Iorio Restaurant

From the moment we walked in, we had outstanding service. My husband and I sat at the bar while we were waiting for our table. It was so comfortable there, that after sharing a bottle of wine and some great gnochi and squash appetizers, we decided to finish our meal there. The roasted chicken was outstanding and the pasta tasted great and was fresh. We felt very pampered there and all of the staff was very attentive, while at the same time leaving us our space. I highly recommend it here and can't wait until we go back! more

From the moment we walked in, we had outstanding service. My husband and I sat at the bar while we were waiting for our table. It was so comfortable there, that after sharing a bottle of wine and some great gnochi and squash appetizers, we decided to finish our meal there. The roasted chicken was outstanding and the pasta tasted great and was fresh. We felt very pampered there and all of the staff was very attentive, while at the same time leaving us our space. I highly recommend it here and can't wait until we go back! more

I took my wife to this place last Friday and we had an amazing time. The nochi, the spaghetti, the rib-eye were to die for... while our waitress was busy another waiter jumped in to get our cocktails going and custom made our drinks. Great romantic experience, gotta go!!! Pros: Great food, great service, great wine, great cocktails... great experience Cons: none more

I took my wife to this place last Friday and we had an amazing time. The nochi, the spaghetti, the rib-eye were to die for... while our waitress was busy another waiter jumped in to get our cocktails going and custom made our drinks. Great romantic experience, gotta go!!! Pros: Great food, great service, great wine, great cocktails... great experience more

I took my wife to this place last Friday and we had an amazing time. The nochi, the spaghetti, the rib-eye were to die for... while our waitress was busy another waiter jumped in to get our cocktails going and custom made our drinks. Great romantic experience, gotta go!!! Pros: Great food, great service, great wine, great cocktails... great experience Cons: none more

When we walked through the doors I wasn't sure if my toddler would be welcomed with open arms, but my fears were put to rest quickly. They have a small basket of toys and books for the youngsters to keep themselves busy, a kid's menu, and a fold-out changing table in the restroom. Beyond my amazement about the restaurant being kid-friendly, the food and the service were exceptional!! There was the foccacia with warm spread and then a garbanzo salad to nibble on. The most delectable gnocchi ever tasted - a person in my party who has been often to Italy said that these were the best she'd ever had. The Ragout of Lamb was complex and tasty, the Pan Seared Duck Breast was tender and paired well with cherries. However, I must say that the Eggplant and Goat Cheese left so much to be desired - order something else. The wine selections were average and we got a bottle for the table that was reasonably priced and very good. We all enjoyed the experience and we would definitely go back. more

When we walked through the doors I wasn't sure if my toddler would be welcomed with open arms, but my fears were put to rest quickly. They have a small basket of toys and books for the youngsters to keep themselves busy, a kid's menu, and a fold-out changing table in the restroom. Beyond my amazement about the restaurant being kid-friendly, the food and the service were exceptional!! There was the foccacia with warm spread and then a garbanzo salad to nibble on. The most delectable gnocchi ever tasted - a person in my party who has been often to Italy said that these were the best she'd ever had. The Ragout of Lamb was complex and tasty, the Pan Seared Duck Breast was tender and paired well with cherries. However, I must say that the Eggplant and Goat Cheese left so much to be desired - order something else. The wine selections were average and we got a bottle for the table that was reasonably priced and very good. We all enjoyed the experience and we would definitely go back. more

When we walked through the doors I wasn't sure if my toddler would be welcomed with open arms, but my fears were put to rest quickly. They have a small basket of toys and books for the youngsters to keep themselves busy, a kid's menu, and a fold-out changing table in the restroom. Beyond my amazement about the restaurant being kid-friendly, the food and the service were exceptional!! There was the foccacia with warm spread and then a garbanzo salad to nibble on. The most delectable gnocchi ever tasted - a person in my party who has been often to Italy said that these were the best she'd ever had. The Ragout of Lamb was complex and tasty, the Pan Seared Duck Breast was tender and paired well with cherries. However, I must say that the Eggplant and Goat Cheese left so much to be desired - order something else. The wine selections were average and we got a bottle for the table that was reasonably priced and very good. We all enjoyed the experience and we would definitely go back. more

