Ciao Vito Restaurant

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2203 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR 97211

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(503) 282-5522
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Reviews
( 29 )
( 11 )
( 7 )
( 3 )
( 11 )

Best

Excellent service - pretty place - easy parking on the street (Sunday at 5:30PM) - accommodated my vegan requests with grace and style. I""d definitely go back there.

Worst

Normally, I love the food at Ciao Vito. I am a total foodie and go to many restuaruants through out the Portland area so the I am no stranger to the few ""good"" italian spots we ...

A few quibbles, but the food was very good 12/18/2005

When the razor clams arrived, the presentation was of little concern. They were absolutely delicious, perfectly cooked, obviously fresh and robust clams. Mashers with a hint of horseradish were great. Beets were good. We got parked in a corner right under the speaker and the Sinatra soundtrack was way too loud and distracting, but someone in the staff noticed and turned the volume down before folks requested so. Being stuck in a corner table near the restroom door certainly didn't create the best atmosphere for romantic dining, but I have to say the food was very well prepared and the service was prompt and attentive. more
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Misled by the hype 11/17/2005

Softly lit with chandeliers and candles. We were excited to try it. The soft lighting made it nearly impossible to read the very small print on the menu and wine list. We tried to discuss the menu but could not hear each other over the din. The concrete floors, wood tables and chairs, and undraped windows, created a loud and unpleasant environment for dinner for two. The food was also disappointing in its presentation. An entree of razor clams delivered perfectly cooked and quite good razor clams, but the presentation of a pile of white mashed potatoes, next to a pile of red pickled beets, next to a pile of fried razor clams, was a visual disappointment. The crispy duck legs was also not very appealing as a plate composition in shades of beige and brown. The chantrelle/artichoke sauce had the potential to be much better than it was. Pros: Good for loud group, Efficient Service Cons: Loud, Poor presentation, Hard to read menu more
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Added to My List of Portland Favorites 11/11/2005

My sister and I tried Ciao Vito on our way home on a rainy Saturday night. We chose to sit at the bar, which serves the full menu, since we would have had a long wait without reservations. The bartender did a great job doubling as a waitress. We chose three appetizers, the antipasti, warm onion tart and butternut squash soup. All three choices were generously portioned and definitely worth savoring. The atmosphere was cozy and friendly and we never felt rushed to leave. The entire staff, although obviously busy, were polite and friendly. We'll definitely be back again with reservations to try the entrees. As a side note, although I did mark this restaurant as ""romantic"" I personally wouldn't choose it on a night I was looking for the ""our own world"" feeling, the tables are bit close together for that. Pros: Warm atmosphere, Delicious food, Friendly staff more
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One of the Best 10/23/2005

Ciao Vito has shown that they are among the best restaurants in Portland. Vito has take his culinary training and produced one of the best restaurants iin North Portland. He is a delight to be with, and you will have a great, friendly expetience with Ciao Vito. Trust Vito to provide you with a great meal, and ambiance. more
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So Nice! 10/23/2005

Outstanding food. Made room for us when there was no room. The service was great with full knowledge of menu. YUM YUM! more
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Good but not Great 7/14/2005

After several visits it's obvious that this spot is on its way to being a great destination. Around its opening, the antipasti dish (delicious variety of vegetables, etc.) was so tasty it prompted a return visit. The second time was less memorable. I do appreciate the wine list and the informed servers...still, some of the pastas were average. For the neighborhood, however, this place shows what a small restaurant can do. I hope that they follow in the tradition of the best osterias and not the Portland norm. They have the potential. Pros: Italian Wines, Great Chef, Composed Menu Cons: Location, Inconsistency more
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Midweek Treat - Don't Miss It 7/13/2005

Tired, cranky and not wanting to deal with dinner we went to Ciao Vito hoping to get a simple, good meal. GOAL ! ! ! I called 10 minutes ahead of time; ""Any chance of dinner for two?"" Answer; ""We're pretty busy but we always have room for a couple more."" Instant comfort before we even got there. Wonderful food, very reminiscent of Chef Michael Symon's storied Lola Bistro & Wine Bar in Cleveland. Attentive service, a couple of GREAT Italian reds by the glass, steaming hot, flavorful pasta. Go there. Now. Pros: exceptional food, friendly service, easy parking Cons: faaaa, gedda, bout it more
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Nice Change of Pace 6/11/2005

Great overall value: Great food, reasonable prices, nice ambience (unless you're seated near the door), and friendly, but BUSY, servers. The grilled asparagus starter, halibut entree, pork chop entree, and chocolate pot de creme dessert were fantastic. Although service was quite slow, waitstaff were friendly when at our table. (AND, let's face it, one of the benefits of slow service is that you don't have to endure the sometimes not so subtle pressure of being pushed toward the door by your server. I remember spending $180 at Zefiro while it was still in business and being allowed about 45 minutes for dinner -- maybe that's why Zefiro is no more). If you have the time to linger, this is a good place to do it. Location is a bit out of the way, but parking is easy, and a new scene is nice for a change of pace. Pros: Food, Value, Parking Cons: Slow-ish Service more
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Absolutely Fantastic 4/15/2005

No pretending here; these people know what they're doing. They've created a truely upscale yet down to earth restaurant in an eclectic neighborhood. The food is all fantastic. Prices fit the portions. Drinks are great. Service is top notch without being stuffy. Fantastic all around. A huge benefit to the Alberta neighborhood. Thank you!! more
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Better than good, however... 1/8/2005

