Portofino Restaurant
526 23rd St S, Arlington, VA, 22202
Portofino Restaurant Menu
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Address :
526 23rd St S
Arlington, VA, 22202 - Phone (703) 979-8200
- Website https://theportofinorestaurant.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Rhonda S.
This place is a "GEM"! The calamari was cooked to perfection! Salad delicious and the entrees. The pasta was cooked perfect and the chicken dish was excellent. The service was "Exceptional"! Our waiter was attentive and very knowledgeable. His suggestions for dinner where right on. If you ever get to DC try this "diamond in the rough". You won't be disappointed.
(5)Robert H.
We had the calamari and it was cooked perfectly.. Lunch: I had the stuffed Pollo Portofino it was amazing. My wife had the Lasagne and it was awesome. Dessert: I had the Tiramisu, it was so gooooood :) My wife had the Torte Monica, it was very rich and decadent. Julio our waiter was the best. You are crazy not to stop and have lunch or dinner.
(5)Chris S.
A free glass of wine as a Yelp check-in special, but it's only one certain wine rather than any wine by the glass on the menu. The check-in offer on Yelp is a bit misleading in this respect. Otherwise, this is a very nice neighborhood Italian restaurant located in an old house.The dining room is a bit crowded but the servers are friendly and fast. It's obviously family-run and the owners pay close attention to the guests. Excellent fresh bread. A small but well-chosen selection of wines by the glass and a nice list of Italian and Californian wines by the bottle. The Insalata Portofino was very good. It had artichoke hearts, chickpeas, carrots, black olives with a tangy Italian dressing. The lasagne came in a large portion with lots of delicious meat sauce. They don't skimp on the Parmesan cheese if you want it. The tiramisu was wonderful. I highly recommend it for Italian food on 23rd Street.
(3)Dawna Q.
After leaving another eatery in disappointment, we came to this Italian restaurant. While the decor was dated the food was delicious. I enjoyed a sea bass special and my friend the lasagna. Both were delicious, rich, and complex with spice and love. I ordered an espresso doppio with tiramisu for dessert. It was one of the most pleasurable, lush and creamy desserts I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The mascarpone and custard dessert was dusted with a crosshatch cinnamon design. The doppio was rich, robust, and much better than Starbucks (imho). Her cannoli was pronounced as the best one she's had in the United States. Upon sampling the cannoli, I respected the balanced sweetness of the dessert and agreed it was clearly an excellent recipe. I'm suddenly less willing to move from Pentagon City as this restaurant was a gem.
(4)Alyson H.
Was seated right away on a Sunday night at 7:30 for a party of 2. Checked in on yelp and received a free glass of wine! Although it was mistakenly not taken off at first, it was fixed in the end. The place is a little small where we were sat, but it looks as if there is another part that is larger down some stairs. We ordered the FRUTTI DI MARE as an app. Delic!!! Five Stars! The olive oil and lemon marinade is great. I want to make this as a salad dressing now. I ordered the special of ravioli and asparagus with shrimp and it was also delicious. Just the right amount of sauce. Nothing overpowered one flavor or another. Would def recommend this place and come here again.
(4)Kizna L.
Great ambiance. We came for dinner and it had great vibes. The linguine al vongole and gnocchi was fantastic. We also had the torta di formaggio alla mocha for dessert (chocolate cheesecake) and it was so yummy!
(4)Craig H.
Portofino offers truly wonderful Italian food. We had a Caesar salad, a gnocchi in an authentic Italian tomato sauce and veal Marsala as good as I can remember. A 4.5 for food. The decor is what you might expect for a 40 year old restaurant which doesn't have the money to invest of a chain. It's a family place. The third generation owner seated up and was happy to tell us the history of his place. The service was not great. I know there is a lot of demand for servers in DC but come on. It took I'd bet 20 minutes to get menus and then she shows up a minute later "do you know what you want?" She indicated they are normally as busy as last night this there should be an excuse for not being in a rhythm. Food. Was great. Service added to my stress level.
(3)V B.
Perfect date night place! I've eaten here dozens of times and never been disappointed. It's a family place - even appropriate for kids - and the food is lovely. Try the pesto!
(5)Cody Y.
Probably the most romantic restaurant on 23rd Street with excellent service and good food. Portofino offers the more high-class Italian dining experience of the four Italian restaurants on 23rd Street. My girlfriend and I came for our anniversary on a Friday night at 6PM. We made a reservation, which was not needed as the restaurant was only a quarter full. We were seated immediately and were thoroughly entertained by our Italian waiter who had maybe six or seven specials memorized in great detail along with all the Italian mannerisms on full display. The interior is small and cozy, with a back dining room for much larger groups of people. The restaurant has a very intimate and romantic atmosphere. We started our meal with their salad special, which was garden salad topped with asparagus in a vinaigrette ($7.50 - very good, especially the salad dressing). Next, we ordered a bottle of 2012 Italian Pinot Gris wine ($29) to go with our two seafood entrees, the Scampi Fra Diavola ($21.95 - jumbo shrimp in tomato/wine sauce over linguine) and the Cacciuco "Livornese" ($21.95 - shrimp, scallops, fresh fish, clams, mussels, and squid cooked in a white wine and lemon sauce with garlic - no pasta!). The wine was dry and immensely drinkable, but lacked the flavor of other Pinot Gris I've had. The Scampi dish was the better of the two - the pasta was cooked perfectly, the shrimp were massive and well cooked, and the sauce was good enough to eat by itself. The Cacciuco was also very good with an interesting medley of seafood in a mild lemon sauce. The calamari in particular was good - it was cooked al dente, which was firm and not at all chewy. For dessert I had Gelato Frangelico ($5.95 - essentially Nutella flavored gelato) and my girlfriend had the Tiramisu ($6.95). Easily one of the best parts of the night. The hazelnut taste in the gelato didn't overpower the taste of the chocolate and the Tiramisu was light and absolutely delicious. If you want to go out on a classy date on 23rd Street, Portofino should be at the top of your list. The atmosphere, service, and quality of the food is perfect for a romantic night out. My only complaints were that I found the wine list a bit underwhelming and the food, while good and a step-up from most Italian fare, didn't blow my mind enough to warrant the $20+ price (the desserts, however, are worth every penny).