This relatively new restaurant on Hawthorne in SE Portland was recommended as a "romantic" restaurant by CitySearch. We arrived and were seated immediately at a candle lit table in a relatively small and quaint dining room. From beginning to end our meal was spectacular. From appetizers, including the herb gnocchi's and focaccia bread with squash/garlic puree, to my spectacular Osso Bucco and Judy's Lamb Ragout...my goodness, it just didn't stop. Chris, the chef, came by our table twice to welcome us and chat. No hurry whatsoever. Our salads were subtle and perfectly balanced--mine the whole leaf Romaine Caesar and Judy's the Beet Salad. The wine list is manageable with reasonably priced bottles. We took glasses of Chianti and were enchanted. At the end of this scrumptious meal, I decided to look at the desert menu. My goodness, cookies and milk. What I didn't know was these cookies were cooked as I ordered them, three huge chocolate chips arriving at our table hot and gooey with a glass of ice cold milk. By this point it was clear that this was a restaurant that paid attention to the very smallest details. The coffee was lilly--just delicious. I've written many review and have been searching for the best in Portland. Iorio's is it. Reasonable prices, terrific variety of creative appetizers, pasta and entrees to choose from, gorgeous plating and impeccable but comfortable service. We cannot recommend it highly enough. We will be back often enough to try everything on the menu. A romantic, charming and thoroughly delicious experience. Pros: Every single element as close to perfect as you could want...even their own parking! Cons: Not one single one. more

This relatively new restaurant on Hawthorne in SE Portland was recommended as a ""romantic"" restaurant by CitySearch. We arrived and were seated immediately at a candle lit table in a relatively small and quaint dining room. From beginning to end our meal was spectacular. From appetizers, including the herb gnocchi's and focaccia bread with squash/garlic puree, to my spectacular Osso Bucco and Judy's Lamb Ragout...my goodness, it just didn't stop. Chris, the chef, came by our table twice to welcome us and chat. No hurry whatsoever. Our salads were subtle and perfectly balanced--mine the whole leaf Romaine Caesar and Judy's the Beet Salad. The wine list is manageable with reasonably priced bottles. We took glasses of Chianti and were enchanted. Pros: Every single element as close to perfect as you could want...even their own parking! Cons: Not one single one. more

This relatively new restaurant on Hawthorne in SE Portland was recommended as a "romantic" restaurant by CitySearch. We arrived and were seated immediately at a candle lit table in a relatively small and quaint dining room. From beginning to end our meal was spectacular. From appetizers, including the herb gnocchi's and focaccia bread with squash/garlic puree, to my spectacular Osso Bucco and Judy's Lamb Ragout...my goodness, it just didn't stop. Chris, the chef, came by our table twice to welcome us and chat. No hurry whatsoever. Our salads were subtle and perfectly balanced--mine the whole leaf Romaine Caesar and Judy's the Beet Salad. The wine list is manageable with reasonably priced bottles. We took glasses of Chianti and were enchanted. At the end of this scrumptious meal, I decided to look at the desert menu. My goodness, cookies and milk. What I didn't know was these cookies were cooked as I ordered them, three huge chocolate chips arriving at our table hot and gooey with a glass of ice cold milk. By this point it was clear that this was a restaurant that paid attention to the very smallest details. The coffee was lilly--just delicious. I've written many review and have been searching for the best in Portland. Iorio's is it. Reasonable prices, terrific variety of creative appetizers, pasta and entrees to choose from, gorgeous plating and impeccable but comfortable service. We cannot recommend it highly enough. We will be back often enough to try everything on the menu. A romantic, charming and thoroughly delicious experience. Pros: Every single element as close to perfect as you could want...even their own parking! Cons: Not one single one. more

The most complimenting salads and deserts of all the restaurants in town... they also poor a perfect scotch on the rocks. The Chef seems to go that extra mile to keep things fresh and new, without disappointing past memories. Mind you, I go there about 4 -5 times a year... I'd go more often but Italian isn't the only Cuisine I eat. I have been to others in town, but I dine alone or maybe with one other for the simple reason that I do not want to have to be distracted. It is warm, inviting, and as I said things others pay little attention to, are just as important here. A fine scotch in a glass that only such a drink deserves, the only salad with beets I've ever enjoyed completely, and deserts that never stop surprising me. These are things beyond the meal others seem to toss in by comparison.... it's the complete meal effort that keeps me returning. Oh and it doesn't hurt that from work/downtown it isn't clear out in Northwestern California. Pros: ambience, service, attention to details, accessible from mid-town Cons: It would be great if the city would allow awnings to extend out further from the building in this part of town. more

The most complimenting salads and deserts of all the restaurants in town... they also poor a perfect scotch on the rocks. The Chef seems to go that extra mile to keep things fresh and new, without disappointing past memories. Mind you, I go there about 4 -5 times a year... I'd go more often but Italian isn't the only Cuisine I eat. I have been to others in town, but I dine alone or maybe with one other for the simple reason that I do not want to have to be distracted. It is warm, inviting, and as I said things others pay little attention to, are just as important here. A fine scotch in a glass that only such a drink deserves, the only salad with beets I've ever enjoyed completely, and deserts that never stop surprising me. These are things beyond the meal others seem to toss in by comparison.... it's the complete meal effort that keeps me returning. Oh and it doesn't hurt that from work/downtown it isn't clear out in Northwestern California. Pros: ambience, service, attention to details, accessible from mid-town Cons: It would be great if the city would allow awnings to extend out further from the building in this part of town. more

