If I was able to leave a 0 star review, that's what this place would receive based on how my friend and I were treated on the phone. My friend and I were calling in search of a restaurant that served both pizza and pasta. Upon saying hello, the representative on the phone informed my friend that they were serving lunch (as if to get my friend off of the phone). My friend happens to have a stutter and needs some time to be able to ask questions. Being his advocate, I stated to her that he needs some time to ask some questions. He asked for the hours (which she provided) and if they served pizza, which she harshly answered with a "no". After he asked his third question about the pasta they served, she said "yes, we have pasta. It's an Italian restaurant. I only have time for one more question." At this point, we had been on the phone for 1 minute and 20 seconds. Having worked as a restaurant server, I am appalled at how this woman treated my friend on the phone and I informed her that him being a potential client, she does work in customer service and needs to serve the client. A phone call lasting less than 2 minutes is not much to ask. I do hope that they reconsider who they have answering the phones for the sake of their business. read more

Excellent food, great atmosphere, polite & helpful staff, very fast service (midweek)

Great surprise. Love their eggplant...its perfect. Tiny place and functional decor...nothing but an old time local haunt...but it's really good! Try the escargot stuffed mushrooms...omg...so good. read more

Awesome italian restaurant, been around a long time family owned always inviting. Nice quiet atmosphere. Drink selection leaves a bit to be desired especially the wine list but all around good choice. read more

A small, intimate and authentic Sicilian restaurant in the heart of Troy. Wait staff was attentive and the place was busy for a Monday night. They even have a small room for large parties. The owner is a sweet man who spent time talking with us and getting to know what we liked. Will definitely return. One small draw back...they don't offer gluten free pasta BUT offered for us to bring our own next time and they would cook it to serve with their amazing red sauce. read more

Hidden away on a street in Troy you are transported back in time to what felt like the 50's. The food and service were both top notch and while we had never been there before we most certainly will be returning read more

This little gem of downtown Troy has the most amazing filet mignon. There pasta is so spot on. And I love the feel at home atmosphere

My go-to place when in Troy looking for italien, I feel like I'm in little Italy in lower manhatten. I'n warm weather a few old men are sitting outside haveing red wine. Not fancy, and can be noisey but the portions are huge and outstanding regardless what you order. Basically the finast Italien available in downtown Troy. read more

So many folks list it as their local favorite, but until last night we hadn't been. It is a delight. The space, the staff and the food are all top notch. I assumed the place was small and no tables would be open. It was Troy Night Out and Lacey called from a Breathing Lights trolley at 7:30 to ask for a table an hour hence. No problem! We arrived 30 minutes early, but still menus were picked up and we were taken to our table. We walked through the fully packed front rooms into a long back room. Three of the roughly fifteen tables were occupied. Terrific murals lined the walls, but the lights were too bright (my looks improve as lights come down). After the three other tables left, we asked our server if the lights could be dimmed. Absolutely! She also asked if we would enjoy having the ceiling fans turned off. Yes! Now the room was ours--cozy and dim. The food! Vegans will work to find critter free menu items, and I expect the choices narrow further if too many questions are asked, but we had been cold, tired and hungry and found dishes that worked for us for the evening. Not only worked, but deeply satisfied. Lettuce greens were crisp and dressed right. Peppers and artichokes, too. Three different plates of pasta were enormous but so delicious I wanted to make all three go away. My fork wasn't "minding its own business." As it is, the pasta remaining from my dish will be the centerpiece for three upcoming meals at home. On our next visit we'll order less and work harder to find fully critter free dishes. I am confident the servers and kitchen will be happy to help. We were the last table in the place when we left around 10:00. I try hard not to be that table. Keeping staff waiting to do their final chores doesn't sit well with me. Still, every single member of the staff gave us a very warm goodbye on our way out. That says it all for me. My sincerest thanks to the owners, kitchen and staff. read more

I could write a book about how much I love this place. I'll spare you the time. Imagine the greatest meal you've ever eaten and the best service you ever received... now triple that. read more

