Solo Italiano

Name: Solo Italiano
Address: 100 Commercial St, Portland, ME, United States, 04101
Telephone: (207) 780-0227
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.6

4.6

2032 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

We currently offer in-house dining Wednesday through Sunday from 4:30-10:00pm. Takeout is no longer available at this time. Patio dining is available Memorial Day weekend through September and always subject to weather. Please call us directly to reserve a patio table, but keep in mind that of the six 4-tops available outside, three are kept for walk-ins only.

Our restaurant features Paolo Laboa, international chef from Genova, Italy. His menu consists of simple, flavorful and authentic Northern Italian cuisine. This includes handmade pasta, crudo (raw fish), fresh pizza and an all-Italian wine list. Ingredients are sourced locally, from various Maine farms and from the Gulf of Maine, whenever possible.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 9, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 21 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(207) 780-0227
Website
http://www.soloitalianorestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paolo Laboa
Private party facilities
Please visit our website and the reservations tab for large party options and details.
Private party contact
Mercedes Laboa: (508) 284-3368

Location
100 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Neighborhood
Portland
Cross street
Harbor St or Pearl St.
Parking details
Paid parking is also available in DiMillos parking lot a block and a half away. Please keep in mind, street parking is free on Sundays and after 6pm every other day!
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

Pizzella Nera con Salmone Rosa e Stracciatella*$17.00
Squid ink sourdough pizza, beet-cured Wester Ross salmon, Wolf Meadow Farm stracciatella, lemon, extra virgin olive oil
Tartara di Tonno*$18.00
Wild Atlantic yellowfin tuna tartar, salsa verde, beet mostarda, farm egg yolk, cracker
Tonno Tonnato*$17.00
Wild Atlantic yellowfin tuna, toasted pine nuts, husk cherries, radish, tonnato
Tonno Grasso*$20.00
Roasted bone marrow, yellowfin tuna tossed with a parsnip vinaigrette, crispy breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic
Acchiuge di Branzino in Bagnone*$14.00
Thinly sliced branzino, warm tomato broth, fennel, marjoram, crostini

Antipasti / Starter Course

Tagliere di Contadino con Gnocco Fritto$24.00
Italian Farm Board: coppa picante, salame Toscano, soppressata dolce, speck, porchetta di cinghiale, prosciutto alle nocciole, mortadella tartufo, chuck salame, crostini di Toscana, stravecchio, lazy lady, mostarda
Polpo alla Mediterranea$18.00
Sautéed Spanish octopus, sausage, taggiasca olives, Northspore king trumpet mushrooms, Dandelion Springs Farm turnip puree, saffron potatoes, basil oil
Muscoli alla Genovese$14.00
Bang's Island mussels, pinot grigio, parsley, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, crostini
Capesante Rosticciate con Speck Croccante e Scamorza Tartufo$20.00
Pan-seared dayboat scallops, bagna cauda, crispy speck, truffle scamorza
Gonfietti Prosciutto e Burrata$16.00
Lightly-fried sage focaccia, prosciutto Legato, burrata di Luca

Focaccia di Recco

Traditional focaccia from Recco, baked thin with Stracchino cheese imported from Italy

Normale$15.00
Pizzata$16.00
Tomato, capers, olives, anchovy
Con Prosciutto Legato$18.00

A Donna Scala Pugliese

Traditional Napoletana Pizza$20.00
Sourdough pizza, San Marzano tomato, mozzarella di Giuseppe, basil

Insalata / Salad Course

Misticanza di Campo con Pecorino$10.00
Organic farm greens & chicories, shaved pecorino, dressed with a rosemary garlic olive oil, and balsamic vinegar
Barbabietole$11.00
Organic roasted beet salad with Stonecipher Farm beets, gorgonzola dolce, Dandelion Spring Farms baby kale, dressed with honey, lemon, olive oil, and sea salt

Primi / Pasta Course

Our pasta is hand crafted in house daily

Mandilli al Vero Pesto Genovese$22.00
Handkerchief pasta tossed in an authentic Genovese basil pesto
Cappellacci di Zuca al Tartufo$32.00
Cappellacci with Marina di Chioggia squash, Parmigiana-Reggiano, white "Alba" truffle butter
Spaghetti alla Vongole$24.00
Housemade spaghetti pasta, manila clams, parsley, Pinot Grigio, light tomato, garlic, extra virgin olive oil
Gnocchi di Pesce con Tocco di Pomodoro$24.00
Branzino and potato gnocchi, San Marzano tomato tocco, pecorino
Maccheroncelli all' Italiano Americano$24.00
Maccheroncelli pasta, Napoletana meatballs, San Marzano tomato sauce
Zuppa alla Mantovana$18.00
Dandelion Springs Farm butternut squash soup, extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiana-Reggiano, amaretti biscotti

