Just a great place, from the host, to the seating, to the waitstaff and buss, to the wine and most of all some of the best food in NYC ! read more

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We have been to Portale several times now and we have never had a bad experience. The space is lovely, casual but elegant. The service is next level, the wait staff is attentive without being overbearing. And the food....... Amazing! We had: - Caesar - delicious and big enough to share - Focaccia - wonderfully fluffy - Zuppa - so refreshing and delicious - Bucatini - a great take on clam sauce - Lumache - a wonderfully unique bolognese - Pasta with Peekytoe Crab and lemon sauce - delicious with trout roe - Olive Oil Cake - terrific with blueberries - Cannoli - delicious Over all great Italian dining experience! read more

If you're looking for an upscale, outstanding, Michelin rated Italian dining experience in Manhattan, consider Portale. We had an amazing experience in the beautiful dining area. All of the staff, from hostess to server to busser were all friendly and helpful. Perhaps most so was the sommelier who saw us pouring over the many pages of wine options and stopped by to help. He gave us great direction and amazing history on the the wines available and what would pair best with our selections. We started with a Veranda, a gin and cucumber cocktail that was refreshing and delicious. For entrees, we enjoyed the Angolotti pasta and Pollo alla Diavola. Both were superb. Perhaps the best item was the yellow fish tuna tartare crudo appetizer...amazing! We also ordered the focaccia bread and sides of crispy potatoes and braised Swiss chard. The bread was great. The others were good but unnecessary and were left unfinished. Needed room for dessert, cheesecake with gelato, a perfect way to end a wonderful meal. Reservations recommended. read more

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Everyone was terrific. The food - best duck I ever had. All 4 of us really enjoyed our meal. The luscious cocktails made me wish I was a drinker. read more

I was visiting from California and needed to find a restaurant for a work dinner. After a lot of searching, I came across Portale and decided to give them a try. I loved the overall ambiance of this restaurant. Even though it was crowed for a Tuesday evening, the restaurant felt comfortable and quaint. The tables are a bit tighter with our neighbors than I had wanted it to be, but it was still acceptable. We ordered many items on the menu, a way to get a sampling on the dishes. - Frutti di Mare - that squeeze of lemon really brought out the flavors of the seafood. It was a nice appetizer and really got my appetite going! - Burrata - if you like cheese and previous burrata dishes, this is recommendable. Put a little burrata on some bread and a bit of prosciutto, you've got yourself a nice bite! - Bucatini with Manila clams - a bit al dente for my taste, but the favors of this dish was very complimentary. The clams and the white sauce all went really well together. - Branzino - I usually really enjoy finishing my Italian meal with a fish; and this dish did not disappoint! Lighter fish with some beautiful marinade with olives, cherry tomatoes on top, this was a great ending to the dish. - Cannolis - I must get a cannoli at every good Italian restaurant that I go to, and I especially liked this one because it's not overly sweet. I liked the pistachios at the ends which added a nice crunch. - Olive cake with vanilla ice cream - this was light and fluffy. My coworker said it was the best olive cake he's ever had. If you like olive cake, this is it! The service was very accommodating and friendly. Someone in our group had a dairy restriction and they made similar dishes without any butter, especially for her. This was a wonderful dinner, I'm glad I got to experience it during my trip to New York. read more

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Genuinely one of my favorite restaurants in all of NYC after 8+ years of living here. The service is incredible - all of the waiters know what they are talking about, and give great recs. The entrance really sets the ambiance - dramatic, intimate, and classy. The highlight though is the food. Ive come here for my birthday, celebrating my mom, work team dinners, and more (I keep throwing the name out to get more excuses to visit) and everyone I've brought has LOVED it. No notes - thank you Portale team! (Get the focaccia and Caesar and every single pasta dish) read more

Portale Restaurant - Pastas - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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Have been long to come for a while. Finally, I got the chance to be here. The restaurant has a bright vibe. You can tell, people here have been dining here for a while. And it is a safe heaven for some great food. One thing I love about Portale is that they often have off- menu meals that bring back some popular items when they only serve in a particular season. We got the chance to try it. Love it. read more

