Portofino Brasserie Italienne in Québec City

54 Rue Couillard, Québec, QC G1R 3T3, Canada

★★★★☆
(2588 reviews)
Categories: Italian restaurant

About

Situé au coeur du Vieux Québec dans une maison historique construite en 1760 le restaurant Portofino bistro italiano vous accueille dans une chaleureuse ambiance de fête. Chanteur sur place du jeudi au samedi dès 20h. Une cuisine italienne savoureuse, ainsi qu’une carte des vins bien fournie constamment mis à jour. Il y en a pour tous les goûts et pour tout les budgets. Laissez-vos bouteilles à la maison et venez découvrir nos importation privé! Pour passer d’agréables moments pour un repas en tête à tête, une réunion d’affaire ou pour souligner un événement en groupe. De plus, nous sommes fiers de vous accueillir dans un tout nouveau décor!

Website
portofino.ca
Address
54 Rue Couillard, Québec, QC G1R 3T3, Canada
Plus Code
RQ7R+W7 Québec City, Quebec, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
11 AM–10 PM
Monday
11 AM–10 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
11 AM–11 PM
Friday
11 AM–11 PM
Saturday
11 AM–11 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Late-night food Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
High chairs Kids' menu
Parking
Paid parking lot Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.4
★★★★☆
2588 reviews

Most Mentioned

food presentation (169) succulent (20) spouse (14) musicians (9) chansonnier (7) burrata pizza (7) elle (7) duck confit (6) salmon tartare (6) onion soup (6)
5 stars
1687
4 stars
506
3 stars
180
2 stars
97
1 stars
118
★★★★★
December 16, 2024

Delicious! Everyone in our group enjoyed everything. The service was great, friendly, and attentive without being interruptive. If you're in the mood for Italian this is the place to go.

December 16, 2024

The place looks nice but portions are very small and tasteless or very dry. Service is okay, not attentive and we went when there were only two tables occupied in the restaurant. I ordered lasagna and it was very dry, the pasta did not taste great even with a lot of Parmesan cheese on top. The only nice thing about this place are the Christmas decorations.

★★★★★
November 11, 2024

Overall, the food was incredible, for the most part the service was great, and the food came so fast, we could not believe that we were in and out within an hour, having gotten an appetizer, main courses, and a dessert. The atmosphere and service I gave 4 stars because the restaurant was unbelievably crowded/packed in. We were placed at a table where twice we were asked to move/watch our heads so servers could get bottles of wine out of the cabinet that was beside us. We were also right outside the kitchen entrance and twice when I was moving to put my bag and coat on my chair I bumped, and was bumped by servers bringing food and dishes in and out of the kitchen. I was nervous too move too much as I didn’t want to knock anything out of the hands of servers. It was also just so loud. We went thinking it was more of a finer dining experience based on reviews/photos, which I would not classify the ambience of the restaurant as. The hostess who greeted us as the front was beyond lovely. I have very rough French speaking abilities and she very quickly switched to speaking English but thanked me for my attempt at French. We were then met by a man who we originally thought was our server, he gave us the impression that it was a nuisance to be dealing with us. He brought us water, asked how we were and as we tried to respond he walked away and we did not see him again. That being said, our server was so kind and quick and asked us where we were from, if we’ve liked Quebec, and wished us the best for the rest of our honeymoon. She was absolutely wonderful. The food was amazing. We got the garlic bread with cheese as a starer and it came within 5 minutes, and was so hot and fresh. For our mains my husband got the house lasagne and I got the fettuccine with pesto and they were both incredible. Some of the best pasta we have ever had. For dessert we got the creme brûlée which was also just amazing. It came with some strawberries and a berry sauce on the side which complimented the dish perfectly. I would still rate the experience a 5/5, as ultimately the volume and crowded atmosphere of the restaurant did not take away from our enjoyment at all, but could have made it a more relaxed dinner had it of been a little less loud and crammed. There was also love music which was absolutely amazing. My husband got a beer and I had the espresso martini which was fantastic and for having 1 bartender, the drinks came quick quickly. We would 100% come back if we are back in Quebec City.

★★★★★
November 6, 2024

Great Italian food ! Recommend the Tiramisu cake.. came out as surprisingly bigger for one person. Worth it 👌🏻 . Overall, a bit pricey for one person but it's fun to experience different places when visiting Quebec City.

★★★★★
October 10, 2024

Best Tiramisu I have ever had!!!! 🤍 Great place, vibe is so cool, live music 🎵 👌🏻 Hosts were very amicable. Both outdoor and indoor seating available, since it’s cold, we sat at the bar and fun watching cocktail making..

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

We had just arrived in Quebec City for a quick 2-day visit & were craving Italian food. A visit to this restaurant took care of that craving. We dined on a delicious garlicky Spaghetti Vongole and an excellent Seafood Spaghetti! The portions were pretty large but too yummy to leave any behind. Tables were small though and packed quite close to one another.

★★★★★
September 16, 2024

Had a great dinner here. If over a weekend, strongly advise making reservations. Atmosphere was nice, albeit a little noisy as there was a large party of 14 near us. Service was excellent and the pastas and pizzas were delicious. Would highly recommend.

★★★★
August 2, 2024

Very good food. Lots of flavor. Service was good and it was fun watching the bartender, as she was amazing!! Drinks were good too!!

