Outdoor seating
Yes
Portofino Restaurant in Bronx
Categories
Location on the map
Bronx, Bronx County, New York, US
Service options
Kerbside pickup
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Mask required
Yes
Temperature check required
Yes
Staff wear masks
Yes
Staff get temperature checks
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great coffee
Yes
Great dessert
Yes
Live music
Yes
Rooftop seating
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Happy-hour drinks
Yes
Happy-hour food
Yes
Healthy options
Yes
Kids' menu
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Catering
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Bar on site
Yes
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Upmarket
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended
Yes
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Payments
Debit cards
Yes
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 718-885-1220
Site: https://portofinoontheisland.com/
Site: https://portofinoontheisland.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:11AM–12AM
- Tuesday:11AM–12AM
- Wednesday:11AM–12AM
- Thursday:11AM–12AM
- Friday:11AM–12AM
- Saturday:11AM–1AM
- Sunday:11AM–12AM
Portofino Restaurant in other cities:
Comments (199)
The food was good. Service was not. They said they were not prepared or properly staffed for the influx of people who dined that day. They ran out of rolls and served regular bread not toasted.
I liked it! Spacious, the food was good. The service was good. It looks like a good family restaurant. I would definitely go back again. There is a bar as you enter, there is a private dining/catering area. The prices are good. There is plenty of free parking. Please note that good gets 4 stars, it has to be great for the 5 star rating.
Great dining experience, our waiter Benny made sure we were all well taken care for while we dined. The food was tasty we had the hot antipasto appetizer followed by the skirt teak with arugula salad. We dined outdoors, and had front view sitting over looking the Marina. I Will be putting this restaurant on my favorite places to visit. Cant wait to go back on a night where the jazz band is playing. Thanks for a very memorable evening.
The staff here is really great, very very family oriented and welcoming. Its hard to find good service now and they really do an excellent job without also being overbearing. The food was divine and the atmosphere beautiful. Definitely recommend.
Top notch! My uncle and I decided to go here because of their Groupon discount and we would happily come back and pay full price next time.We started off with some bread...a wonderful soft loaf with a thin and crunchy crust. The olive oil was infused with rosemary which was beautifully aromatic. Next was our hot antipasto appetizer accompanied by the Portofino Salad. YUMMMM! The dressing was light and clean and refreshing while the hot antipasto appetizer was savory and deep.Our lobster tail and sirloin steak were as close to perfect as you can get....falling out of the shell and cutting like butter, respectively.Then the dessert was a fantastically fluffy tirimisu accompanied by their homemade dessert drinks: grappa and lemon cello.Everything was tipped off with this wonderful Merlot... Casa de Toro I believe.Our evening at Portofino was amazing. The music was not too loud and our waiters: Val, Antonio, and Enis were on their game. Such a sweet and accommodating team. Honestly, Id be alright having my wedding here. It was awesome!
Very pleased with this restuarant. Its family owned/operated and they are all very kind. The owner is extremely accommodating and a great host. The food, ambiance, and location are awesome if youre looking to eat with a great view on the water. A MUST try if youre on City Island!
The food was outstanding. Best Oysters Rockefeller Ive ever had.
We actually stumbled upon this place from Groupon. It was an amazing deal: Appetizer, 2 entrees, dessert and a bottle of wine for $99.Although we went during the off season, the staff was extremely attentive and polite. The service was amazing. They even gave us a complimentary after dinner drink. Everything so so good.The reason why I would give them a 4 stars is the way they prepared their steak. We asked for medium steaks, and most of it came out as well done as well as the lobster tail. The food still tasted great but that was the only negative part.
Food and atmosphere was amazing, will definitely return. The staff took great care if us
We had dinner for my sister in law here and we had such an amazing time. The food and drinks were good, I expected the calamari to be a bit fresher but that may just be me. Our server was amazing we were a big group so I know that can be a lot sometimes. I believe I had the seafood linguine it was divine.
A bit over priced and the food isn’t anything extraordinary. But the service is good and the view is what you’re really paying for. The decoration is very nice. If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a special occasion (and are willing to adjust your food expectations for what you pay) this place is probably the best bet in city island.
Great service servings are a bit small for the price but the food is and drinks were good.
Fantastic dining I had a few great times there very elagentThe staff is super great
Phenomenal view, great staff and tasty food definitely worth visiting on city island
We went for the heated outdoor dining. The heaters were very warm. I was able to sit outside in a short sleeve shirt and I wasnt cold. The tiramisu was good. Everything else was blah. The appetizers and the entrees was extremely salty. My friend and I ordered different things and everything was salty. We left more than half the food on the plate because it was inedible. Though they did not take anything of the bill, they offered us free cordials.