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Very rich flavors. My pasta craving was satisfied. Super friendly service as well. I will definitely be coming back. read more

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My last visit to Portale occurred on 5 February 2025 and the lumache pasta -- featuring bolognese bianco, black truffle parmigiano -- siren song was calling on Thursday 16 July 2025. So like any devotee of Italian cooking, I answered, blissfully anticipating another great meal at Portale. I was thrice disappointed. First by the flavorless salad greens that infected the frutti di mare. Second, by the amish chicken with carrots and Jerusalem artichokes all smothered in a brown sauce that (i) overpowered the tender chicken and (ii) stripped the soft accompanying vegetables of any independent flavor. Third, by the lumache pasta (which replaced the chicken that I sent back to the kitchen) made extraordinarily chewy by the clumping together of the parmagiano and vegetable bits. I still believe this restaurant to be bastion of Italian cuisine in NYC. I pray that this comment encourages adjustments to the fruit di mare appetizer and the chicken main. read more

I don't know how this place has high reviews I ordered the risotto to go and it was so awful! First of all it looked like it was half a portion and did not come close to filling me up. The majority of the meal is peas. And the pieces of shrimp they put in the meal equates to maybe 2 full medium size shrimps. This was the biggest rip off and worst dinner I've had in a while! read more

Portale Restaurant - Risotto - I started picking out some peas but this was the quantity - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

We booked this restaurant for a pre-ball dinner and we were COMPLETELY blown away by everything we got. I can confidently say this is in the top 3 restaurants that I've been to this year. - Duck: 100/10 (duck was cooked to perfection. Date sauce was slightly tart and added a nice touch to the duck. Appreciated that they split the dish into 2 for us to share.) - Lumache: 100/10 (I didn't taste the truffle too much but I didn't mind that because the pasta itself was AMAZING. Might be the best pasta I've had this year... and I've been to many famous pasta places this year!) - Olive oil cake: 10/10 (fantastic olive oil cake that's not too dense. Loved the olive oil gelato and crunch bread crumbs that come with the cake.) Service was fantastic but a bit slow. I did find it interesting though that we didn't get to taste the wine before having it served. Ambiance was very classy and cozy-chic vibes. We will definitely be back! read more

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Special meal for a special occasion - we came on the recommendation of a coworker to celebrate our anniversary and were blown away. We ordered: - Foccaccia (good, could've passed) - Scallops crudo (best scallop dish I've ever eaten, though on the pricier end for an appetizer) - Salmon (good) - Lobster pasta (excellent) - Potatoes side (really large portion, great value for smashed potatoes) - 2 cocktails Food was excellent, with the seafood scallop and lobster dishes being the two highlights; the salmon was very good too but didn't stand out a ton from other higher-end restaurants. The staff brought out two glasses of prosecco on top of the drinks which was a nice touch, but they checked in constantly throughout the night to make it a special occasion. 100% will be back. read more

I think Portale is underrated, especially as a pasta destination! I've been twice and both times found it to be a lovely experience all around but was particularly impressed with the food and drinks. The service and ambience were also good, though I don't have that much else to say about either. On my most recent visit, our group of four tried the following: Pane di casa (Focaccia, castelvetrano olives, rosemary, whipped ricotta, olio verde): The bread was crispy on the outside and impossibly fluffy on the inside. The olive oil/ricotta dipping combo was so good. This was perfect for our table of four, but I think it would be a bit filling for smaller parties. Our group tried three of the most excellent pastas, and at the end of the course we all played rock-paper-scissors-pointtoyourfavoritepasta (very fun, recommend playing). Each pasta was favorited by someone, which I think speaks to the quality of the full menu. My fave was the cavatelli (ricotta, arrabbiata, cilantro pesto), which featured the best possible version of a lightly spicy red sauce, creamy pesto, and fresh herbs. Simple, but fantastic! Others favored the Lobster Mafaldine, which had excellent pasta and a lobster flavor seemingly infused into its mildly spiced sauce, and the lumache (bolognese bianco, black truffle parmigiano), which was good but I thought the cheesy truffle sauce wasn't too remarkable. For a main, two of us split the branzino (broccoli rabe, confit cherry tomato eggplant purée, taggiasca olives). The fish was well-prepared and the fresh tomato puree flavor was prominent. This was good, but not as much of a highlight as the pastas. Olive oil cake is an excellent way to end the meal. The cake itself is succulent and dense, but not heavy. I especially enjoyed the little tahini-almond crumbles on top. Make sure you pair each bite with some of the berry sauce and vanilla gelato. Another great end to the meal? The espresso martini. This version has the honor of being the most espresso-forward espresso martini I've ever had. It really tasted like I was straight up having an espresso in a coupe glass. Which is great, if that's what you're after. I certainly wasn't against it! read more