(4)Chris K.
I think this place is great! It definitely provides a place to get away from the hectic environment of DC and relax! The decor is a little old school but that just adds to the environment- the staff is helpful, fast, and courteous and the food is great!! Definitely worth trying and supporting a staple of the area!
(5)William B.
I started with a green salad which was good. I the had the Veal Marsala. It was good and the vegetables were delicious. Couldn't decide between the Canoli or the Tiramisu for desert... I took the server's recommendation and got the Canoli... Get the Tiramisu...
(3)Kyla S.
Decided to try this place out the night before the Army 10 miler this past weekend to carb load before the race, and i really enjoyed my meal. I got the pesto dish - LINGUINI AL PESTO GENOVESE and would recommend it. Great homemade pasta and sauce. The service was okay.. it was very busy, but they should expect this the night before a race that is sold out to 35,000 people.
(3)Brian S.
Wow. This place should be called the hidden gem on 23rd. Service was great. The staff is really nice. The food was a surprise. I hate the way that sounds but it is the truth. I expected good food and we got really good food. Wife and son had lasagna. I had the spinach stuffed chicken. My son tried the chicken and almost took the whole thing off my plate. I would definitely go back.
(5)Laura G.
I don't give a 5 star lightly! Have eaten here once a few years ago. Good then - amazing tonight! The veal chef special was great but the linguini in Alfredo sauce with perfectly cooked scallops was to die for! Capped off with pistachio ice cream and a fine port! Service outstanding, manager checked in at end of meal.. Highly recommend!! Great atmosphere!
(5)Laura E.
I came here with my guy for a pre-Valentine's day dinner. He made a reservation in advance and we arrived around 5:45 pm, so we did not have to wait. At times the service was a little slow, which was a bit surprising given that the restaurant was hardly crowded. However, the servers who took care of us were friendly and provided good customer service. I had a peach bellini and the linguine vongole with red sauce. This entree was delicious but huge that I ended up taking it home for lunch the next day. My guy got his favorite, the gnocchi with red sauce, as he's been to Portofino several times and loves it. We ended with the cannoli for dessert--a perfect way to end a pre-V-day meal!
(4)Gerald O.
Great service good food for large groups everything is fresh. The pasta was made fresh daily and was really good just like they made years ago. Prices were a good value.
(5)Christopher M.
We came for dinner prior to the Marine Corps Marathon. They had no reservations, which was slightly frustrating because we wanted an early dinner. But we were seated relatively quickly. The food was some of the best I've had. I had the manicotti and I highly recommend it. The cannoli for dessert was delicious. However the service was incredibly slow. The restaurant had started to empty out and yet we couldn't find our waiter to order dessert or get the check. Overall the food was good, the restaurant lovely, but the time was far too long.
(3)Mitchel B.
My wife and I had dinner there. We had calamari and the stuffed eggplant that was just the appetizer. Everything we ate was delicious. My wife had the trout with sherry sauce and I had a chicken with a brandy cream sauce. The staff were friendly. We are going to go back before we fly home. The chef was trained at the CIA add that with old family recipes and you can't go wrong.
(5)Kurt J.
Great food. I was a little hesitant since the other reviews mentioned slow service. However, we did not experience it. The services was very good and timely.
(5)Sarah E.
Excellent meal!! We came here while staying at the Crystal City Embassy Suites; it was within driving distance of the free hotel shuttle. We came with a party of ten and Portofino had no trouble accommodating us. We couldn't believe how empty it was on a Friday night! It truly deserves more customers. The venue appears to be a converted house and is quaint and comfortable. The veal was remarkable and the bruschetta appetizer was also delicious. (And for dessert I also had the the best cannoli I've ever tasted). Portofino has an extensive wine selection as well. The only downside was that only 6 were available by the glass, but these were all great so it wasn't an issue for us. The servers were extremely attentive and friendly. Atmosphere was quiet and intimate: very pleasant, peaceful evening. We will definitely be returning next time we're near DC, and I hope more visitors stumble upon this gem in Crystal City!
(5)Louis D.
Well, probable four and a half stars. So - here on 23rd street in Crystal City, there are two very good Italian restaurants across the street from each other. Cafe Italia is more in the southern Italian style - which is where my roots are, but I have come to love Portofino. Last night, I had the Pasta e fagioli (my family called it pasta fazool) and a fillet of sole. Both were excellent. The rest of our group (of five) ordered various other items - manicotti, veal, chicken marsala - and no one was disappointed with what they ordered. I try to have a meal here every time I'm in the area, and have never been disappointed.
(4)Jason W.
Really enjoyed eating here. The food was good, the waiter was great, and had great conversation. I recommend anybody in the area to stop by.
(4)Jaime K.