I don;t do reviews. Fathers Day 2021.Party of 7. first visit.service here was horrible.staff went from slow service to NO SERVICE to INSULT. first off we had to request 4 additional place settings despite advance reservation.and confirmation before our15 min. wait for our table prep.2 different waitresses.1 took drink orders (25 min wait). then 2nd waitress took appetizer orders.i asked for lobster bisque she said they didnt have any,i asked for soup of the day.she replied we dont have any soup because ITS TOO HOT FOR SOUP Really? no clams or oysters. no crabs legs, no flounder.we were served a few orders of mussels( 6 per) in white wine and a couple of the most tired shrimp cocktails ive seen served in a restaurant.(sorry we were all so bummed no one took pix).our wait staff vanished and 40 mins later ( havind NO FOOD served to us) i got the attention of a passing wait person who offered to take our orders AGAIN?? we requested a manager and 10 minutes later a young man came over and in a rude and patronizing demeanor offered free drinks if we would stay.NO APOLOGY WHATSOEVER. we declined. he returned with a S176.00 check slapped it on the table, (still no apology) to group of retired vets, nypd and postal retirees. this could have been a one off but this place was TERRIBLE. mediocre appetizers (all we got to eat). rude, unprofessional waitstaff and horrible management. my worst restaurant experience ever.DONT WASTE TIME OR MONEY on just a nice view. Be especially mindful if youre black
Hey Gcritics, heres a humble review on Portofino, located City Island by the waterside in the Bronx. If I could solely review hospitality, I would give it 4 stars. It seems to be a sweet, Albanian, family owned Italian-seafood restaurant, with a queer eye to 1950s Italian decor versus outdoor Sicily inspired patio. In short, if its a nice day, seat with the Patio unless perhaps youre into that haunted hotel-Shining-vibe. The service in my opinion is excellent, though I visited off-peak on a rainy day some Friday afternoon. The food, very little to be desired. The bread was indeed room temperature, though fresh enough to pass, the bruschetta was hit or miss, and the calamari, rubbery. My entree was the risotto, which came highly recommended. Unfortunately I found it to be quite enriched in truffle oil which took away from the dish. To finish, I ordered a slice of cheesecake, nothing spectacular, very run of the mill if you have a sweet tooth but honestly you would do just as well if not better at a simpler establishment in this case. And personal note- if you need to use the restroom, go with the ladies. The Mens room has a strong scent of cesspool, no way. no how. Good luck
We had a large group, there was a lot of parking and we sat outside The staff was nice and they have a nice outdoor patio.The issues I had began with the tip which is suggested in the bill; it was $200.00. Im normally ok with a large tip but the food wasnt great.The crab cakes are trash. They were made with fake crab and sweet potato, the stuffed shrimps or shrimp Portofino was whole shrimps packed with that same fake crab and sweet potato mixture. Also the mixed drinks were weak. The fried calamari was more like sauteed.The Sangrias red and white were great and had a decent amount of alcohol in them. The bread and olive was yummy and so was the bruschetta.In all I have no desire to go back.
Great service and a beautiful patio experience. The food was tasty. They dont have an extensive seafood menu, as most of the City Island restaurants, but that is a great change. They are a standout restaurant! Loved them and will definitely return.
Went for lunch on my birthday. It was the worst experience Ive ever had at any restaurant in City Island. There were hardly any people there about 4 tables had families, the food was horrible cold, salad was wilted, the pina colada in a coconut cup was a chunk of ice with some liquor, and colada mix...awful....No bread was placed at the table. OMG...the coffee was cold. My daughters order salads I order a meal and the one pina colada. the bill was $150. Okay, but for what? Really the service was awful, the food even worst. Lol, you get better service and food at the end of the strip. will not recommend this place at all. FYI the only positive thing from the whole experience was the view.
The outdoor dining area was nice, though it seemed a bit confused as to whether to use outdoor patio chairs or indoor leather chairs.The place seemed like it was trying to be upscale but just didnt really have the money to do it.This is the first time I was given Corelle plates(with the graphics partially faded) to dine with. Dont get me wrong I have nothing against that, I just found it peculiar.The food was a bit, meh. They were out of the King Crab Legs when I ordered it, so I ordered their special (Lobster Linguini) which basically had all of their seafood (lobster, clams, mussels, shrimp, and calamari) thrown on top of a plate of linguini with some red sauce. It reminded me of Paella, but instead of rice it was pasta.When it came to dessert, they were also out of Tiramisu, so I ordered their chocolate mousse cake and a cappuccino. The cake did not disappoint; I enjoyed it thoroughly.The cappuccino was a quite bitter.As a former barista, it reminded me of how espresso tastes when you dont clean the machine regularly.The price for the quality of food is a bit too high.Sadly this isnt a place Ill frequent for food, even though it has a nice waterside view.
Beautiful restaurant in City Island,perfect getaway,I loved it!
Omg such a nice place and their services is Soo great.I celebrated my birthday there today 02/20/2018.I love their food. My friends and i had a great time. I will go there again
Very pretty, clean and nice place..... the food was amazing!! My family took me for my birthday and it was awesome.
I traveled from Pennsylvania for a 6:30 dinner reservation that my mother made weeks in advance. When we arrived we were told that there was a private party at 7 and were turned away. The only solution was putting us in a private room where we would not be served for 2 hours!(they told us this after about 10 minutes of us trying to figure something out and not being helpful) My mom even confirmed the reservation with a hostess, Valentina earlier today!! Very displeased with this experience. During the pandemic where people have to move heaven and earth to make it places I would have appreciated better communication on the restaurants part. Will never return and I guess make sure your reservation is ACTUALLY actually valid before you drive out to city island for this spot
I wish I could give this place a zero star rating for the managers overall behavior, but I am going to stay with ⭐ (1) for my overall experience & her unprofessionalism. Starting with the poor quality italian food being served. Unacceptable for a family-owned business. The only item I enjoyed beside the cocktails was the Burrata e prosciutto di parma with the caprese. Excellent choice but Be warned that the manager will try to take advantage of your patronage, by berating you for not enjoying the rest of food and sending it back. I left there hungry but not thirsty. Never leaving Long Island again to go to City Island to eat trashy food.
