The food (I had the Porto salad, shrimp and scallop pasta, and the bread and oil thing) was extraordinarily bland, oddly and unpleasantly sweet, and completely without seasoning. The restaurant was freezing. Our waiter was as bland as the food (sorry, it may have been his first night). The bread is clearly not baked in house, is largely flavorless, and the "house oil" that came with it is low-grade olive oil with red pepper flakes. The Porto salad was a monstrosity of iceberg lettuce and flavorless cheese chunks with disturbingly crunchy chunks of "meat." The dressing (I ordered the blackberry vinaigrette) was sugary, NOT a vinaigrette, and flavorless. My entree was cold, but I will say that when I asked him to heat it up, it came back at a better (though still not ideal) temperature. Store-bought and very sweet vodka sauce, a splat of some kind of green herb on the side, but no flavor present in the dish. Not bad, but nothing special. The scallops and shrimp were cooked well! Also, INCREDIBLY OVERPRICED. read more

If you're someone who wants to enjoy some delicious pasta AND feel like you're in a Wes Anderson film, this is the place for you (and me). It is dimly lit and beautiful. The service was perfect and our food came quickly. Absolutely zero complaints here! read more

I've loved this restaurant since I was an undergrad at UW. I was worried because some of the reviews were quite negative. Nothing could be more wrong. Calm atmosphere. Efficient staff. Well timed meal. And on Varsity Band Concert night. I had the roasted veg & Gouda ravioli. Wonderful. My son had the lasagne, just as I remembered. Check this place out, you won't be disappointed. read more

Great looking restaurant. We couldn't enjoy the atmosphere though since they crammed everyone in the restaurant into one tiny section. I agree with the comment about the food being a joke. Service wasn't great either - lots of employees around but few smiles or greetings. Don't be fooled by the looks of this place if you want to have a nice dinner. read more

I mainly wanted to eat here so I could eat in their nice outdoor seating area. I was upset when they had a sign up that said something along the lines of "See hostess inside for outdoor seating" and then she told us that the outdoor area was reserved for a private party. So, they should learn to take the sign down. The hostess stand is in an odd place. You walk through most of the building and passed a cash register before finding it. I've heard that the decor was "romantic," but I'd have to disagree. It seems very outdated. Plus, part of our booth was dusty and the mirrors (which are all over) were covered in fingerprints. We ate early (5:00), so the service was very prompt. Our waitress was in the process of being trained, so I gave her a break with her knowledge of the menu. I ordered the vegetarian manicotti and my date ordered the top sirloin. These meals can come with soup or salad. I asked if I could get their Porta salad without ham and salami (being vegetarian) because I'm not a fan of Caeser (mainly the eggs and anchovies), and she informed me that their salads were premade, so I didn't get any. I'm pretty surprised there's not a garden salad on the menu. She forgot to ask what sauce I wanted, but her trainer made sure to remind her. They both forgot to ask if my date wanted pasta or potatoes and ended up bringing out the steak with potatoes (without asking a preference). The waitress brought out bread and was very good about explaining what was in the dip which came with it. Our meal was brought out quickly after that. The spinach in the manicotti had a bite (negative) to it that I haven't really had in the past with pasta. My date's steak was fine and the potatoes were tasty. So, overall. My service was very good, the decor is outdated, and the food was mediocre. It's not incredibly vegetarian friendly for an Italian restaurant. If you can, eat outside! I'd probably go to Tutto before Porta Bella. I'd definitely go to Osteria Papavero before any other Italian place in Madison read more

Haven't gone here in a long time due to the dirty bathroom. There were ancient cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and it was unkempt and in disrepair. I felt that if this is how they disregarded the bathroom they most likely disregard everything else. I won't go back. The food and the service was good. But I couldn't get past the other issues. 1of 5 stars for a casual to mid level dining restaurant. read more

I love Porta Bella's. I think the food is really delicious and reasonably priced. It is a bit dark in there, but is good for a romantic date. I made the mistake of having a first date there and it was way too dark. Save it for more intimate occasions if you're only going with one other person. read more

Horrible. Words fail me...took nearly an hour to get our entrees at 8 on a Sunday night with an empty restaurant, all of our orders were mixed up...ordered the spinach and artichoke cannoli thinking that was hard to mess up...inedible! The spaghetti also a Ragu level disaster. Terrible red and white wines. I don't know how this place is still in business! read more

A beautiful place for a romantic valentine's day dinner with my dear and special wife. The red baroque interior design created the exact combination of sumptuousness and passion to get us in the mood for an elegant dinner for two. The server suggested a perfect red wine for our selected meal which complimented things quite nicely. Sitting in the fairy-tale like flowery outdoor garden added to our beautiful moment in time. Excellent meal. read more

We had our wedding reception dinner here (Fall 2014), in their new banquet hall (seats around 150 or so). Wow, dynamite staff, food, environment, and service all around. Can't recommend this place enough. Thanks Porta Bella for a perfect evening! read more

I wanted to like this place more. I felt the service was good. Our waiter was somewhat clueless but still attentive The food arrived quickly even though they were busy and the bathroom was clean. Unfortunately our food was bland. The sauces were tasteless. read more

Went for prom, food was very good! Only thing that sucked was bread was hard like a brick. The dinner meal was excellent.

