Open List Home >> Portland, OR >> Restaurants & Food >> Restaurants >> Iorio Restaurant
House-smoked meats so tasty, we serve our sauce on the side!

Where high-end casual meets neighborhood comfortable


Renowned for elegant meals with reasonable prices, this family friendly spot tucked away in SE uses tons of organic and locally-grown produce and meats.Chef Chris Thompson offers NW favorites such as Oregon Razor clams, along with his mouth watering Cornmeal Crusted Calamari named Best in Portland. For the very best in quality, ingredients and dining experience, or interactive cooking classes, visit iorio today.
5.0 of 5 stars.
This place produced one of the most delicious and beautiful Italian meals I've enjoyed in a very long time. One diner ordered a generious portion of hand rolled pasta with olive oil, pesto and...
yelp.com - user review - 04/21/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
We went here for my 21st birthday with my family. We were all very impressed. I ordered butternut squash ravioli which was to die for. It was definitely rich but well worth it! The service was...
yelp.com - user review - 04/19/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
We went here for our 4th wedding anniversary last night. We chose it because it was listed as one of the most romantic restaurants. For the most part, we liked the place and we liked the food. The...
yelp.com - user review - 04/18/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I don't know what happened: the cannoli was terrible! The filling tasted like a stick of cream cheese -- gross!My frisine was okay, kind of bland, but the clam dish my friend got was great. Nice...
yelp.com - user review - 04/16/2009
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1.0 of 5 stars.
It will preface my review by saying that it's been a while since my husband and I went to Iorio, but it left enough of a negative impression that I felt the need to review it now that I've joined...
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Let me take you back to February. The GF and I were celebrating on 1 year mark. I was looking for somewhere new, not too fancy, and romantic to take her out to dinner. Where do you think I turned to...
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2009
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3.0 of 5 stars.
My wife and I decided to listen to the fabulous Yelp reviews and try this place out for our 4-year anniversary. We are fans of Italian food, and though we do have our fav spots in the PDX, we wanted...
yelp.com - user review - 03/27/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
so what's better than an awesome italian restaurant that makes not only awesome cuisine, but awesome gluten free cuisine? GLUTEN FREE COOKING CLASSES!!!!!!no, im not kidding!gluten free cooking has...
yelp.com - user review - 03/07/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
We celebrated a friend's birthday here and everything was excellent. The calamari is some of the best in the city. The sauces with the calamari were incredible and addictive. Definitely try it.The...
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I had the house made pasta with handmade meatballs, it was wonderful. I also recommend the cannoli for dessert!!
yelp.com - user review - 03/05/2009
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I think this is a 5 star worthy restaurant, but I feel like I need to visit again to confirm this. For now, it is a solid 4 . We went there to try what has been called "Portland's best calamari" and...
yelp.com - user review - 02/13/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I am a sucker for Americanized Italian food, so when I came here on a business dinner, I was afraid my simple palate could not handle taste of any sophistication higher than Olive Garden (seriously,...
yelp.com - user review - 01/13/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
ok, so it isn't really as good as it gets. the salad was not that great and the ravioli was a bit thick.but i give it 5 stars for being a good italian place in SE. i don't really get it. the best...
yelp.com - user review - 01/06/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I have to say I loved this place. Had reservations on Friday night, when we got to the restaurant they let us know that our table wasn't ready yet - but fit us in at another. The calamari might be the...
yelp.com - user review - 01/04/2009
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5.0 of 5 stars.
If i owned a restaurant, it would most likely resemble Iorio. Simple, scaled-down menu featuring fresh, local organic ingredients...recipes that my grandmother could have given me - the perfect blend...
yelp.com - user review - 12/18/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I've only dined here once, but I had a lovely experience. The cheese plate is as gorgeous as it is delicious, and the veggie lasagna was spectacular - ooey and gooey in all the right ways. Nice wine...
yelp.com - user review - 12/12/2008
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We recently held a party in the ballroom above Iorio, and had Iorio cater the event. The attention to detail, menu, decor, and service was beyond perfect.The people who own this restaurant truly care about...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/03/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
There is no way that I describe how amazing Iorio is. I am in no way a good enough writer to express my love for both the food and our experience at Iorio. I had called them ahead of time to reserve a...