...a little too crowded for this diner. After I was denied the razor clams as an appetizer, I had it as an entree and was a bit disappointed in its overall value. Though the razor clams were excellent and cooked like an abalone steak, for a price the cabbage slaw occupied much of the plate. I suppose razor clams are at a premium in January to justify the $$$. The wines were complimentary and assorted in Italian with only Bricco from Oregon. And, the table were quite close to clearly hear a conversation on the left and right. Pros: Style, Food, People Cons: , Parking more
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Excellence ...Its in there 12/16/2004

Being Sicillian and coming from NYC...I know good Italian. Trust me. The food, the service, the presentation...it don't get no better. If they'd dress up the place it would be a big plus. So maybe they haven't spent $100 on decor, the food will overwhelm you regardless. Its a ""MUST"" for a nice romantic candlelit dinner. Bon Apetit, Rico Pros: Flavor, Value, Friendly Service Cons: , low on atmosphere more
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ciao vito best in portland 12/9/2004

If you like great food, great atmosphere and fabulous service, check out Ciao Vito. Prices are moderate and portions are amazing. What Vito does with pork chops and razor clams is amazing. Please do yourself a favor and have the meatballs!If you have a larger party (up to 12) book the big table right in front of the kitchen, it's great to sit, enjoy and watch the action! Pros: great food, great food, great service more
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Rudeness du jour at Ciao Vito 9/30/2004

Upon entering the half empty restaurant we were brusquely informed that there was no available inside seating. As we moved to an outside table, another hostess let us know we could have an inside 2 top if we left by 7:30. As we sat down we asked to see the happy hour menu, and were informed it wasn't available in the 'dining' room. we then attempted to move outside AGAIN, only to realize that in the 10 minutes wasted on our seating, the happy hour was no longer being served. The hostess and I looked at the same clock, which showed 5:58, technically within the advertised time. As a result of the host and hostess's behavior, I declined to stay a moment longer and left with my friend for dinner elsewhere. Pros: nice neighborhood Cons: , rude service more
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Finally! 7/25/2004

My boyfriend and I eat out a lot, but our experience at Ciao Vito made all past dinner experiences pale in comparison. The staff was friendly, food was fantastic, ambiance was cozy and my cocktail was the best I've had in ages. more
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overrated 7/20/2004

I had a very obviously tired, leathery leftover chicken penne dish (the ""special"") for which they swindled me for $18. My partner had a smallish piece of adequate halibut. We were a bit too chummily seated next to our neighbors, but the decor is lovely. I'll choose Sal's Famous Italian Kitchen on Greeley and Killingsworth next time I want a decent Italian dinner. For a better halibut dinner, try the Mint. Pros: decor, friendly staff Cons: , prices, tables too close more
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Bellisimo! 7/8/2004

My wife and I tried this restaurant last night after reading several terrific reviews and just wanted to concur. What a wonderful place! We each had an antipasti dish, a main course, a glass of wine, dessert and coffee (plus a tasty housemade limoncello - a first for us, but not the last!). The total was about $70 before tip, which I thought was very reasonable for the such excellent food, service, and ambiance. The menu is small, divided equally between antipasti & entrees, but everything we tried was delicious, starting with the calamari (best we've ever had). For entrees, I had the sugo of wild mushrooms on papardelle and she has a steak that was close to perfection! We ended with a delicious slice of peach and berry pie, fresh from the oven!Buon appetito! Ciao Vito is a welcome addition to our neighborhood. We'll be back again...and again... Pros: food!, ambiance, service more
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Fantastic!! 7/2/2004

Food is wonderful and savory. Prices are what they should be. You are getting quality food and not having to pay out the nose for it. Pasta is cooked to perfection. Do yourself a favor and eat here, this should be rated higher then other places in town which are getting points for being hip but not producing real good food or service. more
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Bravo Vito 6/20/2004

If you are looking for a slick busy menu with four pages of perplexing watered down food stuff, this place is not for you. If you are looking for a carnival atmosphere with souless service and more souless food, this place is certaninly not for you. But if simple, fresh, well prepared foods are on your day timer, with tastes that burst forth and say love from the kitchen, come on in. Great food, great service, great prices. more
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Stupendo!!! 6/19/2004

The new spot on Alberta is fabulous! Got in there the other night and my first impression was that the atmosphere reminded me of Fife without all the noise! The staff was super friendly;everyone I was in contact with was upbeat with smiles on their faces. The service was excellent.They gave me as much bread as I wanted and consistently replaced the silverware as my meal progressed. The food was super! I can still taste the steak in the lite sherry. Old fashioned strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries for desert. The price with one beer, an appetizer,one pepsi, the main course, and desert ended being 29.00 I thought it was an excellent value and rank Ciao Vito with Hula Hands, and Cafe Mingo as my favorite places. You better believe I'll be back!! Pros: great service!!, Food was excellent, very fair price wise Cons: , main entry were a, tad bit small more
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Bellissimo! 6/15/2004

Ciao vito is a wonderful little spot on Alberta St. The food was delicious, such wonderful flavors! I have returned many times since and it is always great! the staff is so cute and helpful! The wine list is fun and the drinks are terrific! It's a fabulous experience everytime! Pros: tasty! tasty! tasty!, cheap, great ambiance more
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Menu for Ciao Vito Restaurant


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Once a greasy-spoon diner, this spot has been completely reincarnated as a chic neighborhood trattoria. Patrons pass the gleaming open kitchen and settle in at the airy bar, or...

  • 7/12/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sun: 5pm-10pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Concordia, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
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