I like them, the atmosphere is intimate and a good date night spot. The pizza is good, you can get an Italy type toppings pizza or American type toppings pizza. The rest of the menu is good too. I like that they are family owned and operated. There are other Portofino's in Charlotte which are owned by other family members. I have friends from Italy who say it is as close to true Italian as you can find in the region. Therefore seasonings may not be typical of what your mother used. They can get busy on the weekend so plan on that, they have a smallish dining area.