.jpg) Reopened in September with a fresh look and a fresh menu featuring – you guessed it – fresh fare, Caffe Portobello offers inspired cuisine in a sophisticated and chic atmosphere. The black-and-white photos of a grand-scale Italian wedding that adorn the walls add a personal touch to the environment—they were taken by photography hobbyist Kari Kinney, who happens to co-own the restaurant with her husband, Bill Wallace.
The restaurant boasts bar seating, tables and plush high booths that act as perfect people-watching perches. Outside, the ample patio affords incredible views of the natural desert environs and the surrounding majestic McDowell Mountains.
One of the restaurant's eager-to-please servers took us through our culinary journey on the night we dined, which happened to be half-price-bottle-of-wine night—a legacy that has been maintained since the restaurant opened its doors. The server had a friendly and helpful attitude through out the night, made some fantastic menu suggestions and never allowed our water glasses to get the least bit empty.
The server’s guidance through the appetizer portion of the menu was spot on. The sumptuous baked brie was served warm with whole roasted garlic gloves. The combined flavors of the pungent garlic and creamy brie were fantastic when spread across the accompanying thin and crispy crostinis—the textures played delightfully in our mouths, and we found ourselves grappling for the last crostini.
The soup of the day was tomato bisque, and we couldn't pass that up. Fresh and rich, but not heavy, the tomato flavor was ripe and delicious. It served as a perfect segue to the main entrees.
Some of the more interesting menu choices include the east end burger, chicken parmesan, which is baked not fried, and the salmon farfalle. My dining companion selected the New York strip, a 12-ounce cut prepared exactly to his specifications. The fresh, hand-cut fries were the perfect side to complement the steak. This is an ideal choice for meat-and-potatoes lovers.
The chicken saltimbocca, prosciutto-wrapped chicken with fresh sage and buerre blanc, piqued my interest, and when it arrived at the table, it awoke my taste buds. When prepared, the salty Italian ham took on a crispy texture, yet the chicken was as tender as can be. I suggest the sautéed asparagus to enhance the flavors of this dish.
The best part about dining at Caffe Portobello, besides the food, is that you can count on some sort of live entertainment four nights out of the week. The night we dined, the Blue Tone Trio rocked the house with some incredible jazzy tunes. We rounded out our dining experience with rich, strong coffee and delicious gelato brought in from local vendor Berto's. The pumpkin spice is a seasonal specialty, but the unbelievable pistachio is there to stay. I highly recommend finishing your meal with a few scoops. You can also look forward to sampling many of Caffe Portobello’s new homemade desserts.
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About the Author
Name: Molly Cerreta Smith
Phone: 602.677.9441
Molly Cerreta Smith has enjoyed a career in the publishing industry for more than eight years. As an editor of several local and esteemed magazines, she has had the opportunity throughout her career to meet many local celebrities, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, and chefs. A Valley native, Smith enjoys writing about the city in which she grew up; she particularly loves writing about food and travel destinations. Outside of writing, Smith loves exploring the playground with her 15-month-old son, making dinner with her husband, and reading.
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