Portale Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Most of the Italian spots I've tried in the city haven't really impressed me, but a friend recommended Portale and I was quite happy with our dining experience here. The ambiance was elegant and classy, and would be perfect for a date night. We started with the olive focaccia bread, which came with a ricotta cream on the side. The bread was so light and airy and had great texture. For the mains, my partner and I split the lobster pasta and the duck. I really appreciated that when we mentioned that we would split everything, they split the portion and brought out two plates--how thoughtful. Both dishes were delicious, but we definitely thought the pasta was the star--the sauce was so flavorful without being too heavy, and the pasta had great texture. We finished with an olive oil cake. Thought this was solid, but probably wouldn't get it again. read more

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Visited a few weeks ago for a work dinner with colleagues after hearing them rave about the food, and I'm glad to say it lived up to the hype. Since we had a large group, we ordered a wide variety of dishes to share, which gave us a great taste of the menu--and honestly, everything was a hit, even the desserts. Our server went above and beyond with excellent wine recommendations and pairings that really elevated the whole experience. Highly recommend if you're looking for a quality meal in the city. read more

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Portale is an upscale Italian restaurant. I had a wonderful time and felt the experience was very special. We were greeted warmly and no drama. Our server was patient and not pushy. Ambiance felt very upscale and noise level is perfect and music matched well with the setting. The menu was concise and easy to read. The food was cooked perfectly and seasoned wonderfully. Even though this is not a steak house the N.Y. strip was seasoned and cooked perfectly. Pasta was cooked just right and prepared nicely. What will elevate this place one day will be the plating. A bit more creative touches it would definitely be of 1-2 star Michelin quality. read more

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This restaurant was just fantastic! I visited on my birthday back in December, but I'm finally getting around to leaving a review. I had the mafaldine, and it was heaven to my tastebuds. It was so delicious, so flavorful. They give you just enough to make you full, but also keep wanting more. The service was great as well. When we came in, we were seated at a table that just didn't feel right and they happily moved our seat to a nice half booth w/ a table. We actually ended up getting a really nice view of the restaurant. The entrance is very tight, so prepare for that. It is very cozy but still comfortable. However, if you aren't a fan of being seated very close to other diners, you miiiight not like this place but it is worth a try. I'm sure it all depends on the night, anyway! Definitely want to visit again! read more

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I came here for my birthday celebration and loved the food and ambiance of Portale! The place is spacious and modern - perfect spot for a date as well. I ordered a few things to share. My friend and I absolutely loved everything! We ordered 2 appetizers (tuna tartare and another seafood appetizer), lobster pasta, mushroom, and for dessert, panna cotta. 5 out of 5 for food. All the staffs are attentive and friendly. Highly recommend! I'll be back to try other items on the menu! read more