The reviews of the stuffed mushrooms are right on; they're good. Anything with seafood in it (especially the shrimp) isn't very fresh (it is Wisconsin after all) but everything else is pretty fantastic. The noodles were great as was the sauce, the bread, etc. The interior is pretty dark and the patio area seems like it needs a little work but I'd certainly eat here again. read more

The best italian in Madison. Service is great. Food is so good! Tonight, I had the Prosciutto and Panna-Shells in a cream sauce with peas, prosciutto and mushrooms and then baked with a Porta Salad. My wife had a dinner sized Porta Salad. Both were so delicious. We have never had a bad experience and have never had bad food. We go there for special occasions or just because!! read more

The only positive thing I can say about this "restaurant" is that the decor is vintage sweet like in a time warp in Italy. The food is Chef Boyardee specials....It was totally awful and I've eaten there twice and there won't be a third for me....try Lombardino's instead---now that's a terrific Italian restaurant. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Madison. Amazing food. Good atmosphere. Generally very quiet and separate from other guests.

My wife and I met our daughter and her boyfriend for dinner last weekend at Porta Bella. I remember when this was one of the premier restaurants in Madison. When I saw all of the two star reviews, I was taken aback. We needed to find out for ourselves. We couldn't have been more disappointed. The drinks were so late that by the time they were served, the ice had melted. We ordered an array of appetizers and four different entrees. My wife and I ordered the scallops and shrimp. We were served three scallops and four shrimp with the meal. The sauce was poor, and the entrée was cold. Not much was better for my daughter and her date. I, unfortunately can no longer recommend the Porta Bella as a fine dining experience. Maybe it is just a fancy place to have a pizza. Too bad... read more

I went again 8-8-12 and again it was a fabulous meal (totally ruining my diet, and totally worth it!) This time me and my (now) hubs sat inside (cozy and romantic) and we had crab stuffed shrimp...divine. This has become our place....aaaawwwww. read more

This is the place where good UW boyfriends take their girlfriends for nice dates, anniversaries and the like. For a sloppy college student, it's a chance to dress up and enjoy the quiet, dim ambience and great Italian cuisine. read more

Pizza was really good. Atmosphere was pretty dark, but ample space to mingle with others on lower level. Staff were friendly.

I quite like the place....their entrance is through a quaint-looking garden which sets a romantic mood. The ambiance inside is pretty nice. The food is good. Try the stuffed mushrooms. They can be pretty busy at times so I would call ahead. read more

I went there for the lunch deals only, but I can't say I'm impressed with the food. Service there is really nice and their lunch portions are filling, but their pasta is very overcooked. It's also a bit dark inside the place, but it's nice and quiet for the most part. read more

MMmm....love this place. My mouth waters thinking about the Pollo d'aglio....marinara sauce with goat cheese.....mmm! Love the huge booths, I went there on a double date last time which was a lot of fun. Don't forget to check out the downstairs wine cellar. Tied with the King Street Tutto for best downtown Italian....wait, I changed my mind, Porta Bella definitely wins. 5 stars. read more

This is a Madison must-try. The food above-average & the atmosphere is just something that needs to be experienced. Don't let the haters deter you! If you don't want to commit to a meal, at least check out the lower-level wine cellar bar! read more

Love this place. It's a Madison hidden gem. Great food, nice wine list. Very intimate setting. Ask for the Rose room, or the Fountain room. Get the Porta Salad, and have some bread! read more

I have to agree with many of the reviews, the atmosphere is wonderful and romantic, the service was friendly and prompt, but my serving was small and the bolognese sauce was bland, certainly not like grandma made it read more

The pizza was excellent. We came here looking for a nice outdoor eating experience and enjoyed their pretty courtyard. We'll certainly be back for the pizza. read more

The chicken pesto shells were SOOO good. Calamari strips, lasagna, and chicken Alfredo were great. Overall everyone thought the food was really tasty. I wish there was more information on the menu for a few items. The stuffed mushrooms have bell pepper (I'm really not a fan of peppers). The jambalaya has mushrooms in it (the person who ordered HATES mushrooms but was too Midwestern to say anything about it). The ambiance is cool but everything seems a bit old and worn. Overheard another table tell their server the food never disappoints. Service was great. Good wine selection. read more

