Calzones And Meatballs Portofino’s Style
St Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Italian
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 1/5
Dined in: August 2018
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Portofino Italian Ristorante is a small family owned Italian restaurant part of the small shopping complex that my wife and I have been too many times in the past, as it is a nice brisk walk from our neighborhood. This article will be part of the second published review on Wine Dine And Play and will cover two visits during the month of August 2018, on the fifteenth and the thirty-first. Our server was a newer lady that my wife had befriended on previous visits to the restaurant while I worked, and on both of these visits, and future visits to come, we request her.
On previous visits to Portofino’s, we had their woodfired pizzas, chicken marsala, and scampi just to name a few, along with enjoying their Wednesday half-priced wine nights, and relaxing atmosphere.
Menu:
- Cold Appetizers / Antipasto
- Hot Appetizers / Antipasto
- Zuppe/ Soup
- Side Orders
- Pollo / Chicken
- Veal / Vitella
- Pasta
- Fettuccini Dishes
- Seafood
- individual Casseroles
- From the Stone Oven - Pizzas
On the first visit we shared a bottle of Folonari Chianti DOCG, that is 100% Sangiovese vinified in stainless steel to emphasize fresh, crisp juicy flavors and fragrant aromas. According to the winemakers notes the wine is fresh, fruity, full and harmonious, with blackberry and raspberry notes and toasted almond notes on the finish. My wife had her usual order of two pizza slices with tomato and fresh garlic, while I tried their Cheesesteak calzone with shaved ribeye steak, caramelized onion, and three kinds of cheese melted to perfection; ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmigiano. The crust was light and flaky, and the cheesesteak mixture was warm and juicy to every bite.
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| Portofino's / Cheesesteak Calzone |
On the second visit that month my wife once again had her favorite two pizza slices with tomato and fresh garlic, and we both shared two dishes. Under the pasta section, the gnocchi entree comes with a choice of sauce from marinara, alfredo, marsala, and more. The little balls of potato lightly boiled then sautéed in butter and garlic was a delightful lunch bite especially with the selection of a cabernet from Josh Cellars that according to the winemakers' notes is a rich bouquet with dark fruits, cinnamon, clove, and subtle oak aromas. The wine is juicy on the palate with bright red cherries and blackberry flavors prominent, accented by delicate vanilla flavors and toasty oak, finishing long with round, soft tannins. Josh Cellars is part of the Deutsch Family Wine And Spirits company headquarters out of Stamford, Connecticut.
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| Portofino's / Gnocchi |
To finish we took a few bites of the house-made meatballs with a cheese addition that we had to take home. Though from the first few bites, the beef was well seasoned, perfectly cooked, juicy center and a taste as wonderful as the presentation which was rich to the eyes, even though our stomachs were full.
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| Portofino's / Meatballs |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert on either of these August visits, though on previous visits we shared a salted caramel cheesecake, which was sweet, rich, and very delightful. Other choices include Spumoni, cannoli, tiramisu, carrot, and chocolate cake.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
European Union:
Italy:
Other noteworthy Italian articles and restaurants similar to Portofino’s:
Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity, especially between the northern and the southern Italian peninsula. It offers an abundance of taste and is one of the most popular in the world. It has influenced several cuisines around the world chiefly that of the United States.
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
BiCE Restaurant Acclaimed upmarket classic with innovative Italian at the Dubai Marina in Dubai, UAE
Gino’s East Pizzeria Chain serving Chicago-style deep dish pizza and other Italian eats in Chicago, Illinois
Greystone Restaurant Italian CIA School restaurant in Calistoga, California (Now Gatehouse Restaurant)
La Petite Maison Relaxed French-Italian restaurant at the DFIC in Dubai, UAE
Locale Seasonal Northern Italian at the De Bortoli Winery in the Yarra Valley, Australia
Pizza Republica Trendy Italian trattoria and pizza restaurant in Centennial, Colorado
Ponte Vecchio Fine dining Italian classics in the Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Roberto’s Ristorante A walk into the Piemonte with a contemporary twist at the DIFC, Dubai, UAE
The Garlic An old world approach to Italian with Mediterranean classics in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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New American, Southern Twist
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
American Cuisine at Marina Cove
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Family Diner steeped in History
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
|
A Chef driven Beach-style Bistro
Holmes Beach, Florida, USA
|
Vibrant spot for classic Spanish dishes & tapas
Carrollwood, Florida USA
|
Relaxed hangout serving German Grub
Brandon, Florida USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Portofino’s a 1 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were an average dining experience like most restaurants. The first review score was also a 1 of 5 stars, so they have remained at the same level from my last visit.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Portofino’s
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Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
Food quality
|
8
|
6
|
2
|
Plate presentation
|
11
|
6
|
5
|
Customer service
|
12
|
7
|
5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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8
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5
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3
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Total regular points awarded
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49
|
33
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16
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.673469387755102
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“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
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0
|
0
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Total bonus percentage
|
0
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.673469387755102
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
|
1
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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1 of 5 Stars:
67% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
An Average Dining Experience
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Portofino’s Wine rating:
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3 of 10
Old World selections:
Italy, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, California
|
Corkage fees:
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Portofino’s does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Portofino’s:
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Italian
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Portofino’s Experiences:
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Contemporary, Modern, Good for special occasions, Beautiful décor, Classy, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Portofino’s has a public lot
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Wifi:
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low to Medium
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Smoking:
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Portofino’s is a non-smoking restaurant, with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
££
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
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Alcohol prices:
$34.00 USD
Portofino’s:
5035 34th Street South
Saint Petersburg, Florida
33711
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-864-2800
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Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Mon-Wed:
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thur-Fri:
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sat:
4:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sun:
Closed
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Portofino’s:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Vibrant Downtown & relaxed coastal cuisine
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Parisian style bistro rendez-vous
Monte-Carlo, Monaco
|
Eclectic & innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
