Gallo Nero — Restaurant in Portland

I want to shout from the mountaintops how amazing this restaurant is. From the moment I entered the door, the aromas wafting from the kitchen took my mind back to Italy, and that was only the beginning of one of the most authentic and enjoyable Italian dining experiences I've ever had in the US.

The seafood risotto was not quite as creamy as it could have been, but the flavors were extremely fresh and delicious. The pork medallions in pepe verde sauce on a bed of greens were presented perhaps a bit more hip fashion than in a traditional Italian trattoria, but again, the flavors were true, and the pork was incredibly tender and savory. The torta della nonna (to my memory, the only one I've ever had in the US) was delightfully creamy - a bit more lemony than I remember, but it didn't bother me.

Regrettably, I did not partake of any wine, since I had already had a couple of drinks beforehand, but there was an extensive list of Italian vintages that I'm sure would have paired perfectly with the food offerings. The staff was convivial, attentive - and Italian! I enjoyed dusting off my rusty Italian to "praticare un po" with them. It's true the portion sizes are not overly large, but that too is how it would be in Italy - and it lets you enjoy a three-course meal without hating yourself afterward. About the only thing that could have made this experience more authentic is if they had offered bread with the meal, which I was a little surprised they didn't.

Unfortunately, I don't live here, so my visits here will necessarily be rare, but Portlanders - if you haven't been here, you have a jewel in your midst. Get...

The atmosphere is perfect for an enjoyable evening dinner. It doesn't feel like the type of place to hurry in and get a bite n' go. This is the kind of establishment you bring loved ones, and friends, to enjoy some top quality food and drinks.

The service was impeccable, for instance whenever the water was low, or at plate was done, the staff was on it. They didn't excessively bother us either. It's a fine line and they nailed it!

We started with appetizers, and drinks. I got a Negroni and it was mixed to perfection. Shortly after we got a bottle of Pellegrino and ordered our main course. The lamb I got was skewered, seasoned, and cooked to perfection. It was not my "first rodeo" and this was hands down the best skewered lamb I've ever had. I wish I could pronounce the dish, but my Italian is lousy. My friend stated their dish was al dente and was spot on. Rarely does cooking something al dente come out well. Whoever was behind the line cooking really deserves some praise!

To finish I got some Tiramisu. That was an experience in itself. If you have tried some of the the cheap frozen stuff that's mass produced, than you know how mediocre most Tiramisu's can be.

Overall, this was was of the best meals of my life and the service was better than most higher end establishments. They could probably hike up the price 25-50% and I would be happy to pay it! I'll be back next time I'm...

I absolutely loved my evening at Gallo Nero last night. The food was perfect and the experience was both elegant and relaxed. We started with a bottle of wine recommended by our great server, mostly because everything was Italian so we needed help. For food we started with a sample of 3 bruschetta, The gorgonzola and traditional tomato were amazing (skip the Fettunta). I got a salad with fresh and tasty buffalo mozzarella and my partner had an amazing tortellini soup, really good broth. For mains we chose the chicken and the beef tenderloin. Both excellent, but the beef was a real standout, 2nd only to one I had at Ringside, really, really good. We got a side of seasonal vegetables and stuffed broiled tomatoes. Needless to say, we were beyond stuffed and had to take some home, the portions are large. Food-wise I think I was most impressed by how simple everything was, not over-sauced (if sauced at all), just prepared to really let the flavors come through naturally. I really recommend Gallo Nero, had a great meal, and the staff was very friendly and helpful. And really, I thought it was a great value for what we got. If I had to dig for something I’d say the pacing of the food delivery was slightly fast. There are a lot of Italian places in The Pearl and Downtown, but this is now my go-to,...