OMG! The Service was Excellent! The food was delish! Not your typical city island food! Real Italian cuisine and flavor. My server was so accommodating, pleasant and great photographer . It wasnt busy so we got first class treatment. But the ambiance and decor were breath taking. I cant wait to go back.
SERVICE WAS THE POOREST I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. It took us about 25 minutes to get seated. We were placed to wait in a corner on stools that felt very unsafe. No one handed us a drink or food menu so we can peruse while we waited. The wait staff was young and inexperienced. Waited for about 10 minutes after being seated before we had to stop a staff to ask for our server. When he finally arrived he brought out cold, stale bread. When asked if we can have warm fresh bread we were told he wont be able to warm anything to bring out on the deck as there were too many patrons outside. Im still unclear as to what relevance that had on my request. We ordered crab cakes and baked clams. Crab cake had the consistency of pudding. Overall the food, service and ambiance was poor. I would never recommend this restaurant.
The food was good and the location was great with a large deck. The staff were attentive and friendly. A great place to go with family and friends.
The food was great. My meal was a little too salty but my partners lobster was perfect. Service could have been a little better but the staff was very friendly none the less.
I had a lovely dinner here with a bunch of my work colleagues and the service we received, especially from the owners family, was superior! I had the surf and turf and it was excellent, the lobster tail was very fresh. My boyfriend doesn’t eat seafood but he quite enjoyed the mushroom risotto.
Strong recommendation to stay away... Read the reviews and thought I try to make the hike and try it out. There were one other guest in the patio so I ask the waiter if the food will take long as we had limited time. He said that it would be fine as there were no other guests. Then shortly after, another waitress comes to take our order. Some 15-20 min into our waiting, 5-6 of friends of the waitress (same waitress who took our order) came and the waitress decides to sit with their friends and have cocktails and really enjoy the time. NOT TO MENTION THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHERE HUGGING, KISSING, HOLDING HANDS WITHOUT MASKS AND NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING. I had mentioned to another waiter (because my waitress is having too much fun drinking cocktails) that I had limited time but did get a response hopefully soon. So after waiting for 50 minutes, we decided to just leave. Its unfortunate as the restaurant look like they can cook decent food (based on other reviews).
This place hasn’t been redecorated since ‘92. The $46 Surf and Turf was so overcooked I nearly broke a tooth. You can tell most of the food is frozen. I’m thinking the pandemic ruined this place, but maybe it was this way before? Not sure. Anyway, the waitress was nice and the Portofino Punch was awesome. Otherwise, going here is a complete waste of money. Don’t waste your night, go somewhere else.
Great view of watered area but the bar & kitchen service lacked. I ordered a strawberry mojito-yet-I received a lime mojito, I ordered spaghetti noodle, yet I received linguine noodle:( failed in both departments. Lamp chops not fresh in taste-bland.
We actually stumbled into this place after walking out of a neighboring restaurant because of the smell and rude employees... SO HAPPY WE DID!!! EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING!! THE VIEW .. THE FOOD.. THE SERVICE .. the moment we walked in we felt like family ... Katrina was soooo sweet ... knowledgeable and funny ..she was very engaging.. introduced us to her family who proudly owns the restaurant... from food to Covid restrictions.. it is evident that they have gone above and beyond to insure amazing quality and an amazing experience.. we walked away full and sooo happy to have found our new city island spot... we thank you so much and can’t wait to come back ..
Great place! The view, the food, very friendly and caring service.
I originally came here about two years ago with a Groupon offer. I was blown away. I cant tell you how much I love this restaurant and now we always come back as regular customers. Its 100% family owned, they all work there and they make you feel like family. The food is excellent, the prices are better or comparable to other restaurants in the area but the quality of the food is what separates them. Ive been to several restaurants on city island and Portofino always comes out on top. This is our go to restaurant now for nights out and I honestly cant recommend them enough.
I haven’t been there in years but last night my husband and I had dinner on their outdoor heated deck and the food was just amazing.. I had a special order that wasn’t on the menu and they made it with no problem for me and I was blown away. We have made this our new spot. See you guys soon!
Always a great time there, food, service, and especially Val!!!! She is handsome down amazing. My Husband and I have been there atleast 5 times this summer.
Like I said before about this restaurant...great food and view! But the reason for the 1 star being left out was because our waitress noticed we ordered a 30$ bottle of wine and started to tell a waiter to tell who ever is in charge to change the prices already! Then she continued to tell the waiter that the bottle we ordered should be 40$ right in front of me and my husband! Very unprofessional.
Portofino is a wonderful restaurant to dine in. The service is impeccable and the views on the marina are stunning. My friends and I love sitting outside overlooking the waterfront as we enjoy our cocktails. The food is amazing especially their lobster raviolis. Delicious always.
Excellent Family style restaurant, outstanding food!!!
Food amazing! First time and we really loved the FOOD. However the service needs some work! I don’t think your employees should judge people by their clothes or race! We were treated not like the upper class and white people would get treated but it’s fine as long as we know we have money and can pay for whatever we want I’m okay with that! I did have to give my review
Great food and good customer service 🤗
Delicious food 😋 and Great Service👏!And very nice outside view! 🌞
Amazing restaurant. Very nice staff and service. Great food..
Great place to be on City island. Food and patio are a plus. The staff and server buzz was very helpful with our orders. Definitely will be coming again.
Food was all right but nothing special. Prices are high. View is very good. Portion size was smaller than in other restaurants around. Parking is easy and plenty.
