Ribollita
41 Middle St, Portland, ME, 04101
Ribollita Menu
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Address :
41 Middle St
Portland, ME, 04101 - Phone (207) 774-2972
- Website https://www.ribollitamaine.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Rachel G.
I've been here twice in the past few months and really enjoyed each time. The pan-seared gnocchi= two thumbs up. The risotto I ordered the second time was great, although I wasn't crazy about the duck liver served on top. I was surprised to learn that the bread was made in-house, as I was sure it was from Standard. The panzanella was amazing, and served in a mold instead of a salad. I had never had panzanella before, and it inspired us to make our own own. The pitchers of wine seem never ending. We will definitely return soon!
(4)Richard M.
We had not been here is awhile until last night - but on and off, we have been going to Ribollita for about 20-years. In hindsight it was ahead of it's time--Local produce, an open kitchen, an exposed brick wall and a very casual-bistro dining feel. Last night - had the stuffed fried zucchini blossoms, a little heavy on Ricotta but the blossom seemed to just disappear when eaten - a neat mix of light and heavy in the mouth. The fish dishes we had were fabulous and the tomatoes worked of course. It's Maine, we have tomatoes like this for only about 6-weeks total so it's no surprise. Nice service, nice wine, nicely priced, nice expresso to cap it off. I feel like I should thank the cooks at the end of my meal--like they all know my uncle Mike or something. Friendly - I don't expect museum food when I come here - it's often in a broth or sauce - but it's always good. I'll look forward to returning in colder weather for the Osso Buco if they still have that on the menu from many years ago.
(5)Emily B.
My girlfriends and I came here last year for Restaurant Week and decided to do a repeat because it was so good. We had an 8:00 reservation, but the previous party didn't vacate until 8:45 and the staff had no backup plan... we were frustrated until we were compensated with wine and caprese salad, which we did not order. We are easy to please. The ribolita (soup) was still flavorful and filling. The risotto would have been too heavy to order as my entree after the hearty soup, so I ordered the fish, which I couldn't enjoy while looking at my friends' scallop Alfredo (sweet and not too thick) and porcini mushroom and duck confit risotto. Get one of those and you'll be fine. You can't go wrong with ANY of the desserts.
(4)Angela B.
I so wanted to enjoy this place - I love Italian food and I was really hungry going here - but it just didn't do it for me. There were unusually long wait times for the server to come check in on us; the olive oil and bread were stale and tasted off; and the pasta (that was purportedly homemade) with pork confit was very meh and consisted mostly of white beans with some startlingly flat, wide noodles. Overall a disappointing experience.
(3)Lindsey H.
Very good pasta, loved the gnocchi and risotto. Dessert we had the mascarpone cheesecake with walnut crumbs, really nice surprise sweet finish. Chefs working really hard in the kitchen. House red great value.
(4)Alex G.
Small Italian restaurant with a moderately sized menu and a value-priced wine list. The crowd seemed "older" (60's and 70's), and the decor is certainly not modern. The ceiling tiles need to be replaced, along with the old carpet. The music playing was also very old fashioned (super annoying). Focaccia with olive oil was a standard, if tasty, opening to the meal. The special appetizer was stuffed figs wrapped with prosciutto, and it was mediocre, but why three? There were two of us, so it should have been an even number. Strange. It was also apparent that they were not made recently, which is also a lazy way to cook. Moreover, it took a very long time to come from the kitchen. (Service here is very slow, despite an empty restaurant on a Thursday in season). In addition, they should have served it first, instead of filing the table with that AND the salad AND the soup. That's a novice waitress error. They need to space it out better. The tortellini en brodo also came with only three tortellini, and they were huge - normally, you have more and they are smaller. This was more like Italian won ton soup. And where was the Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on the soup? It was also a bit watered down, and not as richly flavored as I would expect. It was a bit drab. As for the tomato and bread salad, it was more like they filled a cup with chopped tomato and bread crumbs and laid it on the plate. Not your typical panzanella salad -- and not in a good way. Use "google" (if you've heard of it) and look up "panzanella salad." For main courses (which took an hour and a quarter to come out), my wife had the handmade pasta with pork confit. While maybe a little better than the appetizers, the pork was dry and the whole dish under seasoned. It didn't meld together; more like mom's sad leftovers made two days earlier. The eggplant rollatini was a bit better (I'm being nice), but nothing I would come back for. The tomato sauce surrounding it was the highlight; well made and rich in chunky tomatoes and herbs. But the dish itself was a shadow of Italian cuisine. Again, a lazy kitchen turning out sad plates. We actually went across the street afterward to eat oysters, just to take the taste out of our mouths. As a positive, the wine list is very fairly priced and made up of good tasting wines. Bravo for that. Overall, however, this is an old, tired restaurant with a lazy feel to the whole experience. Gordon Ramsey needs to come here and kick some a--. Maybe once this was a decent place, but that time -- like big hair in the 80's -- has long since passed.
(2)Alicia B.
Excellent Italian food, good service, good location, shall dining area be sure to make a reservation
(4)Evan C.
This place is fantastic. I have been 3 times and loved it each time. The atmosphere is good, feels like you are at your italian grandmothers house. I am a little disappointed the veal ossobucco is no longer on the menu. It was my favorite. It has been replaced with veal ragu, essentially the same thing, but not quite as great. The mussels in pistachio garlic butter are the best I've ever had. Make sure you ask for extra fresh baked bread to sop up all the flavor. I do wish there was a bar to sit at. I would go for a couple beers and some mussels all the time.
(5)Erick O.
Ribollita was a pleasant surprise that left me nodding my head up and down saying to myself a couple of times "damm that was good". We came to Ribollita pretty much due to a trifecta. We ate at Duckfat which was right next door. Our hotel the Residence Inn Marriott was around the corner and of course the reviews on Yelp. We made reservations early since the day before we had gone to a couple spots and the wait time was about 30 to 45 minutes and we wanted to eat as soon as we got to the restaurant. We had tried just about everything else in Portland, Maine except Italian, so it was a perfect opportunity to visit this little gem. I ordered the Tortellini en Brodo Zuppa, Carmelized onion tart as a Antipasti and for Cortorno we went with the Scallops with Prosecco cream and fettuccine. Tortellini: Heaven sent! The soup was rich and hearty! It had what appeared to be white beans along with hand filled pasta with chucks of tomato, spinach and butter squash. You can't forget the creamy texture of the tomato sauce with olive oil, along with the mixture of spices such as oregano, parsley and rosemary. It was so good I had the wifey sticking her spoon in my bowl the entire time. Very hearty and filling for a starter. Onion Tart: I was surprised by this dish. The waitressed advised us this appetizer takes about 20 minutes to cook but she assured us it was well worth it and man was she so right. The tart was came in a pie format, crusted at the bottom with very rich caramelized onions on top sprinkled with truffle and goat cheese. Not all Italian restaurants serve this dish and I was very thankful I was able to try it here because it was very delicious. The onions were very rich and tasty and pretty much dissolved in your mouth if you're not an onion lover than this dish isn't for you however I simply love garlic and onions and this dish was packed with that. The goat cheese on top added a very creamy texture and an offsetting flavor to the onion it was a great surprise, the best part about it you can eat it like a pizza. Scallops: What triggered me to order this dish was the couple next to us. Immediately once I saw the dish I told my waiter, I want that !!! The pasta had the perfect texture and smoothness yet with enough consistency to wrap around your fork without slipping away which fettuccine is famous for in sauce. However, that sauce was the show stopper. I love the Prosecco Cream which appeared to have pieces of very thin almonds or pistachios which gave it a great crunchy flavor believe it or not but not overpowering. The scallops were a hit as well, very tender and soft and you can taste the freshness. They were seasoned and cooked just right. I left not expecting to have the fantastic meal I had I was completely caught off guard and bookmarked it right away so I can give it a amazing review. If you're in the area and you're pretty much lobster'ed out. This is the place for you.
(5)Monica L.
Went here for Valentine's Day dinner yesterday. We had reservations for as soon as they opened, which I'm glad because it filled up quick and it is SMALL. Our waitress was really nice and knowledgable about the menu. After we ordered she brought out some delicious bread with oil. It took probably 45 minutes for our meals to come out, which I understand because it is all made fresh. I got the white bean and romano ravioli with hazelnuts which was really flavorful and delicate but it was sitting in a lot of oil, which made my stomach hurt later. We got the cheesecake for dessert which was amazing. I would come here again for a special occasion but not casually.
(3)Ryan Y.
So I just moved to Maine and have been trying out all the restaurants in the area. I figured I'd review this one first as it's my favorite place so far. It's located next to the famous Duck Fat restaurant and it's easy to spot as it's the restaurant that doesn't have people waiting outside. Don't let that fool you though as this place is better in my opinion. The place has a nice interior that feels cozy and is a nice place to have a quiet conversation. The service could be better, but I certainly wouldn't dock any points for them as the food more than makes up for it. One of my favorite dishes here is the fresh pasta with scallops and moscato cream. In the words of my uncle, "you can taste how unhealthy it is", which means there's a lot of delicious fats in it. Their appetizers are great too, the antipasta platter is very pretty. I wish I took a picture, but I was too busy enjoying it. I will definitely be back here again!
(5)Christine L.
