Gilda's | Italian Restaurant

Amazing food and service! Already going back and this is a must try in Portland. Have not tried the dinner but the lunch has been outstanding. The best Italian I have ever had.

I'm a sucker for old Portland establishments. This one screamed, "why have we not been here until now?" Lots of family history to learn. Wonderful and competent wait staff. Solid wine pairing. Lots of tasty gravy to sop up with bread and polenta. Well prepared fish and pasta. Lovely Sambuca to end the meal. It's a keeper.

Sweet Mathilda oh how I'm impressed with Gilda's. I stumbled across the Yelp reviews and I simply had to try it. Two visits later I was overall impressed. While the second time the PAPPARDELLE ALLA SALSICCIA wasn't as tasty, overall the Italian comfort food I experienced both times left me feeling ever so satisfied. I can only describe it as "muted savoriness" but in a very good way... tomato sauce wasn't the crazy tangy sour type, the pasta was nicely al dente, the osso bucco was tender with an assortment of sides. The frutti di mare had ample seafood. Momma's meatballs is also a highlight if you enjoy meatballs. My favorite was the fritto misto. No messing around, there were scallops in there too. All in all, you get what you pay for here. Anytime I think I want Italian, I have to consider Gilda's from now on.

This review is in response to Donovan and his friends that gave Gilda's a horrible 1 star review. I'm sorry you and your friends felt the need to write this negative and accusatory review of Gilda's Restaurant. You and your friends couldn't be more wrong!! You CLEARLY misunderstood and misinterpreted what the Owner and the Server who attended you meant to express. They offered you the option to go to the Lounge as they do with many guests who don't have reservations. They have been trying to promote the "Downstairs" Lounge (which is actually really cool and just a short walk down a small ramp from the main restaurant floor) Not many know about it or about their new Lounge Menu which is ONLY served in the Lounge. You guys should've actually checked it out. You can also eat the full dinner menu down in the lounge too. I have known the owner, Marco, over 25 years. He is a thoughtful, kind and a very generous and thoughtful person. His staff is some of the most professional hospitality staff that I have ever encountered. None of them are racist! At all! And btw....You and your friends were definitely NOT the only minorities in the entire establishment. Marco and his family are Italian, their bartender is from Ukraine and the entire kitchen staff is from Mexico...... So before you and your friends decide to throw out FALSE racial accusations, fact check yourselves first.

Went to the bar/lounge below Gilda's Italian Restaurant before a Timber's game and boy, were we glad we did. We had an hour to kill so we decided for a round of Italian appetizers and a few drinks before walking to the soccer game, which is very short walk away. We ordered the fried ravioli, caeser salad, tortellini, meatballs, fries, mozzarella, glass of wine and dessert. Our party of 4 were starving and gobbled it up within 30 minutes with absolutely nothing left on each plate. Each dish was flavorful, seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The owner was so happy, friendly was welcoming. I will definitely come back!

One of our favorite Italian restaurants in Portland. Love the cafe like ambience with an upscale feel. Food was delicious!!! Service was friendly from the time we were greeted to when we were thanked on the way out. Definitely recommend this to anyone.

Been meaning to try this place for the longest time and we finally did. The inside is so homey with many antiques and family photos - super adorable. It's a small family business with a rather small crew so I didn't feel like it was the most professional service but their food certainly made up for it! We started with the Frito Misto that was a large plate of some of the freshest scallops, squids, and prawns that I've ever had. Lightly battered and fried until crisp. I love the seasoning in the batter as well as the tartare sauce so much. A clear winner and must-order. We also split the Parpadelle Salsiccis and the Tortellini Panna. Both were huge but it's so hot and delicious we devoured them all. Their pasta was fresh so it's super tender. They also don't skimp on the meat and sauce at all. The Tortellinis were well-filled with cheese and the zucchini and sweet peas imparted a slight sweetness to the cream sauce; this was my favorite out of the two. We decided to try their desserts as well and got the special Bourbon Bread Pudding and Tiramisu. The Bread Pudding was massive and came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's nice and custardy with a few apple chunks here and there but nothing too crazy. Similarly with the Tiramisu. I always enjoy this coffee dessert but certainly have had better elsewhere. While their desserts was so-so, their mains, again, were so good. This certainly will become a go-to spot for us. Plus, they have a lounge attached to the restaurant that you can order the full dinner menu from as well. Will definitely have to check that out!

