Portofino Cucina Italiana

Came here for the food tasting menu for two. You pic one each course. It is served as family style. Pretty generous portion.
spinach and arugula salad. It is very tasty, just right amount of dressing.
Arancini which is the fried balls with cheese and peas inside. It is very yummy.
Carbonara is so good. Perfect texture, right amount of sauce.
Chicken breast with stuff is delicious. A must try.
Flourless cake is very good. It is freshly made.
Overall, right amount portion, came right on time, perfect temperature which ready to eat, service is excellent. Nice ambience. Relaxing music.

My friend and I were starving and walking around LA looking for a good Italian place. Finally I looked on travelzoo and there was a deal for two people $ 69
We made a reservation and google mapped it, started walking.
SCARY, the only downfall to this romantic Italian restaurant is… its in a horrible area.
I believe the door doesn’t open from the outside, the person inside has to open it for you…
I saw on the website they offer happy hour on some appetizers 50% off. I think that’s great
We tried the spinach and arugula salad: Very good, but I’ve had better
My favorite was the beef carpaccio! I highly recommend this.
My entrée was the Spaghetti del golfo di Napoli which comes with Black mussels, garlic, black pepper, Calabrian chili flakes, parsley, white wine and cherry tomatoes.
I think I ate it all.
Portions are not huge, so its waistline friendly lol.
Good stuff. If I’m ever in the area and its still light outside I would defiantly come here again.
Worth a try .
Oh the service is great. The owner is super friendly.

This place is a gem. The menu features incredibly delicious Italian fare at very reasonable prices (especially for DTLA). I’m gluten free out of medical necessity, and in the multiple times I’ve eaten here, I have never been «glutened.» The service is superb. The ambiance is a little odd, but that only adds to the charm for me– it feels like a place that only I know about. That said, check this place out! I want to share this gem and make sure they survive!
I’ve gotten several gluten free pasta dishes, and they’ve all been amazingly delicious. Bellinis, always excellent. The Caprese salad rocks as well. A couple at the table near us was literally shrieking with delight over the beef dish they were sharing (I think it was a special). I’ve never seen anyone go wrong on this menu.

Coming in, i was a little worried. It was 6:30pm on a Friday night, and only three tables were filled. However, we ended up having a lovely meal.
The staff was extremely attentive and friendly. Recommendations were made and plates and silverware were changed between courses (sometimes, I felt, unnecessarily so. Another reviewer wanted his plates changed more, so I guess the restaurant can’t win either way!).
We started off with the Caprese, and it was light and delicious. I was wary of ordering the carpaccio, since I’ve never had that before, but I enjoyed my portion with the peppery arugula. The fettucine with mussels was probably my favorite. It was (as we were warned) a tad bit salty, but I didn’t mind that at all, and I thought it was really good. Our last dish was the cioppino-​esque soup. Accompanied with toasted bread, this was also very satisfying. All of the seafood was tender and enjoyable. To end our meal, we shared the tiramisu along with a glass of champagne. This was probably one of the better versions that I’ve had, since it wasn’t overly sweet or mushy. The cake had a strong espresso flavor, and I could have eaten a whole second slice.
We were both tired from a long week, but we wanted to have a nice evening out, and Portofino truly delivered. Not only was the food wonderful, but the service was exceptional as well.

Diego takes huge pride in everything he does at this little gem in the Historic Core of DTLA. The food is fantastic and authentic from the wonderful spinach salad to the pastas to the tiramisu. Very European and a great victory for this neighborhood that was skid row adjacent to now have this quaint, beautiful restaurant. Portofino is the best date restaurant in DTLA.
Grazie, Diego

One of the most authentic Italian restaurants I’ve ever been to. Even our waiter was imported… lol. JK… but he was Italian.
Waiters name is Diego and he was fantastic. They had a great wine selection and the food was phenomenal.
I highly recommend this place for anyone is looking for a night out on the town, a date, or group meeting.
Real service… real Italian food. real good wine!

