Went there for a quick lunch with a friend. We were seated promptly at nice white tablecloth table by the window. We ordered salads to start and they were fresh and crispy. Good dressing. Brett was served on the side and it was a nice accomplishment. We chose pastas for lunch. My dish was the pasta Pomodoro and Arrabiata. It was nice, but not really hot and the bread came in handy to sweep up some of the sauce. My friend had the ravioli which you enjoyed thoroughly. I recommend this place. read more

Came to PL for the first time recently. One of my first impressions was the door was extremely hard to open-all 3 of us struggled. The restaurant was only opened 5pm-8pm which was also interesting... my entree was good, especially the chicken! I would probably try a different pasta if I got this again read more

Porto Leggero - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Another amazing visit to Porto Leggero! Delicious food, wonderful service, and beautiful ambiance. My meal centered around the daily specials. I had the clams with with chorizo appetizer and the veal and beef tortellini. Wow wow wow! Everything was fantastic! I also had the apple tart for dessert. Wonderful way to end a breathtaking meal! read more

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After cocktails at the Rooftop, we arrived a little early for dinner but Elliot sat us immediately at a nice quiet corner table. We were promptly greeted by our server, Gabriel. As it was one of my wife's birthday celebrations (there were several that weekend), I ordered some Veuve rosé bubbles to enjoy while we perused the dinner menu. The wine list is decent with some good values. Pace was perfect. No rush. Attentive when needed but we had a leisurely time of banter on the menu and bubbles. The busing staff promply brought us warm fresh assortment of breads and some oil. They also were very attentive re: refilling water glasses and clearing plates. Menu is typical upscale Italian with plenty of fish and pasta options. We decided on mussels and the scallops for appetizers , halibut(2), the duck special and a pasta special (crab over liguini) for entrees. We enjoyed a Gavi di Gavi with our entrees and the birthday girl had some brunello with her duck. All the entrees were on the mark. Larger portions of the appetizers would have been nice, but they too were on the mark. After our dinner plates were cleared, Gabriel brought a full plate of desserts. I had a double expresso. Dessert and expresso were complimentary. Nice! Enjoyable birthday celebration with my girls. Great atmosphere. Great service. Perfect pace. Excellent food. We would definitely return. Place was busy but not packed on a Saturday night. I would still recommend reservations. I will post more photos later. read more

Porto Leggero - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

A stunning restaurant in Jersey City with incredible food. Started with the calamari and that was very good. Not chewy at all. The porcini ravioli is to die for, along with the pollo scarpiello. The braised beef was a little drier than I tend to like, but still had good flavor! But the desserts? I thought I ascended into heaven! Loved this place and will return read more

Porto Leggero - Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, ricotta cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

I came here on a Sunday evening for a birthday dinner. Be mindful that on Sunday's they are only open from 5pm-8pm so you have a limited window. As far as i can tell there is only street parking. When entering, the door was extremely heavy for some reason. We got seated right away and the restaurant seemed very quiet and intimate. Our server happened to also be the manager. He was very nice and accommodating. As a cocktail I got the Rosa margarita which I think was a good choice. For my entree I got the Spaghetti Amatriciana. It was delicious. It had a good amount of pancetta in the dish and the sauce ratio was just right. The papardelle con vodka was good too. The chicken that was added to the dish was crispy and seasoned well. My friend got ricotta cheesecake as a free dessert since it was her birthday. I'm personally not a fan of that dessert, it's definitely an acquired taste. My other friend liked her tiramisu dessert. Overall, I enjoyed my meal here. I would come back to try other dishes. I will say that this restaurant seems more like a 2 person date location instead of a group outing. read more

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This entire meal was actually chefs kiss. Amazing ambiance which surprised me in Jersey. Super high ceiling, comfortable seating, good lighting and window views and decor. On a cold rainy winter night this was a great find. The complimentary bread was lacking in flavor and warmth while being too hard. However the main meal was amazing. The appetizer of calamari was a special of the night and the perfect amount of crispy and chewing and flavor. Very generous with the sweet sauce and a spicy sauce with lemons on the side. Was a bit pricey at $22 but overall amazing. The pasta tried the gamberi scampi $36 and substituting the potatoes and veggies for penne was the best decision of the night. The granchio ala prosecco $42 was topped with very generous amount of garnishes and even crabmeat. The dessert was the main thing that really disappointed me as the crème brulee as it was only labeled a classic crème brûlée with berries but it was definitely infused with a fair amount of alcohol... I've never had crème brûlée like that and was not a fan. It made the dessert overly chilled and as someone who's not a fan of alcohol, felt like it was misleading that it wasn't noted on the menu that alcohol would be included or that it'll be so prominent. Overall was still a great experience though. read more

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Our aunt gave us a gift card to dine at Porto Leggero and we thought it would be a great date night idea to come for happy hour. Upon arrival, none of the happy hour specials were mentioned to us. We had to specifically ask for them. And when we checked out, we had to ask them to provide the HH pricing, in which our calamari wasn't reduced because they gave us a "special" calamari order. We didn't order any specific calamari so not sure why we were penalized. The food and drinks were great but the secrecy for their specials is the biggest red flag for me so I will not be returning. read more

Delicious food on a. Cold winter night - service was impeccable and the wine selection varied.