yelp.com - user review - 10/28/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
MMMM! Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmmm!Loved the food, and the staff went way beyond what was necessary, especially given my grubbiness and Eliza Doolittle manners, to show kindness and good service. I've never had a...
yelp.com - user review - 10/24/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Oooooh....yeah....um....yanking back a couple of stars here. The food remains fantastic and inventive. However, the service and the consistency from the bar worry me about this place. Frankly, with...
yelp.com - user review - 09/30/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I have a big dilemma in writing this review. Can I really knock off 2 full stars for service?..... Maybe 3?????Our first visit to Iorio was a couple months ago. The first visit we had only 5 of us....
yelp.com - user review - 09/28/2008
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My husband and I visited Iorio restaurant for our fourth wedding anniversary, and was pleased with how great our experience was! Upon arrival, we were given the best seat in the house! Our server was kind and...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/06/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
What a sweet spot! The fact that a place this good didn't even make the Oregonian's recent Best 100 is both a shocking lapse and a tribute to the depth and quality of the restaurant scene we have...
yelp.com - user review - 08/31/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Three of us went to Iorio last night to celebrate the great Democratic convention of 2008 and raise a glass (or 2) to Barack!The calamari was FABULOUS - and as they claim-- it may be the best in...
yelp.com - user review - 08/30/2008
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While vacationing in Washington and visiting Portland, we happened upon Iorio's. It was not only a heart-warming experience because of the display of family history but a savoring, mouth-watering feast! In...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/29/2008
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I get busy (as we all do) and it is a bit of a drive for me, so I find myself making excuses for a "take out" meal... but at least once a month I force myself out to some place inviting with great food. This...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/27/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Came here with my food research $$$ (yes, it's awesome to have my job as a small brewpub manager) to say thanks to a pal. My friend and sometimes lover was my guest of honor. He helped me move my bed,...
yelp.com - user review - 08/22/2008
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We went on a Tuesday night and much like all the times before the food and atmosphere wassuperb. The menu choices are always fresh and seasonal. Had the Cod special, oh my...was wonderful. Quality service and...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/12/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I went here with my husband and the food was AMAZING, local organic ingredients whenever possible and some of the best fresh daily seafood selections I've had. Also, I loved the atmosphere, small and...
yelp.com - user review - 08/12/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
We went here to celebrate a friends birthday. Great ambiance, great food, excellent desserts!The wine list is a great mix a decent priced wines that are good, the pasta was amazing, but you HAVE to...
yelp.com - user review - 08/01/2008
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My husband and I found iorio on the Rewards Network dining list (bonus frequent flyer miles) and we're so glad we did. We recently relocated to PDX and were hoping to find an Italian restaurant just like this...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/01/2008
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Our server was very friendly and well educated on both the wine and food. Between the 6 of us, we had 5 different entrees and all where delicious. Tip: don't skip on the appetizers (calamari and cheese place...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/15/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
My husband took me here on our anniversary and we were both very pleased. I was concerned at first because there weren't many people there. The waitress was delightful and very accommodating. We are...
yelp.com - user review - 06/03/2008
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While visiting Portland last weekend with our son's family from Chicago we ate at Iorio. We were very pleased that we chose this restaurant because the menu's offerings and the quality of the wait staff. We...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/28/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Pretty good Italian food. Their cornbread calamari is the best thing on the menu.This is a big space that appears to be great for families. It's nice to see this part of lower Hawthorne catching on.
yelp.com - user review - 05/20/2008
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We've been going to iorio for 2 or so years now and it _was_ my favorite Italian restaurant. I've recommended it to a lot of friends and always make a point to bring out of town guests there. The homemade...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/17/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I went to Iorio with my wife for our anniversary and we really loved it. The food was amazing, and prepared so beautifully. Everything tasted amazing and felt very unique and authentic.Forget about...
yelp.com - user review - 04/19/2008
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This place is wonderful. The atmosphere is rustic, dimly lit with antique furniture. The food is great and very well priced with generous portions. The service is great, too
citysearch.com - user review - 04/11/2008
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I am trying to exactly understand why I did not fall in love with Iorio last night during my first visit.The food was very good but was a bit dissapointed to see that no bread was served, wine came in a very...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/10/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
If you haven't been to Iorio make sure you go...I'll say it again - if you haven't been to Iorio MAKE SURE you go!I, like, learned things about food there.Head Chef Chris Thompson is as cool and down...