December 20, 2024

We arrived at 7:50 p.m. and left at 8:22 p.m. We had a waitress who didnt know the menu and seemed uncomfortable at all. We received our starters in 2 minutes and we barely had time to take a bite before our dishes arrived, it was faster than at McDonalds. These were dishes that were most likely reheated and had no taste (fettuccini with mushrooms). The bread was dry and not good. The dishes were bathed in oil which was very disappointing. The atmosphere was okay but nothing more, the music was much too loud. Barely after removing the dishes from the table (for the only time during the meal) the waitress brings us the dessert menu without even having offered it to us and without saying a word to us. The people next to us had been there for a very long time and hadnt had their meal and we got it in 2 minutes. We felt extremely rushed by all the staff, it was an experience worthy of a fast food restaurant, but paying much higher and exaggerated prices. I dont recommend you at all.

★★★★★
December 19, 2024

Th food & service was excellent!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 18, 2024

The mushroom pasta was so good and it was very cute inside.

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Extraordinary restaurants

★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Everything was top notch except cocktails, unfortunately their bartender is not the best. Stay away from cocktails and just get a bottle of wine instead. Besides that, delicious food and great service!

December 15, 2024

We went to this place for dinner tonight. The servers were rude and basically screamed at a kind lady who was holding open the door for us to bring our stroller in. We were left standing at the doorway very awkwardly for quite some time wondering what to do and feeling unwelcome. After quite a long time, the lady said we needed a reservation, which is okay. We left feeling very confused about their behaviour and went to a more welcoming place for dinner. It is okay that we need a reservation, that is reasonable. The servers rude behaviour was unwarranted.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Always excellent

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

5-star service, succulent meal, every time we come to Quebec its a must.

★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Its a shame. The pizza didn t take me to Italy, it was ordinary . I tasted my sons spaghetti and there was so much no taste that...despite a large quantity of parmesan it still didnt work: fortunately he didnt complain about it.. My gnocchi . Lets not talk about it. Im really disappointed. Fortunately the waitress was smiling.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Motivated and friendly staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Marvelous food & service!

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Excellent Italian cuisine, fresh and tasty! The service was incredible. We will definitely come back!

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

Incredible service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

Food was amazing! Service was consistent! Really cool small restaurant atmosphere.

★★★
November 22, 2024

Last meal in Quebec. I went there after seeing Google reviews saying it was delicious. Arancini Tomato Spaghetti Vongole Lemonade Cola Sikkim Arancini Plain Tomato Plain Plain Vongole has a lot of garlic flavor. There are clams the size of your little fingernail, but it has a fishy taste that you have to rinse your mouth with. The employees talked to each other until their ears started to bleed. Even though it was daytime, the servers chatted and played among themselves and even sang along. The food wasnt too bad, but since its a tourist destination, its expensive. The price is more than enough to eat vongole with plump clams made from fresh noodles in Cheongdam-dong.

★★★★
November 22, 2024

Beautiful festive atmosphere for a Saturday evening, it is better to book to avoid waiting! Fast service :) On the other hand, we would have liked the waitress to know her alcohol/wine directories, to be able to advise us better! Beautiful evening, I recommend!

Local Guide
November 22, 2024

So me and the family (5 of us) just came to visit Quebec City and didnt have lunch yet and it was already 3pm on a Sunday so we decided to try this place since it looked appealing and wasnt much people yet. So we ordered 2 pizzas, 2 pastas, a steak, and an onion soup. It took them 20 minutes just for an onion soup, and then another 50 minutes for the main meals after that. When we told them it was taking too long, the rude manager came up to us and scolded us. When food finally arrived, the pastas were cold, and my wife had some kind of black broken off piece of hard plastic in her food. May I remind you there were only 3 other tables in the restaurant so none of it made sense. Idk if its a racial thing or something cuz after we finished, the tables after us got their food so quickly. We will never be coming back here ever again. One of the worst dining experiences Ive had in all my life. Wouldnt recommend this to anyone.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

What a fantastic place to enjoy a perfect meal. Every aspect exceeded our expectations. Cannot wait to return! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Great Italian restaurants. Excellent food. The staff is attentive. Prices are reasonable....for a tourist place. RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED. Difficult to get a place without reservation.

November 22, 2024

The worst experience I had a pizza which seems to be a frozen pizza buy VERY STUPID servers who only do sacred (and I was accompanied by my 3 year old daughter) no music no atmosphere and that which insulted me the most is that they give water to my partner and I and we do not consider it important to give it to my daughter... As far as I know she is a human being she must have a glass of water! I am so insulted by this place and for the price it really wasnt quality at all.

November 22, 2024

The worst restaurant Ive tried in Quebec, bad service, ATM machine that doesnt work so I had to withdraw money to pay cash and the worst pizza Ive eaten in my life, even a pizza frozen is better.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The extraordinary pizza I tasted in Italy with its tomato sauces! What can we say about the service of the young and talented MATILDE. She immediately told us that she was at her first experiences, providing us with impeccable service and above all with a smile! Me and my sister recommend this magnificent restaurant!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Very, very delicious!! I highly recommend!! // Super delicious!! Highly recommend!!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Sarah Mae was awesome!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

We loved this restaurant so much that we went for dinner for both of our nights in Quebec. Our server (Sarah) was so great and all of our food was delicious. 10/10 recommend!

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Nice restaurant that takes us on a journey to Italy. Beautiful atmosphere and professional staff. Without a reservation, we were able to get a table on a Saturday evening. Special note also for the group who played live that evening (Nov 16, 2024).

