Portobello’s Fine Italian Dining — Restaurant in Derby

Portobello’s recently opened in Derby, and we were hopeful that this would become a new favorite of ours for dinner. Our experience tonight was average, and I don’t think we’ll be in a rush to return. Being only a month old, issues like service I’m sure are still being worked out, but I don’t know about the food. With the label of fine Italian dining, I’m holding them to a higher standard.

When we arrived, we were asked if we had reservations. We did not, as we impulsively decided to visit, and we were appreciative that they found a table for us. After sitting with our menus for quite a while, we overheard a staff member tell a server “you better go take that table, they’ve been sitting there for a while”. Overall, the timing of dishes arriving to the table went well. However, before we left, we were disappointed to hear the table next to us be told of specials by a different server that we were not offered. Besides being left to wait for the check for a bit and these other little mishaps, the service could’ve been worse considering how new they are.

Onto the food. Complimentary bread arrived to the table, and it had the texture of day old bread that had been microwaved (I could be wrong, but all of us at the table felt the same). Olive oil was seasoned nicely and flavorful. We ordered the hot antipasto for an appetizer, and the presentation was definitely a bit lacking. I was surprised to see little neck clams were used for the clams casino, and my parents felt there was an odd flavor to the stuffed mushrooms. Calamari was cooked perfectly, and we enjoyed the marinara sauce. Eggplant Rollatini was okay. Salad courses came before the meal, and I had asked for Italian dressing, but it tasted more like oil and vinegar with oregano to me. I had the pappardelle bolognese, which was okay, and seemed to have a cheese mixed into the sauce as well. My dad enjoyed his chicken portobello, and my mom’s chicken francese wasn’t bad, but could’ve used more lemon in the sauce. We just had higher expectations.

Lastly, ambiance. We were in a pretty bright corner of the restaurant and thought some mood lighting in our area would’ve been nice. Curtains around the windows would’ve made it warmer as well. With it being so cold out, we definitely felt a draft, and it could’ve helped break up looking out into the darkness of the main road. I had never been in the building prior to this restaurant, but it seemed like renovations had been done, and the restaurant was decorated nicely otherwise. The air vent near us turned on and seemed to be blowing cold air, and it had a weird rotting odor when it first came on that was a bit unsettling.

Nothing was particularly bad here, but as I said, I’m holding them to a higher standard for a fine dining establishment. Not trying to come off too harsh, but wanted to provide honest and helpful criticism to this new business....

We had the absolute pleasure of dining at this newly opened Italian restaurant in our area, and all we can say is—wow, what a find! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance set the tone for a warm, welcoming, and upscale experience without being pretentious. The decor is tasteful, the lighting just right, and the aroma from the kitchen immediately lets you know you're in for something special.

The star of our evening was Brian, who was not only our bartender but also our waiter. His professionalism, adaptability, and warm, social demeanor truly elevated our night. He anticipated our needs without being intrusive, made excellent recommendations, and made us feel right at home. Brian is a standout and a true asset to this establishment.

As for the food—absolutely top-tier. The chef Dennis is a Gem and Every dish we tried was clearly made with care, passion, and authentic Italian expertise. From the fresh ingredients to the house-made sauces and carefully selected pairings, everything was exceptional. You can tell this restaurant takes pride in delivering an experience, not just a meal.

We are so lucky to have this place right here in our neighborhood. If you're looking for an authentic, high-quality Italian dining experience, look no further. Let’s give our support to this local gem—it absolutely...

I’m happy to say me and my husband left with a full belly the food was pretty amazing, quite delicious if I do say so myself! I also loved the oil your bread came with. But I’m upset to have to say the service did not meet up to those standards! The little staff they had was doing their best, but to be fair the place only had my husband and I and another table it was a ghost town. Furthermore the chef kept sneaking drinks while coming to the front of the restaurant. He would also let his presence be known by screaming at the bartenders, pretty loud that we couldn’t block it out . Place has potential but needs to be ran a lot smoother if we plan...