I couldn't help but find it a little bit too predictable and Ernesto's could truly set themselves apart if they were to modernize the look and feel of the place. Just a suggestion. =)
(3)Kel L.
4 Stars for consistency. When we are looking for a no fuss meal, and know it will always be pretty good, this is where we go. Service is good, food is good and we can let our hair down. This is a family place and there is zero pretention to be found (which is so comforting). Their food is a lot like the Italian-American food I had a as child. They also do a few specials which are lighter and less Americanised, but not as innovative as the new-hip Italian places in PDX. Wine list, eh..give it a miss. No note-worthy wines to mention. We often dine here on a week night, so we aren't worried about the wine. I would recommend any dish on their menu, including pizza. Don't expect Downtown, Pearl type Italian, this is home cooking and done well.
(4)Matt R.
This is your cookie-cutter "Italian" restaurant that actually plays more to stereotypes than actual Italian cooking. It has everything you can expect from this type of establishment: loud (albeit family friendly) space, plentiful and completely tasteless food, rushed servers and moderate prices. If you want to eat a pound of overcooked pasta with sauce straight from the can, definitely come to Ernesto's. Putting red and white checkered tablecloths and chianti bottle/candles on the tables is about what you can expect from this place. I think most of the reviewers on this site could probably whip up better Italian food than Ernesto's.
(1)Jon G.
Great place for family night. We enjoyed our meals and the service was prompt and attentive. I was surprised to see a salad bar but it was fresh and well stocked. We will definitely be back for a casual family night.
(4)Ayla C.
Been here several time and we always leave satisfied. My only complaint is that my salad was way too drenched in ranch, and I love ranch!
(4)Porshe M.
Great food! Love their secret recipe for marinara sauce! Fabulous service! Bethany is a delight! We will be back!
(5)Ben D.
I honestly don't understand folks sometimes. I really can't see how people find this place's food acceptable. Especially with the premium they put on their prices. The lasagna tasted like cardboard. I've never experienced this before, but it literally tasted like cardboard. The marinara had an odd taste that I couldn't quite place due to it being drowned in cheese. Greasy greasy cheese. I had four bites and then boxed it up for my teenage son who will eat anything. My wife had the chicken cacciatore and she swears it was frozen chicken tenders similar to what you give the kids on those nights when you only have five minutes to make dinner. She liked the sauce however. I don't even know what to say about the spaghetti. We also ordered my favorite thing for an appetizer. Something impossible to mess up: roasted garlic. The garlic was poor. It was at that point I became worried. There was something served on the plate with it that we didn't recognize at first. After much messing around with our forks we decided it must be roasted pepper slices...maybe. The hostess who greeted us could not be bothered. She would clearly rather we had not bothered her. Our waitress was very pleasant and did her job well. She was attentive and interested. I just don't understand. With the Italian options we have at our disposal in Portland and even in Beaverton, for much better prices, why would you come here? We won't again.
(1)Tien D.
The restaurant decor looks quite nice and the staff is friendly. I came here with my fiancé's family for dinner. We both shared the seafood picatta and the salad. The salad tasted amazing. As for the picatta, it was a little too watery and sour for my tastes, but then again I'm not italian and I don't know what an authentic italian dish like seafood picatta is supposed to taste like. Take my review with a grain of salt. Food was a little on the pricy side as well. Overall it was a beautiful restaurant with friendly staff, but not somewhere I would return to, as there are so many more restaurants in Portland that have great quality for the price.
(3)Myra F.
I'm going to give Ernesto's 5 stars for a few reasons. First, I hadn't eaten there in a while and I remember it being very mediocre, so my expectations were low. I did have to wait to be seated, but just for a minute. Who these days can afford a full time greeter in a small neighborhood restaurant? 6 of us were immediately seated and greeted by a very sweet and enthusiastic waitress. Our drinks, salads, and focaccia arrived immediately. They make all their own dressings and the salads were a perfect size and perfectly dressed and fresh. I asked if they make the gnocchi and again our sweet waitress enthusiastically answered yes. I ordered the gnocchi with marinara. I love to cook and I love good old fashioned Italian American cooking.That's what I got. 6 of us had 6 different dinners and everyone was pleased. The portions are large and the food delicious!