I had been hearing about Ribollita's homemade pasta for ages now, and after a semi-recent obsession with fresh pasta, I was ready to check this place out! Chris L & I walked in on a summery Friday evening to a packed house. Unfortunately, we couldn't snag one of those jazzy outdoor seats without a reservation, but no problem--we were quickly seated inside. FOOD: Hmm, B-OK? I don't know if I'd say A-OK. We started with the Panko Crusted Calamari & Caesar Salad. The calamari coating... I wouldn't call it panko. The pieces were tiny and took up maybe 1/4th of the plate, with 1/2 of the plate being covered by the container for sauce. There was possibly more sauce than calamari! Our salad came with two dainty white anchovies and was more filling than the squid. The complimentary foccacia was dry and oily... For the main courses, we ordered the Short Ribs & Scallops in Moscato Sauce. The ribs fell off the bone and I guess it went nicely with the garlic mashed potatoes, but the sauce came off too strong for me. The scallops were nicely seared, but I was underwhelmed by the homemade pasta and the sauce was way sweeter than I expected. Finally, we had to end our Italian dinner with tiramisu. Sadly, the little cake tower had fallen over by the time it reached our table, and while one layer was thoroughly soaked in coffee, another layer was horribly dry. SERVICE: Our waitress was very attentive, filling our water glasses throughout the evening. She reassured us that our choices were great... unfortunately we were kind of let down. Not her fault though. ENVIRONMENT: While the tables inside were VERY cozy (a tad too close), it felt comfortable and cute. I'd definitely recommend trying to get outdoor seating on a nice day though! One thing that really caught me off gaurd was looking up at the painting on the wall about halfway through dinner, and realizing that it was an image of Florence's iconic Duomo and campanile. While I definitely wouldn't say the meal was horrible, it was far from spectacular. I'd come again if a friend was dying to go, but I probably wouldn't recommend this place on my own.
(3)Alex K.
My husband and I started with the caprese salad and the pistachio mussels. Both appetizers were delightful and plenty of food. My go to is usually either the antipasto or the ribollita soup, but we decided to mix it up and it didn't disappoint. Our entrees were the fettuccine Alfredo(which the waitress offered sausage or chicken with, these options aren't on the menu) and the gnocchi. The things I love about ribollita are the prices ( a lot lower than your average old port restaurant, yet still great quality food) , their consistency, and the fact that they have so many appealing items on their menu. My only observation was that the fettuccine Alfredo portion seemed a little small, this was not an issue for us because we over ordered in the app department! Go to ribollita for lovely service, a romantic atmosphere, and a carafe of their house red.
(4)Vincent H.
Cute and cozy Italian restaurant right next to Duckfat. Definitely had a lot to offer and thought the portions were pretty generous. Roast Chicken Puttanesca was delicious but I think I should've tried the Ragu Beef. Tomatoes felt slightly watered down but that bad overall. Knocked off a star since we were seated next to the door when there were other open seats and it was somewhat annoying with a waitress creeping over to the corner to text message every other few minutes.
(4)Larry L.
Another wonderful meal at one of the best restaurants we have been to. The soup the restaurant is named for is such a treat. Tasty Tuscan comfort food. The white bean ravioli melts in your mouth and has such a rich flavor. Our waitperson was prompt, cheerful, knowledgeable and gracious. It is cozy and comfortable. This is at least our fifth wedding anniversary celebrated here and we hope for many more.
(5)Heather G.
This is my favorite Italian place in Portland hands down. I've been coming here for a long time and I still get that happy/giddy feeling when I go here. It's warm, small and the people and food will keep you coming back. The Ribollita soup is something I crave all through the year. It's full of veggies & bread and once you have it you understand why the place is named after it. The pan-seared gnocchi, prosciutto & peas is to die for and will really give you a new respect for gnocchi. (If you didn't love it already like I do & eat it like a boss) Being able to see the chefs cook is great and having attentive waitstaff is amazing. Make reservations now. Do it.
(4)Aimee L.
We enjoyed a birthday celebration dinner for my mother over the weekend, a party of 11, seated in the large round table in the corner. While it is a cozy restaurant, I didn't feel crowded. We shared some appetizers, the calamari, the muscles, and Prosciutto wrapped melon. All of them were great, with the melon standing out, for it's freshness and vibrancy, and the exceptional melt in your mouth prosciutto. I chose the linguini and scallops in marinara, which was lovely. The tangy marinara complimented the buttery soft sea scallops, and the dish arrived piping hot without the scallops overcooking. Kudos to the team on that! In fact, every dish arrived with steam rising from the plates. Service was exceptional as well. This was my first visit, though my parents have gone for many years. I will definitely be back.
(5)Kiera B.
My boyfriend and I stumbled across this place upon arriving in Portland after a four-hour drive from Connecticut. We were walking across the street to another restaurant, smelled the aroma wafting from Ribolitta, and bee-lined for it immediately...and I'm so glad we did! Not only was it intimate and perfect for our anniversary date, the wine list was excellent (I had the Sut sauvignon blanc), and the service was professional and friendly. The real star of the evening was the food, though. I had the roast chicken puttanesca, which was fabulous, but boyfriend enjoyed a daily special of swordfish with a lemon caper sauce that was to-die-for. In fact, I kept stealing bites from his plate despite my own meal being very tasty and large. We stayed (a bit late, which the staff accommodated politely) for coffee and flourless chocolate cake, which were also divine. We both agreed this was in our top ten meals of all time. Thank you, Ribolitta!
(5)Sarah H.
I've been to Ribollita several times and have yet to be displeased. It is a small place and they get filled up pretty quickly, though thankfully they take reservations. It is best for a smaller group (6 or fewer). It is cozy and well laid-out, so that despite being small, you don't feel like you're right on top of every other diner. I love the caprese salad, the salmon special over mashed potatoes was divine, and I've also had pan-seared gnocchi - amazing texture and flavor. They were flexible with my requests to make an entree vegetarian friendly (pescatarian to be specific), which was much appreciated. Nice wine selection, reasonably priced, great service - this is a winner.
(5)Christine B.
I'll be honest that I'm usually wary of the restaurants near the port in Portland. I find many over priced, too crowded, and too hyped up. I have had EXCELLENT food in other areas of the city, and just don't find the port area worth it ... usually. I love the location of this restaurant. It is in the same building with Duck Fat, and near a couple of small groceries. It's slightly off the main port drag. Ribollita is a small restaurant with not more than 20 tables. They have a solid menu of authentic Italian dishes. I appreciated that I was able to keep the meal fairly reasonably priced and left with leftovers. You can get away with an appetizer and pasta or main dish at this restaurant, unlike others in the area. I started off with the signature dish, ribollita, which was a wonderfully flavored, hearty soup. I finished with a hubbard squash risotto. It was beautifully presented, studded with fresh cheese that added a nice sharp flavor to the smooth risotto. I could taste the squash in the dish, and it added to the texture. My companion enjoyed his choices, and we both thought the Peroni beer went down well with our dinner. The service time was just right for this kind of homemade food (unlike some of the restaurants in the area where the wait time makes for too long nights). I'll definitely go back to try some other dishes.
(5)Pamela G.
At first, the restaurant looked promising. The wait was decent. The hostess was inviting. And then we met our server. Little did we know we would encounter an incompetent human being. The service was terrible. We asked her for her personal favorite dish and she chose the most expensive thing on the menu and failed to explain it coherently, clearly trying to upsell the dish. The owner greeted every surrounding table but ignored our party. Adding chicken to my pasta cost me $3.50 but it was undercooked and made me sick... She never acknowledged how our food took over 45 minutes to prepare. She never asked how our food was after being served or filled our water. I would never, ever recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Jim R.
Ate here last Friday and the place was jamming. Ribollita is a small and intimate restaurant on the top of Middle St. The place is cute with about a dozen tables inside and 3 tables out on the sidewalk. We had a reservation at 7:15 but had to wait about 15 minutes before our table was ready. I may be wrong but it looked and felt like they were short on wait staff. While our server was very nice, she looked incredibly stressed. For an example, my wife and mom ordered a second round of drinks. It took about 15 minutes for my wife's beer to come out and asked my mom again if she wanted another glass of wine. If our waitress wasn't so stressed out and a bit forgetful, I would have given Ribollita a 5 star rating because the food was delicious! For an app, I had the mussels in pistachio butter and herbs and it was just great. The serving size was pretty large. Two people could have easily split the dish. I had no issues finishing it myself though. I just love mussels. My mother and wife had a green salad and a Caesar respectively which they enjoyed. Again, the serving sizes were decent. For an entree, my wife had the special which was risotto with fresh corn, foraged mushrooms in a wonderful broth. The portion size for a nice place like this one was HUGE! She loved it and I did as well. My mom had the cannelloni which came out piping hot and I had my go to dish here; the pan-seared gnocchi with fresh peas and prosciutto which came out hot too. Sorry, but one of my pet peeves is when my food comes out lukewarm or cold. It is indicative of a lack of flow, communication and organization between the kitchen and the wait staff. Not here! They had that together, no problem. I digress.... My gnocchi was wonderful. The bottoms of the gnocchi were seared but also al dente which had just a wonderful texture. The flavors were wonderful. The peas added a wonderful freshness to the dish. I loved it. We considered dessert but just couldn't eat another bite. We ended up taking home some leftovers. I highly recommend Ribollita. The space is quaint and the food delicious. What a true gem in the Old Port. While I wouldn't consider this place formal or dressy, I feel it demands the respect of wearing a nice shirt and shoes instead of a tee shirt with shorts or a tank top.
(4)Patricia P.
Wow. We were highly disappointed with this place, especially with so many good reviews given to it. Coming in with no reservation on a Friday night we were very happy to actually get a table in no time. The hostess was very nice, but after this everything went downhill. The waiter was efficient but not very personable. We then ordered two different pasta courses which were extremely under cooked. They had ways to go before reaching anywhere near al dente. Definitely not what you want for pasta. Lastly, what little flavor was found in our dishes was very unappealing. We ordered the check two bites into our meals and left in search of a second dinner.
(1)Ellie L.
Fantastic Italian food with friendly service and a romantic atmosphere. Biggest complaint would be that the service is extremely slow so plan on having a fairly free evening if you're going to dine here. Otherwise, starting with appetizers, we had a soup with these large pieces of tortellini. The tortellini was not overcooked and the ricotta filling escaped the pitfall of being too bland. The soup itself was nicely flavored and a good choice for something light. In addition, we shared an onion tart that had olives and I believe goat cheese. The tart was made to order and it indeed tasted fresh and homemade. For the main course, we shared the seafood stew which had a decent amount of squid and a great soup base. Most interesting was our dessert, the ricotta cake which looked like a cheesecake but tasted more like a super dense spongecake. I really liked it and the berry sauce definitely made it a flavorful dessert. When all other Portland restaurants are packed, try this place!