It is about time that I update my review for what is still my favorite Italian restaurant in this area. Last night, 6 of us dined at Gilda's with the ever entertaining, efficient and enthusiastic Steve as our server! Steve is the best! He bantered effortlessly with us while simultaneously providing service that was just right! He not only made us feel welcome, he kept saying repeatedly that he didn't want us to leave! Awwww! The food was just superb from beginning to end. I have had incredible meals at Gilda's but this was the BEST! We started with an order of the always-yum arancini balls of melty, crunchy goodness. Steve recommended the garlic bread which I have never had. What a dream! Crispy-top focaccia served with a bowl of saucy tomatoes to spoon on top. One member of our party said she could have eaten it for dinner! And she is half Italian and just returned from Tuscany and Rome. The table shared two salads, one with crispy greens, pear , candied nuts and bleu cheese, and the other was layered fresh mozzarella, eggplant and arugula. I had a small bit of the greens and it was great. Everyone raved about the other. Around the table was rigatoni, the seafood spaghetti and wild boar pappardelle and the veggie special. I had the veggie which was spaghetti with broccoli rabe, mushrooms and grape tomatoes in a white wine sauce. Ai yai yai, so good. I was afraid it might be bland. Fugetaboudit!! Plenty of flavor, perfectly prepared veggies, pasta pleasantly al dente with a generous pile of fresh parm on top. We all got desserts. The biggest hits were the tiramisu which I have had many times and am never disappointed. My husband ordered the mango tart special which he savored and didn't offer anyone a bite! We were seated in a cozy nook we had all to ourselves. The owner dropped by and we all raved about our whole experience. A super time was had by all -- except for the pain afterwards from overstuffed tummies. Blame it on Steve. We didn't want to leave either.

Really great hidden gem. One tip we heard be sure to check the schedule at the stadium near by. You won't be able to park on those nights. Oh and it's pronounced with a J sound. Like saying Jill but putting ilda at the end. Now the experience. Friendly waiter, bus boy was like 14 or something and was trying so hard and was learning. Grandson of Gilda is in the kitchen. When there are family pictures around you have to ask who was Gilda. Wonderful they have reservations and super easy to park on a weeknight with no game. The menu had so many good sounding authentic Italian items. Had the wild boar appetizer and also the pasta with wild boar. Both were amazing and rich flavor. We also got dessert and it was a generous chocolate cake and I even took some home as I had filled up on the wild boar. Look forward to coming back.

Fantastic spot! Reasonably priced, fantastic server. excellent food. I've had a difficult time finding super good Italian in the Rose city and this place was pretty dang good. The inside is super cool and has cool decor and Stephen took superb care of us and made us feel at home. The oil and bread were top tier and I really enjoyed the Pasta Bolognese. Will definitely be back!

The dish I had was fantastic. Very flavorful and a good portion. They make you pay for cold bread though, which I didn't enjoy at all and wouldn't recommend. The olive oil for the bread could be dressed up a bit too. Black pepper and Parmesan cheese would help. I tried it. Would have been great if the bread wasn't cold. And I mean cold. Not even room temp. Cold. I've never been served cold bread in an Italian restaurant anywhere I've eaten in this country.

The "business manager" has now taken to messaging me saying "you've got issues." Learn how to take fair criticism.

We cannot believe we haven't been here before. Everything was fabulous. Felt like we were back in Italy. The Manicotti, meatballs, and Tiramisu was best we've eaten. The artichoke appetizer was very unique and delicious and service by Taylor was superb.

Wasn't expecting to stop here - sort of stumbled upon it. Food & service was great. We went closer to closing which I hate doing, but they were friendly about it.

great place! Fun lounge. Great staff! the lounge is great if you wanna hang somewhere where regular drunks do not hangout.

