Quebec City Restaurants

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Portofino Bistro Italiano

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Portofino Bistro Italiano Review

By joining two 18th-century houses, owners Francois Petit and Yves Moreau helm an Italian restaurant with a bistro flavor. The room is distinctive: burnt-sienna walls, a wood pizza oven set behind a semicircular bar, and caramel tablecloths and chairs. Don't miss the thin-crust pizza and its accompaniment of oils flavored with pepper and oregano. Chef Moreau's pennini all'arrabbiata—tubular pasta with a spicy tomato sauce—is also good. Save room for the homemade tiramisu. The kitchen closes at 11:30, and a musician performs nightly from 8 to 10:30.

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    Portofino Bistro Italiano Review

    An excellent Italian restaurant! I find the food pretty good, especially there seafood Linguine, it's excellent! About the atmosphere, it's very lively. So it's perfect if you want to enjoy a nice evening. But if you're looking to have quite a romantic night with some deep conversations, this might not be the place. Otherwise I think this restaurant is awesome, very good pasta and a huge selection of wine.
    About the service, I would say the service is over average without being the best around. As for the price, I don't think it's an issue. If you go around Old Quebec, prices are even higher. Also, you do get a big and tasteful plate with a excellent bottle of wine.
    To finish, I would highly recomend this place!

    by Charles01, 6/22/12
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    Portofino Bistro Italiano Review

    The place was really packed, very loud, and it seemed like we were literally sitting on top of our neighbors.

    Our server was less helpful than a match at a forest fire and that, other the big, big (and pricey) wine list was one of the 'good' things about our visit. I won't waste more of your time listing the many reasons not to visit Portofino, but if you like good food and hate getting caught in nasty, overpriced tourist traps, don't eat here.

    I don't normally write negative reviews about restaurants, but this place is an amalgam of all things bad in dining! Seriously, it was like neither the kitchen nor the wait staff gave a toss about the food, the service or the entire "dining" experience. Again: don't eat here.

    by lamouche, 1/19/10
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    So good we had to go back!

    Went here twice during a recent vacation to Quebec City. Their extensive (and delicious) menu is only matched by their MASSIVE wine list (four PAGES of Brunello di Montalcinos, for example!). While this restaurant is right on one of the main tourist streets, it was very obvious that it is a favorite of the locals (be ready to wait for a table). For us, though, it was the perfect passionate blend of food, wine, and friends. If we lived here, we would be back at least once a week!

    by WineTraveller, 6/19/09
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    Poor Choice for a non-drinker

    Music was way too loud. Got into a disagreement with the owner about buying wine I didn't want. Because I wouldn't buy his wine he accused me of not being able to afford to eat in his restaurant. With so many good restaurants in Quebec city I will avoid this one in the future.

    by JonNormandin, 9/2/07

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