Cafe Porto Bello

I would highly recommend this place! The food is always good and the staff are friendly.

Food and service were fine, but the «cash only» policy is archaic in this day in age. Incredibly inconvenient.

best Margherita pizza in Boston. Fresh crust/​base. Just delicious. Cash only if you do decide to go.

Love the Pizza and the Monday night Pasta special. They also have reasonably priced wines. Everything else is OK.

Have been coming here for the past 7 years and evetytime its as great as the last. Closest Italian restaurant you’ll get in southie compared to the north end. Every meal is superb! Prices are more than fair! Favorite app is the eggplant parm in a pesto sauce. It’s a must try!

Went here a few weeks ago, one of the best veal saltinbocca dishes I’ve ever had (contended with rinos in east Boston). Outside of the great meals that we had perhaps the best service from what I think was the manager/​owner that I’ve seen, normally I don’t write about service but he went above and beyond. The only downside is its on the smaller side and its cash only, but its very inexpensive. I will absolutely go back.

Rude Staff that shouldn’t be in the customer service industry. Food is good for the price you pay but wont be going back

My family and I love Porto Bello and have been going here for well over ten years. The food is consistently good, made to order, and delivered in a timely manner. It is definitely up to par with the north end and comes at very affordable prices. Two people can order an app, two entrees, and a bottle of wine for $ 60. Hard to find decent food at those prices. The waitstaff are all friendly and the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. The only downside is that it is cash only, but it’s definitely worth a trip to the ATM. A hidden gem in Southie for sure!

Went with a group of 6 service was good, food was served quickly and tasted great. Unfortunately they had a customer which appeared to be a regular since they all knew her name (Mary). She was obviously trashed and walking up to random tables and causing issues. The wait staff just laughed it off. I left with a sour taste in my mouth because of the disruptive woman.

Let me start with this… I love Café Portobello. The food is excellent, I live right down the road, have been visiting there frequently for 3 plus years now and would put them up against any north end Italian restaurant in Boston. So you might be asking, what is this guys problem? So I have also been ordering to go food here most Friday nights for years. And I get it, this is a popular spot, they are busy. But tonight I call to order a to go order and I had some of the worst service I have ever received. I call up to order a pizza and tell me they are too back ordered and can’t have a pizza ready for about 90 minutes. Fine that’s no problem and I have no issue with that. I go with my next favorite, the chicken parmesan and fusilli pasta with vodka sauce instead of marinara sauce (my usual). I order this dish so much that I’m shocked that it’s not named after me on the menu. It is fantastic. The woman on the phone tells me «no custom orders tonight, we are too busy.» I say to her that I understand that you are busy but all I want is vodka sauce on my meal instead of marinara. She tells me that she needs to check with the kitchen. About two minutes later she comes back and rudely tells me that «the kitchen is too busy and can’t accommodate custom orders.» Are you serious?! All I want is different sauce on my chicken parmesan and pasta! Finally after discussion they told me there is nothing they could do and hung up. I’m telling you that my jaw is still on the ground as I write this review. Here I am, one of the biggest supporters of Café Portobello, a local Southie staple with great food and now I am telling you I will never order there again because of this terrible customer service. I understand that everyone has an off night and maybe this was just that for them, but that is one of those things you don’t forget. I hope everyone continues to enjoy Café Portobello and their fantastic Italian food, but this was one loyal regular who won’t be returning. Good food should always come with great service. Back to the drawing board…

Great experience here with my wife. Had a short 10 minute wait at 7pm on a Thursday, was not at all bothered by that given the small size of the seating area. Food was impressive, served much quicker than expected and was excellent. We appreciated the style of the wait service, they gave us lots of space to enjoy each other, but very soon after either of us would look around someone would be there to help. It was recommended by our host, and we’re both in agreement that we’d go back again.

Best Italian food you will find in southie! Small place, sometimes there is a wait… But totally worth it, the food is great.

I was visiting Boston for a conference and stayed nearby. I came here by myself for comfort food at the end of the day. I had the chicken marsala and a salad. I also got ziti on the side. I believe the pasta was made from scratch. It hit the spot. The price was reasonable. I highly recommend it.

The pizza there is out of this world, and they have authentic Italian dishes you’d expect to be from some expensive place in the North End. The restaurant itself is pretty small so there can be a wait on busy night — takeout is always a good option but a few times the food hasn’t been ready on time. Overall, definitely would recommend checking it out!

So this is not a review for the food. I feel like I can give 1 star because I will no longer be enjoying the food thanks to an extremely rude employee.
We regularly get takeout from Porto Bello’s and the guy who answers the phone may be the most miserable human I have ever met or talked to. He is condescending and literally sounds frustrated to take your order. When you get there to pick it up, he greets you with the same crotchety attitude. The food isn’t good enough to deal with this shlub.

Forget the north end! Why waste your time waiting in line for overpriced, mediocre Italian food?! Come to Café Porto Bello instead and experience true Boston!
Such a charming little restaurant with very nice interior décor. The lady was amazing and truly a Boston experience to talk to, but utterly charming and lovely!

It only gets a second star because the pizza can be very good.
I remember when this joint first opened up in the mid-‘90s. I lived right around the corner and tried it a few times. The pizza was really good by then-​Southie standards. I found the service to be unfriendly, but I just figured it was because they thought I was a punk kid and wanted me gone ASAP.
Fast-​forward to May 2015, and I’m here for the first time in forever, this time with family and a couple friends of the family. My aunt had an almost impossible time getting the waitress’ attention to get a drink. It was around 5 on a Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t crowded. We had to wait 15 to 20 minutes to order, too.
Is it too much to ask that your waitstaff act like they don’t mind you being in there?
They did somehow forget to charge us for our drinks, so there’s something positive.

Great service and always fresh ingredients. I suggest the Bolognese with the homemade fusilli! Remember to bring cash!

I live for the pasta bolognese. Seriously amazing. Warm happiness in a bowl. Need to figure out how they make this. Pizza is pretty good as well. Place is cash only and pretty tiny but worth the wait

Love this little hole in the wall! Definitely authentic tasting Italian food (although I’m pretty sure there aren’t too many real Italian employees).
For starters I’m a big fan of the bruschetta! It comes with four large pieces and it’s very refreshing. The pizza here is delicious. The red sauce has a great flavor! It definitely reminds me of a real Italian pizza and it’s always fresh. Side note: Be prepared to wait a while, whether you’re picking up or getting delivery. At times it can take well over an over for 1 large non-​specialty pizza. Obviously doesn’t stop me from going back but it’s something to mention!
I’ve tried quite a few of their pasta dishes. The Fusilli alla Vodka with chicken is one of my favorites. The chicken is cooked perfectly and paired with the pasta and sauce. Delicious! The lobster ravioli is on point. Occasionally they’ll offer it as an entrée special and when they do. It’s my go-​to (see photo).
The staff is very friendly which to me, is always a pleasure. They give you just the right amount of attention in a small restaurant setting. Overall, give this place a try! It’s one of a kind in this area and I plan on continuing my patronage.