DELIZIOSA! Yes, the food at Gilda's Italian Restaurant is delicious! My friend and I recently enjoyed a lovely lunch here. We ordered a mista salad, Caesar salad, spaghetti with Grandma's meatball and the mushroom risotto. Every item was fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. We also ordered the bread with butter and olive tapenade. Although the bread is not complimentary, it is well worth the small extra charge. The ambiance at Gilda's is comfortable and classy. From the moment you enter, you are surrounded by old world decor. Behold the beautiful frescoes and delightful framed family photos from long ago. The open kitchen let's you enjoy Chef Marco working his culinary magic. The service we received from Taylor was outstanding. The only issue we encountered was the fact that the bartender doesn't come in till dinnertime. So there are no cocktails during lunch just beer, wine and soda pop. I would love to see them stock cans of flavored Pellegrino. The search is on for a second bartender so hopefully one will become available at lunch. Gilda's is located on 16th and SW Morrison. The MAX let's off and picks up nearby which saves you from trying to find parking or needing a designated driver. The restaurant is closed on Monday. Lunch is served Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Dinner is served Tuesday through Sunday. I enjoyed my dining experience at Gilda's and highly recommend it! Mangiamo!

My daughter had a taste for Italian food and we tried this restaurant. Making an online reservation was easy. Our reservation was at the beginning of the service and there were few people there. Despite so few patrons, service was slow but pleasant. We ordered the aranchini to start but would not recommend. The three of us all tried a third of one of the two rice balls and the dish was ice cold in the middle. After the wait staff eventually came by (we were checked on infrequently at best) and we mentioned the issue, an apology was offered but nothing else. The three main course dishes bolognese, spaghetti and meatballs and pasta with sausage were decent. Dessert (tiramisu and chocolate cake) were good. The coffee I ordered was forgotten but thankfully not on the bill. Ambiance was comfortable and "old school". The cost of the meal was higher than I had expected but moderate.

THE BEST FOOD IN TOWN‼ Got a date? Perfect place, Family date? Perfect as well! Weekend drinks?... come for a laxed game day bevy with some of the finest wines. The entire place is calming even during rush hour so come enjoy the best food around, anytime, almost any day of the week with THE BEST service around as well! Marco(the owner) Kris, Steve, Taylor, Kessina, or Balyee are sure to turn any rainy day right around. I'd show a pic of my plate but there's nothing left lmao...warning, you may forget about your date it's so good! Can't forget about the quality to price ratio is AMAZING!! Be sure to give the chefs a nice thank you wave as you walk out, as some areas of the restaurant you can WATCH THEM COOK!! Anyway, book your reservation ASAP as it's frequently booked and for a reason, and enjoy the most well-rounded dinner experience you'll ever have.

Excellent meal. The veal was great and my husband loved the boar. Tiramisu was delicious. Service was outstanding! We visit Portland several times a year and this will be a regular experience for us.

Can't believe haven't been here before. One of few places that has veal and made Marsala style Was a terrific sauce- only bummer is it was served with roasted potatoes which were good but a good pasta is always better and I should have asked. BlackBerry lemondrops were fantastic. Blue cheese salad as hearty and full Of apples candied pecans. Definite go back next time in town again. Cannoli was super fresh with a crispy shell and amazing filling- clearly made fresh. Homemade spumoni was creamy and good.

I could eat meatballs with a glass of red wine here everyday for life, it's so good! The other food is also amazing, I still haven't tried everything on the menu, I keep getting distracted by the balls.

Three friends visited Gilda's for a belated birthday for me. Gilda's is always a good choice - special day or not. It is a cozy spot with cordial servers and a wine guy who really knows his stuff. Homemade pasta is a specialty here and even though I have been here a ton of times, the pasta never disappoints. We shared a delicious Caesar salad and indulged in two deserts. The recommended wine was not terribly expensive but was terribly delicious! If you have not tried this little gem GET OVER THERE!!

