The food was great! Â The service was great! Â However, it was way overpriced for lunch, and for the portion size. Â I don't mind paying a lot for great quality, I eat at a lot of high-end restaurants. Â But, for a lunch the price was too much. Â I've read they have a great happy hour, and perhaps that is where the deal is at. Â Restaurant was nicely decorated, clean and new. Â Staff was wonderful. Â I wish I could have tried their happy hour.
Review Source:The food was exquisite! I had calamari and seared salmon filet, covered with sesame seeds, which came paired with jasmine rice and two sauces - one being pesto, the other a sweet, cream based sauce. Boo had hangar steak which came in a barbecue sauce. It was partnered with a mac & cheese so rich that even he didn't finish his food, and this cornfed Ohio boy was raised to always clear his plate. As an FYI, both the steak and pasta were spicy, which I don't believe was mentioned in the description of the dish.
Their drinks were pretty damn fantastic (we tried the red wine sangria and I also had a martini). Service was on par with what you'd expect from a swanky restaurant. The live jazz band coupled with the upscale ambiance made for hands-down one of the most romantic dates I've ever been on.
Came here with family for Christmas Eve dinner. It was just okay, nothing memorable. I got the seared salmon filet, the food was well-made but $22 for a salmon filet is a bit much, don't you think? The staff was friendly and attentive, the place was very clean with an entertaining jazz singer--it definitely had an upscale atmosphere--but the food did not live up to the environment. And the food is what really makes-or-breaks a restaurant, isn't it?
Staff: 4
Food: 2 (the price is too high for what it is)
I had Sunday brunch here with a group and we all had a great time and enjoyed the food. Laporta's has great pricing with a three course brunch price fixed menu for just $19.99. A few of my friends ordered from that menu and had soup/salad, entree and dessert. I had a cupcake waiting to be tried at home so I skipped the price fixed menu and had just an entree. Our waitress recommended the steak and eggs and I was not disappointed. The steak was cooked perfectly as were the eggs. At $14.95 my entree was also well priced. I will definitely have brunch at Laporta's again and try dinner as well.
Review Source:Eating at this restaurant has helped me realize how much I need to appreciate living in California. There are several reasons for this markdown.
1.) Service rendered to me was lacking and slow for the prices at this restaurant
2.) The food is way overpriced for such low quality steaks perhaps the chefs are blind
3.) Back to service hard to get waitresses to acknowledge your needs as a customer
4.) Some staff are good and reactive however majority are slow and snooty
My Experience
I came into the restaurant hoping to get great service and good food. I was staying at the Marriott next door hoping I didn't have to walk far. This place is right next door to the hotel which explains why their prices are so high. Price gouging.
I was seated in an awkward place next to a live jazz band although the floor was open enough to move us further into the restaurant. I ordered a coke and waitress was fast at preparing it. However being ready to order my food I waited quite a bit. I saw that my coke was brought out but sitting on a table while the waitress tended to larger parties of individuals. Finally she brought my drink and I could order my food after waiting 10 minutes. Soon after that food was brought out with a steak that was way to undercooked. I don't mind eating a rare steak but I like to have a little searing at least around the edges. I asked for medium. I ordered a check and told waitress I needed to get moving but still she took her time. It is my biggest annoyance when I have to get the restaurant to stop holding me hostage when I need to get going. Overall macaroni and cheese was prepared correctly. However the steak itself didn't taste right.
Cheers
I had no idea, until I read the other Yelp reviews that this place focuses on Happy Hour business. Â We went there for dinner and had a nice one.
I ordered a not particularly expensive, but very good signature pasta dish that had nice spicy Italian Sausages in it. Â I found it very tasty and satisfying. Â I had Calamari that could have been served a little bit hotter and a side salad.
The meal was fine, the service was good and the ambiance was appropriate. Â If in town again, I will go back.
My friend and I went to Laportas for our Valentines Day Celebration. She had gone there the week before with a girl friend and had enjoyed her experience, and suggested we go there for Valentines Day. I called and made reservations. They told me that they would have a fixed-price three course menu as opposed to their regular menu. When they read me some of the choices on the fixed price menu they sounded appealing so I made the reservasion. The food was decent for the most part, but I made a big mistake - I broke my own rule 'never order a steak in a restaurant that is not a steak house.' My strip steak was thin, dry and not a high quality of meat. The rest of the food was not bad and the waiter appeared to be attentive. The major trouble came when we got the check. There was a $30 cover charge!! We had never been told either when making the reservation or when we arrived at the restaurant. Prices had already been inflated for the fixed price menu! I called the waiter over and asked him about the cover charge (If there had been something in fine print on the menu, there was his chance to tell us, he did not). All he did was tell us that if we were upset he'd call the manager over. My gf asked him why the cover charge - she had been there the previous week and they had the same 3 piece jazz band and there was no cover charge. The waiter  said, no, it was just because it was Valentines Day. He said that he would tell the manager and took the check back with him. Nothing happened for several minutes, and then the waiter came back with the check, put it on the table and beat a hasty retreat.  I figured that he or ethe manager had removed the cover charge. Nope!! Same bill with the same $30 cover charge. I didn't want to ruin Valentines Day for my GF, so I paid it (taking a good chunk of the waiter's tip back in partial exchange.