After a long day in the office a couple of colleagues decided to grab a bite at Porto Leggero. When we walked in we were asked if we had a reservation to which we said no, which was responded with oh let me see what I can do. Dude the place was half empty. And by the time we left many of those same tables were still empty. Anyhow we were shown to our table and proceeded to wait a good 10 mins before the waiter came to take our drink orders and give us a run down of all the specials. By that time we had already decided what we wanted to eat so we placed both orders. Drinks were good, had the Mediterranean Mule. Appetizers followed soon after which were tasty. We had the calamari and the stuffed mushrooms. We then proceeded to wait quite a long time to receive our mains. I had the veal capriccosa which was very tasty with a fresh salad. Colleague had the short ribs and cleaned his plate. Guess he was hungry?? Another colleague ordered the filet mignon which they enjoyed and was cooked to their liking. However the other colleague ordered the salmon but weren't all to enthusiastic about the dish. The salmon looked very pale (farm raised I guess). Prices are a little high but then again this is business center of Jersey City so a $40+ for main course I guess is to be expected. Atmosphere was good, decor is nice. Did notice that waiters did clean the top of tables and the seats but neglected to look under the tables as guests were seated at a table with a dirty napkins on the floor u der the table. Food quality is good and tasty, just some of the other elements would make me question whether there are other establishments in the area I need to try before returning. read more

I've never been to a restaurant and seen politics on the bar screens...Trump was being televised and not by customer request no one was at the bar when I arrived. We ordered a few dishes for dinner. My order consisted of the meatballs and the sausage rigatoni. I've had more flavorful meatballs, but I did like that they served bread with theirs here. The server recommended the sausage rigatoni; I wasn't impressed. I think Luna & Bucca di suit my tastebuds best so far. Service was good, love the teal color palette, and it's located in a convenient, pretty, relaxing area. Rating based on if I liked the food enough to return or take a visitor. read more

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Decided on Porto Leggero for my 31st birthday w/ my boyfriend! We went out on a rainy and cold Saturday but the delicious dinner made up for it. Reservations are made via phone so call ahead of time. Parking is free and is located right in front of the restaurant. We were looking for an actual lot but when we asked the host, he said we could parallel park in front. Just make sure to double check with them bc it's Jersey City, ha! If you're taking the train, it's steps away from the Path and light rail. Porto Leggero is such a warm and cozy atmosphere. They have an extensive wine list and a couple of cocktails. I had to start the night with the Rosa Margarita which caught my eye bc one, it has tequila and two, any drink with agave, fresh lime and pink rose it my JAM. After the first sip, I pat myself on the back since I made such a good choice! My bf ordered the Nero Old Fashioned which he loved the hints of aromatic bitters and orange. The waiter came around with three servings of complimentary bread; one paired with balsamic vinaigrette + olive oil, one topped with caramelized onions (I think) and one with a delicious eggplant spread. Definitely started to fill me up before my app and entrée! One of their specials was the burrata salad which was absolutely DELICIOUS! I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I usually shy away from burrata bc it never stood out to me but this one really put it back on the map! And I dislike figs but paired with this I'll eat it every day. My bf ordered the Portobello Milanese which he devoured in 5 minutes, haha. Now, the Pappardelle con Vodka was the meal people kept writing about in their reviews so I had to order it. Never had pappardelle before either! The menu stated it's cooked with prosciutto but I was able to order my meal without it which is always a win. My bf ordered the Agnello Arosto (lamb shank over saffron risotto) and enjoyed it. All in all, service was great, food was delicious and it was the laid back/fancy dinner I was looking forward to! Would definitely visit again; I NEED to try the watermelon salad and butternut squash ravioli. read more

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This place is a wonderful dinner or date night spot. I came for dinner party of two. Got there earlier than the reservation and was seated immediately. The staff is beyond friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine. Everything we ordered was based on a suggestion and it was all perfect. The fried calamari is a great starter with two dipping sauces, they also provide some bread and oil, and two started breads; one with garlic and onions and another dish with bruschetta. Main course of the panko crusted halibut was one of the best halibut dishes I've tasted. read more

