Portofinos on Park Road is one of the few places I go for good Italian cuisine in the QC. I'm not saying it's the best Italian I've ever had, but it certainly ranks up there as far as Charlotte goes. After living in New York for two years, I arrived in Charlotte less than satisfied with the pizza choices. Portofinos comes CLOSE to having a perfect New York slice of pizza. I say CLOSE because the cheese and sauce are deliciously tangy, with the perfect amount of spice and sharpness. The crust is also delicious, and you can tell hand made. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the crust is a bit thick. I think they could make it a bit thinner and truly have a winner.
The atmosphere is casual and inviting, their pasta dishes are excellent and their house dressing is TO DIE for. It's a cross between a Thousand Island and a French dressing.
If you're craving Italian, this place won't let you down.