4.0 - Balloon Bread 3.2V/2.4M - Calamari 4.0 - Crispy shrimp. Request sauce on side 3.7 - Italian Mac n cheese 1.0 - Risotta Balls 4.5 - Pasta, Wild boar bolognese. M likes adding chicken (request no citrus flavoring on chicken next time) 3.0 - Pizza, II Tutto. They really load on the toppings . Get without veggies next time. 3.7 - Pork Tenderloin, honey garlic. Great sauce. 3.6 - Short Rib 3.0 - Steak, flat iron, med rare. A little chewy, maybe try again medium. Great mac and cheese and good green beans. 3.8 - Lemonade 5.0 - Crème Brulé Waffle 3.5 - Medium Rare Brownie 5.0 - Tiramisu read more

Service was strange. Other staff seem to be put out. But our server Jess was amazing. Once she came to the table she took care of all our needs. She answered all our questions and made sure our dining experience was coursed out. And really listened when we made requests. Food was very tasty. Balloon Bread - 10/10 - a must - crispy & sauces were so good (herb-seasoned, puffed round of homemade dough, Calabrian aioli & Italian chimichurri) Short Rib Pizza without cheese 10/10 - one word... delicious (White bean puree, caramelized onions, no gruyere, mushroom, no mozzarella, balsamic) Casual dining, good for families or date night. read more

Porta’Vino - Short Rib Pizza without cheese - Pizza Near Me - Houston, Texas

This is a great spot to relax, enjoy good company, and unwind with a bottle of wine. One of my favorite things about this place is the option to bring your own wine or purchase one there. The food is good--nothing overly fancy, but satisfying. The atmosphere is welcoming, laid-back, and perfect for catching up with friends. If you're looking for a casual place to enjoy a glass of wine and great conversation, I'd definitely recommend it. read more

Food is consistently good with an exquisite wine menu. All of the appetizers are phenomenal but don't miss the Balloon bread.

A year ago I accidentally stumbled across this casual spot and fell in love with it. Gradually the experiences got a little worse and the service more harried. This could be due to the management change but I both the food and service took a major turn. The last visit, which was for a birthday dinner, was abysmal. We basically served ourselves our wine and had to ask for everything - glasses, open the next bottle, place our order. Then they forgot to place our order and never even checked on us for 30 minutes until we again asked for help. The calamari was so over-fried, it was mostly inedible. The ravioli was very mediocre. The truffle pasta was good. The manager's uncaring response and offer for dessert (two people had birthdays, dessert was a given) was not sufficient. The dessert was a tiny sample-sized milkshake that we observed they gave to every table anyway. It's sad that a small local business treated regulars this way. I do not plan to return. read more

See all

The seating outsides and having a glass of wine with some good food is a vibe here. The spaghetti with meatballs that are all beef meat with a delicious red sauce makes the meal great. The staff is always attentive and happy to greet and seat you promptly. The area tends to stay busy with guest constantly in and around the areas. Clean space and great environment read more

Fantastic restaurant!!! The ambiance, food and wine were delectable! Already looking forward to go again. Can't go wrong with the veal and Austin Hope! read more

Our family was there for an early dinner. We were seated in a smaller back room which was fairly quiet, and with good food and service, everyone had a good time. A short walk around the corner of the back lot leads to a private bar. read more

*A disappointing experience at Portavino's Silo speakeasy* I want to preface this review by saying that I've been a loyal patron of Portavino since they opened in 2020 and have never had a bad experience--until now. Last Friday, I had a lovely dinner with three of my girlfriends (also frequent diners). After dinner, I suggested we check out the Silo, Portavino's "speakeasy" located across the parking lot. I had visited the week prior with a friend who purchased a membership, and I knew you had to be a dining guest escorted by a manager to enter. We told our waiter we wanted to visit, and he asked us to leave our food and wine in the car, then wait at the entrance. After a few minutes, the manager, Ken, came out and told me that because I had been there once before, I would now be required to purchase a membership ($100 annually for key fob access, with no food, drinks, or discounts included). He said there's only one free visit per person. This was frustrating because I was bringing three new guests who were very interested in joining. Ken left us waiting several minutes before begrudgingly escorting us over. Once inside, we sat in a booth for 10 minutes before a waitress finally came by, pointedly noting, "Oh, you look familiar, have you been here before?" Throughout our 45 minutes there, the maître d' never stopped by to offer memberships to my friends--despite them being exactly the type of guests who might sign up. When we left, my friend directly asked the bar manager why no membership was offered. His response: "Well, your friend has already been here and didn't buy a membership, so we were instructed not to talk to you." Even worse, when my friend replied, "Well, we also aren't the correct color to belong here, are we?" the manager did not deny it--he simply apologized. As someone who has supported Portavino since day one, this was beyond disappointing. The Silo has potential, but the way the membership process is handled--and the way my friends were treated--left a very bad taste in my mouth. Unless management takes accountability and improves their approach, I cannot recommend the Silo to others. read more