(5)Aaron B.
Our new favorite local Italian date night. The atmosphere is perfect, reminds me of actually being in Italy. The people are wonderful and even gave us a $10 gift card to use on our next visit. The tiramisu was amazing. We look forward to coming here often.
(5)David D.
Great warm bread and good spaghetti. Waitress was attentive. First time for dinner but had lunch multiple times. Always good.
(4)Michelle W.
Great food, exceptional service! They were all so nice and made the dining experience for our 2 year old great too! They even gave him a new toy truck to keep him occupied! I had the fettuccine and my husband had the spaghetti and meatballs and both were delicious and we have enough for left overs!!!! We will definitely be back!!! Very clean. Nice atmosphere!
(5)Deanna N.
This is a family generational staple of our's. We've had wedding and bar mitzvah rehearsal dinners here in there back room after years of just going with our family. Its quintessential comfort food old school style. Family owned and run one can not go wrong with staples like spaghetti and meat sauce and spumoni. Its just one of those places you take you 90+ year old grandparents and you toddlers too and everyone is pleased.
(4)Jessica V.
This place is great! We had our church dinner with over 30 couples and the service was great! Our waitress's was very attentive and the food was great! Lasagna is amazing!
(5)Onnicha K.
This place is my go to for Italian with my family and friends...the food was okay but the service is perfect.!
(4)Emily C.
Horrible manager. She was extremely rude and grumpy! Not the level of service you would expect in the food industry. The food was Bland, over cooked noodles in definitely not-from-scratch sauce. We came here because they were on our passport card and we won't be back. Save your money and your taste buds and go to Decarli.
(1)Richard B.
We returned after a year's absence and took the family to dinner. We may be wrong but it appeared the prices on some items were lower. The food, overall, was very good. They continue to produce good Italian food. Remember that some Italian foods have to simmer for hours so you can't expect great Italian scallopini very night. We are 100% Italian and raised with slow cooked Italian. Ernesto's comes close and it will be one we continue to recommend.
(4)Diane C.
Decent solid American-Italian cuisine. The food is not stellar but very work-a-day. This seems a good place for families, as it had food that came out pretty quickly, large tables available, and there was no blaring music to mar conversations. The bread that came before the meal (complementary) was very good, herb-y, and hot. The caesar salad dressing was pretty bland. That said, we had the seafood linguine which was good, and the 3-pasta-combo which all tasted pretty much the same, just had slight variations in how the pasta was presented.
(3)Amy L.
It's been years since i went, but i can still remember it as I've of the best Italian meals I've had. Expensive but excellent.
(5)Amanda M.
Avoid anything with chicken. I've had the chicken Alfredo and a chicken pizza and both times the bland taste of the chicken has overpowered the dish and is not appealing. Also they put dark meet chunks on the pizza which added to the bad chicken-y taste. Once again too much money for what you get.
(3)Trevor F.
We visited this place on a recommendation and all I can say is I wish we hadn't wasted our time. When we arrived at the restaurant there was no one to greet us and we waited for 10 minutes before the hosted returned. She was not pleasant and very short. There were two couples waiting to be seated. They took our name and put it on their list and we were clearly third in line. They told us the wait was about 20-25 minutes. As we waited several other couples came in behind us and were added to the list. After a 40 minute wait we were next to be seated... But then the hostess called the couple that had come in after us. Odd but I thought maybe they had called ahead, so I let it pass. Then we were again skipped and the second couple to come in after us were called and seated. We went to the hostess stand to see what was going on and the hostess assured us we were next. I asked her why we'd been skipped in the first place and she nervously explained that bigger parties would be seated at bigger tables and the small parties at small tables. Understandable, I told her, however both times we were skipped they had been 2 person parties, the same as ours. She looks over her list and tells me it looks like she had skipped us ONCE. Very matter-of-factly. No apology, no explanation. I corrected her that we'd been skipped twice and she obviously couldn't care less about the fact. She simply said we'd be seated shortly and then moved to leave. I told her not to worry about it. Take us off the list. I wouldn't give my business to a place that obviously doesn't care to have it in the first place. She shrugged and crossed us off. We went down the street to a quick inexpensive Italian place, noodles. I'll never go back to Ernestos.
