We had a lovely time here. The service was excellent and the food was amazing. Every dish was made with intention. Their scallops are local and were perfectly seared on each side. Their pasta is also homemade. We would definitely come back again. read more

Solo Italiano - Scallops - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We visited per a recommendation from a local and a lot of hype online. The atmosphere was nice, the food was fairly good and our server was excellent. For the appetizer, we had pizzata: a cheese filled focaccia with capers, tomatoes and anchovies. It was interesting. I'm not an anchovy person, but I liked it okay. Combined with capers, it was very heavy on the salt, though. We shared a nice beet salad. Hubs had the linguine and clam sauce. He said the portion was small and just okay. I had the halibut with asparagus and pine nuts. The fish was a tad overcooked. For dessert, Hubs had the tiramisu. He said he's had better. I had the brownies with gelato. I couldn't get through the brownies. They were so bland, why bother. The vanilla gelato was enjoyable, though. All in all, I hate to say it, but I'd pass next time. read more

solo italiano is by far my favorite restaurant in Portland, and that's saying a lot considering how competitive and amazing the quality of local food is here! i've been here twice now, and it's an absolute must-have during any Portland trips! during my first visit, we had the best birthday dinner highly recommended by a local friend. Debbie was an amazing server and i love that everything is made in house. the sourdough and focaccia are super fresh. the octopus is cooked to perfection, and all the ingredients were so complimentary. i'm especially in love with potato purée (wish there was more)! with their fettuccine con fungi, the fettuccine is the perfect texture, super soft and creamy. their carbonara is likely one of the best i've ever had. sourdough 10/10 insalata di polpi 10/10 carbonara 9.9/10 fettuccini con fungi 10/10 birthday cannoli 10/10 my second visit was arguably better than the first, amidst a blizzard for valentine's day weekend. Sydrit is an exceptional server. we ordered the insalata di polpi and focaccia to start, the octopus was cooked to perfection and even better than the first time, while their focaccia was incredibly tasty, cheesy with the right crisp. i finally tried their famous mandilli al vero pesto genovese and it was beyond satisfying with their handmade handkerchief pasta and the smoothest genovese pesto, we both absolutely loved the taste & texture. then we had the ravioli bolognese which was immaculate, the ravioli was incredibly delicious and you really want to savor every bite. perfect ending course to one of the best meals ever. insalata di polpi 10/10 focaccia 10/10 mandilli al vero pesto genovese 10/10 ravioli bolognese 10/10 solo italiano is a place you want to dine with company while in portland. thank you to Will for the recommendation! must try! ambiance: 5/5 food: 5/5 drinks: 5/5 service 5/5 solo italiano: 5/5 read more

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The food was very good, but I wouldn't say that it was outstanding, especially given the prices. First of all, I made my reservations with OpenTable, where they ask you about special occasions and any food allergies/preferences. It was clear that no one read that, so no one mentioned that it was our anniversary, and we had to tell them about the food allergies. Now, I was overjoyed that they had GF gnocchi, which is something I love and can rarely eat. They also had some small breadstick-like things, and they had sheepsmilk cheese, which I tried and enjoyed. My husband and I had the antipasti plate with meat, cheese and bread (often called a charcuterie). He ate some of the bread (didn't like it), meat, honey and cheese. I had the rest of the meet, the dried fruit etc. but I couldn't eat the other bread or cheese, of course. That's fine. The meat and cheese was really good. For my main course, I had the gnocchi with clams, olive oil and diced tomatoes (not sure what else was in there). It was good, but not great. It was too much food, too, on top of the appetizer (my fault, not theirs). The gnocchi didn't really work without butter or cheese. They really should get some plant-based butter. I can buy it in the grocery store, so they can, too. They also make a really good parmesan cheese substitute. Either would have been better. The wine was delicious. They had a large menu, but nothing was marked for allergens, so the waitress had to go through and mark which things I could and couldn't eat. I have never seen a restaurant do that before! They really should just have it marked, every time. I'm glad that she knew how to mark it, though. The waitress was great. I don't remember her name. The bill was not shocking to us, but it was pretty high, considering I only had one glass of wine, he had beer, and we had no dessert. It was over $200 with tip. That would have been fine if the food had been great, but it was kind of bland. He had the swordfish, which he said was just OK. I know you change the menu often. You might want to put it on the website or Facebook, so we can see what's on it ahead of time (and mark down what's GF, DF, vegan, etc.). I thought that the menu on Open Table looked much better than what we got. We had a nice dinner. I'm not complaining about that. It was our 43rd anniversary, though, so I wish it had been better - better food and more special. read more