I purchased the groupon voucher for the chefs special; read great reviews about the place. Unfortunately, I was not counting I waiting so long for my food. So expect to wait at least two and a half hrs after you’ve been seated.
Food was good but not worth the cost of the voucher nor the wait. Waiters were inattentive. My partner and I felt ignored. Others were immediately provided with bread and water. We had to flag someone down to ask for it.

Yes – I too, came here as part of the Groupon crowd… the Tasting menu sounded pretty good so I thought, why not give it a shot and try something out that’s outside of our usual slew of choices? I kind of figured the husband and I were due for a ‘Date night’ anyways.
I called to make a reservation and I think this immediately tipped them off that I was using a voucher because they asked if I was coming for the Tasting Menu. I made the reservation for 7:00pm on a Saturday night. Like others have mentioned, the area isn’t the best but we were able to quickly find parking around the block and made our way into the restaurant.
The hostess took our voucher and sat us at a very private table with dim lighting at the back of the restaurant. I don’t know if it was the ambiance of the place or what – but when our server came over to bring us the Tasting Menu with the selections we were to choose from, I was definitely feeling in the mood for making it an enjoyable experience. When he offered the wine selection, we happily ordered a bottle – we NEVER order wine at restaurants; we’re the ‘let’s eat as fast as we can, get full, and go home’ types so this was huge for us.
They ask you to place your order at the beginning of the meal. The Tasting Menu very clearly lays out what you can choose from and what you are getting so that made it easy to help us decide what we wanted.
The food portions looked small when they arrived at our table but since there were so many different courses coming out we ended up getting really full. They also offered as much complimentary bread and dipping oil as you wanted. They also kept a non-​intrusive eye on your progress to make sure there wasn’t too much of a wait between courses. Fresh plates were brought out with each meal and I loved how the server would announce the next course with Italian-​inspired flamboyance. When the next course arrived, the presentation alone made the experience feel so elegant.
The experience was remarkable and it was a great way for my husband and I to take our time and enjoy eachother’s company over a nicely presented meal. The after-​dinner champagne with the dessert of your choice was a nice little touch. After my experience here, I can’t wait to go to Italy and experience authentic Italian dining… this was a real treat.

i am always very wary of buying groupons, and read plenty of reviews before purchasing. in this case, my research paid off! the food was plentiful and delish, and the service was great. there were no issues at all with payment with groupon.
my only suggestions for improvement would be:
turn up the music! it was too quiet in there
seat the patrons spaced apart. half the restaurant was empty but we were all squished together in the front space
warm bread please! it would make a huge difference. the olive oil is amazing though!
time between pasta and entrée took a while.

Its unfortunate for all extremely EMPTY this spot is because the food is actually quite delicious!
Its as authentic as I assumed real Italian food should be, full of flavors, even if you bring it for left overs!
We bought a deal on livingsocial and had a «family meal» which means you share all the courses that comes out. Good thing there were five courses, and the portion was fair otherwise it would of left me feeling a bit cheated.
Every dish we had was scrumptious and though my best friend didnt quite enjoy the dessert I enjoyed trying something they dont usually have elsewhere.
My fave was the eggplant dish. sooo good!