Gildas is my favorite Italian restaurant I've ever been to and I have eaten a lot of Italian in my life. It's one of my favorite cuisines. If you haven't been you are missing out. Marco the owner is so thoughtful and nice he always treats people so well and really invites a family feel with whoever your group is. The vibe could not be more perfect for family or friends. Onto the food. I literally have never had a bad bite here, the food is to die for and I don't think you can pick a bad meal on the menu. My personal favorites are the chimichurri lamb chops I want to drink the chimichurri and the mushroom Salsiccia I do not like mushrooms but this is a must try plate! Appetizers are all amazing His bread and marinara is insane also a sauce I want to drink probably one of my favorite calamari dishes in general. if you haven't been you need to go!

We're long time customers of Gilda's. We enjoy the food, atmosphere and excellent service. Unfortunately, after tonight, we won't be returning. To our dismay, a 3% service charge was added to our bill. This was separate from the tip. We are happy to tip our servers well even if errors occur as it often is not the fault of the server. We recognize the economy is tough but it's tough for all of us. I can't justify an additional charge above the cost of the meal with tip.

Another fantastic dinner! We had dinner with our sister and brother in law at Gilda's. It was their first time and as usual, the food was great and the service was very good. It was a Sunday evening and Marco was working the kitten with his other cooks and it was nice when he came out to check on us and other guests to make sure all was well. It's so nice to have a fantastic Italian restaurant that you can always count on. Gilda's, Thanks!!!!

Thanks to Yelp reviews, we decided to give this a try. I have to say this was excellent. Service was great - our server was knowledgeable without being condescending. Ambiance was also very nice, cool decor, dark and cozy. I will note that coming in there was a weird air freshener smell, not sure what they were trying to cover, but I would rather have smelled the delicious food. Speaking of food, I just can't say enough about how great our meal was. I started with a caesar salad which was excellent (except a few croutons were so hard they were rocks). My husband got the polenta cake and is still talking about it. For my main I got the creamy ravioli - I think that was the vegetarian special, hubby got another veggie pasta dish (which was also excellent.) It seemed almost everything was noted whether there was a vegetarian or vegan option, which I truly appreciated. We each had a glass of wine, and also opted for tiramisu - which was unique with chocolate covered espresso bean chunks (I think?) on top, and nice a boozy. Sure there were a few things I noted about that weren't fabulous (weird freshener smell, rock croutons) but we cannot wait to go back and bring friends.

The atmosphere here was so nice. The server we had was terrific. We got the rigatoni and veal dishes which were delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Fantastic authentic Italian food! The frest made puglesse with olive tapenade oil and butter were perfect. The blackberry martini and old fashion were perfect. literally the best polo Marsala I've ever had. Incredible wild boar pappardelle with chocolate. The red wine was perfect with the boar. The waiter, chefs in the back, the bartender and owner were perfect and made our night out amazing. Great atmosphere.

Great dinner pre-game meal! Good value, timely service, good wine and drinks! We will add this to our list to return to!

Staff was incredibly friendly! Food was amazing - we had the vegetarian pasta special and it was so flavorful. The meatballs were to die for as well. We will definitely be coming back to try some other dishes.

This is real Italian. My husband and I chose this restaurant to celebrate our 31st anniversary, and we were very pleased and surprised when the owner sent us complimentary champagne-style Italian wine. We started with the Burratta plate. It was enticingly presented and had many flavors within the dish of cheese, herbs, vegetables and prosciutto. I ordered the halibut special, done Mediterranean style with polenta. It was superbly cooked and presented on a bed of vegetables. My husband ordered the PAPPARDELLE AI CINGHIALE. Presentation was homey, and the food was like we stopped at Gilda's house for some pasta: real, nothing fancy, and flavorful. The restaurant was not busy this Tuesday evening, so it was apparently an opportunity to train a fairly new server. She worked hard and did her best. The kitchen was out of some items and she had to continue coming back to tell us. There was a lot of back and forth. Our entrees were brought too soon but we did end up closing the place. All in all, a happy experience. Good music too.

We love to dine at Gilda's! The food is fantastic, the staff are wonderful, and we always leave with a smile!! Thank you Gilda's team!