Came here for a romantic dinner with my girlfriend. The place was very empty as we went near closing time and I didnt realize that until I was paying. We got a Groupon for the place which is not bad and the service was great. The outdoor patio has a nice view at night, Im sure in the day it does as well. The water outside smells a little bad, but its the Bronx after all. Nice ambience, good music, amazing food, and awesome staff; no more needs to be said.
The food could use since work. We ordered the Lobster Ravioli but they ran out. The steak tasted burnt outside of it.
Really good restaurant with really good food. Parking lot spaces are a little tight though. All that aside, its the very polite and professional wait staff that sets it apart.
The ambiance was nice. It reminded me a retro style Italian restaurant. Maybe a place Ive seen in the film Goodfellas. The service was nice and food was good. At the end of my meal, I was offered complimentary house made wine. Everyone was pleasant including our waitress Val.
Very cozy restaurant with outdoor deck and beautiful views of boats and the water. We found EVERYONE that works there, from the Hostess to the Waitstaff to be highly friendly, engaging, and fun!! Excellent service, excellent food, great drinks, and live music! We will DEFINITELY be going back!!!
Portofino is PORTOFAIL, We went yesterday for Fathers Day, the place wasnt crowed yet we wait a while for our order to be taken then an hour for the appetizers to arrive; we left as the service was horrible, the menu was blah and the drinks were watered down.
What an amazing restaurant. It has a wonderful family ambiance. The food is delicious you can get the best of both worlds seafood and Italian cuisine. The servers are very attentive to you and they provide excellent service. The out door deck gives you a feel like you are out of New York. I highly recommend Portofino Restaurant.
Amazing food with an impeccable atmosphere. Outdoor seating was fantastic. If I had to recommend a dish I would have to say that the lobster ravioli and the steak and lobster surf and turf were to die for. The filet minion was also quite delectable, though the flavors were too subdued for my liking. However, though I enjoyed most of the food, the stuffed bone in veal that i was served was inedible. It had no flavor, was difficult to eat and I honestly wished spit it out while I choked it down. For the price of nearly 40 dollars, and as a “special” on the menu, I would expect something exquisite, not a dry, disgusting and poorly conceived dish. Now, I may have been harsh, but I believe this is because all the other food was so amazing that by comparison this dish was even more disappointing. Don’t let the negative aspects of this review turn you off, it is a great restaurant, just sick to the menu and avoid the “specials.”
Not a good experience, offered 40% off on drinks after having asked if they had offered Happy Hour since it has been displayed before. F/bartender said menu changes due to weather. Also observed a Pomeranian walk in w/an elderly couple, told he was a service dog and eats like a human since it consumes bread w/butter like one. It also sat on a chair wagging its tail. Appetizer was good, bathroom was very clean but unfortunately, I wont be a client again.
Food was delicious and for a 4 course meal it wasnt that bad of a price. Staff was very accommodating and nice. The restaurant has an outdoor seating area which is very nice but if you go during the summer expect to have a whole bunch of mosquitoes around your area. Would definitely recommend for a nice date or a business event.
Man I hadnt been here in a decade....was going to eat at Lobster House down the road but looked unsafe over there with Covid....left looking for an alternative and spot right in front. Went in not knowing how it would be and immediately saw the great deck out back and gorgeous view. It only got better from there. Owner and his daughter who served us were a pleasure to talk to. Surf and Turf was satisfying, sangria was plentiful, tri colored tartufo was excellent and the free homemade sambuca was the cherry on top. Pink/orange sunset in the background priceless. Definitely going back soon. Whole family with big smiles!!!
Visited this restaurant during the winter months with a friend. Upon our arrival it appeared that this restaurant was not the most popular on the island but the staff was friendly. The restaurant itself was pretty large with an outside deck that would be great to dine on in the warmer months.The food itself was pretty good but not outstanding and the prices were reasonable. The bruschetta tasted pretty fresh. I would return in the future but not for the seafood.
We walked in and no one was at the front desk. After a short awkward moment of standing there, someone approached us but didn’t say anything. I told him we wanted a table on the deck and he said ok. The sun was bothering a bit and we asked for an umbrella but the waiter said they already put them away he couldn’t get it back. He asked us what would we liked to drink and I said I didn’t know what drinks they have because and I didn’t have the drink menu. He excused himself and brought me one. After so, he asked what would I like to order for dinner and I told him I he didn’t bring me the food menu. Their food was a bit taste less.I would come back when their customer service improves.
Just ordered from there the food is good and the prices are reasonable but if you hungry dont expect to be satisfied my son had a chicken parm that was all over the place my shrimp and vodka sauce was in the bag sause spilled out and 4 shrimps, chicken fingers were burnt this is punishment for not going to augies but just wanted to try something different augies hook you up and the food is Great! Im going to throw something on the grill cause Im starving
Very bad. The waiters were outside socializing and I had to get up from my table to tell them that the chef had rung the bell in the kitchen and the food was ready. They served us stale bread. They didnt clean the table before bringing out the entres, my pasta was undercooked and served without a spoon! They didnt come to the table to fill our water cups! I felt like I had to bother the waiter to get simple service. Very bad service.
This is a beautiful restaurant with a great view when outdoor dining! All of the staff is very friendly and welcoming and the food and drinks are amazing! Will definitely be coming back here!
The food was under cooked, they tip themselves over $30, they charged us 6 cups of lemonade ($6 each) and never served it to us.Don’t get me wrong the customer service was amazing but there is no reason why u should charge us $210 for 6 plates of pasta.
