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    Portofino

    4.1 (174 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Seafood
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Portofino Takeout or Delivery

    Portofino Photos

    PORTOFINO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Portofino

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    Reviews With Photos

    Manny and Pattie 11-3-24
    William A K.

    AMAZING. We had a Birthday dinner last night Sunday Nov 3rd 2024 There were 6 of us Manny was there as usual and greeted us Service by Aria was terrific Food runners great as well 2 of us had the Sea Bass special So good The Rib Eye steak to die for Everyone had a great time Thank you Manny for the complimentary Porto Salad Portofino's is one of our favorite restaurants

    I was there on an invite by a fantastic friend. The place was in far flung Jefferson Township. Never been there but the drive was pleasant on a weekend, getting there was a winding vista of woods and lake then the clearing... Portofino. There is ample parking and it was packed that afternoon. I was met by the friendliest staff. One in particular was wearing a chef's uniform who was dashingly handsome. The entire place's ambiance is classy, warm and cozy, busy with locals who knows each other Riesling was good. The Bruschetta was delicately flavored and fresh. I'm not usually crazy with it but this has been the best I've ever tasted...so far. Lobster ravioli was phenomenal. Nuanced flavor (definitely not store bought) perfectly balanced ingredients that meld in to one delectable tasting meal. The pièce de résistance was dessert- Almond cake. Light as air. Not too sweet, just heavenly cloud like consistency that melts in your mouth. I'm definitely going back and take that 50mile drive over again. Oh yeah! I was totally enthralled by my company as well.

    My beautiful Marissa
    Daniel M.

    Here for the first time for Father's Day dinner with Marissa and Andrew. We were greeted seated promptly when we arrived. Inside is decorated nicely but to me to many tables that are just to close. Fried calamari was tender and flavorful. I had a special which was a seafood pasta with a brown sauce. Very good. Marissa had chicken Marsala and Andrew had rigatoni with chicken. All good size portions and all delicious. Prices are reasonable for what you get and service was good. Definitely will return. Enjoy

    Fried Calamari
    Matthew S.

    This is another amazing Italian restaurant in Northern NJ. This place is a little more upscale, but is super cozy and BYOB. The fried calamari was very crisp and tender and a decent portion. I had the rigatoni a la anthony for my entree and it did not disappoint. The sauce was super rich and had a great variety of meat in the dish. Pasta was cooked al dente and the service is awesome. Great spot for a date night!

    My little pup loved the leftovers

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Food is phenomenal. The service is great the ambience I drive over an hour to go there.

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    5 months ago

    We love this place! It's become our #1 choice for Italian The food is so fresh and the service is excellent A real family owned gem

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    2 years ago

    wonderful food and ambiance close to home for me. I have attended many dinners and events there.

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    3 years ago

    My fave BYOB ! Great food great service. The staff are always helpful. Stuffed artichokes are one of my favorites!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Portofino

    How are they at Covid Protocols? Specifically, I would like to know if at the very least the STAFF all wear masks.

    The staff do not wear masks.

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    Apulia Risto-Pizza

    Apulia Risto-Pizza

    4.5(77 reviews)
    9.5 mi

    5 Stars What a…read morefantastic experience at Apulia Risto Pizza in Franklin, NJ! I visited for dinner around 6:30 PM and ordered the Chicken Piccata with extra vegetables. The portion size was enormous--more than enough food, and as you can see from the pictures, the plate was packed with perfectly cooked pasta, tender chicken, and fresh vegetables. Everything was absolutely delicious. The vegetables were cooked al dente, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and the chicken was soft, flavorful, and prepared just right. You could tell the food was made fresh because it took a little time to come out, but it arrived hot and was well worth the wait. The service was exceptional. The ladies who took care of me were friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They made the entire experience even better. For the price, I felt like I received five-star service and outstanding value. It's rare to find a restaurant that delivers both quality and generous portions at a reasonable price. Franklin may not be the first place people think of when choosing a restaurant, but Apulia Risto Pizza is truly a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much that I would gladly make the drive again, even if it's an hour from my home. Highly recommended, and I will definitely be back!