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

We ate at this restaurant several years ago while travelling through Quebec City with an Italian friend of mine. We really enjoyed the meal and returned last weekend while on another cycling trip. Completely happy with the entire experience. While we would always prefer lower prices, the experience was worth the price. We made reservations in advance and were seated immediately. We shared the beef carpacio appetizer since my sons had never tried it and it was a bit unusual to see. It was excellent and made for a special treat. The pasta was fresh, the sauces were very flavorful, and the service was excellent. And they had live musicians playing in the corner which added to the ambiance. The Formula 1 paraphernalia spread throughout the restaurant was also very cool. Will hopefully be back the next time we are in Quebec City.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

12 out of 10 Exceptional service by Etienne! Hot, tasty food Affordable wine As recommended influencers X 1000

★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Super good service! Extra fast service, too much, 48 minutes total, beer not even finished and we had to pay. 6:02 p.m., arrival and 6:48 p.m. we got up to pay. Table too tight, made me hang on each service pass! Lasagna reheated in the microwave for sure, far from a real Italian lasagna. Tasteless plate, and no salt/pepper on the tables. On the other hand, unique character for the atmosphere and the place in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

We called for reservations around lunch for dinner. They squeezed us in. The place was packed but the service was still fast. We shared a bruschetta, had the veal parmigiana and gnocchi. All was freshly made and quick getting to the table. Highly recommend Dietary restrictions: I have a nut allergy. They accommodated for the appetizers and mains. However they could not accommodate for desert.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great exceptional meal service

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great authentic Italian restaurant in the old city. 4 stars for the atmosphere because the seating too tight. Other than that service was friendly and quick. Good drinks and excellent food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Nice

October 22, 2024

Its a tourist trap...

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Food was fantastic . Priced well and the staff was great Vegetarian options: All good Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

These are still just as good. and the service is exceptional. Super nice professional team

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

This is my new favorite restaurant. The service was amazing. I am now basing this service on my future tips.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Amazing service all around. Everything was delicious. All the staff were polite, attentive and very efficient. Will definitely be back. Food : 5/5 |

★★
October 22, 2024

Very disappointed because the food didn t taste good at all. We had a marguerita pizza which was awful and the mushroom ball entree with the minestrone. Minestrone was ok but way below any Italian standard (even in North America and that says a lot). The mushroom balls were bad, just deep fried with not a lot of taste. Our daughter had pasta fettuccine and she was satisfied. It s not that difficult to make good tasting food, I don t understand how businesses charge the maximum amount of $ ($28 for a margarita) and they re not able to make it taste good. It was just full of cheese (way too much, and cheap cheese) and the dough was tough. I could have eaten a pizza at a nearby Domino and it would have been better. Step up the game if you charge the big bucks! Be proud of your work and the quality of it, not just a tourist trap. But I guess that s true for a lot of Quebec City restaurants nowadays. As a business, I d be ashamed to sell this quality of food for this much money.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

One of the best Italian restaurants Ive ever had the chance to eat at in my life! From starter to dessert, everything was absolutely delicious. The dishes are tasty, well presented, and you really feel the passion for authentic Italian cuisine. The service is impeccable, with a welcoming and attentive team. If you are looking for a true Italian culinary experience, this restaurant is a must!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Outstanding The food, ambiance and service are magnificent

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Beautiful meal on Thursday night,nice duo playing smooth jazz,I had the filet mignon,the Mrs had the tartare,our waitress,a tall blonde called Julie i beleive gave an excellent service,will be back for sure .

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Very good atmosphere. There were 9 of us, everyone was very satisfied with the food and the excellent service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Try Italian pizza in Quebec, Canada

★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

We ate very well, very good food. The staff is pleasant

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Tonight we celebrated our wedding anniversary and the staff could not have been nicer. The service, food and kindness were outstanding! I highly recommend this restaurant when you visit Old Quebec! Thank you for making our night so special.

★★
October 22, 2024

We ordered two dishes and they were both wrong. The food was delicious, but halfway through we realized we had the wrong dish. They asked me to pay the price of the food they served. Much more expensive than what we ordered

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great restaurant, from the service to the quality of the dishes, everything was perfect

★★★
October 22, 2024

Unfortunately several dishes were cold. The music and the guitarist were much too loud, very difficult to talk to each other. Not to mention some sort of alarm that was constantly ringing. Avoid if you are looking for a peaceful place.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Incredible service team Portofino ! Ended our last night in Quebec perfectly! Loved your atmosphere , service and of course your food . See you again soon:)

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Vegetarian options: Fazzoletti filled with goat cheese was incredible! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great place for a romantic dinner

October 22, 2024

Found it too crowded and loud for my preference.

★★★
October 22, 2024

The waitress/staff were amazing - very attentive and friendly. The margherita pizza was really good, the bolognese was not great. The restaurant was extremely loud. We could not hear each other or the waitress. Food

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

They have an amazing risotto and the seafood pasta is full of flavor. The tiramisu is on the creamier side and was the perfect way to end our dinner.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

I had a great time with my grandmother. Kid-friendliness: Yes

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

The clams in the spaghetti were super shriveled Pizza is also very ordinary The main thing here is to eat the atmosphere. The food part is really good

★★
September 22, 2024

Decent food, the pizzas are good, but I ask for a pasta dish without specifying that I want the small version (no one asks me) I am served the large version of course... I dont finish not too disgusting. I stayed with this heaviness in my stomach all day...

