| Looking for casual elegance with a great view:
Portofino Grill on Edgewater Blvd. in the
Edgewater Shopping Center in Foster City provides a first rate dining spot
overlooking the city's waterways in an atmosphere reminiscent of Portofino,
Italy--right here on the Peninsula. The expansive dockside restaurant
offers breathtaking waterfront views while guests enjoy a round of
innovative appetizers and refreshing drinks or a full course dinner.
Whether it is outside under the 40' retractable awning or inside the first
class dining room, any way you look at it, Portofino Grill transports you
from the hectic life to the good life in a heartbeat.
Take
a mini-vacation and head to this "destination" restaurant and you'll wonder
why it took our so long to discover one of the Peninsula's best-kept dining
secrets. We arrived on one of those Bay Area picture-perfect evenings as
the sun was slowly setting and we were immediately met by gracious Owner
Kevin Taliaferro, who escorted us down the immaculate dock area to his
private touring boat with appetizers and a chilled bottle of Chardonnay
awaiting us. Once he was assured that we were comfortably seated, the
gentle hum of the electric engine began and he was both dashing captain and
tour guide as he navigated the seven miles of waterway in beautiful Foster
City.
Do
yourself a favor and reserve the boat to take in all the sights while
relaxing in the utmost comfort of this beautiful craft. Listen to your
favorite music or CD, sip one of several beverage choices and enjoy such
innovative appetizers as crab cakes on top of baby greens, drizzled with
beet aioli and chipolte aiole, prawn cakes diced with andouille sausage on
top of baby greens, or tuna tartare seared rare with ginger infused soy
sauce, onions, cucumber and wasabi while you whisk along at six knots in a
peacefully silent exhaust free environment. The boat seats up to six people
for a memorable day or evening cruise. After you have enjoyed a relaxing
ride, return to
Portofino,
where your pre-ordered dinner will be ready for your enjoyment and normal
restaurant protocol takes over.
We
entered the popular restaurant through a handsome bar area, intimate and
inviting with soft lighting, warm cherry wood, and a fully stocked bar on
display. As we passed through the lively bar, it opened up into an inviting
dining room that has both an upscale, yet comfortable feel. Well-spaced
tables dressed in crisp while linens and flickering candlelight amid golden
sponge-painted walls awaited our party and set the mood splendidly.
Part
of the fun of dining at
PORTOFINO
is discovering the seasonal specials and having your dinner cooked exactly
to order. So, go ahead and enjoy your favorite glass of Pinot Noir or
Cabernet as you dine over such “started” as Smoked Trout Mango Salad with
fresh baby greens tossed with champagne vinaigrette or the Buffalo
Mozzarella stacked with ripe tomato, basil and balsamic reduction, among
several other very creative and tantalizing appetizer and salad choices.
As
satisfying as we found the first course, save room for your entrée because
the fish are all extremely fresh, line-caught or flown in from Alaska and
deliver a completely different texture than you’ve ever experienced. The
Grilled Halibut in a pineapple salsa, served with sticky rice and seasonable
vegetables was worth the trip in itself. The Ahi Tuna seared rare with
pickled ginger potatoes, star anise, asparagus and wasabi drizzle was
another delectable dish from the wide-ranging menu.
Our
seatmates chose “something from the land” and were overjoyed with the
roasted chicken served over truffle mashed potatoes with honey glazed
carrots, as well as their plate of Veal Picatta served over white rice pilaf
with capers and cabernet reduction sauce. By now you get the idea, this
food is top notch and as cosmopolitan as it gets.
With
a nod toward the restaurant’s Italian roots, you might also want to try one
of the several pasta dishes on the menu, such as the Wild Mushroom Risotto
with seasonal mushrooms, herbs and parmesan cheese or the Seafood Linguine
with prawns, scallops, clams and mussels tossed in spicy marinara—heaven on
a plate.
After
dinner, sip a Cappuccino or glass of Port and linger over a classic Italian
dessert, such as Tiramisu or the apple crisp with vanilla gelato and
drizzled with a warm caramel sauce.
This
waterfront restaurant becomes a popular gathering scene on Sundays when a
brunch is served accompanied by a trio of jazz artists, and on Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday nights it’s the place to unwind with live smooth jazz,
top shelf drinks and great good. Don’t forget the Early Bird Special from
5-6pm where entrees are priced at a very
reasonable $10-$12 and it’s a great hour of the day to enjoy the unique
location at spring or summer. Exquisite banquet facilities are available
and the large dock and views of the water make it the perfect setting for a
work function, rehearsal dinner or other memorable event.
With a
premier waterside setting and top tier menu, PORTOFINO GRILL is an “out of
this world” destination and the ultimate in California Cuisine. Book your
trip to Portofino today.
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER GROUP |
