My wife and I both grew up in Charlotte, but she had never tried Portofino's as her world revolved around south Charlotte before we got married while I first discovered Portofino's while commuting to UNCC and later moving to the UNCC area.
I told my wife for 2 years she needed to try out Portofino's and once I got her to go...she suggested we go back again within a week saying some of the best Italian food she's ever had. I think perhaps the best eggplant parm in town.
Portofino's is really a hidden gem where every friend I've taken turns into an instant fan. The food is every bit as good as Maggiano's over at South Park and better than the lesser competition like Carrabba's or Olive Garden.