1,492 reviews
#3 of 36 Restaurants in Boothbay Harbor$$ - $$$, Italian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options+1 207-633-1011+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Mon
11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Tue
11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Thu
11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Fri
11:30 am - 8:00 pm
Sat
11:30 am - 8:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travellers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Italian, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Does this restaurant serve Neapolitan food?
Details
About
Come and explore the cuisine of the Ports of Italy from our cozy restaurant on the waterfront in Boothbay Harbor. Named Ports of Italy #1 Italian Restaurant in the State of Maine! 2019 msn.com Seasonally closed January-April
PRICE RANGE
$12.00 – $47.00
CUISINES
Italian
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Dinner
FEATURES
Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Waterfront
Contribute
4.5
1,492 reviews
Excellent
1,034
Very good
273
Average
97
Poor
50
Terrible
38
Niwotois
Saco374 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
After a wedding, about four years ago, a dozen of us went to Ports of Italy and we were blown away by how good it was (and how well they served a dozen people at once). Well, just after Christmas, eight of us went back and, again, it was just superb. A couple of us are sort of Italian cuisine freaks, knowledgeable and picky. And this restaurant consistently blows us away.
We shared appetizers of mussels and the house antipasti and actually ordered seconds on the mussels (everyone was sopping up the sauce with their bread). I had the excellent squid ink pasta with loads of various seafood. The hit with the others (half of them had it) was AGNOLOTTI DI VITELLO (paper thin ravioli stuffed with mixed meats, wild mushrooms and other treats. It's probably the most popular dish on the menu and deservedly so. I had a dessert special (chocolate and vanilla cheesecake) that was so popular we ordered a second one (so I could get my fill).
Our waiter was superb - he's been there forever and was funny, attentive and knowledgeable. Just a perfect dining experience. Even the prices are reasonable fo the caliber of the food. Tear yourself away from the Harbor's deep-fried seafood and dine on fantastic Italian. You won't regret it.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren E
9 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
My husband and I ate here for our anniversary. Our server Christina was knowledgeable and kind, and was wonderful to speak with! We split the caprese salad in an edible Parmesan bowl for an app. My husband had fettuccini with clams in a light sauce. I had the ravioli stuffed with pork and veal in a creamy mushroom sauce. Both were incredibly good. We finished the night with chocolate gelato and a cannoli and pretty much rolled ourselves out of the restaurant. All tables seemed appropriately sprayed to allow for social distancing and servers all wore masks.
We definitely enjoyed our dinner date and will absolutely be back!
Written 23 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucillem
6 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
We enjoyed our meal so much that we came back twice during our 4 night stay in Boothbay. It was refreshing to eat at a restaurant with quality ingredients that were not overly rich or smothered in greasy sauces. Our first night we had the Caesar salad, pasta with clams and veal scaloppini. All were excellent. The clams were plentiful, and the pasta and the light sauce delicious. The second visit we had the veal scaloppini (again) and pork ossobuco, the fennel salad and tiramisu for desert. Everything was excellent and the tiramisu was the best we had ever had. Our waitress the first evening was pleasant and helpful. Our waiter the second visit was indifferent. My only complaint would be that my husband had asked to substitute his potatoes for pasta in the veal entre and was told that they couldn’t do that, but he could order pasta on the side as an extra for $12.00, yet if you ordered pasta as a side dish from the menu it was listed at $8.00. I would think a restaurant of this caliber would be able to accommodate a minor substitution and do so without an additional fee. But, despite this one issue, it was one of the best meals that we had during our 2 week trip through ME, so kudos to the chef.
Written 21 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah S
New York City27 contributions
Sept 2020 • couples
This is a really unfortunate review to write but I feel so strongly about taking care as we live during a global pandemic that I could not leave well alone.
My husband and I left the restaurant without eating tonight. We read rave reviews about the restaurant and wanted to celebrate our first anniversary at Port of Italy. We made reservations but when we arrived upstairs we were floored by the scene: a bustling indoor venue crawling with diners. On a pre-pandemic night, we would not have batted an eye...in fact, we would have been pleased to dine at a hot spot! When the older gentleman showed us our table we immediately asked if there was one either outside on the deck or away from all of the people. He pointed to a corner table that was still surrounded by diners. We told him we didn't feel comfortable with the lack of social distancing and were expecting something outdoors. He responded curtly that we were looking at "open-air" which wasn't quite the case.
I have now read multiple Trip Advisor reviews that are identical to our experience, raising concerns about how serious the restaurant is taking these complaints.