What a wonderful gem in the heart of Crystal City. Excellent, authentic food served in a very homey and hospitable atmosphere. Consistent service with every visit. This time, I brought my family that were visiting from Ohio with me, and they were welcomed graciously. The owner recognized me and welcomed me back, which makes me feel special. Most places around DC are so impersonal! Not Portofino and I will continue to dine at this establishment.
(5)Amanda S.
This is NOT Italian. This is american trying to be Italian. Not good. The service was just ok. They messed up our bill it took forever to fix. I wouldn't go here again. Find somewhere else to go.
(2)Chuck M.
Total disappointment. May 2015. Good in the past,. Had to ask for menu and staff not friendly. Walk up stairs to be seated down another set stairs - handicapped challenging. Unanimous all three of our selections not memorable - blase' is best description. MC Arlington
(2)Glenn G.
Go some where else for dessert. It was watery, store bought and over priced. To be honest. The main dinner was good. Wine was expensive as all hell. BUT, o well, I was on vacation, so screw it. I don't think I would go here again if I was in Crystal City though. Just didn't have that WOW factor.
(3)Brandon F.
Yelpers, you have not failed me until now. I honestly don't understand why this place has any stars. The staff were all very nice and attentive, perhaps at times overly so. The ambience was cool. It looked and smelled like Grandmas living room which we thought was either a very good or very bad sign. Turns out to be the latter. The food was like dumping freezer burnt Lean Cuisines on your plate. We ordered the shrimp Scampi which was basically an entire slices green pepper with a few frozen shrimp and a little pasta, and two appetizer size dishes, the gnocchi and manicotti. We were served the gnocchi and fettuccini by mistake then they immediately brought over the manicotti. The sauces were grainy and bland. Honestly it wouldn't surprise me if they had come straight out of the freezer and into the microwave. You know it's bad when you wish you would have ordered pizza at home instead. Such a disappointment.
(1)Dennis M.
Great meal with family!
(5)Courtney S.
I do not understand the low ranked reviews on here. We came here for some delicious Italian food & carbs before the Army 10 miler race. It wasn't super packed and we were able to get in pretty quickly. **Check in on Yelp & get a free glass of wine** We showed our waiter the free glass check in and he brought me a free glass as well, on the house! We started with the eggplant appetizer. At first my husband wasn't sure what he thought. But upon 2nd bite, he loved it and finished the whole plate clean! You also get rustic italian bread with olive oil for a starter too. Next we ordered our meal. I got the Spaghetti Carbonara and hubs got Veal Parmesan. I absolutely loved my carbonara! So much flavor!!! My husband thought his veal was outstanding. He only wished it would have come with pasta, which I agree is a little weird, however I had plenty of noodles so I could share. We finished our night off with the chocolate mousse dessert. It was of course incredible too! What I really loved about this place was the fact that it's an old Italian guy making the food. He comes out and greets regular customers and remembers their names. That kind of service is rare these days so it's nice seeing that. Not very expensive for our great meal! Please looks past the reviews and give this place a shot!!!
(4)Kerry F.
I've walked by a million times but never been in, and every year at the Crystal City Sip 'n Salsa festival, Portofino brings their A-Game as the tastiest food at the whole place. It was time to finally go in. I wanted something warm and comforting, and the food definitely met that mark. The owner himself was the host, greeting people who came in the door (You have to go in the back door). We arrived a little early for our reservation, but several people were lingering over dessert, so we did have to wait. One pair of ladies, seeing us waiting on our way out the door called back, "It's worth the wait!" Yes, it was. The mushroom pasta was delicious, if a little under-salted. The veal saltimbocca was mouth-watering. We opted to go straight to the meal and not order appetizers, which was a good decision, because there was plenty of food. While we didn't have the same waiter visit our table twice, we never felt abandoned or ignored. Water glasses stayed full and everyone made sure we had everything we needed. My only regret is that I didn't save room for dessert.
(4)Maggie E.
The service was good, no complaints. The food took FOREVER and when it finally arrived was very overlooked. My scallops had this odd sour taste too. We will not be returning. Also, there was an ant on our table. Really? Gross.
(2)Jerry S.
Great place. Great food and awesome service. If you good fresh northern Italian from a 4 th generation family restaurant this is the place for you
(5)Lauren M.
What a disappointment. The restaurant is quite large - and besides me and my partner, there was literally only one other table that was occupied. That's it. On a holiday at 7:30 pm. The entire street outside is filled with restaurants, and the whole street that night was filled with people walking around, crowding other places, and sitting on the patios of other eateries. Not Portofino. Completely empty. The servers hovered constantly, staring at us from the side. Their attention was great, but only because there was no one else to serve. The food was unappetizing. I ordered a standard pasta - olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, pesto, and shrimp - which tasted like...nothing. No flavor. The shrimp were tiny and still had the veins in them. This dish was $20. I expect clean shrimp when I am paying double digits for pasta. My partner's gnocchi had decent flavor and texture, but could have easily been just as good from a frozen entree at any grocery store. In fact, we've had gnocchi from Trader Joe's - which is just as good, if not better. The atmosphere has potential, but was stifling and dated. It felt incredibly awkward sitting there under the watch of multiple servers constantly asking and inquiring about our experience. The owner sat down a few tables away, eating his dinner and reading the newspaper. We got out as quickly as we could, which wasn't hard considering our food LITERALLY came in 5 minutes - no joke. I ended up buying fast food from another place a few hours later because i was still hungry. I'd like to think this experience was an anomaly, but the fact that the neighborhood was so bustling, yet no one in Portofino, is telling. I do NOT recommend this restaurant unless they change their outdated, stale menu and find ways of getting more people into their establishment.
