I recently had a chance to go to the new Portofino and was completely wrong about the new restaurant. If you’re thinking of not going because I told you it was awful, forget what I said. It was fantastic. ~ DFE
I saw this in the D&C and though, “mainstay? What the hell are they talking about?”:
Portobello is now Portofino | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Portobello Ristorante, a mainstay in the Italian restaurant lineup since 1993, closed in March. After a makeover, an updated menu and a new name, the restaurant reopened earlier this month as Portofino Bistro.
Portofino, Portobello, Porto-potty. Call it what you will, but this is the site of one of the worst service and food related experiences that my wife and I share over the four years we’ve known each other. Rude, hasty service, over-cooked and disgusting food, preposterous prices, this place had it all. To whom is Portobello a “mainstay” of Italian eating in Rochester? Give me their names and I will show them ten other places with better prices and better food. Crimeny, you can fall out of a car drunk and you’ll just roll right into an Italian restaurant, in this town. Off the top of my head:
- Michellina’s, right down the street
- The Northside Inn
- Perlo’s
- Domenico’s
- Brio (technically Mediteranean, but lots of Italian influence)
- Bennucci’s
OK, so there’s six, right there. Anyone care to help complete the list? No fair looking at RocWiki.org!
2 replies on “UPDATED, I Was Wrong: Portobello? Portofino? Porto-Potty? Whatever it is, I’m Not Going”
Seven friends and I had dinner at Portofino in September of 2008, and our experience was great. The service was prompt and courteous and the food was excellent. I have dined at all but two of the restaurants mentioned in the above review and feel that Portofino was equal to or better than most of them. Perhaps Mr. Negative shouldn’t be so quick to condemn.
How did you know? Mr. Negative was my old Yahoo screen name.
I’m glad you liked your dinner at the restaurant. All I know is what I ate, and it was horrible, but then, maybe new management has improved it some. Bon appetit!