I honestly don't know if this phantom cover charge was a shameless attempt of management to cheat customers or an illegal attempt on the part of the wait staff to augment their tip. Either way we will not be back. I would have felt worse about that if the food had been really good. But it was just decent, and my steak was similar to one you could get for $15 at The Golden Corral (if they still exist) or similar. With such a great choice iof restaurants in the DC area -- and in fact, just in Old Town - there is no reason to go back to this place. I recommend you all stay away!!
My review for the Happy Hour at Laporta's is LONG over due. Â The half price happy hour menu has great selections and they are very filling. Â Although they skimp on the meat, I love the nachos - I think its the cheese that makes them worthwhile. Â Also, the $3 refreshment menu has a decent variety. Â Typically, I like to have a late lunch here since the specials start at 3 p.m. - usually there isn't much of a crowd at this time either. Â Also, there are food specials for Mondays and Tuesday.
I think that we go here maybe 2-4 times/month.
This would be a 2.5, but there are not half stars. Â Here is why:
I was with my boyfriend and we were first sat by the manager(I think it was her because there was a separate hostess). Â She proceeded to seat us and then said, "Here is the drink list, which you can order off of if you are over 21,"(mind you I am almost 30). Â She then left and and the waiter abruptly showed up and started going over the specials before we even ordered a drink or had a menu. Â We then asked if we could order a drink and he said, "Well you must be over 21." Â I mean do we look like we are 15? Â I don't think so. Â So we ordered our drinks and guess who brought them? Â Yes, the manager lady who smirked and said to me, "Well, you must have a really big ID to be ordering a martini." Â What does that even mean? Â I proceeded to tell her I was almost 30 and was really taken aback by their unprofessional manner. Â If they have had underage drinking there they shouldn't take it out on someone that looks young, especially with a valid ID. Â Next, we asked for menus because they forgot to give us those. Â So now on to the food.
I ordered the special, which was the mahi mahi and my bf ordered the trout. Â They were both pretty good, nothing special. Â We waited for the check and couldn't believe that the price for the food was $15 more than what they menu stated. Â We asked to look at the menu and realized that they gave us the lunch menu by accident and thus the prices were more for dinner. Â It wasn't that big of deal, but just seemed deceiving since we thought we were paying less. Â Overall, I would never never go back. Â I wouldn't advise going unless you look like you are over the age of 60, otherwise don't expect to be treated with any level of respect.
My friend and I went for the first time yesterday and I will say I doubt I ever go back. Â After wanting to try the restaurant for years, I was greatly disappointed! Â Both of our entrees were lacking in flavor, ingredients and warmth. Â My wild mushroom pasta was BLAND and did not have any type of sauce that I could tell. Â My friend had the special - fettucine with shrimp and calamari. Â It was fair at best but the tomato sauce was "different". Â The best part of the meal for me was the olive bread (tasty and very fresh) and the field greens salad.
Review Source:LaPortas is our company Happy Hour spot -- and that is certainly the clientele that it caters to as well. They used to have a $2 Happy Hour but not it is up to $3 and that was a big of a drag when we first saw that price change. Â But it's still a pretty good deal for Old Town.
Their classics menu is all half off during Happy Hour and you can get a full meal from it. They have dialed down their portions in the last year or so, and it is certainly less quality on those dishes then they had in the past. Yes, we do miss the old LaPortas but sometimes things change with the times and they certainly have.
Good spot for an after work drink. Cheers!
Get over yourself Laporta's
A rare Friday night we found ourselves with no kids and an opportunity to venture out as a couple. We decided to go to Laporta's, it's close and we had a good dinner there a few years back.
For starters the hostess led us to the back corner next to the lobby exit door - never good (we were well dressed). Nothing on the menu was jumping out at me so I asked for a glass of Chianti while I considered my choices. When she brought me a less than half full, small glass pour, I really wondered if she had mistakenly brought me a glass from a cleared table! We were not told of any specials which we may have ordered because the menu didn't have much other than pasta or fish. The other main course choices were Filet Mignon, barbeque skirt steak (?) and chicken filled with goop. Isn't this place Italian? Where's the picatta, the scallopini or risotto?