Clearly this restaurant has its share of lovers. Even as we struggled through our meal, regulars poured in, one-after-another. The place was nearly sold out with reservations the evening we were there, and everyone who came through the door seemed to know the people working at the restaurant. So, clearly there is a contingent who rate this place highly. Sadly, we are not in a position to join that group. We so wanted this to be our Italian 'go-go' when in Troy, but alas it is not, and our search continues... The highlight of the meal was the bread. It was served warm, with a nice crusty outside. The butter, was whipped, and present on the table when we sat down. The bread definitely gets a high mark! Service was adequate, but not outstanding. Drink orders and meal orders were taken in 'average' time, but could be improved. Delivery of the drinks and food, was again in the 'average' range, but could be faster. So, service is okay, but not above average and certainly not outstanding. The salads were a nice size, particularly given the amount of food served. In other words, on the smaller side, but the right size for the amount of food that we would be presented in the course of the whole meal. The lettuce unfortunately was wilted and not up to snuff. The main entrees were the real negative for the meal. The various red sauces and meat sauces were not to our liking. They were different but none to our liking. The meat sauce...should be MEAT sauce...not stuffed with other things to fill it out. For the carnivore, you'll be disappointed with the amount of vegetables and other fillers in the meat sauce. The basic red sauces were salty to the taste, and had what we could only describe as an unusual taste, that none of us could place. As one of our party said, they like all red sauces, but this one was somehow objectionable and they found themselves having to stop eating it, as it was just unsettling. As we were pondering the enormous amount of food before us, tables near us received appetizers that made us think we were in a deep fat fryer. A truly greasy and oil odor over took our table, and we concluded that it was calamari that these individuals had received and left our olfactory senses unhappy. Prices for most of the items were very fair - good value for the amount of food received. Word of advice to the management, reduce the portion sizes and you could keep your prices the same. Your profit would go up, and there would be a whole lot less waste of food. So, in closing, we recognize that we appear to be in the minority among reviewers here, we were disappointed with Lo Porto's and continue our search for a local Italian eatery that will draw us back. read more

Great experience at Lo Porto's, and the food was exceptionally delicious. Be sure to make a reservation before you come. The chicken parm was bomb - idk what they do with the chicken, but it was the best I've ever had. Meals come with fresh bread and side salad (the citrus dijon dressing is homemade and very good). Prices are super reasonable - for 5 people our total bill came to $88. When our food came out, the owner greeted us. Def recommend and will be back. read more

I cannot recommend LoPorto highly enough. I visited in the Fall of 2019 on a business trip. I sat alone at the bar and enjoyed great conversation with fellow patrons, and some of the best Italian food I've ever had. This place is a treat. read more

Went here on a busy Friday night. Made a reservation, no problem, we were immediately seated in a nice spot upstairs. This place is tiny when you walk in with a lively bar, so it was nice to be immediately seated by a friendly young lady. This seemed to be the attitude of everyone that worked here from the busboy to the hostess, servers to the owner who stopped by our table to say hi. The food was delicious. We started out with the tortellini soup which featured great broth, large cut veggies, and the tortellini that was obviously homemade. Jayne had the chicken Piccata which uniquely featured large cut carrots, beautiful green beans, and mashed potatoes. on the side was a mound of pasta and sauce. I had the ravioli with meatball which was delicious and I took half home. Meals served with warm crusty bread and a nice side salad. Cannot be overstated how friendly and inviting everyone in this restaurant is. We will be back for sure, read more

not the best experience: We were seated next to the 1st floor handicapped toilet. The waitress changing the tablecloth above us on 2nd level shook the crumbs all over us, from the previous diners. come on. The eggplant parm WAS really good. The penne al dente & with nice red sauce. I'm leaving 3 stars b/c I'm feeling generous. read more

They get 2 stars because I'd enjoyed my previous two dinners so much. They were 4 stars until tonight. We were seated promptly and in a cozy corner. The bread was good and our salads perfectly dressed, as they've always been. My boyfriend enjoyed his seafood dish quite a bit. His linguine seemed homemade. Cooked perfectly; slippery and soaking up the sauce from his dish. My dish was the deal breaker. Tonight I deviated and ordered Carbonara. It was separated and inedible. I sent it back, very politely, and got an explanation from our waitress about what goes into Carbonara. I make it at home and know what goes into it. No cream, yet it should be creamy, with proper treatment of the eggs. Not chewy pasta and a pool of oil at the bottom. The kitchen's second offering was also inedible. Pretty sure it was the same pasta drained and plated again. I took it home and paid for it without complaint. It went into the trash when we returned home. It really took a lot for me to send the dish back. I cringe to send anything back, ever. I don't blame our waitress, but I don't need a lesson. read more

There are no words for how good this food is. I dream about eating their garlic bread. My mouth is watering as I write this thinking about tasting the sweet delicacies this place provides. Service is also fantastic. read more