(2)Richard S.
We like supporting local family owned businesses and Potofino is one. We have eaten here a number of times and have never been disappointed. Wait staff is attentive and knowledgeable and on our most recent visit he told us he has been a waiter here for 28 years. I had veal piccata which was tender and cooked well. The side of vegetables served with the veal was an assortment of carrots, Brussels sprouts, summer squash and green beans and was cooked al-dente and delicious. The melon and prosciutto appetizer was a perfect blend of sweet melon and salty ham. My only disappointment was that the piccata did not have capers. The waiter said if I asked they would have added them (next time I 'll ask). My wife had the manicotti which was filled with spinach and ham as well as the ricotta cheese. She was happy with the flavor and quantity. She was disappointed in the bread which was nice and crusty on the outside but a little dry inside - we assumed it was sliced a while ago and dried out slightly. The limoncello dessert was delicious. We will return again.
(4)Troy S.
Fuggetaboutit...forgettable best describes this place. Extremely dated decor, sat in a basement that hasn't seen fresh paint (except to cover the water leaks) in 20 years. We were a party of 3 and we all agreed, nothing to yelp home about!
(2)Bill M.
Friday night with friends from out of town. Small cozy atmosphere. Excellent meal, pear salad, Rosemary lamb chops and dessert. Wine list is not extensive by any means, but adequate. Service was good. IMHO the dinner was a good value.
(4)Charles H.
Twas the night before HU's graduation, when all through the yard house Not a Bison was stirring, not even a mouse; Our family of 20 were hungry for an Italian fare, In hopes that our RSVP at Portofino would be there. The family were all nestled here and not in the Hampton Inn beds; While visions of pasta danced in their heads; The manager checked the schedule and said, We have no record of your RSVP With an astonished look the manager arose with such a mild clatter, And sprang up 20 chairs in a friendly heartbeat manner. Away we went to the table in a flash, Tore open our menus on-top of the table sash. The menu was plentiful with a variety of elegance and show, As it only took a minute to order the Omaggi Di Nettuno. The combination of lobster tail, shrimp, scallops w/fettuccine Was definitely an original family specialty. With the manager, taking our orders so lively and quick, He brought out delightful wine Merlot and Viognier in a moment's tick, A swirl there a swirl here, The wine was fresh....way fresher than dated beer. And then, twenty to thirty minutes later, I heard a noise, Of servers delivering our food with poise. The food was hot and authentic bringing joy to my face Especially when satisfied without a stomach ache. The manager consistently stopped by to verify our delight, To no one's surprise, there was not a fright. We all enjoyed the hospitality, And the night!
(4)Alice O.
My husband and I arranged a Group Dinner for 40 people following my brother's military burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. We could not have been more pleased with the food, service and atmosphere for this event. we were provided a private room and a quiet atmosphere in which to visit with friends and family. the owner, Richard Mitchell was pleasant and accommodated our every need. this was true even if we were 3000 miles away while making all of the arrangements.
(5)LouAnn A.
This restaurant never disappoints in its service, atmosphere, food! to include innovative and delicious daily specials. The chef just came by to say hello :-)
(5)Jon L.
Went here after a recruiting event at the campus of the near by ECPI University, Me and a couple of co-workers decided on italian for dinner and this place was recommended. It's a nice restaurant in the 'old school italian' way. The decor is very nice and well maintained. The staff is quite professional and accommodating. I had the Ciopinno which had shrimp, scallops, fresh fish, clams, mussels, and squid in a light tomato broth over capellini. It was very fresh and tasty, I learned the fish is actually cod. Parking can be a challenge.
(4)Ken C.
I started coming here in the 1980s and have been back several times since I moved from the area in 2000. It's great to know that Portofino continues to produce great food after 45 years. Owner and staff are great. Service was a bit slow and the decor is the same as when I first came here. They also have their own parking lot which makes it very convenient. Overall, a reliable restaurant with great Italian food.
(4)Harry R.
I was stuck in DC after the snowstorm and the hotel concierge suggested Portofino because it was nearby and they would pick us up! It was the owner himself who picked us up and brought us back to the hotel. That alone was worth it but the food was "down-home" Italian wonderfully prepared, beautifully presented and incredibly good. Table service was great. They were there but not hovering. It is a 42 year old family business that hasn't lost its family touch.
(5)Dave S.
Food was very good in this quaint family restaurant. I got the gnocchi which was served with a tasty tomato cream sauce. Decor was a bit dated, but about what you would expect for a family-owned restaurant that's been in business for 40+ years. Service was somewhat sporadic in between being left along for long periods then being approached multiple times in the span of ten minutes, but overall a nice experience.
(3)Carl M.
Excellent food and warm ambience. Service, we have been told, was uncharacteristically slow.
(4)Kelen F.
I would not recommend this place, unless they decide to cook fresh food. Nothing we ordered was tasty. The manicotti was even microwaved, and I burned my tongue....should I keep writing this review??? Please owners, you need to take a trip to Italy and taste real italian food... Sorry, not impressed at all.
(1)Consumer E.
Every time we come to Portofino's we have an enjoyable experience. There is so much thoughtfulness, seamlessness and warmth that is conveyed to the customer, we cannot help but think that this is probably the way all restaurants should be. The menu lists everything that you could ever want to eat at a fine Italian dining establishment. Then the specials are described by staff, who are all very knowledgeable, some have worked there 20+ years! In addition to that, they are very accommodating, when I asked for something different than what was offered, they made it even more delicious than I expected. For pictures and more about our dining experience, please visit our blog!