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Came here between Xmas and New Years for a dinner date with my husband and couldn't have asked for a better experience. Warm cozy and beautiful atmosphere with excellent and friendly service, and spectacular food. Idk if others comment on bathrooms but I always care about these little details, and their bathrooms are all individual and spacious, smell amazing, and beautiful! I'm glad I read other yelp reviews to help guide what we'd order because we were certainly not disappointed. I had the Lobster Mafaldine and my husband had the duck breast. My pasta was SO delicious it was hard to be willing to share more than one bite with my own hubs! The pasta itself was delicious too - many places have the pasta rely on the sauce for taste but this place gets it perfect. Duck was amazing too. Focaccia like everyone says is a MUST - this is no ordinary focaccia! So crusty hot and has olives in the bread, yum! I also ordered the olive oil cake which many other reviews recommended and I like theirs more than L'artusi! The outside had a nice crunch but was so soft inside. Can't wait to come back and try the other stuff on the menu! Sadly none of my own photos do the food justice but I see other photos here that do a good job! read more

Queen treatment What a beautiful night! I pulled up to the bar on a Friday night and I was able to get an immediate seat the bar. The restaurant was buzzing. The staff was attentive. They helped me choose the perfect glass of white wine priced at $17. It was a 1.5-2 glass pour. I started with the FOCACCIA castelvetrano olives, rosemary, whipped ricotta, olio verde which was fresh, warm crispy and soft with olive oil and ricotta I started with the FRUTTI DI MARE chilled lobster, scallop, octopus, squid shrimp, avocado, lemon which was light and refreshing. There was one small piece of delicious lobster. The bulk was shrimp and octopus. It was very good but a little more lobster would have made it perfect. My main was the SPAGHETTI peekytoe crab, smoked trout roe, lemon white wine It was light. The pasta was al dente. The roe gave it a beautiful pop. Last but not least was the mind blowing dessert. I had the BOMBOLINI sugared doughnuts, chocolate sauce, orange blossom anglaise With the most delicious honeycomb ice cream Wow! Wow! Wow! Do not skip dessert. I ate at the bar at the staff was beyond attentive and amazing. I am excited to come back and try their lobster pasta, be treated like a queen again at the bar and absolutely have those donuts again! Thank you for such a memorable dining experience! read more

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Everything about this restaurant is as good as it gets. Definitely worth the hassle of driving in from NJ

This place is so underrated! Every single item we ordered was absolute mouthwatering perfection. We ordered: zuppa portobello soup, house made olive focaccia, lobster mafaldine, and lumache. Highly highly recommend all four of these items. Dipping the focaccia in the soup is also a wonderful combination. By far the star of the whole restaurant is the lobster malfadine. It is a must order. We came back just for this dish and will be coming back for it again in the future. In the words of my partner: "It's a dish that makes you wish you had a bottomless stomach and could eat forever." Ambience and service are also wonderful. Portale deserves a Michelin star! read more