(4)Catherine W.
Very friendly service, which would make this more of a 3.5 stars. However, our food was just okay, and not memorable. We did the antipasto appetizer plate, the cannelloni (a slight spicy flavor to the sauce), and another handmade pasta dish. Tiny restaurant with tables placed quite close together. Tiny bathroom. Not a rush to go back.
(3)Brittany W.
The white bean and romano ravioli is extraordinary... The best ravioli we've ever had.
(5)Stephen T.
My wife and I had dinner here with another couple on 12/31 @ 5:00PM. We had never been here and were surpised how small (square footage) this restaurant was. Frankly, it did not matter because we were greeted immediately as we entered but waited for our friends. The service was top shelf for a smaller sized restaurant. I had the scallops with moscato sauce which was delightful. My wife had the chicken saltimbocca which she has raved about. Small, quaint, cozy, service was phenomenal and chef's dishes were outstanding.
(5)carol e.
We selected this restaurant for dinner based on the outstanding reviews on Yelp. We were not disappointed! We have spent months in Tuscany on our travels, and this restaurant reflects the cuisine and ambiance for which this region in Italy is famous. Definitely call for a reservation. Service is pleasant and food is delicious. We had the romaine salad, 3 bean salad - perfectly prepared. Followed by canneloni, saltimbocca, fettucine arabbiata and salmon (we were a party of 4). Servings were beautifully presented and generous. Enjoy!
(5)Robert F.
If you want a wonderful intimate Italian meal this is the place. I've been going here for over 9 years and it never disappoints. The chef is creative, the staff amazing and the limited number of tables make for a quiet evening enjoying your company and wonderful food and wine. Do make reservations as there are so few tables. Worth the trip.
(5)Keith F.
Had a birthday dinner for my significant other at ribolita tonight. It was just the two of us. I had called for reservations this afternoon and asked if we could request one of the less crowded tables. I know is there really such a thing at ribolita. Well having been here before, I basically didn't want the two top as you walk in the door and I didn't want the table that abuts the 4 top so close that you can't pull your chair in because you are on top of the other table. We did get seated at the later. I basically sat in the isle and as anyone that has been here knows there is no extra room in the isle. We have both eaten here many many times before but it has been probably 6 months since our last visit basically due to the very very poor service and food that has lost its authenticity and flavor from what it used to be. This evening, a Thursday night mind you, with a party already seated of at least 8, had only one waitress on duty with the support help from the hostess for the entire restaurant. When we were seated all the tables were full except for 1. So I think this one waitress had 11 tables and one of those was the party if 8+. I do not think the waitress would be as poor as she was for the circumstances. I will call the restaurant and ask for the owner/manager tomorrow to speak about the service. The food itself was flavorless. We had a salad to start with that was ok just because the balsamic vinegar used on it was nice but the mozzarella was probably from SAMs club and was the least expensive variety as there was absolutely no flavor. This was after the rosemary focaccia that was dry and stale. We had the fettucine and scallops and the chicken puttanesca. The scallops were ok, a couple of small shells were on them and they must not be using cream/cheese for the sauce, it was like warm milk at best and very very very salty. The chicken dish was served with dark meat and I think there was maybe five small pieces. If it wasn't for all the capers in the dish there would not have been any flavor. I have to say as this used to be one of our go to restaurants for many years and we would recommend it to all our friends that has come to an end, sorry to see it go as my other favorite Italian restaurant, Bresca has shut down. Portland is missing a true Italian restaurant.
(1)Karen G.
I had a job interview dinner here in August and the service and food were really good. I had the Pan-Seared Gnocchi which was tasty and I enjoyed. But my dinner companion had the White Bean & Romano Ravioli with Balsamic Brown Butter. I immediately hated my dinner and lusted after hers as it was the best ravioli I have even tried. I wanted to rip it from her plate into my mouth. Is it a deadly sin to lust after another's dinner?
(3)Pat B.
My husband and I arrived and were seated immediately. For an appetizer we ordered steamed mussels in pistachio butter. While waiting we were served focaccia styled bread. Our salads were the house special for the evening; Fennel slices with blood orange and shaved parmesan slices. Our entrees were Chicken saltiimbocca and Cacciucco served with an Italian white wine. It was a lovely meal. It's a quaint space (it could benefit from a little more decor) and the chef does a wonderful job.
(4)Colm M.
One of those rare bad food experiences in Portland. The place was sweltering and airless until we asked that the air be turned on. Neither the waitress nor the server who dropped our food wordlessly at our table took the time to ask us if we needed anything, or later whether we had enjoyed our meal. So I felt compelled to tell our server that we had not. Her response? "Really??!! I've never heard that before", she said, batting her eyes. I found that hard to believe. I worked as a waiter for many years, and have a lot of empathy for waiters/waitresses and for everyone in the business. By the end of my experience I was likely the waiter from hell. But I also realized very quickly that the old adage that "you get what you give" really does apply. There is no reason to get haughty with a customer who is simply telling you that the food you brought to the table sucks. And of course no matter how good or bad the service, no server can overcome the fact that their restaurant is serving bad food. The calamari was cowering inside a rough cornmeal exterior which elicited the gag reflex. It came with a sailors size dollop of godawful mayonnaise colored with something pink. It was as tasty as it sounds. Their famous bread soup may have had his fifteen minutes of fame twenty years ago, but has ended up on Skid Row; my scallop pasta dish was swimming in a sauce so thin it was virtually invisible, and my wife's ravioli was drowning in a cup or so of brown butter so insipid she couldn't finish the dish. We passed on dessert. They didn't seem to care. Nor do we. Duck Fat is thankfully right next door, Fore Street is a hop and skip away, and for very good very simply prepared Italian and great service, Paciarino is just around the corner. "Why go out for hamburger when you can have steak at home??"
(1)M B.
The food is delicious ! Service is attentive. The decor is cozy. We went on a Monday night, early, and the place was full when we left. Make reservations. We had an extraordinary sausage stuffed portobello, delicious short rib ragu, Caesar salad all top notch. Their house red wine in a 'rooster' is good. Desserts of maple cheesecake and flourless chocolate cake were yummy. Highly recommend !
(5)Charlotte S.
We ate here while waiting for friends to return from a show. We had salad that had blood orange, fennel, pomegranate seed and shaved parmesean cheese that was crisp, light and delightful. My husband and I swapped so he ate the Tuscan vegatable soup. It was way over stewed for me- almost but not quite pureed texture but he liked it. Next was fish stew-smokey, red wine -subtlety-almost- beefy-tomato broth and husband had angelhair pasta with shrimp nicoise sauce- tart with salty vinegar with a hint of pickled cherry pepper/caper taste. We waited till 645pm (arrived at 5) for our second course and it was worth it. Its as good as it gets this side of the pond. Next were cappuccinos and a very tart not too sweet fluffy maple marscapone cheesecake with a walnut crust. Syrup was almost basalmic but not quite. Different in a good way. Service was great but by the windows were cold. All the charm of a small European family run restaurant and resonably priced. A great date place.
(4)Karis O.
Very seldom do I dish out the five stars but considering the location, service and the food, I have got to give credit where credit is due. Started off with two glasses of the seasonal sangria, peach! Crisp and fruity. Summer perfection. I got the White Bean and Romano Ravioli. It comes with this balsamic brown butter deliciousness drizzled all over it and I nearly finished the whole thing! The ravioli here is among one of the handmade pasta dishes and you can 100% tell. My cousin (who had just returned from studying abroad for the semester in Italy) enjoyed the savory Ribollita soup, their take on the Tuscan vegetable and bread soup. An all around fantastic experience for a local restaurant tucked away by the seaside in Maine! Servers were knowledgeable, attentive, accommodating and friendly.
(5)Scotty A.
My friend and I got there about 6:00, and were lucky to get an early table without a reservation. It filled up very fast. We both got the Tuscan fish stew. Delicious! Curiously, not served with any bread, but I hope I get to go there again soon.
(4)Eliza M.
I continue to be infatuated with Ribollita. Not only did my husband and I go here on one of our first dates, but we stopped by before our wedding to have a moment together, and have gone for Valentine's Day/Anniversaries ever since. I am never disappointed with Ribollita and I know the more people find out about it, the less it becomes our "little italian restaurant" That's okay. If their success means I have to plan a little better to get a reservation (i.e. more than 3 hours in advance, duhhhh), I'm okay with it. This time I had the tortolini en brodo (one of my faves, delicious warm soup with the perfect broth) and the market risotto (gorgonzola, radicchio - simply divine). And I ate it for THREE MEALS afterwards. Yes, it was that big. Two people - 2 glasses of wine 2 soups 2 entrees 2 coffees $59.00. Plus tip. You've got to be joking right? It's the best meal in town dollar for dollar.
(5)Meggin H.
Can't believe this place was so Slow!!! The waitress was really nice but the food was not great. We didn't get a drink order for over 20 Min. And the food was ok
(2)Cristina K.
Saturday night, height of tourist season, we were lucky to get a table anywhere. The restaurant was ready full, but the hostess went out of her way to accommodate us at a front table with stools: probably a waiting area any other night. The waitress expressed surprise at this. At first I thought this seemed a little rude, but after waiting a looong time, I understood her shock. Totally Slammed, the kitchen scrambled to meet the demand, in spite of a fast hustling wait staff. (Who did check in and apologized later for the wait). Not at all bad, the big portions of food left us feeling heavy. Very rich beef ragu and very buttery white fish tasted fine. Sadly, the chaos dominated the experience and left an aftertaste of stress. I'm a visitor, not a local. For hearty Italian food with authentic style, I'd try it again in the off season.
