"Really delicious italian food and some tasty cocktails."
"The Halibut dinner was passion on a plate."
"Every dish I had was innovative, and complex, with layers of flavors."
"The food is plated very nicely and it tastes as good as it looks."
"The food was exceptional in appearance and taste."
Cons:
"The Fiorentini was very fishy, much more than I was expecting compared to other seafood pasta I've enjoyed."
"The food was underwhelming. I ordered the Lumache, but I could neither see nor taste the black truffles."
"Food was ok. Definitely expected more considering the reviews, recommendations, and prices."
"I could feel the fishy /raw taste of the clams."
"Very very tiny portions and frankly the food didn't taste amazing for the price."
"The food is over sauced and over salted."
"The pomodoro pasta dish was very oversalted."
Service
Pros:
"Staff is sharp, and engaging without being obtrusive."
"Our server Analise was attentive, kind, and knowledgeable."
"Everyone was extremely friendly."
"Our waitress was lovely and we couldn't be happier."
"Throughout the evening, the service was top-notch, with attentive staff ensuring our every need was met with a smile."
"The service feels like being in another era with none of the annoying things that modern NYC restaurants do."
"Service was impeccable, and we felt taken care of."
Cons:
"Closes very early on weekdays…About 9:30 we felt they were rushing us and the few other tables remaining."
"Service was cold, unfriendly, and slow."
"Even the manager is too timid to try and make you comfortable."
"They rushed us to place our order."
"Bringing the check unasked is something I only know from cheap chain restaurants."
"Our check took a very long time to arrive."
"The servers don’t know who at the table gets what plate."
Ambiance
Pros:
"The chef was walking around and the Portale had a very neighborly festive atmosphere."
"The decor is elegant and classy."
"This was our first time and we had an incredible experience. The food was outstanding, the cocktails were perfectly crafted, and the ambiance set the ideal mood to enjoy the experience."
"Finally an adult restaurant with appropriate noise levels, comfortably spaced tables, understated service and absolutely excellent food."
"Atmosphere is low key, low lighting, not crazy loud but not quite. Just perfect."
"The atmosphere was very warm but also fun."
"The restaurant is beautifully designed adding to the experience."
Cons:
"On other visits to the restaurant, the din in the dining room is earsplitting."
"We couldn't quite get the ambience they're going for, part modern, part country."
"But we were given the WORST TABLE, right in front of the door."
"However the chef dictates the customers to put in the menu all together. Kinda felt rushed through it."
"Its bar and dining room having music at the same volume effectively practically prevented group conversation."
"The dining room grew surprisingly loud for a Tuesday dinner."
"Nicely decorated restaurant but the food was way too expensive for what you got."
Value
Pros:
"The food is out standing!! I was mind blown how my pork chop came out tasting so tender and flavourful."
"Spectacular food, highly recommend the branzino for dinner!"
"The food was fresh and delicious, the drinks were well crafted."
"The food is to die for..so many delicious flavors and artfully plated..many special touches and flavor combinations."
"The mafaldine with lobster is one of my favorite dishes on any restaurant menu in New York."
"The meal was just indescribable and I loved every molecule that entered my mouth."
"The food was solid but was not blown away."
Cons:
"Maybe Portale is something more special when it’s not a holiday, but we can’t shake the feeling of not getting enough culinary magic for our hard earned dollar, even in an expensive city."
"The beetroot salad with goat cheese had also good taste but the amount of cheese was very minimal, so it wasn’t worth it."
"Despite all the glowing reviews, there are many better and equally (or cheaper) priced options in the city."
"In terms of value, we were spending $115 per person on the prix fix menu for Thanksgiving, and I guess we weren’t expecting upcharges for certain dishes."
"However, like much of this area a glass of wine, salad and small pasta dish will approach 80 bucks with tip."
"The portion was quite small for the price, but good."
"Never going back here again due to the rudeness."