So we ended up at Café Portofino in Miami tonight thinking it was just gonna be a nice neighborhood Italian spot. Nah. This place came correct. Started off with a smooth Malbec while my daughter had a small chicken Caesar salad. We also ordered the homemade burrata and the beef carpaccio to start, and both were legit. Fresh, flavorful, no BS, just done right. My wife ordered the Pasta Nona with chicken, mushrooms, and truffle oil, and honestly that dish was ridiculous. That's the one I'm still thinking about. Creamy, earthy, rich without going overboard. Whoever's running that kitchen knows what they're doing. I had the braised ravioli and threw on a little red pepper flake because, well, Miami Cuban over here, everything needs a little kick. Perfect call. Super flavorful and comforting without feeling heavy. Then dessert showed up and things got dangerous. Chocolate lava cake, tiramisu with Heath bar on top, and a giant double espresso to finish the night like an adult with responsibilities pretending not to care about sleep apnea. And shoutout to Justin, who absolutely nailed the service all night. Cool dude, attentive without hovering, paced everything perfectly, and made us feel taken care of from beginning to end. Dinner for the three of us with wine, dessert, and espresso came out to around 200 bucks, and honestly? Worth it. We'll definitely be back. read more

Comically Bad We really thought we had found a great little local, non-chain Italian restaurant. We read the reviews and thought, "Let's give it a try." Unfortunately, the evening became almost comically bad. There were four of us celebrating a birthday. We had reservations around 6:00 p.m. and were seated right away, so things started off well. We ordered sparkling water for the table and a bottle of wine from the menu, which I asked to have decanted. The bottle that arrived had the same name as the wine we ordered, but after looking more closely, we realized it was actually a different wine from an entirely different region. Then came the decanting. I asked three separate times, but our server didn't seem to understand what "decant" meant. We finally had to explain, "Just pour the wine into a pitcher." That probably should have been our first clue. We ordered a couple of appetizers from the specials, including what we thought was tuna and salmon served on a tostone. Honestly, I'm still not entirely sure what we received. For dinner, we decided to play it safe and order basic Italian classics: chicken parmigiana, chicken piccata and veal piccata, all served with spaghetti. I'm not sure how you mess up dishes this basic, but somehow they managed. The chicken was dry with a very strange texture, the veal was dry and chewy, and the spaghetti had an odd synthetic, almost plastic-like taste. None of us enjoyed our meals. They did bring out a small birthday dessert, which was a nice gesture. It appeared to be some type of custard, although, much like the appetizer, we weren't entirely sure what it was. We made the best of the evening because we were there to celebrate a birthday, and thankfully we enjoy each other's company! I will say the staff was very nice and friendly, and I hate leaving a negative review when people are kind. Unfortunately, our server seemed inexperienced and unsure of what he was doing, and the food simply wasn't good. Maybe we caught them on an exceptionally bad night, but based on our experience, this is one local Italian restaurant we won't be returning to read more

I came here for my friend's birthday on Wednesday last week. The place itself looked like a small spot from the outside but once inside it felt warm, cozy and nicely decorated. We were immediately welcomed and seated right away. The attention from the staff was great. The server said happy birthday to my friend as soon as we sat down. I also loved how everyone who was leaving the restaurant, would say bye to us. It felt like we were all friends. They also played music that made the environment more welcoming. As an appetizer, we tried the fried calamari. From the moment they brought it to the table and I smelled it, I knew it was going to taste good. And I was right. The calamari was big and delicious. It's the best and freshest calamari I've had. To eat, I tried the Risotto Dolce Vita and it was phenomenal. The shrimp that it came with were big and tasty. All the flavors from the dish combined very well together making this dish the best risotto I've tried. When it was time for dessert, the staff sang happy birthday to my friend as they brought a chocolava. They wrote happy birthday on the plate, which I thought it was nice detail. The chocolate cake was warm and moist and it paired very well with the vanilla ice cream. I absolutely loved my experience here and I plan to return. read more