(3)Jessica T.
During my recent trip to Portland, ME, this place caught my eye because of the rustic Italian menu. Case in point: most Italian restaurants don't even *serve* ribollita, nevermind name themselves after it. The start was admittedly not auspicious. We were greeted with perhaps my #1 restaurant pet peeve situation -- a reserved table that you have to wait around for. The friendly hostess did, however, update us several times on its status and offered to us menus and wine while we waited. Once we sat down, our server took a bit longer to take our orders than I would have expected, given that we'd already been looking at the menus for 15-20 minutes before we sat down. It was a busy Saturday night, and I'm sure they had their hands full, but it was a full 30 minutes from my reservation time to when someone asked to take our order. A hungry visiter is sometimes a cranky one! But all was forgiven when the food started arriving. Oh, the food. From the small vegetable plates to the pasta to the fantastic zabaglione, the food was exactly what I had hoped it would be -- thoughtfully prepared but not fussy, generous portions, excellent-quality ingredients. Even the olive oil served with the bread was remarkably flavorful. These folks clearly care about the ingredients they're using, and it really elevated everything we ate from "good Italian food" to "great Italian food" status. Some stand-out dishes that we ordered: the roast chicken puttanesca, the ribollita, and the sausage and rapini side. And thanks to the fellow Yelpers who warned that the generous dinner portions could leave you too full to partake in their fabulous desserts. I asked to have the last portion of my puttanesca wrapped up to allow a bit of room for the zabaglione -- a very light marsala wine custard, here served with fresh blueberries and peaches. It was a perfect capper to a really exquisite meal. Added bonus: super yummy leftovers for dinner tonight! So despite the shaky start, the exceptional food and warm atmosphere more than made up for it. I would absolutely go back.
(4)Kim F.
Our GO TO Italian place in Portland. The Ribollita stew is perfect on wintry Maine nights - it's rich and flavorful - warms the soul! We're regulars there and only had a marginal meal once during an ice storm when they were short staffed. You might want to request a table away from the door as it's small, but the food is consistently good and prices are reasonable.
(4)Lori H.
My husband and I made a 7:30 reservation for my birthday dinner. We arrived promptly at 7:15 and we were greeted by the hostess upon entering, and never approached AGAIN! We waited 30 minutes and still no one offered up a drink, or to give up information on why we were not seated. Left the place and went to Hugo's where they treated us like VIPS!!!! Never will go back to this place. There are many fine restaurants in Portland so you guys need to step up your game!!
(1)Kimberly G.
Made a reservation for a Saturday night and got a great seat by the window with a friendly and knowledgeable waiter. The place is tiny but the ambiance was warm and friendly. The wine list was great, the calamari was probably some of the best I have ever had and my entree (butternut squash ravioli with a butter sage sauce) was to die for. I can't wait to go back, it was a great date spot, casual, low lighting, small place, just perfect.
(5)Al N.
With all the good reviews, we expected great food, great service, and no wait, especially because there were few people there. For the price, it certainly should have been just so. Unfortunately, Ribollita left us very disappointed. The waiter was kind; he checked on us pretty often and made sure we were happy, but other than having no wait to get a table, that was the only good thing. We didn't order appetizers due to the price, but we did get the bread that came with the meal, of course, which was good, though nothing special. For dinner, chicken puttanesca, pan fried gnocchi, and two chicken saltimbocas. We were fairly happy at that point. Much to our disappointment, 'that point' lasted way too long. The food must have taken an hour or more to come out, (or at least that is how long it felt) and there were no apologies whatsoever, especially since there was no crowd. As expected, we were pretty hungry, so ate right away. The chicken saltimboca was alright, nothing more. The waiter said it was boneless, but there was still a bone in the chicken, which we would my have minded if he didn't tell us the opposite! The gnocchi was decent, but not much flavor. The puttanesca (ridiculously expensive at $17) was okay, but was mostly sauce. Barely any of the noodles. Overall, the food was just ok, but the wait and price was ridiculously high. We are never going back.
(2)Nikki M.
My boyfriend and I went to this restaurant tonight for dinner and we loved it. You walk through the entrance and you immediately feel like you are stepping to an Italian's dinning room in their house. They have 2 rooms with seating and the kitchen in another room and you can see straight into the kitchen. We ordered the antipasti plate, which was fantastic value for $9.95! Then I ordered the ravioli and my boyfriend ordered the beef with polenta. Both absolutely amazing in taste and the portions were huge (esp the beef). We were stuffed after eating that and couldn't fit dessert in (disappointingly as we kept seeing them come out for other tables and were excited to try them!). All the food was fantastic value for money and really was great Italian food. I would love to see them reduce the portion size of the mains so that people could fit dessert in. They would earn more money, instead of having people ask them to package up their leftovers mains to take home and not having dessert! The waitresses were very prompt and friendly. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was nice and peaceful and service of the food came out at a reasonable pace. We had a great experience here and wouldn't hesitate recommending it to friends who visit Maine.
(4)Peaches G.
Entirely meh. Our waitress was nice. Mussels were decent but sandy. Entrees were meh.
(2)Matthew L.
Absolutely wonderful! Outstanding experience from beginning to end. Restaurant was clean and cozy. Server made us feel right at home. Wife and I split a heart of romaine salad with Gorgonzola, pancetta, and walnuts. Flavors were clean and delightful. I then ordered the chicken a la puttanesca and my wife the special of pork medallions in a piccata sauce with garlic mashed potatoes and a mushrooms with zucchini. Both were fantastic. Rustic, hearty, fresh--just delicious. Server recommended the perfect glass of red wine to accompany the dishes. Finished with the tiramisu--perfect. We both agreed it was the best meal we'd had all year. If you've had your fill of lobster and want some of the best Italian around don't miss Ribollita!
(5)Zinnia S.
So happy we decided to eat here - the food was so good!! And we had a beautifully warm night to enjoy the outdoor seating. ~ 1 glass of port (served in the cutest glass ever) ~ a couple of side dishes as starters (contorni - i learned a new word!) *arugula w/shaved romano cheese, lemon & olive oil - simple & flavorful *faro (make that two new words!) w/pesto - great texture & very tasty ~ oven-poached pollock w/cheese tortellini - the fish was very good & the broth was unexpectedly comforting ~ white bean & romano ravioli w/balsamic brown butter - yum ~ tiramisu w/a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side - the ABSOLUTE BEST tiramisu we have ever tasted and the vanilla ice cream was amazing as well (we were told the chef makes his own ice cream so we couldn't resist!) All of the staff treated us well & we particularly enjoyed our server, Beth - very friendly & real & knowledgeable about the menu. Don't know when we'll be back in Portland, ME but I definitely want to go back to Ribollita when we do!! NOTE: We were lucky to be seated fairly quickly (within 10-15 minutes of arrival) at a table for two without reservations on a Saturday night but if you have a larger party or have a preference about whether you sit indoors or outdoors, you'll probably want to make a reservation.
(5)Julie T.
What a great spot. Be prepared for slow food, do not come here for a quick bite. The service was spot on and friendly. Very small and intimate. Antipasto appetizer was wonderful, white bean and ricotta ravioli was delicious, as was the short rib dinner. As others have mentioned, must order the vanilla flan- delicious! Wonderful experience.
(5)David M.
My wife and I happened to walk by and were checking out the menu posted in the window. It looked fantastic! Luckily there were tables available as it was fairly early. The staff was courteous and inviting. We had the mussels with pistachio butter, calamari and a special heirloom tomato salad with fontina. ALL of them hit the mark! For entrees we had the radicchio wrapped salmon and the white bean ravioli. BOTH were cooked to perfection! For dessert the flourless chocolate torte which was divine! A sign of a great restaurant for me, besides the quality of the food, is when you get the check and you don't get sticker shock! I actually expected the bill to be MUCH higher for the level of service and the quality of the food. We'll definitely be back to try the shortribs! Yes, the ambiance could be better but who cares when you have a fantastic meal! A great little gem in Portland!
(4)G D.
We stopped at Ribollita on a Thursday night in December while traveling through Portland. We arrived after shortly after nine o'clock and we could tell that the waiter was a little ticked off by this. Our waiter was an older gentleman, he was impersonal and most likely upset that we were going to be there late. We put in our orders immediately to speed things up. He smoothed things over and warmed up to us towards the end of our meal. Making up for that experience was the food. It was excellent. The presentation and quality were spot on. Everyone I was with said that their entrees were delicious. Overall, we really enjoyed ourselves at Ribollita and we hope to be back soon.
(4)Jennifer L.
Just finished dinner and dessert was lovely. All in all the food was definitely good. The hostest was friendly and was the other female waitress. It did take awhile for out waiter to acknowledge our table. However, the male waiters here seemed a bit rude and that they did not even excuse themselves when they were reaching for a bottle of wine. Also, he asked us how our food was and my husband gave him a response that he expected what he ordered differently. Our waiter got defensive about the style when my husband was only stating that he had it a different way in Tuscany. A simple, "pardon me, while I reach this wine bottle" was all that we asked. Because of his service, I rated it a 4. We would definitely visit again, but I would ask for a different wait staff.
(4)Jerry R.
The Caesar salad and Zucchini flower stuffed with goat cheese were quite good along with Flan their signature dessert. The spinach with pine nuts and golden raisins was good but a bit salty. The fresh pasta pomodoro was also good but swimming is sauce. Our waitress Laura was great and there was a great selection of well priced Italian wines. The main courses we had caciucco and hake with saffron broth and fennel both were lacking in flavor. They were both missing the use of herbs and flavorful stocks to form the foundation for making a great dish. Tossing fresh basil on a dish tastes great but does nothing towards building depth of flavor.
(3)Stephanie D.