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Really great spot - surprised it took me this long to try! The service was good, everything we had tasted amazing and they even brought out free mini plates with a few items to enjoy along with the appetizers. The lamb special was very large and had a lot of flavor. Some places get really cheap with lamb portions but this was not the case. Highly recommend to anyone in the area and can't wait to go back! read more

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Went for a birthday dinner with three friends. Service was great. Food was delicious. We gave rave reviews to the butternut squash ravioli, lamb entrée, short ribs entree, and desserts. What makes Porto Leggero stand out in the neighborhood is that they make their own desserts. The space is lovely. Would return. read more

First time at Porto Leggero and had a great experience. We were a party of 11 and they were able to comfortably arrange our tables. We had a family-style dinner with our choice of entree and dessert. I have a dairy allergy, and my server really went above and beyond to make sure I was able to eat a few of the dishes. Appetizers: The Portobello Milanese was delicious. I would have never thought this combo would work. I ate at least two pieces. It was a good amount of tangy and tomato-y flavor. Also, the table bread was perfect with the olive and balsamic blend For my pasta dish, they made me a special tomato-based rigatoni. Everyone else got vodka sauce. It was a hefty portion and tasted great. For my main, I got the Short Ribs of Beef, made with olive oil, and substituted the mash with small potatoes. Unfortunately, no dessert for me as it was either tiramisu or cheesecake. read more

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Slightly on the expensive side, this place has a pretty nice ambience. The food and service are pretty good as well. I'd give it a full 5 stars if it had enough vegetarian options (I find them limited compared to other places). read more

So I will have to come back here because after devoting my appetizers, I realized no photos were taken. *face palm* came here with some Friends after a conference at the college across the street and we thought a quick drink and some apps would do us good. We sat at the bar where we were served by a friendly and attentive bartender (I forgot her name but blonde, curly hair with a VW necklace ) . My friend had a fig Moscow mule which she raved about and my virgin mojito was pretty delicious and well mixed too. We had stuffed mushrooms with sausage inside, Buffalo , caprese salad type dish and the meatballs. All hit the spot, and were so mouth watering delectable. The meatballs weren't hot which was a disappointment but the flavors were there and I can imagine if it was hot but I was starving . The place is not too large and more of a railroad style but it's has class and flair. The dim lit dining room screams romance while the bar area oozes coolness read more

Porto Leggero - a dining room with tables and chairs - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Fantastic meatballs followed by succulent lamb shank and chicken. All the items were expertly prepared and the service was great. Beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. read more

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Ben at the Westin recommended this place. We made reservations and it was within walking distance. We were early so we sat at the bar. Stacy the bartender was so welcoming, we decided to stay there for our dinner. The raviolis are made in house, so I had the mushroom ravioli. The flavor was delicious and the amount was just right. We split a cheesecake slice, it was Ricotta cheesecake. I thought it was good, I personally like a lot of lemon in my ricotta cheesecake. We would definitely go back to this restaurant and I highly recommend it. Enjoy! read more

Porto Leggero - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Had lunch here with co-workers on Friday.  The inside was nice and spacious, but could have used some background music to mute out some of the conversations.  There was plenty of room with approximately 5-6 tables occupied. We started off with 3 appetizers: (1) The mussels were the best of the 3...served hot with nicely blanched roma or campari tomatoes atop a spicy sauce along with some toast brushed with olive oil to sop up the delicious gravy; (2) Scallops should never be hidden as it was with ours...drowned in a mixture of white bean, tomato and rosemary broth.  Scallops should be the showcase and placed on top of everything...our scallops were not seared correctly and were rubbery; and (3) The salad could have had fresher greens, zoom in at the bottom of the pic and see the brown lettuce, and could have been presented better.  I get it, it's just a salad, but that's why it should be displayed with style, especially in a nice establishment. Was able to sample everyone's dish: (1) The double cut pork chop was the best out of all!  It was cooked medium and retained all of its nice juices...the hot peppers, mushrooms, and potatoes were a nice accompaniment, but an extra couple of minutes to reduce the white wine sauce on high heat would have made this extra special; (2) The shrimp scampi was simmered just right and all the garlic, lemon, white wine, and fresh herbs enhanced the taste of the dish.  The potatoes, carrots, and green beans were fresh and healthy sides; and (3) The porcini stuffing inside the ravioli was overseasoned, which was compounded by the rich, truffle cream sauce...something needs to be dialed back &/or simplified on this one. The service was good.  I tipped 20%, but had a problem with the waiter taking my payment before we left the table, which indicates distrust.  There's something off with the class or lack thereof here...it was just the one waiter, the other 2 had better etiquette.  2 out of 3 apps and 1 out of 3 main dishes could be improved. Overall, my conclusion is 3 stars. read more