yelp.com - user review - 04/10/2008
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I've been to Iorio twice. First as a romantic date. Second as a business dinner. Same server both times, who was discreet the second time about the romantic date. Don't know who she is, but cute and blonde....
citysearch.com - user review - 03/27/2008
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I had avoided going to Iorio because I have two kids and it just looked too fancy for a family. But I saw on Citysearch that it made the top 10 for family friendly dining, so we decided to give it a go. Right...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/14/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
My husband and I love to eat out. We've received Iorio's e-mails for some time but for some reason never tried it. Tonight we did and what a treat! It was excellent. We ordered too much food but...
yelp.com - user review - 03/14/2008
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My husband took me to Iorio for Valentine's and I was pleasantly surprised. The decor, the lighting, and the service was my ideal for a romantic night out. While we waited I ordered the Pomegranate martini and...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/29/2008
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My wife and I went to this restaurant for our anniversary. So far, this is the best Italian restaurant we have been to in town. They mesh classic Italian recipes with local ingredients to create a very unique...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/10/2008
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I took my husband here last week for a romantic dinner, and it was perfect. I made a 5:30 reservation. When we arrived the place was empty except for 2 people at the bar, and we were seated at the only window...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/16/2008
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My boyfriend and I went to Iorio on a Saturday night with another couple and had a great experience. We were seated promptly without a reservation, and the server was polite and helpful. We ordered the cheese...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/16/2007
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Dear Chris, I think that's your name, you came out to our table. I recently dined at your establishment with the highest expectations of organic cuisine, ambiance, and service. I was dissappointed by all...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/10/2007
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My wife and I ate here while on a recent two-day trip to Portland. My wife ordered the chef's prix fix menu, which came with special wines for the first and second course. I had the spicy saugage and tomato...
citysearch.com - user review - 10/09/2007
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My wife and I had a lovely evening at Iorio. We were there on a Wednesday night and they had some great live music (Will West). The fixed menu of the night was perfect and the wine we got was a nice match. The...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/27/2007
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I like it - Local, Twists on Traditional fare, good service, and keen on minor details like asking for allergic reactions when taking a reservation. Good stuff, but the food needs to match... The antipasto and...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/24/2007
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I went here for my birthday this year. My mother and I ordered the Chef's sampler- it is true to it's word in that you get samples only. But each sample got more delicious as we went along! It started with a...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/07/2007
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I read all the rave reviews so I decided to take a friend from Brazil to this restaurant. Oh! it was a mistake. Food was below average. Pasta was rubbery, pizza was tasteless, cookies were burnt, coffee was...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/01/2007
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My husband & I spent a delightful Saturday evening at Iorio recently. We were visiting Portland from out of town and selected Iorio based on the recommendations at this website. We were very happy with every...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/01/2007
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We are SO glad we didn't just go someplace else after u-turning a few times looking for the place. Hawthorne is crazy over there! When we walked in the hostess greeted us as if we were her sister and brother-...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/22/2007
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My husband and I chose Iorio for our anniversary based on the recommendations on this site. We were not disappointed! We dined on a weekday night and found the atmosphere romantic (cozy decor, not too busy)...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/11/2007
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Absolutely wonderful mixture of flavors and textures. Everyone in my party was more than impressed with their dinners (definitely start with the tender calamari) and the attentive service. The only downfall...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/08/2007
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Tried it for the first time last night after the positive reviews here and was not disappointed. We made a reservation earlier in the day and probably would recommend it for weekend nights (it was pretty...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/08/2007
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We found this place thru city search and we were not disappointed. Great food, great atmosphere and excellent service. We will definitely go back to this spot and will be recommending it to our friends.
citysearch.com - user review - 07/06/2007
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I had read the reviews and was excited to try Iorio. We had to cancel reservations twice so I was a little worried that I would be disapointed due to anticipation. I couldn't have been more wrong! We arrived a...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/01/2007
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The food was good but not as everyone described it. I was looking for a great Italian dinner - it didn't quite meet my expectations. The service was great - the calamari was yummy and would recommend having...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/28/2007
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Went to Iorio for my birthday. After reading reviews, I was excited to check it out. Was somewhat dissapointed....prices are not what is on website, service is ok, food is ok. Bread is awesome!