So I dragged my poor husband on foot all over town looking for a restaurant in a new city but with this one in mind. I really wanted linguine and clams and I read someone else's recommendation here on Yelp. When we finally got there, they set a table for us as we had no reservations on a Saturday night. It was full in the restaurant so I was surprised by the prime spot - right in front of the bay window in the side room. The floor is slanted slightly there which was probably why it wasn't occupied but we didn't mind, it was lovely. We shared the prosciutto and cantaloupe which was very tasty. I got my beloved linguine with not only clams, but scallops, calamari and mussels; they let you determine what goes in. I was very happy with the dish. But my husband who orders gnocchi from every menu anywhere said that Ribollita's was "the best ever". Pan-seared with prosciutto ... I tried it and it was divine!!! We shared a slice of cheesecake and it was light and airy but the pomegranate reduction from Micucci's rocked! Hugh was our server and he was so friendly and mellow. What a great evening! Go there, but make a reservation as they were full and don't seem to turn their tables (yours was yours for as long as you like).
(5)D B.
I will start out and acknowledge that my 2 star rating was earned entirely by our very poor server. The food was for the most part very good with the exception of the bread that was brought to the table. It was pretty lack luster and a touch stale. Our waiter on the other hand seemed entirely out of his element running around on a Friday night with his head spinning. i get that things can get hectic in a restaurant on a weekend night, but this guy seemed like it was his first day. He disappeared for long periods of time, forgot things he said he would bring and over promised on several occasions. I will say that the lasagna special I had was very tasty and worthy of 3+stars, but I couldn't get over the service.
(2)Laurie P.
Just a day and night in Portland, so we wanted the right restaurant for dinner, and we chose well! We arrived ten minutes early for our reservation and were promptly seated. The place is small and intimate. It was also very busy. The tables around us all seemed happy and engaged. Good sign. Our server, Beth, was professional and good humored. For starters we had the caprese and a special 4 bean salad. Both were excellent. A litre of the house red was perfect accompaniment to our meal. They we're out of the chicken jugs, so a plain ole carafe did the trick! Hubby had the North End linguine with mussels, loads of mussels. He loved it! I had fettuccine and scallops with muscato cream. It was devine! We shared a tiramisu, and hubby had an espresso. Good thing we walked ... So full and happy. A delightful evening!
(5)Francis C.
Great little place. Cozy and comfortable, and the food was lovely. I really didn't want a whole plate of pasta or a bunch of chicken, so I came here because they offered a tempting variety of a couple of small plates. Also, I promise not to rant again about American portion control (or lack thereof!). I started off with the Ribollita soup. Very tasty, served nice and hot. I also ordered a dish of Farro with Pesto and Broccolini with Sausages and garlic. the Farro was Farro, in my mind it's not all that interesting, and the pesto was fine. Presented nicely, it was nothing to really write home about. The Broccolini was very tasty, sauteed in garlic and possibly the renderings of the sliced sausages. Simple, delicious, and good. Although I shouldn't have done it, I ordered their vanilla bean flan which was also very good. And then I waddled home.
(4)James B.
My wife and i tried out Ribollita for a date night. it is a very small, intimate place with a great atmosphere. The service is very friendly and quick. We each had a salad, mine a Caesar and her a caprese. They were both excellent. For the entrees she had eggplant and i had the short ribs. With were fantastic. The beef melted off the bone. The price was very reasonable, very much recommend.
(4)Derrick M.
My favorite Italian restaurant in Portland. If you happen to peek in the window early afternoon you will see that day's handmade pasta drying on racks. I've had everything on the menu but I always come back to one... the gnocchi. They pan fry them right before they serve them. Imagine nice pillowy gnocchi with crispy outsides... yum
(5)Matt G.
We loved everything about this place...until they asked us to leave bc they needed our table. We were seated for 80 minutes and had an app and dinner and drinks. I wish they had asked us to leave before I tipped
(1)Linda G.
Excellent surprise fresh, expertly prepared food. The antipasto was to die for. Fennel, fresh string and Lima beans like they where picked today. The local catch poached with saffron was perfect. Great waitstaff as well. A new favorite for us. Nice to sit outside as well reasonable price for the qualityf
(4)Ginny P.
Small, intimate dining room. The onion tart is a must.
(5)Garrett B.
I will try to be as subjective with this review as possible. We were seated next to some other patrons who soured our dining experience, but I understand this cannot be attributed to Ribollita. We showed up without reservations, but we were squeezed in between reservations nonetheless. We definitely noticed we were being rushed throughout dinner which was understandable, but not very appreciated. My butternut squash ravioli with sage butter was delicious. My friend enjoyed her mista salad, but found her linguini undercooked (possibly due to being rushed). The service wasn't terrible, but our waitress was not personable or knowledgable about the menu. While I appreciate intimate restaurants, Ribollita is a little too intimate. The tables are very tight and we were seated at most three feet from our fellow diners. This arrangement led to the awkward experience I stated above. I think that Ribollita is a good restaurant, but I do not feel we saw its best side. From our waiter, to our neighbors, to being rushed, Ribollita was a very underwhelming experience for us.
(2)Joanna F.
I was not blown away by Ribollita, but it was fairly good. I went with a group for four and we were immediately seated. I def liked the vibe of this place... small and cozy yet kind of modern looking. Our server was very helpful, although seemed almost nervous. But whatever. We ordered the antipasto to start, and it was unlike any other antipasto I've had. It was very vegetable based. If I didn't love veggies, I would probably have been pretty disappointed by it, but I liked it just fine. For my entree, I ordered the Roast Chicken Puttanesca. The chicken was overcooked, the pasta seemed a little undercooked and I wasn't blown away by the sauce. My boyfriend got the risotto and was overwhelmed by the gorgonzola flavor. Our other dining companions liked their meals. The price is very good, but if I have a craving for italian, I'll beeline it over to Paciarino before hitting this place up again.
(4)Jeff F.
Ran in here a couple weekends ago... tried the Caprese Salad and the much raved about sauteed gnocchi. Salad was average and the gnochi was above average, but didn't resonate with me the same way it did with other reviewers. It's original (at least for me), but doesn't burn into my memory the same way other memorable gnocchis have like: Firenze in SF, Spinasse in SEA or even Brewar's Art in Balt. The prices were incredibly reasonable, but the service combined with the ok to ok+ food, made this an average visit and not a restaurant on my shortlist to return to or recomned
(3)Susie Q.
Excellent food and priced very well. We enjoyed the antipasto, eggplant rollatini, and the North End Linguine. Portions were big, ingredients were incredibly fresh, and everything was delicious. I wish we had room for dessert! Atmosphere is cozy and inviting. As others have mentioned, it is small, so reservations are recommended. Service is friendly, knowledgeable, and very good. She checked on us just enough. Also, others (hostess and another waiter) were always there to refill water glasses. We will be returning!
(5)Mari C.
Ribollita. Bonita ribollita. I eat a ribollita ...that's all i can think of. There's something great about really small, intimate restaurants that are too small to be intimate. You know what I mean? You can try to chat only to your date, but you're likely to overhear or even engage your neighbors in conversation. And if you chat up your neighbors enough, there's a 60% chance they'll give you some of their appetizer. Yep, it's a little known secret guarded closely by The Charming and The Hungry. In this case, I was Charming and my esteemed bf was Hungry. So we were having a romantic lil date, consisting of a full carafe of wine, Italian wedding pasta, mussels, and some other delish dish. Because the restaurant is so tiny, we ended up chatting with our other corner dwellers late into the night, swapping stories and food. The meal was amazing not just because of the quality of the food, nor the competent but unobtrusive service, but also because it managed to capture something most modern food consumption lacks: the communal aspects of breaking bread together.
(5)Jason B.
Been here a few times and I love it every time. The food is wonderful and the service is great. My favorite part is that it's such an intimate place that it's great romantic dinners.
(5)Samantha L.
What great, great, great ambience. So relaxed, cozy all the other adjectives thrown out from past reviews are exactly right. It is a small place, open kitchen and a place that I really enjoyed. Started with 3 apps, only one was a disappointment. The calamari severely lacked flavor. I checked after we left, it was because the waitress/back of the house forgot the aioli that came with the dish! So, It just tasted like nothing, but the salted codcakes were crispy on the outside, but delicate and tasty on the inside. We really enjoyd them. The sauce drizzled atop I don't think did much overall. The ribollita soup was delicious. It was hearty, and well rounded in flavor. Sweet, creamy because of the bread and cheese... so delicious. Entrees, they were all overall tasty. The North end white sauce with clams I think was the table favorite. Sweet, fresh and light and extremely satisfying. Scallops in a moscato cream sauce was also great. Perfectly cooked tender scallops, perfect amount of sauce. The only thing is that particular serving was considerably smaller than the 3 other dishes on the table. Chicken puttanesca I found to be very bright, fresh and a good tartness with the capers and olives. The chicken was tender, and the pappardelle was maybe a touch over cooked, but hardly noticeable. The market risotto with spinach, chanterelles and duck confit was good, but not great. It actually really needed just a touch of salt. But besides that, it was creamy, good amounts of tender spinach, perfectly good mushrooms and fall off the bone duck, with great crispy skin! No space for dessert sadly. =( Service was on point. All the staff, all females this evening were all friendly. We came in, no reservations and they made it work. Water glasses were always refilled. The only thing is we were late to be offered second glasses of wine and sodas. But besides that, overall great experience.
(4)Kristin C.