Went on Christmas Eve. The restaurant was festively decorated. The waitress was energetic and dressed for the occasion. We found out later that her name was Lydia, and she is the owner's daughter. She truly added to our amazing experience. I had the chicken picatta, and it was the best I ever had. I made 2 more meals with the leftovers. Lydia informed us that her cousin Carman was the chef. My friend had a seafood salad and meatballs and was equally impressed. Not only was the food amazing and reasonably priced, and the staff attentive and friendly, but it was nice to see a family working together, tried and true over the years. I almost had a sense that I was at the LoPorto's home for dinner. Make time to enjoy this gem. read more

The place is wonderful. It starts with the service which is top notch and then the food which might even exceed the service. You just leave feeling full and happy. I can't say enough about it and I've been there at least a dozen times. read more

I have only been here once but it made a major impression on me. It was Mother's Day and after a day of intra-family fighting, my mother decided she just wanted to have a light dinner on the deck at Brown's Brew Pub. I called to make reservations and got an answering service. However, the service listed their hours for Sunday but neglected to mention that on Mother's Day Sunday, they would not be opening. We get there and it's closed. In fact, so are most of the places in Troy. We drive around and find LoPorto's. They told us that they weren't normally open on Sundays but had made an exception for Mother's Day lunch/early dinner. And although they were originally scheduled to have closed 15 minutes before we showed up there, they told us to come right in and have dinner. The wait staff saved the day from being a complete disaster and turned it around completely. I'm a little wary of italian because I'm allergic to wheat (yes, I'm "gluten-free.) The staff was very helpful and assisted me in figuring out what I could have. I ended up with a delicious scallop dish. What's especially great is that their meals come with potatoes and/or pasta (which I don't eat.) This place is pricey, yes, but the portions were pretty big and everything was delicious. And the restaurant itself made me feel like I was in some old mob family. Supposedly Scorcese himself is a big fan of this place too. To paraphrase the tagline of certain unnamed Italian chain restaurants, they really did make us feel like family here. read more

This place is without a doubt the best italian place in the area. I've been a number of times -service has never been bad and the food is always great, but expensive. You know an Italian joint's going to be good when it shares a name with a disgraced, indicted politician. I truly don't understand how anyone can say Lombardo's in Albany even comes close to this place... If you're thinking about going - Go. read more

Amazing authentic Italian food! Portions are family size, so keep that in mind when you're ordering.

I just have two questions.....where have you been all our life and why has no one told us about this place before now? Hubby and I have been there twice now and both times had our socks literally knocked off by the food! I am now dreaming of the fried calamari. Both times we started with the fried calamari, which is WAY too much for two people to finish. It's more like an appetizer for four. The cocktail sauce is fantastic too - I'm not usually a fan of cocktail sauce. Salads are fresh and the homemade dressings are delicious. For dinners we have tried the Veal Giuseppe, Veal Scorcese, Shrimp Michael and the Chicken Parm. Hubby advised against ordering the chicken parm as it is a standard everywhere, but I went against his suggestion and got it anyway. Even HE was surprised at how good it was! Best chicken parm I've ever had and the portions are HUGE! I would be happy with just a bowl of pasta and their red sauce. The pasta is obviously not the cheap stuff served everywhere else. It's SO good. Hubby says it reminds him of when he was a child and his grandmother cooked all day (and THAT is quite a compliment). It's a little pricey, probably best saved for special occasions or when you want a REALLY good meal but it's definitely worth the price. We can't wait to go back! read more

Chicken parm was delicious. Chicken was so tender. We also had calamari fra diavlo was also very good. Atmosphere was friendly and service was completely reasonable. Very good "old Italian". Like grandma made. read more

Went on a double date here during Restaurant week. My boyfriend, though living in Troy for 10+ years, had never been and is originally from Utica and therefore obsessed with italian food. Everyone got the $30 restaurant week special which included one app, one entree and one dessert except for me which I got my ol' italian stand-by linguine and clam sauce. Overall, the service was awesome and the food was pretty good. The place was pleasant, very sort of "old world" with the blood red tablecloths and the very dim lighting. It's also much deeper and bigger once you enter. After running/walking by this place a few times I think the only indicator that it was a functioning restaurant were the smoking regulars on the outside patio. Like others have mentioned the house red tasted exactly like nothing, but still got us all toasty. Walking home all I could think of was "wow that wine just sort of evened me out." So, taste not so great, effect was awesome. Everyone loved everything we got, the bread was plentiful, my salad (that comes with the pasta) wasn't memorable (maybe you can blame the wine I honestly don't even remember what dressing I got). I got a side of the evening veggie (carrots, green beans and zucchini) which was sitting in about 2/3 cup of vegetable oil. Once drip dried, the veggies were generally overcooked but palatable. My linguine and clam sauce was perfect and honestly way way too big. The clams were soft but not squishy and the sauce had great flavor, no need to pepper or cheese. Also 14.50 for my food (which includes a salad) is an impressive price. I finished about 30% of it and as the server took my plate to box it up he said, "wow, you did good!" and I looked at him and was like "not exactly" and he was like, "no, really, you did better than most and I say this from years of experience." I left there feeling proud of my stomach and all the pasta I can put away. The other guests liked their meals as well. My discerning boyfriend said it was great and he would come again but he's had better italian elsewhere (haven't we all?!). Why not try it? It'll keep you full for days at least! read more

