


Chef Alfred Portale brings his heritage and passion for the cuisine and culture of Italy to his namesake, serving a contemporary Italian menu in a relaxed and convivial setting in the heart of New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. Ensconced in a renovated carriage house with landmark status, Portale Restaurant explores the many regions of Italy, taking inspiration from the country’s seasonally driven approach to cooking. You can expect an abundance of roasted vegetables, market salads, pastas and assorted grilled meats and fish. Portale’s offerings are intended to delight, restore and evoke a sense of the modern Italian flare.
Warm neighborhood restaurant and bar presenting seasonally driven Italian dishes from an open kitchen.
Hours
| Thursday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 5–10:30 PM |
| Saturday | 5–10:30 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Monday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 5–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5–9:30 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 126 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011
Phone: (917) 781-0255
Website: http://www.portalerestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: sevenrooms.comtripleseat.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Portale | Contemporary Italian Restaurant in New York, NY
Menus | Portale Restaurant in New York, NY
Portale – New York – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Reviews
– Focaccia: 7/10
The bread was soft and crispy at the same time. I liked the pairing with the olive oil and cheese.
– Crudo Di Capesante: 6/10
Tastes fresh, the scallops were good. Nothing out of this world tasty.
– Risotto: 3/10
This was my first time eating risotto and it was not a good one. I don’t know if risotto is supposed to be extremely salty but this one was so salty. If there was any other flavor it was overpowered by the salt. Very disappointing.
– Anatra: 5/10
I like meat and usually have no complaints but this dish was $42 if i recall correctly…for this price I’d expect the meat to melt in my mouth but it was chewy. I haven’t had duck in a while so not sure if duck is supposed to be chewy. Very average dish.
– Lumache: 4/10
I love pasta, and maybe I prefer my pasta to be cooked a little more but I felt that the pasta wasn’t cooked enough. This is just a personal preference. However, this dish was so salty as well. I don’t understand why the lumache and risotto were both so heavily salted. All I could taste was salt.
Restaurant Atmosphere: 8/10
Everyone was polite. The vibes are nice.
I would not go to this restaurant again nor recommend to a friend unfortunately. I don’t think the prices match the taste of the dishes.
Among the standout dishes, the branzino was exquisite, perfectly cooked with a crispy skin and tender flesh that melted in your mouth. However, the chicken absolutely took center stage—it was roasted to perfection, with a beautifully caramelized exterior that gave way to succulent, juicy meat. Each bite was an extraordinary experience, practically dissolving on the palate.
Overall, it was a flawless dining experience that left me thoroughly satisfied. Thank you, Portale, for such a remarkable Easter lunch!
As for the food, I started with the yellowfin tuna tartare. It was decent and had the expected flavors, but since I’m not a big fan of acidic dishes, it wasn’t really my cup of tea. My partner enjoyed it though.
We ordered two main courses. The first was the Lumache, which is pasta with bolognese and white sauce. The pasta texture was fantastic, perfectly al dente with just the right bite, and paired beautifully with the rich sauce. I really enjoyed this dish. The second was the Anatra, which is duck breast that they recommend having medium rare. While the flavor was good overall, I felt it was very overcooked since the meat was quite tough to cut through.
For dessert, we tried the olive oil cake, a sponge cake topped with lemon curd, vanilla ice cream, and a drizzle of olive oil. It wasn’t my favourite, but it was interesting to try. The olive oil flavour was quite subtle, so if you’re hoping for that distinctive taste, you might be disappointed.
Overall, I really appreciated the excellent service and lovely atmosphere, but unfortunately the food didn’t quite hit the mark for my personal taste preferences.
I visited on my anniversary, and we had a wonderful experience.
We truly enjoyed both the food and the service.
Our server explained and recommended each dish in detail, which made it even more special.
I’ll definitely be back to try more from the menu!
It might sound funny, but my favorite thing on the menu is actually a side dish — the mushroom sauté. It’s insanely tasty, full of flavor, and I always get it when I come.
Everything just works together — from the wine list to the interior — and it always feels like a complete experience. I give it a full 10 out of 10.
I’m always happy to come back here. It’s perfect for a date night, dinner with friends, or even a meeting with coworkers. Totally recommend!
10/10