(5)Ashley M.
Delicious Soft Shell Crab Special!!! Huge crabs in a White Wine Sauce, very fresh. Others at the table had Traditional Lasagna, Clams in a light Marinara Sauce, Chicken & Asparagus in a specialty sauce as well as some other classics. Ambiance was alright, can't say it was the best. Service was good, waitstaff was attentive and often made sure we were pleased with our meals and good with drinks. Which seemed like the owner, he was always around to oversee guests were happy and personally greeted all tables. For 7 people, it was 35$ each. That's pretty good considering we all drank and had decent meals. When in DC, we'd definitely return.
(4)Kyle W.
Allow me to preface the review by saying we put this restaurant through their paces and they jumped through every hoop we put in front of them. My sister's graduation was about about a month ago. We had 20 or so people coming into town, and needed a restaurant that was close to the hotel, could seat everyone in our party, and wasn't absurdly expensive. My sister assured me she had reservations covered. It wasn't until the night before graduation that she alerted me to some dubious conversation she had with someone concerning the reservation. I didn't really pay attention to her story, but the next day, when the first wave of guests arrived at the Restaurant, the manager informed me that there was no reservation. Luckily, they had ample space for everyone and rapidly assembled a twenty top for us. For the rest of the night, the staff was attentive, friendly, and accommodating. For this reason alone, they deserve five stars. The food was only about 3 stars, in my opinion. I ordered the salmon special and the soup special appetizer. Neither of them knocked me out. Charles (a buddy of ours, his review is at yelp.com/list/all-things… ) had a plate that looked amazing. I tired to hit him with the okie doke "distract and gobble" but he wasn't having it. Luckily, Charles order a couple of of great bottles of wine, so I decided to let him keep his dinner. Overall, the restaurant is pleasant, and the staff is outstanding. I would go to this location simply to leave the staff a hefty tip after eating a mediocre meal.
(3)Gayle D.
Great Italian food. Our hotel concierge asked us to try it over the Olive Garden and we were pleasantly surprised. I'm glad we went and tried someplace different. I wasn't thrilled about the steps going in the place (my mother is in her 80s) and then another set going into another room and being seated by ourselves, but the service was good. The chicken picatta and veal special were delicious. Those sauces were very tasty.
(4)Jordan K.
Scenario - 730 on a Friday Night for a party of 20. Reservation confirmed the night prior. Arrived at location, no reservation! Host improvised and set up an area for all of us to seat and enjoy meal :) Service was 4 stars in my book as they were friendly and ensured our drinks were not below half. Only thing I hated was when the poured water, the spilled some drops on the table. I ordered the calamari for an app and it was pretty good, not all rubbery/overcooked. I also had the broiled salmon special and might I say it was delicious! The sauce it was served in was awesome. Fish it self was cooked perfectly. Everyone else in our party enjoyed their meals and the wine. Overall wonderful experience and great times at Portofino's!
(4)Robert M.
Spinach salad was not fresh. Pesto was not authentic. They did not use garlic or salt and they sprinkled pine nuts on the pesto pasta. Yu need to blend it. Hello?! Terrible!! The place needs a face lift too.
(2)Robin B.
We went shortly after dinner hour began. The restaurant was empty and we could see the reservation list. They had five reservations for the entire evening. Although we were only three adults, when the host found out we didn't have a reservation, he stomped off to ask the manager if we could be seated anyway. We eventually got seated and we finally got menus after the wait staff stood there and glowered at us for a while (because we didn't have a reservation to dine in an empty restaurant?). They also had to be loudly told by the manager to refill our drinks.I had the veal with spinach and it was totally drowned in balsamic vinegar. I rated it a 2 instead of a one because my dinner companions said the chicken Marsala and the shrimp dinner were fairly good. When we left, the one dining room was about half occupied. We noticed the people with reservations got much better treatment.
(2)Carl W.
Portofino was recommended by our hotel concierge. They worked in a table for seven even though the place was packed. Everyone was impressed with the quality, service and the portion sizes. My cannelloni was excellent! Unfortunately, I lost my receipt after returning home, but I called and the staff sent me a copy for my files even though my visit had been six weeks ago. Now, that's total customer service.
(5)Jessica R.
Amazing restaurant! Great food- my group got lasagna, salmon, and fettuccine Alfredo. All was great, but salmon and fettuccine were the best!! I'm giving this place 5 stars though because of the service. Went here when there was a snow storm going on and when the owner called to get us a taxi it was an hour wait so he drove us back to our hotel in his own personal car!! Great family owned restaurant that has been around for 44 years. Highly recommend!!!!
(5)Carey S.
Early on a Saturday evening, no problem with a walk-in for two guests. And it was Happy Hour, so the entire wine list was half price! Score! The service was great, a small language barrier with the host who seated us and explained the specials, but we worked through it. Waiter was excellent, attentive and polite. We ordered an appetizer and a salad to share. The Gazpacho was outstanding and the fresh Asparagus Salad with Heirloom Cherry tomatoes was also excellent. Both entrees were extremely good, the Omaggi di Nettuno (Shrimp, Lobster and Scallops over Pasta with Brandy Cream Sauce) and a Pasta Special with Italian Sausage and Spinach over Cavatelli. Dessert was the best part, despite what some reviewers have said: Coconut Gelato over Zabaglione with Fresh Berries, and a Tortulo rolled in Cocoa with Zabaglione and Macadamia Nuts. Highly recommend Portofino, my new favorite restaurant in the DC area.