Me and my little group of friends have been wanting to try this spot out and we went yesterday. We were excited to try the food and loved the look of the restaurant. As soon as we stepped in we felt a weird vibe, a unwelcomed vibe in a sense. The first host we spoke to immediately offered for us to go to the other side of the restaurant. "Downstairs" is what he called it saying they had burgers and pizza. This didn't feel right, obviously if we are going to a italian restaurant we wanted italian food. We denied going downstairs because we wanted italian food, we looked at the menu and asked our waiter a question about the bread service. He proceeded to tell us that isn't what we wanted and that if we wanted pizza and burgers to go downstairs. As a group of minority men I felt discriminated and treated like we weren't "enough" for the restaurant. We ended up leaving from this feeling and didn't want to eat there anymore. If you are young and a POC do not try to eat at Gilda's Italian restaurant or you will feel unwelcomed and not accepted!!

When vacationing in Portland, we were looking for good and delicious food, and this Italian restaurant exceeded our expectations. A small, cute restaurant that takes you to Italy, packed with amazing food and great service. We had a reservation for later in the evening but came way early, luckily they were still able to sit us. The service was great and the food came out fast. The food was AAAMAZING. Best Italian place I've tried so far. The flavors were rich and the meat melted in my mouth. I definitely recommend trying this place out, you won't be disappointed!

We were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. For our 9th, we had dinner at an excellent Italian restaurant in Seattle so we figured we'd find one here in Portland for our 10th. Enter: Gilda's. It was a mostly straight forward walk from our downtown hotel to the restaurant and we were seated on arrival. Our Waiter was pulling double duty as Host and Waiter but despite that, he still provided excellent service to us. Our food was mostly good. They were out of a few things that we wanted to try, so that was a bummer. My wife ordered their special, the bone-in Ox tail. She found the flavor to be great, but it was mostly bone and very little meat. So she was disappointed with it. I ordered the Rigatoni and thoroughly enjoyed it. Their Tiramisu was decent. I didn't enjoy as much as I had at other restaurants, though. All in all, we enjoyed our experience here. The service by our waiter was the stand-out of the evening. The food was a bit hit and miss but we don't have any major complaints. We would come back.

Delicious food and cozy ambiance. The meatballs and garlic bread were one of the best I've ever had. Tastes truly authentic

The food here is ok but could be a lot better with a few tweaks. Start with the bread and butter. The bread fresh and artisanal-seeming, but unsalted and lacking texture. Butter was great but also unsalted. Overall, it was tasteless and too soft. Prove the dough a bit longer and add some salt. Easy. The spaghetti and meatballs was overly salty and under-spiced. The "gravy" (tomato sauce) was bland. The famous meatball was mushy and boring. Reduce the salt and add a bit of flavor to the meatball. Tuna was fresh and well-cooked but smothered in an outrageously salty olive sauce with way too much oil. It was almost inedible - an oily salty mess which overwhelmed otherwise delicate and subtle tuna. The accompanying risotto was good and helped balance the saltiness. A glass of sangiovese was "meh" and may have been from a bottle opened too long. $100 for two. Service was good. Ambiance is fine.

Really good authentic Italian food. Serving sizes were great and left super happy with our meals. Inside feels like a family owned restaurant which I loved. Highly recommend!

Had a large group dinner here and it was fantastic! Ambiance was mixed... Totally packed before a soccer game, then cleared out and pindrop silence for a while which was awkward. But pleasant stereotypical family-style American-Italian resto decor. Cool bar in the back. Food was 10/10. Best textured pasta I think I've ever enjoyed (even compared to Italy and France). Tasty appies. The bread was a bit dry and bland, but every thing else was perfect. Server was also attentive and lovely. Splendid experience! Would recommend!

A tradition to come here to prefunk before the Timbers game. My kids and I live coming here. Always enjoy the ravioli, fries and pizza before we go to the game. They only had one server and a bartender. They were busy and doing the best they could but could have used extra help to take care of everyone.

Food is just like my grandma made! The meatballs were perfect, pasta perfectly al dente, sauce was again, perfection! All desserts are homemade and the taste will prove it. Service was great and we had wonderful conversations with our waiter. Ambiance is quaint. Lighting is dim and restaurant small and clean.

