Portofino's Italian Restaurant & Pizza

Went for the first time for a birthday dinner. So glad we got there early as there was a wait; but I can now see why. Amazing, Fresh bread, delicious pasta and tasty steak. The service was wonderful. We love the homey vibe... felt like family. We will be back.

This place was incredible! The food was delicious and huge servings, the bread alone will be reason enough to go back! Our waitress Angela was top tier! She was so personable, funny, and made the experience even better! And we can't forget about the bartender who made the most delicious drink! If you love Italian food and a great atmosphere this is somewhere you are going to love!

Best rolls I’ve had in a long time - they came to the table nice and hot, and were so good. The salad was fine - I really liked the tomato vinaigrette. It was delicious and something you can’t get everywhere. The chicken picatta was delicious. The entire meal was really good! Our server was very kind to my kids, quick with anything we needed, and very efficient. Highly recommend!!

In the area almost exactly a year, have taking in all the restaurants and this is my first review. Portofino’s-
Seated immediately, great atmosphere.
Free/fresh garlic bread, honestly I could have eaten just that and brought 4 more home!
Fresh, hot, still steaming to our table food!
Chicken and Shrimp Milanese-with so much to bring home easily one more meal.
Kids baked zeti with meatballs, easily 2 portions for a younger kid, maybe another half portion came home for my 7 year old.
Cannoli-AMAZING.
Finally 2 fountain drinks. All for only $40.02
Everything was excellent! Some of the best food we have had! ”The world’s best cannoli and meatballs” from a 7 year old little girl.
Personal observations and highlights for me if you made it this far! (I have many family members in the restaurant business even owning high end restaurants in Denver).
Although they were assigned specific tables, I have never been to a restaurant where every server acknowledges every table and adresses a need as they walk by. Servers seating new guest, filling drinks of other tables, clearing other tables, the list goes on and on! All working together, I did not see many tasks being completed alone. I didn’t not get a drink from the bar but I noticed the bar tender did not just fill the order and let it sit for the server. He personally took the drinks to the table if he noticed the server was busy(also I assume there may have been servers under 21 honestly). The service I witnessed tonight really showed a family, locally owned business with great leadership. Clearly employees who are well cared for and love their job. Loved that it was packed but I did not hear the table to either side of me very much. My daughter and I had a conversation and played a game while waiting for food just fine. Enjoyed that there were babies to elderly all seated in the same area around the restaurant. Let’s be honest most places seat all the families together away from couples, ect. This did not appear to be the case here. Big groups to a single person all treated with the same excellent service. Definitely family friendly or a place for a nice date night!
We will be back A LOT! Pizza is next! That was the plan for tonight but that quickly changed when we looked at the menu. Looking forward to the many years this family restaurant will be feeding my family and many others! A true dining experience!

Not the biggest restaurant or the fanciest, but the food is wonderful! I don't dine out based on what the restaurant looks like, I go for the food. We have been to Portofino's many times and have tried many different dishes. (And we've done take out. Hot and delicious!) We've been with large groups of people on several occasions and ALWAYS everyone commented on how good their food was. I've loved everything I've had from there, from lasagna to pizza to their Rib Eye Marsala! Best steak I've ever had - and steak is one of my favorite foods. Chocolate cake has to be my favorite food. Portofino's chocolate cake is heaven! And did I mention the bread? I grew up in the south near a tiny town that was almost entirely Italian. They had two restaurants that people would travel for miles and miles to dine at - long lines out the doors. The rolls at one was the reason people went there. They were delicious. But I tell you what, Portofino's rolls are far better! I've even had them with my leftovers right out of the fridge and they're still delicious! Oh, and we have NEVER had even a so-so waiter. Even the girl we got on her first night there was amazing! Please support this business! I want to keep them here in Ankeny! One last comment, we often took my 90 year old mother-in-law who used a walker. The staff was always VERY accommodating for her and patient with her slow movements. So kind to her!

This place is always busy and there is a great reason for it. The food selection is good and the quality is great! I have never had anything here I would not eat again (and too much of).

It's a quaint little restaurant and seating is somewhat limited, parking is always tight. But it's worth the wait if you have too. If you go on the weekend you will need to be early or plan on a wait.

The service is very friendly and they do a good job making sure you are satisfied.

If you want a high quality meal and want to dress up or keep it casual this is a contender.

