Good food and service. The ambiance is very nice and comfortable. Every time I go to Carmel I eat at PortaBella

Took a day trip to Carmel and popped in to PortaBella on a Sunday for lunch. Touristy spots can be hit or miss so I was a bit worried, but the food here was phenomenal! I had the Linguini Ai Frutti Di Mare and it was perfect. The house-made noodles were the star-- chewy and thick-- plus the lobster cream sauce was decadent. The ambiance was nice and service pretty good as well. I would like to come back to have their pasta again! read more

PortaBella - Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Porta Bella in Carmel is an absolute gem and easily one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, inviting, and authentically charming--perfectly capturing the spirit of Carmel. What truly sets this place apart, though, is the service. Nestor, the supervisor, runs an exceptional operation. His leadership is evident in every detail, from the attentiveness of the staff to the seamless flow of the entire dining experience. He strikes that rare balance of being both highly professional and genuinely personable, making guests feel welcomed and valued without ever being overbearing. The team he's built is just as impressive--friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. Every interaction felt thoughtful and sincere, and it's obvious they take pride in delivering a high-quality experience. The food itself was outstanding--beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly made with care. Whether you're a local or just visiting Carmel, Porta Bella is a place that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommend, and I'll definitely be coming back. Mina was an exceptional server. He truly went above and beyond to make our visit, absolute perfect perfection. I had one of the most memorable lunches that I've had in a while!! read more

PortaBella - Indoor /outdoor excellent seating - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

We had a great experience at Portabella Restaurant. The Italian food here is absolutely delicious. I ordered the salmon and linguine, and both were cooked perfectly--fresh, flavorful, and very satisfying. The bread served with pesto sauce was a nice touch--simple but really tasty. You can tell they pay attention to quality ingredients. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxing meal in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Service was also very good--friendly and attentive without being overwhelming. Definitely a place worth visiting if you're in the area! read more

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Delicious pasta and amazing corn soup! Service was great here and we had a nice dinner in the back part of the restaurant. Both pastas were well made with the seafood pasta being better than the pappardelle, but I'd recommend checking this place out! read more

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Visited again after 8 months, the food is still good as usual. I visited on saturday 2pm, no wait. I had the popular short ribs, it's really juicy and tender with the red wine merlot. Truffle risotto and corn crab bisque were great as the last visit, this time the complimentary bread really amazed me, it's served warm, crunchy crust and soft fluffy inside, pair with the pesto olive dip, it's really superb, way better than the previous visit. read more

Date of visit: 1/25/2026 This was my second visit to Portabella located at the heart of Carmel by the Sea. This is a Mediterranean and Italian restaurant opened back in 2016. The restaurant is cozy and cute, which is right next to the famous Cottage of Sweets. Aperol Spritz $18 My husband ordered the Aperol Spritz, which was quite refreshing. Chocolate Martini $18 I ordered the chocolate martini, made with Tito's handmade vodka, chocolate liquor, and baileys. The side of the glass was covered in chocolate. Steamed Mussels Au Vin Blanc $22 I got the steamed mussels with garlic confit, shallots, parsley, thyme, and butter served with garlic breads. The mussels were very fresh and juicy. Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare $39 Husband ordered the linguine with jumbo prawns, mussels, local calamari, tomatoes, lobster cream broth, and basil. read more

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Super dog friendly place with heated outdoor seating in the front along with seating in the back both of which are dog friendly. They're so dog friendly that they even have a designated dog menu. Food was good but the pasta was too Al dente for my taste. I let the waiter know and he immediately replaced it and had them remake the whole dish with a longer cook on the pasta. Prices are a little steep but given the area, the fresh seafood and the service I think it's worth visiting. read more

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Food was priced high and didn't wow with the flavor. Service was nice and ambiance was good, but not worth the amount paid.

