Amazing food and service! Best spot to have our last meal in Carmel! The crab and corn soup was divine and the pistachio ice cream was the best I've had. Also bread service comes with fresh delicious pesto. The pasta that I got had the chew of being fresh and made in house. read more

PortaBella - Pasta Alla Carbonara, Roasted Corn & Crab Bisque Roasted Corn & Crab Bisque-CUP - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Underwhelming meal. Had a caesar salad and bisque. Salad was on par with a grocery bagged salad with some anchovies on top. Croutons in the bisque and salad and Parmesan cheese shavings reminded of store bought. Service was attentive. Outdoor seating was quite nice. read more

Came back 2 years later and this place did not disappoint. Had an open table reservation at 630pm on Sunday and went there after we saw the sunset at the beach -Roasted Corn and Crab Bisque - we learned our lesson and got a bowl instead of a cup this time and the soup was still excellent -Tricolor Organic Baby Beet Salad - refreshing salad with beets and citrus and a good amount of blue cheese - Fresh Tuscan Pappardelle Al Pomodoro - noodles were cooked fresh. my partner thought this was a good balance as the soup and the lobster ravioli were both creamy. the vegetables were a good mixture and flavor to the dish - Jumbo Lobster Ravioli - I thought this dish was creamy and had a lot of flavor. Kind of like a thicker reduced soup with ravioli in it Glad we went back again and we are making sure we will continue to go back whenever we visit Carmel. read more

PortaBella - Fresh Tuscan Pappardelle Al Pomodoro - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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We made a reservation for 7 people at around 8pm on a Saturday and we recieved a messaged saying our table was ready for us at 7:30pm. Once our entire party was there, we were brought back to our table. The waiter let us browse the menu for a bit, but we also realized that he didn't give us the drinks menu so we had to ask for that while he was taking our order. I ordered the lamb ossobuco and it was very good. The lamb is cooked until it fell off the bone and you can taste the wine sauce soaked into the meat itself. I did notice my piece of lamb was smaller than those at the tables around me of which were ordered by men, but it could have also been the lighting. The potato gratin was cooked perfectly though I think the crust on top was a little too hard. I couldn't really get my fork through it without the whole thing toppling over. Personally, I think this dish would have been really good to share with someone where we would also order a pasta or risotto. Our waiter was the best though. We went through the breadbaskets like they were nothing and he kept bringing us more. He also checked on us throughout our meal too and made sure we had a good experience. Overall a really nice place to eat dinner in Carmel and I would definitely come back to try their other dishes. read more

PortaBella - Lamb Ossobuco Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Got the Grilled King Salmon Dinner, which was almost $40 before tax and tip. Was disappointed at how a fish that is normally fatty was able to be cooked until it was so dry. Not sure if it was a one-off, since it looks fine in other photos. My friends seemed to enjoy the dishes that they ordered, but I didn't taste those, so I can rate only what I tried. The only good thing was the bread and pesto appetizer, which they refilled upon request. Service was ok but could've been better. Probably would not come back here. read more

PortaBella - Grilled King Salmon Dinner was overcooked and dry - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Awful service and okay food. Waited for some time for our waiter to come over to greet us. Then he took drink orders and left for a while. Then came by again to get our lunch order barely cracking a smile or any verbal pleasantries. He brought out our entrees and we wanted to share so we asked for extra plates and he didn't bring those. We waved for someone else to bring them for us. Then he completely ignored us the rest of our lunch. When we were done, we had to wave down another waiter to bring our check. And waited some more for another waiter to take the check and the ln he reappeared to bring it back to us. I don't know what was up with him and but my friend commented that he must be having a bad day or something. He was very unfriendly. We gave him 10% tip and we always tip 20-25% for all our meals. The trí-color beet salad had like 8 small pieces of beets in it and the rest was mixed greens. The linguine was very el dente and chewy to eat. I liked the sauce but eating the pasta was not fun. The risotto was also undercooked. Would not be returning here. Not worth the hassle and expense for unfriendly service and okay food. They got the flavor down at least. read more

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I was in Carmel on a work trip and I popped in here by myself for dinner one night. It was such a wonderful experience!! The atmosphere is cottage, romantic, Italian. They had a musician doing his thing in there. The service was great, my guy was so friendly and awesome to interact with. The food was exactly what I'd hoped for, comforting, delicious Italian. It was so good. Definitely pop in if you can! read more

Food was priced high and didn't wow with the flavor. Service was nice and ambiance was good, but not worth the amount paid.

