Lorenzo's

The first time I ate here it was fabulous!! Couldn't wait to go back. The second time - very disappointing. My pasta and my friends pasta were completely undercooked and parts of it were refrigerator cold. It was like they had partly heated up leftovers of undercooked pasta. more

I have been to Lorenzos many times. Lorenzo a great guy, has more than once made a special meal for me when I was sick. Yes, you have to get your own silver and glases and order your food at the counter, but that isn't any big deal. The food is exceptional, the ingredients are fresh and everything is made from scratch. In the summer you can get fresh made gelato. Go for the bibi cafe float. MMM MMM good. Everything I have had there is so good. There are different specials daily. There is always a vegetarian or vegan plate and a main meat. My friends and I love to go get lunch, which is more affordable than dinner, but we still make it for dinner once in a while. Lorenzos has the best pasta I've ever had. I usually don't like spaghetti becuase of the stringy icky noodles, but at Lorenzos it is exactly as it should be, meaty, chewy, and al dente, cooked to perfection. Yes it can be a little expensive, but compared to other gourmet restaurants I have eaten at in the city (and I've been to a lot, we love to eat well) it is well worth it. If you love gourmet italian food, don't miss owner-operated Lorenzos. Pros: FOOD IS OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS Cons: MORE CASUAL THAN GOING TO A FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT more

We wandered in because it looked cute from the outside and am so glad we did. This place is the real deal. Not what many in the US stereotypically think Italian food is, but REAL Italian food. The place is charming, the service is nice and friendly, the food is wonderful. The bar set-up is truly authentic to the type of experience you find all over Italy. I grew up in Southern Italy as a kid and this place made me homesick. I love it! more

Wow, my fav spot for italian food so far. First time I thought, where's my big plate of pasta? (de rigeur for most "Italian food" in America).... but I keep coming back for the sauces. There is really a unique flavor here that I can't seem to get anywhere else and satisfies without uncomfortably filling you up. Perhaps it's because the food is created on the spot instead of precooked, just like in old Italy. Charming order at the back and get your own utensils means (to me at least) that they spend themoney they save on the food. I'll shlep my fork and napkin anyday for this kind of flavor. Jerry Pros: food taste flavor sauces, what are we there for, right? Cons: If you want to be waited on hand and foot, not for you... more

We had our first experience there this past weekend. It was a first in this cute (somewhat trendy) area. My first impression when I walked in was this was an absolute cute little spot for a restaurant. Things seem to be on a slant once I found we had to get our own silverware and glasses (a bit confusing) . They also came around the corner to take my order. I would have rather them come to my table instead. The glass of wine was served in a really small 'glass'. I felt like I was taking communion at a church (though it wasn't quite that small). The food portions were small (and spendy). My salad was good (even though I didn't actually order it). My entree seemed to be the filling from manicotti. The two of us walked out with a bill of over $40. I ate a bit more once I arrived home. Really disappointing. I'd go back if I wanted to try their espresso but not to eat dinner again. My friend is still feeling sick since our dinner night before last. Really sorry to give negative feedback as this. Hopefully it can be used as constructive critisism. more

I had a hunch the food would be good at this spot since you often have actual Italians frequenting Lorenzo's during lunch. Every dish I've had here has been tasty and the rosemary bread that comes with the lunch special has been enough to convince me to eat here several times. Ambience is a bit cold - kind of industrial - so, in general, it's not a spot that encourages you to linger. But bring a few good friends, and in particular during the summer months when the restaurant's garage door size window open up to a warm breeze, and it's a decent spot to hang a while. Pros: Tasty lunch specials - great value Cons: Ambience more

I have been here many times for full meals, snacks or just espresso/lattes. It has always been a great experience! The anti-pasto plates are fantastic! Pasta is excellent-try the puttanesca! The service is friendly. Lorenzo will make sure you and your party are taken care of. Additionally, there usually a rotating exhibition of different artists on display. Paintings, photography, etc... Check it out! Pros: Food, coffee, wines Cons: Closed Sundays? more

The atmosphere here was nice. Our server, who looked like Sideshow Bob, was abrasive and unpleasant. At first we just thought he was kinda sassy, but it wasn't in a funny way. My salad was $7, which is a lot for a very small and very poorly made and seasoned salad. It was missing a couple of the ingredients the menu said it would have and wasn't nearly as interesting as it sounded it might be. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food. Someone had me try one of their "delicious" gnocchi, but I found it less than good. Basically, the prices are like those that you'd find at a nicer restaurant, but the quality of food is below that. Also, there were so many ceiling fans going in this place that many people in our party were annoyed by having their eyes dried out by the wind. Pros: umm... Cons: poor service, sub-par food more