Nut Allergy friendly. Still don't believe that their cauliflower pizza is actually cauliflower crust. Reasonably priced wine and Italian food that is very sharable. Pizza isn't that large for a "large" though. Great wine list. read more

See all

I've always truly enjoyed dining at PortaVino. Over the years, I've been there many times and have introduced several new friends to the restaurant because of the great food, warm atmosphere, and overall positive experiences I've consistently had. It's been one of my go-to spots for gatherings and celebrations. Last night 2/20/26, however, my experience was very disappointing. I visited with five friends, and before we even ordered, we politely asked our waiter, Hector, if we could have separate checks. He immediately denied the request and stated that it would all be on one ticket. While this was inconvenient, we decided to proceed and enjoy our evening. Throughout dinner, Hector's service felt very short and dismissive. At times, it seemed as though he was unwilling to attend to our table. Toward the end of the evening, tables and chairs near us were being put up in what felt like an aggressive and rushed manner, which made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. When the bill arrived, I asked for a portable card reader. Hector said they didn't have one and that it was "charging." To accommodate the single check, we clearly wrote down three different amounts to be charged to three separate cards. At that point, Hector informed us--again with noticeable attitude--that the total had to be evenly divided across all cards, including the tip. We explained that two individuals in our group had not eaten and it would not make sense for them to pay an equal share. He insisted that every card had to be evenly split, tip included, and continued to respond in a confrontational tone. The evening manager then came to our table--without us requesting assistance--and apologized. He explained the policy clearly and professionally, which we appreciated. However, even while the manager was speaking with us, Hector continued to display visible frustration and aggression. The manager witnessed this behavior firsthand. I have never experienced anything like this at PortaVino before. Unfortunately, this incident left a truly sour and sad taste in my mouth. What has always been a place I gladly recommended to friends and family for celebrations is now a place I hesitate to return to. I strongly believe in supporting local businesses, especially those connected to organizations I am associated with, which makes this experience even more disappointing. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken constructively, as I would love for PortaVino to continue being the welcoming and enjoyable restaurant I've known it to be for so many years. read more

Good quality food and a nice selection of well priced US wines (i don't recall seeing non domestic wines but could be wrong). We got there early and got our table early, which was good. It does start getting crowded and you can tell when they want the table back. Friendly wait staff, good food. Do be careful if you have dietary restrictions as there is some meat in some items you might not expect. Normally they have outdoor patio seating. In winter, or at least when we went last night that was understandably closed so the indoor diniting was packed and loud. They also allow you to bring your own wine (~$12 corkage fee). Again though, they have many reasonably priced wines so don't bring you own figuring you need to do so. read more

I came here a few years ago when I could still eat gluten and really enjoyed it and recently returned after I found out they had GF pasta. Unfortunately the gluten free pasta tastes like boxed Barilla. Save your money and make it at home. Understandably this is not a dedicated GF restaurant so while it's disappointing it's nice that it's even an option if you're going here with a group who can eat gluten. I remember the normal pasta being very good! Unfortunately the service was pretty tough. While the servers are very nice, they are basically sprinting around the restaurant and when you try to order they cut you off in an attempt to be speedy. Makes for a stressful environment I don't want to spend my Friday night in. read more

See all

Great service. Good medium to high priced menu. Somewhat stark ambience. Nice neighborhood spot.