Up until tonight, our week dining throughout costal Maine has left us feeling like establishments were super careful about adhering to social distancing decorum. This didn't seem like it was the case at Port of Italy. We decided to leave and eat at Taka which was, by the way, amazing and very safe.
Bottom line: the reviews of the food sound sensational, but I would not advise dining at the restaurant and urge customers to order take out instead if you are really craving Italian food.
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
santecalandri
Everyone has choices... as you could see the outside patio area was full and we have opened all the walls in the restaurant to allow for outside air circulation. I said if you don’t feel comfortable you shouldn’t stay. We are following all state guidelines and protocols. We value everyone’s safety during these trying times and maybe you should just stay home.
Written 13 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Martha G
Milford17 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
We settled for a 4:30 reservation because of recent positive reviews but we were very disappointed by the unfriendly service, and mediocre food. Unfortunately our waiter did not make us feel welcome and mostly ignored us. We received our service from asking our water/bus boy to let our server know that we would love to have another glass of wine and subsequently dessert and finally the check. We recommend the eggplant rollatini and the porchetta. The "Maine Lobster" ravioli was a disappointment. Based on our experiences, the restaurant was overpriced and lacked a welcoming ambiance.
Written 28 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
T S
Augusta2 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
This place was recommended by our Inn and they made reservations for us, a week ahead of time as we were celebrating a special birthday. We arrive to get a tiny table right beside the waitstaff hangout area near the bar, probably the least private less desirable tables and that was with reservations. Folks coming after us with no reservations got better seats. Disappointed. Food was good but think if you took the time to make reservations you shouldn’t get stuck in the bar.
Written 11 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giustino A
Lewiston30 contributions
Aug 2020 • family
Excellent food, service, and ambiance. Appetizers, salads, and soup (if available), 12-18 each, entrees 20-40 each, good wine list, nice drink list, delicious desserts 8-13 each. Service is excellent, attentive but not intrusive. The main dining room area is right now open to the outside. Do yourself a favor and reserve a spot, they get busy and you may not be able to get a spot. They also have a pizza place nearby if you want something more casual (15 /individual pizza), also a few entrees.
Written 15 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GinaZocn
Maine221 contributions
Jul 2020 • couples
What an incredibly flavorful and beautifully presented meal. Last minute recommendation was shared with us & I’m so thankful we heeded their advice.
On a Saturday night, I called at 5:50 PM asking for a 6:15pm reservation. They graciously accommodated us!
I had the filet mignon with
cognac/Gorgonzola cream sauce, garlic sautéed green beans and roasted potatoes. The beef was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the green beans were absolutely delicious.
My husband had the veal scallopini, and for someone who does not like green beans, he thoroughly enjoyed his!
Written 11 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carly m
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
Visiting from Boston, my fiancé and I got Covid tested ahead of our boothbay harbor vacation and have been following strict safety guidelines in order to stay safe.
Someone recommended Ports of Italy and we were excited to try the food but left within 15 minutes of getting there when we were brought upstairs to a packed restaurant. The tables were definitely not spread out, and we were sitting in a corner near a table of 13, and another table of two less than 3-4 feet from us. The windows were open but it was warm and I would barely call it open air dining.
It’s hard for me to write this post at all, as my family has an Italian restaurant in NJ and has had to have outdoor dining and indoor barely at half capacity in complying with safety guidelines. I understand restaurants are hit so he’s right now. I just think if you’re going to ask people to risk their safety by sitting inside to dine they should be honest about it when you make the reservation. I am sure the food was delicious, but it’s not worth getting COVID over.
Written 20 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ACapDiaz
Mount Kisco35 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
Last month, my husband, son and I had reservations on the deck for dinner. When we arrived, the maitre d' proceeded to seat us in the back of the restaurant with no view at all. I explained that we had specifically made a reservation for the deck but we were told that "not everyone can sit outside" and we were seated at a table that was in an area that looked like a hallway. Meanwhile, there were a few empty tables on the deck. When I questioned our waitress (lovely and polite girl) as to why we could not be seated on the deck, she brought the maitre d' over. He then proceeded to argue that the people on the deck come for dinner every week. When my husband said, "so I guess the deck is only for your friends?", the maitre d' got very annoyed and said, "I don't know what to tell you. I can give you free dessert" and walked away. He was clear that if you are not a regular, your reservation will not be considered. So much for customer service. This seems to be a constant problem at this restaurant considering many of the reviews posted here reference rude behavior from the staff . There are so many wonderful restaurants in this area where you are made to feel welcome. This is definitely not one of them.
