Portale

"Our evening at PORTALE was nothing short of perfection! The food was spectacular - from start to finish. Our Server suggested the "bread" (Focaccia) as a starter and we thought meh . . . bread? What's the big deal . . but when "bread " starter plate arrived it blew our mind! Bread!! Go figure. Every subsequent plate was the same - our second appetizer was the CRUDO DI TONNO (yellowfin tuna tartare, cucumber, radish calabrian chili, citrus emulsion). For mains I had the: MAFALDINE (maine lobster, calabrian chili, lemon-basil butter) which was perfectly aldente, and both rich and subtle in flavor. Have not stopped thinking about it since! My husband had the MAIALE (country-rib pork chop, polenta, roasted baby peppers, apple conserva) - and honest to god, it was the BEST pork chop either of us have ever had (yes, I stole quite a few bites!). For desert we had the BOMBOLONI - which is basically like home-made fluffy, delectable donut holes - with chocolate sauce, maple-bourbon anglaise to dip them in. Exquisite! ALL of our WAITSTAFF were also lovely, quick and friendly, perfectly "present" but not overdone, added to the enjoyment of the experience as a whole. We'll be back many times over - what a delight it was to dine here!"

"WOW! The meal was just indescribable and I loved every molecule that entered my mouth. My friend and I actually took the train up from Maryland just for the day to see a show (and of course do some eating!). Your staff was so welcoming and friendly! And patient with my menu questions and struggle to pick want to order because I wanted everything but we were trying not to over eat. We ordered the Frutti di Mare and then the Agnolotti and the halibut. We shared everything and they plated it separately for each of us (pasta in one dish). Portions were still very satisfying!! Can I just tell you, that halibut was perhaps the best halibut I have ever had, and maybe one of the tastiest bites I have ever had. That first light crunch of the truffle crust and then the perfect firm but melting texture of the fish. I could barely contain myself and delicious moans coming out of me. The Agnolotti, rich but so perfectly balanced and not overpowering and SO many mushrooms, i was actually happy with the amount. The meal was just indescribable and I loved every molecule that entered my mouth. My friend and I spent 2 weeks eating through Spain back in September...we LOVE delicious food. For me, this meal was just spectacular!! (as was every person we interacted with). Truly hope to come again in the future!"

"Exceptionally nice dinner especially the exquisitely seasoned duck served with pears and the most delicious wild rice I’ve had in my life! The frutti di mare was fresh but the pomodoro pasta dish was very oversalted. The meatballs were incredibly good, so were the bombolini. Excellent service and great atmosphere. A must place to go."

"The moment you step in, you will feel the quality of the this restaurant. The atmosphere and food were outstanding. We had meatballs, octopus, pasta, desert and opened up a decent bottle of red wine. Gotta tell you that meatball was my favorite in all of them. The bill was slightly over $100/pp. I would say based on the quality and experience you get, it is well worth the price. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience a fine dining in NYC. Will definitely be back here again."

"Oh wow, what an amazing experience we had celebrating my boyfriend's birthday at that place! I mean, who wouldn't want to sit at a not-so-great table surrounded by a big group, right? It was just the perfect setting for a peaceful and enjoyable date, let me tell you. And let's not forget the attention to detail they displayed when they asked for a picture and food preference beforehand. I mean, why bother asking if they don't actually check or care about what you request? It's truly mind-blowing. The place itself had a "decent ambiance" (if that's what you call it) and a "great location" (as if that makes up for everything else). Getting there was a breeze, though, with all the available parking areas and convenient subway access. So at least they got that right. Now, let's dive into the highlight of the evening - the food. Brace yourself for the vast array of vegetarian options they had... or should I say, the lack thereof. But hey, they kindly reassured us that "everything can be made vegetarian" (how thoughtful), even though their server was about as helpful as a broken compass. Oh, and did I mention how they rushed us to place our order? It was such a delightful experience being pushed to make decisions before we were ready. Truly, the epitome of great service. But hey, let's not be too harsh. The cocktails and wine were actually good (surprisingly), and some of the dishes like the soup and appetizer managed to be decent. Unfortunately, the pasta and risotto were just... average. So, in conclusion, if you're looking for a place with "great" ambience, "decent" food, and "not-so-great" service, this is the perfect spot for you. They really know how to exceed expectations... or not."