Love this place! The food is brilliant and the staff is even better. The coffee is excellent and the breaky is great. I reccomend this to everyone I talk to. I have only ever had breaky here so I cannot rate their dinner service or food. Definatly give it a go…
Drew O.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Australia
I dined here a few weeks back and was rather underwhelmed. It was fairly standard Italian affair, the duck ragu was lacking any distinctive duck flavour and was served in a rather homogenous red gloop. My gf ordered the special from the board which was a very uninspiring small chicken breast sitting on some kind of vegetable stack.
Sun E.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Brisbane, Australia
For some reason I kept missing this restaurant when I lived in New Farm. Maybe because I lived at the Park end? Unsure. Anyway, I wish I hadn’t as it’s pretty rad! I stopped in here for post dinner coffee and cake the other day(well, post dinner hot choc for me as I’m a child about caffeine and can’t sleep if I have a coffee after 10am). My hot chocolate was as thick and decadent as Rhiannon described, and my lemon tart was tangy and delicious. My fellow diners food also looked great, and if I wasn’t so stuffed I may have considered a late night savoury snack. Unfortunately I’ll just have to go back soon(mmmm does anyone else want that pappardelle with duck ragu Meegan had??).
Rhiannon S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Fortitude Valley, Australia
Café Portofino is many things — an Italian restaurant, an Italian patisserie and a great spot for coffee any time of the day or night. So many coffee shops in Brisbane are only open during the day, and we are always craving DECENT coffee late at night. I’m pleased to say Portofino delivers! Not only can you order a coffee even at 10pm at night, they serve delicious, thick Italian hot chocolates(which you have to eat with a spoon, you can’t drink it) and there is a cabinet full of Italian pastries and delicious treats. We enjoyed the citrus almond meal biscuit and a Bullseye — raspberry tart with icing sugar around the outside. My husband had a coffee, while I had a glass of Italian red wine(the wines are between $ 7.50−9.50 a glass). Our friends had the Italian hot chocolate and the Menebrea Lager. Portofino also has full menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Meegan W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Australia
Good Italian food can be hard to find, and Portofino does really good Italian food. I’ve lived in New Farm for a while now, and only ate there for the first time this week. It doesn’t seem to advertise, so I daresay this is a restaurant that relies on word of mouth — always a good sign. The menu is quite short, encompassing entrees, mains, pasta, pizza, and sides. My pappardelle with duck ragu looked quite simple, but was one of the best pastas I’ve had in a long time. The pasta itself was cooked to perfection with a beautiful hearty texture and was perfect with the the tomato and duck ragu. My eggplant stack side was also delicious, and my dining companion was delighted with his prosciutto-wrapped chicken and brocoletti side. The gelato I finished off with was a great summer night dessert. The service at Portofino was attentive and friendly, even though there were very few wait staff working. The restaurant is tucked in between Raine & Horne and Himalayan Café on Brunswick, so check it out next time you’re in the area.
Siobhan K.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Australia
When I popped into Café Portofino the other morning I was a little tentative, simply because it was so empty. Not a soul in the place aside from the lady behind the counter. Preparing for the worst, I stepped in anyway. Much to my delight, they have an amazing array of Italian sweets in a cabinet at the front of the café. Cannoli, tiramisu, cakes and so many other bite sized pieces of goodness. I decided on a mini raspberry cheesecake and a coffee for breakfast, cause that’s how I role. I probably won’t be as perky when my arteries completely die, but oh well! The cake was delicious and perfectly made in every way. My only problem was that I couldn’t eat all of it, but the owner happily put the leftovers into a takeaway box for me. My coffee wasn’t the best, it tasted a little burnt and was definitely a super dark roast reminiscent of the way the Italians like it(not really my thing though). It was hard to judge the ambience of Portofino when it was so empty. I noticed from their notice board that they also do pizza and pasta for lunch and dinner and have lots of specials nights. All in all, Café Portofino was a nice morning stop off. I’d definitely come back for the sweets but not a huge fan of the coffee.