Oh boy! So we were downtown Madison and he had a craving for Italian. Sure! But let's try somewhere new. Let me research some ideas. This place comes up. The prices are good and the food sounds delicious. We get right in, no waiting. Yay! The place is kinda dark, and has a certain charm to it. I kinda liked it. Except my seat has a huge rip on the cusion. It's so bad I can see the sponge coming out. Eewww. Why hasn't this been replaced? They start you off with their complimentary bread and olive oil. Which they nuke the bread in the micro first. Why? We ordered a calamari appetizer which was so hard. Must be frozen. Fresh squid does not taste like that. The marinara that it came with, tasted like mold. Has it spoiled? After one bite, we had to send it back. The pasta dishes we ordered were so sad. I got about 6-7 raviolis. And his chicken Alfredo was not very good. Noodles were glued together. The chicken was not good. Both dishes were very rich and lacked in flavor. Are you guys even Italian? Disappointed. read more

The classic 'date' or 'romance' place on campus. Good food and always fun. The Cellar Bar is great place to get away from the craziness of State Street. Great little basement hideaway! read more

LOVE the Porta Bella mushroom sauce and the outdoor dining!

A wonderful place for a group dinner. I have now booked Porta Bella twice for a professional dinner setting and they have been wonderful. Highly recommend the food and service, as well as the responsiveness of the staff there! read more

This has been my favorite restaurant in Madison for as long as I can remember. The spaghetti is THE BEST. Along with the porta salad (w/buttermilk dressing) & the cheese bread. The pizza is also amazing if you're looking for something to share as an appetizer or with the table. Their wait staff is well versed in the wine pairings and recommendations on the menu- though yes, they are college students- this is a college town! It is such a romantically decorated restaurant-- absolutely perfect for a date night or for meeting up with someone for drinks. read more

We took our parents here for a dinner when they came to visit Madison. The weather was perfect so we were able to sit out on the patio, which was better than the inside. The inside was a bit dark - I want to say they were trying to go for an intimate setting, but I wasn't sure. The food was pretty good. I ordered a Mushroom Ravioli dish which was pretty tasty as well as the Porta Salad (iceberg and romaine lettuce with ham, cheese, red peppers, and other tasty things). The others at my table ordered a Pumpkin Ravioli (yum! would get this the next time we went), a Blackberry Salad (the kitchen ran out of Blackberries so cherries were substituted, which was delicious), a Meat Lasagna and Chicken Tetrazzinni (this was good as well) and Stuffed Chicken Breast (which was good but a bit heavy on the alfredo sauce). Because two of us ordered food off the dinner special menu, we had a cannoli for dessert, which was delicious. Overall, great food - I'd go again. read more

This restaraunt used to be one of my faves, so I was excited to go here before a show on 1/23/16. Our waiter was very new and he was given the task of handling our 10 person table. He was given no support whatsoever. Dirty dishes stacked up on our table and were not removed promptly. Drink orders were late or entirely forgotten. Food arrived nearly 90 minutes after ordering. The restaurant was nearly empty, so they were not busy. Our waiter did not receive the support he needed for a large table and it showed. When we spoke to the manager about the experience, she was quite rude back to us. Contrary to what another 'reviewer' on this site recorded, nobody at our table asked nor did not try to tip the waiter. But, when the food comes out cold and late, and now you are late for your show because of it, there is no time to send it back. Perhaps the view from Eva'a cheap seats was not as good as she thought they were. If her party managed to have a good time at this place, she can go through life blissfully ignorant of any issues around her. Think twice about eating here. The service and food quality have really taken a hit. Other customers who are clueless about the events around them will nonetheless try to judge you for it. There are better places in town. Like an Applebees. read more

Great food, decent lighting. It was dim but our waitress was so nice! Food was prompt and we were still able to use our gift card that we got years ago. read more

Horrible service, rude waitresses. I have been to everyplace downtown and I can assure you, stay away.

One star for a cool, retro decor. One star for decent drinks. Service was poor. Food quality not worth the price. Definitely not a place for large groups. The experience might have been better for a couple, small family dinner or a double date, but they are not set up for large groups. And the night we were there it was NOT busy. Most tables were empty... on a New Year's Eve. read more

I love going to Porta. It's our treat once a month. We have been going to Porta for years and have always enjoyed our expierence. We attend the Wine Tasting Dinners and the Beer tasting events. Great Fun! read more

This place is fantastic. If it's nice outside, you can sit in the super Italian-style courtyard and eat-- cause everyone knows food tastes better outside. Also, the authentic experience will impress any date you take there. If you're lookin' to have pussy for dessert, eat at porta bella. read more