Food was great and the service was excellent. The veal is very tender, pasta cooked just right. Good wine. We will be back. read more

Look, I am sad to post that Lo Porto's probably won't be an Italian restaurant I'm coming back any time soon. Sad because for so long it had been on our list of places to try in Troy, a place that everyone said we simply must try - and it didn't live up to my expectations. I don't really have any complaints about the food. It's flavourful, hearty Italian fare. The salads were great, and the bread was delicious (though I should have read Ticia's review more carefully - I didn't realize you had to special request oil, so we just got butter). I had an eggplant parm that was lovely but could have held off on the cheese, and my husband had a seafood dish that was loaded very generously with scallops. Here comes the '.... but.' When we walked in to the somewhat empty room without a reservation, I was surprised at the instantly frosty reaction from the hostess. Like lullabylove x, we got shafted in this table by the kitchen, where there was huge amounts of traffic from the staff. I felt uncomfortable the whole night as it was difficult to relax with someone brushing by every five seconds. It sucked. I also had the distinct impression if I was thirty years older I would have been treated better. A place has to be really special for me to ignore such bad service. read more

I was meeting my best girl here tonite for dinner. I was early and had drink at the bar with Vinnie. He proceeded to review the menu with me and point out the house specialty's. This was very helpful be cause I hadn't been here in a while. Kathleen our waitress was friendly, attentive and stopped multiple times to check on us. The food was fantastic!!! We both said when we left, we needed to get back more often. Great food, superior service, it doesn't get much better. Thank you for a wonderful date night!!!! read more

This is one of the better Italian restaurant that I have found in the Capital District. Yes, from the outside, the place looks like a little hole in the wall, and it is definitely small inside as well, so the suggestion to make a reservation is definitely advisable. Aside from that, I have to say that the food here is always consistently wonderful. They do take their time in making sure that each dish comes out right. Along those same lines, they never rush a table out of the door regardless of how busy they are either. You will feel like you get your moneys worth and enjoy the time you spend while you are there. I've noticed that the owner is often there and definitely maintains a close eye on what is being put out on his tables. He seems to take pride in what is being served and it is reflected in the quality of the meals. I have ordered several different dishes and have never been disappointed. The escargot app is phenomenal and the sauce goes great with the bread that they serve nice and warm from the oven. An olive oil dip for the bread would be a nice touch for those not getting an appetizer, but butter on the fresh bread it just as wonderful. There is a nice selection of entrees to choose from at Lo Portos, from the simple pastas to more intricate ones. All of them have been wonderful so far. I look forward to trying something new every time I go. I wish i could say more, but when I have no complaints, I evidently am at a lost for words. My fiance works in the restaurant industry, and I feel like we can be tough critics when it comes to food, but we have a hard time finding anything to be disappointed about when we come here. We go down to NYC as a treat a few times a year to eat, and I'd say that Lo Portos brings that quality of food right here close to home for us. What a find!!! read more

One of the best home-style restaurants I have been to in a while. My favorite is Consiglios in New Haven, CT. I just graduated from RPI this semester (Dec. '11) and finally tried this restaurant. It is the last white tablecloth restaurant left in Troy and it really shines. The place doesn't look like much from the outside and it is no in the best area of Troy, but it is great. The inside feels a Manhattan restaurant. It feels like the restaurant in the movie "Dinner Rush." On to the food. I have had the Bolognese which was I was completely unimpressed with (hence the four stars instead of five). It was chopped up meatballs in their house marinara instead of a stewed beef, veal, pork, and/or sausage sauce with a couple of cans of tomato sauce like I grew up with and found at other top-notch Italian restaurants. I would not recommend this dish. The two times succeeding my first visit I ordered the chicken parmigiana. It was thick for what I am used to, very thick in fact. However, it was properly cooked and the most tender breaded chicken I have had. The breading was good Italian bread crumbs cooked in good olive oil. The house sauce is quite good. The portions are huge, really huge. Most restaurants give you one chicken breast filleted into two pieces and then breaded and fried. They give you two full chicken breasts and pasta. If you order a pasta dish, it comes with an entire pound of pasta. The prices are high, but you get a lot of food. The atmosphere has a local elegant feel. It is a mix between my local pizza place and an elegant restaurant. Actually, when I was there last, there were two wedding proposals (The guy hid the ring under a pile of fried calamari). Service was fine. It is a relaxed dining experience (i.e. slow). If you are with family or friends it goes by quickly. Delicious bread comes to the table upon arrival and the wine list is extensive (for Troy at least, Spago had a text book for a wine list, so not quite that long). I liked this restaurant a lot. It is traditional Italian fare that I love. It is not the nuvo-Italian restaurants folks like in NYC (such as Babbo or Circo), but I like traditional better anyway. It is a must for RPI families, a business lunch, and perhaps a proposal. read more