I ordered mussels from the "starters" list -there were 3 choices, I ordered the lemon butter sauce. There was barely any sauce at all and no bread. Â I asked the waitress if the mussels were always served dry as I was accustomed to eating the mussels and dipping bread in the au jus. She said that's the way they normally serve them but she would bring me some extra juice and bread. While my husband ate his dinner I waited for the bread. I asked her 2 separate times if she was going to bring the bread and I watched other customers receive baskets of bread- I didn't receive any bread. Â A busboy finally brought over a basket of bread (whole grain) - Italian retaurant -HELLO, where's the delicious piping hot Italian bread? But we had already finished eating. We asked for the check, paid the bill and I will never go to Laporta's again. I wouldn't recommend anyone else waste their time or money. I assume the draw is the live music. It is not the food or the service.
This is our go-to happy hour place, by virtue of its proximity to work and satisfying happy hour specials, 3-7pm. They have $3 rail soda drinks; $3 white wine (Chardonnay) $3 red wine (Merlot), $3 drafts (Stella, etc); $4 Fat Tire. Many choices on their HALF OFF happy hour food menu, including whole meals (burger; chicken tenderloins; grilled chicken sandwich with pepperjack-a personal favorite, which all come with fries), flatbread pizzas, nachos, wings, and at least three mussel dishes, among other things, most of which end up costing less than $5. Even though they often have live jazz near the piano, the bar side tends to be a more casual, jovial crowd. They also have dinner specials..at least on Monday and Tuesday. Â
Since I have very limited interest in drinking high fructose corn syrup that has been chemically altered to induce heartburn and indigestion (in me at least), I'm not a fan of the soda requirement. It's hard for me to understand how adding a little watered down cranberry drink hurts them, but yea, since they started enforcing that, much of the excitement has waned....but still a good deal...esp if you drink soda, beer, merlot, and/or chardonnay.
They have delicious homemade desserts: Godiva mousse cake ($10), NY style cheesecake (never tried it but it looks good), apple pie with cinnamon ice cream ($9), lava cake with molten chocolate ganache ($12?)...I try not to indulge often, since I feel most accomplished when the bill is well under $20. The bar/wait staff is friendly, helpful, and attentive. There are plenty of televisions. It's usually pretty lively but there's usually room for 2-3 people at the bar, and a table or two available. If I had a large group, I would try to arrive early. Note that happy hour is only in the barroom, not the piano room, so if there are no seats available in the barroom, and you request a table in the piano room, you should expect to be ordering off the regular menu.
My wife and I went here for a date during Alexandria Restaurant Week 2013. We made a reservation several days in advance for 8 p.m. on a Saturday night. We hadn't taken into account, however, that this particular Saturday fell on the President's Inauguration weekend 2013 -- probably not the best night to go out to eat in the DC/Alexandria area.
When we arrived at the restaurant a few minutes before 8 p.m., we were asked to wait for a minute by the hostess while they readied our table. In under 5 minutes we were led to our table -- waaaaayyyyy at the back of the restaurant, immediately outside the door to the wine cellar, and underneath the brightest, harshest lights in the restaurant. It was the worst table in the place. There were several large groups (8-12 per table) of Inauguration revelers seated right next to us, who were loud and clearly dominated the attention of the minimal wait staff all night long.
It took 20 minutes for a waitress to come to our table to take an initial drink order, another 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive, and only then were we presented with menus. Bread arrived at the table at about the 45-min mark, and the first course (soups for both of us) arrived at about 55 minutes in. Wife and I don't mind lingering a bit at dinner, but this was ridiculous.
My wife started with lobster bisque, and I had the soup of the day: turkey corn chowder. Both soups were good -- probably the best thing we had all night. For main courses, wife had Seared Salmon and I had something called "Chicken Envoltine" (stuffed with feta, spinach, and bell pepper, and wrapped in bacon). Â The salmon wasn't bad, but was kind of bland. It was served with plain white rice -- not very imaginative. The chicken was good, but not great. Nothing to write home about. Portion sizes were average. For dessert, we shared a Tiramisu, which tasted like it had been previously frozen -- again, nothing to write home about.
One of the big draws for me to this restaurant was the live jazz that plays 7 days a week. The night we were there, Sharon Clark and her trio were on stage when we arrived. Unfortunately, she sang for about 5 minutes after we were seated, and then took a break for over an hour. By the time she started singing again, we were already having dessert. It wouldn't have mattered -- our table was so far away from the stage, and the large groups of guests were so loud, that we wouldn't have been able to hear her anyway.