Secondi / Main Course

Chianina Tagliata alle Erbe$56.00
Local black angus, pasture-raised, dry-aged, herb-rubbed ribeye, Dandelion Springs Farm crispy potatoes in white "Alba" truffle butter, gorgonzola salsa
Rombo Ciodatto con Pesto di Mandorle$34.00
Pan-roasted spotted fluke, organic sunchoke and salsify sauté, arugula and almond pesto
Stoccafisso Accomodata$30.00
Viking stock fish, San Marzano tomato, pinot grigio, Stonecipher potatoes, taggiasca olives, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, capers
Branzino alla Ligure$34.00
Whole, oven-roasted branzino, pine nuts, taggiasca olives, pinot grigio, Stonecipher Farm cocktail tomatoes and parsnips
Tenero di Cervo con Funghi$36.00
Pan-roasted venison loin, Northspore king trumpet mushrooms, Barbera sauce
Coniglio con Polenta$32.00
Sumner Valley Farm rabbit, barbera braise, creamy polenta

What 2,032 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Maine
Innovative
Maine
Great for fine wines
Maine
Most Booked

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Filters

BM
BethM
New England
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service was fantastic!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent, as always! Love to dine here!
RA
RamonaA
Denver
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent experience. Great food. Great service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Randy is so full of detailed knowledge on wine and food. Aim play awesome on so many levels.
LW
LindaW
New York Area
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on January 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Solo Italiano once again exceeded all expectations! My favorite restaurant in Portland. My boyfriend and I arrived at 5:45 to celebrate my birthday. Our server was exceptional explaining the food and wine. She even asked the wine steward what Amaro would complement our tiramisu. Wow! We shared dishes starting with a scallop crudo which was out of this world. Dandelion salad and spaghetti carbonara with shrimp were fantastic. Halibut was perfectly cooked. This is a high end restaurant with exceptional wait staff. What a wonderful Birthday! Compliments to the chef and the entire staff. I wish I could remember who our waitress was. She was truly exceptional.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service were outstanding.
M
Missy
New England
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
This was a birthday celebration...we've been to Solo 4-5 times in the last 2 years..Have very good service ( always the same 2 servers) who are helpful with wine selections that pair with food. Lovely meal.
CL
CeeLa
New England
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
As usual, a delicious and wonderful dining experience. From the knowledgable service to the outstanding food. Solo Italiano can do no wrong! Although it is quite pricey, it is worth every cent.
J
Jazzy
New England
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing meal! We will definitely be back!
Solo ItalianoResponded on January 18, 2023We have not received any emails from you and we are closed Monday and Tuesday (if you called then). Please email soloitalianome@gmail with any concerns.
JM
JanM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Some of the best food we have had in Portland, Maine. I highly recommend Solo Italiano this was our first time there and it won’t be our last.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Milwaukee
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 14, 2023
overall1food2service1ambience3
Service was sub par and the food was not worth the price tag.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was great, except the four of us thought the food was very pricey. We are all local residents.
BC
BrendaC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall3food3service1ambience5
Nice spot but our experience was ruined by a server who really botched the conversation about my shellfish allergy. Instead of instilling confidence that my food would be safe he asked me to specify how bad my allergy is and continued asking more and more questions and getting annoyed by my responses. It left me feeling like “if you’re not going to die, don’t worry about it”. Like because of my allergy he would rather not have me as a customer. It made it very difficult to trust the food. We ordered a very basic pasta dish and took off as quickly as we could. It was a special birthday dinner and it got ruined by poor service. No one should have to describe medical details of their conditions in order to feel safe at a restaurant. Aside from this server, it seemed like a very nice place and I overheard other servers handling allergy questions professionally and responsibly. So I would recommend this location, but hope they offer better training to servers going forward.
RD
RDH5
New England
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Exceptionally good house-made pastas. Went twice in the same weekend. Standouts were a fettucine with goose ragu and agnolotti. Very interesting wines by the glass - out of the ordinary Italian grapes and regions. Excellent service, cool room. Highly recommend.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely incredible from the service to the food! Will definitely be back!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing staff! Food was delicious!!
HC
HappyC
New England
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience3
Pesto pasta was a disappointment, not terribly memorable and overpriced. On a previous visit the vegetarian lasagna was incredible. On main courses, the accompaniments were unusual and didn't seem to enhance the main course. Staff was very attentive and ambiance was relatively nice. Cost of the entire evening was very high considering the food choices.
BR
BeverleyR
New England
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on January 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We have been dining at Solo Italiano for 2 years. The restaurant never disappoints. You are welcomed from the moment you walk in the door. The organic farm greens are always fresh and crispy, the watermelon radish are fabulous and their shaved pecorino is nutty and makes the salad. The food is always superb what ever you choose and presentation is perfect. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. Solo is probably our favorite restaurant in Portland.
AP
AbbyP
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 5, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great atmosphere, good food, fresh & quality ingredients, but still a bit overpriced
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
17 reviews
vip
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
Service was very slow. Food was cold -cold. Cheese sauce was congealed cold and I never saw the waiter until my husband was done with his.
GC
GillianC
New England
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best Italian food I have ever had!
JG
JenG
New England
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The best scallop crudo I’ve ever had
RL
RobL
New England
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always phenomenal meals
GS
GeoffreyS
West Palm Beach
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Professional and knowledgeable service staff. Excellent cuisine. Simply the best!
TD
TylerD
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We have never been disappointed here. The food and the service are always top notch. The drinks are delicious, the knowledge of the food and the explanations of the dishes are always spot on. LOVE IT
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food and spectacular service!
DG
DaleG
San Francisco
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Really delicious food. Great service. Expensive & a bit loud. I would go again for special occasion. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate.
HC
HappyC
New England
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 28, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
The food was delicious and the menu selection suited us well. Menu might be a problem for those with gluten or dairy dietary issues. Appetizers seemed very large and perhaps are meant to be shared, but we eat different foods so sharing was not a good option for our party. We wish they had some smaller appetizer choices. The service was fabulous. Our server was very attentive during a busy night, and replaced one item with another instantly when we asked. Our one issue was that they could not offer decaf coffee (apparently a machine that produced it was broken). The pricing is very high end and it did feel as if we were paying more than we should at every stage of the dinner.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Excellent, start to finish. Megan’s service was superb. Food was brilliant.
SL
SharonL
New England
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Christmas Eve was festive and food delicacy!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Christmas Eve — memorable and absolutely delicious!!!
R
Reed
New England
12 reviews
vip
3.0
12 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
Always love Solo, but service was incredibly slow, and many of the dishes, when finally received, were cold. Some plates obviously sat around for quite a while waiting for the rest to be finished. Food is always good, and love the menu, but this was underwhelming this round.
v
veronica
Atlanta
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience5
This was a lovely restaurant, and the food was exceptional. We had a wonderful experience until the end after we paid our bill. While finishing our coffee, the manager came to the table and asked us to leave because other people were waiting for our table. We have never experienced this practice before and were disappointed that our lovely meal ended this way-especially in a high-end restaurant.
AJ
AJDT
New England
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 19, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
We had a fun and delicious dinner after the Magic of Christmas on a busy Sunday night in the Old Port. The food was amazing and our server was pleasant and informed and professional. As it was a busy evening we had to wait a bit at the start of our service but things came together and we enjoyed the evening.
RW
RyanW
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service as always. It’s one of our favorite places in Portland.
RC
RobertC
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Fabulous in every way except the very noisy table of 8 near us!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Totally delicious!!’
SS
StuS
New England
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food Great wine. Great atmosphere! Everything was excellent!
CB
CindieB
New England
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on December 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food and wonderful experience. While we thought the pasta portions were a bit small, you certainly made up for it with incredible, overflowing desserts! We will return soon!
HZ
HeatherZ
New England
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
always a pleasure to go there. Cocktails are truly scrumptious and the food is so good, especially the pesto handkerchief pasta and the burrata prosciutto focaccia!