Oh my goodness...best food I have had in a long time. The braised short rib, octopus, and beef carpaccio were fantastic. Such great flavor, significant serving size, and down right delicious. Environment felt so positive and inviting with a guitar player creating the melody to the evening. From a kind staff to its delicious selection of food--Portabella is a must for every vistor of Carmel, CA. read more

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amazing carbonara, best i ever had (italy included) incredibly fast service not sure if it's mostly due to ordering pasta but we ordered and it came 5 minutes later. AND THE PESTO SAUCE THEY GIVE WITH THE BREAD, AMAZING!!! bolognese pasta was okay but not as amazing as the carbonara. read more

PortaBella - Pasta Alla Carbonara - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

The ambiance is everything! We came on a Friday evening for dinner and sat outside on the dog-friendly patio, which they have in the front and the back of the restaurant. The food is great! We tried 2 pastas and the short ribs and everything was delicious. To our surprise, they had live music and the singer came out to serenade all of us on the patio. This was one of our favorite meals during our trip to Carmel. Thank you for a great evening Portabella! read more

PortaBella - Ambiance - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for years and I finally dined here but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. The meal started off strong with their soups, the portabella cream of mushroom and the roasted corn and crab bisque. The bisque was my favorite of the two as it was rich with flavor of the crab and sweetness from corn. The entrees is where they fell short. My husband ordered the Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare and the first thing that hits you is the texture then the flavor. The linguine pasta was undercooked, maybe about 5 minutes short of being al dente. Each bite was uncomfortable to chew. Secondly, it was a bit bland and we immediately reached for some salt. The seafood itself was decent. I ordered the Classic Wild Mushroom Risotto and it was downright bland and flavorless. I hated being "that" guest, but I could not enjoy this dish. Even when I added salt and pepper, which come in these inconvenient shakers that get you like five granules at a time, the blandness was still there. The shavings of parm did add some flavor but the dish is risotto and not a cheese plate. read more

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The only regret I have about coming here is that we live so far away so I can't come back easily. We made reservations and were seated immediately. The decor is charming and they have great service. They start service with fresh bread and pesto, which sets the stage for what follows after. PortoBella's has the best Mushroom Risotto that I've had in quite a while. It's rich and creamy with an earthy flavor, that truffles and fresh Parmesan bring. Their Corn and Crab Bisque is rich and savory. My husband had the Oven Braised Short Ribs which were fall apart, tender, and perfect in the merlot wine reduction. A great experience in a beautiful town. We're definitely going to make a trip back just for the flavor! read more

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Came in Friday evening to celebrate my gfs birthday. We were in town visiting and it was a new area to explore. I found this spot on pure ratings and reviews and was excited to try this out. I made the reservation stating it was for her birthday as well but no celebratory action was made. Given it was a very busy night and such a small venue it's understandable that "turn and burn" in some place is acceptable but shouldn't be here. It has such a great aesthetic and food was great. Only missing key is service and the guest experience. Being a long time industry worker, ownership and management rave for this in representing their band. A little more work in that department and it would be an ideal spot. Hopefully be back at a later time with a better experience. read more

We were only in Carmel for a few hours and needed to find a place to eat. We passed Porta Bella and it looked like a pretty decent spot, but decent does not describe this restaurant in the slightest. Tucked behind a wall of colorful foliage, this indoor/outdoor dining venue offers an array of new French-Italian cuisine that's both delicious and quick! We started with their complimentary bread baked in house and the house pesto, followed by a starter of corn crab bisque(do not pass this one up!) grilled prawns and a Croque Monsieur with the crispiest golden fries! Accompanied with a hibiscus gimlet and a spritz, this was a perfect meal to reflect the spirit of Carmel by the Sea. read more