Went out with my daughter for my birthday dinner. Our first time trying Portifanio's and we wished we would have tried it sooner. We sat at the bar, the Bartender Cassie was so friendly and went above and beyond with her service. The food was amazing, large portions and very affordable. Of course I went with the lasagna. Can't wait to go back and they something else on the menu!!

Portofinos was a great place for our 2nd anniversary dinner. Surprisingly affordable for the quality offered, and had an enormous selection of pastas and appetizers. We got unlucky with a tainted bottle of wine and they swapped it out no problem. Was very busy! Definitely try it out!

The food is amazing. There isn't a dish here I've tried that I haven't loved. One I always find myself going back to is the lobster ravioli. The service is always great, and the owner is always so nice and caring. All the pasta dishes come with a soup or salad, the made from scratch soups are a great way to start the meal off in the colder months.

First time there, went for my Birthday what a treat. I had the best Shrimp Scampi I ever had with big plump shrimp and an awesome sauce with linguine. Salad was also great with some very good homemade bread. My wife had a ziti dish and salad which she enjoyed. Great service from our server Cassie M. Large portion at a very reasonable price. I have to come back and try their Made to order scratch pizza that looked very good. If you like Italian you must try this place. Ron and Judy K.

Update... We decided to give them another try and we are glad we did. My wife ordered the Lobster Ravioli and she is ready to come back and get it again. It was very flavorful with large chunks of Lobster. I once again ordered the Pasta Combo and it was fantastic!
I can now report the Mozzerella Sticks were good but will pass on them next time.
Also, before you leave you must order a piece of Lemoncello Marscapone Cake! ABSOLUTE MUST!

Food was fantastic! A different pace from other Italian restaurants nearby.
The bread was fresh, hot and deliciously plentiful. I ordered the Pasta Combo and my wife had the Fetrucini Carbonara. The pasta was a very good consistency and my wife really liked the flavor of her pasta. Each dinner comes with a soup or salad and the salad was nice an crisp and a good portion.
I would like to tell you how the Mozzerela Sticks were, but even though we ordered them we never got them.
I would have given them more stars but the service was lacking. We waited quite a while to get drink orders in and Mozzerela Stick debacle. Also, the gentleman who delivered our food asked us if we want parmesan cheese on our entrees and when we responded yes he left and delivered food to another table and gave them cheese but left us out to dry.
Will try this place again, hopefully they will get service under control.

Our favorite local restaurant for Italian food. I have enjoyed every item I have tried. This is the polo caprino with added shrimp.

The food was amazing. Mahi Mahi tasted fresh and delicious with the homemade cream sauce made the taste buds jump. The soup of the day was a roasted red pepper (if I remember correctly). Creamy with a great flavor. Dessert was Italian creme cake, had to take it home. Big portions for a great price and excellent food. Keep up the great work.

What an amazing unexpected experience.
As a food service manager I'm very picky, but open minded. My experience tonight was way beyond my expectations.
From the hostess, bartender, server, and owner I was welcomed and highly impressed by all.
The garlic knots were sooo good. My chicken piccata was perfectly cooked, hot and the flavor was amazing,as was my dates chicken Marsala . The drinks were made perfectly and the atmosphere was warm, relaxing, and omg clean !! ( The bathroom was spotless)
As a person in this business I always have to snoop at the kitchen...It was very busy but everything was organized, and super, super clean . Highly impressed......I'll definitely be back many times .

This is our favorite place to eat in the metro, hands down. We are greeted as we walk in like we have been lifelong friends. Our regular waiter Eden, is always attentive and has a great memory for our special requests. When we came to celebrate my wife's birthday, the owner sent out a wine for her. If I could give 10 stars, I would. I feel like family here and we get fed some incredible Italian food!

Our first visit and it was was great. Our dinner was great. You get a great value for the price. Our server was very friendly and good. I would highly recommend Portofino's. Enjoy!

Such a beautiful restaurant and staff is always so friendly. We mostly take out with having young children and our food is always piping hot when we get home!

First time trying this place. I ordered food to go, sampler platter, chocolate cake. The amount of food was very generous. The chocolate cake was amazing 👏 We will be trying Portofino's again without a doubt!!

Allison was awesome and very courteous and helpful. Our waiter provided great service. Desserts were delicious. Definitely a great birthday family dinner.

This place was amazing. Small but great food, and the portions for that price were great! We will make this one of our regulars for sure!!!