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Not too shabby, but not a restaurant I would eat at again. We visited Porto Leggero, as it's near where my aunt lives and was on the way to the Newark Airport where I was flying out of. For traditional, upscale Italian food, Porto Leggero is the spot for it in Jersey City. But I wasn't all that jazzed about my entrée. For the four of us, we were able to be seated immediately for lunch on a Monday, soon after it opened. Plus, we were lucky enough to get one of the few street parking spots right outside of the restaurant. Sweet! The restaurant was spacious enough, with white table cloths and dressed up servers. It's on the fancier pants side. For lunch I ended up ordering the bistecca giambotta, which came with fingerling potatoes and roasted veggies. I asked for it to be medium rare, which it was not. It was overcooked, which is a big reason why I'm "meh" about this restaurant because the steak could've been better. However, I will say that despite it being overcooked, it was still tender. The potatoes and roasted veggies were suuuper salty. I did like the spiciness from the roasted peppers though; but really, this dish needed to be lightened up since it was sodium overload and the steak was overcooked. All in all, I didn't have the best luck here, but can see why others may have a better experience. My family enjoyed their meals, and as we were there, the place started to fill. So, it is liked by others. But for me, I just wished I had enjoyed my food much more. read more

Porto Leggero - Bistecca Giambotta - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Very nice ambiance. They have a lengthy bar. It is modern and cozy inside. They have elevated Italian dishes with an extensive wine list. I tried the calamari appetizer and shrimp scampi. It is an additional charge to add pasta to that dish. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. read more

Love this restaurant. Dope ambiance, great service, amazing food. We ordered the Caprese salad appetizer, Pollo Scarpiello and Dentice Rosemarina. Each dish was authentic and flavorful. I'm surprised it took me so long to find out about this place. I will return anytime I'm in Jersey City. read more

I had my wedding rehearsal dinner at Porto Leggero and it was truly a wonderful experience. The owner, Elliot, was there for us every step of the way with planning the menu to recommending a mingle hour prior to the dinner in their gorgeous sitting room in the front of the restaurant. The food was outstanding, particularly the meatball appetizer which my guests still rave about. We could not recommend this restaurant enough. We will definitely be back for weekend date nights. read more

A nice traditional Italian meal! The steamed mussels and the lamb dish are definitely worth a try. We first came on a weekend for dinner, and it was very crowded. We had made a reservation beforehand, but they were so busy they couldn't seat us on time. We ended up waiting at the bar and just ordered food from there. Service was slow, which was understandable because of the crowd. Two of the three mains we ordered were also sold out, and they didn't tell us until after half the food came. They did give us some desserts, which was nice, and the tiramisu was delicious. We came again during the weekday, and it was not busy. It usually takes a few calls to get a hold of them to make a reservation though. read more

Porto Leggero - a plate of mussels and a bowl of soup - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Italian Restaurant in this upscale Hudson yards by Jersey City's Newport centre with beautiful view of the water separating NY just across the water from this accessible location was a nice change of scenery. Came here for lunch in our last day as we conclude our NY trip on President's Day weekend, and having dined in a few spots in NY! Food was excellent though lacking in variety. My order of Agnoloti in cream sauce was good but still pales in comparison to Chicago's Purple Pig take with brown butter, which I prefer a 1000%! Filet option we ordered was overcooked though as was the chicken all looking similar. Most surprising and what saved them a few stars was the really well thick cut of pork chop! It was very tasty, crispy on the outer layer yet very tender inside despite the almost 3-inch thickness of this other white meat. Had good selection of wines and Italian moscatos and ambience definitely was nice. Table in white linen and good silver added class to this place as self-described " upscale Italian ". No nonsense waiter I appreciate and expected in this area reminded me of when I shipped our vehicle overseas via Bayonne NJ guy who processed our vehicle was clearly Italian in that ever so familiar endearing cocky attitude. Just like that guy, our waiter put a smile in my face, considered the ´tude cute! Still, appreciate having a good spot upfront to park our vehicle after leaving NY City on way back to DC, and dropping off my sis for this is her area. She highly recommended this place and I got it, except this visit they ran out of short ribs and another item. 5 stars rating was possible if not for those few hiccups, which were minor! read more

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The food is delicious, flavorful and presented well. The service staff is well-trained, professional and friendly. My issue is the General Manager. I made a harmless joke to which he just stared at me with a blank face. I left it as is but it started off my whole experience there in a negative way. So, the food is very good and enjoyable and the staff is excellent. Just avoid the GM. read more