We were so excited to eat here - and I think it just was really underwhelming. The feel of the restaurant and the atmosphere were incredible! Loved how intimate it is! Service was very average! Not bad by all means but not amazing! Now the food is where they lost me the most- we got the Sand Dabs and Bolognese. They were again- average! We enjoyed our meal but we would venture off to another restaurant over this one. read more

PortaBella - Monterey Bay Sand Dabs Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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Let's start with the apps. The corn and crab bisque was the star of the show- it was delicious, creamy, and rich and we couldn't get enough of it. The grilled octopus was tender and juicy. Moving on to the entrees..the lamb was rather tough and dry and difficult to eat. It was overcooked. The seafood linguini had an ample amount of mussels, clams, and shrimp but was not very flavorful. The noodles were thick and tasted homemade. read more

PortaBella - Roasted Corn and Crab Bisque Dinner and Grilled Spanish Octopus Dinner - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Went in without a reservation because we had just been at the beach and my family was hungry and just looking for anything close by. One star for them being able to accommodate us. We sat outside because of our dog. The outside patio is a really tight space. You are right up against the other tables and there is so privacy whatsoever. Felt really cramped and claustrophobic. Another star for the nice busboys, but our actual server was rude and not very nice. The food was meh overall. Not worth the price. I don't mind paying for good food. But this wasn't it. Mediocre overall. Everything was bland and forgettable. read more

Recently visited Portabella while I was in Carmel and it was my favorite restaurant during the trip. I loved everything i ate here from the complimentary bread with creamy pesto sauce to the mushroom soup to the pastas to the dessert. The Linguine AI Frutti DI Mare was my absolute favorite and will definitely be getting it again when I'm back. The ambiance was warm, cozy, busy, and there was also a guy playing the guitar. Service could be a bit better as our waters never got refilled and we would always have to stop someone to get help. read more

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I came here on a Monday evening in late December 2024 via car. I found public street parking diagonal to the restaurant. There might be a couple open spots if you're lucky. I made reservations for this place a few nights beforehand. Even though I had my dog with me, they seated me inside the restaurant - which was nice. They did not have a dog menu nor did they offer my dog a water bowl - however, that was not why I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars. I would have given this place 2 stars if I was only rating them on food alone. The only reason I'm giving them 3 stars is because they allowed me to bring my dog. I ordered a virgin mojito, carbonara, and their beet salad. It was all a let-down except for the drink. I didn't like this place but that doesn't mean that you wouldn't, so I'd say try it so you can make your own judgments on their food. The service was great. The food just wasn't really my style, I guess. read more

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I normally don't leave a review purely based on service on arrival but I think this warrants it so folks are aware what to expect. Read through reviews and saw plenty of folks mention walk ins are fine and they got seated fast. However when I showed up I was ignored, given the side eye, and then told rudely that reservations are required. It's one thing to be reservation only (nothing wrong with that) but make it more known to the public or be consistent on it so the reviews make sense. Also if you're going to turn away a customer at least do it nicely. This area thrives on tourism so you would think hospitality would be a strong suit. read more

I was hesitant on posting this review but decided to anyways as the experience I had on my birthday was very uncalled for. I made a reservation about 1 week in advance. I was so excited to spend my birthday at this restaurant and the service made me feel so uncomfortable that I did not order/eat. This is a review on service, in particular the 2 hostesses I had the unfortunate timing to encounter at this restaurant. As soon as my mom and I walked in to check in for our reservation, we noticed the hostess chatting it up with a table. It took about 10 minutes before she came back. During this period, none of the staff acknowledged us. The woman seemed as though she was in a rush when asking for my reservation. I added some notes into the reservation which were not read or put into consideration. We were seated and probably sat there for 10-15 minutes before someone came up and asked if we wanted water. There was about 3-4 tables that actually had people and several waiters/waitresses looking over at our table during the 10-15 minutes. We noticed a table of 2 (who came in about 10 minutes after us) who received bread and water fairly quickly. We received no greeting or introduction from the person who asked if we wanted anything to drink. It took another 10 minutes to get our waters. 10 minutes pass once again and a new hostess comes up and asks if we had a reservation to the restaurant. At this point, I felt very uncomfortable. This was disappointing and the worst service I've received. My parents & sister did order food and said it was incredible. I'd like to hope this is a one time occurrence but it seems from other reviews that some of the staff may require additional training on being kind. read more