    My nephew and his fiancé came to visit. I took them to Apulia to celebrate their engagement. We had…read morethe best meal. We were seated as soon as we came in the door. We ordered appetizers of the focaccia, meatballs, and cauliflower. His fiancé is gluten free. They had appropriate selections for her to have a great meal. I had the stuffed pork loin special with spinach and mozzarella in a Demi glace. OMGoodness!!! So good. A must have going back. So good

    Photos
    Apulia Risto-Pizza
    Apulia Risto-Pizza
    Apulia Risto-Pizza

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    Bella Vista Ristorante - Veal Milanese

    Bella Vista Ristorante

    3.4(43 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    We were here for a party on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant is located right on a lake giving…read moreit a beautiful setting. There's a large bar inside and both indoor and outdoor dining. For this party, we had a great selection of appetizers, followed by an entree. The baked clams and cold antipasto platter were very good. I ordered Chicken Parmigiana for dinner and it was outstanding! Loved the crispness. The restaurant is a bit off the beaten path, but it was a fun find. I'll go back sometime soon for dinner.

    Following the recommendation of my Mom who had dined at Bella Vista Ristorante recently, we decided…read moreto celebrate my husband's birthday with dinner here. Bella Vista Ristorante is located on a lake and even on a cold, rainy, evening, the view from our table along the window was lovely. It may have been a house in a former life. The massive fireplace suggested an inviting great room. For me, a Jersey Girl, Italian restaurants are a dime a dozen. But my hubby likes Italian and this place did not disappoint. In fact, after reading some of the reviews by individuals who gave it only one star, I really have to wonder if those people were from competing restaurants. I mean, my only negative comment is that service was slow. No one was rude to us. In fact, when the hostess tried to seat us near the kitchen (one of my pet peeves), I asked her for another table and she obliged with a smile. The food was, what I anticipated, typical good Italian fare. I enjoyed the Burrata and Beet starter. My husband and my Mom had salads (we had had a big lunch so we skipped the appetizers). Mom and I enjoyed the Veal Peccario (forgive the spelling; it was a special) which was a healthy portion of veal stuffed with provolone, mozzarella and spinach and topped with three shrimp. The pink sauce (is this what us non-Italians call vodka sauce, I don't know) was flavorful but I question whether it was homemade. My husband's Veal Milanese was tasty. As for the prices, I have to think that people who complained about the cost of dining there don't get out much. I have not seen a veal entree in the $20 range for quite some time. Our bill for the three of us, which included a bottle of wine, was under $130 (not including tip) which - in my humble opinion - was very reasonable. The ambiance was peaceful (lovely view), the staff were friendly, the food was good, the prices were fair, and there was off-street parking across the road. Apparently, my observations were not unique because on a gloomy Friday night, the restaurant was full and many of the patrons appeared to be regulars.

    Photos
    Bella Vista Ristorante - Inside

    Inside

    Bella Vista Ristorante - Burrata and Beet Salad

    Burrata and Beet Salad

    Bella Vista Ristorante - Beautiful outdoor view

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    Beautiful outdoor view

    Mama's Cafe Baci

    Mama's Cafe Baci

    4.4(725 reviews)
    18.2 mi
    $$

    Cannot speak highly enough of this wonderful restaurant. This is the type of establishment that…read morereminds you of the good old days. The customer service is a time capsule of an era where a business strived to make your visit special and memorable with quality food and great service and not by some trend or gimmick. One thing that is not in the past is their skilled ability to provide a safe meal for those who are vegan, gluten free and or dairy free. I've never been to a restaurant that can turnout amazing authentic Italian food made with regular flour while also being able to provide a safe gluten free and or dairy free alternative of the same caliber. They have an efficient system that makes it clear there are people with dietary restrictions at the table and they take it very seriously. With all those great things to say, the food is what is worth writing home about. A gluten free chicken Parmesan that no one would ever guess was gf! A delicious gf df chocolate lava cake to end the meal was such a treat and was delicious. The staff were so friendly and knowledgeable and attentive, they're a well oiled machine! And it was very nice for the grandson of the original founders to walk around and talk to us, not just a how is everything tonight kind of stop either, he really took the time to make pleasant conversation about the World Cup and ask how our son did at his soccer tournament. They have been around for 56 years and if our visit was anything to go off, they'll be around for another 100 years!