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

A wonderfully functioning family business. Very nice staff, keeping an eye on the future food. I recommend pasta, pizza and sangria. Great place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Amazing experience and food

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Incredible pizza!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Fresh, authentic and delicious taste of Italian food. Staff and owner are welcoming, attentive and accomodating. Fries is not the best but the rest of the food was exquisite (including basil being fresh, fresh tomatoes for the sauce, cream sauce being rich, brick oven baked pizza). Atmosphere is relaxed, clean, and elevated.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! Celebrated my anniversary here.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

I ate spaghetti carbonara, it was great. The people serving me were very friendly and kind. Music was also good.it was rainyand they let me stay till it stopped. Thank you guys

★★★
September 22, 2024

Went for the 2nd time yesterday for dinner. The tables were so close that we had no room to move. The cold waiter, not concerned about his customers, stupid. We felt like we were disturbing him. We pointed it out to him and he didnt see at all what we were talking about. Its not his place as a waiter because he doesnt have the required skills. Its a shame because Ill think about it again before going back. Expensive for very ordinary food. There are other restaurants much better.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

We dont go out that often for a meal so decided to try something different. Excellent food and service could not ask for better. I had sea food linguine Excellent. Spouse had lasagna everything was excellent!!!! Fernando our server was awesome thanks for a great meal!!!!

Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Apart from the Filet mignon carpaccio that was excellent the rest was just awful. An Italian restaurant that serves a WATERY spaghetti Bolognese I took the extra meatballs... that was actually ONE COLD MEATBALL! For some reason the salmon tartar seem to have come out of the freezer. On top of this the service was just awful, it was disconcerting to realize that we actually waited in line outside for half an hour despite our reservation for was is probably one of the most overrated restaurant in Quebec city!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

A great place for authentic Italian cuisine, the service was very accommodating and the food came quickly. Would recommend it 100%! Vegetarian options: There is a good selection of pizza and pasta

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

We had two tables pushed together that were not the same height. The wine arrives and yes, a little damage. A bit tight like a restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great location, good good and great service. Good value for money. Vegetarian options: Decent food options for vegetarians. Kid-friendliness: Kid can enjoy a good meal here.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Cosy place , good food and good service !!

September 22, 2024

Several racist comments, disgusting food, a Quebecois who imitates the Italians and very questionable service, then strangely he asks for a huge tip. Avoid this restaurant the food was so bad I smelled burnt in my pizza.

September 22, 2024

Worst experience of my life, already the service was not incredible plus there was one of the workers who was very arrogant and forced us to pay a $30 tip by lying to say that tipping is obligatory when the service doesnt even deserve $2 and this same server was racist towards one of our friends but we still gave $5 because that was all we had and at the end he added a very inappropriate comment saying McDonalds is right next door next time, I dont know who he thinks he is when its just an old man who imitates the Italian accent and who stands looking at us instead of retiring. Even the food was very disappointing, quantity very poor. I strongly advise against

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Ignore the bad reviews Portofino remains a favorite in Vieux Quebec for a reason. The food is excellent, service impeccable, and location perfect. It s a fun, bright atmosphere and never disappoints.

Local Guide
September 22, 2024

I went to pick up food for my grandma and I and upon paying I had an interaction with someone that has medium to long black hair. I kindly asked to pick up my to go order and as I was paying the male taking my payment asked would you like to give a tip. I said no, because I typically don t tip when I order take out unless the interaction is good. The male host/server insisted that I tip. Despite not tipping as soon as I left the establishment I felt guilty because of that host/server. Ultimately it s my money and I typically tip when it s a sit down dinner. As soon as I arrived to my grandma s place ready to eat, I opened the take out container to notice that this restaurant got my order wrong. Although I was upset that my order was incorrect I instantly stopped feeling bad about not tipping. My grandma also said the food was poorly made. The only reason I could think of for when people solicit for tip is if they are not paid a good wage. I will never spend my money at this establishment and I do not recommend a place that s overpriced.

★★
September 22, 2024

On September 10, 2024, me and my partner went to dinner at the Florentino restaurant for the 20th time. Still very satisfied with the meal and also excellent service. Warm atmosphere. When I come back to Quebec my favorite restaurant is this one. For a pleasant evening I recommend it without hesitation, the staff will charm you. Thank you for this beautiful evening from Joanne and Pierre

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Excellent breakfast, very good and varied antipasto, I asked for cacio and pepe pasta which apparently had an exaggerated amount of pepper and they were very kind to offer to change them, the 2nd dish was correct

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Lovely food and nice cozy atmosphere. Everything from the bread, to the mains pasta, was spot on. All was served with a smile from Maxime. I would recommend to all those visiting this vibrant city

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Nice staff, attentive without being overbearing, new foods that were. prepared wonderfully, truly excellent food

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Excellent food The grl who served us forgot her name Bt she helped us in selecting items perfectly As we want .. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

The staff is super welcoming, very beautiful restaurant.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

very good food, a1 service and what can I say about the owner wow who comes to give us shooters what a good person I will go back without a doubt thank you

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Excellent service from Patricia! Great advice, thank you so much. My seafood pasta was exceptional.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

We, a party of 2, waited about 15 min for a table on a Saturday night The restaurant was filled with locals - and large groups of them - as well as tourists. We accepted a seat at the bar where the bartender made us some great Margaritas. We enjoyed them so much we had another round enjoying the fabulous musical duo. We had rice balls and bruschetta for appetizers. Followed with a plate of Carbonara and veal parmigiana. The food was amazing. The owner was making sure his guests were well cared for and his staff was just as attentive and considerate. This place is a gem.