This spot grants attentive service despite it being very busy. It's a little dark in here, so you may have trouble reading your menu, but it does depend where you are seated. Some tips: Try to get seated inside if it is the evening to be warm! Make reservations like a day early or the morning of when you plan to come here. Food was amazing! I enjoyed my Mai Tai, but my bf and I felt that the Expresso Martini was off-balanced with the alcohol. read more

PortaBella - Pappardelle Alla Bolognese - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Overall I am happy with my meal, everything was delicious and food came quickly. We didn't have to wait long to be seated and everyone seems courteous. There is a small outdoor seating area at the front of restaurant. The inside was much bigger , but tables were placed a little too close to each other. I really like the seafood pasta, the corn lobster soup is good too but probably the least of my favor amongst all. One thing I noticed this time when dining in the Monterey area is that many restaurant charge 3-4% credit card fee. So what you seeing in menu was actually cash price. I totally did not see the small fine print at the bottom of the menu mention of this. I think they should make this more obvious so customer can be ware of this ahead of time. read more

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8.5/10 Dinner was excellent overall. We ordered the Classic Wild Mushroom Risotto, Oven Braised Short Ribs, and for dessert the Apple Tarte Tatin. Starting with the Oven Braised Short Ribs, the meat was cooked perfectly. It was incredibly tender and practically fell apart with each bite. The ribs were seasoned very well and had deep, rich flavor throughout. The vegetables alongside the dish were also cooked perfectly, not too soft and not too firm, and added great color and balance to the plate while being nicely seasoned themselves. My only small critique is that I wish there had been a bit more meat served. The mashed potatoes were surprisingly good as well. I'm usually not the biggest mashed potato fan, but these were extremely smooth, creamy, and flavorful. The Classic Wild Mushroom Risotto was the highlight of the meal and a must-order. It featured a great variety of mushrooms that added depth and earthiness to the dish. The risotto itself was cooked perfectly, creamy with the rice at the ideal texture. The cheese was balanced nicely and didn't overpower the dish. If I had to describe it, it felt similar to a white sauce pasta in terms of comfort and creaminess, but much lighter and more refined. For dessert, we had the Apple Tarte Tatin. It was good, but nothing particularly memorable. The pastry itself was warm, flaky, and baked nicely, but the overall flavor reminded me a bit of a funnel cake style dessert. The highlight of the plate was definitely the ice cream, which was excellent and paired well with the warm pastry. Service was fast and very attentive throughout the meal. The ambiance had a nice upscale feel, clean, polished, and perfect for a nicer dinner outing. read more

PortaBella - Classic Wild Mushroom Risotto and Oven Braised Short Ribs - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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What a find! Carmel has so many options for dinner, but PottaBella was not only able to cater to a large group of people at the last minute, but also had delicious food! Their pesto dip with the bread was so yummy! Everyone in our group loved their meals, including the pappardelle bolognese, pappardelle with veggies and marinara, braised short ribs, salmon, and a local fish. The staff was all wonderful, from the front of the house to the waiting staff. If you're in the mood for good Italian food, stop here! read more

PortaBella - Braided short ribs - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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This place was highly recommended by a local who works at the local pet boutique across the street. Definitely a cute spot both inside and out. It looks like one of those cute homes you see from the hobbit or Ireland. Dog friendly place and cute small patio to sit. Our server brought us warm bread and basil dip to start. I'm used to just getting bread and butter to start, but the basil dip was creative and delicious. My husband got a burger with mushrooms and I got mushroom soup and mushroom risotto. I'm a big fan of the mushroom soup. The soup had the perfect balance of soup and cream, plus the truffle was a nice touch. The mushroom risotto was delicious, but if I get it next time, I'd make it shareable since it was such a large dish. read more

PortaBella - Bread with pesto sauce - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary. I just want to say Richard made my entire night! He is the best host ever. They had live music, the musician serenading the room. The food was good, you can tell they used fresh ingredients. We will be back. read more

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We made a lunch reservation on Easter for 3pm and were looking forward to our meal in Carmel. Unfortunately, the experience was a letdown, primarily due to our server. To be fair, the support staff (runners, bussers, etc) were all attentive and doing their jobs well. The problem was entirely with our actual server, who seemed completely disengaged. Despite having a reservation and the restaurant not being particularly busy, it took about 20 minutes for our server to even come to our table. We ordered a margarita and aperol, but the server never once checked back to see if we wanted another drink or anything else. We ended up sitting there much longer than expected simply because our server was nowhere to be found - and this was while the restaurant was nearly empty. The food was equally underwhelming. Nothing was offensive, but nothing stood out either, just thoroughly mediocre. It's frustrating because the rest of the staff seemed to be working hard, but one inattentive server can derail the entire experience. For a Carmel restaurant where you expect a certain level of service and quality, this was a real disappointment. read more