I felt compelled to write a review of this fabulous North Portland hideaway when I read the previous review. For someone to say that the place had a "unique Italian touch" and then complain about timing and service in the fashion of a typical uptight American seemed more than a little contradictory to me. Either you want to be on a date and enjoy your food in a unique atypical setting (and that's a compliment in this stuffy foodie town!), or you don't. If you don't, by all means go to Pasta Bangs and enjoy substandard Americanized Italian food with over-done cocktails reminiscent of the mixology boom that had its hay-day about 4 years ago. But if you're the type of diner looking for perfectly prepared trattoria fare paired with a wonderful selection of Italian wines in an environment where time seems to melt by, then Lorenzo's is the place for you. Pros: raviolo, arugala caesar, great ITALIAN wine Cons: n/a more

I walked into Lorenzo's one evening with delighted surprise -- a nice open venue, the air fragrant with a spice infused Putanesca. I thought the counter service was a added, unique Italian touch -- until we were ready to place the order. A somewhat annoyed wait staff person (they don't really wait on you) took her time taking our order. Once we got over that bump, things got progressively worse. If it had not been for my charming date, the hour-long wait for a 2 simple bowls of pasta would have seemed an eternity. Even the strangers at the next table conveyed concerned about our plight. When we talked to annoyed wait staff person, we were told that they had been "very busy" that night and we needed to be a little more patient (athough we spied a few open tables). The pasta was good, perfectly cooked. But do yourself a favor. Walk across the street to Pasta Bangs where Ms. Bangs will personally fix you a fabulous cocktail and make you feel like a customer should --valued, appreciated and well-fed. Pros: On hip Mississippi. Nice diverse crowd. Unique open setting. Cons: Long, long wait for pasta as good as mine. more

coming from nyc recently, it was an amazing thing when my friend introduced me to lorenzo's...even this cynical former new yorker was wowed by the simple yet so tasty italian food...great lunch spot! good prices! go go go... more

perfect place for a quick inexpensive meal at lunch time. the food was wonderful. the salmon salad was perfect. the staff was very friendly and efficient. nice touch to have lorenzo himself come out w/ our food. seems like an intense guy. glad he's got his own place. will be back. definitely telling everyone about it! Pros: seating, staff attitude, pricing more

I cant believe that more people havent discovered this place! I have been eating here since it opened and love every part of it. It is true that it is quite a large open space but I think it is quite refreshing in the summer when the front is open and there is outdoor seating. I an not at all bothered by the fact that it is 'order at the counter' restaurant, I think it is a nice change from the usual. After Reading the Review in the National Geographic Travel magazine, I felt like my secret place wasnt so secret anymore! I even took my parents here and they loved it (and my mom loved Lorenzo!) Pros: outdoor dining, North Mississippi, great food Cons: closed on Sunday, parking more

The food was good - my salad was perfectly dressed and my husband liked his beef ragu w/ fresh pasta - but the confusing ordering system is not working. When you enter, you have to go up to the counter to order, and on a busy night there are people milling about trying to figure out what's going on. Then, inexplicably, a guy comes around the counter to take your order (if he's going to do that, why not just come to our table?). Then you gather up all the utensils, etc. After a long wait, a harried staff person finally brought us glasses of wine, and then an enormously long wait for our food. Then, trudge back up to the counter to pay, where they rather surprisingly provide you with the 15-20% tip guide on the receipt. I'll go back when they switch to table service. Pros: good food, good neighborhood, comfortable decor Cons: weird ordering system, long wait for food, harried wait staff more

The Citysearch reviewer who apparently walked into Lorenzo's, scanned the place and walked out to write their overdue review missed out on an excellent meal. Focusing on the color of the walls and the chalkboard menu is a shallow summation of a restaurant whose food is outstanding. The Putanesca was wonderful, the special ravioli (with potato and mozzarella and a light cream sauce) was delicious, and the "plain" spaghetti with tomato sauce and tina mozzarella balls made me jealous because I thought I made a mean tomato sauce. The delicate tiramisu is made in individual servings unlike the slices served elsewhere. Nice touch. But it's not just the food that makes Lorenzo's worth visiting. Lorenzo himself greeted us, served us, and actually runs an Italian "immersion" evening on Wednesday evenings. This was an all-around food and community experience that is disserved by the 8.4 rating more