We decided to stop by PortaBella as it was only one of the few restaurants that were still opened past 8pm in the area. Upon arrival, we were seated immediately but we did wait quite a bit of time to order. Once we ordered, we received complementary bread and water. We did wait a little longer than anticipated for the main course to come out but while we were waiting, we received our appetizers which was shrimp and their mushroom soup and it was so good. I would highly recommend to try their mushroom soup at least once, it had a nice earthy and smooth texture, similar to clam chowder but smooth. Then our main course came out and both dishes came out pretty good, with the chicken being more on the lemony side and the ravioli being very creamy. After waiting longer for our server to come by with the check, we decided to order crème brûlée for dessert and it defiantly didn't disappoint! I would give this place a 8/10 as the food was good, ambiance was great, and the music was nice to hear. However, I did take off a few points as we did wait a long time when we were seeing other tables getting help (I think our server only checked in with us 3 times which was to get our order, to provide us with our check, and then provide us with our receipt). read more

PortaBella - Lemon Dijon Garlic Chicken and Jumbo Lobster Ravioli - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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Food was actually good but the service ended up being slow. Things were off to a good start , our server was very interactive and attended to us quickly. However, at some point someone else took over and barely checked on us. We wanted to order more drinks but ended up paying as it had been so long since we saw and anyone and were done with our meal. We shared the lobster ravioli starter, I got the Monterey dab fish and my boyfriend got the scallops and risotto. Ravioli was just okay. Scallops and risotto were really good. My fish was tasty but the potatoes were lukewarm. Would likely try other places next trip to Carmel. read more

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I want to start off by saying this is my first time here but it will NOT be my last, I truly appreciate their supportive staff. Their food overall is amazing! The restaurant is tucked away in carmel by the sea the atmosphere, the vibe - is immaculate, it's such a hidden gem I can't believe i have never been here! Strongly recommend read more

We've visited this restaurant a couple of times now. Our first experience was excellent--the food and service were both great, which is why we decided to come back this past Saturday. Unfortunately, our second visit was the complete opposite in terms of service. While the food was still good, our server (the dude with a fucked up teeth) was very dismissive and seemed distracted the entire time. It felt like we were being ignored, which came across as disrespectful. On a positive note, the support staff--such as the food runner and busser--were attentive and helpful, which we appreciated. We also noticed several servers gathered in the back, talking loudly instead of attending to guests. At one point, a customer had to walk over and get their server just to place an order, mentioning out loud that they had been waiting for quite some time. This experience was disappointing, especially compared to our first visit. The quality of the food is there, but the level of service needs attention. Hopefully, management addresses this, as service can significantly impact the overall experience. read more

A very cute European interior, great place for a date night. Very polite staff, and the live music was fun. read more

PortaBella - Birthday Dessert - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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Updating my review from 2019, with another great time and meal. Once again, the owner, Bashar, came to our table and greeted us like we were weekly regulars (we only stop in once a year during vacation). I'm sure he had no idea who we were, but probably recognized our faces, because this is how they create a great customer experience at all of their restaurants; Dametra, Catch, etc. We took friend who had never been before, and they also loved it. Original 2019 Review: Another great spot in a town with lots of great places to eat. We stopped by for lunch and were thrilled to find out that the owners are the same as for Dametra Cafe just up the street; another place we love. These guys understand customer experience! We wanted to sit outside but the sun was beating down on the only available table. Not a problem for them, they quickly rearranged the table and the umbrellas to give us complete shade. Drinks were very good and reasonably priced. We shared a wonderful carpaccio. For entrees we had a variety of sandwiches, burgers, and pastas. Everyone loved what they ordered. We were too full for dessert, but they brought us a plate of baklava to share. The main dining room is very nice and there is a back "patio" that is indoors but has a nice outdoor feel to it. Can't wait to go back! read more