This is a cute place with a lot of charm. But it felt very cramped. While they were able to accommodate our party of 3 , the tables are placed really close to each other and you are literally bumping elbows with people at the next table. The food was okay but nothing memorable. The service wasn't the best, even though we were seated in the middle of the chaos we didn't get checked on unless we asked. Worth a visit for the aesthetic but be prepared for a tight space. Also if you are sitting in the back there are only 2 bathrooms and there usually is a queue that forms so be weary if you're in the back, there may be people hovering nearby. read more

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Food was good. Beautiful environment, Nice service. Mushroom soup was delicious, bread with pesto also delicious. Carbonara was not a carbonara, it was a parpadelle with Alfredo sauce, mushroom and some greasy meat, unfortunately in my second bite was too heavy and fatty. Shot ribs was delicious! read more

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Charming and yummy! FOOD: I had the lobster pasta which was very tasty but very rich. I would get it again but share it with someone as an app vs entree. My husband always gets the boolegnase and loves it. Even the kids wanted to eat is pizza. I must mention the lovely pesto dipping sauce that is amazing!!! SERVICE: Everyone was kind and cheerful. I was a little nervous about bringing kids but they were sweet and accommodating to them. They even had a kids menu! AMBIANCE: This place is top tier Carmel charm. The resurtrant has to be in the cutest cottage in all of downtown Carmel. The first time I ever came I sat outside and could not get over how special it felt. Overall, will I be back? Yes! This is another one on my Carmel must visit list! read more

PortaBella - Jumbo Lobster Ravioli Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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My first Time There was Saturday. I thought I Try it Because of Recommending. I went In The Host Owner I guess Sat me At a Good Table in the Back. I Looked at Menu I ordered The Osso BUcco Ive had at a restaurant Ibn San Jose Not too many restaurants have it in Monterey When It Came No Sauce on it It Looked a Bit Dry. I tried to Eat it Especoially with Dentures Hard To Bite into It Tho I did Finish it. I first Had Mushroom Soup No Mushrooms Just a Broth That Was Good. After The Osso Bucco I order Dessrt I Order Homemade Bread Pudding THAT WAS DELICIOUS Very Different From Other Places it Had Almonds homemade custard raisons I should Have Called My Server of the Osso Bucco but the place was very busy I wil not goo back when first time food not great read more

PortaBella - Fantastic Bread Pudding - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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Excellent food and service. The restaurant staff are great. The store seems small from the outside but it's surprisingly big with seating out front and Sven more seating towards the back. We were greeted with warm bread and Theo house made pesto sauce - very creamy and delicious. We ordered the cheese board, chicken sandwich, and short ribs. Our food was served hot and fresh. Very tasty. I recommend giving this place a try. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in Carmel. We made a reservation for 7 on Friday. They had a man playing the guitar and singing in the front of the restaurant but we were seated in the back where it was quieter. I thought the restaurant itself was so cute and had a romantic atmosphere with dim lighting. They start you off with a basket of fresh warm bread and some kind of pesto dipping sauce that was delicious. For our entree we got the bolognese and the carbonara. It was served with plenty of meat and sauce. I finished the whole thing. For dessert we shared the crème brûlée. The service was great and our waiter was attentive. I'll come back anytime I'm in the area read more

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A Long-Overdue Rave for PortaBella! This review is embarrassingly overdue, but my fantastic experience at PortaBella has been on my mind since the moment I left. This place is the definition of quaint and charming, a true gem that feels both cozy and special from the moment you walk in. Our meal was, in a word, spectacular. We started with the mussels appetizer, which were plump, flavorful, and bathed in a delicious broth that we couldn't get enough of. Following that, we had the Caesar salad, and I was thrilled they offer it with real anchovies--it gave the dressing that perfect, classic, savory kick. For the main courses, the seared scallops were cooked to absolute perfection, with a beautiful crust on the outside while remaining tender and sweet inside. We also ordered the mixed seafood entree, which was a delightful tour of the ocean's best. Every single ingredient, from the scallops to the fish and shrimp, tasted incredibly fresh, and the chef has a real talent for melding flavors together in a way that is both exciting and harmonious. I would come back to PortaBella in a heartbeat. It was a truly memorable meal, and I can't recommend it highly enough for anyone looking for fantastic food in a charming setting. read more