Overall, it was a disappointing experience. I think the restaurant could have done a better job planning for the large number of guests they had that evening, and I especially think that our 8 p.m. reservation, made several days in advance, should have entitled us to a better table and service than what we were provided. I won't go out of my way to go back here again.
Yes, I actually celebrate my half birthday. Â Dinner was great. I had the tutta mare. My mom had the mushrooms en croute with jumbo shrimp. Sharon Clark, the jazz singer, was great. The restaurant-week deal was great.
The restaurant seems like it has been open for a looong time. Perhaps there should be more savvy servers on hand so they don't seem so swamped. Their checkins seemed obligatory rather than genuine concern for diners.
It is worth a visit especially for the chummy ol' time supper club atmosphere including the lovely voice of Ms. Clark. I'd return.
[08/18/12 half birthday dinner]
This seems to be dependable restaurant with friendly service, good prices, and great happy hour prices. Â The food was good. Â Tutta Marre was very flavorful, though the Salmon Fettuccine was less so. Â The Salmon salad was good. Â The flash fried spinach was a hit, as was the asparagus. Â The mussels were the happy hour (half price) specials the night we were there, and they were delicious. Â I have enjoyed this restaurant in the past. Â Coupons are also available through the Entertainment Book.
Review Source:My wife and I love to go on dinner adventures, which basically means we drive or walk to a neighborhood and then stroll around until something catches our fancy. Last night was such a night and we found ourselves totally delighted with what Laporta's had to offer.
It was a Sunday night around 8 and we didn't have a reservation- no problem at all. We were very promptly and warmly greeted (I believe by the male manager who happened to be walking by when we entered) and seated on the bar side of the restaurant, which we had agreed was fine.
The female bartender there (who def. told me her name, but I can't remember!) was knowledgable and helpful and very kindly endured our ten thousand questions. Renee had a margarita (no overly sugary bottled mix there) and I had the recommended pom martini, which was surprisingly delicious and not too sweet (and def. packed a punch).
After finding out that they were out of mussels (although informed that on Mon and Tues nights, those mussels are half priced- 3 different broths, all sounding equally delicious) I settled on the side caesar salad followed by the fresh salmon fettuccine with dill creme sauce. DELICIOUS. They make their own caesar- a tell-tale sign of potential greatness in my book. and the salmon and dill creme was melt-in-your-mouth. Really fresh, surprisingly light for a creamy dish, and a perfect portion.  Renee  had the chicken fettuccine, which was not the classic heavy dish, but instead included pine nuts and spinach- really nice. If you have the room for it, try the pureed potato and bacon soup to start, you won't be disappointed.
Another great thing about this place is that it's obviously well thought out and fresh food at completely reasonable prices. It's nice to be able to have a decent, un-processed, un-heavy entree at less than $20.
While we ate, we enjoyed typical jazz standards from a trio on the other side of the restaurant- a total added bonus! I'm told they are there 7 nights a week!
All in all, it was a great first time experience and we'll definitely be back. The ONLY reason this isn't a 5 star review is because the decor is pretty bland and lacking- just doesn't represent the brand as well as it could. It's a fantastic place, and it would be even more fantastic if the atmosphere reflected that. Certainly not something that would ever deter me from going again, however.
Thanks, Laporta's!
We went during Alexandria restaurant week on a Wednesday night, and it was pretty full. We had a reservation for 9 PM and our table was right next to the live jazz band (awesome, but loud!). The patrons were an interesting mix; definitely no dress code or age majority. Our waiter was attentive, but not like he was trying to hurry our meal.
They had a lot of specials which were hard to hear over the jazz band, unfortunately. I went with the Tutta Mare and my friend went with the sirloin with green beans and steak fries. We got calamari to start.
The calamari was so good, probably the best I've ever had at a restaurant, and there was a lot of it. The bread also came and we each had a few bites, but it went back at the end of the meal about 2/3 full. Next time I'd probably skip an appetizer (just because of price) and eat the bread. But definitely try the calamari if you are a seafood person!
I wish I'd gone with her choice, because I was kind of disappointed by the tutta mare. The pasta was really buttery (actually the way I like it, but I don't think it's supposed to be like that) and there wasn't too much seafood in it - at least for the price. The shrimp made up for this. There were 4 average size shrimp in there, and I don't know what the chef did to them but holy mother of food, they were delicious.
I could barely hear myself chew over the moans of appreciation coming from my friend as she ate her sirloin. Apparently it was just as good the next day.
