Adjacentcy to hotel row in Crystal City means you're in a tourist heavy area with restaurant pricing and offerings consistent with shooting fish in a barrel. Against that yardstick, Portofino was really rather decent offering excellent service and fare that while not "Nonna caliber" was surprisingly good. While I wasn't thrilled about being hit with a pasta upcharge on a veal dish which in the Italian canon must come with pasta, larceny was otherwise kept to a minimum. For a decent meal in a pinch, Portofino works. read more

The best Italian I have had in years. If you want Italian you cannot do better in the area.

We celebrated my mom's 71st birthday with dinner at Portofino, and I feel compelled to share the following. The the food was exceptionally delicious, the service was impeccable and the ambience was the perfect blend of warm and relaxed while exquisitely refined. None of this comes as a surprise, and it's why Portofino was chosen. It's no wonder this family restaurant is going strong after 56 years. Thank you to everyone who made tonight wonderful. read more

Great gnocchi and meatballs! Great service! Nice and fancy feeling atmosphere! I enjoyed the bread and oil! And fairly affordable prices! I'd say the prices reflect the experience! read more

Portofino was fun on a cold, windy week night. It was within walking distance of our Crystal City hotel. This is an old style Italian restaurant. The menu discusses the chef's career in Italy before he came to the U.S. Many of the dishes were supposed to be from northern Italy. I'm not a fan of creamy sauces or bechamel. I guess my ancestors were tomato and garlic eaters from the south. We started with smoked salmon which had been bathed in Aperol. Tasty. Then a lovely salad with pears, arugula and blue cheese. The segundo was pasta dish that was ok. Wasn't hot enough when it arrived and the lemon garlic sauce with clams, shrimp and scallops was, in the words of my wife, pretty boring. The service was great and they had a pretty good crowd for a Wednesday night. The Christmas music did not add my enjoyment of the meal. read more

Just a little date out after a long flight from OR. Such a sweet cozy place, with a warm homey feel. All staff were amazing and attentive, greeting us as we came in. It was New Year's Eve and the atmosphere felt festive and celebratory. Suggestions from Waiter were spot on. Dishes came out expediently and were steaming hot. All combinations of seasoning were decadent and the pasta cooked perfectly. Prices were not bad at all. Will definitely come back if in the area again. read more

See all

We love dining at The Portofino Restaurant--it's truly a hidden gem in Crystal City. The Hilton nearby highly recommended it, and it has become our favorite spot. We live 35 miles west but happily make the trip whenever we can. This third-generation family-owned restaurant has such a welcoming feel, especially thanks to owner and Culinary Institute-trained chef Richard, who makes every guest feel at home. Our favorite dish is the Omaggi Di Nettuno--a delicious combination of half lobster, scallops, and shrimp in a rich rosé cream sauce. We recently celebrated my husband's birthday there and enjoyed an amazing Chianti that Richard recommended. Every visit feels special, and we always look forward to coming back. read more

The Portofino Restaurant - Amazing seafood dish Neptuno - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Drove along the very skinny driveway to the back lot, where the entrance is. Walked in and everything felt just right. Great family-owned Italian vibe. The bread was fresh, warm and had a perfect crust. Things were looking good. We placed our entree orders and strapped in. The caprese had a nice dressing but was atop very stiff tomatoes. Still... we were expecting good things. An hour passed (the dining room was just over half full) and the food arrived when we had started getting antsy. I started by cutting my son's ribeye that was very thin and very tough. He ordered it medium but it was well+. Before I got back to my genovese, the other family members had let me know their food was cold. I had a bit of mine, also cold. The service was at least ok, filling waters etc until we waited a very long time to even have the chance to ask for the bill. In fairness, they might have been waiting for us to finish our food, which wasn't going to happen this night. The service took a turn for the worse at this point when I asked for the bill, and the host came over and dropped dessert menus, telling us he was "glad we saved room". What? When the waiter came back we said we just wanted the bill and he couldn't believe it - asked if we wanted dessert to go. It was strange. Expensive dinner for good food that was a poor facsimile of what we expected. read more

Had a very nice and quiet dinner here while on a business trip. The dining room was warm and cozy, and I had the impression that the restaurant had a sense of tradition and a long history of certain dishes. I had the Pollo Portofino and it was good - I totally went clean plate on the chicken and pasta, but the vegetables were a bit bland. Service was quiet and effective, and I was really happy I left the hotel and visited. Went back with a happy and full stomach! read more

See all

Overall not the best experience. No one really enjoyed their food in my group, pasta was cold.

