Ernestos Italian Restaurant

I discovered Ernesto's about two years ago, and now eat there all the time! It is the first place I recommend to friends and family when they come to visit, and although I can't stay away from a specifc dish and therefore order it all the time (the seafood fettuccine is AMAZING), I sample from everyone else's plate and have never been disappointed. The chicken dishes are the most tender you will find anywhere, and even the basic spaghetti and meatballs is out of this world. The soups are delicious, homemade concoctions, and the salads are always fresh. The hard part is not filling up on the incredible foccacia bread before the meal. One warning: they have recently added to their banquet space, so sometimes the parking lot is very crowded and makes it look like there will be a long wait, when in reality there are plenty of seats available in the dining room. If you want great food, generous portions, friendly service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere, Ernesto's is your place! Oh--and the cappuccino ice cream is a must for dessert. more

Ernestos is a great family owned restuarant, that has been around for years. Everything is hand made, and made to perfection. I am a very picky eater, but I love many of their dishes. Pizza amazing, spagetti awesome, salad bar..EXCEPTIONAL!! Not many places now adays have a salad bar..You have to try it. Come in and become a regular like my family. Pros: Food, location, convience and timely more

If you are a huge fan of the green stuff, pesto, that is, then come here! I have gotten the linguini with pesto sauce every time I have come here, because I'm scared to try anything new!\r \r This place is way cute and has really friendly waiters and waitresses. Would be a perfect spot to come for a somewhat casual date. more

Li ved near Ernesto's for may years. Went a couple times. It is very typical american style italian food. Nothing special. The idea this is anywhere near the best Itialian food in Portland is ..... silly. It is better than Olive garden or Spag. Warehouse, which doesn't say a lot. Go if you want ok pasta. Otherwise, try all the good places in PDX. Pros: Better than Olive Garden Cons: Worse than many, many good resturants more

Ernesto's has quickly become our favorite Italian restaurant. Having eaten both lunch and dinner there several times now, we can hardly wait for our next visit. The staff is so courteous, friendly and attentive that you will be made to feel at home. This is a lovely family restaurant with a warm atmosphere, the menu is varied and there is something for every palate. I particularly enjoy the Marsala dishes and theres is almost always one Marsala special. The mushrooms are fresh and cooked so that the texture as well as the flavor are simply divine. I've been told that the recipes are, "old country, third generation, handed down from the Grandmother." Tastes like it to me! There are several lovely wines on the menu and my personal favorite is the Ray Station Merlot. Some of my business associates have frequently "done lunch" at Ernesto's and I always hear nice comments from them and their guests. The restaurant offers a modestly priced buffet during lunch hours. Speaking of business, this restaurant also has some lovely spaces for meetings, parties and banquets. If you enjoy Italian food, you owe it to yourself to visit Ernesto's! more

We have been going to Ernesto's for about 4 years now. It is the ONLY italian restaurant we go to. People are blinded by commercials for places such as The Olive Garden, that s the fakest most americanized italian food ever. Ernesto's is like eating at an Italian Grandmother's house. The food is delicious, the portions are large, and the service is prompt and courteous. They have wonderful take-out as well. Pros: wonderful dishes and great service Cons: none more

I've been going to Ernestos since I was a little girl and love it as much now as I did then. Their pizza is absoultely wonderful as is all of their pastas. The staff is super nice and the atmosphere is great too! Pros: Great Food & Service Cons: none! more

After eating at Ernestos for many years, I felt it was time to write and let you know what a gem this restaurant is. The food is consistently good and the service is friendly and attentive. Special requests are always met even with the restaurant is busy...which is most of the time. In the modern, hectic world we live in, Ernestos is a breath of fresh air...like going home for a good meal. As soon as you are seated you are met with a smiling server with a warm basked of delicious focaccia bread asking what you would like to drink. The service never falters. Pasta dishes arrive piping hot and delicious. The pizza is thick crusted, and delicious in texture and flavor and toppings are highest quality. Once you try this restaurant, you will go back over and over again!! more

We've been eating at Ernesto's for years. The food is uniformly good, the service is very good, and the prices are moderate. Anyone looking for a traditional Italian meal should give them a try. They won't be disappointed. The spinach salad is my wife's favorite of any restaurant anywhere. Pros: Service, food Cons: parking more

It is seriously worth coming to this restaurant just for the soup. I can?t say the fare is unique or innovative but it is standard and good. If you are hungry for basic Italian food and want to have great food for a reasonable price, this is the place. I like eating in the main restaurant where the service is friendly and the atmosphere is fairly romantic. Friends of mine prefer the bar which is a place for the regulars and those who like that sort of atmosphere. This place is my favorite standby Italian restaurant in Portland. Pros: Minestrone Soup, Food, Service Cons: Parking can be hard sometimes more

