Ernesto's Italian - Portland

The menu offers an abundance of choices, perhaps even too many. However, if you're in search of a classic Italian restaurant that combines delicious food, a pleasant atmosphere, and a great vibe, this is the place to go. Unlike large chains like Olive Garden or The Old Spaghetti Factory, Ernesto's brings a unique charm and has to compete with those establishments. An added bonus is that every order comes with unlimited focaccia bread. However, there’s a downside: the bread is served plain, without any dips or butter. While some may argue that it doesn’t need extra fat, the focaccia could be a bit dry without any accompaniments. I ordered a bowl of marinara sauce, which was delicious, but it came at an additional cost of $3. Additionally, I found some discrepancies in the menu prices. I ordered ravioli and spaghetti, while my wife opted for chicken Alfredo. According to the paper menu, her dish should have been $19, but the bill showed $20 each. While this may seem like a minor issue, it’s not very customer-friendly and makes me hesitant to return. Even if the menu prices were adjusted to include a soup or salad for $19, I believe that price could be justified. The ambiance is reminiscent of a classic Italian restaurant, which many chain establishments fail to capture. If you enjoy Italian cuisine, it's definitely worth a visit. Just keep in mind that it’s not the cheapest option. Overall, the food was delicious, the service was good, and the atmosphere was unique, though the location is somewhat out of the way. Consider giving it a try if you wish!

I had an incredible dining experience at Ernesto's. It was my first visit, and the service exceeded my expectations. Jenny, you were fantastic with your extensive knowledge and your patience with all our questions. Jeremy, thank you for making sure we were well taken care of, even when the restaurant was busy. I can't wait to return and bring my out-of-town guests with me. Jenny, I saw you this weekend and I'm looking forward to trying the Clam Chowder!

We enjoyed a late lunch early dinner. Our waiting person Jenny, was funny, informative and perfect for the experience we wanted. The food also fits into the bill of a beautiful old style (from my childhood memories) Italian meal. We both enjoyed our entrees. And had enough to enjoy the remains tomorrow. Reminds me of the places on the east coast (NJ and NYC) of the 60s-70s, the convenient seating, quiet enough to talk, and great food? friendly family service.

I had the chicken parmesan, while my girlfriend ordered the eggplant parmesan. We started with the focaccia bread, and she had a minestrone soup that was out of this world. I enjoyed a perfectly made Caesar salad. The main courses took a while to arrive, but as you know, the downside of Italian food is that you feel like you need to eat again in three days! For dessert, we shared a slice of cheesecake that had a small drizzle of chocolate on one side and a couple of dollops of strawberry on the other; it felt like a comforting hug from a grandmother. It's clear that we're already planning our next visit!

If I could leave no stars I would. The quality and quantity of food is awful for the prices charged! Salad has spoiled rotted lettuce on it. We did not receive two of our salads, we ordered full orders of pasta and received very small portions. Zucchini was soggy. Worst first time experience ever, and definitely will not recommend to my family or friends and will not be returning as customers.