Food was undercooked and felt hard to chew service was great but otherwise felt lacking in ambiance and atmosphere read more

Avoid this tired place, with microwave low quality offerings. It feels very tired and whoever used to run this place with any care has left the building... Nothing we ordered was acceptable and it was overpriced. read more

Such a great, small establishment. The dining room has this old Italian home feeling. Another thing I love that they do is half-size pasta dishes. Allows you to get a few, smaller portions and try different dishes. Very reasonably priced with friendly staff. read more

See all

Visited Arlington National Cemetary Memorial Day weekend and needed a place for a family dinner. Excellent service, food and ambience! What a gem of a restaurant! We felt so welcomed and were tended to splendidly!! 10/10 read more

Such a wonderful, cozy restaurant! The atmosphere was so charming. Not only that but my wife said that her linguini with clams was the best she ever had. I had the onion soup and pollo portofino which were both superb! Can't wait to go back! read more

Came here for a group dinner with a large group. We were seated in the back dining room. We started off with some drinks, ordered appetizers and finally the entrees. It did take a while for all of our food to come out, given that we had such a large group. However, everyone enjoyed the food and company. Overall, it was a good experience and would recommend trying it out! read more

See all

This was a complete disappointment. First, they do not like well behaved children and secondly the portions were rather small. Finally, the food tasted more closer to a microwave meal than homemade cooking. read more

Went here a few times over the years, not great enough to return again lately... rear entrance from parking lot is awkward, like you're sneaking in the back door... ambiance is meant to feel like that old school familiar Italian restaurant & staff but given the 23rd St location/ proximity to hotels, has more of a transient feel than neighborhood restaurant... service was slow, food was ok, price high for what you get... Food quality: 3/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 1/5 Price/value: 3/5 read more

It's Italiano! The bread was fresh and warm, and it warmed our bellies after a long day of walking around DC in the cold! We didn't have a reservation, but they were kind enough to seat us. I ordered calamari for our table, and then we ordered dinner. The servers were nice and kept asking if we wanted more bread, which my kids also didn't say no to. The entrees were ok. The dish I ordered was way too salty for my liking. My daughter got half a portion of the Alfredo, but the full portion was almost the same price. It's a local restaurant with regulars that the waiters are familiar with! It was pleasant and had that old-school traditional feel. I think they have upstairs seating from other folks going up the stairs. They have parking in the back, and it could be a bit confusing if you do not pay attention to the sign at the front. I don't know if I would go back here, but we all have different taste buds, and this could be a place you're interested in checking out. read more

See all

Pollo Portofino's sun-dried tomato sherry glaze and tender veal scaloppini perfection at Portofino--Fettuccine Alfredo creamy dream starter, Cannoli crisp finale. Multi-level charm, flawless family service; Crystal City classic endures. Timeless feast! read more

Great food and service! Had the pollo portofino, side of fettuccine alfredo with the tres letches special for dessert. All was so good, full of flavor and delicious. What impressed me the most was the staff and service. My glass was never empty, Julio the waiter was very knowledgeable and steered me in the right direction. The environment was very clean, relaxing and would make a great environment for a romantic evening. read more

See all

This is a great place to take a group. They have a large round table that we seem to get every time. The food and service is always exceptional. read more

I had an AMAZING experience here!!! It was very close to Little Eataly in New York. All pasta tasted like a handmade. I just LOVED chewiness! perfectly Al Dante pastas! Great portion! Authentic Italian paste! We also loooooved gelato. It was like homemade black cherry and none like the other! I visited here on Friday lunch. It was a cute, romantic local place. The server was so kind and knowledgeable. Everything on the menu looked so good so we couldn't decide, and the server kindly came to rescue us lol. He really spreads happiness with great serving, and food also came out just in time! ALSO there is a parking lot for this place! read more

See all

I kept coming back because I thought this would be a good place over a long term. But it's still hit or miss. The beschemel sauce is mostly bland, and they put it on everything. The olive oil is butter, inedible but the bread is still good when it's warm. I've eaten here eight times now and every time it just gets a little worse. I'm disappointed. read more