Local Guide
September 22, 2024

An average bruschetta. The pasta is not good. This is not an Italian restaurant.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Good for the first time

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

The pasta here is amazing, the service is awesome, and the waiter is super handsome and nice.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Delicious meal.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Right in the heart of old Quebec. Italian food with Quebec hospitality.

★★★
August 22, 2024

Menu with choice. Basic dishes. Terribly long wait (2 hours).

August 22, 2024

Pizza was too cooked

★★★
August 22, 2024

Food quality was mediocre at best.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I had the spaghetti meat balls, it was delicious. The staff were very pleasant.

August 22, 2024

Don t read any other reviews. Just left after a thoroughly disappointing dinner with my family. Food quality was the worst Italian food I ve had. The chicken parm was about 1/8 of an inch thick. The tomato sauce was from a can, and we all feel sick after our meals, not to mention its premium pricing. Were Italian and travel lots and love dinners, and Italian cuisine. I was attracted from the reviews and the line up out front. If you like good food, stay away. The service was short tempered until we tipped at the end. I feel like I got ripped off for $250 for 4. Please avoid. Go anywhere else

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

We went to Portofino in the evening for dinner. The owner/manager was very courteous and quickly arranged a table for us on the outside patio. However, due to the windy weather and a thunderstorm warning, he promptly moved us inside and gave us a good table. Despite not having a reservation, the staff and the owner were very kind. About the food: I have never had such amazing pesto pasta! We also ordered arrabbiata pasta, which was good. The fries were on point, and although the pizza was a bit soggy, it tasted good. Must try their pastas they re great!

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

As the first experience at your restaurant, a word Excellent, I eat a lot in Italian restaurants across Canada and even in Italy And Europe, you are in my top 3 of the best Italian restaurants I have eaten. Really good I recommend everyone to try it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

A spectacular surprise, the food is simply delicious, spectacular, a slightly low point is the disposition of the waiters, something that simply a little more empathy would improve the details, however, everything is very delicious, recommended to visit.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Its incredible! I had expectations and I am fulfilled! The personal is fast, it runs like clockwork and it s excellent! Wow! THANKS!

★★★★
August 22, 2024

Very good food and the price is reasonable. Unfortunately, the 3 times I ate there the service was poor. Far too many different servers making the wrong choice between our plates when they arrive at our table, forgetting utensils etc

★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I came to Quebec City with my family for our first visit, decided on an Italian meal a week before, and made reservations for 7:00 pm on a Wednesday at Portofino. After being seated and ordering, our appetizers came relatively quickly. However, as other tables left and the restaurant became less busy, we were surprised our main courses were taking so long. A table busser even came by, REMOVED OUR CUTLERY, and placed dessert menus on our table as it looked like we were finished our meal and just waiting. We informed her that our meal had not arrived yet, and she said, The server asked me to come by and drop these off, and went to replace (most of) our cutlery. Really? The server asked you to remove our cutlery? Our meal finally came, but my wife did not have a fork (that was taken away), and she made eye contact with a blond server, who made eye contact back at her, then turned and walked away. My son felt bad, stood up, and went to another table to get a fork as no one came by for 3-4 minutes to check in on how the meal was. I started eating my lasagna, and the sauce was room temperature, but I didnt think much until I made my second cut into the middle of the lasagna, and it was literally COLD. I asked my wife if I was imagining my food was cold, and she stuck her finger in the middle of my lasagna and was taken aback. Everyone stopped eating and we all tried to get the attention of bussers and servers, and after a few minutes, finally got the attention of a busser (the one who took our cutlery away) to please get our server. After explaining our complaint, our server felt the underside of my plate and said, I feel it is COLD under the plate, Im so sorry. He offered another serving, but I was a little turned off at reheated lasagna so I decided to just replace my lasagna with something easy, like the spaghetti with bolognese sauce my son had ordered, and the waiter said, I will make this my FIRST PRIORITY! The waiter brought by 2 complimentary pieces of bruschetta so I could eat with my family (see pic 1). However, to our surprise, the amount of time to get what we thought was a relatively easy order took over 10 minutes. When I was finally served, the spaghetti was VERY HOT, and I was focused on eating my meal to try to catch up to the rest of the table. As I was half finished, I looked at my sons plate and asked if he was done. He said, Yes, but had left some of his sauce. I tried some, as it looked different, and it tasted totally different, YET I ORDERED THE SAME MEAL as him??? We called the server over yet again, and he came up with this explanation: Because we rushed the meal, the sauce didnt have time to reduce. Would a restaurant not have a large pot of bolognese sauce ready for the evening? The 2 sauces were obviously different, as mine was watery and not as flavourful as my sons dish (bottom pic 2). The server asked if we would like a complimentary dessert, but we had all had enough of this experience and asked for the bill. We were a little surprised as we looked the items over, and we were not comped the lasagna/spaghetti with different bolognese sauce. We asked the server and explained that it shouldnt be his fault to receive a 0% tip if the meal was not taken off the bill, to which he said, You were very polite, did not yell, and were very reasonable and taking the lasagna/spaghetti off would not be a problem. I am not sure why we had to ask for the meal to be taken off the bill. The mere fact that a cold lasagna came out would warrant a comp, but to have a spaghetti with different bolognese sauce come out? The other 3 meals were enjoyed (hence the 2 stars), but I am not sure we will return again. Follow up 9 days later, I received the email to further on the discussion, but no reply after that. Maybe that is Portofinos way of making people reading these reviews look as if they are making an effort to address these problems? I will change my review to 1 star if I dont hear a reply in another week.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Very welcoming and receptive place. In addition to the menu being very diverse, emphasizing Italian food, in my case, as I am Brazilian, there was a very friendly Northeastern Waitress from Recife. I loved the experience. Thanks