Well after weeks of trying to get in for dinner, we finally did. Heard and read great reviews about the food. Let me tell you it was an absolute disappointment. Starters: mussels: frozen and overcooked, VERY small portion and 4 were unopened (you only received about 12 mussels). Risotto balls: Barely any risotto, mushy in the middle, undercooked and if you're going to add 4 cheeses, use them, not just one cheese; or at least that's what I felt we tasted. "Italian" fries: (I lived in Italy for several years and Italians do not make their frites this way) they were okay. Too much chili oil, tasted like there was vinegar on them too. Balloon bread: worth the cost for a first time, I wouldn't order again (nor will I go back). It was not flavorful, the bottom was like a cracker. Caprese salad (not on the menu): was decent. The mozzarella was good, nice size slices, the tomatoes were not as flavorful as they should be, I asked for no basalmic vinegar and there it was. However, I must say, they were nice enough to make it. Main dishes: pepperoni pizza: crust was thick and slightly overcooked. Margherita pizza: same as pepperoni pizza. Shrimp fra diavolo: way over-sauced, shrimp tasted frozen and overcooked, pasta mushy and overcooked. Sent back and did not want anything else. Wild boar pasta: decent size portion however, if you are an eater (as teenager who ordered) and you would like a bit more meat, you'll get more sauce; it's more of a "meat sauce" versus meat that can be added in. Flat iron steak: it was definitely not an 8 oz steak; more like 6 oz, charred way too much to where it was not very good; med.-rare, was cooked perfect in the middle but slightly cool. (We took ours home to give to the dog). The macaroni & cheese was over cooked and saturated with bread crumbs. Now the service: we were welcomed warmly and everyone was friendly. Our waiter, Eric was truly their saving grace. He was honest about options when asked, transparent when asked about the seafood and apologetic for my meal as it fell flat. He was attentive and knowledgeable. The ambiance is great for after work socialization or a dinner party. However, it is slightly loud inside. They pack folks in. A party of 5 are sat at a table meant for 4, with a chair on the end (in the way of staff walking by). The table is just not big enough for 5 with appetizers and food. Just my thoughts. Now for the name of the restaurant: PortaVino: wine list... INCREDIBLE! The wine and our waiter is why this restaurant received the 2 stars. Failure on the food all around, there is definitely room for improvement. read more

See all

With its very reasonable wine price and option to bring in your own wine, Porta'vino always managed to stay packed and busy no matter which days of the week. Good location with plenty of parking. Been here couple times for weekday dinner and had the chance to try out different things on the menu. This place has a fancy casual vibe (but with a slightly fancy Italian price tag). The crowd tend to dress up a bit, but in the mean time you are sitting on metal chairs in a pretty crowded and slightly loud environment with classic rock and country music in the background. Now the food... For appetizers, Calabrese Crisp Shrimp is probably the best thing on the menu (4/5), the Cured Salmon Carpaccio is also solid but nothing special compare to other places (3.5/5), the Polpette has good flavor but could be dry (3/5) For the main, I tend to enjoy their freshly made pastas more compared to other dishes. Wild Boar Bolognese (5/5) this one is my favorite, very good flavor and texture. Beef Tenderloin (4.5/5) tenderloin came out medium as ordered and the dish tasted very good with the peppercorn sauce and mushrooms. Black Truffle Tagliatelle (3.5/5) nice truffle flavor but could taste slightly blend. For other dishes, the Sea Bass was fresh and moist (4/5), however I was disappointed with the Veal & Risotto (2/5) the veal was pretty dry, and the risotto was blend. Although overall experience has been enjoyable, if you are not looking for a wine night, there are definitely better pasta/Italian spots in town. read more

See all

Seasonal menu so always new food to try! This place is always busy so servers can be busy but just makes you enjoy a longer time in the beautiful setting. Highly recommend trying lots of things and sharing with a friend! read more