I want to start off by saying this is my first time here but it will NOT be my last, I truly appreciate their supportive staff. Their food overall is amazing! The restaurant is tucked away in carmel by the sea the atmosphere, the vibe - is immaculate, it's such a hidden gem I can't believe i have never been here! Strongly recommend read more

This place is so impressive! Cute cottage style with a nice setup. Nice little bar area, they have outdoor seating but inside also feels like you're eating outside. Service is excellent! Not just the server attends to you but the other servers also come check on you. Everyone was polite and professional! The food is absolutely amazing! The King Salmon is huge and cooked perfectly! Presentation and flavors definitely 10/10. The Pasta Alla Carbonara full of flavor made with fresh pappardelle, it was amazing! Portabella Cream of Mushroom Soup was delicious creamy but not thick and heavy. They also give complimentary bread and pesto and that pesto sauce was incredible, you can taste the freshness of the herbs. Had a great experience here left very satisfied and impressed! read more

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Underwhelming meal. Had a caesar salad and bisque. Salad was on par with a grocery bagged salad with some anchovies on top. Croutons in the bisque and salad and Parmesan cheese shavings reminded of store bought. Service was attentive. Outdoor seating was quite nice. read more

Adorable! Porta Bella was the perfect Carmel lunch spot to eat outdoors in the front courtyard patio with a heat lamp during the typical cold coastal temps. The food was delicious, the portions was huge, and the service was great! We loved sitting off the Main Street for fun people-watching in the cutest town in California. The only slight negative was we sat behind the swinging door, and customers (not the staff) kept walking in and out without care in the world if the door slammed into us. We tried not to let that ruin our experience. Oh, and the free bread and pesto dip was to-die-for! I am still thinking about it! read more

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Great food, accommodated our group of 10, and located right in downtown Carmel. I would love to come back for their desserts. They even made lemon drop martinis for us which is not on the menu. read more

PortaBella - Pan-Seared Sea Scallops - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Perfect view! Who would not love it! Food was fabulous! Highly recommend for food, drinks, and relaxing!

cute and quaint place! short ribs were phenomenal and just fell off the bone!! probs favorite dish and the serving size was quite generous for the mussels and the ribs. perfect for two! read more

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Came back 2 years later and this place did not disappoint. Had an open table reservation at 630pm on Sunday and went there after we saw the sunset at the beach -Roasted Corn and Crab Bisque - we learned our lesson and got a bowl instead of a cup this time and the soup was still excellent -Tricolor Organic Baby Beet Salad - refreshing salad with beets and citrus and a good amount of blue cheese - Fresh Tuscan Pappardelle Al Pomodoro - noodles were cooked fresh. my partner thought this was a good balance as the soup and the lobster ravioli were both creamy. the vegetables were a good mixture and flavor to the dish - Jumbo Lobster Ravioli - I thought this dish was creamy and had a lot of flavor. Kind of like a thicker reduced soup with ravioli in it Glad we went back again and we are making sure we will continue to go back whenever we visit Carmel. read more

PortaBella - Fresh Tuscan Pappardelle Al Pomodoro - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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Went in without a reservation because we had just been at the beach and my family was hungry and just looking for anything close by. One star for them being able to accommodate us. We sat outside because of our dog. The outside patio is a really tight space. You are right up against the other tables and there is so privacy whatsoever. Felt really cramped and claustrophobic. Another star for the nice busboys, but our actual server was rude and not very nice. The food was meh overall. Not worth the price. I don't mind paying for good food. But this wasn't it. Mediocre overall. Everything was bland and forgettable. read more

PortaBella has been one of my favorite restaurants for over 10 years! I love stopping in Carmel-by-the-Sea to walk, shop, snack, and specifically eat at PortaBella. I've never come for lunch before so I really did love how easy it was to walk-in (although I did made a reservation, and didn't need to) and the delicious menu options. As soon as we were seated, we were able to order and received our bread, pesto, and wine within a few minutes. Their service really is top tier. Over the years, their menu options have seemed to become more Italian/American than Italian/French, but nonetheless their food is amazing. The pesto was incredibly fresh along with their French loaf slices. Fresh pesto is always the best. I did ask for the option of a side salad with my entree and our server said "of course", but I did end up with the full size Caesar salad. It was fresh and delicious nonetheless. The anchovies went well with the Caesar dressing too. I loved my lemon dijon garlic chicken too! The chicken was perfectly cooked as it just slid off the bone. The mustard lemon sauce on the chicken was delicious and added to the veggies as well. Overall just a refreshing meal. My husband had the pasta alla carbonara and it was a dream. He barely let me have a bite as he loved it so much. The mushrooms paired well with the cream reduction sauce and parmesan. Honestly anything added to the sauce and parmesan would have been wonderful! Can't wait for our next trip back! read more

