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Cafe Portofino

Item: Cafe Portofino
Author: Jade Eckardt

Cuisine: European, Italian, Mediterranean

Price Range: $$$

10Best Says

Awarded for creating some of the island's best cuisine, Cafe Portofino also graces diners with an open air setting and soothing views of Kalapaki Bay and the Kauai landscape. The menu focuses on northern Italian dishes, and you'll find sweetbreads, rabbit, osso bucco, and fresh seafood to tempt your palate. The range of pastas is also satisfying, as is the substantial antipasti selection. An outdoor deck affords the best vantage point for the beautiful scenery, and live music adds a pleasant detail to a terrific dinner. The owner and chef is a genuine Italian, which shines through on the quality of food.

Address:

3481 Ho'olaule'a Way
Lihue, HI 96766
808-245-2121

Hours:

Daily 4pm-10pm

Website:

cafeportofino.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Jade Eckardt
Kauai Local Expert

Lihue's Best Restaurants, Italian: "Try the filet mignon and a homemade gelato."

Best for Lihue's Best Restaurants, Italian Because: With an amazing wine selection and pairing recommendations for the wonderful food, this shouldn't be missed.

Dinner Menu
- Antipasti Caldi
  
  Steamed Manilla Clams
  
  In a traditional red or white sauce (subject to availability)
  
  Frutti Di Mare all Provenciale
  
  A medly of seafood in a butter, white wine, garlic, and a light tomato sauce ($15.00)
  
  Fantasia di Mare
  
  Seafood medley in a light cream and brandy sauce ($15.00)
  
  Cape Sante al Basilico
  
  Scallops sauteed in a light basil sauce ($15.00)
  
  Calamari Sauteed in a Gauzzetto Sauce
  
  Calamari in a light seafood base, white wine, tomato sauce and fresh spices ($10.00)
  
  Calamari Fritti
  
  Deep fried calamari served with a spicy tomato sauce ($10.00)
  
  Escargot Maison
  
  Aromatic herbs and garlic in a white wine butter sauce ($12.00)
  
  Mozzarella Marinara
  
  Breaded deep fried and served with marinara sauce ($10.00)
- Antipasti Freddi
  
  Antipasto Portofino for two
  
  Platter of olives, calamari salad, pickles, marinated artichoke hearts, tomato, caponata, mozzarella caprese, Italian meats and bruschetta ($20.00)
  
  Mozzarella Caprese
  
  Fresh home made mozzarella cheese with tomato, and basil drizzled with olive oil ($10.00)
  
  Seared Ahi (Carpaccio style) when available
  
  On a dijon wasabe caper sauce ($15.00)
  
  Beef Carpaccio
  
  Thin slices of marinated beef topped with arugula, black pepper, olive oil and parmesan shaves ($14.00)
  
  Prosciutto and Fresh Fruit
  
  Cured Italian ham with fresh fruit in season ($12.00)
- Insalate
  
  Insalata Verde Mista (Spring Mix)
  
  Mixed garden greens mixed with our house tarragon dressing ($10.00)
  
  Caesar Salad
  
  Crispy hearts of romaine, garlic, croutons and parmesan cheese with our Portofino Caesar dressing ($10.00)
  
  Red Beet Salad
  
  Topped with candied walnuts, goat cheese, sherry vinaigrette dressing ($10.00)
- Zuppe
  
  Minestrone alla Portofino
  
  Fresh vegetable soup ($12.00)
  
  Zuppetta di Pesce
  
  Fish soup of the day (ASK WAITER)
- Pasta
  
  Spaghettini Alla Marinara
  
  Spaghetti pasta in fresh tomato and basil sauce ($19.00)
  
  Spaghetti alla Marinara con Polpette
  
  Spaghetti marinara with meatballs ($22.00)
  
  Fettuccine Alfredo
  
  Flat egg pasta noodles in a rich cream and parmesan cheese sauce ($20.00)
  
  Linguine Al Pesto
  
  Linguine pasta tossed with homemade pesto cream sauce ($19.00)
  
