Location: Portland
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Top 10 Italian food in Portland, Connecticut, United States
Find out what Italian restaurants to try in Portland. Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place (CDP). It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown. Brownstone quarried in Portland was used in the construction of Hartford's Old State House in 1796. The vast majority of the brownstone buildings in Connecticut (see College Row at Wesleyan University and the Long Walk at Trinity College) as well as the famous brownstones in New York City were built with brownstone from Portland's quarries.
Things to do in Portland
10. Cromwell Pizza & Pasta
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Conveniently located along Rt. 99 in Historic Downtown Cromwell at 307 Main Street. Cromwell Pizza & Pasta is locally owned by Fabio Lourenconi. Our establishment is a kid friendly environment to enjoy a meal with friends and family. Cromwell Pizza offers
Reviewed By GnMe
We were visiting family in the area, and our favorite pizza place across the street was closed, so we thought we'd give Cromwell Pizza a try. It was extremely busy for a Tuesday evening, both eat-in and take-away customers. It actually seemed to be more than the staff could handle. They were really hustling, to the point of getting some orders confused, and it seemed that they were trying to juggle oven space for so many pizzas. They could have taken ours out a bit sooner; it was at the point of being burnt. It wasn't bad, but not great either.Thank you for your review. I'm sorry to hear that you're experience wasn't bad nor great. Please feel free to reach out to us directly at [email protected]. Again, thank you for the review, we will work with the staff to ensure orders are handled accurately and with out your review we wouldn't know what areas of dining we need to work on. Hopefully, you'll try us again in the near future.
9. Illiano's Ristorante and Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By merle h
This is the place. Past dinner time for our granddaughter but not to worry. Waitress quickly brought placemats and crayons to our table. Restaurant has a smaller seating area than expected as take-out counter/showcase takes up much space. Crowded with families and groups of kids so a little loud. Waitress was overwhelmed so service was not as attentive as it could be. Vodka penne dinner was quite good and very tasty, served hot. Plentiful portion. Salad was fresh with more than just lettuce; house dressing was also good. The stromboli was perfect if not looking for an entree or pizza. Filled with brocolli, ham, salami, onion, peppers, mushrooms - 1/2 was enough with the other 1/2 wrapped for later. Prices are very reasonable. Saw there was another Iliano's on Rte.17; more convenient for us but reviews seemed not as good.
8. Tommy's Pizza Palace
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By KH68
Tommy's makes decent enough food, the pizza is good, kind of greasy but good enough. However, the prices are outrageous for what you get. While the pizza is good, it's not good enough to justify the high prices for what you get and considering that there are other just as good, if not better, pizza options pretty close by. We rarely eat there.
7. Campagna Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Moggie48
We met family members here as a halfway point. It was a rainy night and we found the atmosphere welcoming. The dining room is clean and bright, with comfortable seating. The host and server were attentive and friendly. The entree prices were reasonable and portions generous. Entrees include soup or salad. We all had salad and it was crisp and fresh. I had tortellini in a vodka sauce which was quite good. My spouse and I shared veal saltimbocca as well. Donât expect really fine wine but the choices were acceptable. The menu is pretty extensive so it would seem thereâs something for everyoneâs taste.
6. Cantina Cafe Ristorante
Overall Ratings
4 based on 69 reviews
Reviewed By Dreijunge
Went with friends all visiting family in CT for thanksgiving. Highly recommended & it didn't disappoint. There were 5 of us & we shared the sausage & broccoli rabe app. Enough for everyone. The 3 women ordered the veal francese & pasta puttanesca. My husband had another veal dish & my friends husband, the stuffed pork chop. After the app, a large Salad, served family style arrived AND a large bowl of the best penne a la vodka with warm Italian bread. That would have been enough. When the veal & pasta dishes came we 3 women shared, we sampled the veal-very good & I tried the pasta dish. Not a fan. The guys finished part of their entrees & said they were delicious. Nice wine list. We purchased 2 bottles. It's a casual place, in the basement of the Sons of Italy. No frills, friendly servers. I'd go back-just wouldn't order as much! We all had to go containers after we were done!
