Portofino Italian Ristorante is family owned and operated, and we hope that you feel like family here, whether you come in for a quick lunch on the traditional red checker table cloths, or having a formal dinner with white linens, a date night or a family gathering, coming in from the boat or heading for a night out. We serve hearty portions of traditional classic Italian dishes with a broad selection of wines for your dining pleasure.
Wine Wednesday
Enjoy choosing from specially selected wines each week buy 2 glasses of one of the specials and you get the rest of the bottle.
The Fishchetti's sold their 25 year old restaurant to Chris and Patricia Conley two years ago. The restaurant is located in the Skyway marina district near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
Chris and Patricia Conley have never owned a restaurant, but bring relevant experience and were helped by the Fischettis during the transition. The new owners also will keep the traditional Italian menu and inherit the Fischettis' 10 or so employees.
Located in the busy, newly renovated Bay Pointe Plaza at 5035 34th St. S, the restaurant's menu includes homemade minestrone, veal parmigiana, gnocchi and calamari marinara.
For Chris Conley, who spent 10 years in the Navy and 22 years as an engineer in Silicon Valley, the decision to buy Portofino's and move from California to St. Petersburg was easy. It was like coming home for the Gibbs High School graduate.
"When we found Portofino's, we knew it was us,' he said, praising the Fischettis. "They've set an amazing foundation. There isn't anyone who hasn't raved about them."
Conley, 51, said he plans to build on the what the couple has established. He will boost the restaurant's social media presence by developing a website and Facebook page. He hopes to hire more people. And, he said, "We're hoping to add delivery."
It helps that Portofino's menu features the very cuisine that Conley grew up enjoying at home and the homes of his Boston relatives. "Both my wife and I are Irish-Italian," he said.
Buying the business was also motivated by the development that's taking place in the Skyway Marina District that runs along 34th Street, from 30th to 54th avenues S, and serves neighborhoods such as Maximo Moorings, Broadwater, Pinellas Point and Lakewood Estates. Portofino's is part of the growing district. And for Conley, who moved away during the 1980's, returning to a thriving downtown has been inspiring.
The Conleys' two oldest children will be involved in the business. Zack, 23, who has a marketing degree, will be the restaurant's marketing director. Brittany, 19, a student at St. Leo's University, will work on social media. The youngest, Sophia,9, is moving from California with the family.
There is no bar at the restaurant so the evening will begin directly with dinner. We will cut off registration for this event on December 30th so we can give them a good count for a dinner reservation.
For Restaurant details and menu: https://portofinostpete.com/
Our typical outing is dinner starting at 6pm -6:30 pm with cocktails at the bar for those who want to go earlier; but of course this is subject to change depending upon available reservation times at each restaurant. We request separate checks and so far have not had any problems with restaurants accommodating this request.
Registration due by the Friday before. Limited to 12 people for now, we may add more tables; a waiting list will be established and you will be notified by email if someone cancels and you move up. After Friday, Call Debbie to see if there is room. Please cancel online by going to this event and choosing already registered, then select cancel or call Debbie (615) 476-3030.