  Linguine Alla Puttanesca
  
  Linguine pasta with olives, capers and a touch of anchovies in a spicy tomato sauce ($19.00)
  
  Linguine Alla Carbonara
  
  Traditional roman dish made with pancetta (italian bacon) and a parmesan cream sauce ($19.00)
  
  Fettuccine Alla Bolognese
  
  Flat egg pasta noodles in a traditional italian meat sauce ($19.00)
  
  Penne Salsiccia
  
  Quill shaped pasta with italian sausage, tomato, garlic and basil ($20.00)
  
  Linguine Alle Vongole
  
  Linguine with clams in white or red sauce
  
  Ravioli
  
  Cheese ravioli with mushrooms, tomatoes and basil in a light cream sauce ($22.00)
  
  Cannelloni Ripieni Di Pollo
  
  Cannelloni filled with chicken, mushrooms, spinach, and ricotta cheese ($22.00)
  
  Meat Lasagna
  
  House speciality. traditional style! pasta layered with ragu sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese and besciamella sauce ($22.00)
  
  Fettuccine Shrimp And Mushrooms
  
  Fettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms in a light pink cream sauce ($28.00)
- Pesce
  
  Ahi
  
  Prepared ways: grilled on a low fire to your taste; sauteed in a piccata sauce: a lemon, butter, caper and white wine sauce; sauteed in a guazzetto sauce: a light tomato sauce with an array of fresh spices in lemon, white wine and fish broth
  
  Mahi Mahi
  
  Prepared ways: grilled on a low fire to your taste; sauteed in a piccata sauce: a lemon, butter, caper and white wine sauce; sauteed in a guazzetto sauce: a light tomato sauce with an array of fresh spices in lemon, white wine and fish broth
  
  Ono
  
  Prepared ways: grilled on a low fire to your taste; sauteed in a piccata sauce: a lemon, butter, caper and white wine sauce; sauteed in a guazzetto sauce: a light tomato sauce with an array of fresh spices in lemon, white wine and fish broth
  
  Opakapaka
  
  Prepared ways: grilled on a low fire to your taste; sauteed in a piccata sauce: a lemon, butter, caper and white wine sauce; sauteed in a guazzetto sauce: a light tomato sauce with an array of fresh spices in lemon, white wine and fish broth
  
  Opah
  
  Prepared ways: grilled on a low fire to your taste; sauteed in a piccata sauce: a lemon, butter, caper and white wine sauce; sauteed in a guazzetto sauce: a light tomato sauce with an array of fresh spices in lemon, white wine and fish broth
  
  Lobster Tail
  
  Drawn in butter and lemon
  
  Scampi Al Limone
  
  Prawns sauteed in a lemon, white wine sauce with garlic and butter ($28.00)
  
  Capesante Alla Provinciale
  
  Scallops sauteed in butter, white wine and garlic, with red tomato sauce ($28.00)
  
  Scampi Flambe Trastevere Style
  
  House speciality. prawns prepared the real italian way, sauteed in butter, garlic, tomato, capers, wine and flambe with brandy ($30.00)
  
  Filet Of Dover Sole Dianna
  
  From the english channel sauteed with lemon, peas, mushrooms, butter and cognac
  
  Filet Of Dover Sole Mugnaina (menuiere)
  
  House speciality. from the english channel sauteed with butter, lemon and parsley
- Mare E Monti
  
  Lobster Tail And Filet Mignon
  
  8 oz. Lobster tail with lemon drawn butter and 8 oz. filet mignon grilled to taste served with fresh vegetables in season
  
  Broiled Scampi And Filet Mignon
  
  Prawns with lemon drawn butter and 8 oz. filet mignon grilled to your liking served with fresh vegetables in season ($45.00)
- D'alla Grigila
  
  New York Strip Steak
  
  A generous cut of sirloin strip, broiled and served with fresh vegetable of the day ($30.00)
  
  Rib Eye
  
  Grilled or in a chianti demi glaze mushroom sauce served with fresh vegetable of the day ($36.00)
  