Came here for my birthday dinner September 20 with a large group they did amazing job accomindating Us the server and bartender were amazing and really good food and wine recommendations! All in all great birthday dinner I will be retuning the next time I'm in the area ! Thank you guys so much read more

Porto Leggero - Wine and family style apps - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Went two nights in a row, once solo and next with the wife. Sat at the bar both times and service was spot on and food and drink were great. Restaurant atmosphere is subdued and relaxing. read more

We had a reservation for 6 people and came on time although in the smaller group. They made us wait almost 25 minutes before seating until most of the people showed up. Food was OK and service just fine, but this wait time left a sour taste in my mouth. read more

Pretty good spot - spacious with good service. We made a last minute reservation for a party of 6 on a holiday weekend and they were able to accommodate. We got appetizers to share - pomodoro and buffalo, caesar salad, and clams in a wine sauce; the clams were a standout. For entrees, we went with a variety around the table, but the most notable was the lamb shank. However, the sausage in my penne con salsiccia were weirdly hard and chewy, which was disappointing. For dessert, we got the tiramisu and apple tort to share, and both were hits. The tiramisu was heavy on the espresso, which I very much enjoyed. read more

I'm just going to come out and say it, I could live without pasta. It's far and few when a pasta dish impresses me. This pappardelle though, my Mouth is watering thinking about it. The flavors in the vodka sauce combined so well with the noodle. I can say I enjoyed the pappardelle to the last bite. We also split the steak and it was cooked to perfection none of the food lacked any flavor. We went on a Wednesday night and the restaurant was very busy. There's convenient parking in front if you're lucky enough to secure the spot ... i was :) read more

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Food was very good. Although it wasn't at hot as it should have been. Very attentive i got there a half hour before closing. Didn't feel rushed at all. Tho you don't get as much food the serving were quit small over all i will return. Very nice atmosphere. read more

I was not very pleased with my initial interaction upon arrival. The waiter who attended to me in absence of a host was quick to dismiss me to the bar clearly not interested in serving a single patron. Ironically I find that how a restaurant treats a single diner is often a great indication of their overall service. I ordered water from the waiter who sat me and waited for some time while I observed the host who emerged from the back bring water promptly to a duo of ladies he sat. But it was the bartender who brought my water and came to assist me who turned things around from a service perspective. He was gracious and offered beverages and bread. The bread was warm but not stellar (really dId not seem fresh). My table tipped so easily I had to anchor it with my feet to prevent its contents from ending in my lap. So at this point in the experience I am underwhelmed. The entree I chose was Papparadelle con Vodka and it was very good. For dessert, I ordered the ricotta cheesecake and by itself I found it pretty, but mostly flavorless. The presentation was appealing and the side berries and sauce were very good. In all, I am not sure I would visit this place again, though I plan to frequent the area and love Italian food. Maybe with a group the experience would be better! read more

Porto Leggero - Papparadelle con Vodka - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Porto Leggero is sooo good. Our wait staff was amazing and the food was amazing. We started off with a bottle of barolo and their mozzarella with mixed greens, figs and mandarins segments. Then for our main course i had their pan crusted salmon with asparagus and potatoes, the salmon was good but i definitely needed more flavor from it felt like it was missing something but still very nice and not over cooked. My friend ordered the butternut squash ravioli in a browned butter sage sauce recommended by our lovely waiter Michael. NOW THAT RAVIOLI WAS A HIT! The flavor of the ravioli was pure perfection and the sauce was absolutely complementary. They did a perfect job with that dish. For dessert we had their tiramisu and the apple tart. The desert was so good we savored every single bite. Our bill came out to around $200 which isn't too bad for the type of meal we had including the really great bottle of wine. This restaurant is definitely staying on my good eats list in New Jersey. I ended up going to Italy the next day and left still thinking about those lovely figs with the mozzarella Michael recommended. Thank you so much for the lovely meal. read more

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Excellent food and ambience! The staff was incredibly helpful as well and to top it all off, they validate parking in the garage attached to the building. Will definitely be back! read more

I had a great night with my friends. The food was wonderful and the staff were very accommodating to my needs. I will definitely be back to eat on a regular and/or special occasions to try out more on the menu. The atmosphere is very elegant & calming. Love Porto Leggero! read more

Porto Leggero - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Amazing place all around our favorite! Food, Atmosphere, Service all a 10 - OUTSTANDING! Highly recommend this beautiful restaurant read more

Porto Leggero - Italian Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Food was not what we were expecting. Service was good. And the vibes was ok. It just seemed like there wasn't really any pride taken in the food. read more