Porto Romano Restaurant @Mont Kiara — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

You see.. sometimes I can be the very first few to review a restaurant or I can be the last one too - I’ve come to Porto Romano once or twice in the past but I didn’t bother to take my photo or do reviews on this Italian restaurants. Not until recently that when I brought my kids for dinner at their Intermark’s outlet that it struck me that I should have done a proper review on them... especially after seeing how they managed to gobble up the whole margherita pizza in record time and kept on praising the texture and the taste of this classic Italian pizza.

Realising that their appetite is huge right after strenuous exercise, I planned a dinner here after their swimming lesson - it worked brilliantly and our dinner was satisfying and enjoyable to say the least, as I did not have to literally nag them to eat.

Porto Romano in Mont Kiara is a two-storey outlet right in front of the Banyan Mon’t Kiara condo. I simply love the atmosphere of the restaurant as soon as I stepped into it. As we were without prior reservation, we were lucky as they still have available table to seat us. And since it was festive season, the entire restaurant was decorated with Christmas decors with happy tunes playing. ▪️ pizza Hawaiian - almost the default order (apart from magherita) for the kids. Although not the classic take on the Italian style, their version which included pineapple, onion and turkey ham was good to say the least... and the portion was quite generous too! ▪️ seafood platter - I believe this is seasonal and not in the menu permanently... value for money kind of dish with a huge plate filled with grilled mussels, squids, prawns, barramundi and smoked salmons with accompanying tartare sauce. Two of us had difficulty finishing the whole plate of seafood.

Contrary to my earlier belief, dining in Porto Romano is less stressful and easy on the wallet as price-wise it was considerably lower compared to those expensive Italian restaurants out there with equal cosy atmosphere. It will be my to-go Italian restaurant in the future should I crave for...

Super Disappointing. Terrible Service Ever.

I'm always a big fan of this restaurant. I fall in love with their pasta and pizza on the first time I've tried. I always emphasis this is one of the best Italian Restaurant in KL. Without any doubt I would recommend this restaurant to my friends to try their exquisite pasta, fabulous crust pizza and mouthwatering braised lamb shank here.

However, last night visit was truly such a disappointment. Upon entering, the waiter asked whether we would like to dine on 2nd floor or on the ground floor but me and my partner preferred 2nd floor. Unlike usual, we sat on the table, there is no waiter approached us to hand the menu and I saw there is only one waiter in charge on the 2nd floor and he was taking order from the table on the outdoor area. We waited for 5 min before the waiter came inside and saw us waving at him asking for menu.

A while after my partner and I finished our meal. We're about to order dessert, but we unable to locate any waiter around us to take order and we later on we realize that he was busy playing with his phone sitting under the table. If I may asked you my fellow customer, is this the kind of service you expect from a fine dining restaurant? We pay with our money for their service charge but we have to come to the waiter to asked him for a bill? I was really out of patience and decided to forget about ordering the dessert as it is not worth to spend money on this corrupted restaurant.

Before leaving the restaurant, I observe that there are few server on the ground floor absolutely free as not so many customer. Instead of lending hand to their staff on the 2nd floor who busy playing with his phone, they rather just relaxing doing chit chat near the bar. I approach to one of the waiter and question him if they have any manager in charge and he said "all just normal staff'.

Such a waste for a terrific diner with horrible management. I wished that the owner could do read this and fixed their services before he loses all his customer and have to put that restaurant...

My first time and will never come here again. Bad service. The waiter is not attentive. One of the waiter don’t really serve the food properly and a bit blur. I think they don’t really have proper training to the staff. ( there are not many tables , only two tables at the time) We ordered a seafood soup& seafood platter however the prawn and mussel are not fresh. The mussel is kind of smelly taste. The prawn is sticky. We did a gentle feedback to the staff however an lady is kind of insulting and not a good attitude when she was talking to us. She want to argue to us that the seafood is fresh, she keep saying that she can let the chef to taste it and she has many chefs. She still standing there and talking to us when she say she can let the chef taste it, she actually can just ask the chef to taste it or she taste it without arguing and standing there keep talking. Some more she not happy and saying that “ I have been challenge” we are stunned. She represent restaurant and we are customer, how can she talk like this? Usually Italian restaurants will serve their signature bread with olive oil and vinegar. However this restaurant is so special and the waiter told me that they don’t serve it. I’m curious and asked the waiter “ I have been to few Italians restaurants and all of them serve me with their nice bread” then the waiter only told me “ oh ya, we only serve upon request”. My friend and I stunned with the respond. We waited for around 5 mins, the bread is served without the vinegar and olive oils. So, we need to request the vinegar and olive oils then they only bring for us. During dinner time , 7-8pm , the waiter is having dinner during their on duty time. Why don’t they let their staff to eat before they start work ? I never seen before the waiter need to work and eat at the same time. No wonder they are not attentive.

Kind of...