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First off they brought us a bottle of the wrong Wine. We ordered couple apps, Salad, Chicken Parm, and Veal Piccata. It was all bad except for the salad. The reviews have to be bogus...we will not be returning. read more

The food is just ok. The veal dishes were tough. Good with children. Not too fancy. Local neighborhood fair read more

I love eating at family owned private small restaurants. It's where you'll usually find that unique flavor in the food. Italian food with lots of flavor. They have daily specials so there's always something new that's Not on the menu. Ordered their soup of the day, malanga and it was delicious!! Enjoyed their chicken france very much. My kids loved their meals as well. Service on point. I've been here a few times and finally decided to share this with everyone. Limited seating so weekends I'd make a reservation in advance or arrive early. Before 7pm. You'll love their tiramisu. You'll thank me later. read more

A great dinner with lots of entrée options as well as nightly specials. They have a good wine list and we went with two glasses of Pinot Noir for starters. We ordered the octopus which was a cold dish, but very delicious ! For the entrées we ordered fettuccine à la Nonna as well as the special for the night- grilled grouper. For dessert we ordered the panna cotta with fresh blueberries which was very refreshing after a pasta meal ! The waiter was very attentive and there was enough seating inside as well as outdoors. read more

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We stopped in on a Saturday night and were seated quickly without a reservation. Caffe Portofino is intimate and offers indoor and outdoor seating. Our service was great and the food was delicious. They will bring you bread and a bruschetta mix to start. We ordered a Buratta as an appetizer and we both had the chicken parm as our entrees. The Buratta was amazing and chicken parm hit the spot. I recommend Caffe Portofino to anyone who wants to have a nice, unrushed meal. Bring your friends or family and order a bottle of wine and enjoy your meal. I feel like that is something that is hard to find these days at restaurants. We will be back soon. read more

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Loved my whole experience at Caffe Portofino. Our server was very friendly and attentive. All the staff there consistently checked on us to ensure we had everything we needed. And my meal was incredibly delicious. I had the Braised short rib and risotto. The meal was so good I forgot to capture it before digging in. Will absolutely be returning. read more

Caffe Portofino - Braised Short Rib and Risotto - Italian Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Portofino is hands down the best local Italian restaurant in the Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest areas. The food is consistently excellent, the servers are charming and knowledgeable, and the atmosphere feels warm and familial. I dine there four to six times a year and am never disappointed. It's a small, very authentic Italian restaurant that truly delivers on flavor and experience. The only thing it lacks is a full bar -- they serve beer and wine only -- but they offer a nice selection of both fine and affordable wines. If you haven't noticed this hidden gem tucked in the back corner of the strip mall near PetSmart and Marshalls, be sure to visit soon. It's consistently delicious and will not disappoint. read more

Excellent service, great food, and wonderful vibes. Loved sitting outside in the cool weather. read more

Caffe Portofino - Italian Near Me - Miami, Florida

Service is always great. Food is fantastic, always consistent with a cozy atmosphere.

Food was excellent, as always. I had the short ribs w Champagne risotto ( best outside of Itlay) Justin, adorable by the way, was attentive without being intrusive. Birthday celebration for a friend ended w delicious Nutella crepes, generous enough for 4 of us to share. Highly recommend for a celebration or just to enjoy a delicious meal. Will return again and again. read more

Very good Italian food. Pretty standard higher end Italian place but still a great experience

Typical Miami. If you know, you know. This place is all about the regulars. Arrived as a party of 5 with reservations. Immediately taken by an empty table for 5, which we thought was for us but quickly corrected and whooshed to a smaller table for 4. This one had one side folded up to make it slightly larger. It just makes the table awkward, uncomfortable and like eating at the kids table. Why would you take a reservation of 5 and give such an experience? Later in the evening the table for 5 was folded down for a party of 4. Horrible management of reservations or probably trying to squeeze every penny of space. Onto the food and service. The food was ok. The service was luck luster but improved when another waiter began to assist. I wish we had the second waiter from the beginning. The wine recommendation was horrible. In conclusion, this is not my first visit, given it a few tries due to the ratings but this will be the last. read more