See all

In my opinion, this was a very nice restaurant, Northern Italian food. The soup was very tasty. The pasta was nice. Meat sauce. Very sweet Tables were evenly separated. Noise level very low staff. Very attentive I enjoyed my meal there but being from Buffalo New York When I order pasta they fill up the bowl. He don't leave hungry read more

The Portofino Restaurant - Tortellini soup - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

Date night at Portifino. It was very ready to make a reservation for 2 at 7pm the day of. We went on a Saturday night and it was bustling. We had good service and the food was yummy. My friend got a Peroni beer and I got the Portifino Martini which was strong. I ordered a Orecchiete 4 Funghi as an appetizer and originally ordered a seafood plate for my entree. Didn't love it so sent it back and got a Melanze Portifino instead which was perfect. My friend for a Caesar salad and Lasagna, both of which she loved. We got the desert special which was pretty good. read more

See all

Sir, the tiramisu here tastes like a stunning, bedazzled treasure. I can't describe with usual words. RIP to all other tiramisu as far as my taste buds are concerned. The staff is friendly, the parking behind the building is abundant. I placed an order to go, but then I really wished I had eaten in the restaurant because it's got such a beautiful and lovely ambience. read more

Excellent family owned Northern Italian restaurant on 23rd Street in Crystal City. Warm ambiance, with upstairs intimate room, and downstairs for large groups. Call ahead if you cannot climb stairs and they will open the street-level entrance for you. Food is excellent and they have a good wine list. Great desserts! Service is good. The Go-To place! Michael B read more

I struggled with this review. Somewhere between a 2 and a 3. Came here with a big party for a corporate dinner. We had around 18 people. The service was very slow. The cocktails were not great. Trying to put an Italian spin on some classics, but it didn't work (for me). Wine was better. The main dishes were average Italian fare. I had hoped for something more creative. We got a few appetizers, calamari, antipasto, and mushrooms with polenta. They were all meh. The mushrooms were suppressed to be a medley of wild mushrooms, but seemed to be just button or maybe baby Bellas. I got chicken stuffed with prosciutto and cheese with a side of homemade pasta. Again. It was fine, nothing special. And the desserts were not great. Cannoli didn't have enough chocolate chips, IMHO. read more

Well, the food was delicious. We stopped in with a very large group so things were a bit chaotic. It was a busy place as well. Since we stopped in with such a big group, food orders were brought out at different times but the staff was very friendly and the food was delicious. Great place to enjoy with friends or family, really has the traditional vibe. read more

See all

50 minutes waiting time for a pasta is not acceptable. The place wasn't that busy. Food was just ok. Overall experience affected by waiting time. Service not good as well.Not happy. read more

Overpriced bland food with small portions. There are much better options out there so do yourself a favor and head somewhere rise.

Ohhhhhh yes delicious and perfectly cooked and dare I said moist chicken! The customer service was lacking- long wait, confused about menu and packed up left overs in leaking containers- The food itself was delicious! Definitive it a try! read more

The Portofino Restaurant - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This was a fine place to grab a bite for dinner. Food was good. Where we were sat was not in the main part of the restaurant, but it was fine. read more

Portofino in Old Town Alexandria was small, cozy and totally delightful. The owner, Maria, was so lovely and welcoming. Our meals were quite enjoyable, totally delicious. Chicken Picatta and Veal Parm. SO good. I very much appreciated the Birthday dessert and sweet song from her staff. A very memorable visit for my Birthday! read more

Great spot. Authentic Food, truly delicious. Nice servers, funny and chill. The place was pretty clean, classy, and overall a great experience. read more

First of all, the place is so so charming!! Service is A+! The food was amazing, my veal Marsala and my husband's veal Parmesan were excellent!! I so recommend this authentic beautiful Italian restaurant!!!! read more

Amazing old school traditional Italian resturant with fantastic service and outstanding food and menu. Old school charm of the whole resturant is great. read more

Dining at Portofino was such a treat. Great service and delicious home cooked Italian food. I only wish we lived in the area, because we would eat here often! Also, very reasonably priced. read more

Just mediocre Italian food the limoncello martini was just okay. Really would not come back nothing was great. Presentation was okay. Server kept looking at my chest and it was just a very bizarre experience overall. Not a great experience at all. read more

The Portofino Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Arlington, Virginia