The carbonara have changed my mind about going to Italy. I am now healed from years of crappy Italian restaurants. I will come back just for this carbonara. read more

Zero Stars! I am honestly stunned by how terrible our experience was at Porta Bella. We made our reservation two months in advance, excited to come back because we had a great meal here in the past. We even arrived early to see if they could seat us, and when they couldn't, we politely left to grab a quick drink elsewhere. We returned 15 minutes after our reservation time and were met with one of the rudest interactions I've ever had at a restaurant. The owner immediately told us we had "lost our reservation" in a tone that was unbelievably dismissive. No apology, no explanation, no attempt to seat us, no effort to accommodate two people -- just pure rudeness. For a place that markets itself on hospitality, this was the exact opposite. We were longtime fans of Porta Bella, but after this experience, we will never be back. There are too many great restaurants in Carmel to spend time or money at one that treats guests like this. Truly disappointing, and completely avoidable if the owner cared at all about customer service. read more

Stopped for a quick snack before dinner, the sandwich was pretty good. Definitely an overload of cheese which usually I don't mind, but a little much here. Service was fast and the waiters were all friendly. Loved the outdoor seating so we could sit with our dog too. read more

PortaBella - Vegetarian Croque Monsieur Lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

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I love this place for a quick lunch and have been here a few times since we visit Carmel fairly often. I am always coming back for their mushroom soup and appetizers. I have tried a few of their entrees but nothing super impressive or memorable. Overall the quality of their food is good. I love the cottage vibe of this place and the service is good. read more

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Put us on this table and then saying we're blocking the way.I'm so sorry about my fat body. But food was very chewy with this cardboard "Would you like to order something else?" After I show them this little cute thing. They're not even sry about it. guess I'm the only one should be sry for being here read more

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Loved the food! Loved the service! Loved the atmosphere! We went there each day of our stay in Carmel because we were so happy with our meals at PortaBella! read more

The front patio is a delightful spot for lunch on a pretty day. Dog-friendly too. I love the bread and pesto they bring at the beginning of the meal. Seasoned servers and a nice menu make for a winner. read more

10/10 ambiance 10/10 food 10/10 service! We highly recommend and will come again next time we visit! read more

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We were at Carmel for a little day trip and came across this cute little shop! Ordered the Caesar salad, oven braised short ribs, and linguini. The Caesar was a little salty possibly because of the anchovies but it was still very refreshing! 8/10 The highlight of the meal was the braised short ribs and the linguini. The sauce on the short rib was nicely reduced and seasoned perfectly. The short rib melts in your mouth and falls apart even without cutting into it. 9/10 (just because the portion was a little small imo). The linguini was ALSO kinda of amazing. They loaded it with giant prawns, mussel, etc. The sauce was well balanced and creamy. Highly recommend 10/10. They gave us baklava at the end of our meal to apologize for the wait which was so kind of them! We honestly didn't even notice because they kept refilling our bread We didn't make a reservation but they were able to seat us pretty quickly. The wait staff was super observant and attentive. We had a really wobbly table and before we had the chance to ask them about it, one of the waitress came by and fixed it. Overall highly recommend this place for the vibes, great customer service, and amazing food. 10/10 would come again when in the area! read more

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Always busy and popular place that does good California cuisine. They have a huge inside seating area. I tried the mushroom soup and the lobster bisque. Both were good I highly recommend the lobster bisque! They give you a fresh ciabatta bread with a delicious pesto sauce. I went with the sand dabs that came with potatoes and vegetables. Everything was cooked perfectly and full of buttery flavors. The shrimp salad was very good too. Very fresh ingredients. I have walked by here many times over the years I'm glad we finally went it's a great choice in Carmel! Service was great. It feels like a European restaurant when you're inside. This place fills up fast so make reservations or get there when they open. read more

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I love this cute restaurant. Food so yummy in my tummy. Service is great . Please come when you are around Carmel downtown . read more

PortaBella - Mediterranean Near Me - Carmel, California

Very beautiful restaurant in very convenient location which 1 minute walk from the hotel, we like our food, and the service is excellent! read more

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