    Another review from a poor man. I will give this to you…read moreas the good and the bad and the overall of Mama's. The good. The staff is as attentive as they have always been. The way they show pictures of "today's specials" on an iPad type device is a nice touch. The meatball app had good flavor as well as the ricotta that came with it. The fiancé had the pear purse which is always a very good. Also the Eggplant Pisa salad that came with my lunch paring was very very good and I would eat it again!!! The bad. The meatball app, although tasty, was only two small meatballs (basically the size of a soup spoon!!) for 15 bucks. So I don't care for the cost compared to the value you get for it. Also I am a snob for chicken parm and this chicken was overcooked and dry. The bread crumbs were soggy and would have been forgiven if the chicken itself wasn't so overcooked and dry!!!! My over all is this. Been to mamas many times before this review and I think they are worth your time (even more so during dinner time!). They do more things right than they ever do it wrong. So I would still recommend going. I just wouldn't recommend it to the New Jersey Chicken parm Facebook page........

    Photos
    Mama's Cafe Baci - Our Coach Room

Private Event Space

    Our Coach Room Private Event Space

    Mama's Cafe Baci - This is the decadent chocolate cake.

    This is the decadent chocolate cake.

    Mama's Cafe Baci - Zeppoles w.Nutella and Whipped Cream on the side

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    Zeppoles w.Nutella and Whipped Cream on the side

    Scalini Fedeli

    Scalini Fedeli

    4.8(17 reviews)
    9.7 mi

    Run, don't walk. 5 out 5 stars, certainly more if they were…read moreavailable, if there's any place that I thought deserves it. I don't know how I heard about this place but somewhere on the internet. It's been going viral. As it should. This is one of the best dining experiences I've had in a while. It absolutely blew me away. We're talking flavor combinations like Saddle River Inn by Chef Jamie Knott and Bill Van Pelt's ecclectic James on Main. This is rarified air. I came on a Tuesday right when they opened for dinner at 5:30. I was the only person in the establishment for a bit, but then it filled up by the time I left. I had the privilege of being waited on by Beth, the bartender, who's been bartending in the building since 2 different establishments ago. She was fantastic and a consummate professional from my walk in to my walk out. I was frequently greeted by manager Alex. We spoke about the best restaurants in north Jersey. Agreed on gems like Prime 94 in Fairfield and River Palm Terrace in Edgewater. He's been in the business and knows what he's talking about. I got the price fixe menu for $69. It included first - some bread appetizer (not pictured) and then a shrimp and (eggplant?) or zucchini appetizer. I also got some free bread with olive oil. Next up was the egg yolk raviolo. And it's exactly how you heard. The star of the night. I love eggs so I'm a little extra biased. I asked Beth if I could also try the butternut squash agnolotti and she hooked it up complimentary. For the main course, I paid the $10 upcharge for the lobster and it came in this sweet sauce. Succulent is the word I'd use. Lots of lobster. I am happy with the choice I made. Now I only eat one meal a day so my only complaint at this point was that I was still hungry. But most people would be well and full by this point. So I asked for the menus again. I ordered scallops. Came with some fried leeks. Truly out of this world flavors in every dish. The price fixe comes with 1 dessert. I wanted to try 2 so I got 1 à la carte. A pistachio crème brûlée tart and a pistachio hazelnut dessert. I recommend the former. I also had 2 beers. I'm telling you I can eat. But the bill came out to a very pleasant surprise of $160. I had to do a double take to see if my girl Beth hooked me up anywhere on there but outside of the complimentary small portion of the agnolotti, nope, that was the price. I made sure to hook her up though! 5 words for the 5-star restaurant. Can't wait to come back.

    Food was excellent. Ambience was romantic…read more Service was rushed Menu is prix fix. Choices were excellent.

    Photos
    Scalini Fedeli
    Scalini Fedeli - Ricotta ball

    Ricotta ball

    Scalini Fedeli - Perfection

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    Perfection

    Luigino's Parmigiana - Castellane with pork ragu.