Nice place but they offer reservations until 10 but the kitchen is closed by that time. Reservations should stop 30 minutes prior to the kitchen closing
I dont normally revisit a restaurant, I love this place the service and the food is amazing along with the view. Mario and Katrina make you feel like family. I would definitely recommend this place.
We have had the please of providing support services for Portofino which gives us an insider prospective of the establishment. The restaurant cleanliness, food quality, and service are hands down one of the best. Owner and staff are very friendly if anyone is in the area you have to stop by! Absolutely awesome establishment!
A very good example of a very bad and expensive restaurant. I was so disappointed with the food and service, you can get a better deal for that money somewhere else. The only good thing this place has is a very attentive busier because the waitress didn’t seem to care.
Great Service! We were there with a party of 20 +...Enjoyed the Salmon and veggies. Great music & very fancy!!! Food was great! Made reservations and was sat immediately!
Our experience in Portofino Is always pleasurable. The staff is very accommodating, cordial, service oriented and always willing to make you feel welcomed. We recommend the skirt steak dish. A big thank you to the staff, specially our server Ardita, who is energetic, happy and well versed about the menu
The outdoor ambiance is lovely! However, wait staff not very attentive, food was cold, appetizer was not the one we ordered and waited for approximately 1 and 1/2 hrs. just to get the wrong dish. Im sure they were having an off nite and some issue in the kitchen apparently the nite I went. I wouldnt go here again.
Ambience and food were terrific. Sangria was a little weak/watered down but cocktails were phenomenal. Would definitely return for a next time.
Kinda weird, albeit we went on a Monday night. Great views of the city from outside. After being seated, we waited a while, had water, waitress comes to take food order, but we hadn’t ordered drinks yet... no wine menu given.Decided to order Oysters, weren’t told what kind or from where, and when they arrived, they were luke warm and served with a lime slice. (??????) !!!!I had the risotto, gotta say, the seafood was expertly cooked. Not offered cracked pepper on my 26 dollar entree.....not a snob, just someone who worked as a server for a decade, and want good attentive service when I CAN AFFORD a freakin night out..Dessert was meh, bread was good. Mixed feelings.
Great tasting food, but the long wait for the food was a tremendous turn off. After ordering, we waited almost an hour before our food arrived. They really should improve the time for service.
The seafood was fresh and delicious. Service was excellent. We fortunately had a lovely waitress, Val on our first visit there. The afterdinner drinks were AMAZING . Ty
The experience was amazing . My waiter was went above and beyond , he made sure all my needs were taken care of and made sure I was good at all times. The owner was great as well and greeted me and my family as well. Thank you for such a great experience
I couldnt say more good things about this restaurant. Ive been there a few times, its definitely high end and the prices match that, but really, its worth every penny. The food is AMAZING, the decor is fancy, clean, and the service has always been great for us. Not sure why wil had a bad experience, but its been the kind of restaurant that always gets the entire group talking about how fantastic it is for the rest of the night. Id absolutely take a girl here if I wanted to impress her, or old friends you wanted to treat to a great experience. It wont become a frequent visit purely based on the cost, but when we can afford to splurge, we now have a favorite place to do it.Edit: Im not sure why others are saying this place is cheap, I got the veal cutlet parmesean, it cost $19.95... Glass of wine $8.50, dessert $7.50, appetizers range $15-20 each... Maybe Im just not at their income level, but I dont consider it cheap. Again, totally worth it though!
Amazing place; we used to come here often 4-5 yrs ago. We just visited today for a birthday and service hasnt changed at all. Food was fresh & delicious.
I just left Portofino. Val made an EXCELLENT Mojito for me. The rustic bread and delicious olive oil which preceded my order was quite wonderful. However, the reason I came in was for the special advertised on the banner outside...Fried Shimp $19.95. Well, I was charged $26 and told the $19.95 was a lunch special. No where does the banner state thisWhen I brought out a manager to show him the sign does not mention lunch, his response was I should have asked. I say, the sign should state CLEARLY, somewhere on the sign that it is lunch only. Why would the lunch banner still be hanging up at 4:00 PM? I think they are bogus for this move. They wont be getting any more of my money. The shrimp was just blasé, anyway.
The food was good and the staff was friendly but the service was slooooow. We waited a looooong time for our meals to be served after our waitress took our orders. As nice as she was our waitress was forgetful we had to repeat our request for refills several times. The food was good but we wont be back.
Basic Italian American, with not a whole lot of appealing options for vegetarians, and constant 80s soundtrack.
I went on a Monday evening, it was really nice. Outdoors sitting was enjoyable with nice view. The food was delicious as well.
Food excellent in preparation, flavor and presentation. We had planned to eat outside, and when the weather changed the friendly staff easily accommodated all 16 of us graciously to the large, not noisey, dining room.
It was a nice place. The food was good and the young girl that care of our table on Sunday February 25, 2018 was so sweet and very professional. I would so truly return real soon.