(1)Jared B.
The true meaning of family style Italian. Adam and crew were nothing short of amazing which at the end of our meal included complimentary gifts for my daughters! As always I judge all Italian food on its bolognese (meat sauce). Excellent flavor. It was truly a taste of home and this will definitely not be the last time we dine at Ernestos. Oh, and btw while your waiting, make sure you pop your head into the lounge. Truly old school in the most complimenting of ways.
(5)David C.
First off, we were greeted at the door, a typical welcome, my impression was, "I have to be friendly because I need a paycheck". The wait staff, was interesting.. I almost felt a sense of irritability. There was a mis-communication, and instead of sincerely playing it off, or accepting responsibility for not listening, I felt some irritability, not OK at a restaurant. I had Veal Parmesan. It was pretty good, no different than if I ordered it at Olive Garden (yuk). Long story short, I expect top service, and exceptional food from a specialty Italian restaurant, with moderate prices...
(2)Brendan C.
I've been coming to Ernesto's for over a decade. It's my mom's favorite restaurant. While I can understand some of the negative reviews listed, since the food seems to not be consistent, it is always good. I feel like it teeters from good to great. Not what exactly, but I love their bread and especially their wine choices. I used to eat everything from here, 3 pasta combo, linguine, seafood, pizza, you name it I've probably tried it. It's great for families and takeout, good atmosphere, clean restaurant. Good for locals
(4)Kevin F.
I had the linguini with clams. Clams in the shell was overdone. Whatever type of meat that was ground up and put in the noodles (I think it was supposed to be clams but resembled more of canned tuna) was horrible. Covering it with copious amount of garlic would not cover that the food was spoiled, even though the chef attempted. I had very few bites of my food, my wife's food was delicious. I was sick much of last night, still sick today. Ernest NO thank you's is my new name for this place. Never again. Our waitress was nice. The Boneyard IPA on tap was the best part of my meal. A great IPA and not one you find around.
(1)Kimberly F.
This is my favorite italian resturant in the Portland MEtro area! It's a hiden little gem. The food is delicious, the service great, the price affordable and the environment is relaxing and intimate. Love love love it!!
(5)Tony F.
My wife and I had never been to Ernesto's, so we figured it was time to head on in. Now, this review might upset some of the die hard fans of Ernesto's, but I am not going to be apologetic. As someone who grew up an Italian American, studied Italian cuisine, cooked it as a Chef for many years, and someone who has travelled throughout Italy, I'm picky when it comes to Italian food. We ordered their Margarita Pizza...that's my first pickiness. A Margarita is a Mexican cocktail made with tequila. A Margherita Pizza on the other hand is a pizza made with olive oil, diced roma tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. This pizza had a red sauce base, provolone cheese (a much tougher cheese than mozzarella when cooked) , thick sliced romas that were placed on the pizza cold which chills the pizza down to room temperature long before it's time, fresh basil and parmesan cheese. No garlic. The crust was tough, and too thick. A tough dough can be fine in a thinner crust, but when you have to struggle with a fork to cut the pizza? Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the pizza, and that's a shame. The restaurant has a nice, warm, comfortable dining area, but the pizza turned us off. One of the things I always demanded of my waitstaff is that they know the food they are serving. To the waiter that I overheard telling a customer that "Tiramisu is an Italian American dessert...." No, no it's not....it's origins, while somewhat cloudy, are purely Italian, and most likely from Venice. There is nothing American about the dish. We may go back for pasta sometime, some of them looked good, if not a little over priced. With so many other restaurants out there, we may not go back. Since Ernesto's has been around for 25+ years, it's clear that it is a restaurant of choice for many people. There are also a lot of people out there that think jarred Ragu is a great spaghetti sauce choice. I'm just saying.....
(2)Janet M.