See all

This place has great food and service. The patio is nice. It is expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Bueno. Gustoso. Saporito. A wonderful recommendation from a patient. From start to finish , our amazing server Jacob took care to make sure our meal was nothing short of perfection. Starting off with a Patz and Hall Chardonnay 94 points paired with an arrancini appetizer. DELICIOUSO!! Jacob explained why there were few choices of wine by the glass as the markup for wine was very low and you can buy a bottle or a case if you choose at this wine bar& restaurant. We decided to split a specialty vegetarian pizza with spinach , artichoke, red peppers and feta. It came out fast , on a heated plate with a perfectly cooked thin crust. Wonderful way to spend Mother's Day evening and we will certainly be back!!! read more

See all

This place just wasn't worth it. I love the idea of BYOB, but the food was nothing special ,especially for the price. The service was disappointing, and the ambiance wasn't appealing at all. I've been to much better places where the prices actually match the experience. What really sealed it for me was catching one of the workers making fun of our table in the restroom, completely unprofessional and uncomfortable. On top of that, about an hour before closing, it was obvious they were rushing everyone to order and leave. Overall, not a place I'd recommend. read more

Food was very good and this is a cute place but would not recommend for a leisurely evening/dining experience or a business meal. Because it's small, things are rushed to place order and turn tables. read more

Haven't had anything bad here! I think my favorite is the ravioli! Pair your meal with a bottle recommendation by the employees. They will not steer you wrong. read more

I realized this year I sent to pick Italian for my birthday each year. This years lead to me to having balloon bread for an appetizer which was great with the dipping sauces. We ate it too fast for a photo. The waiter popped it for us not to burn ourselves My main course was the lasagna. It was adorably crafted in its one pan along with great bread. My husband had the spaghetti and meatball which as you see came out in two piles. Great for portion control if you have self control which we don't. Everything was topped off with a great wine list that the waiter knew well. An after dinner treat of a mini milkshake along with warm chocolate chip cookies. Overall the food was great. There was plenty of open concept. I'd say it wasn't the most romantic of spots. However I enjoyed the people watching. You had folks in everything from dressed up to looking a lot more causal. I'd probably stick to the middle. read more

See all

My friend group and I are huge fans of Porta'vino. We've hosted three large group dinners and each dinner was flawless. What first attracted us to Porta'vino is their BYOB policy. It's $12 for the first bottle and decreases by $1 for every subsequent bottle all the way to $0... When you're hosting a dinner for 6 to 15 people who are known to show up with a case of wines on wheels, this system is affordable - and we appreciate that. We've done everything from family-style dining to hands-off-my-plate... Favorites include the cured wild salmon, arancini, truffle pasta, margherita pizza, cacio e pepe mezzaluna, sea bass, scallops, and milkshake "no minor." Everything we tasted is high quality, and they take pride in the fact that everything on the dinner menu is less than $30. There's plenty of parking, patio seating ("swamp fans" provided during the summer), and great service.... read more

I've been twice and both times either the service and/or food were not worth the price. The second visit, the server was trying to push me to order a bottle even though I only wanted one glass of wine. He claimed it's a better value to get the bottle, but that math doesn't add up if I only want one glass. It's loud inside, so keep that in mind when making a reservation. One positive is the parking is free and there are lots of spots. read more

I would highly recommend you ask for Austin to be your waiter. He was amazing and made the evening truly memorable! Austin came by and kept chatting with me as I waited for my date that was approximately 20 minutes late. Once my date decided to arrive, Austin walked us through the menu and the concept of the restaurant. You are able to bring your own bottle of wine but there is an uncorking fee. After getting some suggestions from Austin, we picked a very nice Pinot Grigio. The wine is uncorked at your table and is brought with an ice bucket to keep it chilled. We started with the Arancini Risotto Balls. These were really good. I would have liked more of the marinara sauce that it's served with. For the main course we both picked the Wild Boar Bolognese. This dish was absolutely amazing! Austin told us it was one of his personal favorites and it became one of my favorite all time dishes. There was not one crumb left when we were done. Austin asked if we would like desert and we told him we needed a minute as we did want something sweet but didn't know if we had the room for it. A few minutes later, he brings us two small cake cookies with powder sugar on top. Again he said these were one of his favorites. They were the right balance of cake/cookie texture. This ended up making us wanting more sweets. We asked Austin which was better the coconut cream pie or the milkshake shot. He hadn't steered us wrong yet. He told us the coconut cream pie was a very popular item but the milkshake shot was also one of his favorites. We decided to try both. Proceed with caution with the coconut cream pie, it is great but it's also a large serving. The milkshake shot was a nice balance of sweet with a kick of liquor. I'm looking forward to going back. This might become my new first date spot as the ambiance is perfect for it. read more