Beautiful place but extremely pretentious. The food is very good for what they give you but I dont advise going there hungry. The portions are tiny. The service is horrible. I went there with a group of 13 for a birthday (9 adults, 4 teens), they screwed up the whole order. They never asked the kids if they wanted a soda or anything because it didnt pump the check up like alcohol does & when an adult flagged down the waiter to ask him for sodas (because they completely ignored the kids when they asked) he obnoxiously told us that its not his job & to ask someone else. They forgot 2 of the dinners, 1 came out a few minutes later, no big deal & the other waited forever for a simple pasta dish that wasnt even what she ordered. The guest of honor wasnt happy with their plate & the wait staff could care less. They didnt offer to fix it, replace it or to even take it off The bill (which was almost a mortgage payment). The band was loud & really cheesy & screwed up the happy birthday song after 4 attempts. On the 5th try I just told them to forget it because we already finished the cake at that time. But that didnt stop the lead singer from waiving a tin bucket in our face that read tips across it. Sorry but when Im paying $30 for a dish of macaroni get that away from me. The coffee also came out long after the cake was finished. I gave it 1 star for ambience & 1 star because although the portion was small my veal was very good. You couldnt pay me to eat their again.
Italian seafood restaurant with a large outdoor deck with a view of Manhattan. Try the linguini with seafood, or one of the many Italian dishes on the menu.
Food was great!. Had a last minute reservation for my daughter first communion and everything was prepared as requested including table and appetizers.Will be back again.
Ambiance is nice... Been there multiple times. During the week is quiet and the workers are very attentive which makes the experience more personal. Food is good. My favourite date night spot.
The food was amazing the staff was friendly, moderately priced and portions are huge. Would definitely go back and great view while dining.
Always love coming here!Food is superb, service is great, and after every meal they let you sample homemade sambuca or grappa complementary. 😍👌
To die for, Portofino Restaurant is an absolute delight. Love taking my loved ones, friends, and family here for a couple drinks and some delicious meals! The waitstaff are friendly and professional and the service is quick, I expect nothing less from Portofinos! In the winter or in the summer, the ambiance is perfect. The view looking on the Long Island Sound is incomparable to anything else on City Island, its absolutely unique and beautiful. A vista indeed!Definitely eat here on your first drive to City Island, you wouldnt want to miss it!
I find it a bit off-putting when you walk into a restaurant and the first thing the host asks is which voucher youll be using. Checking in on yelp, I realized their check-in special offered the same benefits as the groupon we used at dinner.Food was okay (no big whoop) but dessert was delicious (more on this below) and our waiter was attentive. The weather was nice so we opted to sit on the deck, where 95% of the other patrons were as well. Even so, the restaurant was not crowded. Big space, love their design & red booths indoors.Food-Shared hot antipasti for two- consisted of everything fried & stuffed, including fried cheese, stuffed clams & mushrooms, shrimp, calamari.Both got the surf & turf with steak. Be warned, never trust a restaurant where the menu lists steak as steak. No cut, no ounces, nothing. Opted for my usual rare, came out more medium rare and quality is probably what youd get at Sizzler. I did enjoy the lobster tail with stuffed crab meat, although the stuffing tasted like it was from a box. I left the majority of the steak on my plate, as it was too awful for consumption.The only highlight of last night was our dessert. SO and I got their tiramisu which was delicious! Sweet but not overpowering, soft, flavorful! We devoured this in no time!Wine- Our choice was red or white. Opted for white, which was semi-sweet and a bit tart. Not the best, but have had worse.Right after the waiter served dessert, he dropped off the check and came by a few times afterwards to see if we paid. A bit strange, but okay. Despite the other yelpers warning us, it was still surprising to see the value listed as $300+ for our table of 4. No matter, it was an experience, one that I will not be repeating.While it was nice to check out Portofino and see City Island, this is not a restaurant I will be revisiting.
Great food...geat service and our waiter Douglas went above and beyond asking to sing happy Birthday to my 87 year old mother in law.
Love the location and the food! A true City Island gem! Family owned. Daughter was the bartender during one of my visits. She was super welcoming!
Drinks are good but the food and service are horrible. Food came out extremely fast and cold.
My best waitress at Portofino isVal, served exactly what I ordered and, besides her pleasant demeanor, was done graciously and kept me comfortable, when I needed life to help. Please understand that in life, I fortunately relaxed at the restaurant!John
Love the atmosphere .the food was excellent.and The Chocolate Moose was to die for. deliver of the food was on point I give this restaurant ten stars⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤ the chef cook amazing that I even took a picture with him and the man that serve us he was great I took a picture with him the atmosphere is lovely I want to go again
Disgusting, out of crab meat , white wine was not even chille. I also have food allergies and what I said I was allergic to was given to me on myPlate! Beet salad was can beets. Service was horrible. Will never ever go back
Warm staff, great food, excellent service! Would recommend to all my friends just for the beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline. A must if youre near City Island.
A wow for real good Italian food! Dinner outdoors overlooking the bay with a gorgeous sunset. The Hot AntiPasto for 2 with Grilled Shrimp, Fried Calamari, Stuffed Mushrooms, Eggplant, Rollatini, & Baked Clams is to die for.Along with the exceptional and attentive service the portions of the veal cut parmigiana and surf & turf were very generous and well cooked. A little pricey but worth it. If youre looking for a romantic dinner or meeting friends for a good time, make this the place to go to on City Island. Would I eat here again?Absolutely!
Bought a groupon for 4 for $149 valued at $400+ ... ordered Lobster w/ linguini...drenched with salty sauce.. Lobster was not fresh at all.. the host was bz chatting with other tables, it took him about 20 min to take orders from our table. was shocked when I got the check.. we were charged with tax based on the regular price.. not on $149.. food was horrible... do not understand people who gave anything more than 3 stars.... ..do not recommend at all!!!!
Good food, good service, dining on the water and occasional live music. During the daytime, one can pick where to dine, a humongous booth, table or bar. I obviously recommend it. Almost a hidden treasure, just dont tell anyone.
