PortaBella Restaurant

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1. RB

   RobertB

   San Francisco

   22 reviews

   4.0

   22 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall4food4service5ambience4

   Service was outstanding. Food above average. Caesar salad was very good. My wife ordered scallops and loved the dish. I had a pasta dish with Bolognese sauce. Delicious. Huge serving. Hostess gave us a complimentary liquor.

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2. s

   salpha

   Los Angeles

   3 reviews

   2.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall2food2service3ambience4

   This place is more about the nice outdoor dining ambiance on Ocean Ave rather than the quality of the food. Pastas were overly sauced and the mussels were old and meaty (crab bisque was good though). They may have been good in the past but the heavy flow of tourists on the main street has likely left them complacent and uninspired.

   Report
3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Francisco

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 6 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Love to go and sit outside. My favorite restaurant! Love their King Salmon dinner.

   Report
4. EH

   EdHH

   San Francisco

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on June 25, 2022

   overall5food5service4ambience5

   Love the atmosphere. Menu was broad and food was tasty!

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5. BN

   BryanN

   Indiana

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on June 24, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Phenomenal. I had the scallops with risotto and it was perfect. Service was spot on. Very intimate setting. Highly recommend.

   Report
6. GA

   GACL

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on June 24, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Excellent meal and dessert Attentive service Comfortable outdoor seating Plenty of heaters

   Report
7. B

   Bgjkm

   Houston

   19 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   19 reviews

   Dined on June 23, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Good is always wonderful. Never ordered a meal that wasn’t great. Atmosphere and staff are the best. Love going there and will continue to do so.

   Report
8. AG

   AllyG

   San Francisco

   11 reviews

   vip
   4.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on June 20, 2022

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   Great food, good service, lovely atmosphere. I didn’t care for the trash on salsa dressing but my sandwich was delicious. We ordered 2 desserts

   Report
9. LG

   LefterisG

   San Francisco

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on June 19, 2022

   overall3food3service2ambience4

   Good ambiance, very good home made pasta, not the best service, not the best sea food. But overall pleasant experience

   Report
10. MA

    MariaA

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Father’s day dinner

    Report
11. G

    Gabby

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall2food1service3ambience3

    Tourist trap, genuinely bad food. Sad we ended up here on our last night in Carmel!

    Report
12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Anniversary

    Report
13. J

    Jason

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We saw they had over 1000 reviews with 4.5 stars and weren't disappointed. Saul recommended the mushroom soup and it was incredible! We loved the scallops and risotto, as well as the bolognese. Great wine selection and very reasonable given the quality of food and excellent service. We will definitely visit agajn!

    Report
14. j

    jeffh

    Phoenix

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great service and atmosphere

    Report
15. KG

    KathrynG

    Los Angeles

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 11, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great location. We were seated immediately with our reservation at a lovely outside table. Fresh bread with yummy pesto dipping sauce was brought to the table. Fantastic pasta and other choices. Service was excellent. Definitely would dine here again. A walk or drive down to the beach for the sunset made it a magical night

    Report
16. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Kansas City

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Requested outdoor table and got it. Great menu and wine options. First rate service.

    Report
17. AJ

    AdamJ

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent service, amazing food, and a great atmosphere. Nice location for a romantic dinner.

    Report
18. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 4, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Wonderful meal in a quaint setting. We had the octopus appetizer, the seafood linguine and the short ribs all of which were delicious particularly the octopus! The staff were kind and welcoming and the ambiance included live music which was a nice touch. They have a very nice bar menu with a large selection of wines, whiskeys and cocktails.

    Report
19. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Best restaurant we went to in Carmel! We will be back!

    Report
20. w

    wildhorseharry

    Atlanta

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great staff and food. Great place for special occasion.

    Report
21. j

    jamato

    Los Angeles

    123 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    123 reviews

    Dined on May 25, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our stay in Carmel is always made better with our visiting PortaBella—hard to make this a better getaway spot, but PB makes it so… The team is very helpful and creates a special ambiance that makes dining here comfortably and always inviting. Food preparation is exquisite and the portions are generous without being overwhelming…. All food choices are included on a very nice Italian menu. Wine choices are also well thought and presented… Go to PB and manga…

    Report
22. K

    Kaycee

    Orlando

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 20, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Visited during our recent stay in Monterey. This was an absolutely quaint restaurant with fantastic food. The crab & corn bisque was amazing as were our entrees (lamb ossobuco & oven braised short ribs). The evening was made perfect with a serenade while we dined. This is a must visit place!