(5)Jose H.
A lot of mixed reviews about this place luckily I went with the good half of the reviews this place was great I had the chicken portofino their signature dish it came with soup or salad I picked the Caesar salad it was great and a soda for $30 a lil steep but I can always do olive garden back home in Cali we don't have good Italian places the waiters and manager were very friendly
(5)Kasey A.
I threw away $85 at this place! I asked the 5-star hotel concierge for romantic Italian after a long week of working. I grabbed my wife, took the metro, walked a 1/2 mile, when we got inside. It looked nice and quiet where there were 5 couples in the main dim lit dining room with A/C, but we were escorted to the bright humid back room. We were the only ones in there. All the wine is excessively overpriced. A $15 store bottle was $45 here. When we selected a bottle we never had, the waiter tried to push a more expense crappy bottle we were familiar with. By the time the stale bread arrived they started sliding tables together, and the next thing we knew, we were in the center of 2 groups with 20 people in each group. Are you kidding me. Really? When the food arrive, I ordered the lasagna. There was nothing special about, the meat sauce was bland, and nothing to write home about. My wife had the cannelloni with veal. Veal was dry, the sauce had a film on top, and there was something red that the owner called a large bay leaf. Unfortunately when my wife bit into it, the texture wasn't that of a leaf. What a disappointment, and informed the hotel that it didn't live up to their expectations. Go down Crystal Drive for a better selection of restaurants. Wish we did.
(1)Jeff C.
I would say average for this price range. Friendly attentive staff but average food. I had the linguini.
(3)Britt L.
The service here was great. However, the food was bland and tasteless. My friend ordered the Lasagna and I had the fetuccine alfredo. Both dishes were horrible. The ingredients were not fresh and everything tasted as if it had been frozen and reheated.
(2)Greg B.
We arrived less than 30 minutes before they closed, but they served us without complaint. The food and service was excellent, particularly the minestrone soup and gnocchi. We had to skip dessert because the chef had left by that time. I heartily recommend this restaurant. The entrance is in the back. Although the dining room ambiance is upscale, they let in some slob wearing jeans and a tshirt. That's a good sign, particularly since that slob was me.
(4)Ruben Z.
My group had a very enjoyable meal. The dinner - chicken special was excellent and the service was very attentive. The owner stopped at our table to make sure we were pleased with our meal. I opened Yelp app while there and received a reward for a free glass of wine. They gladly accepted the reward. I will go back again.
(4)Dustin M.
Not at all what I expected based on the reviews. Had their special fresh mozzarella eggplant prosciutto appetizer. It was awful and it's pretty hard to mess up a meat and cheese dish! After the appetizer we decided to move next door for dinner
(2)Sarah P.
I was so pleased with the service we received at Portofino. The waitstaff was very attentive and the food was out-of-this-world! I ordered the butternut squash ravioli with shrimp and the ravioli melted in my mouth. It is the BEST butternut squash ravioli I have ever had! The staff accommodated the request of a special dish for my child and even helped avert disaster when we thought we had ordered the wrong dessert. They were so cool!
(5)Vicky F.
We recently ate at The Portofino restaurant on a Tuesday night. Our party of three very casually dressed (jeans and t-shirts) 40 something adults was seated immediately without reservations. Upon our arrival, the clientele in the restaurant was all over 60 and impeccably dressed. After we were seated (about 645) the clientele was more mixed with a casually dressed family with children, a young well dressed couple with something to celebrate and even more dressed to the nines elderly diners. Overall it was a fairly mixed clientele. As for the decor, I agree with the some of the reviewers that it DEFINITELY needs updating. The decor is more "tired and dingy" than "authentic Italian". Also, the service we received was odd. We had a waitress and a waiter. Our waiter was very friendly and answered our questions about the menu knowledgeably and was able to make astute recommendations. Our waitress, on the other hand, did not seem familiar with the menu and had no clue how to answer the questions we asked. Where the waiter was friendly and cracking jokes, the waitress was sullen and seemed to want to be anywhere other than work on that particular Tuesday night. As far as our food was concerned, I must say we did enjoy the bread served to our table. It was fresh and chewy as you would expect a good Italian bread to be. We did not do any appetizers, but did do entrees and dessert. My husband had the TORTELLINI AL SUO PIACERE with Alfredo sauce. He said it was tasty, but slightly overdone. His coworker had the GNOCCHI ALLA "PORTOFINO". He said it was delicious. It was his first time trying gnocchi (he's British) so he could not testify to how well the dish was cooked. I had the POLLO PORTIFINO upon the recommendation of our server. It was the better choice of the three entrees ordered. The only downside to it was the sauce looked unappetizing due to a slight glazing (?) of the surface. It did not affect the taste at all. The vegetables were crisp tender, the sauce was delicious (if visually unappealing) and the chicken was really good. My husband and I followed with the chocolate bread pudding with bourbon sauce, which was the dessert special. It was good but VERY heavy. It would have been better to order just one and share it. Much too heavy to eat by one's self! Our dinner companion had the custard dessert. It was a much more appropriate portion for one diner to enjoy. He said the flavors were nice and he enjoyed it overall. It was the more visually appealing of the desserts, but I think the bread pudding won out on taste. Overall, our experience was good and we would go back. The experience could be PHENOMENAL with a decorative overhaul and better educated staff. If the waitress had been our only server, our experience would have been a disaster. Our total ticket (with 3 entrees, 1/2 bottle of wine, and 3 desserts) including tax and 20% tip was $121.
(4)Kevin M.