Solo Italiano - antipasti with delicious meat, cheeses, bread, raisins and honey - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I was here for a business meeting. The food stole the show! It was exceptional and one of the best meals I've ever had. I had Spaghetti Ala Naples with "meatballs" made from scallops. It was so good. Hand made pasta and perfection. read more

Solo Italiano - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Back at Solo for yet another Italian fine dining experience! We made reservations and asked for a window table. We were seated at our favorite window table in the rear dining area. We decided to order salads, mussels, and entrees. We were excited about the size of these local Maine Mussels- these had large pieces of mussels in the shells, served with a delicious broth. Awesome! Our entrees were monkfish in parchment, and lamb chops (called Rack of Lamb). These lamb chops, artfully served in a "lamb sauce", were among the very best I've ever had. And the accompanying asparagus was delicious, too. The cops had thick meat, cooked to perfection, nicely spiced, slightly crisp on the outside and tender and lean on the inside. If one is used to the standard thin "lollipop" lamb chops, then these will come as a very welcome surprise. And the Monkfish was perfectly prepared and flavorful as well. A torte dessert was flavorful as well. My choice of a glass of Asti red wine paired perfectly with the lamb chops. Service was professional, friendly, and very helpful, especially with the wine list which was largely Italian wines from regional vineyards. We'll be back for more! read more

Solo Italiano - Have you ever seen lamb chops this meaty, lean and thick? Fantastic! - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

We sat at the bar and we loved it more than we would've at a table. The staff were so kind. The wine was chilled to a perfect temperature. The food was incredible. Will definitely be back. read more

White tablecloth place where people dress for dinner. Portions are delicate, expensive and small. Two rounds of complimentary bread helped fill the three of us up. One entree was literally 3 bites of food for a grown man. Standout was the famous genovese pesto -- Creamy with a hint of sweet herby basil. Super unique. Will go back on special occasions because of the cost. read more

I've been to Solo Italiano a few times now. I appreciate their diverse menu and creativity when it comes to their dishes, but unfortunately, I've never been overly impressed. They get an A for presentation and well-balanced ingredients, but I feel like they're one ingredient away from taking their dishes from good to great. Our server was exceptionally well-versed in the wine list and did an amazing job. I also love the high ceilings and the big windows overlooking Commercial Street. One thing to note--they charge a percentage for bread service, which is a little funny considering there were only four small slices of bread. read more

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Precursor: I am Italian, I was raised in New Jersey, I lived in Gaeta Italy for a year and a half. The good: our waitress was very attentive and we were promptly seated. The ambiance matched the theme of Italy, including the moped in the front window. The bad: I do not have a sophisticated palette, despite being a foodie, however, I have been to 5 star restaurants and know good food. For the price, I will be picky here. The award-winning pesto was confusing. It did not resemble traditional pesto and the flavor was muted. The duck breast was near tartar, but tasty. The skin required more rendering than what was presented. The scallop appetizer lacked flavor. The beets atop the tuna tartar didn't quite work and again, a pinch of sea salt would've helped. The pesto was sporadically added throughout the multiple courses we had shared as if an attempt to capitalize on the award won a few years ago. The bottom line: this was not worth the money for us. Although the chef had won an award and opened two restaurants, if you're Italian, lived Italy, and have eaten at 5 star establishments in New Jersey and New York, you will not be pleased. Recommendation to the chef: don't be afraid to be bold and liberal with the spices. Though there are plenty of Mainers who love "boiled dinners" and "American chop suey", be authentically Italian. Would I visit again? Not until there's a change to the menu. read more