    Luigino's Parmigiana

    4.6(267 reviews)
    20.7 mi

    We found Luigino's Parmigiano while looking for a local BYOB for an easy Saturday date night, and…read moreit turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, with both indoor and outdoor dining, but they were expecting us for our reservation and seated us right away. The front-of-house staff was warm, friendly and even remembered my husband from when he called to make the reservation. The food was the standout. I ordered the short rib, which arrived with quite the presentation, a huge bone topped with incredibly tender, shaved short rib and mixed vegetables. It was delicious and the portion was enormous. I shared some with my husband at dinner, took the rest home, and we still managed to turn the leftovers into an omelet a couple of days later! My husband ordered the double-thick pork chop and loved it. We also shared the fried shrimp and calamari appetizer, and both the marinara and aioli were excellent. One small area for improvement would be helping the younger waitstaff become a little more comfortable guiding guests through the menu. When we asked for recommendations and what dishes the restaurant was especially known for, it took a little prompting before we got to Parmigiano. Our server was perfectly nice. It just would have elevated the experience to have someone confidently say, "This is what we do exceptionally well, and here's what I recommend." Overall, though, we had exactly the kind of evening we needed. We brought a bottle of wine, relaxed, talked, enjoyed the atmosphere and genuinely felt like we had gotten away for a while. Our bill came in at the $100 range, and we left completely satisfied. Great food, generous portions, a welcoming atmosphere and excellent value. We'll absolutely return.

    Come hungry. Portion sizes are almost comical, especially the excellent chicken parm and eggplant…read moreParmigiana. Table for 6 mid week lunch. Decor offers a taste of Italy and adds to the charm. Started with a few apps and a chicken parm for the table to share. The Carciofi alla Giudia, the classic Jewish-Roman deep fried artichokes were beautifully presented. A good bit firmer than you'd find in Rome but were still well enjoyed and recommended. Tonno salad with fresh seared tuna was plentiful and packed with flavor. Speaking of flavor the porchetta sandwich was rich and delicious. Really this is closer to a bbq pork than authentic porchetta but still recommended. The star of the show is the chicken parm and eggplant parm. The eggplant was delicate, thinly sliced melt in your mouth. Luckily you get a huge plate. Chicken parm is also excellent and HUGE. While there is $10 plate fee if sharing a main they are fine if you order several items and share all. Very generous with their shaved Parmesan if requested. Prices on the higher side but not all that bad considering the quantity. This feels more like the type of place you come to with a large group than as a couple. Unless of course you are very hungry. Service is excellent.

    Photos
    Luigino's Parmigiana - Dining room

    Dining room

    Luigino's Parmigiana - Tonno salad

    Tonno salad

    Luigino's Parmigiana - Carciofi alla Giudia

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    Carciofi alla Giudia

    Little Nicki's - Pasta Fagioli Soup

    Little Nicki's

    3.8(160 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    It's a family style restaurant with some great food, casual atmosphere and some very friendly and…read moreattentive staff! They treat you like family! We've never been disappointed with a meal!!

    After spending the morning enjoying some water sports, my family and I (a party of 7) stopped by…read moreLittle Nicki's for lunch--and it was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. The service was truly top-notch. The staff was friendly, attentive, and went out of their way to make sure we were well taken care of. It's not easy accommodating a large group, but they handled it with warmth and ease. We ordered a variety of dishes, and everything was delicious: Two fresh, crisp salads Perfectly fried calamari Flavor-packed arancini balls Comforting and indulgent buffalo chicken mac and cheese A grandma pie with vodka sauce (a must-try!) Decadent desserts: classic cannoli and cannoli cheesecake Refreshing drinks including a homemade lemonade (so good!), iced coffee, cappuccino, and a macchiato. The portions were extremely generous--we left with plenty of leftovers--and the prices were surprisingly reasonable for the amount and quality of food we received. I wish I took more photos of the food before it was eaten. I only wish we lived closer so we could return more often. This place is a hidden gem, and I would highly recommend Little Nicki's to anyone looking for amazing Italian food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere.

    Photos
    Little Nicki's
    Little Nicki's - Garlic Bread

    Garlic Bread

    Little Nicki's - Wine & cheese night event

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    Wine & cheese night event

    Portofino - italian - Updated September 2026

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