What a great little restaurant! We had a 7:00 reservation, but got sick of walking around in sub-zero temps and showed up 30 minutes early. They had a table available and happily seated us. The atmosphere in this place is so cozy and welcoming. It really does feel like you're dining in someone's home. The tables are close together, but positioned so they're not too close for comfort and you can still have a private conversation. We sat at a little table for two next to the open kitchen. The menu here is a great mix of meat, seafood, and pasta - definitely something for everyone. We started out with the mussels, which were definitely the stand-out dish of the night. The broth was so yummy and garlicky. I could have just eaten some more those with some more of the rosemary bread for dipping and I would've been happy. Husband had the braised short rib with mashed potatoes for his entree. I also happen to love braised short ribs, so I may have had a bite...or 3...the meat was sooo tender and the sauce was delicious! Our one complaint was that there was just a bit too much sauce on the plate, which kind of overwhelmed everything and drowned the mashed potatoes. I had the scallops with fettucine and cream sauce. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious without being too heavy. We also shared a rooster pitcher of house red wine, which was a great value at $20. We were completely stuffed, but managed to leave a teensy bit of room for a few bites of tiramisu - yum! In addition to being delicious, this restaurant is very well priced. Our appetizer, entrees, dessert, and wine, plus tax & tip came to about $90. We'll definitely be back next time we're in Portland!
(4)Alana F.
Eh. Everything was overpriced for what it was. The squash ravioli were under seasoned and the risotto was pretty bland. I would not recommend.
(2)Shree M.
If only I could give this negative stars! There are enough places in Portland to eat for me to say - DO NOT GO HERE EVER!!! Service: Worst I have ever experienced. The waitress was condescending on two occasions, the meal took OVER an HOUR to come out - and when we asked about it, she says "Everything is made to order so it takes just a little more time". Bull$#!! - everybody else had their meals come out before us. Pretty sure she was high or dumb or both and forgot to put our orders in until later. Ambience: DIRTY! The ceilings are gross and there are spiderwebs on the floor which is covered by some shaggy gross carpet. Have you people heard of a vacuum cleaner? Not to mention there were two very loud and obnoxious people next to us having a VERY private conversation. The guy got so drunk he almost fell out of his chair. How does your management not throw out people like that?? Food: Good, but not worth an hour wait. Nothing out of this world about it (and we were starving remember?) Overall- Do not go here. There are plenty of places to eat and explore in Portland. This is just not worth your time or money.
(1)Dan K.
As you step in, you feel like you've just been invited into someones dining room for an intimate night of food and wine. The ambiance is great for dates, as my wife and I came here for our first night on the town. It's so plain and homey inside, but that's what's so endearing about it. The food didn't disappoint either. As for our first course, we shared the Ribollita (the namesake dish). It was a large bowl of soup with vegetables, thickened with bread. Sounds simple, but was DELICIOUS! No wonder they named their restaurant after it. Low-key, simple, and delicious. Then my wife had the alfredo, which she loved because it was so perfectly cheesy. I had the Roast Chicken Puttanesca. Flavorful and perfectly cooked. All in all, it was a great night, intimate setting, and food that was never disappointing. The BEST meal we had in Portland. Would definitely go back (even wanted to go back the next night!)
(5)Joshua C.
Great prices, great food, great atmosphere. A favorite. Make a reservation!
(5)Will S.
Well done, Ribollita. Well done. We were meeting some friends before a show for some dinner. Italian seemed to be the middle ground of what people would enjoy. We didn't feel like paying for Vignola or Cinque Terre, so Ribollita it was. I had been to Ribollita once before (I am 'the friend' in one of the other Ribollita reviews on here) and had the fettuccine alfredo. I wasn't wild about the alfredo then, but the overall experience was solid. This time - I was more than pleased with what I ordered and what I paid for it. We started off with the steamed mussels w/ pistachio butter. They were a very nice starter. The pistachio flavor was light, complimenting the mussels amazing inherent qualities. What I enjoyed about this dish most, was that instead of bringing the supporting flavors up to 'enhance' the natural quality of the mussels, they toned the background down.... letting the mussel lead the band. Well done. For the main I threw my conscience to the wind and ordered the veal osso bucco with creamy polenta.... and damn I'm glad I did. The veal was cooked perfectly and was falling off the bone. Not overpowered by salt or any other supporting member of the band, the veal had the center stage. A perfect accompaniment, the creamy polenta a lemon quality that I found clean and refreshing. I didn't actually expect it to be as good as it was. After every bite of veal, I found myself drawn back to the polenta and carrots. I would absolutely order this again. One of the other main highlights of the evening was the wait staff. Totally accommodating, friendly, and prompt, they did an excellent job. In fact, they get an extra gold star for helping us get out of there on time. We had a show to get to and asked the waitress if she could check on our entrees as our appetizers had slowed us down a bit (note to self, if you don't have much time to eat, don't order appetizers). She left our table and immediately returned with our plates, fresh off the stoves and piping hot. Additionally, 15 min into the entrée, she brought the check without us even reminding. We were able to pay while eating, finish up, and get to the show on time. Bravo. All in all, Ribollita won me over. This was a great experience that I wish to repeat. There are times when I leave restaurants thinking, "Damn. I've been had." Not this time.
(4)Ashley L.
This place is FANTASTIC! The service cannot be beat. I believe we were served by the owner, Kevin and he was great. We were also helped out by a woman with our drink orders and she was just great. The food was amazing, too! I ordered the scallops with prosecco cream and fettucine, which was very tasty and given in a very sizeable portion. I went with 3 other people and they loved their dishes, as well. This place would be great to go on a date! Very intimate and friendly. An area where I think the place can use improvement is faster service. We waited quite a while for our food but we had booze so it was fine but we still couldn't help but notice the wait. But, I mean, they make your dishes fresh so really, I can't expect this place to be McDonalds. Overall though, I really enjoyed this place and I would definitely insist that you try it!
(5)Sarah W.
Cute, small italian eatery, that many tourists or locals don't even realize exists. Don't worry though, I lived near Portland for 22 years, and I had no clue! And if you did find this restaurant, I'm proud of you! Classic Italian menu, few options, but terrific quality. Excellent service. Right off of India street, next to duck fat. Prices are reasonable and look cheap to the Portland upscale restaurants such as fore st and street and co. Don't be fooled, ribollitas is just as good! Parking garage on fore street or street parking (sunday free, and first ticket is warning in Portland!)
(5)Aaron T.
Bland food, (how can fish stew be bland?), and slow service from an ornery middle aged waiter, drab decor, ultimately one of the worst restaurant experiences of my life.
(1)Jay H.
Last night I went to Ribolita, expecting an extremely expensive fine dining experience. It was totally reasonable! The food was solid, and the house wine was pretty darn good for the price, too. I got the caprese salad. It was delicious, though hardly a reinvention of the wheel, which is good, because I like the wheel. For my main course I got the pasta puttanesca. It was again, very good. However, I was hoping for even more garlic. I wanted it to be coming out my pores the next day at work, but alas, this wasn't the case. The ambiance was nice enough. My friend and I got the window seat, which would have been awesome if there weren't these thick wooden blinds, totally insulating us from the outside world. I know that they were trying to keep the focus inside the restaurant, and give us some privacy, but really, those blinds were absolutely... blinding. I got the tiramisu for dessert, expecting a tiny sliver that could fill in the tiny spaces left in my stomach after the meal. The piece was the size of a hockey puck and heavy even for tiramisu! In closing: come hungry. Split the tiramisu if you have any doubts that you'll be able to finish it.
(3)Mary M.
Cozy restaurant and nice, quiet atmosphere. We went on a Friday night and you definitely need reservations. Biggest complaint was the wait time. We waited an hour for our entrees. Good prices on the entrees and wine.
(3)Mrs. M.
Coming from the Boston area we have expectations and Ribolitta definitely met them. The outside of the restaurant is unassuming, you might even walk by it. Don't! It's fantastic Italian dining at super affordable prices for quality and quantity. The inside is warm, simple and inviting. I felt like I was inside someone's home converted to a dining room. It's not huge but there was just enough space that you didn't feel like you were too close to other diners. The open kitchen adds a very cool atmosphere. Our waiter was friendly, witty and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered a pitcher of house red which was served in the most adorable Rooster pitcher. We got about 5-6 glassed of out the $20 pitcher! Nice deal!! See link below for more info on these pitchers. Very interesting! For our dinner we have a first course of the calamari. It wasn't my favorite I have ever had. It needed a touch of salt and a squeeze of lemon. For a second course we shared the salad special, mixed greens, local corn shucked, local cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan with a white balsamic vinaigrette. Notable one of the best salads I have had in a long time. I appreciate a chef would uses locally sourced produce to create a fun, simple summer salad. The white balsamic was addictive! For entrees my husband had the cannelloni which that night were stuffed with a savory ground beef. It's served with a red gravy and plenty of cheese and comes with a side of mixed greens. The homemade pasta was perfect and well done. I had the braised short ribs. The were fall off the bone tender, well seasoned and DELICIOUS! The braised onions piled on top were a perfect compliment. The only negative on this entree is that the chef used way too much broth to plate, so the mashed potatoes became a soupy mess. Need to scale back on amount of the liquid you pour onto mashed potatoes. We were stuffed to the gills at this point but who can say no to "in-house made" desserts. We tried the tiramisu and happy to say it was in recent memory one of the best I have ever had. The lady fingers were perfectly moist with a luscious coffee flavor. There was no overpowering brandy taste as with some tiramisus made at some restaurants. The mousse part of the dessert was sinful! The kitchen pumped out each of our courses quickly since we arrived early enough in the evening. Other tables seemed to be receiving things just as quickly. For a Boston gal, I was pleasantly pleased with this Italian restaurant. I would recommend it to anyone that likes Italian food or a place with quality food and good prices. Our tab for everything we ordered was $113 with gratuity. Rooster pitcher legend: ceramicadirect.com/Conte…
(4)Laurie W.
The Best Meal I had in Portland! Kevin Quiet is a Genius! Every step of this meal was perfect! Our server Laura did not rush us and provided detailed recommendations for our dining pleasure. We started with the antipasto platter that was simply the best we have ever had. Every ingredient was fresh and perfectly prepared. The roast garlic was perfectly creamy, and the carrot fennel slaw was out of this world! We then had the tortellini En Brodo. That dish was a game changer! piping hot chicken broth with three or four hand rolled tortellini, which means that they were large and flavorful. When they broke open into the broth, the flavor of the entire dish changed from great to a food-gasmic moment. The rapini with sausage was crisp and salty and just delicious. The pomopora sauce was full flavored and intense. We didn't have desert, but let me just say, I saw them walk by and wished I had an ounce of room in my stomach! This place is a must!!
