Upscale Italian with killer cocktails & seasonal agnolotti. Highly recommended for dinner or a special date night.
Portale offers a chic dining experience in a beautifully restored carriage house, blending rustic charm with modern elegance. The menu features thoughtfully curated contemporary Italian dishes with a Mediterranean flair. Standout items include the seasonal agnolotti, often cited as exceptional, and well-crafted cocktails. It's a highly recommended spot for both special occasions and a fantastic dinner.
Portale offers a contemporary Italian menu with Mediterranean influences. Many customers rave about the pasta dishes, especially the agnolotti, which changes seasonally and is often highlighted as a must-try. The duck breast and cocktails also receive high praise. Some diners note that while the food is very good, it might be slightly outshone by the overall vibe or service at other establishments.
"The seasonal agnolotti is a standout, with the duck breast also being highly recommended. The pasta dishes in general are praised as being superior to other well-regarded establishments."
Customers generally have a very positive experience at Portale, frequently recommending it for its excellent Italian cuisine, particularly praising its pasta and cocktails. Service is also noted as being spectacular by some.
Important Note
One review mentioned initial reservations about rushed service and pasta prices, though the food itself was still rated highly.
"The user suggested Portale, mentioning that it has private rooms available on the second floor."
Neutral"This restaurant was recommended as an option for a group visiting the Chelsea area, potentially fitting a steakhouse preference or being open to other authentic food choices."
Neutral"Despite initial reservations about the rushed service and pasta prices, the commenter found Portale's food to be very good, precise, elegant, and filling."
Positive"Portale is highly recommended as one of the commenter's favorite restaurants in the city."
Positive"This user found the food slightly better at Portale, but preferred the vibe at Cafe Carmellini, noting the excellent service at Carmellini on their wedding night."
Positive"This commenter found both Cafe Carmellini and Portale to be good, but considered Cafe Carmellini to be more memorable."
Positive"This commenter believes Portale looks awesome but has not yet visited. They also suggested other Italian dining options like Marea or Santi."
Positive"Portale is recommended."
Neutral"Portale is suggested as a dining option, with a note to consider the bar seats."
Neutral"The user suggested Portale as a place that might have a pork chop dish similar to what the original poster was looking for. The dish mentioned is a country-rib pork chop with polenta cake and baby peppers in a roasted plum sauce."
Positive"The user shared an anecdote about a restaurant in London where staff called no-show diners late at night to inform them the kitchen was closing, finding the action amusing and commendable."
Positive"The user suggested that a $50 cancellation fee, or even full payment, might be justifiable for extremely popular and high-demand restaurants, questioning the policy's necessity if the restaurant isn't that popular. They also recalled an incident where a chef publicly shamed no-show diners."
Neutral"This commenter explained that a $25 per person fee is reasonable, especially for larger parties like a six-top, which often occupies prime seating. They noted that such tables can be lost revenue if canceled last minute, and suggested that fees should be waived if the restaurant can rebook the table."
Positive"This user agreed that $25 per person is reasonable, explaining that it's proportionate to the average menu prices. They also noted that restaurants often estimate potential revenue per person when setting such fees."
Positive"The user expressed that if one cannot commit to a reservation, they should not expect the restaurant to hold the table, highlighting that cancellations and no-shows are a significant issue for the restaurant industry."
Neutral"The user acknowledged they might be in the minority regarding cancellation fees and stated they wouldn't be able to expense the fee, deciding to find another restaurant due to the risk."
Negative"The user questioned why the original poster was concerned about a cancellation fee for a work event, suggesting that expenses would likely be covered by the company anyway and asking why the poster was bothered by the company potentially being penalized for last-minute cancellations."
Neutral"This user explained that per-person cancellation fees are common because larger parties cause more disruption when they cancel. They stated that $25 per person is reasonable and that the fee structure should differ for smaller versus larger parties."
Positive"The user questioned if a $50 fine was sufficient deterrent for most people, indicating they didn't dine out frequently and were unaware of the prevalence of no-shows."
Neutral"The user also loves Portale and was initially unsure if it was close to the Highline, but now realizes it is."
Positive