Portale Restaurant - Lobster mafaldine - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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A true 5 star experience. To understand the excellence of Portale, it's important to have some context on the history behind it. If you're in your 30s or older, you hopefully had the pleasure of dining at Gotham Bar & Grille at some point in the 80s, 90s or earlier 2000s. If you're younger and unfamiliar - Gotham was a NYC staple for 40 years before it closed more recently. It was known for its consistency, excellence across a wide variety of dishes, and culinary creativity. It was hard to have a bad meal there. One of the main forces behind this culinary institution was Alfred Portale - the head chef for over 3 decades. He's as influential a chef as they come given his role at Gotham for so many years. So it was a big deal when he stepped out to open his own restaurant. Enter Portale - a much smaller, cozier, but equally excellent culinary experience. Here's the breakdown: FOOD: definite 5 stars, no question. What makes this place so amazing is their ability to deliver across so many different cuisines, dishes and food types. Whether it's a Caesar salad, a shrimp cocktail, a homemade pasta, a perfectly seared duck breast, a piece of red meat - you name it and they do it perfectly. This is rare to find. Their appetizers are all excellent. Caesar salad is maybe the best we've ever had but you can't go wrong with any appy. Oh, and on the topic, while I'd never typically order bread to start, they did bring us their focaccia complimentary due to a wait and it was unlike any bread I've ever had. Almost like a topover, very hollow inside and crispy deliciousness outside, served with a nice ricotta and olive oil. Try it!! For mids, we did 2 pastas. Lumache which is a bolognese in a WHITE sauce with a touch of truffle. Unique and not often to find white meat sauce. If you're into a white sauce and truffle -- get it -- heavenly. Also got their mafaldine which was perfectly al dente is a semi spicy orange sauce with fresh lobster chunks and breadcrumbs. Really excellent too. After pastas we split a duck breast which was arguably the best I've had. Perfectly seared skin, beyond tender and voluptuous, perfectly flavored. A++. For dessert we did the cheesecake which was actually super tart and the least enjoyable part of the meal but not complaining relative to how good everything else was. AMBIANCE: so the space is a bit strange. Once you settle into the main room, it's a nice experience. Cozy, dimlit, well appointed. It is a bit loud but not ruin your meal loud. But the experience to get to your table can be tough and having worked in hospitality I was surprised and how seemingly little thought was put into this part of the experience. You enter to immediately hit a somewhat strangely placed coatcheck which immediately blocks traffic in and out of the restaurant. You walk through a second door to hit an equally poorly placed hostess stand which severely blocks traffic. Creates a bit of a chaotic scene upon entering which definitely isn't how I'd want to welcome customers into the first moments of my restaurant. Again, relative to the actual dining experience, not going to overindex for this but definitely the poorest experience of the night. Also, we had to wait 20 minutes for our table and the bar is also similarly awkward and super narrow so not even a good bar to be able to hang out while waiting. But again, once we got past that and into the main dining room, we had a lovely experience. SERVICE: overall, solid. Frankly, not on par with what i would've expected and what you would've gotten at Gotham. Nothing overtly wrong with it just little things that felt a tad subpar. Server was fine, but super abrupt. First time touching our table asked us if we were ready to order - zero introduction, zero prompting if we had questions, zero welcome to the restaurant. Was definitely strange. A few other service moments like this that were kind of head scratchers for a restaurant Alfred Portale is behind. But overall, service was good enough. In short - the culinary creations here are show stoppers. And the kind of menu you can't go wrong with anything you get which is super impressive. Ambiance is nice once you're inside the dining room and service won't blow you away but also won't detract from your meal. Go enjoy this wonderful establishment!! read more

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Trendy and vibrant. Loved the beautiful entrance. Came here specifically for the lobster mafaldine, and it definitely lived up to the hype! The dish was incredibly flavorful. They really brought out and intensified the lobster/seafood taste. The halibut was also amazing; really enjoyed the black truffle crust. We told our server that we wanted to share the entrees, expecting nothing more than extra plates, but the entrees came divided up in two - a very considerate gesture! The meatball appetizer was also delicious - very tender. So why only four stars? Because their sides were oddly subpar. The brussels sprouts and mushrooms, two things I often enjoy greatly, were inexplicably bland. The texture was also off for both of them - should've been more charred. read more

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The malfadine here was SO good and had a very special unique taste to it. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce had a really nice and balanced tang to it. Service was really friendly. I find it odd that they allow takeout but do not readily keep togo utensils for those on the go. Thankfully they were able to find one for me. The ambiance was nice, but I got takeout instead since I was unable to find good parking. I'll definitely be back! read more

Portale Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Attentive and friendly service. Great food. A bit louder ambiance at peak times with a happy vibe and younger crowd

This is a regular restaurant of ours..delivery and in restaurant dining...food always very good. however on tuesday5/5/26 after rib-eye,chicken saltimbocca ,fruitti di mare, yogurt cheesecake & complimentary truffle appetizer.., NO ALCOHOL was involved. my bf began to experience bad stomach cramps upon leaving, we took taxi home to eastside just in time , in this span of time i began to feel very sick, 2hrs later, experienced same stomach symptoms with the addition of multiple bouts of vomiting.(note we are both in early 70s) we had mentioned at the restaurant that the chicken dish was very dry, esp.chicken leg not good. the AGM removed item from the bill. Fortunately, we were able to find a virtual MD/NYC hospital in NYC to call at 2:15 am..i explained our FOOD POISONING experience and my sypmtoms to the Doctor, and was advised to watch the symptoms I described very carefully. Food poisoning is something you don't easily forget! My bf called the AGM today..who was going to advise the "chef" and the GM as to what transpired. We are currently waiting for a call tomorrow, hopefully, from the GM, disappointed we were not able to discuss this with the GM (or owner) tonight, rather than to wait another day. In our opinion, both the owner and GM should have been notified tonight and reached out to us. We are not looking for or will accept any refunds from the restaurant. Obviously, with this total experience we will not be dining (or ordering) again from Portale. read more

