Portofino in Colchester

We ordered the mega carbonara, it was horrible, tasted sweet 🤮?! Desserts were slightly better. Wouldn't eat from there again. Delivery Driver was friendly and punctual.

Booked a table for this evening. Arrived five minutes early to find the restaurant in darkness and no sign of life and no notice on the door. Really angry. This is no way to run a business

Ordered over the phone to collect. Arrived at said time, the food wasn't quite ready, but the owner came out and gave me a drink apologising for the wait. Whilst I was waiting for the food it was explained to me about the menu and how a lot of it is made from scratch. The menu 'specials' board looked fantastic. The food itself again lovely, fresh, tasty. Will definitely be returning to eat in very soon!

Booked table for 7pm last Saturday of which they confirmed,got there and it was all in darkness on door closed Tried calling but no answer, about hour later I called again and someone picked up the phone. I told them we booked a table for 7pm, and their excuse was we were on a delivery as am the only one that can drive Not good enough will not recommend any one

I read the “ excellent “ reviews so took the bull by the horns and booked. Like the reviewers we went to the original Portofino but this visit bears no relation to those “excellent “ reviews. It would be interesting for those 6 reviewers to revisit and then comment. We were the only four diners there and when you’re sitting in an aircraft hanger it can be daunting. The menu was more fast//takeaway food with a smattering of restaurant dishes worth trying. The lad now running the place said it was trying to be all things to all people. From my perspective that route won’t work. Anyway we ordered, all were ordering pasta dishes, mine came out first, my wife’s turned up at least 10 minutes later our fellow diners were equally spaced out at 10 minute intervals. This meant that I had finished mine by the time the last arrived. We ordered a Rioja wine but he couldn’t find it !! The chalkboard looked like play school had written it ! The good news was that the food was overall good . Would my wife and I return, I really don’t think so

This restaurant is nothing to do with the previous incarnation of Portofino. We booked for 8pm on a Friday night and were shocked to see only one other table in the vast restaurant. We ordered the fricassee of mushrooms which was very nice. I ordered the rack of lamb medium which came out way past medium well, verging on well done. The lamb was served on what I can only assume was once spinach, which had subsequently turned into green slime. Spuds were nice though. My partner ordered the duck well done which came out pink. All in all an incredibly disappointing meal. I'll be amazed if this place makes it to the end of the year. Perhaps they should stop trying to live off past reputation and go down a different path.

Always having loved Portofino, on the Hythe, I was saddened when it seemed to go so drastically downhill. Then up pops Grand Central (the less said about that, the better!!) and now a return to the old name and original values. First time I have tried it since it reopened, and, although slightly dubious, I was thrilled at the food and the service. Smoked Salmon, Prawn and Avocado to start, with lots of fresh prawns, tasty salmon and more avocado than you can shake a guacamole tub at. The mains-the Penne all’s Norma with aubergine. Wonderfully cooked and nicely presented. Glad too to say the prices are very reasonable. Glad to have the original Portofino back, and I wish them every success. Try it-you won’t be disappointed!

We just got home from an exceptionally lovely evening at local Italian restaurant Portofino. We hadn’t been there before and weren’t sure what to expect as we knew nothing about it other than a few very favourable Trip Advisor reviews, as it has only been under the current management for a few months. It really exceeded our expectations with a fabulous menu. Everything was delicious and fresh (I highly recommend the scallops and the mussels!) and the service is really courteous and friendly, without being overbearing. The restaurant has good parking, so no hunting for spaces. Extremely reasonably priced, our meal with a nice bottle of wine was no more expensive than we would expect to pay at a chain restaurant, but the food was far better. Please give it a try and support another fabulous local business. You won’t be sorry!

Had been to the original Portofino years ago which was initially very good but went downhill after the original chefs left. This appears back to the original standard. We had the seafood risotto and the seafood spaghetti. Both were excellent; decent sized portions, lots of seafood, properly cooked etc. Very welcoming. Would recommend.

My wife and I used to go to this restaurant a few years ago before it closed and the site became an American Grill restaurant. When we noticed it was open again we were delighted as we had always had an excellent experience in the past. We booked a table straight away for a Saturday evening. We didn't book till late in the week thinking they would be full up as was often the case before, but when we phoned and were told "no problem" I did begin to wonder. Come the evening of our booking (7:30 pm) we entered the restaurant to see only 3 other tables occupied, which for a Saturday night we had never seen before! I have no problems with the food and service as these were both excellent but for the atmosphere and ambiance I am afraid it lacked it for me. Furthermore I did not like the new bench type seating in the centre section of the restaurant, to me this looks more like 60's American Diner style. Maybe its just me being old fashioned but I do prefer separate tables and chairs. Fortunately they do still have these on the perimeter of the restaurant which we had for that evening. Would I go again? Sorry, but no. For me, if I want an Italian restaurant in Colchester it would have to be "Il Padrino's"

had dinner there tonght, the food there was delicious, Italian fine dining. Simple menu but everything cooked to perfection. And very reasonably priced, I have paid twice as much for the same standard of food at other restaurants.

Although the restaurant was very quiet the food was delicious and I would highly recommend the food. We both had fillet steak - it was cooked to perfection, both medium rare, served with vine tomatoes and hand cut chips.

This restaurant is absolutely amazing it’s clean it’s good value and it’s just amazing. The food is out of this world I have been to the Almalfia cost in Italy and the food is exactly the same as it would be in Italy it’s just amazing! will definitely come back. I highly recommend it we live locally and have wondered about it for ages but so glad we came and definitely will be trying the take away too 10/10