  Filet Mignon Alla Marco Antonio
  
  House speciality. filet mignon sliced and layered with eggplant and large croutons topped with a mushroom, brandy, dijon mustard sauce and fresh vegetable of the day ($40.00)
  
  Filet Mignon ai Porcini
  
  Filet Mignon in a light cream sauce demi glaze brandy and porcini mushroom sauce ($40.00)
  
  Rack Of Lamb
  
  House speciality. new zealand rack of lamb encrusted in dijon, delicately roasted in the oven and served with a rosemary burgundy wine sauce served with fresh vegetable of the day
- Vitello
  
  Scaloppine Piccata
  
  Veal medallions sauteed with a white wine, lemon, butter, caper sauce ($32.00)
  
  Scaloppine Alla Marsala
  
  Veal medallions sauteed with mushrooms, shallots and marsala wine ($32.00)
  
  Scaloppine Porcini
  
  Veal saute flambe with a light porcini mushrooms cream sauce ($32.00)
  
  Osso Buco Alla Portofino
  
  House speciality. veal shank in a traditional sauce served with fettuccine pasta ($38.00)
- Pollo
  
  Pollo Piccata
  
  Chicken breast sauteed with white wine, lemon, butter sauce and capers ($24.00)
  
  Pollo Marsala
  
  Chicken breast sauteed with mushrooms, shallots and marsala wine ($26.00)
  
  Pollo Porcini
  
  Chicken breast saute. flambe with a light porcini mushrooms cream sauce ($26.00)
  
  Pollo Alla Cacciatore
  
  Chicken braised in a medley of fresh vegetables, tomato and wine sauce ($26.00)
- Vegetali Alla Carta
  
  Mushroom Trifolati
  
  Quartered mushrooms sauteed with garlic, butter, white wine and parsley ($8.00)
  
  Spinaci alla Amatriciana
  
  Spinach sauteed with bits of pancetta, butter and parmesan cheese ($8.00)
  
  Fresh Asparagus
  
  Sauteed in butter topped with parmesan ($8.00)
- Menu Vegetariano
  
  Melanzane Alla Parmigiana
  
  House speciality. golden fried eggplant baked in tomato sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and fresh basil ($20.00)
  
  Lasagna Di Legumi
  
  Lasagna made with fresh vegetables in season ($22.00)
  
  Fettuccine Alfredo
  
  Flat egg pasta noodles in rich cream and parmesan cheese sauce ($20.00)
  
  Linguine Al Pesto
  
  Pasta tossed with homemade pesto cream sauce ($19.00)
  
  Spaghetti Alla Marinara
  
  Pasta in fresh tomato and basil sauce ($19.00)
  
  Ravioli
  
  Cheese ravioli with mushrooms, tomatoes and basil in a light cream sauce ($22.00)
- Per I Bambini
  
  Spaghetti Alla Marinara
  
  Pasta in fresh tomato and basil sauce ($10.00)
  
  Spaghetti Alla Marinara Con Polpette
  
  Spaghetti marinara and meatballs ($12.00)
  
  Penne Pasta
  
  Pasta quills in butter with parmesan cheese ($10.00)
  
  Ravioli Alla Marinara
  
  Cheese ravioli with marinara sauce ($10.00)
  
  Fettuccine Alfredo
  
  Flat egg pasta noodles in rich cream and parmesan cheese sauce ($12.00)
  
  Mozzarella Marinara
  
  Breaded, deep fried and served with marinara sauce ($10.00)
- Desserts
  
  Profiteroles
  
  Cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream served with chocolate sauce and roasted almonds ($10.00)
  
  Italian Gelati And Sorbets
  
  Italian ice cream made daily ($10.00)
  
  Caramel Custard
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Chocolate Mousse Cake
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Tirami Su
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Panna Cotta
  
  Italian baked cream custard ($10.00)
- Caffe
  
  Cappuccino
  
  ($5.50)
  
  Espresso
  
  ($4.50)
  
  Caffe Or Te
  
  regular coffee or tea with lemon ($4.50)

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