"Italian restaurant Portofino is closing October 22 after 22 years on Paces Ferry Place in Buckhead, the AJC first reported. 'We’ve grown and adapted over the years with some successes and some struggles. It is now time for Portofino to close its doors,' an announcement posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page reads in part. 'Our decision to close has not come easily. Change is inevitable and sometimes heartbreaking. As the world around us changes, we find ourselves facing conditions that challenge our once simple purpose.' No official reason for the closure is provided in the post, which recognizes the Portofino’s staff for their dedication to the restaurant over the last two decades. Owned by Mike Anderson, Portofino opened in 2000 inside a converted brick bungalow on Paces Ferry Place, just two blocks north of the St. Regis Hotel, in an area now home to an enclave of businesses and restaurants, including Le Bon Nosh, Yebo Beach Haus, and Henri’s Bakery. Portofino became known in Buckhead for serving Italian-American dishes like crispy eggplant caponata, shrimp and sausage red pepper radiatore, and pan-seared swordfish paired with a mostly Italian wine list." - Beth McKibben