Portofino Restaurant is without a doubt the best place on city island. The deck has an outstanding view. I love taking my friends there and showing them the amazing service and food. Everytime i go there, i never have a problem. I would recommend Portofinos to anyone. Also, they host AMAZING parties. Dont hesitate to go there and book a party!!!!
Pleasant servers but the food did not taste great. The shrimp with crab meat tasted funny.
Nice room for small gatherings. Food was okay. The best penne alla vodka Ive had though.
Portofino restaurant has the most delicious food and drinks with a great atmosphere!!!! My favorite restaurant in NYC and the staff is amazing
What an amazing place! I cant believe i get to relax and eat at the same yime. Katrina maks the bomb drinks
The staff was great.The food was okay.The soda was flat.The menu didnt have much options.The bread was great.The shrimp tasted unusual.But overall it wasnt that bad.
The food was delicious!!! Highly recommend !!!
Everything from the wait-staff to the food to the atmosphere is TERRIFIC! Love, love, loveeeee coming here. I wish i could rate it #1 in City Island. This is a must if youre in the City Island area!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
A real family run business and you are treated like you are part of that family. Food is perfection and the ambiance and view of the city skyline is spectacular. You wont regret going.
Waiter was excellent, my veal was wrong no mushrooms, alerg other than that very comfortable thank you all
Portofino should be re-named No-Goodo-Fino!!I went here years ago with my stupid ex Zamira & our friends for late dinner!! Ill tell ya the food was TERRIBLE!! The waiters/waitresses were STUPID!! How do they have a place on City Island that sucks??
The food was good and plentiful I only wish that they didnt use so much salt and then marinara sauce but other than that it was nice
My favorite restaurant in City Island! Perfect delicious food and great service!!!
Very lovely experience great service awesome food.
Good food but bad service. We ordered and waited 1 hour and never got our food and we will never go again. Only the apps were on time
The dessert was great, after drinks were amazing. The food was good. Service could be better.
DONT WASTE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY!!!!!Yesterday August 2nd we were celebrating an special ocassion with family everything was great the service good ,they asked us what was the reason we were there and we said it was an special ocassionThe waiter was nice and talkative we order a couple of appetizers ,drinks and main courses,at the end of the meal they said they had something special for us,so they brought a big cart and started making frambe ,which we didnt ask for because we were satisfied with all the food we had eaten,then after we finished that complimentary dessert the waiter came and said he had an extra surprise for us and he brought after dinner drinks that we really didnt want but he was very insistent that we should have it ....guess what that was the catch He insisted that much because we were going to get charged for every single item he brought to the table without having the principle to ask if we wanted everything that he kept adding...people dont get fooled by this place ,they act nice and warm with you so they keep adding stuff to your tab,it is very disrespectful what he did to us ,the check was 621.00 and I almost fainted when i realized the kids meal which was chicken fingers and fries was 21 bucks, I mean really?this is not even an upscale restaurant,Ive been to better places that this one...that is ridiculousHe didnt even brought the kids menu he just said what they had to offered and the reason was because they dont want you to know the prices,overall I dont recommend this place to anyone if you dont want to get ripped offVery disappointed, you have to treat your customers with respect and always ask them if they want something,not force them,probably he was short of money and wanted to keep adding to make a good tip to save his day,just save your money
Place was very nice great waitress, food was delicious, will return
Great food and good service. Sitting out on the deck and looking at the water is a wonderful experience.
Love the food, wine is amazing. Bartender was fantastic. Beautiful place and lovely people.
Good waitstaff. Fair selection of typically overpriced City Island restaurant food. One shot dining experience, ok.
The service was great and the food and the view was perfect.Also I had a communion party and a confirmation party and it was great
Excellent food, great service and live music. Ample shady outdoor seating was a big plus on a hot summer day.
Love this restaurant. Great food and the staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and we talk like were old friends.
Entering the restaurant there’s a very unpleasant smell but everyone was nice I was greeted nicely but my beverage glass was dirty it had red lipstick stain on it and the restroom was disgusting
Excellent Italian food!!
Portofino is one of my favorite restaurants on City Island. The relaxed atmosphere, the service, and the delicious food makes Portofino one of the best on the island.
Mario and his entire family make this the friendliest place to go on City Island. Bring your friends and enjoy a wonderful meal!
Loved this place!!! The food was great and the service is fantastic! Will definitely go back...
Great date night, atmosphere great, service great, food delicious while sitting on the water. I got some cool points
Food was great and our waitress was fantastic
Simply fabulous! In all ways. Everyone loved food my meal was a little overcooked but will go again.
Portifino is 100% the best Resturant to go to on city island the service is amazing and the food is delicious if I could I would eat here everyday. Every single thing on the menu is so good and I recommend this Resturant to everyone
Great service and food wonderful relaxing atmosphere. really appreciated the complementary after dinner grappa!
Great Dinner And Excellent Service. Surf and Turf was Fantastic. Looking forward to going again.
Delicious food great service and a relaxing ambiance. Definitely worth the groupon
Great food I think they have the best LOBSTER RAVOLI ON CITY ISLAND. EXCELLENT SERVICE. VERY FRIENDY WONDERFUL PLACE FOR ANY EVENT THE OWNER MARIO IS VERY ACCOMODATING
A little pricey but great food and great service! Worth every penny!
I keep going back, the food, the service and the view of the water .A great place to r enjoy with the people you love.