See all

September 4, 2022 came in from Galveston for the day and this was the last stop It's been open since March 2020 which was the beginning of COVID so, given that it's only around a year. It's got a lot of seating inside and out. (Dog friendly outside only) You can BYOB wine for a cork fee. They only have like 5 wines they sell (by the glass) and none that I wanted; otherwise it was all bottles. I tried a beer, Stella Artois...YUCK. My friend got the artichoke and spinach pizza (they're all 10 inch) it also had green/red bell peppers on it too. 8/10 Plenty of parking, it's a big warehouse looking bldg next door to Volvo dealership read more

See all

Decided to try Porta'vino when we had a rare opportunity for date night. We made last minute reservations for a Saturday night and were able to find a table! We were promptly seated even though we arrived early. Staff was very friendly and had great food recommendations. We ended up going with the salmon carpaccio and black truffle pasta with scallops. Both were very tasty! Their wine list is phenomenal - with prices to match. I'd even say it might be the same price as you'd find at a liquor store, which might be enough reason to go to Porta'vino by itself. Great concept, I'll definitely be back! read more

Porta’Vino - Salmon carpaccio - Pizza Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

We enjoy this restaurant. Attentive service, good food and the wine selection is great. Bottle prices are equal or better than HEB or Specs. The Wild Boar Bolognese should not be missed. read more

I attended a surprise birthday party at Porta'vino. I wasn't even familiar with this place, but there's two locations (the other one is in The Woodlands). We had hors d'oeuvres while we waited for the birthday girl to arrive. I forgot to take photos but they offered meatballs (polpette), shrimp, and bruschetta with pepperoni. I noticed that the menu heading said "Happy Birthday" which was a nice touch. It was a prix fixe menu where we were able to choose three courses (salad, entrée, dessert) for $65. For my courses I had: Ella's Caesar Salad: It had capers which was a nice touch and it had just the right amount of dressing to give it flavor without making the salad soggy. Veal & Risotto: The dish was tasty and the portion was larger than it appeared. I loved the asparagus that came with the dish. Milkshake "No Minors." The milkshake came with a chocolate chip cookie. You could taste the booze in the shake but we couldn't figure out what type of liquor was in it. The ice cream tasted like soft serve. It was good, but a little thick. They put two straws in the jar which helped. The private room was at the back of the restaurant right off the main dining area. The setup had enough seats for 34 which was plenty of room for the party. As other reviews have mentioned, you can BYOB of wine. Corking fee is $12 and decreases by $1 with each subsequent bottle of wine. They have a decent sized wine list. I had a couple of glasses of rosé and it was really good! I don't order rosé often, but I really liked it. The staff did a good job getting food and drinks out to everyone. Water glasses were kept full and the service was really good for our large group. There's plenty of parking in front and to the side of the restaurant. The inside is a bit small, but they do have a nice large patio. They close at 10pm but they encourage patrons to take their time (the website says "stay and enjoy after the kitchen closes"). Our friend was so surprised when she walked in! We had a good time and I would definitely recommend Porta'vino for dinner or a private event. read more

See all

The waiters are amazing there so kind! The pasta is delicious and the brownie with ice cream is perfect! The cups are so cute! Porta'Vino's is the best I recommend for y'all to go! read more

Great neighborhood spot! Their menu selections include something for everyone. The wines they sell pair nicely and you can bring your own and pay a small corkage fee. Their patio is interesting as it is situated up high with a view of the passing trains! read more

Dined in on a Thursday at 7:00 pm for a party of two and was seated immediately. Charming neighbor atmosphere, fresh pasta, and it's BYOB! We ordered: Complimentary super crispy popcorn kernels - great addicting flavors, make sure your dentures are glued on tight for this! Black truffle tagliatelle - truffle smells great, pasta is cooked to perfection, but the sauce was very bland (maybe the chef forgot the salt today) Wild boar bolognese - BOMB! You can not taste much boar, the sauce is creamy goodness, and perfectly seasoned Margarita pizza - the cheese pull is never ending! Good quality ingredients, crust is light and crispy, but could use some tomato sauce read more

