Il Portico in Kensington and Chelsea

Tried the sister restaurant previously, and decided to give Il Portico a try, and I wasn’t disappointed. A truly authentic Italian restaurant, with extremely warm ambiance and friendly staff. They took great care of us, and did a great job of explaining some of the dishes. Wine was reasonably priced and very good and will definitely come back again.

Came here for a date with my girlfriend, the food and service was absolutely amazing, couldn’t fault it. Fresh British ingredients and traditional Italian dishes. Highly recommend

Il Portico serves up classic Italian comfort food and does it well. It provides good service with a complimentary side order of schmooze to those who are not particularly bothered about the size of their bill. It's many loyal regulars love it for that. Sadly, as other reviewers have noted, there seems to be a boorish shouty element among them as well as the quiet money.

If you’re looking for absolutely authentic Italian fare in London, then Il Portico is the place! We had the veal Milanese which was cooked to perfection. Service was impeccable; warm and not imposing. The atmosphere (lunchtime) was busy but relaxed.

The best restaurant in Kensington. The best Italian in London, if not the whole of England or the UK (if anyone can find a better one please let me know as I would love to try it)

A pleasantly decorated hall, a calm atmosphere, excellent food - you want to visit this restaurant more than once!

Veal liver with sage was simply the way I love it: simple, no fuss. Very good service. Crowded. Better book I think.

We eat at Portico 2-3 times a year, it is our neighbourhood favourite, lively, friendly, with geniune regional Italian dishes. Do not expect run-of-the-mill puzza/pasta here. It's not for small kids either. We all have our favourite dishes there (calf's liver being one of them, seasonal dishes like pheasant-yet another), and truly appreciate the long-lasting continuity of this place, wishing it being part of the local community forever.

I had a wonderful solo dining experience here. Friendly & attentive staff, plus delicious food. There were many regulars that were greeted by name at the door and a warm atmosphere. Bringing my Italian friend back here.

I had a business lunch at Il Portico and was very happy with the food - we both had the Scalopina alla Milanese...absolutely divine and tasted like I was back in Italy! The service was impeccable too. No wonder this local gem has been around since 1967. I'll be back for sure!

Excellent food, drinks and service.

Fantastic service, atmosphere and incredible food.

A nice dinner out, however the prices listed on Open Table are incorrect and much lower than the ones in the restaurant. One pasta was £29 which I thought was extremely expensive!

Insanely tasty local Italian spot, I heard about it many times but finally gave it a try and it’s officially becoming my go-to spot for pasta!

Celebré mi 70 cumpleaños en Il Pórtico el 29 de enero. ¡Qué buena elección! A pesar de ser nuestra primera visita, nos recibieron como viejos amigos. Estar en Il Pórtico se sentía especial incluso antes de que llegara la comida, pero una vez que empezamos a comer realmente entendimos por qué está tan bien revisado. Mi hígado de ternera era perfecto - derretirse en la boca perfección. Mis tres amigos son todos vegetarianos y todos pronunciaron sus elecciones para ser deliciosos. Nos impresionó especialmente que cuando nos preguntaron si había más opciones para los vegetarianos, nuestra camarera enumeró varias posibilidades, como si se le pidiera cosas que no estaban en el menú era 100% normal. El servicio en todo fue educado, a buen ritmo y buen humor. Il Pórtico no es barato, pero de vez en cuando todos merecemos chapotear. ¡Si estás pensando en hacerlo, elige este restaurante!

A really enjoyable meal in a relaxed, friendly setting.

We had lunch for two. The food was delicious, the restaurant was not noisy and the ambience relaxed. Perfect! We visited on a Monday and there were a number of tables busy and I'm not surprised

We had dinner at Il Portico Saturday January 25th. Group of 6, for a birthday. We received a warm welcome. The food was excellent. Very nice settings. Great service. Will go back next time I’m in London !

A truly fabulous evening. Reaching 70 is not so unusual but to be able to spend time with family in such a wonderful warm environment is super lucky. The food, the champagne, the service, everything was just fantastic. Thank you Antonio for a simply wonderful evening

A favourite restaurant which doesn't disappoint after years

¡Maravilloso hallazgo! Restaurante de barrio italiano realmente auténtico. La comida era excelente calamares y entrante de setas y las gambas eran tan buenas que pedimos más inmediatamente! En cuanto a la pasta y la alimentación, Cappellacci di ossobuco se cocinó a la perfección, también tuvimos el hígado de ternera y chuleta de ternera, ambos maravillosos. Fue una alegría ir a un restaurante donde todo el enfoque estaba en servir buena comida y el personal es entusiasta y conocedor.