Great food. Good service. Expensive prices. Good location. Outdoor seating. Nice atmosphere. We had a nice experience here. The only reason why I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because it's pretty expensive. My husband and I went with friends. We did not get an appetizer. I had 1 glass of wine with the red snapper for dinner. My husband had the penne Bolognese. His dish was one of the cheaper ones on the menu at $20 But our bill was $85 before tip! We did not have dessert either. For me, for two dishes, and 1 glass of wine, it's not worth $100. It was really good food, but nothing I couldn't do at home. If it were something I couldn't have cooked at home, then I'd give 5 stars. But, then again, it would have been even more than $100... read more

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Their food is generally far above average, and service is truly impeccable. Our server gave excellent suggestions, particularly for desserts. The glaring fault was with my veal Francese: Two of my three pieces were scrumptious, but the third was tough like shoe leather. The waiter later confided that I was not the only patron with a similar recent complaint. Should they confront their supplier? read more

I revisited this restaurant the other day after many years and it was great! Service professional and friendly and the food was delicious. Ordered the cut up steak with champagne risotto and it was amazing. The steak was tasty and soft. The carrot ginger soup was very good too. The only drawback is that the menu prices is very expensive more so than other expensive restaurants. read more

Caffe Portofino is an intimate setting with a lovely menu. Service was attentive and friendly. It is a bit pricey for a regular night out but great for a date night or special occasion. read more

Some of the dishes are good; others are mediocre. One of our party ordered Lobster, which had a preservative chemical taste, which I always try to avoid eating. The ambience is nice, but the acoustics are terrible...just too noisy when tables are full. It was very difficult to get good service, but once I got a hold of a waiter or other employee there, they got what I wanted. I remember being a customer there around six years ago, and I don't believe that I will return again for another six or seven years. Hopefully, this restaurant will make improvements from my comments. Furthermore, I am not the only person who feels the same. read more

OMG I came because of the reviews! But yuck!!! Of course it's in Pinecrest. That's all I ah e to say ! Yucky not real Italian as I was expecting read more

Well this review you could say has been a long time coming. Caffe Portofino is a little gem that is located in Palmetto Bay and it has been serving residents in the local Palmetto Bay / South Dade area for several years. Since moving in to the area we have been frequenting them for several years and they absolutely never disappoint. Don't ask me why it took so long but here goes! LOL! So since the pandemic started we had not really had a nice dinner at one of the local restaurants so once the restrictions started easing up, we decided to visit Caffe Portofino and we were very, very happy we did. Upon arriving we were greeted by their friendly staff and opted to sit inside. All staff were wearing masks and gloves; also, hand sanitizer was available at all the tables as well. Tables were also socially distanced so no issues their either. Our servers were very friendly and professional and the food was simply amazing and extremely fresh. To start we ordered some Pinot Grigio to get things going along with the soup of the day which was excellent. For our main courses we ordered the Veal Parmigiana and the Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare both of which were hearty and fresh. The Chef at Caffe Portofino has never disappointed as far as I know and quite frankly a restaurant does not stick around as long as they have unless both the food and service are excellent. For desert we went with the Zabaione with fresh strawberries which was also light yet tasty. Rounding the turn with some Cappuccino's to close out our dinner in proper fashion. Dining "Al Fresco" is available as they do have outdoor seating; however, it was a little hit this evening which is why we dined in. Parking should not be a problem as the restaurant is located within a mall that has plenty available. Truly wonderful to have an exceptional Italian dining option like Caffe Portofino here in the South Dade area. If you find yourselves in the South Dade area or are willing to take a drive and try something new, you should check them out. I am pretty sure you will not be disappointed. Enjoy and Bon Appétit! read more