See all

I had no idea this place existed in my neighborhood but came here one time on a whim and will def be back. You can BYOW for $12 corkage fee. The ambiance is cozy and warm and there's apparently a large outdoor area too though we sat indoors. My fiance and I shared a salad, calmari, a pasta dish (truffle tagliatte), and tiramisu for dessert. The pasta dish was def our favorite, very rich but so good. The other dishes were fine but nothing you can't get anywhere else. read more

Porta’Vino - Truffle tagliatelle - Pizza Near Me - Houston, Texas

Weekend dinner, first time dining here despite living very closeby. Parking is very available and they were decently busy but we were seated quickly and sat outside. The service was quite slow honestly. The food was somewhat between a casual and upscale Italian fare. We got a few apps; calamari, chicken, and Italian fries. Honestly it reminded me of fast food dressed up as more upscale food. Flavor profiles were very bland and the dish quality seemed low and the dishes were a little bit confusing. For mains, we got pasta and split a pizza. Not impressed by the Margherita pizza; crust was subpar and there was no tomato sauce. It was just cheese on bread with sliced tomatoes on top, which was not expected. The pasta actually was decent but charged pretty premium prices for what it was. Overall, it seemed like food that is dressed up but lacking finesse and quality. You're paying for quality but not quite getting it. read more

See all

Made reservations for 6:30pm on a Saturday, and it was super busy! They allow you to BYOB/Wine. The corkage fee is $12 for the first bottle and $11 for the second. It decreases by one dollar for additional bottles (3rd bottle $10, 4th $9, etc). For appetizers we got the Mac & cheese, balloon bread & crispy shrimp. The Mac & cheese was actually very VERY good. Tasty, cheesy & extremely hot. We really enjoyed it. The dipping oil/sauce for the balloon bread was good. The crispy shrimp had some meat/sausage & lettuce and we really enjoyed all the flavors and texture. For the main course, we had their special of black truffle pasta & the scallops. We absolutely loved the scallops. Cooked perfectly. My husband didn't particularly like the sweet squash or whatever it was with the scallops, but we still ate it all. The black truffle was yummy and the perfect portion to be honest. Any more I'd be so full. We got the brownie as dessert and really liked it with the ice cream on top! Would definitely recommend trying this spot out! Also, our waiter was super kind! He was so busy, but was attentive and got us all we needed when we asked! read more

See all

Sorry I didn't take pictures! But trust me when I say I've been dreaming of this place for the past few days after a wonderful birthday dinner with friends! We started with all the appetizers. The macaroni was the best I've ever had. Artichoke dip, same! I split the wild boar bolognese with my friend and I wish I would have ordered more to go! So freaking delicious. I'm not huge on chocolate, but that brownie was heavenly. The adult milkshake was awesome too! I'll be back! read more

Met friends for dinner Tuesday night. Great parking and friendly staff. I ordered the mussels which had a tasty wine sauce with balloon bread. My entree was the wild boar bolognese, the best I've had in Houston! The ambiance was lovely. Will definitely return read more

We have been coming here for years and it's our fav place for good Italian food and amazingly priced wine bottles! Lester always takes good care of us! read more

This place is incredible. First the wine prices are often cheaper than the grocery store or liquor store. Incredible! And amazing wines too! The service is stellar. We had Maury as our waiter, and he was just the right amount of attentive and also really seemed nice. The food! Oh yum the food. We started with two appetizers. The steamed mussels and the salmon carpaccio. Oh Lordy. So good! And both were brought out with more bread than was needed. Contrast that with other places I always have to ask for more. One of our friends is a foodie. Very hard to please. And he kept complimenting the food too. We all got different dishes, and all were really good. The scallops with risotto, though, were exceptional. One of the best dinners I have ever had. They gave us free little adult milkshakes. Yum. We also got tiramisu to share. This was good, not great, but I really shouldn't have ordered it anyway so... I'll forgive them this. And the owner even came over to ask how our meal was. I will be back. Highly recommend. read more

See all