When we arrived I didn't have high expectations. I watched others be greeted significantly friendlier than we were but the moment our server and his assistant took over it was awesome. We sat in the addition where it was warm and cozy. The attention and consideration was above and beyond. Not over bearing but always avaiable as needed. Our food was awesome. Fettuccine with bolanasse,meatballs fra diavlo black Angus w garlic sauce chicken Parmigiano and arugula salad all met every expectation. The dessert menu seamed endless and drinks were well balance. I look forward to many more occassions. read more

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I love this place! The service is amazing and so is the food. Love that they have their own parking and the home style Italian dishes that are on the menu that are hard to find at other restaurants. read more

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I ordered the Zuppe Di Pesce. This is my go to dish when I go out and have always enjoyed it. However this was by far the worst version of this dish. It had no flavor. It had plenty of fish and a good variety, but the chef ruined it. It was so bad I would have sent it back, but did not want to embarrass my friend that bought it for me. I ate the fish, also not to make my friend feel bad. If you entrust someone to cook something that has that much expensive fish, you should make sure they know how to prepare it. read more

Portofino - Sauce no flavor, looks like they did not drain the pasta. Horrible - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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We usually make it a point to travel here once a year and are never disappointed. I normally get the duck which is great. Last night they had a blue crab sauce special which was fantastic. My wife had the lobster ravioli. Of course we left enough room for the white chocolate crème brûlée which was yummy! Our server was great as always. Never disappointed. read more

Portofino - Blue crab sauce with clams. - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I used to live in walking distance of portifinos, attended holiday parties there and generally the customer were treated well and they catered to the needs of the group. Recently, there has been more of a bro culture, rude to women and misogynistic. Definitely steering paying customers away in favor of the regulars. Food is good, ambience not so great. This was not just my experience, I've had friends who were heckled and teased, the manager shrugged it off. Boys club, no thanks. I just want to have a casual delicious meal with friends. Sadly, I won't be going back. read more

Okay, so you want an exceptional night out with excellent food? Amazing chef Raul prepared two amazing veal dishes that were ordered that were out of this world. The service with Jay was also amazing, he was polite, funny, professional, and just a joy to have as our server. The ambiance was perfect: great music at a nice level, the lighting provided a glow, allowing for a beautiful, romantic evening. There was plenty of sitting space, it was not too crowded. I will recommend this restaurant to everyone, so if this is what you are looking for in an evening, please make your reservation at Portofino's Restaurrant & Bar on State Street. I give them a 10 out of 10. The experience was literally out of this world. Kym Hammonds read more

Quiet place for hardy italian food. Crunchy bread and big portions. Place has been around for a while and we haven't been here in almost 4 years. It was just as good as we remember. We were able to get in on a Friday night without a reservation (party of 2 with a baby!) they had a special menu for the new year too! read more

I love portofinos. Friendly service and great food!! Always my go to when family visits

Ordered takeout penne alla vodka and they were able to put breaded chicken on it! There was a very good amount of chicken and it was perfectly crispy, and the vodka sauce was perfect. Was able to make almost 3 large portions out of my order too, and it was just as great reheated as leftovers read more

Portofino - a bowl of pasta and chicken - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Celebrated my grandma's 85th birthday here with some family back in December, and came back in May to celebrate my grandfather's 95th! It's so good every time we go, and the service is great! Our waiter this month was so friendly and went the extra mile to make sure we were satisfied. All of the food was delicious. I highly recommend portofino's! read more

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Went with the family to Portofino for dinner and cocktails. Had never been before but so glad decided to try them. The staff was friendly and accommodating and had some drinks at the bar while waiting for everyone to arrive. Drinks were nicely poured. Seated quickly and were offered the specials with a large variety of choices. The broccoli rabe appetizer was truly outstanding and the complimentary bread and butter was crusty and delicious. Main courses were all really excellent and the lemon marscapone cake was fantastic! Definitely a place to come check out with quality food and great flavors. read more

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I stopped into Portofino's to kill some time before my facial across the street, the ambiance was nice, the drink the bartender made me was very good and the other patron that was there was very friendly. I couldn't get food but would def go back! read more

