Portofino Ristorante Italiano has been around Lucky Garden, Bangsar KL for almost a year, specializes in Italian cuisine. From soup to pizza, pasta and dessert, dishes in Portofino are undoubtedly authentic, with a twist of Asian flavours in certain selections to please. Kitchen is super-headed by Chef Keli, an experienced chef who has worked with a few restaurants and hotels back in Italy, which included Michelin Star restaurant.
Just one street away from Kariguys, Portifino Italian Restaurant is easily spotted for its two-storeys corner building with huge shop sign, brightly lit up as the night falls. Very spacious interior, cozy with a touch of elegance. Furnishings appear in warm, light brown tone, putting a match to the table clothes spread over with white paper, and flower in glass for cheerful finish. Walls are completed with lively colours from framed pictures, and potted plants on wooden floorings. Corner tables are the area we like, relaxing, more privacy, make us feel like home.
Carpaccio di Salmone (Salmon Carpacio) RM28
Portofino has a long menu, summing up over 60 dishes. During our visit, we began with Salmon Carpaccio, an appetizer that put together slices of Norwegian smoked salmon over a bed of romaine lettuce, black olives, carrots, red onions and orange wedges.
Spaghetti Portofino – Seafood Spaghetti RM38
Spaghetti freshly made in house using egg yolk, semolina pasta flour and water, sauteed in olive oil, garlic, chili, basil with seafood including prawns, squid, mussels, clams, scallops, further flavoured up with homemade fish stock prepared from fish bones and prawns.
Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Tiger Prawns RM38
Portofino offers two types of pasta, where one is dry pasta on Pasta-Pastas section and homemade pasta on Homemade Fresh Pastas section. Personally, we love homemade pasta more as it delivers more chews, like our Pan Mee, but the normal spaghetti is not shadowed too. Our Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Tiger Prawns is well-executed, simple and classic flavours with natural sweetness from Tiger prawns.
Risotto ai Gamberi e Curry (Risotto Prawns & Curry Spices) RM36
We are not a big fan of risotto, as eating rice dish heavily coated with creamy sauce always make us ended up feeling cloying. However, Portofino ‘s version of Risotto with fresh prawns curry spices and apple pieces interests us. Creamy with a tinge of Asian spices, making the dish stands out from the usual risotto. Flavours of curry comes in just nice as appetite opener, with apple to balance up the creaminess. Recommended.
Pizza 4 Formaggi – Four Seasons Pizza RM34
Of course, for pizza, Portofino makes their own dough too. Quite a number of toppings selections – Margherita Pizza, Devil’s Pizza, Tuna Pizza, Carbonara Pizza, Vegetarian Pizza, Caprese Pizza, Seafood Pizza, and our so-called “giant karipap” Calzone, just to name a few. We tried out 4 Cheese Pizza, spreading tomato sauce over thin crust pizza, then sprinkled with cheese, beef pepperoni, turkey ham, mushrooms and black olives quarterly each.
Pollo alla Griglia – Chicken Cordon Bleu RM40
Instead of having the chicken roll breaded and deep fried to golden brown, Portofino choose to grill it for healthier option. Stuffing is equally generous, filled with mozzarella cheese and turkey ham. Dressed with a bed of mushroom sauce and roasted potato.
Salmon Ravioli RM34
Ravioli, a type of pasta that we always call as Western Style Dumpling. Delicious stuffing of smoked salmon, fresh salmon, celery, carrot and onions sealed within thin pasta dough. Heaped with creamy sauce concocted from tomato and cream, laced with chopped basil. Our favourite pasta that night.
Panna Cotta RM14
Tiramisu RM16
Do not leave Portofino without trying their tiramisu, layering smooth mascarpone cheese and ladyfingers soaked with coffee and faint hint of marsala wine. Very rich and creamy, not airy light kind of tiramisu. Another must-try dessert goes to Pana Cotta, a popular Italian dessert that has thick cream as main ingredient. Sweet, melt in the mouth. We like the later more.
Comments: Portofino is a good place for affordable Italian cuisine. For food we’ve tried, Salmon Ravioli and Panna Cotta are the best. Parking can be difficult during weekday dinner hours. Not too sure about weekend, as we didn’t come by during such time before.
Photography: Summerkid
Write Up : Summergirl
Address:
Portofino Bangsar Lucky Garden
No 1, Persiaran Ara Kiri,
Lucky Garden,
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 03 – 2094 8490
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00am – 11:00pm
Email:portofino.kl@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Portofino-Bangsar-Lucky-Garden