My family and I love this place, Duglas is a great waiter he make you feel welcome and part of the family, everyone is super nice..
This is an amazing place. Meat, fish, pasta, doesnt matter, all great. Worth the trip from the city proper. And the huge parking lot doesnt exactly hurt.
It was amazing. Lovely place, amazing food and excellent service 🤩😍😍❤ I had the perfect Birthday 😏
Its an okay restaurant with okay food. Food is overpriced and not satisfying. Slow service also
Great restaurant for outside dining with friends while still social distancing.
Definitely eat here.
Not bad at all great service
The food is good. The view is great. Would be happy to go again.
New Years Eve at Portofino was amazing. Great food, drink and music. Excellent service!!!
The food was delicious. And serious was great. We really enjoyed it.
Excellent foods and drinks
The view off the back deck was great...... plus the desert was amazing.... the staff needs a lot of work.....
Great food. Nice and cozy atmosphere.
Always a delicious dinner/ambiance. Drinks need improvement though.
We have been coming to this place for a few years now and I must say it is in desperate need of an upgrade. I give it 4 starts only because of the amazing service.
Food is excellent. Service is great. Loved the deck
This place has beautiful outside deck in The back. Great lobster. G old wine.
5 stars!!
Great service and good food! Views were excellent
Does it get better than this ??? Nooooooo
As always it was awesome. Had great food, great wine and with great people.
Service is running poorer. I would like to give them 2 more stars only if the concierge and server was more friendly.
Love it love it love it, will recommend the food was outstanding and the waitress was very pleasant
Very good food 👍 and a beautiful place, workers are very nice .
Very good cuisine panaronic vista composition inspired ambiance unlimited potential for group private event planning
Terrific. Great food. Great view.
Awesome! Great service. Really good food and atmosphere.
Delicious food, great service and lovely view!
Create a talion seafood beautiful views of the city
5 dollars for one piece of lobster ravioli. 5 stars for that piece. Take your wife here.
Great food, great atmosphere, great location. Oh and 3 great people 😉😂
Great service, awesome food, beautiful view.
Love this restaurant! Beautiful and great food and service!
I was there early, but the food and staff are Great!!!!, youll see me back here!!!!
Wonderful view, food was amazing and the service was exceptional.
Great food, family owned, friendly staff.
Nice restaurant friendly bartender sweet family owned clean
Great service great food already planning on going back
Very nice, good food, great atmosphere.
My glass had stains on it and the food wasn’t that enjoyable.
One of the best dining experiences Ive ever had.
Food is very good, service is great!
Excellent food and wonderful setting!
Amazing food!!!!
Nice views, good food, italian, have a great veg and seafood
Peaceful View, great food, wine and awesome service
Always Awesome!
Total reviews rating 4.2
199 Reviews for Portofino Restaurant 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-21Went there for my anniversary and was very happy with the food and service as well as a great view. I initially was not happy with my entree, but my waiter immediately gave me the menu and I got something different and the food was delicious. Highly recommend.
Review №2
2021-11-05My family and I visited. Actually our second time. The staff was great and the food came out at a timely manner. The outdoor is beautiful and my 9 and 12 yr old loved it. They enjoyed watching the boats dock. My husband enjoyed himself too. We had a great time will definitely visit again.
Review №3
2021-06-29We had about 14 people in our group and the service was on point! The food was great they even made a dish not on the menu! Everyone who worked there where more then nice. Its worth the trip to City Island!
Review №4
2021-07-04Amazing food and service ! Cappuccino was delicious too, and so was the wine. They also have live music after 11pm, and a lovely deck seating area out back. Will definitely come back!!
Review №5
2021-06-13The food was delicious! Incredible view from the outdoor covered patio on the water! Family owned restaurant that makes you feel like youre part of the family! Cant wait to go back!
Review №6
2022-03-23The food was absurdly overcooked, salty and drowned in butter. This is the first time I’ve went to a restaurant and left no tip as we’re extremely generous people. The food was revolting and flavorless. The manager was no where to be found apparently and made minor deductions to the bill but the food they served couldn’t have even been fed to birds, unprofessional. What a terrible experience, this is the worst restaurant on city island by far. Points to the underage server making drinks in a hoodie in what’s supposed to be a fine dining establishment, dusty and old dining room and bathrooms and a “pound” of crab legs being three pieces. It was my birthday yesterday and I couldn’t have picked a more subpar place to celebrate it at. We’ll be making sure the people we work with never make the mistake of coming here. We filed a food complaint with the city already, you can’t serve wilted food it’s a hazard to people’s health.
Review №7
2022-05-18The food and service was excellent!!! The owner Mario and his daughter treated us extra special and took great care of us. Would highly recommend!
Review №8
2020-09-02The outdoor seating situation at Portofino is lovey because you get great views of the water while you enjoy delicious food. The amount of food you get for the price is also awesome. I went with some friends and we all have leftovers to enjoy tomorrow. Yum!
Review №9
2019-07-30Run by a family who is passionate about good Italian food and giving out the best service. Love the outdoor seating and the ambiance. Food is always on point and seafood is extremely fresh. The servers made sure to make my kids laugh all the time. This place does not disappoint.
Review №10
2020-08-04This place has very delicious seafood such as fried calamari and mussels and crab and many more. They even have Italian dishes as well such as Chicken Parmigiano and ravioli. I recommend getting a table closer to the ocean view. I will definitely eat here again. The food was so good I ate most of it 😆😋