Since it was my birthday, I had a piece of the chocolate mousse cake for dessert. Light and fluffy, but the best part was the heavy cream and fresh blueberries on the side. I wouldn't really recommend it, sorry.
Overall, a great (albeit loud) experience, but definitely try Laporta's if you are near the King Street metro stop - it's less than a block away. I plan on going back.
Wonderful restaurant! We stopped here on the recommendation of two separate, unrelated locals. We figured it had to be good! Also, as recommended, we got the calamari... specifically the calamari special with Cajun/blackened spices. Delicious! The hangar steak and southern man & cheese was amazing, as others have said. I tried my friend's brook trout and it was delicious. The waitstaff was VERY attentive and delightful. And there was a WONDERFUL jazz duo playing acoustic guitar and string bass... I could have sat there for hours listening to them. It was almost empty, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves from 7:30-9:00.
Beware if you're just a visitor: we took a cab from our Sheraton hotel there. When we went to leave and cab it back, no one would take us. The cabs apparently didn't want to do pick ups and drop offs "Alexandria to Alexandria." They wanted longer, pricier fares to airports and whatnot. The hostess tried calling around for us, but no one would come. We ended up walking a few miles back... and stopping and asking two taxis, both of whom ALSO didn't want us. Very frustrating no one wanted our $15.00. I wouldn't go back to this restaurant again knowing this, unfortunately, if I stayed in that hotel. I couldn't figure out why they were willing to pick us up at the hotel but it was clearly because they didn't know our destination - and also, they didn't want to be blacklisted by the hotel. ;) Pretty unfortunate, if you ask me.
We visited for happy hour on a Friday and it was really fun! Â The food was good. Â The beers were great. Â The bartender and waitresses were really attentive and kept the drinks coming--and got us the checks promptly when we needed them. Â
The happy hour crowd was also really fun!  There were a lot of people, but it wasn't over crowded.  I'd say it was just about right and if you are in the area this is a definite  great option.
Laporta's is one of my go-to Happy Hour spots. One, because they have good drink and appetizer specials, and two, because its close to home. For HH, rail drinks, house wine, and most beers are $3 (used to be $2, but hey, times are tough), and they have plenty of appetizers for half-price as well. I especially like the chicken wings and mussels in tomato sauce.
Been here for dinner as well, but it was a forgettable experience. As in, I don't even remember what we had or if it was any good.
Come here for HAPPY HOUR! Or rather don't come here. No ... do.
When I first found this place ... $2 house red wine? wow and it was great tasting wine too.. I was blown away, used to come here every day. And the nachos, wings, burgers, all averaged about $4, $5, also a really good deal for the neighborhood.
It's a nice classy jazzy ambiance. Sit at the bar and the bartender's real friendly, otherwise just sit at a table and watch sports or talk. Lol there are three TVs showing sports in a not so large room. But the ambiance caters much to the ladies in compensation.
Cons would be... the HH menu gets old after a while, and when a lot of people show up to happy hour you may not find a seat. And dinner (outside of the HH) didn't do much to impress me. But the happy hour (to a person that doesn't come here week after week for 2 years) is AWESOME.
Solid 5 stars.....
Don't miss out on this one kids. It's an excellent Italian restaurant in the Old Town area near whole foods. I got to tell you my wife and I have eaten her 2 or 3 times and every time they do us right.
First off, this is Italian Food done the right way. It's excellent and by the end of your meal you will be saying that was yum yum dee lish!!! They have an excellent special if you go on Monday or Tuesday nights where you get a bottle of wine and 2 entrees for $28.99 which is excellent! Additionally, they always have all kinds of specials going on - check out their web site.
The atmosphere is that of a typical Italian restaurant. I have always had great service here as well.
This place is truly a hidden gem that you need to try out!
Entertainment and chef prepared food in one package. Â
If the physical environment of the restaurant were more luxurious, it would be a slam dunk! Don't get me wrong, it's a nice atmosphere, just not as cozy and comfy as many of the newer spots. Â I can't knock them for not putting a lot of money into renovations, because staying in business for decades is feat enough.
Innovative dishes. Â Jazz or some music EVERY night. Â A great thing.
I will drop in for dinner often.
Highly over rated. Paid a little under $500 for four. That's right a little under $500. To break it down it was a $69.99 per person 4 course dinner. Wine was $45.00 and was something I could have bought at Wal-Mart. There was at $15 per person cover for the Jazz band; they were amateur at best. Â
What really sealed the deal was the lump crab meat and artichoke dip came with Ritz crackers. Â I'm fine with Ritz crackers but for $500, I don't think so. Â Avoid on special occasion!!!! Â Avoid at all costs!!!!