citysearch.com - user review - 05/10/2007
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5.0 of 5 stars.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in town. The menu is a mix of Italian and Northwest cuisine and it blends wonderfully! I love how they serve a squash puree with bread instead of oil or...
yelp.com - user review - 05/07/2007
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Iorio's floored me with their food! They really know what they're doing at this place. Tender calamari, pillow-soft gnocci, rich lamb pasta. My partner had the pork rib with quinoa and green beans and it was...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/30/2007
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We went here for the first time last Friday. The atmosphere is nice, however, I would not rate it "romantic". The tables are fairly close together. The chickpea salad and pumpkin spread where OUTSTANDING. We...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/23/2007
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From the moment we walked in, we had outstanding service. My husband and I sat at the bar while we were waiting for our table. It was so comfortable there, that after sharing a bottle of wine and some great...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/07/2007
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I took my wife to this place last Friday and we had an amazing time. The nochi, the spaghetti, the rib-eye were to die for... while our waitress was busy another waiter jumped in to get our cocktails going and...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/04/2007
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When we walked through the doors I wasn't sure if my toddler would be welcomed with open arms, but my fears were put to rest quickly. They have a small basket of toys and books for the youngsters to keep...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/14/2007
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This relatively new restaurant on Hawthorne in SE Portland was recommended as a "romantic" restaurant by CitySearch. We arrived and were seated immediately at a candle lit table in a relatively small and...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/02/2007
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The most complimenting salads and deserts of all the restaurants in town... they also poor a perfect scotch on the rocks. The Chef seems to go that extra mile to keep things fresh and new, without...
citysearch.com - user review - 03/01/2007
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citysearch.com - user review - 02/21/2007
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I had read the many reviews on City Search and decided to take my wife here. I was a little disappointed in the atmosphere. It is very nice and clean inside but I wish it was a little more romantic. We were...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/11/2007
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It was my turn to take out my husband. I was on citysearch looking for something new, moderatley priced and romantic. I got just what I wanted. As a restaurant manager, I am an incredibly hard customer to...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/08/2007
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Even on a Saturday night, the service was wonderful. We had the chef's special ($35, 4 courses) which was well worth it. Don't waste the $7 on the two very, very small glasses of wine that went along with the...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/29/2007
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I wanted to like this place -- the staff seemed nice enough, and the decor was interesting -- but the food ultimately just wasn't very interesting. And it wasn't for a lack of dishes, either. We had calamari...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/30/2006
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I can't believe this place has been open a year, and it took me this long to dine there. The space is very nice and inviting, the food was very good, and the service was just right. We had the marinated...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/21/2006
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The restaurant staff were all very attentive and friendly. Shortly after sitting down, we were brought very nummy dishes-- bread with squash puree and garbanzo salad-- to tempt our palates. The organic wines...
citysearch.com - user review - 12/03/2006
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My boyfriend and I stopped in last week and had such a romantic time. Truly amazing food and great service.
citysearch.com - user review - 11/28/2006
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My fiance and I have been on a mission to find a good Italian restaurant. PDX lacks in GOOD Italian food. It was so nice to find a menu that is not all pasta. Most of the Italian eateries in Portland have the...
citysearch.com - user review - 10/20/2006
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influenced by other 'highly recommended' reviews, my friend and i sought out this restaurant for a fabulous dining experience. well, our expectation was too high. yes, the environment was quite warm but not...
citysearch.com - user review - 10/20/2006
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What a great place...customer service is superb and the food matches. The environment is spare and clean. This place goes over the top to make your experience special!
citysearch.com - user review - 10/06/2006
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We went here expecting "classic" italian food but it turns out there are only 4 pasta choices on the menu, and we were a little disappointed with that. We had the tagliatelle with italian sausage, which was...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/24/2006
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We finally got a chance to try Iorio last night and what a wonderful experience!!! The food was amazing, very carefully prepared and explosive unique flavors, we loved it. Two of us had the Chef's special...