I’ve been going to Il Portico for almost 10 years and it never disappoints. I usually have the pasta ragu but all the food is excellent and the service friendly and attentive - I love it!

Hadn’t been for years - a really welcome return Amazing food - had the squid and Burrata starters and then both had pasta They were ready with more veggy pasta options that weren’t on the menu and also suggested a great wine to accompany, which although on the menu as by the bottle we were only charged for what we drank. Great service - we will be back !

. Food and service was wonderful! Thanks for a great evening.

We ate at Il Portico last night and it was simply magnificent. Seriously wonderful home cooked but high end restaurant food served beautifully. The wine list compliments the high standard of the food and the desserts are equally irresistible. We’ll definitely be returning to this gem in Kensington high street.

Martes a la hora del almuerzo así que no me voy ocupado pero todavía con un zumbido. El personal era amable, encantador y eficiente, y la comida era excelente. Recomiendo especialmente la burrata; y el fegato burro e salvia; y los espaguetis alle vongole. El pastel de queso siciliano también era excelente - y la vela de cumpleaños fue una sorpresa muy dulce! ¡Gracias!

A family owned and run local Italian from the Emilia Romana part of Italy. A simple menu perfectly cooked and presented at a reasonable price. I will be very happy to dine here again. My pasta was superb and fresh sea bream to follow.

An excellent evening in a comfortable restaurant with very good food and first class service. Highly recommended.

Great local (for London) family run restaurant with regional Italian dishes. My food was faultless and there was a decent selection of wines by the glass Reasonable prices for central London I will return

Amazing everything. Friendly staff and excellent food and services. Warm, relaxing, with energetic vibe. Friendly and engaging owner who works the front of house and cares about your experience. Good time.

Amazing food, wine and atmosphere. Whenever in London we always go here.

We have been here many time and had consistently brilliant food and service

It was so nice to be back in our favourite Italian neighbourhood restaurant- everything is perfect. We love it!!!

As always, a delight. Delicious food and excellent friendly service.

Nos hicimos cargo del restaurante para un gran almuerzo de aniversario de boda. 36 personas de 13 a 88 años . Fue la comida más perfecta. La comida era sublime y el servicio no podría haber sido más amable o más eficiente. Esta no es nuestra primera visita y no será la última. Si, como yo, te gusta el hígado de ternera pero nunca lo cocinas, es sensacional. Gracias a James y su personal. ❤️❤️

Really good all round - food, service, cleanliness etc

Very small restaurant, very small amount of food for the price…some of the food was good, but some not so good….too expensive for the food you are served!

Llevo años yendo a este restaurante familiar y sigue mejorando aunque la comida, el servicio y la bienvenida han sido superlativos en todo momento

We have been a frequent diner here over the years and this was our go to when ever we visited London. Its so sad to see this wonderful restaurant has lost the plot - the service has disappeared, the quality of the food has suffered and the manager has allowed the whole dining experience to descend into a zoo like atmosphere with the barman yelling silly comments across the room in Italian about guests ( he should think that people can speak Italian before he says things I suggest ) the music has become crass and noise reaches maddening levels . What a pity

An outstanding restaurant with delicious food, some of it sourced directly from Kent, my absolute favourite Italian restaurant having visited it for over 20 years. Excellent wine list and great service, relaxing ambience. Highly recommended.

Pleasant Italian restaurant. Pasta and meats of high quality. Desserts less inspired. Service was attentive

Food and service were good. Somewhat expensive for lunch for one course each only. Unfortunately the experience was considerably marred by the restaurant unfortunately losing my woollen scarf left in its custody in its safe storage on arrival and not returned on departure and which apparently cannot now be found by it, after due enquiry.

Excellent food in a really nice, intimate setting. Great service.