Fantastic restaurant! My wife and I were walking around Crystal City last night on a spontaneous date, and thought we'd try Portofino for some simple appetizer and dessert. They were friendly and accommodating, which is always a plus. But the food was the best part! We got the stuffed portobello mushroom, mozzarella & tomato salad and a pumpkin cheesecake, and they were all just phenomenal. Without question, the best cheesecake I've ever had. Not too heavy, not too tart... just incredible. So if you want a nice, quiet and / or romantic Italian restaurant for a night out, go to Portofino's. Your mouth with thank you. :)
(5)Jimmy V.
The food was OK. I've had better but I've also had worse. However the prices seemed high, more reflective of the restaurant's decor and history than the quality of the food. They did my veal very well which is something I've learned is not always the case. I would certainly eat there again but I would not make it a regular occurance.
(3)J. W.
Meh. If Portofino didn't try to market itself as a fine dining restaurant it'd probably get 4 stars. The food is good but doesn't exactly blow you away. The ambiance and decor doesn't exactly fit the bill either. I'd say go here for a quick family meal or when your grandmother is in town, but head out to DC or Old Town if you want out for a fancy suit and tie type dinner.
(3)Judith M.
My friends and family have been to this restaurant a number of times and each time we keep saying we will "give it one more try". This was the last time to be sure. It's just not worth the time, expense or effort. First of all, the room was extremely hot on a day that it was 99 and the restaurant owner said he had the room set at 77 and everyone was complaining. One waiter was chewing on his serving napkin which he later used to serve a patron then he wiped his mouth with the same napkin. Obviously some training is in order or perhaps a health department visit could help. We were told they have a big turn over of staff and half don't understand what you are saying or ordering. Secondly, regarding the food - we sent the bread back because it was stale and hard as a rock and the waiter told us they only got fresh bread 3 times a week now because they are having trouble. When we told that to the owner he got very upset. Then when we ordered the calamare it was chewy and cold. When the veal marsala came it was also cold and the sauce was watery and my entree of pasta was also cold and both had to be sent back. The owner came over and while he took back the entrees for reheating he spoke to us in a patronizing tone like the whole experience was somehow our fault. While the owner keeps bragging about the "generations" this restaurant has been in business, sadly it may end with this generation since, in our opinion, the service is just passing, the food is mediocre and the decor is tired and worn. While the place does have some die hard oldtimers that keep coming back, it won't be enough to save this place. Too bad the owner pays more attention to making excuses than improving what is wrong.
(1)Steve M.
A group of coworkers and I went here for dinner tonight. The service was prompt and typical "italian" in that it was mostly men, who rattled off amazing sounding specials from memory. They were strongly opinionated in their recommendations, and pushed their favorites. We ordered gnocci and squash blossoms to start. I liked the gnocci much better than the squash blossoms, although both were very good. Accompanying our entire meal were 2 bottles of a Dolce d' Alba, which was delicious. I've never sent a bottle back before, but the second bottle we ordered had actually turned bad. The waitstaff was courteous, and replaced it with another bottle without protest. For my main, I ordered the bistecca ala portofino, which came medium-rare, and in a pepe verde sauce that rivaled the best i've ever had (which was at Acqua al Due, in Florence). Not quite as amazing, but damn close. All in all, great meal. Highly recommended.
(4)Paul S.
Absolutely the best Italian restaurant in the Washington area. Menu by Dante. Waiters by Pavarotti. Service by Lampandusa. Atmosphere by Virgil. If you can't go to Italy, go to The Portofino and have the linguini with clam sauce with a touch of grappa. Enjoy.
(5)Kym L.
I was hoping for a cozy Italian diner...that....is not what I got. My party of four went in and were immediately asked if we had reservations. I thought it was a bit odd, as it was about 5pm and there was no one in line - but, we said no and were still seated immediately. As I suspected... there was plenty of room - and I think the guy was trying to passive aggressively insult us with the whole reservation thing. We were all dressed very casually, and going inside it did look like everyone was a bit fancier than I was expecting. And like everyone was a LOT older than I was expecting. So - first impression... not lovin' it. But, whatever, I thought it would just be a good meal with the early bird crew staring us down in our jeans and tee's. Not so much... My entree gave me some serious heartburn and tasted like acid. It was chicken and mushrooms in cream sauce. We had 4 different servers throughout the meal, none of whom seemed particularly interested in helping us and one who actually spit on one of us while he was talking. It was... not cool. To top it off, the place was way overpriced. Oh well, we always get a chuckle out of it when someone jokingly answers "Portofino!" when wondering about dinner possibilities. Memorable experience, for all the wrong reasons. Never again.
(1)Andy O.
An excellent choice among the various eateries in on this street. I along with my wife and in-laws really enjoyed the atmosphere, the very friendly wait staff and good food. The mussels for an appetizer, and the gnocchi and veal entrees were especially good. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting in the area and would like a great place to sit-down, have a glass of wine, and relax while enjoying your dinner.
(4)Amber A.
I came here with a very large (probably about 20 people) group and no reservation, and the staff took great care of us. They have a large room that can easily accommodate large groups (though I would NOT advise our no-reservation walk-in, as a general rule). Waitstaff was very friendly. Food was good. Nothing amazing, but certainly not disappointing, either. I do think it was a bit overpriced, though.
(4)Jerry W.