citysearch.com - user review - 09/21/2006
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After a recent visty from Italy, we have been on a quest to find an authentic Italian experience. Our quest has stopped with Iorio. This place made us feel as if we were in a small Italian resturant. From...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/26/2006
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My wife and I recently went to Iorio for our anniversary and it was an excellent meal. I would stronger suggested the chefs special with the wine pairing. My wife had the special which was a salmon dish which...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/12/2006
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My girlfriend and I both ordered the Chef's choice dinner menu with the wine pairing hoping for a leisurely Friday evening dinner. We were given complimentary hummus syle spread and chick pea appitizers which...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/07/2006
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My girlfriend and I both ordered the Chef's menu and wine pairing and settled down for a relaxing Friday evening.Unfortunately, the evening felt rushed as the first course arrived ten seconds after the...
citysearch.com - user review - 08/07/2006
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We will be back; Again & Again! Sinfully delicious! I had the chicken, my husband had the tuna special. Both were excellent.
citysearch.com - user review - 07/31/2006
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I wanted so much to love this restaurant. Gorgeous building, windows, wood floors. Could there really be good Italian on lower Hawthorne? Unfortunatly, the food was slightly above average, the staff was...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/30/2006
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Iorio's food is hands-down the best restaurant in portland that specialises in Italian cuisine. The menu has all the staples that you expect but with a creative bent that makes it truly special. New on the...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/22/2006
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A restaurant where after you eat - you feel like you really found a unique great place. The entire meal you will be focusing on the food - hopefully the person your with doesnt mind you not paying attention to...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/19/2006
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We had a wedding rehearsal dinner at Iorio, and what a triumph!!!From the personal attention and assistance from Christopher Thompson (what a gem!) with planning a custom menu for our party to the incredibly...
citysearch.com - user review - 07/01/2006
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Wonderful dessert. Even better dinner. Had a gnocchi that could change lives. This restaurant is quietly one of the top 3 Italian places in the city.
citysearch.com - user review - 06/26/2006
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Everything about Iorio is truly amazing - from the atmosphere to the starters to the entrees to the desserts. I can honestly admit to having experienced all dishes at Iorio (and they have by far one of the...
citysearch.com - user review - 06/23/2006
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Iorio is one of the Portland's best hidden secrets. Not only was the food amazing; but our server was friendly, and the atmosphere is warm, quiet and romantic. It's a great date spot. If you're looking for...
citysearch.com - user review - 05/22/2006
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Iorio's is a beautiful hidden find! Live music, easy parking, great food, great service, good prices, cozy & romantic ambiance. Starters include complimentary bread with a creamy dip similar to huumus, as well...
citysearch.com - user review - 04/23/2006
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Decided to travel from Seattle to Iorio based on the reviews in CitySearch...We were not disappointed. Food and service were excellent - a special treat to have the Chef stop by and chat with us.
citysearch.com - user review - 04/07/2006
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We went to Iorio for Valentine's Day and they treated us like kings! My date has a wheat allergy and they not only were able to accommodate us, but went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect....
citysearch.com - user review - 02/15/2006
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REALLY wonderful! The food was a delight to the senses; pleasing to look at, with varying textures, and amazing combinations of flavors. Four of us had appetizers, dinner, AND drinks for under $100! We knew...
citysearch.com - user review - 02/13/2006
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This was quite honestly the perfect dining experience. The food was exceptional with just enough choices, and prices that were more than reasonable. And while food is one thing, there is something to be said...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/24/2006
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The "in training" server was a little distracting, but otherwise the ambience was fresh and very comfortable. I especially liked not being cramped. The menu was perfect for a romantic personal experience. A...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/22/2006
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Iorio is a great place and a great addition for this neighborhood. My wife and I were very surprised with the excellent menu. I've taken the family and the atmosphere is "right on the money" for simple...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/12/2006
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Great new intimate restaurant on SE Hawthorne - I've been back twice, so that tells you something. Excellent Sothern Italian cuisine, presented with flair. Great wine selection. Very friendly staff. You can't...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/12/2006
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This new restaurant on Hawthorne has become one of our favorites. We have eaten there weekly, and on every occassion, not only has the food been exceptional, but the service as well. Every item on the menu...
citysearch.com - user review - 01/10/2006
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