A quaint little Italian Restaurant. Great food, atmosphere and service. The antipasto was amazing. I had veal parmigiana with spaghetti. Large portion and delicious. My husband had the veal Marsala and it also didn't disappoint. I can't wait to go back on our visit next year. read more

Excellent place. Nice surprise you don't expect it to be so good by the outside of the place. Once in, we were warmly greeted and had a reservation (recommended) seated right away. Our waitress Tammy was warm (and a Red Sox fan like us). Knowledgeable about the menu yon hearing it was our first visit went into detail about our options. We had scallops mugnei, eggplant parm and a seafood dish all excellent! A carafe of the house merlot great option! read more

Amazing!! Best meal in the capital district. We got the seafood fra diavolo and were not disappointed. Always a treat to go there!

This place has the best food! I had the eggplant parmesan and it was so yummy. I only wish i lived closer to this restaurant but maybe it's better because i'd be 300lbs This is a great restaurant !!!! read more

Came here with my wife before Troy Night Out. Very unique, old school atmosphere. The wait staff was knowledgeable and friendly. I ordered the chicken parm and my wife ordered shrimp diavolo. She has ordered this at other restaurants and has been disappointed at the lack of heat. She was very excited when the waiter asked her how hot she'd like it. The food was amazing. Really it was some of the best Italian I've had. The sauce and pasta (normally pushed to the side for me) must have been made on site because both were very fresh, flavorful, and finished by the end of the meal. Our entrees were both very good and we left stuffed, AND with leftovers. It's a little pricier than the run-of-the-mill Italian restaurant but you get what you pay for. We will be back! read more

This was my first experience with Lo Porto's and it was great. There are a few things to note about this place. First: make a reservation. It's not a large restaurant and it fills very quickly. Especially during peak times, you'll be waiting for quite a while for a table, largely because of my next point: Don't go here if you're in a hurry. Lo Porto's makes it very clear right on their menu that they don't rush the kitchen. They take their time and they do it right. I've never been one to care so much about these sorts of places as long as the food that results from it is good. That's certainly the case here. We waited about 45 minutes for our food after ordering, and when it came out, it certainly wasn't a disappointment. Well worth the wait. Serving sizes are hefty. If you're not hungry, be prepared to take an assload of leftovers home. I was really hungry, however, so I destroyed (most of) what they brought to me. Of course I couldn't really move afterward, but hey, it was worth it. Parking, as is typical in Troy, can be a bit challenging. I parked in the small garage over on River and State streets since I had some things to do in that area before heading over to the restaurant. The outside appearance may turn you off. It's not in the nicest or prettiest of areas, but I assure you it's a great place. If you like Italian food, this is one of those local places that you have to check out. read more

I have been here twice with my friends. Each time the food and service was excellent. Restaurant is a little small, but the atmosphere is very intimate. A true gem of the capital district. read more

Excellent Italian restaurant. Service was great. Food was great. Waitress was very patient and knowledgeable in the menu. I would definitely return soon. This is a gem of a restaurant in Troy. read more

Feast for the ages. Had a great spot outside where I could enjoy a cigar. Seafood anti pasta was on point. So was the spicy seafood platter with linguine. Shrimp, scallops, squid, mussels, clams, longnecks. All cooked perfect. Great bread for dipping in the spicy tomato sauce, whose heat sneaks up on you. But not in a bad way. read more

Lo Porto's - Italian Near Me - Troy, New York

The atmosphere here is what I like to call upscale cozy. The lighting is just dim enough to be cozy but not dim enough to be sketchy, the staff and owners are warm, welcoming people and the food is fantastic! Can't recommend this place enough. I wasn't sure if having my 3year old in there was going to go well but the owner was so sweet to her and the staff went out of their way to make things easier for us! read more