I went to Portofino for a retirement luncheon with a group of at least 30 people. The restaurant staff were all very friendly and quick. I ordered the lasagne, and also had a small salad and canoli. The salad was super oily, the lasagne was messy with watery sauce and the canoli was bland. These all seem like very basic dishes that you could never go wrong with at any Italian restaurant, but Portofino just missed the mark on every level. As I said earlier, i was with a very large group, so I'm giving 3 stars instead of 2 because of the quick and friendly service.
(3)Jon W.
I finally found a good mid-priced Italian Restaurant in the DC area!! I had a fantastic meal here tonight with about 20 other associates: the special Gorgonzola pear and Walnut salad $7.00, Goat Cheese and special Lobster Ravioli for 16.95, and Mortti Beer and a premium glass of Chianti to wash it down. I also ate the left over Cabonara my friend had. All was fantastic. I resisted the desert and coffee menu. (There are only so many calories a pre dinner four mile run can hide..and it will be beach weather soon!!) The long desert menu looked great though and the selection of Coffees and liquors looked memorable. My own meal came to 43.70 with tax but without tip. Not a bargain price, but a fair one and a lot cheaper than Philomena's in Georgetown but the same high quality. Bello mangare
(5)Chuck C.
I love Italian food, I'm half Italian myself and it part my me. I'm always looking for good Italian food where ever I go. Portofino is an OK place with good food. The wait staff are Italian for the most part and helpful. The place has an old school charm about it. It is quite, reserved and seems a bit stuffy for me. I think Italian food is all about the joy of food wine and good friends, and should be happy place not quite, reserved and seems a bit stuffy. But that is just me, please the food is good so try it! Remember to eat well and live well and please no chains!
(3)Julie V.
After going to 2 restaurants and not finding either one even close to dining worthy, we came to Portofinos and from the very moment of walking in, decided it would be a great experience. The service was great, the food amazing (one of the specials of the night, and two regular menu items) and the ambiance was the perfect end to the day. It's a shame we're here on vacation, would definitely come back for seconds, thirds, and fourths.
(4)John M.
Wonderful meals. We had the specials--veal and salmon. Outstanding. Great service. You will not be disappointed if you eat at Portofino's in Crystal City.
(4)Pumpkin S.
Hmmm... not sure where to start. The service was decent. The decor was the kind that reminded you of your grandma's attic... and accordingly, the only people there for dinner besides us that night were people our grandparents' age. Anyway, there was the bread, then the pasta, and then the complimentary gelato (per the coupon you can print out from the Yelp page). The bread... it had a good flavor, but it was cold and definitely not freshly baked or warmed up. It wasn't stale and had a chewy consistency, but it lacked color and seemed like it might have been mass-produced and preserved. The pasta was... odd. The pesto sauce was fine, but the pasta definitely tasted like it came out of a box (supermarket brand pasta that you buy for $1.99, except that it was more expertly and evenly cooked... didn't have the al dente texture and was strangely smooth). I regretted getting the complimentary "gelato" for dessert. It was a low-grade vanilla ice cream with a bunch of cherries blended into it. It was as if I bought some crappy vanilla ice cream, threw sugary cherry slices in it, and stirred it around. The flavors didn't mesh, the consistency was questionable, and it just didn't taste good. I won't be coming back.
(2)G Z.
Excellent meal. Mike greeted us up front. Excellent service, food and value for the money. Had the osso bucco special -it was excellent. Highly recommend.
(4)Paul P.
I enjoyed my meal very much. I had the cream of crab soup and a veal dish with a white wine sauce with mushrooms. I couldn't get enough of the Delicious sauces. After finishing the dish, I kept dipping bread into the leftover sauce. I was grateful that they took the plate away...maybe a bit sad. The house wine was good. And contrary to other reviews, the service was attentative. To end the meal I am enjoying the tortone fantasia and cappuccino. Fancy atmosphere, but casual attire accepted (I'm wearing shorts and flip-flops). Good place for a date, business meal or if you are just hungry for good northern Italian food.
(4)Dave S.
This is a good Italian place. The food is good, as is the service.
(4)jackie s.
Outstanding Italian food, service, and prices! Richard, the owner is fantastic and truly makes you feel at home in his restaurant. Try the fettuccine alfredo (with chicken) it is amazing buttery goodness in a dish! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant to anyone in the DC/VA/MD area looking for a quality Italian restaurant.
(5)Lindsay G.
I dunno where the people who liked this place ate.. but it was NOT the place I ate last night. For some reason, to me, Italian food needs to be presented well and the bread at the beginning of the meal needs to be good. Italian food is hard to mess up, so the flavor follows. This place failed on all accounts, presentation, the bread, AND the flavor. My gosh how can you mess up chicken in a citrus-butter-caper sauce over veggies. I'll tell you how. Microwave the whole darn thing. That's what this not only looked like, but tasted like. I had to look around me to remind myself I wasn't in a 747 somewhere over the Atlantic. Awful. Not to mention the place was quite pretentious feeling. Not my style. The wait staff was awesome though, very friendly and entertaining, and poured nice big glasses of wine. Oh and the gelato and hazelnut liquor dessert.. totally awesome. But come on, if they had messed up that one I would have demanded a refund. So far, Italian on 23rd st. has been less than edible.
(1)Lori S.
I didn't have the same experience as Jon W but maybe it was just the dish I ordered. I had linguine with tomato sauce, scallops, calamari, shrimp, mussels and clams. I didn't finish the dish, which is odd for me. The seafood was overcooked and very soft/gummy/not fresh. The wine list was very reasonably priced but I was not tempted to stay for more than one glass. Overall, if I am going for Italian out there, Cafe Italia is better....otherwise I would take the time to go into the city.
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