First time here... ate with 8 other family members (all eat gluten). They gluten dishes apparently were very good. My husband and I got gluten free versions of two dishes. The frutti de Mar and the veal saltemboca. Well, the descriptions in the menu were WAY off on both dishes for the GF versions. I did not like the Frutti del Mar at all. Super vinegar flavor and BLAND BLAND BLAND. There wasn't enough salt and pepper to fix it. The Saltimboca was good flavor with the sauce but the veggies were also BLAND on their own. Thankfully the sauce really did help the veggies. It was "just okay". It would have been nice to be warned that the GF versions were so different that the menu description.
Wonderful food. We both had the Pollo Portofino over fettuccine. It was perfectly crispy stuffed with tons of fresh spinach. Staff was sincere and attentive. I highly recommend.
This is the place for authentic Italian cuisine! We stumbled upon the Portofino when our flight was canceled and so very grateful for such wonderful service and magnificent food! If you're in the Arlington area, make sure to visit the Portofino! Highly recommend!!! ?
Great food from a large menu with unique dishes that go beyond the standard classic Italian options. Good service in a nice atmosphere. I'm not from the area, but this place is on the return-to list when I'm back.
Went in with no reservations, the owner made accommodations for is. Super nice staff and authentic Italian dishes. Highly recommend trying this place,you feel like you are at your aunts table that can cook really good. Great place ro dine.
The reviews I read pumped up my expectations. Walking up the cute little side drive and into the cozy space was nice. But it was all down hill from there. It was my first visit so I ordered things that were highlighted as restaurant specialties. The Calamari Fritti was not elevated in anyway. Basic at best. The Polenta Croccante was actually a great choice but my polenta was not crispy as described & that really took away from the dish. The Insalata Caprese was simple but it’s described as over mixed greens but a romaine/spinach mix didn’t sit right with me and I didn’t pick up on any Italian red wine vinaigrette. But the biggest disappointment was the Risotto con Aragosta e Zafferano. Risotto is not a soup. I literally had a spoon full of liquid. And on top of that, it was flavorless. All I tasted was fishy seafood. We didn’t even finish it. The staff & service was fine. We were seated next to 2 ladies who are regulars… So I assume there’s potential. But based on my first experience… there’s nothing I’d return for. Oh, and we got a donut like dessert that was deep fried, greasy, and flavorless. That was our cherry on top. No thank you.
recently spent the weekend i Arlington, my wife and i wanted a restaurant to celebrate our sons 18th b-day. we picked the right one. from the moment we walked in the door to the time we left was perfect. Very polite , very professional, if you want an Italian Restaurant this is your place. i wish i can remember the name of our waitress , she was amazing. thank you for a wonderful evening . we were there march 5 , please thank everyone who was there
The food at Portifino’s is so delicious. From the lasagna to the calamari, the tortellini soup and eggplant you cannot go wrong with any dish. The service is as exemplary as the food. Go, you won’t be disappointed.
We stayed at nearby Marriott and walked here for dinner. The food was phenominal. Delicious. Fresh made. The rustic bread. The ricotta cheesecake with vanilla sauce was devine & recommended to us from a customer who was leaving. The couple at a nearby table ordered pistachio creme brulee, which sounded amazing, too. The owner came to each table to make sure dinners were great. Go there. You will not be disappointed.Bonus is that it is very easy accessible to Arlington National Cemetery and other great sites.
I have dined at countless Italian Restaurants and I can guarantee this one is in serious contention for the worst. The only two redeeming factors of my meal were the fact that the meat dishes were cooked properly and the espresso was was good. Aside from that.. the caprese salad consisted of thick uneven slices of tomato with unusually small slices of what seemed like a not fresh- fresh mozzarella. Unseasoned bland and sad looking. Even the fresh basil had no flavor. The oyster special was a disaster. Poorly shucked, old looking, dry and bland oysters with pieces of broken shells. They were dressed up with some type of diced tomatoes in order to hide the fact that they were old and disgusting. After eating just one of these I was afraid for my health. The vegetable sides were unseasoned and pathetic. They had the same appearance and flavor profile as steam in bag microwaved frozen vegetables. An additional side of sautéed mushrooms we had ordered arrived barely cooked, rubbery, unseasoned and lightly tossed in oil and garlic. The cheesecake was mediocre, at best, and the bottle of Malbec was acidic with metallic notes and filled with more sediment than I have ever seen in a 5 year old wine. Overall I would say avoid this place. The Olive Garden would be a more solid choice of Italian Restaurant and It pains me to admit that.