(5)connie l.
Stopped by for dinner last Friday. Wanted to try some place new in Portland, so dined here because of the yelp reviews. Although it was a delicious meal, it wasn't as fantastic as I had anticipated. For the appetizer, the boy and I split the mussels. Great, and the extra yummy bread (I think the rosemary bread was my favorite part of the meal) to sop up the broth was amazing. The app was quick to come out, but we waited quite a bit (about half an hour after our app) for our main entree. Luckily, we were just relaxing and were in no hurry at all. For our main entree, I got the pan-seared gnocchi and he got the chicken saltimbocca. The gnocchi was eh.. I guess every time I've had gnocchi, it's been pillowy and paired with a great sauce. This one wasn't. I guess I know now.. I don't really like pan-seared gnocchi. The gnocchi, proscuitto, and peas were too dry. The chicken saltimbocca, on the other hand, was juicy and accompanying sides of beans and veggies were good. For dessert, we shared the almond cream cake. It was huge and delicious with our coffee. Service was what brought this place up to four stars. Everyone was friendly and professional, taking care of the basic things (bread, water, etc) and more. The restaurant is also very cozy and intimate. Plus, dinner was very reasonably priced. For the app, two entrees, dessert, coffees, and two beers, the total, including tip was $70-$75.
(4)Chris B.
We had a very good meal here. We sat outside taking two of the eight available seats. We went early (5:45) on a summer Saturday night and it never seemed to get overly busy but it's pretty small so 'walking in' might not the best plan. Calamari app was very good and I'm told the romaine w/ gorgonzola and walnuts was too. My fettuccine with scallops was satisfying if just teensy bit 'dente' for me. The ravioli w/ romano cheese & white bean filling w/ browned balsamic butter was delicious and could make a good shared starter. Service was attentive and crisp. I seem to recall dessert was very good but since my wife orders and I just take a 'bite' I'm hazy on specifics. A note of caution if you sit outside- be careful of your 'dismount' from the table as quarters are tight and mine was Jerry Lewis-like ending with me pulling down divider rope & posts.
(4)Alex A.
Cozy atmosphere, solid food, good service, and some of the most reasonable prices you'll find in Portland. Great wine list, with lots of Italian choices, including some interesting Baby Tuscans. The Carmelized Onion Tart w/ Black Olives & Goat Cheese is still my favorite. I'll often have that as a main course with the Insalata Mista, which comes with shaved parmigiano reggiano and fresh fennel. The Roast Chicken Puttanesca w/ Pappardelle is also WONDERFUL. Reservations are a must on the week-end. Great spot for a date night!
(4)Paul B.
By far one of our favorite Portland dining spots. The ambiance is friendly and inviting and the food is fabulous. I had the Tuna Putanesca which was on special. Loved the sauce, though I do wish that the tuna was seared instead of cooked through - my fault for not asking. The homemade pappardeli was fabulous. My wife had the veal osso bucco. This is one of her favorite things to eat and this is (next to mine I hope) her favorite osso bucco. While she is not a polenta fan, she adores it here. The wine selection is good and the waitstaff are friendly, helpful and work together to keep everyone happy. Planning another trip back soon.
(5)Jess B.
Location-Ribollita was the restaurant my boyfriend and I ever went on so It's kind of special to me, so we only come here on valentines day and special occasions. I absolutely love it here it is very small and a little dark but it always has the best food. The parking is hard to find on the street i suggest making a reservation and arriving early to find parking, if you find parking quickly then hop a couple doors down and get a drink at the east ender. Food-We both share ONE ribollita soup and the muscles in garlic butter sauce. Both are huge and super filling because the bread makes the soup so think and yummy and we dip the serving bread in the extra butter sauce. I always get the cannelloni or the braised short rib for my meal. The cannelloni pasta tastes very fresh like they roll it out there and the fillings are always very good, not too much meat and not too much cheese and the sauce is spot on which just enough acidity. The short rib is probably my favorite thing it falls off the bone and it is served with garlic mashed potatoes and a beet sauce. I know you're thinking ehh beets but it is delicious it gives the whole combition the "perfect bite" effect. The tirimisu is awesome, it's not cut out of a big sheet tray the lady fingers are all dipped in espresso seperately and the cream is a tiny bit sweet with just enough cocoa it is just perfect. Price- we usually end up spending around 60 dollars with tip! The food is so great and so inexpensive, why would we go anywhere else?
(5)Nicole M.
Come here if you are looking for value. The food is good but also very inexpensive. The food is very fresh and nothing is pre-made. For this reason, you should expect a long wait for your food. This would have been ok but I was not impressed by our waitress for reasons unrelated to the wait time for our entrees. She seemed very flustered and a little out of it. I feel bad for her because I think she was waiting too many tables. Perhaps they need a larger wait staff. I had the mussels as an appetizer which were good but perhaps over-buttered. My eggplant rollatini with ricotta and spinach filling was very good. The decor is very homey and casual. I would have preferred more modern/interesting decor and atmosphere. The place is definitely in need of some updating.
(3)Molly P.
Wow. Yelp does it again, points me in the direction of some fine food. This place is small and crowded but has exceptional food! It reminds me a lot of a place you would find in North Boston, very traditional italian, hand made pasta, small menu but everything you order is high quality and sure to please. Get a reservation if you can or go early/late. We went at 9 pm and we were seated immediately on a Friday. We also ordered the Calamari, it was a bit dissapointing, but the main coarse more then made up for it. Thanks Yelp for another memorable meal!
(4)Steve O.
We found this restaurant on a top 10 list for Portland and indeed it belonged there. My wife and I plus 2 of our kids were vacationing in ME and ate there this past Wednesday. 3 of is had the Pan Seared Gnocchi's and my wife had the Scallops with prosecco cream. We had the flourless chocolate tort for desert. Everything was excellent. Service was great. Prices reasonable. We arrived without a reservation and were seated promptly and were not rushed out.
(5)Missus F.
i would move to portland for this restaurant. i'm not even kidding. they made me one of the best meals i've ever had in my entire life. it started with bread and oil, like all meals should. we got the antipasto plate and that has an entire head of roasted garlic on it (perfect with the bread and oil), which i could seriously live off exclusively for the rest of my life. the antipasto plate had so much cured meat and roasted vegetable goodness, and the prosciutto was sliced perfectly. the panzanella was SO TASTY in my mouth! i'm drooling thinking about it right now. who knew that bread and tomatoes and balsamic vinegar made for such a delicious mouth party? the italians, that's who. i got a fish piccata dish off the specials list. oh man oh man, can they do piccata. it should be a permanent fixture on the menu. it was a super fresh piece of fish, not too fishy tasting if you know what i mean. it came with garlic mashed potatoes (insert too many hearts here) and some lovely veggies. my husband got the cacciucco, which is a fish stew. i only had a few bites but it was delicious. the atmosphere and service made me so happy. it was very cozy and homey yet elegant. i wish i had caught our server's name because he was FANTASTIC. he was very warm and friendly for real, and i felt right at home with him instantly, like he was a family friend. he helped me decide what to order, and i almost never ask a server for help--that's how well i trusted him after just a few minutes. i had a hard time deciding because the (short) menu had too many killer offerings. i love when you have trouble deciding because everything sounds good, as opposed to everything sounding just okay. i ended up taking most of my mashed potatoes and vegetables back to our hotel, since the portions were so generous for both the antipasti and the meals. i ate all the fish there so it wouldn't stink up the room. i couldn't not finish it, that's how good it was. i truly wish we lived in portland so this could be one of my regular restaurants. dammit. I LOVE YOU, RIBOLLITA!
(5)Bryan K.
Friday night dinner in Portland, this restaurant was exactly as described. Cozy atmosphere with delicious food. We all enjoyed our meals and loved it. Our waiter was so nice and the food was top notch. My mom had teh eggplant dish that proved to be a monster (bring your appetite). Overall a great place and right next to Duck Fat, so it is off the beaten path somewhat.
(4)Doug D.
One of the better Italian places I've been to. It's the kind of hole in the wall place you might encounter in Boston's North End, with a handful of tables in close quarters. The food was very very good, and worth the fairly long wait. I had the eggplant ribolitta, which was a belly buster plate of eggplant rolled around mountains of cheese and spinach, on a bed of angel hair pasta with a very good tomato sauce. The ambiance was simple, and The waiter was brisk but polite and efficient,
(4)Barbara W.
My husband and I were visiting the area for a few days. I picked this restaurant because of the good reviews on Yelp. Maybe we would've given a good review, too, if it wasn't for our waiter. When he described the salad special, he said it came with shaved romano cheese. I ordered it, but specifically told him I cannot have cheese. When my soup came, it was covered with cheese. OK, I let that go and just didn't eat it. When our waiter came to take away the dishes, he never even asked why I didn't eat the soup. Also, even though our waiter wrote down our orders, he came back about fifteen minutes later and asked my husband what he ordered. A little weird but that's OK. The kicker was when, another fifteen minutes later, he brought our meals over, mine was covered in cheese! When I reminded him I couldn't have cheese, he apologized profusely and took my plate away. My husband watched him go back to the kitchen, scrape the cheese off of the top of my pasta and bring it to the chef to poor some sauce on top of it! My husband proceeded to go to the kitchen, call him out on it, and ask for our check. We paid and left. Cannot believe a server could be that inattentive, inept and dishonest.
(1)Kelly R.
