Cafe Portofino

Review summary

1. E

   Elinor

   Greater Boston

   56 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   56 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   Things got off to a bad start at Cafe Portofino for us! After sitting at our table for 15 minutes without being approached by a server, we got up and began to leave. When we got to the host station, he pleaded with us to stay and promised prompt attention, so we returned to our table. A waiter did arrive quickly, but was poorly able to answer questions about menu items as he had just started working there i few weeks earlier. When we received the bread basket, there were four small pieces of supermarket quality baguette and if we wanted more - God knows why we would! - the menu informs that there will be a $5 charge! The salad with portobello mushrooms was decent, although the crostini that came with it were soggy. The Fruite de Mare appetizer was actually excellent and good sized for the price. Ravioli were very disappointing. The suave was quite bland and the ravioli seemed extremely commercial. All in all, not the meal we had expected!
   

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2. T

   Thomas

   New York City

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 3, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   very pleasant dining experience, good food, good wine selection, attentive service, reasonable prices for the location
   

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3. M

   Mark

   Orange County

   9 reviews

   4.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on November 29, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner. The food was good but the service was great. Ambience sitting on the patio looking out at the ocean was outstanding.
   

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4. K

   Kristen

   Dallas

   4 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on November 26, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   Missing ingredients on the salad, Verne sauce is now brown gravy. Service very sub par
   

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5. M

   Mary

   Orange County

   29 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   29 reviews

   Dined on November 24, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   The Dover sole was excellent and the Diavlo seafood linguine was perfectly spiced and loaded with fish and seafood. Can’t beat the view either.
   

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6. J

   Jack

   Minneapolis

   25 reviews

   5.0

   25 reviews

   Dined on November 21, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We were greeted by Giuseppe the owner who seated us at a table with a spectacular view of the ocean and the mountains. We started with perfect Mai Tais. The bread was delicious a dipped in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar in the unique dispenser for both. We split a beet and Gorgonzola walnut salad and had a wonderful Italian red wine called Zacagnini Montepulcian. So smooth and full bodied! I had Seafood Diavalo which was linguine and seafood in a light red sauce. Big hunk of lobster and calimari, shrimp, clams and fresh fish. My wife had melt in your mouth ossobucco. Wow! Dessert was profiteroles which are tiny cream puffs filled with gelato and drizzled with Belgian chocolate with decaf cappuccino. Incredible meal!! Definitely a repeat visit in our future!!
   

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7. A

   Aline

   San Francisco

   32 reviews

   4.0

   32 reviews

   Dined on November 18, 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Food was excellent. Our server was very good, too--kind, friendly, attentive--but she had so much to do, our service was slow. I had made a reservation a week ahead and confirmed via email the day before, but there were no tables in the outdoor area, so we were seated at a table next the bar with all the waitstaff walking back and forth past us to and from the kitchen. If we had been "drop-ins," I would have been fine with that, but I'd made a reservation and at the host desk had been told there were no tables, so they didn't reserve one for me and that didn't seem right. That said, the food was wonderful, which is why we came in the first place.
   

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8. P

   Patricia

   Seattle

   8 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on November 16, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had a lovely dinner. The Caesar salad was fresh & the escargot in the shells were a delight. My lamb was delicious & the filet perfectly prepared. Our waiter was friendly & had helpful wine & dinner suggestions. It was the perfect ending to our Kauai vacation & one of our favorite places on the island.
   

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9. A

   Allen

   San Francisco

   9 reviews

   5.0

   9 reviews

   Dined on November 12, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food was great. Lovely setting and great service!
   

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10. W

    William

    New York City

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Portofino is one of our favorite places to dine on the island of Kauai. It has it all. Ambiance, excellent food and very friendly staff. On some nights they have live music. The harpist is amazing! Señor Giuseppe takes pride in his customer service and every aspect of his restaurant to provide you with a memorable experience!
    

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