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On our first trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea, we were in the mood for seafood (especially mussels!) and happened to find this spot while strolling around town. After a quick Yelp check confirmed it was well-rated and dog-friendly, we decided to give it a shot. We came in as a walk-in party of two with our dog around 1 PM on a Friday and were seated instantly. The vibe was relaxed and welcoming. Great service and energy all around. What we ordered: Complimentary bread + pesto: 10/10 - Delicious! A perfect start to the meal. Steamed Mussels Au Vin Blanc ($21): 9/10 - Some of the best mussels I've ever had. The white wine sauce was flavorful and rich, perfect for dipping bread. My only complaint is that many of the mussels still had byssal threads (beards) attached, which made slurping them a bit tricky. A little more attention to prep would've made this a perfect dish. Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare: 10/10 - I've had hundreds of frutti di mare in my life, and this one ranks near the top. The pasta was cooked to perfection with a bit of a bite, and while we already had a full plate of mussels as an appetizer, the ones included here were distinct and just as delicious. We left extremely full and happy, and I've already recommended this place to several friends. read more

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Such a cute small restaurant! It's very cozy and romantic. The food was delicious, pasta was creamy and saucy. Our server was so sweet! read more

PortaBella - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

amazing carbonara, best i ever had (italy included) incredibly fast service not sure if it's mostly due to ordering pasta but we ordered and it came 5 minutes later. AND THE PESTO SAUCE THEY GIVE WITH THE BREAD, AMAZING!!! bolognese pasta was okay but not as amazing as the carbonara. read more

PortaBella - Pasta Alla Carbonara - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

We've visited this restaurant a couple of times now. Our first experience was excellent--the food and service were both great, which is why we decided to come back this past Saturday. Unfortunately, our second visit was the complete opposite in terms of service. While the food was still good, our server (the dude with a fucked up teeth) was very dismissive and seemed distracted the entire time. It felt like we were being ignored, which came across as disrespectful. On a positive note, the support staff--such as the food runner and busser--were attentive and helpful, which we appreciated. We also noticed several servers gathered in the back, talking loudly instead of attending to guests. At one point, a customer had to walk over and get their server just to place an order, mentioning out loud that they had been waiting for quite some time. This experience was disappointing, especially compared to our first visit. The quality of the food is there, but the level of service needs attention. Hopefully, management addresses this, as service can significantly impact the overall experience. read more

I was in Carmel on a work trip and I popped in here by myself for dinner one night. It was such a wonderful experience!! The atmosphere is cottage, romantic, Italian. They had a musician doing his thing in there. The service was great, my guy was so friendly and awesome to interact with. The food was exactly what I'd hoped for, comforting, delicious Italian. It was so good. Definitely pop in if you can! read more

The host was rude and ignored me multiple times as I was trying to sit. They told me our party couldn't fit outside even though two tables had just vacated. All the other restaurants in Carmel have been super accommodating and offer to remove a chair so our baby stroller can fit, but they were adamant that ours wouldn't even though our stroller is much smaller than most and definitely could fit. Everything felt a bit off, which made me question if I would've been treated this way if I looked like their usual demographic -- then I come to Yelp and see quite a few other reviews sense some sort of racism here, which validated my suspicion that this is a pattern. If you're a person of color, just know there are plenty of other restaurants with fantastic service in Carmel. read more

Very nice location on Ocean Ave and the architecture is very pleasing. It's also adjacent to the cute cottage selling sweets that looks so European. Instead of oil and vinegar, they have their own special spread for the bread and it's very good. We had the seafood linguine and salad with smoked salmon and pistachios, both were delicious. The ice cream dessert was very good and of generous portion However, the wait staff seemed too robotic and not friendly enough, except for the young man who served bread. read more

PortaBella - Pistachio ice cream - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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