Authentic Italian Cuisines @ Restaurant Portofino, Bangsar (Pork free)

Ciao! Speaking about Italian foods, I'm sure pizza and pasta will come across your mind instantly. To be honest, I am not really a big fan of Italian foods since I'm restricting my carb intake. However, a visit to Restaurant Portofino last weekend, completely changed my mind. 

Strategically located in Lucky Garden, Bangsar, Restaurant Portofino offers great ambiance, perfect for a romantic date, family gathering or even business lunch discussion. 

The kitchen helmed by the experienced Chef Keli, who hailed all the way from North Italy, hence you can be assured of authentic Italian cuisines at Portofino. A summer vacation in Malaysia got Chef Keli hooked with our beloved country, thus he decided to set up his restaurant here and stay for good. Hmm... how I wish I could do the same too! Nasi lemak in Italy? Lol Pun intended, here are the amazing foods we sampled that noon.  

Homemade Bruschetta with Black Olive Pate RM12.00

Crispy toasted bread generously spread with pate of black olive, garlic, extra virgin oil and Italian anchovies made a great appetizer. 

Insalata Portofino Seafood Salad RM30.00

Sauteed fresh prawns, squid rings, scallops, baby octopus served with black olives, romain lettuce, tomato, carrots, cucumber, green apple slices, red onions and capsicum, drizzled with an exquisite house dressing. 

Zuppa di Cipolle - Baked Onion Soup RM16.00
The rich and thick, hearty bouillon soup filled with the goodness of sweet onions and marsala liquor, topped with a layer of golden brown cheese.

Amazingly thick texture overwhelming with the mildly sweet caramelized onion. I'm just overwhelmed by its thickness, a soup perfect for sharing.

Ravioli di Pesce - Seafood Ravioli RM36.00
Moving on to the mains, we have this beautifully presented homemade ravioli filled with fresh lobster meat and fish, drenched in a flavourful rich lobster bisque sauce. Truly delish!

Capelli d'Angelo - Angel's Hair with Prawns and Zucchini RM38.00
Equally good, the angel hair green pasta was sauteed with garlic, chili flakes, cherry tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, zucchini and generous amount of fresh prawns. It was packed with flavour of herbs and spices with a kick of spiciness. However, it would be much better if the pasta were al dente, though.

Risotto Portofino - Seafood Risotto Traditional RM38.00

We also tried the Italian rice dish, risotto cooked with an abundance of seafoods such as fresh prawns, squids, baby octopus, mussels and scallops. Love the taste, but not the presentation! :p

Costolette d'Agnello alla Scottadito - Grilled Rack of Lamb RM58.00

Grilled rack of lamb, served with colourful sauteed vegetables and vincotto balsamic. We had it cooked medium rare, the lamb was fork tender and tasted wonderful.

Pizza Napoletana - Napoli Pizza RM34.00

For pizza, we go for something more traditional. The 12 inch thin crust pizza was abundantly topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, anchovies, black olives, capers and cherry tomatoes. It was packed with cheesy goodness and the only let down was a tad soggy crust. 

Tiramisu RM16.00

As for dessert, we picked the classic Italian favourite an indulgence of coffee, almond liquer and mascarpone cheese. One of the best tiramisu I've tasted, so deliciously rich and creamy.

Creme Brulee RM16.00

With lemon and orange zest added, the subtle hint of citrus brings a luscious dimension of flavour to the creamy creme brulee.

Affogato RM19.90

Espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a shot of Kahlua was indeed fantastic. 

Fresh Carrot Juice RM12.90

Restaurant Portofino is definitely your 'go to' restaurant for authentic and affordable Italian cuisines. Seriously, the pasta was amazing with over 13 types of homemade fresh pasta made only with flour imported from Italy. Must try includes Onion Soup, Seafood Ravioli, Angel's hair with Prawn and Zucchini, tiramisu and creme brulee.

Restaurant Portofino 
No. 1, Persiaran Ara Kiri, 
Lucky Garden, Bangsar, 
Wilayah Persekutuan, 
59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : 03-2094 8490

Business hours : 
Mon - Sun
11am - 11.30pm

Facebook : www.facebook.com/portofino.bangsar/