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Solo Italiano is rated 4.6 stars by 2032 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 9, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 21 times today

100 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

Additional information

Cross street
Harbor St or Pearl St.
Neighborhood
Portland
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Paid parking is also available in DiMillos parking lot a block and a half away. Please keep in mind, street parking is free on Sundays and after 6pm every other day!
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Paolo Laboa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.soloitalianorestaurant.com/
Phone number
(207) 780-0227
Private party facilities
Please visit our website and the reservations tab for large party options and details.
Private party contact
Mercedes Laboa: (508) 284-3368

Solo Italiano

Make a reservation

Additional information

Best Restaurants in Portland, ME

The Best Restaurants in Portland, OR

Con Prosciutto Legato

Pizzata

Branzino alla Ligure

Crudo e Mare

Pizzella Nera con Salmone Rosa e Stracciatella*$17.00

Tartara di Tonno*$18.00

Tonno Tonnato*$17.00

Tonno Grasso*$20.00

Acchiuge di Branzino in Bagnone*$14.00

Antipasti / Starter Course

Tagliere di Contadino con Gnocco Fritto$24.00

Polpo alla Mediterranea$18.00

Muscoli alla Genovese$14.00

Capesante Rosticciate con Speck Croccante e Scamorza Tartufo$20.00

Gonfietti Prosciutto e Burrata$16.00

Focaccia di Recco

Normale$15.00

Pizzata$16.00

Con Prosciutto Legato$18.00

A Donna Scala Pugliese

Traditional Napoletana Pizza$20.00

Insalata / Salad Course

Misticanza di Campo con Pecorino$10.00

Barbabietole$11.00

Primi / Pasta Course

Mandilli al Vero Pesto Genovese$22.00

Cappellacci di Zuca al Tartufo$32.00

Spaghetti alla Vongole$24.00

Gnocchi di Pesce con Tocco di Pomodoro$24.00

Maccheroncelli all' Italiano Americano$24.00

Zuppa alla Mantovana$18.00

Secondi / Main Course

Chianina Tagliata alle Erbe$56.00

Rombo Ciodatto con Pesto di Mandorle$34.00

Stoccafisso Accomodata$30.00

Branzino alla Ligure$34.00

Tenero di Cervo con Funghi$36.00

Coniglio con Polenta$32.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is Solo Italiano restaurant rated?

Is Solo Italiano currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

Best Restaurants in Portland, ME

The Best Restaurants in Portland, OR