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

What service Excellent foods Special atmosphere To try

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

We had an extraordinary experience at this restaurant. When we arrived, our table more or less suited us. Being a little reserved, we didnt dare mention it too much, but the waitress made us feel 100% comfortable with our request. We finally had a very nice table on the terrace and what can we say about our server So nice, polite, professional and warm! I finally decided to mention to the owner how impeccable the service was and he was more than grateful. I recommend this restaurant 1000000%, you will not be disappointed! Thank you again for the beautiful evening, your restaurant is now one of my must-sees and I cant wait to come back and see you

★★★
August 22, 2024

Pretty good restaurant but needs to wait for some time to get the table. Steaks are good, pasta is just okay, and I dont think dessert is worth it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Flawless. Book to be sure you have your place! Back a year later for the 2nd time and still as good. Special mention to Maxime for making our family visit even more pleasant Kid-friendliness: Servers extra attentive to our children.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Great food. Great service. Sat outside to enjoy sights and people while dining on delicious meals!

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Pictures don t do it justice! Their tomato sauce is incredible - fresh, authentic flavour. Both our pastas were great. (Penne arrabista and house lasagna) great wine too! (villa maria blanc) They had live music while we were there and music after was great. Didn t care for the bruschetta but that s ok!

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Wow!!!! Best food in town Impeccable service

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

It was an amazing experience. Excellent food and top notch service! Highly recommend it! Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Beautiful restaurant in old Quebec, well located. The food there is particularly excellent!! A good Italian restaurant as we like them. Wood oven pizza is literally perfect!!! The service was decent and the prices very respectable. I highly recommend!

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Always excellent!

★★
August 22, 2024

The evening began with the waitress asking us if we preferred natural or sparkling water and I said sparkling, but she poured it for us equally natural, obviously I spoke in French since I lived in Paris for 7 years. But whatever, its okay, a minor mistake. The time comes to take the order and the waitress doesnt write anything, in fact my mothers entire order arrives wrong, she had ordered a burrata as a starter and a margherita pizza, but she received a pizza with burrata. The waitress didnt apologize, she didnt even smile at us, which we were very sorry about. I had ordered a shrimp and mango salad, good if it werent for the onion not specified in the menu, which I would have asked to remove if it had been written because I dont like it, all in all a good salad. The pizza, Im sorry to say, but it wasnt very Italian, we didnt like it very much. For the rest everything was very good, especially the Burrata. Very nice and graceful environment, top music.

August 22, 2024

If you havent eaten for several days then it might be fine, but if you are looking for flavors of Italian cuisine avoid it, if you are an American tourist it might even be fine. Where I come from, a restaurant like this would be closed before opening... one word is too much and two is too little...

★★
August 22, 2024

I think they need to review some things. First of all, taking orders relying only on memory, especially at the end of the evening, can play tricks on me (I had ordered a burrata as an aperitif and a margherita to follow, it had become a pizza with burrata!). Burrata and carpaccio were good. They were kind when the burrata pizza arrived and replaced it for me. The pizza was not very pleasant both in terms of dough and seasoning. Decent desserts.

★★★★
August 22, 2024

It was good food, you could enjoy some Italian flair. We had pasta which was very good. Unfortunately we were disappointed by the service... during the 2 hours we were there we had 7 different waiters. Our table was often forgotten, even though the service staff always walked past us. Price-performance was good.

★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

As someone from NYC it s always interesting to try pizza somewhere else. I ordered a margherite pizza and it looked more like a plain slice with basil. The sauce was sweet. For dinner I ordered the bolognese, but turned it back because I couldn t enjoy it. I had some Cacio e Pepe and that was fine. I think you may want to avoid dishes with a red sauce.

★★★★
July 22, 2024

Food was great, service was a little slow, but we had no place to go and we had an outdoor table, right on the street, so people watching was fun. Also great drinks. We will definitely be back.

★★★★
July 22, 2024

Good meal and service. On the other hand, when you pay $5 for a long coffee, that doesnt mean diluting a filter coffee and putting it in a smaller cup. Definitely undrinkable!!! Being a big coffee lover.....this was your lounge! Just like your frozen chocolate fondant reheated in the microwave. Its not worth $13 because at that price you get 4 at the IGA. A Carbonarra contains neither onion nor wine. It was good but thats not it. $3 difference between a full plate and a half plate of fettucinni Alfredo....its blah Sitting next to your order terminal, a little discretion please. No need to come and yell among yourselves. Especially when its the manager who speaks too loudly Your restaurant has lost its nobility

★★
July 22, 2024

Unfortunately, we cannot rate the food as we were not served at all. We waited for 10 minutes and then watched the waiter as he calmly brought pizza to someones car and then chatted. If you value good service, you shouldnt go here.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