Have wanted to try Solo for a number of years, so for our 24th anniversary decided to make the reservation and make it happen. I was told the gnocchi was amazing so had my sights fixed for that. Reservation system was easy to use and sent reminders. We arrived a little early for our 5:30p reservation but were immediately greeted and taken to our table. The decor is elegant but not overly fancy, the exposed brick and decor blended nicely and gave a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We ordered a round of drinks which included a beer, glass of Moscato, and a house cocktail which I forgot to take a picture of. Quite good. The menu has many options for different palates. We started with the Capesante alla Moda and the Gonfietti con Prosciutto e Burrata. Both were A-maxing in texture and flavor, exquisite. Dinner was a tie for me either the Gnocchetti Al Carbonara di Mare or the Tajarin con Gran chio. I went with the Gnoccheti since it was highly recommended. My husband had the Ravioli Burto Al Tartufo which was absolutely AMAZING! Hit all the flavor and texture buttons and MORE! Magnificent! My son had the Linguine alle Veraci which also was very good. Sadly the Gnocchetti missed the mark COMPLETELY!! The gnocchi was more dense than the recommendation and only one, yes that's right, 1 large prawn for a bowl of approximately 35 gnocchi. I was left disappointed and hungry since there was approximately 15 gnocchi left and no more shrimp to cut the rich potato and cream sauce. I had to cut the shrimp into tiny pieces to accompany the gnocchi. Do NOT recommend unless you want to get filled up with potato. The Moscato was so delicious we ordered a bottle for the table. Dessert I was looking forward to their grappa, have not had since my early 20's so eager to see if I still enjoyed. Their Grappa Camomilla do Sibona was delicious, left with a caramel taste lingering after the burn. A wonderful way to end the meal. We will be back and I will try the Tarjarin next. read more

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We came in for an early dinner at the bar. The bar area has great people watching and watching how the pasta was made. Our waitress was nice and recommend some cocktails- aperol spritz and old fashion with chai was amazing. We went with a bottle of Toscano she recommended. Bread sticks basket in front of us was kinda empty compared to the others. They want you to order all your food at once which was interesting. The house salad was great and light. The seafood pasta was really tasty with a ton of muscles. My pasta with truffles was good, but mostly the pasta. Otherwise it was a bit dry and lack luster and for $40 with no meat in the dish, I kind of expected something a bit tastier. I'm sure the truffles add to the cost but other then the noodles it wasn't worth the cost. We ended the night with some apertifs and took our gorgeous wrapped half bottle of wine to go. We were celebrating our engagement that day but there was no real celebration with the staff which was a bummer. Best Italian in Portland but not best Italian I've ever had. read more

Solo Italiano - Seafood pasta with muscles and scallops - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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After a wet and cold boat tour, I wanted something warm in my belly, and Italian food always satisfies! I got a reservation for here at 5:30, not our typical time to eat dinner, but we took it. I will keep this review brief: Out of all the amazing places we ate while in Portland, this was our favorite meal! The service was top-notch, the wine was luscious, the food was savory, and the prices were on target with what they served. I wish we'd had time to eat there again!! Make reservations and make time to eat here! read more

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Great wine selection and the bartenders are spot on. The dinner was very good and the pasta tasted authentic. Will return. Also our server was excellent. read more

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Wow- this place was unreal.. the atmosphere inside is super nice and has a few food stations where certain items are prepared! We sat next to the salad station. The menus are printed fresh daily because seasonal items are always being added on- I LOVE this concept!!! To start we got this fried bread with prosciutto on top, and the prosciutto was soooo fresh and soft. For my dinner I got the scallops and they were seared to perfection, I would eat that over and over again! Everyone else's entrees were honestly so amazing too. I think you could order anything here and be super satisfied with your choice! I will say the dishes here are very unique and not traditional so if you're looking for a traditional Italian spot, I would not recommend here, but this real fine dining and such an amazing culinary experience! read more

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Tired and in need of food. Sat at bar with husband on a Wednesday night. First of all the bartender/waitress did not even acknowledge us for the first oh maybe almost 10 minutes. Thought she was doing a wine tasting thing with another customer. Oh no just talking. She had a A+ attitude like we did not belong there-just a strange vibe the entire time. Would have left but it was our last resort and did I mention we were hungry. I was served something she said was "award winning" -meh! Husband's food was good. Portions were not so much. Ordered a salad after because needed more food and told her we would be ordering said salad. She seemed very "put out" entire time. Had to call her over to order salad even though she knew we were going to order more. Just a bad experience overall. We will not return to this venue. Spend good money on this night and came away very unsatisfied!! read more