Came here on a Travelzoo deal ($ 50 for tasting menu for 2, 5 courses). Delicious, classic Italian food. They don’t try to be pretentious. Not a bunch of weird trendy ingredients. Just great ingredients, simply prepared, done perfectly.
The neighborhood is a tad on the iffy side. It’s on Main Street which is being revitalized, and you can easily end up on Skid Row if you make the wrong turn. But Main Street itself is ok.
The restaurant itself, just like the food, is not pretentious. Just some tables, nice lighting, very quiet. Good place to have a relaxing dinner, which is exactly what my buddy and I needed after a long week at work.
Let’s get to the food… With the tasting menu, you get to choose 1 item for each course (dishes are served family style to be shared.) Their Burrata Caprese salad was out of this world. The cheese was flavorful, creamy, delicious. For our second course, we did the beef carpaccio. Again, beautifully done. Delicious. No complaints.
We also added an order of arancini. The waiter made it a point to let us know it is not like arancini that we normally find in other restaurants, in that this is not covered in red sauce. Well, honestly, it was the best restaurant arancini I’ve had. Now, I prefer my arancini to have more of a texture (the risotto, in my eyes, should be a little al dente) but the waiter was very adamant that it should be creamy/​mushy. Fine. Despite me wishing the risotto was al dente, it was still the best restaurant arancini. (The most delicious arancini is the one I make myself at home :)
Next is the pasta course. We ordered the pasta with mussels. OMG. The amount of mussels they give you is ridiculous. There was so much (not complaining). We expected there to be 5 pieces. I think it was closer to 20. The pasta was fresh. It actually felt more like ramen noodles. But it soaked up all sauce, and ohhhhh that mussel sauce was so good.
Fourth course… we got the beef of the day, which was rib eye with a reduced balsamic sauce. I’m generally not a fan of sauce on my steaks. I like my steaks plain with just salt and pepper, and let the steak’s flavor come out. But that balsamic sauce complemented it so well, I loved it. It wasn’t smothered in it, and it wasn’t overpowering. The steak itself tasted great too. No regrets.
And last, for dessert, we were offered a selection of desserts that were not on the menu. We chose the semifreddo with a cashew topping, almost like a prailine. It was good, but it probably was the item that wowed me the least.
Like I mentioned, the food is not pretentious here. It’s just damn good. It’s like a fine home-​cooked meal. Totally hits the spot. I will definitely go back.

One of the best meal experiences that I’ve had in LA.
The food was delicious — flavors are fresh and truly authentic italian and my husband said that their homemade noodles were out of this world.
The service is impeccable — constant refills on waters and attentive wait staff without being invasive or pushy.
The ambiance of the restaurant feels like comfortable elegance… I know that doesn’t make sense, but the reason I would classify the ambiance as that is because the décor and furniture is not high end and their are no white table cloths, but the meal is presented to you as if there was. And the wait staff treats you like you are at a 5-​star joint.
Really truly an amazing evening. I will definitely be back!

While my husband and I vacationed in the area we came here for my 30^th birthday dinner. Equipped with a Groupon in hand, we were both interested to see how the tasting menu would fare. We came Wednesday evening and the place was barely crowded – which was great for us considering we had a seven month old in tow. The meals were awesome and well prepared. Even though our Groupon came with champagne at the end we both ordered wine and sangria.
The servers did a fabulous job of watching our table so they could bring the next dish. The only «complaint» I have is that they didn’t have a cannoli for dessert. They sure did make up for it with an amazing slice of chocolate cake AND a piece of tiramisu for my birthday.

We went here because we had a Groupon.
At first I thought the tasting menu + 1 pasta wouldn’t be enough for the 5 of us (we had an extra person), but we were full when we were done.
My favorite dish was the pappardale porcini, which wasn’t included with the groupon deal. It was really delicious! I’m also always a fan of homemade pasta, so all the pasta won me over on that end.
My 2 concerns were that the food was pretty salty and the service was a bit awkward. Sometimes they were really friendly but sometimes they would forget obvious things (like our plates).
Overall, I think it’d be worth it to come here for the groupon deal but I dont think I’d come here otherwise.