We sat for dinner after 9:30 PM and the staff were very courteous and caring and veggie pizza was delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

It was a perfect experience, delicious food at a good price and impeccable service, smiling staff and advice, it deserves more than 5 stars

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. After we mixed up our reservation for 7 people, they were quick to offer us a table and gave us drink menus while we waited. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the staff was more than accommodating. The manager was lovely and even offered us limoncello shots at the end of our meal. We will be back! Thank you so much to the wonderful staff at Portofino. Your food is delicious and your hospitality was above and beyond!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Amazing experience. Menu was diverse - was available in MANY languages. Staff are so kind and attentive. Nadia was our server tonight and she was knowledgeable, quick, and attentive. Had bruschetta, carpaccio, and flank steak - all were delicious. Bruschetta was only 3x pieces but flavourful. Carpaccio was soft and paired well with the arugula & dressing. Flank steak was cooked medium rare and was SO tender. Best meal I ve had in awhile and entire experience was great. Extensive wine list. Drank a virgin ceasar extra spicy and the Montreal steak spice was unique and delicious. All staff work together to meet the needs of the table as quickly as possible. Never felt over looked. Staff made an effort to partake in conversation. Overall a great experience. I would definitely consider coming back and recommend it to others.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Their great service starts at the door with the hostess Emily . She is so warm and friendly . We were seated at our tables without a reservation in around 15 mins . It could be that it was after 8:30 pm . We were a party of 7 . We had both vegetarians and people who ate meat in our group . The portions are small but the food is tasty and authentic. They have a great selection of wines as well . We ordered 2 bottles of Chianti which was very good . There was a delay in service at the table as our initial waitress took too long to take orders or being attentive, but our server changed for some reason and was more attentive as they were winding down for the night . We spent CAD 400 for dinner so not a place to be on budget

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Wonderful staff, wonderful food. We were made to feel welcome by everyone. Would recommend to anyone who loves Italian food

July 22, 2024

Cancelled our reservation that booked a week in advance. They called us on the day of the reservation to confirm if we are coming and we confirmed it. We went few minutes early to the restaurant to see if the table was ready and they said it will be at the time of the reservation. Suddenly we got a call in 5 minutes that our table will not be ready in time and they have move our reservation 1 hour late. They said their chef has fallen sick and they are running late and can t serve everyone on time. Doesn t this sound fishy? We ended up canceling reservation since we got the vibe that they did not seem too kin. Did not offer us any compensation options that we wasted our time and effort to come to this restaurant.

July 22, 2024

The manager at this place who was a middle aged woman with straightened dirty blonde hair is racist and has no hospitality. We politely asked for a table for 4 and 3 to split up. She rudely said they could only accommodate tables for parties of 2 and there would be no openings for the rest of the night as they were fully booked. Mind you the time was 5:30 pm. Less than a few minutes later a Caucasian tourist asks for a table for 4 and what to do you know. They escort them inside to a table. So why does a table of 4 get seated immediately yet when we asked for a table of 4 we were turned away I can t speak for the food, so please don t take my review as a representation of that however if the restaurant thinks having someone who is rude and downright impolite to represent them it speaks for itself.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Kid-friendliness: Childrens menu available.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

It was our first time eating at this restaurant. As someone who has been to Italy and loves pasta, this was definitely the best pasta we have ever had! Employees are great. Very welcoming and family friendly. I recommend to everyone to eat here!!! Drinks are also very good!

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Small portions for what you pay. Tasty but I left still hungry.

★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The service is extremely slow and not organized at all. 30 minutes of waiting for a simple glass of water and to order food... the waiters came by several times with the carafe of water but still forgot about us. My starter (parmesan fondue) was almost cold. The prices are completely exaggerated for the quality and quantity because even the large portion is too small but still costs at least $28. The pizzas are also small and expensive. All the more so we received twice the wrong dishes which were not for us but for another table. The restaurant cannot be compared with the Italian restaurants that we know in Europe, especially with similar prices. If you cannot manage the service for all the tables then you must reduce the number of tables.

★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

We went to this restaurant on a Sunday evening after having seen all the good reviews. Unfortunately, we were really disappointed. All the tables were already occupied, so that we had to wait 10 minutes to get a table, which was not a problem. Once seated, we waited about 30 minutes until a waiter came to our table to serve us some tap water. After another couple of minutes a second waiter showed up so we could finally order our drinks and food. We ordered a Hoegaarden beer for 11$ and a cocktail for 16$ (Clover Club), the Bruschetta for 12$ and the Parmesan Fondue for 19$ as starters and the Gnocchi with Spinach for 30$ and the Fettuccine Alfredo for 28$ as our main course. The portions are not quite big even though we took the big portion. The food is good, but not as good as you would expect for this price-value. This restaurant is a moderate italian restaurant but too expensive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The burrata is excellent!!!! The pasta is fantastic! Everything is delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Great ambience and service. Amazing food Great pizzas and pastas.. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Excellent meal and service. Have never had my water glass filled this often, and every dish was 10/10.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

SO DELICIOUS VERY DELICIOUS I RECOMMEND TO GO

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Very fine food and friendly service. Sitting outside gives you a real Italian feeling!

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Just average cooking, but the aranchini stood out

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The food was very good, but the service was not satisfactory, there was a lack of friendliness... which is the marketing of the business...