A very nice restaurant, excellent food and service

A very nice restaurant, excellent food and service

Dios, tuvimos una comida maravillosa. El servicio, el ambiente y la comida eran excepcionales. Este es un restaurante fabuloso, establecido desde hace mucho tiempo, independiente y de gestión familiar. Se me había recomendado encarecidamente y no decepcionó. Sería ideal para cenar solo, reuniones familiares o de amigos o citas nocturnas. Espero con interés una visita de regreso.

Good but overpriced and they rushed us out at 9.45pm. Will not be returning. For a much better value for money Italian gem, go to Scalini on Walton Street, where they value you as a customer, for 20% less cost.

Very enjoyable evening with delicious food and vino

Really delicious food and friendly staff. Would definitely come back next time in London

delicious food, attentive service, intimate and quiet and great location

Food was really good, truly handmade. Staff is also very nice.

So-so. The last time we went, it was 5*. This time really average. Won't be hurrying back 😥

Anti inclusive environment anti lgbtq not a fake review has the owner would suggest they are anti trans and were rude to a member of our party

Another excellent visit. Highly recommended for good quality Italian in a family atmosphere.

What a lovely place! So welcoming and friendly, with the best food and cosy atmosphere. Cannot recommend enough!

A dependable London classic that has been going for decades

Vinimos para una ocasión familiar y no nos decepcionó la excelente comida italiana, el personal muy amable. Definitivamente volveremos

This was our visit to Il Portico. What a great find! It has everything. A great vibe, very busy on a Saturday night Staff were lovely, from being greeted to explaining the menu. A traditional family restaurant. Most importantly the food is excellent- minestrone, sardines, lamb shank and the special pasta. We would definitely love to come back. We had travelled ( long difficult journey due to weather) from Scotland for the weekend. This was a wee oasis and we really enjoyed it all.

Still and always the best Italian in Kensington. Great service, fresh home made pasta and meet from the farm. What else does one need?

Easily one of the great neighbourhood restaurants in London. Genuine, friendly, familiar, and consistently excellent. A real jewel.

Excellent authentic Italian. Wil definitely be back.

Beautiful meal and great atmosphere . Slightly small tables but felt cosy.

Estábamos antojando comida italiana auténtica casera durante nuestro viaje a Londres y esto era exactamente todo. Menú encantador basado en ingredientes de la granja familiar. Ambiente muy acogedor bueno para la familia, parejas, o incluso solo. Una de las mejores pastas de vongole que he probado. Servicio cálido y auténtico

We were traveling from Paris and was craving good old authentic Italian home cooking. This was exactly it. Felt like visiting a friend’s home. Very cozy and warm atmosphere with lovely staff. One of the best vongole I’ve ever had.

Excellent food and wonderful service. Our first visit and we will definitely be back.

One of the best meals we have had...anywhere! Brilliant atmosphere, equally brilliant staff.

Delicious food, friendly and attentive service. Thank you

Excellent traditional menu with food to match, impressively 2 different fish mains from the market. As ever a most enjoyable evening.

Lovely Italian restaurant with great ambience. My husband and I enjoyed the wonderful food, good wine and attentive service. We will definitely visit again next time we're in London. Highly recommended.

We enjoyed the food & atmosphere-it was wonderful!

I thoroughly enjoy every time I got to El Porto for dinner. The food is always on form, staff are great and I leave knowing I want to return! That’s a good positive feeling - never disappointing. Keep up the good work - it’s hard graft, but I get the feeling it’s a lot of repeat custom. Says a lot really.

Honestly the best pasta I have ever had in my life. Little bit pricey but the portion are very big

Delicious, homely food and friendly atmosphere. Took two friends for dinner and had a super evening.

Great visit great food fast service. All in all excellent.

Last night in London at a fabulous restaurant. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Recommendations were spot on and when our wine was not available upgraded to another wine that was wonderful.

Alors je recommande ce restaurant à 3000%.. tout était excellent.. nous y retournons dans 1 mois. Il faut réserver bien à l’avance pour être à l’intérieur !

Had lunch there yesterday before a concert. Lovely restaurant, welcoming and attentive staff. Food was delicious, my 2 friends who eat out a lot more than I do thought it was excellent.

Always reliable and delightful. it is a brilliant local restaurant. We always have the liver, which is the most delicious liver anywhere. I dreamt of it during lock-down and couldn't wait to get back to taste it again.

Il Portico is always an amazing experience with incredible food and wonderful staff. Hands down our favorite restaurant in Kensington. James and Antonio really know how to take care of their customers!