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The environment is good The food... I was not impressed; it was okay, nothing WOW, just a typical Italian restaurant. I asked for a small piece of parmesan cheese, and the answer was NO. The service is good; This is not a fine-dining restaurant. . read more

I came here with a couple of friends. The service was excellent. They ask in various if you need anything. My knife happen to fall and they pick up instantly and brought me a new one in a matter of seconds. However, I was not crazy about the food. I ordered the chicken franse. Too much lemon it was bit bitter. I have eaten in other Italian restaurants which the food is way better. One of my friends had the chicken parmesan and they put so much tomatoes sauce and less cheese. Also, they had music in the background we could not talk. We could not heard what the other person was saying. I decided to give cafe portofino 3 starts. Service is excellent but food not crazy about it. read more

My husband and I just tried this restaurant and were pleasantly surprised to find such a great Italian restaurant in our neighborhood. It was very clean, spacious and well appointed. The service was outstanding. The waiters were very attentive and friendly without being pushy or overbearing. They offered delicious suggestions. The food was very, very good and the portions were generous. I found the prices to be quite reasonable. We will definitely be returning in the near future. read more

Hidden gem in a plaza in Pinecrest. Quaint and quiet. The service is impeccable; very attentive and accommodating staff. Food is delicious, sizes are proportionate and decent. Highly recommend and would definitely come back! read more

Caffe Portofino - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Excellent as always! Food is great as is the service - always a reliable bet! The ambiance is great and not too loud.

So I was in the Pinecrest / Palmetto Bay area with a new friend for a dinner date, and me being a fan of all culinary things Italian, suggested a restaurant I was familiar with down here. However, our first choice was closed for the Holiday weekend. Yelp Mobile introduced us to Caffe Portofino and we were pleasantly surprised. Hidden away in a back corner of the mall - close to the dry cleaner and not easily visible from US1 - they also have some terrace real estate for al fresco and cenare col tuo cane (dog friendly dining.) We chose to eat inside, and for awhile it was like we had a private chef as we came in right at opening time. By the time we left, there was a full house both inside and out. Besides the complementary tableside rolls with tomatoes, we started with their burrata, prosciutto and sundried tomato appetizer. The burrata was nice and creamy without being too jiggly, and the prosciutto had just the right amount of saltiness and no edges. My main course was their chicken parmesan (surprise, surprise) with linguini. The chicken breasts were pretty substantial, and it looked like they had bruschetta tomatoes baked into the chicken breast under the melted cheese. Originally just marinara, mine was customized arrabiatta style with a nice bit of heat added to the ragu. My ladyfriend ordered their Fettucine de la Nonna with added chicken, and she said it was tasty as well. I typically don't go for alfredo sauce but I sampled hers and have to agree. The pasta had a good texture, and the sauce flavorful without being too heavy. We ordered their chocolate mousse to share for dessert, and it was really rich and sweet. Maybe our tastebuds were already sensitive from the farm trip early, but it seemed a little heavy on the sugar. At least the espresso cleared my palate some. Service was attentive throughout our dinner, and the dim lighting and soft jazz is perfect for a date night. Prices are reasonable for fine dining in Pinecrest, and well worth it for the experience. read more

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A special occasion deserved a special place so being that we're in Kendall, we went to the Falls and found this gem on 136 and US1 across from the Falls. We had reservations so we were seated quickly and promptly ordered Italian beer and wine. Then came the appetizers of fried calamari (delicious!) and something else I can't recall. The server was very nice, attentive, and funny. We ordered lasagna, linguine ai frutti di mare, shrimp linguine, and chicken Marsala. I really enjoyed the chicken Marsala, and the mushrooms and sauce were delightful. A nice touch was a complimentary raspberry panna cotta for the birthday boy. I definitely recommend this fine establishment and it was $211 well spent. read more

