Best Italian in VanPort
Italian food has been a part of American cuisine since the late 1800’s. Pizza and pasta are a staple in just about every city in the USA. But they’re not all created equal. If you’re satisfied with The Spaghetti Factory and Olive Garden, then you’re all set. But those reaching higher can find the better Italian restaurants on this list. Buon appetito!
1. Gino’s
Portland – Sellwood
Gino’s has a great vibe and very good cocktails for an Italian joint. Grandma Jean’s pasta is the best pasta I’ve had in the VanPort area. My wife likes the PACCHERI. The menu says PUTTANESCA is spicy (only if you think ketchup is spicy).
2. Gilda’s Italian Restaurant
Portland – Downtown
Gilda’s is a cozy, lovely Italian restaurant downtown Portland. They serve hearty pasta and other Itialian dishes. We choose Rigatoni alla Bolognese, Gnocchi with Brown- Butter Sage & Pistachios and Pappardelle ai Cinghiale. The latter which was mine had Wild Boar, Braised in Chianti, Dark Chocolate, Castelvetrano Olives & San Marzano Tomato Sauce. It was a wonderful treat and I enjoyed it very much. The baked garlic bread paired perfectly. The wine was decent. Street parking is catch as catch can.
INSIDER TIP: The Driftwood Room in The Hotel deLuxe just around the corner has superb craft cocktails.
3. La Bottega Cafe
Vancouver – Downtown
Solid Italian eatery in downtown Vancouver. Ample portions and friendly staff. The joint is popular so there’s always a wait. Best to make reservations. Street parking is decent.
4. Mama Mia Trattoria
Portland – Downtown
Fab local Italian joint that has gluten free menu. The penne puttanesca is good. I like it without the olives. Grandma’s gravy is ok but the meats are bland. Top choices I’ve tried are the meatballs, minestrone soup and PASTA AGLIO E OLIO. The lasagna and Bolognese are decent. Chicken Scallopine Piccata is good but I think it would be better with less lemon. The fettuccini Alfredo is fab. The steak is Italian style and is very enjoyable. The Italian sidecar cocktail is pretty good and the 2019 Bartenura Moscato is lovely.
5. Caro Amico Italian Cafe
Portland – West
Great old school Italian eatery. I’m so glad they have reopened from the fire. The music is fun, the food is great and the vibe is cozy and inviting.
6. Grassa
city – Multiple Locations
Not what I would call a authentic Italian restaurant vibe but excellent, authentic pasta. I like the Fusilli Alla Vodka and the rigatoni. The garlic bread is very good. The meatballs were decent. Wine is served in a juice glass. The malbec is just ok. I won’t order wine again there. Margaritas are served in a pint glass but is refreshing. You order at the counter and they bring you the food (think Killer Burger). The portions are ample and larger than the Google Maps photos show. All that for under $80. I consider that a decent value.
7. Nostra Tavola
Vancouver – Central
Fantastic Italian eatery that serves pasta, pizza, steak, salads and more. They have a decent selection of cocktails and wine. The penne and Italian sausage pasta is a winner. The pizza is good…but there’s other pizzas I prefer. Happy hour is 2-5 Sunday-Thursday. The portions are not huge, but not small. If you’re really hungry, you might want to split a third entre. Nostra Tavola is a solid choice for a working lunch. They’re never crowded at that time and have an adequate amount of space and decent Wi-Fi. Ample parking in a free lot. INSIDER TIP: Nostra Travola has the same owners as Nuestra Mesa.
8. DeNicola’s
Portland – Central
Charming neighborhood Italian joint. If you’re looking for fancy gourmet, this is not the place. It is casual and family style. Good pasta and better than average sausage. Wine is enjoyable. The Negroamaro Piantaferro 2020 is decent. The minestrone is bland. The garlic cheese bread is good…but they give you plenty of bread already. We’ll pass on the meatballs next time. We end up taking half of the entrees home anyway. Prices are very reasonable.
9. Nostrana
Portland – Central
Superb Italian joint that has a rotating menu. Lovely bread and legit pasta. Nostrana has a fab bar. They received an honorable mention in a Bloomberg article about great Neapolitan pie. Rated #29 of top 50 pizza in America by top50pizza.it. Pasta, pizza and cocktails. What more can you want?
10. Pizzeria La Sorrentina
Vancouver – East
La Sorrentina is one of the best pizza joints in Vancouver. So it’s easy to just consider them a pizzeria. Especially since that’s their name. But they make delicious pasta as well. They have a very casual vibe much like neighborhood restaurants you find in Italy. Ample free parking is available in their lot.
11. Campana
Portland – North
Good Italian with great music. We sat at the bar and ordered from the happy hour menu. The garlic bread is wheat. The pasta was store bought but good. The portions were just right. We liked the sauce. A bit better selection of cocktails than your usual Italian joint. Our favorite part was the playlist. It was old-school big-band jazz.
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