Food is phenomenal. Everyday is a new menu. Everything is hand Made and authentic. FOH is always spot on. Highly recommend. (Hint: always order the confietti) read more

Solo Italiano is an experience filled with mouth watering, delicious cuisine! This dining experience taught me what a true five star dinning experience should be. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the dinner and wine menu. She broke down every appetizer, salad, and dinner and how that particular item of food was going to pair with their different Italian wines. I was truly blown away. The food was so great. The pasta, homemade and mouthwatering delicious! The wine list was all Italian and had some aged over a decade old. We ordered the Insalata D' Asparagi (so good), Tagliere del Contadino with a selection of Italian cheeses, Ravioli with Black Truffle, Con Pio Tosini, some desserts, paired with a beautiful bottle of Notarpanaro! I really appreciated the sweet anniversary wishes on our dessert plate! The cost was well worth the dinning experience. We will return! read more

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Amazing meal. This place is beautiful and authentic with extremely fresh food. They also were extremely accommodating to our gluten and nut allergy. The have unbelievable gluten free gnocchi!!!! We made a reservation nearly 2 weeks in advance to get in here. We ordered all of the waiters recommendations and everything we had was truly fantastic. Everyone ate everything. The portion sizes are perfect. The prices are expensive but worth it for the quality of food they serve. Inside is beautifully decorated and comfortable. I will definitely be back here. read more

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Solo Italiano is an excellent spot for delicious and imaginative Italian food. Located right on Commercial Street, it couldn't boast any better of a location. Although I can't speak to their seafood, they know how to do Italian food right--I myself loved the Prosciutto Foccaccia (which was a crowd favorite) and the Tajarin con Funghi (mushroom pasta, pictured below). The portions were perfect--filling but not overwhelming, and each dish is filled with flavor. As someone with a general dislike (and lack of knowledge) of wine, I really enjoyed the Moscato D'Asti, a super sweet semi-sparkling wine. The service was great, and the waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and wine pairings. Would definitely go back! read more

Solo Italiano - Tajarin con Funghi - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Very pretty Italian place right on commercial street in the old port. They have a nice big bar and lots of seating the service was great and we got a nice bottle of wine she suggested. This could almost be a 4 but the food was great but just missed the 4 star review. Our favorite dish was the octopus. The rest of the dishes were just okay and at a high price. The cocktails were great, just wish the food was a little better. I would go to the bar for a cocktail and an app but not do a full meal here again anytime soon. read more

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This is a beautiful restaurant. The food is truly wonderful. I had an octopus appetizer that was spectacular!!! The pasta/ravioli was perfectly cooked and all topped of with a perfect desert. You must try the blood-orange and Vodka drink. I had a couple and wanted more. The service was very friendly and professional. It is a place that I will return to when I am back in Portland. I have recommend it to several friends and they all loved it. read more

Actual Italian Cuisine. Not some sort of Americanized "Eye-Talian" chow. I'm more knowledgeable about the cuisine of the south, but each dish was what I would expect in a high-end Italian restaurant. The descriptions of the dishes had no puzzler ingredients like peas where no peas should ever be. Good Italian ricette executed with skill and care. Everything from the bread service, Focaccia, Mussels, Pasta, and Halibut were all excellent. You are paying Portland Waterfront prices but the ingredients and execution are top. I don't mind paying the bill if the dining experience is worth it. Solo is worth it. If I had to pick on one thing it's the pace of the meal. It seemed slightly rushed in a way that I can't imagine happening in Italy. It wasn't a panic but primi coming out while the antipasto is still halfway eaten wasn't great. The service and servers were very good, and maybe the kitchen was running a little fast. Not a deal breaker by any means but if I can't leave 4.5 stars I can at least be thorough about the experience. read more

Best Italian in Portland (close.... Bruno's), with exceptional service and a very clean, modern design. Small portions keep it from being 5 read more