I'm giving 4 stars based on their appetizer of  Rich Onion Tart and their dessert of Chocolate Lava Cake and the impeccable service but that is definitely because my husband and I had come with regulars of the restaurant who are buddy-buddy with the owners and waitstaff.  Also, live jazz music on a Thursday evening was a wonderful accompaniment to the meal, IF you weren't talking to your company. Â
I minused a star for its entree of Wild Mushroom Pasta. Â My question is "when did button mushrooms get classified under 'wild'"? Â Ok, your question is probably "why didn't I read the description and see that it had button mushrooms?" Â One - I didn't read it and Two - I ordered one of the cheapest things on the menu because I wasn't sure if we were footing the bill and the entrees are NOT a cheap date. Â The whole dish was pretty lackluster in taste and presentation. Â I could have made that dish myself.
Overall, a nice experience. Â Very sure that I wouldn't have rec'd the same service if it was just me and my husband.
Cheers. Â Clink.
All you have to say is $2 house wine for Happy Hour 5pm-7pm and a cloud of smoke replaces where I used to be standing. A line of smoke leads to a seat at the bar. Beep Beep! Yeah, I'm channeling Road Runner. I'm sure Road Runner was a wineo too. Anyway, two modest TV screens are stationed at each end of the bar for watching whatever sport is hot that night. Simple yet elegant decor. Nothing fancy, just a good old bar.
Jeremy behind the bar gets a stunning 5 stars for his charismatic presence and efficiency! He expertly mingles with the business traveler from the hotel next door, as well as the seasoned local (being one himself.) His presence brightens the experience at Laporta's!
This happy hour also offers a little menu with 1/2 price items on it!
Lobster Bisque--$5.00 (During Happy Hour)
This rich and creamy soup comes with a little crispy and buttery Parmesan pastry floating on top. The sweetness of the lobster and the rich cream some how still manage to be well balanced and not overly heavy. I was quite pleased with it. Though I'm not sure it is worth the $10 it regularly is.
Spinach, Garlic, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Onion Flatbread--$5.25 (During Happy Hour)
I was less than thrilled with this flat bread. I normally think of flat-breads as very delicate and light. This was quite the opposite. The crust was very thin but a little bit rubbery and tasteless. It wasn't helped by the fact that it was loaded with so much cheese that it was sort of soggy and the cheese was just overwhelmed everything else. If you want a plate of melted cheese this is for you! The toppings were scarce and just added more grease to the equation with overly greasy onions and garlic spinach sauteed in too much oil. I was pretty disappointed at this heavy handed flat bread. I would not eat this again, even at the $5.25 price much less at the $10.50 price tag. Â Free heart attack included.
But overall, I thought it was an acceptable sort of place, the $2 wine made me very happy, but for the prices they are charging, it lacks the refinement I've come to expect for this price range. Â
I think I'm pretty forgiving with my star rating because how can a great bartender and $2 wine be less than 3 stars?!
Beep Beep!
Service was excellent from the Maitre D' who greeted us & took us the our table to the waiter who took care of your lunch order.
The food came out just at a perfect time. The Mesclun Greens & beet chips(good!) was refreshingly good. All our entree was cooked to perfection: the wild mushroom pasta, the fritata (very light and fluffy) and the fresh Virginia Trout fillets. The lime berre blanc went well with the fillet. We loved the sides: Fettuccini Alfredo & the creamed parmesan rice was a most pleasant surprise.
Usually, the dessert is an afterthought but not in this restaurant. The Apple pie came with a very good homemade cinnamon vanilla ice cream... mmm, excellent pairing. The chocolate mousse was light and creamy not-too-sweet. Â Just a perfect way to end the meal.
3.5 stars.
After having driven by it a thousand times, I finally tried the place for brunch. Â Having read the yelp reviews, I wasn't sure what we were going to get, but I didn't have overly high exceptions.
Nonetheless, I had a really great brunch! Â My friend ordered an Italian coffee, which was a delicious and smooth concoction of creme de cacao and coffee. Â For our dishes, I ordered the onion tart with blue cheese, ($8.99) which was absolutely magnifique. Â It was a perfect brunch starter, with the blue cheese, sage, and caramelized onion flavors melding perfectly together. Â
For my main item, I ordered the Eggs Benedict ($9.99). Â Tasty and satisfying. Â It was a pretty standard Eggs Benedict, nothing more or less than expected (but was a bit surprised they didn't dust paprika over the top to dress up the dish), but all around good. Â The side of potatoes was well done too.
