| Address | 2109 N. Pollard St., Arlington, VA 22207 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (703) 528-1557 |
It was great but not as great as I expected... the stuffed portabella appetizer didn't appear to be stuffed with anything but there was a drop of cheese on top. That being said, it was still good and the mashed potatoes underneath were a great surprise. My lasagna was good... the meat sauce was excellent but I thought the whole thing could have been more flavorful plus the portion size was quite small. All in all, I'd go again.
I found out about this restaurant from restaurant.com and I LOVED it. Infact, I think I'd go as far as to say it's my new favorite place. I loved the small, intimate feel of this hole in the wall. Our waiter was polite, witty, and didn't rush us or keep us waiting. I began with the tortilla soup which was good, pretty standard. I had the Salmon with mango salsa which was probably the best fish I've ever had. The only thing I'd like to chnage is that although the plate was unbelievable the small side was just plain boring white rice. I'd recommend changing that to something with more taste, seasoned mashed potatoes would go well. For dessert I had the vanilla bean creme brulee, one word-fabulous.
Martinis are the large glasses not the small or medium size ones that so many places are using now. And they charge less than $8 for it!!!
The Gazpacho was horrible, it had been blended in a blender and little seasoning....very disappointing. The other food however was quite good. This restaurant has been better before and can do better.
Waiters were good guys but not well-trained; drinks were reasonably priced, not $8 or more that many are charging now. The food is getting too boring...you need to change the menu and smack me in the face with some new flavors for a change. This restaurant is becoming too normal, where once the food was very good.
The problem with Portabellos is that the menu is getting old. Keep a few good sellers and bring us something new for a change. The Martini was large and the scotch was adequate. The waiter was friendly. I asked them to make a side dish of shitake mushrooms and they did, no questions asked and it was not on the menu. This is a sign of restaurant excellence. Portabellos I look forward to vast and exciting menu changes...don't hold back, your diners are waiting for your best menu to come.
This being my first visit, I must say I was not impressed. The space is "ok" but the burger I ordered was not. I asked for rare and it came out almost well-done. The accompaning garnish (lettuce/tomato) were a bit on the wilted side. On a plus note, the fries were crispy and oil free and the attentive waiter brought out a replacement burger. Coffee, while tasty, was pricey at $2.25 and the burger at $7.50 during lunch was a tad overpriced for what was served.
The chef's creations and the server's attention to detail outdo the dining room's humble appearance.
One word of advice, have a reservation is you're going on a Saturday night. We were able to snag a table in the back near the bar, after waiting about 30 minutes, but we were packed like sardines back there. The mushroom ravioli in ginger sauce was tasty, although topped by what tasted like chow mein noodles. Friend had the blackened chicken, was very good. Excellent service, polite and fast.
I had heard mixed reactions about this place ranging from good to poor. After having dined there I found the experience disappointing. Cold food on cold plates. Visually the restaurant was unappealing. There seemed to be very young children at several tables who were loud and not being minded by their guardians. Service was curt and the servers were not knowledgable about the food they were serving. The wines on the list were those that you could find at your local grocer. If it wasn't for the food being served cold on cold plates, the meal itself would have been good. Overall, considering the poor ambience and the seemingly endless screaming from the many young children in the restaurant I would not suggest this restuarant to anyone.
I don't know man, I wanted to like this place because it seems like a great neighborhood spot, but the food we got was sooo bland. I had read a Post review where they stated that they go easy on the salt due to people from the retirement home coming there, but damn, they go easy on practically every spice. I had a vegetable risotto, the rice was a a goopy tasteless mess. The vegetebles (especially the portabellos) were good, but overwhelmed by the glop. The clam chowder was stellar, as was a house salad. My friend got a chicken dish that he proclaimed to be in desperate need of spice. The food all looks visually appealing, but was so tasteless. Seems to be quite popular with the neighborhood, but based on my experience, I wouldn't travel far to get there.
Don't let the ambiance, or lack thereof fool you, Portabellos has awesome food. Strangely enough only three of the dishes feature mushrooms, the majority have seafood. Our party had the Salmon with mango relish and jasmine rice which was just awesome! Other dishes were the scallops, shrimp picatta, crab cakes (they were okay, but not the best), calamari and the mushroom ravioli with lobster sauce, those were just awesome. To end dinner we had the creme brule which which had a perfect crunch top, berry shortcake and chocolate puffs with cream inside.
The wine list is pretty extensive with cheap, affordable wines. It becomes pricey to eat here with a full three courses and drinks.
Portabello's is a restaurant that I would go back to again and again and again. The atmosphere is very intimate and makes for a nice romantic evening, or you can go with your best friend for a nice night out. Casual, but tasty dining with a little flare.
Most important is the food, which is simply sensational. My companion and I went to celebrate a birthday. We had the fried calamari w/ chili sauce and the cornmeal-crusted oysters. Both had just enough batter with a heavenly sauce for accompaniment. For the main course, we had the soy-marinated salmon and the jumbalaya. Both were also well prepared.
The pricing was reasonable and there were a variety of choices. Since we were eating for a special occasion, we chose more expensive entrees, but for a normal night there's marinated chicken sandwiches and burgers.
The wait staff was great, too. Despite the fact that we had to wait (even with reservation), the service was so classy that I didn't mind. In normal situations, I would have boiled with anger.
Portabello's is a nice, mellow restaurant with a lot of love. It is also an independent establishment - one worth supporting.
I would recommend a reservation or it can take 45 minutes to an hour to be seated, but it's worth a wait.
This place has great charm and great food. The table bread they bring out is in a cute little basket and was giving off steam. I appreciate warm fresh bread. The meal was very appealing to the eye, with a fresh salad and a small portion of the meal on the same plate. I felt this place was healthy and has great early bird specials.
The restaurant is very small, and also very high-volume. Luckily we got there early, reservations are often necessary on weekend evenings. The waiter was paid the perfect amount of attention to us, not too overbearing but helpful and knowledgeable and efficient. We ordered the panko crusted portobello mushrooms which are amazing! They are served on a bed of wilted spinach with a homemade garlicky boursin-style sauce. It was one of the best things i've ever had. Next I ordered the shrimp provincal which was amazing, the shrimp were so fresh and the sauce was delicious. My boyfriend ordered the special, pork tenderloin and shrimp in a BBQ glaze. The waiter recommended it, and for good reason. It was cooked perfectly, and was so tender, and the sauce on both tasted great. For dessert we got the creme brulee which was perfect, not too eggy or sweet. The wine selection also isn't bad for such a small place. The ambience is dressy-casual, you would feel akward in sweats, but it's not stuffy like a more expensive restaurant. The meal was very fairly priced, especially for the food's taste and presentation. The chef/owner went to the Culinary Institute of America, and it is obvious from his talent. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, but make sure to make reservations as there was a line by the time we left.
