07/23/09

Arrogant, over-priced

by hsfrey

I live a block away, and I used to eat here weekly when it first opened. I was eventually driven away by the high prices, and the arrogance of the waiters and owners.

For excellent italian food in the neighborhood, I now go to Pecorino or La Botte.

• Pros: Excellent food
• Cons: Over-priced, terrible attitude

06/16/09

Lowlife Scam Artists -SKIP THIS PLACE

by mycb

I went to Portofino for an anniversary dinner with my girl. Waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine and charged us $200 for it!!!

My girl ordered the special lasagna that was the size of credit card and cost twice as much as anything on the menu AND it came out cold. She returned it to heat up and came back cold again. The other reviews are correct, these guys are straight up swindlers who will do anything to pry money from your wallet. Watch your back here, these guys will get you...and they'll look you straight in the eye as they do.

• Pros: at least the bread wasn't stale
• Cons: Waste of money, terrible service, Swindlers

09/22/08

A SECRET GEM IN LOS ANGELES - THE ABSOLUTE BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN LOS ANGELES

by simon1313

After reading some of these negative reviews about my favorite restaurant in all of Los Angeles, I had to write in. I have been going to Locanda Portofino for many years. It is the best food I have ever had. I have eaten probably at the most popular restaurants across the country and overseas. I take notice that this restaurant is so clean that you could eat off the floor. It is the cleanest restaurant which is very important and overlooked by many. If a restaurant and kitchen is in disarray, what do you think about how your food is prepared and served? And yes, portions are not gigantic. They are what a normal person should eat. This is not an Olive Garden. This is high quality food, and not a place for glutiny. Food and wine should be savored and enjoyed, not devoured in super-sized amounts. People get kicked out of Georgio's in the Palisades for complaining about things like this. And his food is not nearly as delicious or as expensive. Restaurants can have their off nights, of course, but this restaurant should not have these negative reviews. I know plenty of people who love coming to this restaurant and hopefully I can spread the word for more people to write in. Locanda Portofino has more regulars than I have seen in any restaurant. People have been going there for several years a few times a week. And the wines are beautiful and priced the way a well-kept restaurant would. Anyway, try the Penne Vodka (THE BEST) and for a different pasta, the Spaghetti Sea Urchin. This is the best kept secret in the LA restaurant world and I'm starting to see it mentioned in more magazines lately so something is on the rise.

• Pros: Best food, ambience, great wine