We went back twice and both times were great. The food is excellent and the waiter (man in his 50's) is very attentive.

Perfect place to stop before a Thorns or Timbers match! The bar has an excellent happy hour and I prefer it to the restaurant.

Noticed this restaurant through randomly searching on the internet and feel so lucky to find this gem! They have a bar as well as the actual restaurant. Make sure you book a reservation, since all Saturday dinner were sold out. Due to covid, there is no more happy hour. I booked an early spot thinking that I can get some extra drinks and appetizer but was informed once I got there the information about happy hour is out of date. A bit disappointed. Bower, the great food and drink definitely made it up! I ordered daily special- spicy mango margarita, and it is a dangerous drink. So delicious! You can taste the spicy mixed with the strong mango flavor. Highly suggest. The restaurant provides complimentary bread from grand central bakery with infused olive oil. For dinner, we ordered the caprese salad as our appetizer, and the tomato is so flavorful. For main dish we ordered pappardelle e salsiccia and spaghetti with meat ball. You have to try the grandma's meatball to see how authentic an Italian restaurant is. I fall in love with their tomato red sauce for the meat ball. Definitely know how to cook their sauce. The meatball is huge and quite juicy. One of the best meatball i had around Portland. The pappardelle is actually just ok for me, the sauce is quite creamy, but a bit too sweat for me. The best part of all is the desert! We got the traditional tiramisu, and I was impressed. The cream and cake literally melted in my mouth. Drizzled in coffee infused Carmel. Felt like a dream! Craving for Italian food? Definitely try Gilda's and make sure you save room for desert. Also I have to point out, everyone is super friendly at the restaurant, and the Chile seems ro know a lot of people. While we dine in, we have seen so many of his friends come in and say hi. Felt quite lively!

Absolutely delicious! I absolutely love the olive tapenade oil! It's so flavorful with their fresh bread. Service was also great! We had a lovely night & have no complaints. The decor and paintings definitely add to the Italian feel. Will definitely come back next time we are in Portland

I have been enjoying lunches here for 3 or 4 years every now and then. Went in the other day and had my usual rigatoni bolognese. Marco always delivers the goods. Steven was off that day and there was a lovely woman working instead. The restaurant was not very busy, I guess I came at the right time. Looking forward to my next meal there, glad I live within walking/biking distance. A gem in the neighborhood.

I wish there was a way to rate this as a 4.5. I'll just get this out-of-the-way early, the RISOTTO ALLA TARTUFATA was not good. The risotto was gummy and had an odd color. Now on to all the great points. The service was very attentive and the owner visited each table to see how our experience was going. They have many wines from different regions of Italy. The cheese and bread has wonderful caramelized onions and was very tasty . We had ordered the prior the owner recommending grandma meet balls. He was very confident and stated that if we did not like them he would not charge us for them. They were very good. The Pappardelle with main lobster and prawns was amazing! The portions are generous. My only regret is we didn't get to try the Tiramisu for the flourless chocolate cake. Next time maybe we start there.

Nice restaurant with good food and superb service especially their server Jonny, who told us he is from Sicily recommended some appetizers and entrees to us and all of them turned out very delicious. Highly recommended

Making it back to my favorite places post pandemic. I am so happy Gilda survived and am happy to report that it is as great as ever. Scratch made pasta. Sauces are fantastic! Service is friendly from the warm welcome, the table service and the cooks wishing you farewell as you leave. The restaurant is quiet so you can have great conversation and enjoy your meal with everyone else. Love it and will be back more often. My wife absolutely loved the pasta with sausage.

Local Italian restaurant owned and operated by a local native Portlander which is very refreshing. Ambiance in this little spot is fantastic. I've eaten dinner here a couple times this summer and both times was impressed from start to finish. The calamari appetizer was amazing. The pasta was fantastic and dessert was very good too. Had the Cesar salad the first time and found it to be delicious as well. This is a must-go. Portion sizes are good, prices are fair and service is really good too. Side note - the 20's era bar down the stairs is cool and offers a private dining room for small holiday parties, etc.