Portofino's Restaurant (Portofino (Lytham))

Member Name: abyznw

Product:	Portofino (Lytham)
Date:	07/02/09 (210 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great food, nice atmosphere

Disadvantages: They made mistakes with our bill

What: Portofino's is a Mediterranean restaurant in the centre of Lytham. It is open 12pm -2.30pm & 6pm -11pm everyday except Sundays, when it is open 12pm - 9pm.

Where: It is situated on Henry Street, Lytham, Lancashire, FY8 5LE. Tel: 01253 795890.

Good points:
I have been to Portofino's twice now, and both times I was very impressed with the food. It offers a huge range of mostly Italian dishes, and as a vegetarian I was surprised to find such a wide range of pasta and pizza options. Last time I went I had the Tortellini alla crema, (a Spinach and ricotta tortellini) - it was yummy and a generously sized portion. Main courses range between £8-19.95, although most are around the £9 mark, which I think is great value for money considering the quality. There is loads of choice in starters - and 4 different kinds of garlic bread! Desserts are a little expensive but yum all the same - I had a delicious selection of strawberries and ice cream.

The atmosphere is always very pleasant; it tends to be mostly Lytham locals out for people's birthdays or for a special treat, as it is one of the more up market eateries in the area and is often busy (so be sure to book in advance). The décor is beautiful - very clean cut and modern, and the lighting creates a really nice atmosphere in the place, there are two floors and an open plan kitchen.
Overall I was impressed with the service, despite some mistakes (see below) the staff are always friendly and they serve you quickly.

Bad points:
One of the main gripes I have with Portofino's is their service when it comes to paying. Both times I have been they have got the bill wrong, first they mixed us up with another table, and the other time, if we hadn't have checked the bill properly we would have ended up paying for a £30 bottle of wine which we hadn't had. Although I might have just been unlucky, I would strongly recommend checking your bill before paying.

This is pretty trivial but it annoys me that for some unknown reason, if you are seated in the upstairs part of the restaurant you can't order pizza! Last time I went they had no record of our reservation so had to stick us upstairs rather than down, and although none of us wanted pizza, it would have been nice to have the option, and it seems like such an odd rule!

Overall: A nice Italian restaurant that is reasonably priced and offers a range of tasty dishes. I wouldn't recommend it to young families but for a romantic meal or special occasion it is perfect. On the downside the service is pretty incompetent at times, although the staff are always friendly!

Summary: A nice restaurant in the centre of Lytham