Portofino Wellington is a family-owned Italian restaurant with roots stretching back to 1980. The dining room and outdoor tables look across Lambton Harbour from Customhouse Quay, giving a central-city meal a strong connection to the water. Its cooking begins with Northern Italian influence but makes room for New Zealand produce, a combination that suits the setting: recognisable regional recipes arrive with the ease and generosity of a long-running local restaurant.
Antipasti create several ways into the meal. Bruschetta combines fresh tomato, basil and parsley with garlic, rocket and Parmesan, while the Tuscan platter brings Italian and New Zealand delicacies together for sharing. Calamari is grilled with garlic, olive oil, parsley and lemon rather than buried beneath batter. Prawn cutlets take a richer direction, pan-fried with garlic, flamed in brandy and finished with a cream sauce, Arborio rice and rocket.
Pasta is the broadest part of the menu. Spaghetti appears as bolognese, carbonara and a seafood-rich marinara, while the signature chicken fettuccine folds mushrooms, garlic and herbs into a cream sauce. Gnocchi comes with bolognese, cannelloni is filled with ricotta and spinach, and ravioli balances tomato and cream. Homemade beef lasagna and baked penne with bacon, potato, broccoli and béchamel cover the oven-finished side of the selection.
Second courses and pizzas make Portofino useful for groups with different appetites. Veal can be paired with mushroom cream or sweet Marsala, scotch fillet gains a brandy and green-peppercorn sauce, and fish of the day brings capers, shrimp and lemon. Chicken cacciatora and parmigiana sit beside pizzas ranging from Margherita to seafood and prosciutto, with gluten-free bases available when possible. The restaurant also takes bookings for birthdays, weddings and work functions.
Address: 33 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Been to Portofino Wellington? Be one of the first to rate it.
+ Log your visit