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23. AA

    AbigailA

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Cutest dinner spot, we will be back! So romantic and delicious espresso martinis!

    Report
24. GF

    GoodFoodServiceOff

    Phoenix

    22 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    The corn and crab bisque was very tasty as was their burger.

    Report
25. MS

    MickS

    San Francisco

    24 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on May 18, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience2

    We went with 2 other couples and all six of us were unimpressed. Our food was disappointing, lacking any creative touches, and generally rather blah. We did not even consider dessert because appetizers and entrees were lackluster. Service was enthusiastic but rough around the edges. The space is cramped and noisy. Wine pours by the glass were very generous and, even though the wines were unremarkable, the pours got us through the evening. We will not return.

    Report
26. WM

    WilliamM

    Philadelphia

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great experience. Food and service first rate. Nice atmosphere and lots of locals - a good sign. My wife had the Pappardelle Alla Bolognese. Tasty and a nice sized portion. I had the Lamb Tenderloin. Tender and done as requested. No steak knife and did not need one. We will definitely return the next time we're in Carmel.

    Report
27. MD

    MauraD

    New York Area

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on May 14, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    A favorite in Carmel. Love the food and staff. The host is the best. Beautiful location. Love this restaurant.

    Report
28. S

    Sherwood

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Consistently a terrific place to eat, and the back patio is probably the top dog friendly spot in Carmel.

    Report
29. c

    cnicwhite

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall4food3service4ambience4

    Overall I would say beautiful old world atmosphere (though I was looking forward to matching music and they played all radio modern stuff. It was lunch, but still). Also, I think I just chose the wrong day in general to go for a regular lunch (Mother's Day). The soup I ordered was fabulous, but the Caesar salad was atrocious. The salad was barely chopped at all, and was very bulky and hard to eat. But again, will try again for dinner sometime on a less hectic day.

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30. FK

    FrancKerns

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on May 8, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Consistently outstanding - I’ve dined here on numerous occasions. The food is excellent and the service exceptional. The pieces are very reasonable considering the quality of the food and location.

    Report
31. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 5, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lamb shank was the best we’ve ever had. Carbonara wonderful. Beet salad and bisque fabulous. Slight reduction for the bread…tasted a bit too flour like tasteless 😖…not a good yeasty flavor. Overall 4.8 fabulous.

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32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on May 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely evening. Food , service and ambiance perfect

    Report
33. B

    Brynjo

    Tampa

    14 reviews

    3.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on May 1, 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    Service was not great and the food was not anything special. So we will most likely not return to Portabello. Ambiance was good. Strolling musician, lots of conversation, and cozy setting. I would not recommend the salmon entree. Stick with the risotto or pasta dishes.

    Report
34. VA

    VanessaA

    Sacramento

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on May 1, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The staff was very attentive to every detail. Food was amazing and great wine list.

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35. L

    Lisa

    San Francisco

    35 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    35 reviews

    Dined on April 30, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The assorted cheeses, a lovely white wine, salmon grilled perfectly, and shrimp scampi made for an outstanding meal. And the strolling musician was a lovely surprise.

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36. CM

    CarmelM

    San Francisco

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    As always, Bashar and his staff are consummate hosts! The William Tell cocktail should not be missed. Not too sweet and thoroughly delicious! The salmon and short ribs were excellently prepared, both tender and wonderful! The best dining experience in Carmel-by-the-Sea!!!

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37. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Jacksonville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food is excellent and wait staff so friendly. We have eaten there several times and never disappointed.

    Report
38. CS

    CameliaS

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2022

    overall3food2service2ambience1

    You can find better. Absolutely nothing memorable!

    Report
39. MB

    MichaelB

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 25, 2022

    overall3food2service4ambience4

    Cute and quaint restaurant in Carmel. Quiet and romantic ambience, great for couples but also good for other groups. Service was good and they had live music with a gentleman playing soft, romantic guitar. The experience was great however the food was quite bland and average at best. The spaghetti carbonara came in a liquid, cream sauce and was not authentic whatsoever. The dish was rather bland. The seafood linguine was also disappointingly bland as well, lacking flavor completely. It was a nice time, but if you’re looking for good food, I would choose elsewhere in the area as this was just not very good.

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40. JK

    JamieK

    Kansas City

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on April 25, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    Food and wine were very good. Service was ok, as we were often waiting longer than usual to have our drinks refilled or between courses. Our booth was the most disappointing part of the experience. It was very tight between table and seat. And made it hard to get in/out if someone was sitting across from you. The seating outside looked lovely but also tight on space.

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