The most complimenting salads and deserts of all the restaurants in town... they also poor a perfect scotch on the rocks. The Chef seems to go that extra mile to keep things fresh and new, without disappointing past memories. Mind you, I go there about 4 -5 times a year... I'd go more often but Italian isn't the only Cuisine I eat. I have been to others in town, but I dine alone or maybe with one other for the simple reason that I do not want to have to be distracted. It is warm, inviting, and as I said things others pay little attention to, are just as important here. A fine scotch in a glass that only such a drink deserves, the only salad with beets I've ever enjoyed completely, and deserts that never stop surprising me. These are things beyond the meal others seem to toss in by comparison.... it's the complete meal effort that keeps me returning. Oh and it doesn't hurt that from work/downtown it isn't clear out in Northwestern California. Pros: ambience, service, attention to details, accessible from mid-town Cons: It would be great if the city would allow awnings to extend out further from the building in this part of town. more

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I had read the many reviews on City Search and decided to take my wife here. I was a little disappointed in the atmosphere. It is very nice and clean inside but I wish it was a little more romantic. We were seated at a table in the middle of the room and it was pretty loud inside. There are no dividers between any tables and there are no cozy little booths (which is my own definition of romantic). We had water poured for us and we looked over the menu for 10 minutes or so and were never approached by our waiter for any hints or guidance. We were not even sure who our waiter or waitress was going to be. Since no one was approaching us we stacked the menus up and placed them on the corner of the table as a hint that we were ready to order. Our waiter (Ryan) finally approached us and asked if we were ready or if we had any questions. I was kind of surprised that there was no greeting or introduction by him. My wife and I were a little skeptical about the restaurant at this point. I ordered the chef's special with the glazed chicken and my wife ordered a pasta dish. Luckily this is where our experience started to change for the better. The appetizers were wonderful. The bread with the squash butter was very tasty. Ryan became more animated if you asked him questions and drew him out. He knew a lot about the food dishes and was pleasant once he started talking. The glazed chicken with polenta was spectacular, I have to say that was one of the best food dishes I have ever tasted. It was full of a blend of wonderful flavors. My wife's pasta was very good but not as good as my chicken:) We will definitely return to Iorio's. I think it was a very good value for the quality of the food. Service was good as far as they took away the empty dishes right away and kept water glasses filled. It was just the initial feelings of being ignored and no welcoming to the restaurant or introduction by the waiter. Pros: the food was spectacular Cons: service more

I had read the many reviews on City Search and decided to take my wife here. I was a little disappointed in the atmosphere. It is very nice and clean inside but I wish it was a little more romantic. We were seated at a table in the middle of the room and it was pretty loud inside. There are no dividers between any tables and there are no cozy little booths (which is my own definition of romantic). We had water poured for us and we looked over the menu for 10 minutes or so and were never approached by our waiter for any hints or guidance. We were not even sure who our waiter or waitress was going to be. Since no one was approaching us we stacked the menus up and placed them on the corner of the table as a hint that we were ready to order. Our waiter (Ryan) finally approached us and asked if we were ready or if we had any questions. I was kind of surprised that there was no greeting or introduction by him. My wife and I were a little skeptical about the restaurant at this point. Pros: the food was spectacular Cons: service more

I had read the many reviews on City Search and decided to take my wife here. I was a little disappointed in the atmosphere. It is very nice and clean inside but I wish it was a little more romantic. We were seated at a table in the middle of the room and it was pretty loud inside. There are no dividers between any tables and there are no cozy little booths (which is my own definition of romantic). We had water poured for us and we looked over the menu for 10 minutes or so and were never approached by our waiter for any hints or guidance. We were not even sure who our waiter or waitress was going to be. Since no one was approaching us we stacked the menus up and placed them on the corner of the table as a hint that we were ready to order. Our waiter (Ryan) finally approached us and asked if we were ready or if we had any questions. I was kind of surprised that there was no greeting or introduction by him. My wife and I were a little skeptical about the restaurant at this point. I ordered the chef's special with the glazed chicken and my wife ordered a pasta dish. Luckily this is where our experience started to change for the better. The appetizers were wonderful. The bread with the squash butter was very tasty. Ryan became more animated if you asked him questions and drew him out. He knew a lot about the food dishes and was pleasant once he started talking. The glazed chicken with polenta was spectacular, I have to say that was one of the best food dishes I have ever tasted. It was full of a blend of wonderful flavors. My wife's pasta was very good but not as good as my chicken:) We will definitely return to Iorio's. I think it was a very good value for the quality of the food. Service was good as far as they took away the empty dishes right away and kept water glasses filled. It was just the initial feelings of being ignored and no welcoming to the restaurant or introduction by the waiter. Pros: the food was spectacular Cons: service more