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| - I was a little hesitant about this place based on its location in a generally depressing part of town, however I've eaten here twice now and have been taught a lesson about judging a restaurant by its strip mall.
The owners and managers are an authentic Italian family, and it shows. I like to hear them talk from the kitchen but the noise level in the restaurant is comfortable and makes for easy conversation. I'm a sucker for pasta so the first time I went I ordered the manicotti--it was great but not too exciting (though how exciting can manicotti be, really?), but I had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The next time I had the tortellini alfredo and it was HEAVENLY--the sauce was perfectly creamy, the ham and onions fresh, and the pasta cooked perfectly. And the portion was HUGE! My partner got a large calzone and said it was also great but there was way too much of it, which is always a great complaint about a restaurant, if you ask me. Their dishes are fairly priced and possibly even a little underpriced considering the portions...bring your appetite!
The restaurant itself is small and a little dim, but seems clean enough. The service on my first visit was great, our server was very helpful and patient even though they were about a half hour from closing time. On my second visit we had a different server whom I suspect may have been new to the job, he was a little over-attendant and could never hear what we were saying, even though the restaurant was near-empty and quiet. He was nice, though, and they are very accommodating if you want to change something on the menu or have a specific request.
I would definitely recommend Portofino's to anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine, and I'm always looking forward to going back myself.
PS: Every time I visit, I feel like I'm in an episode of The Sopranos. And that is a compliment.
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