Portofino - Rum - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Portofinos is a staple in New Haven. It's a must go to if your in the area, if your planning on going on the weekend make a reservation. We made a reservation for 630 and we got in and we're seated immediately. The atmosphere is very romantic calming, lighting is dim and very classy but very comfortable. We were greeted by our pleasant waiter who was very prompt to bring bread and drinks. The Italian bread was hot and fresh out of the the oven and it had a very light and crispy crust with soft inside. I started out with a key lime martini, Very refreshing. Our apps consisted of tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail (no pic they ate it too fast!) and clams casino. The tuna was very fresh, made with avocado, cucumber, red onion and a vinaigrette on top of arugula. The shrimp cocktail was a good large size I believe there was 4-5 of them and the sauce wasn't too spicy. We also had clams casino flavored nicely with bacon on top. There was a good pause before dinner came which gave us time to digest and not rush. Another key lime martini so good! Dinner came we had zuppa de clams this came out nice and piping hot, made with huge chucks of garlic and a garlic oil white sauce. The clams were cooked perfectly not the least bit chewy. The next plate was your staple family lasagna, which was a giant piece, flavorful sauce and meat. Only comment on the would be the top was slightly over cooked but we just peeled it off. Next were the scallops scampi. The scallops we're lightly seared and all cooked equally delicious. This was on a Angel hair bed of light pasta in a while garlic sauce. Our next dinner was lobster topped on filet mignon. My son asked for it medium rare. This steak was spot on whoever cooked this is outstanding! The lobster was sautéed lightly and in a nice béarnaise sauce and on the side were very tasty potato. The last dinner was lobster ravioli. These were one of the best. The pasta was so light and the lobster meat was plentiful and not fishy tasting. The texture and consistency of the pasta was like none I've ever had. It made it very easy to eat most of the plate because it was so light. After all that we also had dessert! The Oreo cake and the chocolate mousse cake no pictures it was gone too fast! The Oreo cake cold almost frozen consistency like ice cream cake, not sure if it was supposed to be like that but still yummy! The mousse cake was thin layers of a fluffy chocolate cake with layers of mouse in between, there was probably 6 layers and it was covered in a chocolate ganache. Not too chocolaty at all! It was just the right mixture of light and dark. We've been here several times and they never disappoint! Go and eat! Manga !! read more

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So disappointing. We had heard good things about it and were expecting a better meal. Another restaurant with large portions and mediocre food. I had the chicken Portofino which was lackluster at best. My husband had the seafood risotto of which he ate about a quarter. It was drowned in butter and over-salted. The service was poor. The waiter took our order and we didn't see him again until the end of the meal. Never checked in on us. And the room was noisy to boot. Wouldn't go back and wouldn't recommend it. read more

I'm not understanding why or how Portofino's doesn't have a 5 star rating -- food and service are always excellent. As far as Italian in New Haven goes, I'd contend Portofino's ranks amongst the best with Tre Scalini, Adrianna's and Good Fellas. read more

Portofino - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This place is great. Been there forever so we stopped thinking about it. Chances in one night and everything was first rate, from the bread to the salad to entree. Delish and unexpected specials, but even the traditional dishes were great. Went back twice since. Prices are decent but the service is first rate m. Everyone was accommodating and no one threatened to call the police or asked if we wanted to go in the kitchen and cook it ourselves. We will go back again...and again. read more

I love this place! The place is cozy and the food is always hot and delicious. Never had anything less than an amazing meal here. read more

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I brought a friend here who in retirement spends half his time in Italy, he said this is the best authentic Italian food he's had since coming back to the United States and he's eaten Italian up and down the East Coast, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Delaware, and DC. I love the place come once or twice a month and I take his word for it. Fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere great food and service. read more

Four of us dined here a few days ago. I ordered the Duck Ala Orange & it came out perfectly. One person in our group had Chicken Florentine, another had sole & another had Chicken Parm. The meals & the service were simply great. We will return. read more

When my plate of zuppa di pesche arrived, I laughed at the sheer amount of food that sit before me. Reminded me as a boy sitting at my grandparents table and a mountain of macaroni before me, thinking how the hell am I going to finish all this? Service was well received, my dish was absolutely phenomenal, it was a perfect dining experience. read more

Great food and great service, you really can't beat Portofino's when it comes to Italian food in New Haven

Not a fan. Called for a sat reservation and was told 5, 5:30 or 8pm only which was total bs. Didn't even give us a wine list until we asked for it. Clearly there's a few regulars which is understandable. Food was meh. Service was below avg. Specials we're just slapped on the table ~ just felt like the waiter was disengaged and it wasn't busy at all. In a post Covid world, when restaurants have closed and service is at a premium ~ thiey missed the mark big time. Salads are extra (don't come with entrees). It's the little things ~ lied about reservations (who wants to eat at 5:30pm?!), lack of attention to detail, not a welcoming atmosphere ~ there's sooo many amazing Italian restaurants in New Haven...we also got someone else's bill at the end won't be back. Honestly, if we didn't have a gift certificate, we NEVER would've come here. Pics are from our 5:30pm Sat pm reservation ~ photos taken ~ 6:30pm. Nobody in here. If you gave it to me for free, I wouldn't go back. Parking is a pain ~ in the back of the restaurant or take your luck on the street. Just so many other great restaurants in New Haven to give my $ to. If you treated me and paid for it. I'd still pass. Highlights: 1. Lied Re reservations 2. Poor service - no wine list, didn't check in us 3. Gave us the wrong bill 4. Food is just ok ~ better options nearby No thanks. read more