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Cafe Portofino, I came here years ago and it was good. I returned here last night with the family and I'm so glad I did..... this place is a truly hidden gem among locals. With only a few Yelp reviews (don't know why) Cafe Portofino is the bomb. Great appetizers like carrots and ginger soup, fried calamari with a super good sauce and fresh salads simple ... but done to perfection. We ordered lots of things, a shrimp risotto that was incredible, hog snapper in a light cilantro sauce, short ribs on a champagne risotto, kids linguine alfredo with chicken, lasagna, etc.... ALL AMAZING. Santos, our waiter, was super good, attentive and always ready to help. The ambiance is casual, family and kid friendly. Nice paintings on the walls and medium lighting makes it even better. I can't wait to come back and try other things from their menu. read more

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I've eaten here before. Veal parm is really good. Service okay. Went to eat dinner tonight. Web site shows they open at 5:30. I drove there. The hours on door show open today at 5:30. They're not open. No one answers the phone. Not even voicemail. I went to apizza Brooklyn ,where they have excellent veal parmigiana. They are open!!! Will just come here from now on and highly recommend. read more

Excellent service and food. We went there to celebrate my wife's birthday and had a great time. Recommendations by waiter was absolutely perfect. We will definitely be coming back to this place in the future read more

Came for dinner, good Italian food the Seafood Risotto is delicious, service is very good they were constantly there to fill you water and bread basket, wife had the special which looks amazing except for the mushrooms but then again I'm not a mushroom person, but all I know she loved it. Overall place is nice and in a great area with plenty of parking. read more

My favorite place to go and dine. They treat you like family. The service, food and ambiance are the finest in Miami. Thank you to everyone there for always making my family feel special. BTW...the Osso Bucco is unmatched anywhere in S. FL. The Chilean Sea Bass was spectacular as well. read more

It was our first time coming to Caffe Portofino; small, quaint, nice atmosphere in a strip mall next to Party City. Our server was a bit stiff and not smiling... but then he loosened up. Hey, anybody can have a rough day. I ordered the risotto with shrimp and my husband had one of their specials of the day. Mind you, everything was delicious.... but my husband's entrée was VERY expensive at $44.00. Ouch! It was some kind of meat with risotto. My opinion.... TOO Expensive! We are on the fence if we will return in the near future. read more

This has been our go to place for years. The staff is amazing. The food delicious. The prices are on the higher side but isn't everything lately. Very romantic I'd you want that. Would definitely re immens read more

Excellent food and service. The place is highly recommended. Try the tiramisu. Amazing read more

Caffe Portofino - Italian Near Me - Miami, Florida

We came to celebrate our anniversary & it was just perfect! Nice ambiance and the service was absolutely outstanding! We had the Burrata and the carpaccio to start and it was 10/10! For dinner, I had the pear ravioli which was divine & my husband had one of the specials of the day which was a chicken lasagna with cilantro and it was delicious. Of course we had to finish with dessert! We had to try the panacotta and had cortaditos for coffee. Everything was good! The staff was so nice, they even sang us the happy birthday song but instead said "happy anniversary" and gave us the dessert on the house! Best dinner ever read more

Caffe Portofino - Panacotta dessert & Cortadito - Italian Near Me - Miami, Florida

This is a hidden gem!! Must go! Excellent service and food!! Mauricio the owner is always there greetings the costumers, beautiful! My favorite Italian/Argentinian food in Miami! Great wine selection and nice atmosphere!! A must go! Dulce De Leche Flambe CrepeBurrataChilean Sea BassChilean Sea BassLobster Bisque! Great for family reunion,! read more

We order take out from Café Portofino, and a pasta was delicious. To eat we ordered the pasta, Bolognese and a carbonara. Both of them were delicious, but just a word of warning to doors ordering the carbonara it does come with onions in it. I've never had carbonara with onions, but, that is how they make it. The next time I got it without onions and it was still amazing. I am happy to have found this local spot. It has become my go to for pasta. read more