5. Esca Restaurant & Wine Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 200 reviews
Reviewed By Robin F
Having eaten here three times before, I figured I had pretty realistic expectations. That was not the case. The establishment itself has not changed. Nice atmosphere and reasonable noise levels. Tables far enough apart for comfort. It is the food and service that has slipped. The bread before dinner was unimpressive and sparse. My orders of tuna tartar and pasta with an assortment of seafood were both bland. No spice at all on the tuna mixed with avocado served on cucumber slices with no crusty anything for serving. That was it--no onion, croûton, and no spice or anything interesting. No pepper mill on the table for me to try to effect a change. When the server came back to the table to ask if everything was OK, she only asked my dining partner, not me. She almost ran from the table so I did not get a chance to even ask for a pepper mill. Note, my female dining companion and I were in early, and Esca was not busy at all, so gender bias or too many tables to cover could not explain the gaffs. Same bland presentation on the seafood pasta. No spice at all, no offer of cheese with the pasta, but this time I was able to get in a request for the pepper mill. The mill was used to provide a fresh grind, but was not left at the table. Disappointing food. The service too was less than adequate. The server who took our orders, and never asked me if my meal was OK, was superficial. She took more than 15 minutes to deliver my second glass of wine order, and got it wrong. She went to pour me a red wine when I had ordered a rose. When I caught the mistake before she poured the wine, she said she must not have heard my order. Then why not ask me to repeat it? Our water glasses were refilled through the meal, but every time the server refilling our water glasses poured, he splashed or dribbled the water, usually into my bread plate, where my bread became an inedible sponge after each pour. He seemed oblivious to the pouring problems. Additional bread was never offered, even though the initial bread had to serve as the vehicle to use with my tuna tartar. Summary comment: I have recommended Esca in the past but can no longer.
4. Amici Italian Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 191 reviews
Reviewed By 430debbie
They really need to step this up a bit! Tiny portions for 7.00 that werenât anything special, drink specials were not exciting! With so many restaurants and so many happy hour offerings I think this was below what we have had elsewhere. Compared to Carboneâs Prime and Max Fish, I guess we are spoiled.
3. Fiore II Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 174 reviews
Reviewed By cbs651
Four of us ate here on a Saturday night. There was a short wait (they wouldnât take reservations for fewer than 6 people), but once we got a table, all was well. We split an appetizer of fried mozzarella, which was very good. We ordered eggplant parmagiana, ravioli, shrimp scampi, and veal marsala - and everyone was happy with his/her order! Accompanying salads and rolls were just fine, and we finished with lava cakes and coffee or cappuccino. Service was quick but not intrusive, and the prices were good. Really an excellent meal!
2. Luce
Overall Ratings
4 based on 291 reviews
Reviewed By happytraveler552
Celebrating a small reunion of friends and the staff was wonderful. They gave us a great table to enjoy conversation and the wait staff were excellent and pleasant. The food was absolutely scrumptious. We completely enjoyed the portobello mushroom and eggplant appetizer as well as the calamari. Our entrees were delicious. We all enjoyed a different meal, and the presentation of the pork loin was beautiful as well as delicious. I was torn between ordering the spinach gnochi or the mushroom ravioli and I was delighted with the mushroom ravioli. We were celebrating a birthday and the waiter brought our dessert with the cutest candle. Such a delightful place. Easy access to the highway right on Main Street and perfect parking in the free lot next to the restaurant. We will return!
1. MONDO
Overall Ratings
4 based on 246 reviews
Reviewed By jetset1976
The pizza by the slice was thin and super flavored, the pepperoni was the real kind. Salads were mega sized and so was the pesto chicken panini. Service was great despite being super busy. We ate outside and main Street Middletown was pleasant. Will come back.