Consistent excellence A great "go to" Thanks Alfred for the menu Johanna and staff special Michael and wine read more

Absolutely amazing spot but you must make reservations, I tried 2 days in a row and on the 3rd day it was well worth the wait!!!! This place is amazing good. Great ambience friendly helpful staff, just an amazing vibe through and through.... Had the duck breast on evening that was cut like a steak kinda like, had it medium rare which I didn't know was a thing. Have the duck breast for sure. Also had the Ceasar salad 2 nights in a row and consistently good , healthy portion you can share. First time we had the octopus appetizer that a thick generous portion, which is also shareable. First time we ate there I just had to go back so we asked the waiter if he can get us in for a second time and he was extremely helpful and walla we had reservations again. Had the lobster and pasta dish that was an epicurean delight. Was sprinkled with chili flakes that just added and extra just added an extra pizzazz to the flavors. Anyhow I can't say enough if you in town try and eat there you won't regret it. Oh almost forgot the desert cake that was light and fluffy and not over baring. Hope this helps getting you to try this amazing good spot. read more

Portale Restaurant - Ceasar Salad - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

There wasn't a dish that we didn't love. The sweet corn is divine!! 10/10 should make this a date spot or your girls night out spot. David was great, kind and took care of us! Will be back read more

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So yummy! Finally got to try Portale after hearing great things about it for years. Ordered four appetizers and two pastas across the menu for a very hungry party of two. Every dish was delicious, with a preference for the appetizers over the pastas. Also tried a few cocktails from the menu at the recommendation of the server, which were delicious! The restaurant is medium sized, but seems to fill up every day, so a reservation would be wise. It is also relatively noisy inside given the accoustics, but you can hear people at your own table still. read more

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Took the beau here for a date with great anticipation after all the positive things I've read about Portale. We were not disappointed! From the moment we stepped inside it was apparent that this restaurant is professionally run with the diners experience in mind. The smallest of details made the biggest impact. Not only is the service top notch, the food is excellent on every level. Our server, Brie, was quite busy but she never forgot the things we mentioned or asked for every time she came by. Her ability to make us feel like we were important guests is a rarity these days. The sommelier was helpful and relatable instead of pretentious and condescending. He helped us choose a very special wine. The pastas are expertly prepared, the bread baked with goodness, even the cocktails were a step above. Our budino dessert was excellent and just what we needed. We may have even ordered the cheesecake to go for later consumption. I haven't been to a restaurant of this level in some time and I can see why they appear to be thriving on a Saturday night. Thank you to everyone there who helped make this a memorable evening. read more

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We went as a group of 6 for a friend's birthday. The food, vibe and service was outstanding. We tried so many different dishes and all were great. We will definitely be back. read more

"Wonderful dinner with friends on Friday night! Their first time. Always impressed by the food and fine service. One of NYC best somms to accompany their outstanding wine list. Looking forward to our next meal!" read more

Portale is a wonderful restaurant in Manhattan in a lovely space with beautiful ambience. The food was delicious. It was prepared perfectly and was delicious. We had pasta with lobster which was a special and also rack of lamb a special, and also ordered with a Caesar salad and tomato salad ------ all of which were wonderful. Also, the servers and staff were very attentive and friendly as was Aaron, the Assistant General Manager. He greeted us warmly and accompanied us to our table, in a wonderful and welcoming manner. Portale is definitely 5++++ STARS and I commend it highly A great dining experience in NYC! read more

