Portofino - Colchester

We ordered the mega carbonara, it was horrible, tasted sweet

Booked a table for this evening. Arrived five minutes early to find the restaurant in darkness and no sign of life and no notice on the door. Really angry. This is no way to run a business

Ordered over the phone to collect. Arrived at said time, the food wasn 't quite ready, but the owner came out and gave me a drink apologising for the wait. Whilst I was waiting for the food it was explained to me about the menu and how a lot of it is made from scratch. The menu 'specials ' board looked fantastic. The food itself again lovely, fresh, tasty. Will definitely be returning to eat in very soon!

Booked table for 7pm last Saturday of which they confirmed,got there and it was all in darkness on door closed Tried calling but no answer, about hour later I called again and someone picked up the phone. I told them we booked a table for 7pm, and their excuse was we were on a delivery as am the only one that can drive Not good enough will not recommend any one

I read the “ excellent “ reviews so took the bull by the horns and booked. Like the reviewers we went to the original Portofino but this visit bears no relation to those “excellent “ reviews. It would be interesting for those 6 reviewers to revisit and then comment. We were the only four diners there and when you’re sitting in an aircraft hanger it can be daunting. The menu was more fast//takeaway food with a smattering of restaurant dishes worth trying. The lad now running the place said it was trying to be all things to all people. From my perspective that route won’t work. Anyway we ordered, all were ordering pasta dishes, mine came out first, my wife’s turned up at least 10 minutes later our fellow diners were equally spaced out at 10 minute intervals. This meant that I had finished mine by the time the last arrived. We ordered a Rioja wine but he couldn’t find it !! The chalkboard looked like play school had written it ! The good news was that the food was overall good . Would my wife and I return, I really don’t think so