Actually, it's more of a 2.5 This is a good place to take family that loves a chain restaurant, because it FEELS a little like that, although it's independent. The food is adequate, the service is usually very nice, and it's got a funky 1970's Italian restaurant feel that our older relatives feel comfy in. Order something baked with cheese and marinara and you will be ok. Canneloni, lasagna, eggplant parmesan. Don't expect pasta miracles, it's hot and filling. The salad is icebergy, the bread was warm but unremarkable... there's spumoni... have some chianti and you will get through it. My 80 year old dad loves it. So did my inlaws. My daughter ( I blanch thinking about this) loved her spaghetti with parmesan and butter.,.. it was SWIMMING in butter. She was covered in butterfat, we had to hose her off when she got home. Enough said. Oh, wait, don't order the carbonara... my husband had heart pain for weeks after, it was that creamy and buttery... but not in a delicious way. In an over the top rich kind of way.
(3)Sean K.
Disclaimer: I was not feeling well - sleep deprived - and was having stomach problems after my dinner here.. So my review may not be unbiased/accurate, but I will nonetheless will be objective. My friends and I - about 15 of us - went to Ernesto's for a nice graduation dinner. From the outside, this place didn't look so great but the interior was nice. Pictures, Italian-themed props, fairly open dining area, separate bar area all were positives. I was excited to have some good Italian food for once.. :) Then I opened the menu and saw not-crazy-expensive-but-moderately-expensive prices, coupled with A-OK selection of pasta, salad and desserts. Mind you, I was starving and not that many of them sounded that GREAT for me. Nothing really stood out yelling, "Eat Me!" I went ahead with Ernesto's Classic Trio (?) that consisted lasagna, chicken parm, and enchilada. It sounded almost good as Vodka chicken, which I learned later that it was pretty good. I don't blame Ernesto's food for giving me a stomach problem that night. I was overdosed with caffeine with an empty stomach, and I paid the price... I was able to finish enchilada and chicken parm but that was it... my poor stomach could not handle the delicious, cheesy, thick tomato sauce used on my dish. Mind you, it was pretty alright and I ate FAST since I was soooo hungry. Oh yeah, for you big eaters, portion size isn't great either... :( Service was good. Waitress who served us was little awkward - it looked as if she wasn't comfortable.. that's all - but did her job admirably. She split our checks without any problems and was able to give each of them to the right person. I never ran out of bread and water either. However, in the end, I would not pay the amount of money I paid that night to have a decent-at-best Italian food. I definitely had better food pretty much every city I have been to and would not be back here again unless it's a group thing again.
(3)Julie C.
I honestly have NO idea why there are negative reviews on here at all! I have been going to this restaurant for years! I remember when they were in the very end of the Raleigh Hills Fred Meyers a million years ago and they were wonderful then and even better now! I love their new location as it's not far from where they were before and still convenient for me to get to. Every time I go, I'm NEVER disappointed! They have the best focaccia bread before your food comes to stave off your hunger. They have wonderful clam linguine which is my favorite but last night I tried their cannelloni and it was AMAZING! The fillings of these little treasures were busting with flavor with the meat and cheese being equally distributed! If you get an entree, it most always comes with your choice of soup or salad. (Side note: You can ask for a spinach salad as well...the dressing on it is delish! It's not on the menu...shhh!) I love their Lambrusco, a chilled red wine that really compliments the red sauce dishes. Last night for dessert (Valentine's) they had a Raspberry Truffle that was to die for. It was a special dessert but any desserts they have are wonderful! Even the owner was involved last night and seated us! Please go and judge for yourself but they are a gem in the SW Portland area.
(5)Amy B.
Best pizza in Beaverton, hands down! We've been here many times over the years including a large family gathering for my daughter's graduation, the service and the food have always been just great.
(4)Cheryl D.
I went here with my Sister last week and had high hopes, I had not eaten here before. The restaurant itself is nice, clean and well decorated. The service at a late lunch was not great (even though there were not many folks eating). I ordered the lunch Manicotti and it came with an OK salad and some bread, finally after a long wait my meal came and it was ONE tube of pasta about 7 inches long by 2 inches wide, ONE TUBE. I have never eaten Manicotto or Canilloni and gotten one lonly tube of pasta. It was laughable that I paid 8 bucks for that. I should have gotten the Buffet for a few bucks more, they had Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans, plus a full salad bar. I will never step foot into this place again, if that is the best they can do.
(2)Brian L.
Pizza is amazing. The pasta dishes can sometimes have too much sauce and too rich. Clam chowder is too rich though ministrone is good. Love the bread.
(3)