Solo Italiano

4.6 (3219)

$50 and over

Italian

100 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101

Make a reservation

Solo Italiano

4.6

$50 and over

Italian

Portland

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 9, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 18 times today

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Great for fine wines
Charming

We currently offer in-house dining Tuesday through Sunday from 4:30-9:30pm (last seating at 9:00pm other than Friday and Saturday).

Our restaurant features Paolo Laboa, international chef from Genova, Italy. His menu consists of simple, flavorful and authentic Northern Italian cuisine. This includes handmade pasta, crudo (raw fish), fresh pizza and an all-Italian wine list. Ingredients are sourced locally, from various Maine farms and from the Gulf of Maine, whenever possible.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:30 pm
Contact
(207) 780-0227
Website
https://www.soloitalianorestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paolo Laboa
Private party facilities
Please visit our website and the reservations tab for large party options and details.

Location
100 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Neighborhood
Portland
Cross street
Harbor St or Pearl St.
Parking details
Paid parking is also available in DiMillos parking lot a block and a half away. Please keep in mind, street parking is free on Sundays and after 6pm every other day!
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Solo Italiano.

4.6

(3219)

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Portland / Maine
Great for fine wines
Portland / Maine
Romantic
Portland / Maine
Good for special occasions
Portland / Maine
Most Booked
Greater Portland
Great for fine wines
Greater Portland
Romantic
Greater Portland
Good for special occasions
Greater Portland
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Solo Italiano in Portland shines with its "fantastic northern Italian" cuisine and "exceptional service." Guests rave about the "best pesto period" and "fabulous food." The restaurant's "beautiful ambiance" and "lovely staff" enhance the dining experience. Although some find it "pricey," the quality and creativity make it worth it.

3,219 Reviews

T
Tammy
Unspecified2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Molly is the most knowledgeable server and we always request her on every reservation. She always delivers. Food is always perfect. Restaurant is wonderful and lively. Everything an evening out is supposed to be. We bring all our friends here.
Is this helpful?
S
Shannon
Portland / Maine1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had such a wonderful experience at Solo Italiano! Bruce greeted and seated us with such genuine warmth and kindness, setting the tone for a fantastic evening. Our server and food runner were equally impressive—attentive, thoughtful, and incredibly detail-oriented. The level of hospitality and care throughout our experience truly stood out. Exceptional service all around!
Is this helpful?
P
Paul Gold
San Francisco4 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 30, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic northern Italian in Portland. The Gonfietti was fantastic. The handkerchief pasta with pesto was perfect as always. The winelist never disappoints. I ordered a bottle of 2023 I Clivi Schiopettino, a favorite producer of mine but I had never tried this varietal, it was excellent and I actually ordered a case of it when I got back home.
Is this helpful?
M
Michael
Unspecified1 review
5.0
Dined on October 24, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The focaccia with burrata cheese and prosciutto as the appetizer was outstanding, as well all our entree's! Our server, Molly, was exceptional and her recommendations were spot on! Highlight of our evening was a greeting from Chef Paolo! Cannot wait to go back!
Is this helpful?
C
Cheri Gold
New York City13 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 24, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Chef Paolo is a true artist! His food is made with love and you can taste it. The staff was incredible and the space was beautiful. Best Pesto period.
Is this helpful?
N
Nina
Greater Boston4 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 24, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best meal ever! We were going to skip the appetizer thinking the main course dishes would be huge but thankfully we decided to try the mussels. They were the best mussels we have ever had. And the main course portions were perfect! I had the tenderloin carbonara and hubby had the halibut. Hats off to the chef! Both were excellent.
Is this helpful?
J
Jeanine
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined on October 23, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is our go-to restaurant for all special occasions. It's 5 stars from beginning to end. You deserve to spoil yourself & your loved ones with something from each amazing course. Always consistently the best in Portland.
Is this helpful?
T
Timothy
Calgary12 reviews
3.0
Dined on October 23, 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
No need for details except rte food was not up to the hype we heard about.
Is this helpful?
K
Kristin
Portland2 reviews
5.0
Dined on October 23, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A beautiful experience all around. It was a pleasure to be greeted by owner ,Jesse as well as to have a brief conversation about your Vesper:-) Thank you for providing for us all such an experience premier in every way in Portland. Bruce is also a total delight. A friendly , warm, professional is surely an asset to your team. He also made us feel so welcome. All courses impeccably prepared and presented. Staff evidently glad to be there. We felt as though we took a short flight to another wonderful world. Thank you so much!!
Is this helpful?
F
Fawn
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on October 23, 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
From service, to food and wine, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and experience. We will definitely be back. Highly recommend.
Is this helpful?

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Tue–Thu, Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Fri, Sat 4:30 pm–9:30 pm
Contact
(207) 780-0227
Website
https://www.soloitalianorestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Paolo Laboa
Private party facilities
Please visit our website and the reservations tab for large party options and details.

Location
100 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
Neighborhood
Portland
Cross street
Harbor St or Pearl St.
Parking details
Paid parking is also available in DiMillos parking lot a block and a half away. Please keep in mind, street parking is free on Sundays and after 6pm every other day!
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Solo Italiano feels like an elegant, Italian dining room in Portland’s Old Port, a soaring space with a semi-circular bar and several seating areas; guests call it festive and energetic (sometimes on the noisy side) while noting a quieter non-bar dining area and dim, tasteful lighting.

Yes, families dine here: guests have reported visiting with children and ordering kids’ pasta meals, and parties with children (including a nephew) have been seated promptly for family occasions.

Guests often describe portions at Solo Italiano as appropriately sized, many call them 'just the right size' or 'good, ' and diners frequently enjoy multi-course (three-course) meals.

Yes, Solo Italiano is a lovely pick for date night: guests report wonderful anniversary and birthday dinners, attentive service, elegant ambience, and memorable multi-course meals.

Casual dress, comfortable, everyday attire is appropriate and nothing formal is expected.

Solo Italiano is at its calmest on Sunday evenings, guests report the dining room was under 20% capacity and the noise level comfortably low; dinner runs Tue–Sun 4:30–9:30pm.

Solo Italiano has a main dining room with several seating areas and window tables, a semi-circular bar with bar seating, and comfortable banquettes in the dining space.

Solo Italiano often books up and feels busy during peak visits, several guests describe it as “usually pretty booked up” and “well attended”; by contrast, reviewers say Sunday evenings can be noticeably quieter and less crowded.

Solo Italiano is open Tue–Sun, and several guests note that Sunday evenings tend to be quieter and more relaxed, a nice choice for a low-key visit.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a reservation

Solo Italiano

4.6

$50 and over

Italian

Portland

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 9, 2026

7:00 PM

Booked 18 times today

Solo Italiano

Make a reservation

Solo Italiano

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

Reviews

Loved For

Review summary

Additional information

FAQs

What's the ambience/atmosphere like in this restaurant?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

Is this a good pick for date night?

What is the dress code for Solo Italiano?

When is the best time to go to Solo Italiano?

What seating arrangements/rooms does this restaurant have?

When is this restaurant busiest and quietest?

What is the best day to go to Solo Italiano?

Make a reservation

Solo Italiano

Make a reservation