My wife and I spent one month in Split and fell in love with the city, the people, the history, the culture and the relaxed atmosphere. We first went to Portofino after it was recommended by a friend. We decided to go on a dinner...date and it turned out to be a fantastic experience. We were reluctant to go at first because we did not have a reservation, but when we arrived we were welcomed with open arms and were made to feel like old friends. The setting was in an inner courtyard where it felt very private since there was no foot traffic. The staff were super friendly and the decor very inviting. We sat outside by the fireplace next to a cheese platter that our table host, Nina was more than happy to share with us as she explained the menu. We were unsure of the wines but one of their staff members, Dragan came to the rescue and recommended a nice plavac mali from their selection.
After the cheese appetizer I ordered the lamb and my wife had the sea bass, both of which were excellent. The lamb was cooked just right and the sea bass was buttery yet firm. We finished with a dessert of pana cotta which was superb with just the right texture. Just when we thought we were done, we were treated to complementary dessert wine which made it difficult for us to leave. The service was impeccable, the staff were patient and there was no pressure to rush to finish our meal. We completely lost track of time and by the time we realized it it was almost closing time. It turned out to be a true dinner date and we reluctantly left after an amazing meal.
Our evening was a total success and we have since been at Portofino five more times during our stay in Split. They have an amazing pumpkin soup and their filet mignon just melts in your mouth and their salmon wellington was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. We even went there for dessert after we had dinner somewhere else.
I highly recommend Portofino if you are looking for a quiet, romantic, adult dinner experience. They are a perfect example of Croatian hospitality.
Hvala,
Pam and HarryMore