The staff so welcoming and helpful! The food exquisite. The ambience true Italian

One of the best Italian entries in London, ranked amongst the top five in my opinion. A menu which does not overwhelm with choice but where everything is freshly prepared. And there is something for everyone on the menu. The food is exquisitely prepared with reasonable portions allowing room for several courses. Service prompt and helpful and the restaurant pleasantly comfortable and busy - I have never been when it is not eventually full. A restaurant where you will wish to return time and time again.

Lovely local Italian. Consistenly good food and welcoming service.

Nice place, friendly and welcoming staff. With £160 we got two starters, two first courses (stew-cooked), two desserts, a bottle of wine and intestinal discomfort, for an evening that we will certainly remember. Especially for Italians, I strongly advise against this place.

A great atmosphere, the staff really do look after you and the food was great.

Sublime and really high quality, fine dining experience to savour. The London Michelin star/High awards choices are huge in London, so to stand out, there needs to be a signature of difference and this is one place that is a must to try. Really passionate and skilfully executed dishes of the highest quality ingredients and sharp on plate details ( we all first eat with our eyes don't we!). Great attentive but not over dominant service ( I found my sparkling water bottle constantly topped up and never spotted it being done throughout Dinner). Great wine list and superb value for money. Friendly with the right balance between formal and informality, all in a carefully understated but very stylish decor. LOVED IT

Our first visit to II Portico, and won’t be our last…Fab food, great wines and service to match. Thank you

The service was amazing, with friendly and informative staff. We started with the prawns and fell in love with the sauce. We really enjoyed our mains of tagliatelle, lamb shank, and the spinach ravioli. Highly recommend!

Went solo and was concerned they would frown a bit on that. They could not have not been nicer. Amazing atmosphere and service. Wouldn’t call myself a food critic but I enjoyed every bite immensely. If you are looking for a nice place out, this is it.

Good food , good service. Overall great experience.

Me dejé guiar por un par de comentarios y totalmente recomendable. Está de camarero Antonio que nos atendió genial, nos aconsejó y aún tuvo varios detalles con nosotros de los que estamos muy agradecidos. La comida buenísima, se nota que es un sitio que va también gente local y que calidad-precio está bastante bien para ser una zona buena de londres. Volvería sin duda

As always fabulous food and excellent service. compliments to the chef and all Il Portico crew!!!

Excellent restaurant and service. The Dover Sole and Calves Liver were delicious. Would thoroughly recommended this restaurant.

Very warm welcoming and delicious food. Definitely would be visiting again

It is always a pleasure to eat at Il Portico. Such a brilliant family restaurant. James always welcomes us. The calves' liver there is just the most delicious liver anywhere and zucchini to go with it is super.

Spectacular as always: delicious food, warm and welcoming service and terrific ambiance. If only all restaurants could be like this.

This was the second time in a week that we dined here. It was a fabulous experience the second time around. The food was excellent as before. The service was outstanding. The staff were all in good spirits, efficient and professional. We will return the next time we are in London. This is a keeper.

Lovely, neighbourhood, family-run place with fantastic service but sadly the food was not quite up to standard. The ingredients were good quality and we liked the ‘simplicity done well’ ethos. But that ethos requires the food to be exceptional and it wasn’t, and it turned out to be super expensive for what it was. Note: my dining partner said the calves liver is the best she’s ever eaten. Also, the little extras like the bread and olive oil were decent. But aside from that: the fish was overcooked and bland, the sautéed potatoes (which we were told were ‘very crispy’) were just oily boiled potatoes, and the desserts were poor. They tasted processed, not homemade, and felt seriously nuked in a microwave to come out that hot and that quickly. Flavours and seasoning were good but didn’t quite live up to potential. For almost £90 per head that we paid (with just one glass of wine each), the meal was way too expensive for the level of enjoyment of the food. Shame, as we really wanted to love this place and support the family business, and the staff were absolutely wonderful.

First of all, we were treated like Royalty! The food was incredible! If I stopped after my appetizer, it would have been a great meal, but the main course was off the scale! We came over from the States, and this place will be a “must” when we come back!

This is a very good restaurant. The food was excellent. The service over the top. One feels very welcome here. We'll be back.

Amazing food and service! Very sophisticated and yet casual setting! I highly recommend !