Solo Italiano - Celebrating my daughter's graduation from Portland High School ('24) - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food was amazing. If they have a dish with Maine Uni do not miss. Service and atmosphere was excellent

I cannot fathom how delicious this place is! If you're planning to try Solo Italiano, I highly recommend making a reservation as I've heard it gets pretty crowded on the weekends. Let's start off with the delicious food we had. We ordered the Carpaccio di Capesante (scallops from the raw courses). The scallops were wonderfully fresh and the cucamelon put an accentuating touch. The lemon zest also boosted the flavors. I am still thinking about the Gonfietti con Prosciutto e Burrata (fresh and soft focaccia topped with prosciutto and buratta. The combination was such a hit. We also got the Bucatini al Carbonara di Mare (shrimp and uni pasta). The gulf shrimp was so flavorful - though I wish there was more than one piece. The star of the show was definitely the uni. It was incorporated into the sauce, which made it such a creamy delight. Lastly, we went with the Petto d'Anatra con Tartufo (duck entree). The duck was so tender and cooked to perfection. The sauce was made with celery puree so I expected it to overpower the duck flavor but that was not the case whatsoever. Perfect balance. The service was wonderful and the ambiance was nice and simple - more of an industrial vibe. I would love to come back when I get the chance to visit. The alcohol options were plentiful but I went with a nice red to pair with the food. What a great experience! read more

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Sat at the bar. Randi was fantastic and recommended wine and food options. Learned the menu changes regularly. The mussels were the best we have had on the east coast. Delicious and fun. read more

Decent, not great, food and overpriced for what you get. Our server was not attentive as she was focused on the larger tables. Maybe if we were in a bigger group we would think about going back even though it's average. A table for two, I would dine elsewhere. read more

We dined at Solo Italiano on a recent Friday evening while visiting Portland. The four of us enjoyed the fabulous food. I rate it 4.5*. VIBE: The space is festive and energetic (i.e., rather noisy), with a rustic, woody decor. SERVICE: Staff were cordial, polished, helpful, and attentive. The only glitch was that the kitchen was overloaded and our entrees came out about 40 minutes after our salads. FOOD: The food was terrific. All the dishes were delicious, perfectly cooked, and nicely presented -- the best restaurant meal I've had in recent memory. Favorites included octopus salad, scallops, halibut, and risotto. Bread was tasty, as was a pear crostata. Affogato was very good, but woefully small for $9. The wines I had were both nice, and the others who had mocktails said they were excellent. All told, a fine time, and a minor splurge -- everything was a bit pricey. Portion sizes seemed small for the price. The food was so good, though, that I'll look forward to visiting again next time I'm in the area. read more

It's a pretty restaurant and their door man was lovely, helped us get settled at the bar (we were walk ins). Service was a little slow but that was fine (they were obviously busy). We went in because of 2 dishes I saw on their online menu (lasagne alla napoletana and maccheronecelli carbonara di mare) which were sadly both not on the menu given to us that night. We had the tortellini with truffle and an angel hair pasta with halibut and crab. Tortellini definitely won over the crab pasta. For $40 plates, the portions were small, but I suppose you're there for the ambience. I would try again. read more

This was our second trip (last was in 2021) and what we have noticed is that although the food quality is still excellent, the menu has become more elevated. Simple dishes have been replaced with more complex flavors. It is no wonder this place is booked out months in advance. Simply put, Solo Italiano provides authentic food you would find in Italy. Don't skip this one. read more

Solo Italiano - Taramisu - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We returned here for our anniversary dinner after I had been a couple years ago with a group of friends. I remembered Solo Italiano for its service, ambiance, and oh probably the best pesto I've ever had. I got the pesto again - it did not disappoint after talking about it for two years! I don't know how they get it so creamy and perfect. Our server was excellent with wine suggestions too. We will be returning when we come back to portland. Thanks to the team for a memorable anniversary dinner! read more

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Every dish at Solo Italiano was a masterpiece! From start to finish, each bite was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully crafted. If you're in Portland, don't miss out on this gem for an authentic Italian experience that truly stands out! read more

Solo Italiano - Italian Near Me - Portland, Maine