I would walk by this spot from the gym and it was always packed, so was excited to finally stop in the other day for dinner! Cute neighborhood Italian vibes - and when I went upstairs to the bathroom, looked like some great private event space too (noted!). I tried the following for dinner: Crudo di Tonno - tuna tartare - I really enjoyed this one! The cucumber base was a great "carrier" for the tuna that wasn't as carb heavy Mafaldine - I don't see Mafaldine in a ton of menus, so I'm always excited to get it when I see it. Even better in this case where it came with lobster! The highlight though was the Calabrian chili - some of the best pasta sauce I've had recently for sure! And I'd definitely come back just for this dish! Olive oil cake - I'm also a sucker for olive oil cake and this one was delicious! Generously sized slice that's perfect for sharing, and I'm not even an ice cream person but that ice cream was to die for. Portale did not disappoint and will certainly be joining my rotation in the neighborhood! read more

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I decided to go solo and sit at the bar, and I am so glad I went. The service was incredible, the staff was so kind and warm. The space is absolutely gorgeous, such a Chelsea vibe. The food was absolutely outstanding, so many of the ingredients come from the union square farmers market. Cannot wait to go back! read more

First dinner at Portale. Exceptional. Being in the interior design business, there are a few flaws in the space but not bad enough to elaborate on. It's a white modern interior that isn't "cold". White painted barn wood walls and modern art is the look. It was also pretty quiet even though the place was packed. We ordered 3 of their specialty cocktails and they were all worth getting again. Compliments to the bar staff. The pasta dishes are all beautifully plated and delicious. The focaccia is an art piece of its own...a beautiful perfect little crunchy loaf that hides olives in a beautiful cavern like interior. We only had the pasta dishes this time, but can't wait to return for the more hearty fare. I was a little leary of the reports of the waitstaff being "abrupt". We didn't see a problem although the bus boys were a little too eager to clear plates. Not a real problem though. All in all, highly recommend this place. And they even brought us complimentary dessert wine after our olive oil cake which was excellent. read more

Portale Restaurant - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

The only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars is because the service could have been better. For a restaurant this upscale, elegant, and pricey, i shouldn't have to wave my waiter over to refill my water several times throughout the night. The table we were at was tucked in the back, and we felt it -- our server hardly ever came over and we knew if we needed something, we would have to wait quite a while. Otherwise, this spot is amazing. We did four courses and all of them were outstanding. We started with the beet salad which was fresh, well balanced and delicious. We moved on to the pasta - we got the mafaldine which was perfectly cooked al dente and the sauce was just divine. The halibut was buttery, melted in your mouth, and the flavors were so interesting and different. The mushrooms that came with the halibut were excellent as well. That was probably my favorite dish. We finished with dessert (not pictured) - olive oil cake. It was good but not as exciting as any of the prior 3 courses. This is a lovely, upscale spot and I would definitely return. read more

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What an experience!!! I always judge a restaurant on how it welcomes its customers, the food and the service...Portale has all its ducks in a row. Our party of four was ready for the experience. Started the meal with the FOCACCIA was fresh, warm and crispy with Castelvetrano olives, whipped ricotta and green olive oil. Appetizers: CESARE and CAVOLO NERO salads, and BURRATA, with prosciutto di parma, cherry tomatoes roasted plums, white balsamic Main Course was: the evening 'special' MAFALDINE with lobster, BUCATINI with manila clams, guanciale, pancetta pomodoro and AGNOLOTTI sweet corn, chanterelle mushrooms sungold tomatoes, pecorino pepato. The consensus was that the AGNOLOTTI was the hands-down winner. The MAFALDINE & BUCATINI were excellent but a tad too 'al dente', that being the only minus in an otherwise perfect experience. Desserts are a must-have...we shared the BOMBOLINI sugared doughnuts served with chocolate sauce, and strawberry jam, and the CANNOLI, words cannot be found to describe their deliciousness. Our server, Joshua P. was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly he was the added bonus to a memorable dinner. (5-stars) Bravo Chef Alfred Portale! We'll be back! read more