My friend ordered the $19.99 prix fixe brunch. Â Her first course was a tasty and powerful bacon and potato soup. Â Her main course was absolutely delicious french toast that was rolled in oats with blueberry compote. Â We both agreed that this rated among the best french toasts we've had. Â The texture defied the typical sogginess that is inherent in french toast and was throughly delightful. Â My friend took her dessert to go (because by then we were stuffed), so I can't report on that.
The service was friendly and unrushed. Â The dining room was quiet, which we enjoyed, as we were not looking for a loud, bustling brunch spot. Â The decor was a little bland though. Â
The comment by Curtis J Â about Laporta's being a good neighborhood restaurant is right. Â Foodies should not expect to be wowed here. Â While there are other brunch places that I prefer, Laporta's was good, and I will definitely be adding place to the brunch repertoire.
So the wifey and I decided to try out a restaurant during the DC Restaurant Week. Â So, we decided to try out Laporta's. Â When we got there it was lively and there was a band playing on one side of the restaurant. Â Alas, we got sat on the other side of the restaurant by the bar. Â Our server greeted us quickly and she was very friendly. Â
Immediately though I noticed the loud and obnoxious group sitting at the table right beside us. Â I was reading my menu trying to made my starter and entree choices, but I kept getting distracted by the loud effing guy in the party at that table. Â O...M...G... do you need to scream at people who are sitting a freaking foot in front of you? Â seriously? Â At one point he even stood up on his chair. Â WTF? Â I felt like I was in my classroom or something... I mean seriously.
Anywhoo, we made our choices after some confusion over what we could actually pick. Â You see, online it said anything on the menu... when we got there, that wasn't actually the case. Â Buuut, we made our choices. Â I ordered this Pomegranate Ale that looked really interesting... but they ended up not having it, so I got an amber ale instead.
The caesar salads came out first... it was pretty good outside of the fact that they drowned it in the dressing. Â My wife also had burnt croutons on hers... Â ok, so a moderate fail... hopefully the main course will be better.
I ordered the Seared Pork Schnitzel which was actually pretty good, but it came with this oddly mismatched side. Â They called it dumplings with tomato (which the waitress said just matched oh so perfectly with the schnitzel). Â It was THREE (yes, just THREE) gnocchi covered with canned tomato. Â AGAIN, SERIOUSLY... CANNED TOMATO?? Â That was just disappointing.
My wife got the Bourbon Bar-b-que Hangar Steak. Â This was again a total mismatch of flavors. Â They served the steak with a mac and cheese, which was basically boxed cavatappi in some sort of white sauce with shredded cheese sprinkled on top. Â It also had two streaks of pesto on either side. Â The steak was cooked fairly well but the totally smothered it in what SERIOUSLY tasted like bottled store bought barbecue sauce. Â This overpowering barbecue sauce taste mixed with the odd mac and cheese concoction totally clashed. Â I had some of her steak and I actually had to wipe some of the barbecue sauce off because there was just WAAAAAAYY too much on it. Â So main courses... fail.
So we thought hopefully desert will be a saving grace. Â I got the carrot cake... which came out with the edges singed and burned. Â The wife got the tiramisu which was completely mushy because they over-soaked the lady fingers with too much espresso... it was more like sponge cake pudding. Â Desert...another fail.
It took a very long time between the courses, which I found odd as the place was not very busy. Â It also seemed like they were trying to do two separate restaurants... the bar side had a bunch of tables and TVs and music like Coldplay blaring. Â The other side was dimly lit, no TVs, and live jazz music playing. Â It also seemed like if you were a 50+ white couple, you got sat on the live jazz side, and everyone else got automatically sat on the bar side... interesting...
Thank god it was Restaurant Week and it was only $35.10 per person. Â I'm already upset about paying this much for each of us, but imagine if I had to pay the near $30 per plate for the entrees PLUS the cost of the salads and dessert. Â I couldn't imagine having had to pay $50 per person because the meal wasn't even worth the $35 per person we paid. Â These plates are WAAAAAY overpriced for the quality of food you get.
So this place is a serious FAIL. Â I would not recommend ever coming here.
Laporta's is convienently located in Alexandria. Â I have had several meals here (both lunch and dinner) Â for business as its near my office. Â I have never been disappointed. Â Its sold fare, good service, reasonable prices, and pleasant atmosphere. Â Nothing striking but very solid.
Service is always attentive and efficient during a busy Friday lunch hour or during their special Monday/Tuesday nights as well. Â Water and iced tea are refilled constantly. Â Bread is immediately served and refilled without asking. Â
Menu offers wide variety of salads, sandwhiches, seafood, pasta, etc. Â Its reasonably priced. Â
Recommendations: Â steak salad, jumbo shrimp seafood salad.
