Portello Rosso is one of the Melbourne CBD's most popular and well regarded Spanish restaurants. Their menu focuses on their range of small dishes which are great for sharing, but also offers some slightly larger dishes as well. As a specialty, Portello Rosso also offers a variety of amazing paella, as well as a selection of Spanish and Australian wines.
We decided to try a few of their more well known dishes, such as the patatas bravas, which is a staple in Spanish tapas, as well as the paella for which Portello Rosso is known for. The patatas bravas were a great dish which we enjoyed snacking on. The potatoes were crispy on the outside, yet still soft on the inside and the generous amount of sauces, as well as the slight kick from the spice gave the dish an amazing flavour.
The paella was the dish that we were most looking forward to, as we had heard much about it. Though our expectations were exceeded when the large paella dish arrived and the aroma wafted over us. Each individual element of the dish came together wonderfully and created a harmony of flavours and textures. The favourite part of the dish for me though was definitely the small pieces of crispy paella that had formed on the bottom of the hot pan.
We went to Portello Rosso with high expectations, as the restaurant had quite a good reputation and we were definitely not disappointed. The strong and exotic Spanish flavours, as well as the range of wines and friendly staff make for a great restaurant experience.
Food Rating 8.5/10
Overall Rating 8.5/10