Portofino - 6:30pm in a sat. - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Exceptional Italian food. Large portions & so delicious. Try the Zuppe de pesce or Sunday sauce you will not be disappointed. Staff were very accommodating and kind & the ambiance is welcoming; made you feel like your family. read more

Had a great dinner at Portofinos in New Haven last night! The service was great and the food was delicious. The restaurant is very clean and sanitary inside and the atmosphere was very relaxing. All of the food that was ordered was cooked perfectly and tasted great. It's a great restaurant and we'll definitely be back soon! read more

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I loved this place! We went around 6pm and the bar was open for dinner which is exactly the place I like to sit on certain occasions. It's located right down the street from modern apizza so if you're a modern fan, this is a easy find for you. I first had some bread and oil. I am going to admit I am quite snobby about the quality of bread. The bread was excellent. It was a crunchy crust and a warm middle dough. I loved it with a little oil and some hot pepper flakes. Perfection. I had the stuffed artichoke for an appetizer off the specials and it was huge. Bigger than expected but it was tasty. I recently got into artichokes and they are messy but very good. This was stuffed so I accidentally ate some leaves but I don't think I harmed myself! I found it a little too much stuffing because it filled me up. I special ordered broccoli rabe and sausage with linguine and it was delicious. I like minced garlic instead of whole cloves and chopped garlic but I believe coming from an Irish girl that's an Italian tradition. It was very good but I could only eat a few bites. The leftovers were very good after sitting overnight and letting the flavors settle. The final thing I liked about this restaurant was the wine glasses! Big and good to handle and excellent wine!!! I would definitely come back here because Italian food sings to my heart! read more

Great quiet restaurant several blocks from the downtown NH scene. We had a wonderful dinner experience at Portofino's. My wife and I were both impressed with the service and food quality. We had the lobster raviolis, which were really great. Extensive menu to explore. We will certainly return again. read more

Eating at Portofino is like taking a level in New Haven-ness. Someone behind you will be greeted joyously by the staff as "Mayor!" (See if you can guess which current or prior mayor without turning around.) Someone else will be greeted by name and handed their usual drink. You, a stranger, will be treated as if you're about to become a regular, which after your first bite of bread will seem like a very good idea. The food is terrific. It's similar in scope to what you'd get at a snazzy restaurant in Rome, and it's worth getting a serious entree. My fish (a daily special) was the kind of perfect where every bite is an event and you want to sop up the excess sauce so as not to miss any. The restaurant is bright and airy, and they've extruded tables into the surrounding outdoors. I was a fool to wait so long to try this place, but wow, it is a delight. read more

We dined in at Portofino's on a weekday. The interior ambience was warm and cozy with plenty of seating. There ended up being a fundraiser that night, so the bar and extension seating area were full. Overall, though, we received excellent customer service throughout our dining experience. All of the menu items we tried were delicious, well presented, and quite large in terms of serving size. We ordered the: -Insalata Caprese (Caprese Salad) -Melanzane Siciliana (Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan) -Lobster Ravioli -Penne Alla Vodka (with no pancetta) -Tartufo (Icecream) They also provide a starter salad and keep bread at the table at all times. One of the best aspects of Portofino's is that they have some parking spots in the back. In this part of New Haven, where it can often be a struggle to find parking, this is a welcome feature. Overall, I would happily return to Portofino's. I'm not sure how they might be on the weekends, but the weekday dining experience we had was excellent. read more

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This is definitely a five star place for food quality , service and atmosphere. The Italian food is the real thing. Pricing is moderate for what you get. The only dull spot was the red velvet cake (don't make that mistake, they really should have taken it off the bill but I would never ask. A relatively small negative to an excellent dinner and in general a 5star restaurant. read more