Definitely, worth trying their lunch buffet for $7.50. Other than what they didn't have, their pizza crust and meatballs (meatcake) are my only complaints. Pros: Ambiance, value, mostly good quality. Cons: Cakelike meatballs, pizza crust, limited selection (buffet). more

We never would have tried Ernesto's if it weren't on the passport unlimited dining card. It's in a stip mall and we thought it was a chain restaurant. Boy were we surprised! What a nice family place, and you go home full plus left overs. Prices are reasonable, as well. The wine list needs some sprucing up (too many grocery store wines), as well as the decor (retro 90's), but it is very, very clean and attractive for a burb-family place! Boy is service extremely good. In all honesty, the service is better than most restaurants in Portland which are more expensive and cliche. Ernesto's reminds my wife of old time "American Italian": where food is darn good, portions are plenty and you really feel like family. The spaghetti carbonara is one of the best in town, very rich, full of flavor and a meat lover's dream. We love the minestrone soup, and salads (included in your meal). The pasta dishes we've had (and we tried most) have all been superb. I also recommend the chicken/veal dishes which are tender and tasty. It can get crowded, but there is a great deal of seating. Even on the most crowded of nights, they greet and treat you with a smile and food does not suffer. We will be back and likely become regular fixtures! Pros: Spaghetti Carbonara, quality of all food, value and A++ Service Cons: Wine list (generic grocery store items), please add some unique wines to your list? more

If you like the best Italian... this is one of the best in Portland. I like the red sauce, clams and pizza and so much more... the lasagna and veal parm and picatta (veal or chicken) are the best...and I'm from back east and know Italian. The staff is very friendly yet not overbearing. The weekday lunch buffet is really good and fair priced as well. Pros: Great food/service more

the staff always willing to accomidate and very personable. The food is delicious and drinks are reasonably priced, this is a great place to bring that someone special. Pros: very fast service Cons: none more

I had the linguini with white clam sauce on Sunday 6/17/07. I must say it was very delicious. The portion was just the right size. It was not overwhelming like some restauraunts. However, it was a good size portion. The price was very reasonable as it was included the soup with my meal, which is a rare thing in restaurants today. The lingiuini was very tasty and it was surrounded by several good tasting clams. I found the sauce just like home-made. It was a great atmosphere and this is my favorite dish. Thanks Pros: ambience, value and good selection of food. Nice beer menu also Cons: none more

While not the most authentic Italian or 'NW style fusion Italian," Ernesto?s is our nearby Italian standby restaurant when we want some quick pasta or pizza, want to stay on the Westside, and don't want to spend a fortune. We've had very consistent quality every time - mostly take out, at least once a month. We even tried a pizza and really enjoyed it (veggie pizza, substitute kalamata olives for black olives - excellent). If you want a fancy, expensive Italian meal with crazy sauces and presentation, try a trendy NW boutique restaurant that will be gone in two years. If you just want a standard, no nonsense lasagna, Ernesto?s will do just fine. Pros: Convenient for take out more

I have a really hard time eating pizza from those crappy chains like Pizza Hut, thier crust is just so thin and gross it always gives me a stomach ache. So a friend told me about ernesto's and it was love at first bit! :-). There Pizza is amazing! It's not like those chain pizza places, it has alot of topping and tastes great! It's also REALLY filling! I don't think i would ever get pizza anywhere else. My fav is Canadian Bacon and Tomatoes, it's soo good and they put alot of topping on it! Eveyone should try it out! Pros: The service is great! Food is even better! Cons: none more

I ate there about 2 weeks ago on a Thursday night with my wife and 2 kids. Our waitress was courtious and accommodating. The atmosphere is not what I would call romantic. It's cliche and and a little Disney-esque. Pros: Waite staff Cons: Sub-Olive Garden type food more

I grew up in an Italian neighborhood on Chicago's South Side and am VERY picky about Italian food. Ernesto's is without a doubt THE BEST I've had since leaving Chicago! Good crisp simple salads, good foccia while you are waiting for your meal, good variety on the menu, good, solid, friendly, caring unhurried service (so you can enjoy each course), and excellent food. Reasonable prices, too. The marinara sauce is the best this side of The Mississippi River. I usually order the gnocchi - little hand-made potato dumplings surrounded by a delicious authentic marinara sauce. I also appreciate the totally-smoke-free atmosphere. I am always treated as if I were the only one dining there even when the room is packed. I have never had a bad meal at Ernesto's and will continue to eat there as long as they are around. Mangia! Pros: Great authentic food, good service, nice atmosphere, friendly staff Cons: None more

My family and I have always loved going to Ernesto's. The food is GREAT (especially the meatballs) and the atmosphere is very warm. We've always received excellent and fast service the many times we have visited, and the price is very reasonable. They also have excellent home-made bread they give you before your meal which is very tasty! I would reccomend Ernesto's to anyone who likes great italian food and a great atmosphere to eat it in! 10 out of 10 all the way. Pros: the food, service, atmosphere Cons: cant think of any more