Written 18 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vesta S
4 contributions
Jul 2020 • couples
Although we have visited Ports of Italy many times over the years, we were most uncomfortable eating there during the COVID 19 virus. They did not observe the 6 feet distancing state rule between diners. In fact, it was more like 3 feet separating us from other diners! As far as I could see, the only thing that has changed is the servers were wearing masks. Additionally, I believe the state protocol states that parties are limited to 8 people per group. However, we were seated 3 feet away from a party of 9 or 11 people!
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3olivesstuffed
Methuen15 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
The restaurant was it suggested to us by the owner of the bed-and-breakfast we were staying at we started the night with the special appetizer calamari which was not fried but was in a delicious spicy tomato sauce then for main meal I had the filet mignon with cognac and Gorgonzola sauce over it with green beans and fingerling potatoes which was absolutely perfectly cooked and delicious. My wife had the chicken dish with the chicken breast and chicken thighs served with two or three different types of cheeses on it again with green beans and fingerling potatoes.All the meals were very good and the drinks from the bar were perfectly made
Written 5 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bert P
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • none
We are Mainers who have enjoyed this place many times. It is one of the best upscale Italian restaurants in the state, in our opinion. Food is always consistently high quality and service is very attentive. But after having a wonderful meal with out of town guests and paying the bill, the waitress returned to the table and directly asked me and my guests if the tip I had included was correct. She was directly insinuating that the tip was too small and was seeking more. I politely told her the tip was correct. Thereafter, her attitude went south quickly and myself, wife and two guests departed with the knowledge that the waitress was unhappy with her tip, instead of thinking about the very enjoying restaurant and food experience we just had. There were four of us, we had a very typical meal with no special requests or needs for extra service, with food items being delivered and the table being served not by just a singe waitress but several wait staff. She did not have to interact with us more then 3-4 times and didn't spend much more than a few minutes each time, taking orders, and delivering food in combination with other wait staff. So in no way did this waitress need to provide extra/special attention to us. The bill was over $200 and she was given a 15%. Leaving aside the fact that this is a very reasonable tip for the amount of service required, I've never experienced wait staff coming back to a table to ask for a higher tip. This is not cool...no matter what amount of tip is given. I suggest that the owner/manager have a talk with all of the wait staff to remind them that it is the customers' choice whether to tip or not, and at what amount. Their job is to provide an enjoyable atmosphere combined with good food, so that customers leave with a great experience and looking forward to returning again. Let's hope other customers don't have this same situation.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redeco
Warren9291 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
We dined at Ports of Italy on it's opening night of this season - what a wonderful experience! The newly decorated restaurant is sleek, stylish, sophisticated - and the menu fantastic with authentic Italian cuisine and an emphasis on the freshest seafood. Wait Staff is professional and attentive. This gorgeous restaurant is a welcome change from the standard resort town fare.
There were so many things on the menu that I wanted, so it was difficult to choose. I went with the Caesar Salad to start Leaves of crisp romaine topped with shavings of parmesan artfully arranged with anchovy fillets on top. A very good start. The dressing creamy, light and refreshing was a fine foil for the bread basket which included focaccia that was heaven sent. I chose Spaghetti alle Vongole as my main and loved the light touch of garlic - pasta was perfectly al dente. My dish (see my photo) included lots of fresh clams and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
I loved this restaurant; I loved the attention paid to the diners; and I particularly enjoyed the talented chef's cuisine. I'll be back (I've got to try the porchetta). Enjoy!
Written 25 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
westie2
Kensington10411 contributions
Sept 2022 • none
We arrived 7-10 minutes ahead of our reservation time and were told they were cleaning our table. After waiting 6-9 minutes I asked what table was being cleaned as several people had been seated after we arrived. The maitre d said they had reservations before us and basically said if I did not like it to go elsewhere. I considered our options and told him we would wait and we soon were seated. Fortunately the remainder of experience was far better though not perfect.
I ordered spaghetti alla vongole that proved to be disappointing as the clams were farm raised and apparently only added to the sauce immediately prior to being served. There was far too much olive oil in sauce and too little clam flavor. My wife saved the night by ordering fettuccine verdi alla Carolina (homemade spinach pasta with seared chicken breast, sundried tomatoes, fresh spinach and light cream) that was outstanding. Service once we were seated proved to be excellent.
We'll be back on our next trip with the intention of arriving a few minutes late for our reservation, skipping the salad course and both requesting the fettuccine verdi alla Carolina.
Written 1 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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