My friend treated me at this restaurant last Friday night. He had a groupon which was $ 60 for the $ 100 Tasting for Two. We brought a bottle of wine — the corkage fee was $ 15. The ambiance is nice and it is not a crowded restaurant, there was only 2 other groups there.
PROS:
–Tortino al salmone: This was our favorite thing all night. I loved the baked salmon and it was a size easily shareable for 2.
–Lasagna Bolognese: This lasagna had a perfect balance of cheese, noodles, and meat. There was also a little heat to the dish and I really enjoyed it.
–Tiramisu: Not the best I’ve ever had but pretty good! I liked that it was stronger (in coffee flavor) than others I’ve tried
Champagne
–Music/​Table Decorations
–Service
–Bread
CONS:
–Spinach and Arugula Salad
–Gran fritto Portofino: This was more like an appetizer than an entrée. We had a couple bites and were not impressed. It lacked flavor and texture.
We were very full and satisfied after the meal. The bread is warm and good too!

Here’s what you need to know about Portofino!
Service is friendly.
Ambiance is casual and chill.
Spinach and Arugula Salad — GOOD
Carpaccio (basically a Spinach and Arugula Salad with Carpaccio) — GOOD
Rigatoni Al Forno — GOOD flavor, tasty sausage bits mixed in, I like that they use big penne pasta
Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp — VERY GOOD and creamy but it cost $ 1 PER shrimp
Pollo Ripieno Broccoli — REALLY GOOD
Cannoli — JUST OKAY, maybe I’m just spoiled. I grew up in Buffalo with lots of authentic Italian restaurants that make GREAT cannolis. The restaurants are so authentic that they call me moolie!
Glass of house sparkling wine — GOOD
Bottle of Italian wine similar to a Pinot Noir is $ 32. VERY GOOD!
They usually have a deal floating around. If you go without a deal, it’s KINDA PRICEY.
Amazon Deal —
There’s also A TABLE OUTSIDE, in their small patio if you want to enjoy the DTLA charm (aka bums begging for change) or if you have a dog with you.

I was hesitant to come here due to the mediocre reviews on Unilocal.However, I was pleasantly surprised! If you set your expectations low, then you will more likely enjoy the experience. Also, Bottega Louie, a well-​known Italian restaurant, is just a few blocks away, so I never had a reason to come to Portofino. I’m so glad I did though!
We ordered:
Angus meatballs ($ 11): ⁴⁄₅. three meatballs covered in pasta sauce, mozzarella, and served with two pieces of garlic bread. I loved the flavorful meatballs doused in pasta sauce!
Rigatoni ($ 17.50): ⁵⁄₅. I took a bite of my friend’s dish and it was very tasty. My favorite dish from tonight. The sauce is very creamy and filled with bits of Italian sausage. Yum!
Swordfish ($ 19): ⁴⁄₅. The fish was very tender; however, the capers made the fish extremely salty. After I scraped off the capers, it tasted a lot better. I liked the olive oil, tomato, and olive combination they put on the fish. Added a lot of flavor. Served with a side of broccoli and potatoes. The broccoli was a bit undercooked and hard to bite into. Overall, still a tasty dish.
Bottle of Sangiovese ($ 34). ⁴⁄₅ Pretty good wine with a decent bouquet, and no weird aftertastes.
The service was the best part! Previous review on Unilocal talked extensively about the poor service. Perhaps Portofino has changed their practice based on these reviews. The hostess and the waiter were both very attentive and friendly.

Cute little restaurant on Main in the Old Bank District area. The food is actually American Italian not Italian Italian… if you know what I mean.
The service is great as on the time of my visit it was on the earlier side of dinner. To start, I shared a caesar salad (can’t really mess that one up) and puff pastry pizza with a mushroom and onion topping. Both of these were quite nice.
For the anti pasti, I shared the mushroom ravioli in a cream sauce. I must admit, this dish did not look so appetizing. And as they say, you eat with your eyes first, so I really did not enjoy it.
My entre, also shared was a strip steak. This dish was actually pretty good. Go figure, I didn’t like the pasta but I did like the steak at an Italian restaurant.
To finish, again, I shared the tiramisu. It was OK having been overly doused in rum.