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Ordered a prosciutto pizza and black linguine with seafood (piccolo). The food was not authentic Italian. The pizza was soft and should be baked for a long time before serving. The black linguine was hard in texture and definitely over-priced. I could just find one tiger prawn, and several small shrimps with no other seafood. Pricy tourist place but couldn t deliver up to standard food.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

We were served Shanelle, table 21 Sunday July 21, incredible service from start to finish, smiling, able to have a conversation with us without being intrusive. Very professional We will definitely come back

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

I had a great time at Portofino. The food was really delicious and I want to say a special thank you to our waiter Maxime for his good service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Had a nice meal with a window looking out over the street. Pasta and pizza were tasty. Service was good, but dont go if youre in a huge hurry.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Excellent meals! We had an antipasto starter to share as well as plates of pasta. It was simply delicious! Impeccable service! We will return there for sure.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Really worth discovering

★★
June 22, 2024

Food was decent, service, worst I have ever had in years at this restaurant. They have officially lost my business.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Very delicious Italian food, great ambience , very good service and the owner was very polite.. highly recommended..

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The staff was very friendly and helpful. Absolutely amazing food, especially the seafood pasta. . Definitely a place to go if you are in the area. Thank you for a memorable experience. All the best.

★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

So disappointed with my lemon escalope dish! It wasnt the first time I went there... The escalopes tasted like they were in the freezer... Ark!!! Even though there were lemon slices on the meat it had no taste. In addition, the cutlets were not very tender. Its certain that I wont go back there again... Sitting near the kitchens it was quite noisy!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The place was very busy. The food was great and the service better! We enjoyed it lots!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Very good service. We wanted a place on the terrace and we got it. There was a jazz show and the singer was really talented. The food is always excellent, so it s a sure value!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The outdoor tables are very romantic. Its not sophisticated, but it was enough to have a delicious meal and relax during my trip to Quebec. The staff is friendly, the food is delicious, and it is a romantic restaurant. Parking: We recommend parking at the property and walking.

June 22, 2024

Believe the lowest reviews. Ate there this week and the service was ridiculously slow. We waited almost 45 minutes for a meal post order, at least. What we didn t understand, was that a table that was seated 20 min after us received their main meals a few min after, so not sure what the kitchen organization is like. The chicken parm tasted like red meat; the spaghetti was so, so plain. The meatball was extremely underserved and slightly pink in the middle. The only food dish that was delicious was the appetizer of garlic focaccia. The final bill was extremely expensive. Would not return to this establishment.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

I loved it here. Staff very friendly and the food was just lovely. Definitely recommend going here

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

We were 4 adults had one of the best meals ever. Great Italian food good service and fair prices. You all should visit this restaurant if you re in Quebec y Food

★★★★
June 22, 2024

The food and service were great. However, we found the restaurant to be crowded and very loud.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

My sister and I went to eat at this restaurant last night, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was warm and the service was impeccable! We highly recommend this restaurant

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

It was one of the best pesto pasta I ever had full of flavor. Prices are high, though they justify the good food.

★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The food is good but nothing more and the portions are small and the prices much too high. The service was rather slow, especially when it was time to pay the bill.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

My daughter and I were recently in Quebec and went to Portofino for an early dinner. It was amazing!!!! The pasta is freshly made. Our meals were both delicious and just perfectly flavored . The wine was also great! The servers were friendly and efficient! We loved it so much, we made sure that we went back for another meal our last evening n Quebec! I would highly recommend this restaurant !!!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Very nice discovery for us. Very good dishes, excellent service from Dia and beautiful atmosphere. Portofino has become a must for us during our visits to Quebec.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Excellent Delicious

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Even though the food was a bit expensive, it was very tasty and it came in big portions. The service was great. But we end up paying $37 for one pasta dish. I think it s too much. But food was good.

Local Guide
May 22, 2024

The truth is that the treatment was not the most cordial when he heard me speak in Spanish since he approached the supposed chef and told me not to speak so loudly in the place and he was rude when asking me where I was from. The way he proceeded was uncomfortable, I insist it was Very uncomfortable, I did not return to that place except it was empty when we arrived.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

One of the best restaurants in Old Quebec City. Amazing food, atmosphere, service and with live (not-too-loud) music.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

First time here. Loved the decor and ambiance. Great service! Delicious appetizerw, entree and dessert plates prepared with perfection. We enjoyed the autheticate italian food. Highly recommended. Definitely will return the next time I visit Québec City.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

My fiance and I ate here tonight for an early supper. We ordered the bruschetta, ceasar salad, spaghetti bolognaise, surf and turf, and the xangos for dessert. Everything was marvelous! Start to finish Ill be thinking about everything we ate tonight for a long time. Everyone inside was very friendly and accommodating, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a nice relaxed place to have a great meal.

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

It was good, a little light in quantity for the salad. I wouldnt have been against more baby spinach. On the other hand, I found that there was an excess of zeal in the service. Theres no point asking 100 times if youre okay!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Amazing ambiance, good service and very tasty food

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

A bit expensive. But its a nice place to dine and drink. Live music and very cozy.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

The food is Amazing!! Very authentic Italian cuinine. A lot of attention to details!! We will be back for sure. Staff very friendly and a great atmosphere!! This was the best restaurant we have eaten at!! Food

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

What a feast and a whole atmosphere At Portofino brewery Ho ho ho Portofino Yum

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Great place, a bit crowded, but the quality and taste of the dishes served are great. Nice and professional service.