The dinner I had at Portale was my last pre-COVID meal the night before I left to ski in Austria — just before the world closed down. Was nice to return.

We had had champagne and nibbles at my home, so we were content to share a couple of dishes. We began with a shaved cauliflower salad that included radishes, sunchokes, apple slices, pecans and an Italian heirloom variety of radicchio all in a creamy Italian dressing ($18).

Next, we shared the ethereally light agnolotti filled with ricotta and served with crispy pancetta, chopped scallions and sliced chanterelles in a light broth topped with fresh parsley and Parmigiano Reggiano ($25).
After perusing the wine offerings, I found an amazing bargain! The sommelier mentioned that the wines from Campania didn’t have marketing dollars. Hence the reasonable price for the delicious Villa Matilde Aglianico, 2016 ($50)! Nice tannins with bold flavor. I’d recommend!

For our entrees, we shared the grilled branzino atop broccoli rabe and eggplant purée, topped with a tomato confit and chopped buttery-sweet Castelvetrano olives in a balsamic glaze ($37) and the perfectly cooked roast duck breast, with black rice, turnips and roasted black figs ($42). Again, I’d recommend either.

The moist olive oil cake came with a cherry compote and vanilla gelato sitting on biscotti crumble ($14 ).

I highly suggest a trip to Portale

Portale
Chelsea
126 West 18th Street,
New York, NY 10011
(917) 781-0255