Came here because of a ½ off Groupon deal on sale with an additional $ 10 off. The Groupon instructed me to call to make a reservation to use the Groupon, but I was able to make the reservation on OpenTable, mentioned that I was using Groupon, and get my OpenTable points :)
Located in the heart of Downtown LA, you can imagine how difficult the parking is here. If you are stingy on the parking like me, you will either try your luck to find a metered parking ($ 2/​hr and free after 8pm) or find a cheaper parking lot (cheapest paid parking lot is $ 3-​$ 5 but pretty shady). I think I have quite some luck this time. Find a metered parking with 45 leftover minutes. I only had to pay 60 cents more to get through 8pm for the free metered parking.
When we first arrived, we thought the restaurant was pretty quiet for a Saturday night. Until we were seated inside, we founded out that it’s pretty crowded, because they seated everyone by the window to make the restaurant look crowded. The maitre d’ took my Groupon upon check-​in.
Our Groupon is a 5-​course tasting menu for 2 with champagne. Unfortunately, the server did not explained the menu clearly. We each made a selection on each item. When we ordered, the server told us that we were actually only ordering one item from each section to share. We were able to revise our selection right away.
They did not provide us with bread. We had to ask for the bread, but the bread was not fresh… I would rather not have them.
For the tasting course, we had:
— Baby Beets Salad: really good
— Carpaccio: nice
— Tortellini Vodka: pretty good
— N.Y. Steak: quality was mediocre, but sauce was sweet and nice, kind of like teriyaki sauce
They did not change our plates in between courses — not even in between appetizer and main course, so we had to stick with our dirty plates all night long. The server told us that the tasting menu would take 1 to 1.5 hours, but it took us 2 hours. The N.Y. Steak took forever to come out. Luckily, they provide free wifi to kill time. And thanks to the long wait, I complete this long, detailed review while I was waiting for my food: p

My friend had the Amazon Local $ 45 deal… I’ve seen Portofino on various daily deal sites but have avoided it because I’m not a downtown fan.
If service was all that mattered in a restaurant, this place would be rated much higher. Unfortunately, there is also food and that is pretty much the entire reason for only 2 stars.
Parking on this street isn’t necessarily hard, I just feel it’s unsafe so I’d recommend you pull into any close spot or lot you can find (We parked in a $ 7 lot across from the restaurant). Very high for the area but hey, I did not want to be walking several blocks in the neighborhood.
Made reservations but they weren’t necessary. We asked for a larger table for the two of us and they graciously obliged. Menu is a little small but the warm bread brought along with menu and water along with carafes of olive oil and balsamic vinegar will ease that pain. I especially found the appetizer section lacking… would have loved some fresh cheese with olives or even a baked or fried cheese dish.
Entrees were also a bit limited. I was torn between a fettuccine dish and whatever the baked ravioli of the day was… it turned out to be mozzarella cheese and mushroom ravioli in a creamy Marsala wine sauce. That sounded quite odd to me, but I was talked into it. Mistake.
Dining companion ordered the hearty baked ziti with red sauce and plenty of meat and cheese. He pronounced it «good enough».
My ravioli arrived freezing cold in the center, which was a huge turnoff. They went to «warm them up» and when I got ‘em back they were in fact HOT. But even that can’t hide the fact that the combination of chopped mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and the promised Marsala wine sauce just doesn’t exactly «jell». Just the Mozz with the earthy mushrooms would have been great in a simple white based cream sauce.. I didn’t eat much. Dining companion tried it and found it also a little «off».
So we did dessert — a lovely and fresh chocolate chip cannoli which had a nice crisp shell and just the right amount of creamy texture.
Wouldn’t go back to Portofino or recommend anyone buying a «Deal»… service was all around wonderful, the food just doesn’t live up to the experience. And speaking of experience, there is a distinct spell of Pine Sol or some other discount cleaning agent that wafts throughout the place. Maybe that’s what they use to clean their tile floors but it’s making the place smell like a junior high cafeteria. Not a good first impression..