LaPortas is a great neighborhood restaurant/bar. Â The food is really good and the atmosphere is friendly. Â They have live jazz nightly in the dining area which is nice if you decide to take a date. Â The bar area is small (about 12 bar stools) and has manly regulars. Â The bar tenders are always friendly and they have a good selection of alcohol. Â They have a small but nice wine selection. Â Small portions, so you may need to have appetizers. Â
They only have four beers on tap (Widmer, Stella Artois, Loose Cannon, and Star Hill), but they also have fresh Sangria mixed nightly if your into that. Â
The dining area is very nice and quiet with the jazz playing at a nice level.  The servers always seem to know what they are doing and are  very attentive.  There are nightly specials and the chef always makes his rounds to ensure his guests are happy.
The restaurant is family owned and it seems is all a part of the restaurant. Â I met two of the brothers that have a part in the restaurant, and they both were very friendly.
The best part of LaPortas is their Monday and Tuesday dinner special for a couple; two Entrees and a bottle of wine for around $29. Â The entrees do not include the entire menu, but the specials menu has a good variety.
I guess they just started a Thursday night "Late Night Dinner Special" which has half price Seafood from 9pm to 1am. Â I had the Oysters Rockefeller, but it had Tarragon and I hate Tarragon. Â They mentioned a Sunday night special that has a great price for Prime Rib.
4.5 stars.
We discovered Laporta's when we moved into our new place just off of Duke Street.
Like some have stated, we were enticed by their fantastic specials. We started off with a beer and surprisingly good glass of house wine for the exceptional price of $2/each during happy hour. We decided to give some food a try also as their classics menu is 1/2 price during happy hour as well. We tried their flatbread pizza and thought it was delicious.
After discovering the fantastic price of their dinner for 2 Monday and Tuesdays for $28.99 which includes a bottle of wine, we couldn't see how we could go wrong. We tried their spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parmesan. Both were good. Didn't blow my socks off but totally worth the price of the special. We both had enough left over to take home and would say their portions are average to generous.
What really gives this restaurant the thumbs up is the service. Every staff person we encountered was friendly and seemed to enjoy working at the restaurant, which is rare in the service industry.
After our first trip to the restaurant, we decided to go back as it was one of the only open restaurants in the area during a major snowstorm. We had a fantastic repeat experience and ended up being served by the owner, who was friendly and gave us great service.
We definitely will be back to Laporta's!
Ok first impressions first ,
we walked in into a reception area with a calm more lit area which is the restaurant and then on the left there's a darker jazz bar setting .
after 5 mins of us standing alone in the reception area,we sat right next to the piano which was nice being close to the singer and the pianist but it is loud to keep listening to for the whole night.
I was hungry so i ordered Bourbon Bar-b-que Hanger Steak ,but it disappointed the BBQ sauce tasted like out of the bottle sauce not home made ,also the sauce that came with the starter calamari was ketchup! and i think it was suppose to be marinara sauce .
I also ordered curry turkey soup which really tasty and their appetizer bread was good too.
at the end of the day the food was acceptable .
There are several positive things I can say about Laporta's:
(1) they have generous happy hour drink and food specials;
(2) most of the staff are very nice and attentive;
(3) their food, especially the nightly specials, is generally very good;
(4) the nightly live music is nice (but can be a bit too loud);
(5) it  has a pleasant atmosphere that's a little sophisticated, without being snobby
Unfortunately, everything is not perfect. Perhaps my biggest complaint is that they are overpriced (except for the happy hour specials). Â Their portions also tend to be on the small side. Â $10.50 for a smallish sized bowl of lobster bisque? Â $17.50 for a moderate sized order of penne with regular Italian sausage? Â And unless you order the most expensive items, they charge extra for bread (which isn't always particularly fresh).
Who needs Restaurant Week when you have LaPorta's? OK, that might be stretching it, but if you do want to check this place out, do it on a Monday or Tuesday where they have a special: Two entree's and bottle of house wine for $25.
It's a fairly romantic restaurant at night, with your typical, chicken, seafood, Â beef or pasta menu, and I would choose this over going to Joe Theisman's (the only other non-basically-we-only-focus-on-lunch place in this part of "Old Town")
Food was pretty good, nothing to write home about, although the calamari seems to be their specialty and I believe them. The wine, for a house wine, I enjoyed it, although, I never claimed to study at Napa, so an expert I am not. You can also give it a try at their happy hours for $2 a glass.
Best part? Live Jazz and low lights plus that wine can make a girl all doe-eyed, especially if the boy is in a tie. (ties are totally unnecessary btw). Â And parking is free in the garage next door.
Worst? It's in Alexandria, there's still smoking... sigh.
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