My fiancee and I are big fans of the Portland area and like to spend weekends there when we have the time. As such, we've fallen into a bit of a rut in terms of experiencing the food scene. This last time we decided to branch out and try something new and decided to go with Ribollita on the recommendation of a friend. We were not steered wrong and very much enjoyed our meal in this quaint and humble establishment. In walking through the door for our 7:30 dinner reservation, it felt like we had walked into a private dining experience; It was cozy and filled with personality. We were seated at a table for two in front of a window that looked out onto the street. We perused the menu and ordered a bottle of Sangiovese to get things started in addition to a plate of their steamed mussels and the polenta encrusted calamari. The red was nice and had great character and both the mussels and calamari were done exceptionally well. The calamari really stood out for me as it was tender and flavorful - not overpowered or overcooked to the consistency of rubber (like many places seem to do). For main dishes we kept it simple and comforting, both opting for pasta dishes. My fiancee ordered the cannelloni with a pork filling and I ordered the scallops with prosecco cream over handmade fettucine. *Now, the dishes took a little while to come to us, but that's because the kitchen is small, manned by a few people, and the pastas are made by hand when you order them. Trust me, it is worth the wait as fresh hand made pasta blows that boxed pre-made stuff out of the water!* To end the evening we ordered desserts and dopio espressos. Bottom line: The quarters are small and intimate and the food is worth the wait! The atmosphere is delightful and relaxing and in my opinion you can't go wrong with any of their menu items as they all seem to be made with great care. Enjoy!
(4)steve b.
The food was OK, I would stay that if you had to great in Portland this is a option but don't go out of your way to eat here.
(3)Paul G.
The food and the service was outstanding!!
(5)Arden M.
When you take price into account this may be the best restaurant in Portland. Great Italian food at a reasonable price. Just make sure to get a reservation as it is small and fills up quickly.
(5)Chris R.
Good food - excellent value. Mussels for an appetizer were just terrific - thank God for the rustic bread on the table to sop up every bit of the broth. Caramelized onion, feta and black olive tart was excellent as well. I had the Osso Buco with polenta, it was just OK (may simply have been too warm an evening to truly enjoy Osso Buco). My wife had the homemade gnocchi with pancetta and fresh peas, and that was outstanding, and a much better fit for the weather. Homemade espresso ice cream was heaven. All in all, excellent dinner for 4, including 3 apps, 4 entrees and two desserts, along with two full bottles of wine and a couple of individual glasses - tab comes to $200 without tip. Better than a sharp stick in the eye for sure! Will definitely return.
(4)Bob H.
Wow! We stumbled onto this restaurant and I can't believe what we've been missing. The food was amazing from the pear appetizer to the chocolate tort desert. I had the squash raviolo and my girlfriend had the scallops fettucini with a very lite cream sauce both were outstanding. The service was excellent, the restaurant is small so if your reservation is at 7 don't arrive early there really isn't a place to wait for your table.
(4)Julie C.
Great restaurant! Salads all very good. Caesar a bit heavy on dressing but great flavors. Calamari good but could have used a dipping sauce. Scallops in cream sauce were out of this world! Fettuccini Alfredo was good but compared to the scallops was forgettable. Maple cheesecake and tiramisu were both amazing. We will be back!
(4)Michael C.
I have been here for dinner twice. The first time, we were disappointed. The food was over cooked, the service was only fair. We had planned not to return. Two months later, our friends asked us out for dinner and picked here. The food and service was outstanding. So I guess they are batting .500 (not bad) and we will return.
(4)DS M.
A fantastic Italian restaurant! Atmosphere was great -- cozy, cute, and comfortable. It was packed on a Saturday night when we went, so reservations are a must. Food was outstanding. The Caesar salad was great, and both entrees we had (ravioli and gnocchi) were both excellent (my wife still hasn't stopped raving about the gnocchi). The service was a little slow, but we weren't in a rush so it was nice. Overall, a fabulous restaurant that we plan to visit whenever we're in Portland.
(5)A A.
Ribollita is excellent. We made reservations ahead of time because this place is tiny(seats about 12) but we lucked out with the seat by the window. Very cozy atmosphere. Wait staff was extremely helpful when I was choosing my entre. I couldn't believe how reasonable the bill was. Ribollita gets a 10.
(5)Seth D.
Surprisingly awesome! We had a late reservation and thought the staff may have been burnt out that late at night, wrong! Had a grilled tomato in cheese app, simple but very good. The gnocchi was good, but the pasta dish I had was very good. We skipped desert, opting for a second drink. When the bill came I was very surprised, at how reasonable it was.
(5)Pinky T.
Ribollita... excellent meal. I started off with a glass of chianti ($7.50), and the lady had a glass of pinot grigio ($5.25). We tried the polenta crusted calamari (~$9) with a creamy aioli dipping sauce (3 stars, it was okay, nothing special), and the namesake of the restaurant; the Ribollita soup (~$6). The soup was a bread and vegetable soup, tuscan style, and... wow. Excellent, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It was unique, interesting, extremely delicious. Skip the calamari, try the Ribollita, and maybe start off with the mussels or clams instead. Excellent. They had an excellent selection of specials; two with veal that sounded incredible. A veal and fontina cheese stuffed canneloni, then an interesting ravioli which I forget the details of. I heard rave reviews of their fennel and blood orange salad, but I didn't try that. Instead, I dove into their "North End Linguini" ($18.95) while the girlfriend had Romano and White Bean Ravioli ($14.50) in a buttery balsamic brown sauce. She was glad she tried it, but it wasn't her taste. I thought the sauce was fantastic, but I'm not a huge fan of cheese so I can't be impartial in reviewing that dish. If you're a cheese fan and a foodie, it was excellent. My dish was five stars. Fresh seafood, excellent thin red sauce. It came with clams, calamari, mussels, scallops. The scallops were tender and flavorful, the mussels and clams tasting as fresh as I've tasted, and the calamari was wonderful. We ended with the most delicious tiramisu ($5-6) I've EVER (EVER) tasted, by far the highlight of the meal, holy cow wonderful, still smiling thinking about it. Great service, friendly staff. Make sure you make reservations; it was still packed at 9:15ish when we came in on Saturday night. Small, intimate restaurant. It was a great experience for us, the food was great, service was great, food was original and tasty.
(5)michael w.
we have eaten here many times over the years. the food is outstanding and reasonably priced. however, service can be a problem. go early and generally everything runs smoothly. however, last night we dined around 7:30pm and service was a disaster. slow and inept. probably a new server. and not enough wait staff for the number of tables in this very small restaurant. additional tables on the sidewalk during warm months probably contributes to the problem.
(4)Troy D.
The best place to eat in Portland hands down !! Chef Kevin kicks ass !! Never disappointed. With over a million places to eat in Portland this place is still my favorite spot. Never have had a bad meal or service. 10 stars !!!
(5)Julie G.
This was a great yelp find, we made reservations for a Saturday night. We had a grilled tomato salad, the pasta was so delicious, the food was perfect. All local sourced ingredients, very fresh. The flavors of the raw ingredients are expressed in every dish. Relaxed friendly waitstaff, small space, good wine.
(5)Tammy S.
excellent Italian, gnocchi was incredible, the wine is nice, the waitstaff is very attentive. It's not always the fastest delivery of food, but once it arrives you forgot you ever had to wait - my fav Italian spot in Portland.
(5)Jaws W.
We had a large group of ten people and although our seating was very cozy, we had a great time! We had excellent service. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable when it came to the food menu. He did not have an extensive knowledge of the wine menu because he himself did not drink, but he was quick to get someone who did. It was truly a pleasure being served by him. As for the food, I cannot say enough about how good the short ribs were - excellent flavor and tender fall-off-the-bone meat. Other people at the table had rave reviews of the gnocchi - perfectly cooked and incredibly fresh vegetables. The risotto and beef cheeks left something to be desired. While the meat was tender, the risotto seemed overdone. All in all it was a wonderful experience! And I'd like to thank the restaurant for putting up with such a large and boisterous group!
(4)Alana S.
OMG! My boyfriend and I are visiting Portland for a bit and stumbled upon this restaurant. We were expecting a rather pricey, but delicious meal. Well, it certainly was delicious, but the prices were so low, especially considering portion size. I got the roast chicken puttanesca... It was so tastes. The sauce was delicate and savory. The chicken was moist and cooked to perfection. The fresh pasta was exactly what i expected from an authentic italian restaurant. I couldn't even eat half of this giant portion. My boyfriend got the short ribs... No need for a knife as they should be. The sauce was sweet and savory, and when combined with the delightful, fluffy, mashed potatoes the flavor was to die for. Wine list was extensive and not over priced. Very cute decor. The kitchen is small, so you know every item you get is made to order. We are planning our next trip to Portland just to go to ribollitas again, but until then, the leftovers will have to do!
(5)Tom R.
This restaurant is in what appears to be a former residence. For a starter I had the panzanella, which was described on the menu as "tomato and bread salad". This made me expect something with the same description on a the menu of a restaurant that is local to me. It was nothing like I expected but was good. My main dish was the saltimbocca, which is a pretty standard dish. It was very well done, though. The garnishes that came with it with it were excellent. Being a lover of both spinach and pine nuts, I ordered the sauteed spinach, which was excellent. The restaurant has nice ambiance and it is easy to carry on a conversation.
(4)Robin W.
Loved this cozy little gem. Food was great and very reasonable. We will certainly be back.
(5)AB C.
Great meal! The service was a bit slow, but I guess you could say that they promote a relaxing atmosphere and encourage you to relax and take your time. Menu is pretty creative. Plenty of veggie options. Nice ambience - quite cozy! Definitely a "special occassions" kind of restaurant, but why not have a nice date once in a while?
(5)E F.
My favorite Italian restaurant in Portland. To begin with you walk in and it's tiny and adorable with white table cloths on the tables. The waitstaff is very casual with jeans and usually black t-shirts and are always very nice. Their specials are always wonderful...if there are any left! My favorite is their caramelized onion tart for a starter...to die for. I've definitely been there with friends and ordered starters and a main course only to have them box the main course so we can have room for dessert! Enjoy!
(5)