Portofino - Dining room - Italian Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Saturday, 7-29-23 The food was great, no issues, and the pricepoint was fine. Service was S-L-O-W. We were told the kitchen was "backed up" yet the restaurant looked only half full on a Saturday night. We sat in the room with the plexiglass roof, very nice, and again, only half the tables were occupied. From 8 pm to 8:30 after we finished our apps, NOBODY came over to our table. I had to in the restaurant and find our waiter. An off night?? I'd give them one more try. Lobster tails over lobster risotto was the best combo I've ever had!! All 4 of loved the food, and hoped for better service. read more

Food was gross. Cheese plate came out with 2 rock hard pieces of bread that were inedible. We were given entire blocks of 4 hard cheeses that were all similar. Penne alla vodka and gnocchi were both so oily that they could have slid off the plate. Tiramisu was soggy and flavorless. Service was good. read more

I would give this restaurant 0 stars if I could. I went to a birthday dinner here at the beginning of February, 2019, and was HIGHLY disappointed by their level of professionalism. The birthday girl made reservations for 7PM- we didn't get seated until 8:30/9.(literally 20 plus of us waiting in a TIGHT area) There was a huge party in the room she reserved and they were taking their sweet time. The manager told us that they would be finishing up momentarily...that was a lie. The waitresses began bringing out trays of coffee and dessert to that party as if we did not RESERVE that room. At this point, we were all furious. Fast forward.... We got seated at 8:30/9 and the manager brought out several free appetizers, which were calamari (never asked if anyone were allergic) and tomato and fresh mozzarella. (Very bland) About 15 minutes later, we all ordered our food. The food took about an hr to arrive.(It wasn't all that either). Everyone ate....now it's time for the checks. Our waitress literally started grabbing money and cards from people without taking down any names...seeing who ordered what...that went left very fast. We somehow ended up $176 short(Yeah...ok!) Needless to say, we will never dine here again. #Allset read more

Food and service was excellent!!! We were there celebrating my fiancé birthday and it was perfect!

If you love large portions this is the Italian restaurant for you! Several appetizers were ordered; Pane Cotto, a delicious escarole and beans dish sautéed & baked ....along with a Tuna Avocado Tartar, also equally delicious and we most definitely could have shared it amongst the 4 of us. A very generous tasty salad was served with the meals and a home made bread to die for! So delicious, I'd go back just for that bread! Entrees were quite large and equally tasty. The Grilled Salmon was perfectly prepared & quite tasty. Veal Marsala medallions were very tender and served with mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce. The last two dishes were VEAL FRANCESE; veal cutlets in a gentle lemon sauce /capers and VEAL FLORENTINE breaded & sautéed lightly & served on spinach with mashed potatoes. While we enjoyed the meals, they were too large, kinda thrown on the plate and left us a bit underwhelmed. Sometimes less is more and a more appealing presentation would have been appreciated. read more

Amazing Food, Cozy Atmosphere, Outstanding Service. Authentic Italian Cuisine. Highly Recommend Portofino's in New Haven

Never a disappointment! Wow, Portofino's is just amazing! If you haven't been here you're missing out. Highly recommended!!

I absolutely love this place. Big portions. Always delicious. Take out is fast and dine in is even better. Their staff feels like family. read more

We came here to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday last night, and what a delight this restaurant was. Tucked away on State Street in New Haven, we walked in, and even though only one other table was being used at that time, I'm glad I made a reservation because within minutes the entire restaurant was full. Service was excellent, we got our drinks within a few moments of ordering, and the food came out about 15 minutes later. Bread was hot and crusty and delicious, we could've just made a meal of that with the wine but instead, I had veal Milanese which was excellent, with fresh tomatoes and shaved Parmesan, my mother had veal Francese, which was delectable and just the right amount of lemon. My boyfriend opted to have two appetizers as his main course, the tuna tartare and the fried oysters. The tartare was generous and fresh, and the oysters were heavenly. For dessert the restaurant comped, my mom a crème brûlée with a candle, while my boyfriend and I shared limoncello mascarpone cake, both were heavenly and delicious. We wrapped up leftovers to go, and our server Alex threw in an extra half a loaf of the delicious bread, which we learned came from A&M bakery in the Bronx. I will definitely be back here with my son once he finishes his first semester of college! Bravissimo! read more

During COVID I chose this restaurant especially when my go to restaurant, Goodfellas were closed. What a gem! Especially the dessert menu and daily specials. Spouse enjoys their fish specials. I have enjoyed the various specials. read more

This is the best place in New Haven let alone the Mill River/Wooster Square neighborhoods. if you want Veal Milanese anywhere besides the Trattoria Milanese in Milano this is the place to get it. Alphonse and his staff are top notch and very warm and welcoming. You will not be disappointed walking into Portofino's in New Haven read more