Sunday Sauce

Classic American Italian comfort food. Space fills up fast. We walked in at 4:45pm on a Sunday without issue. By 5:30 most people coming in were waiting for tables. We liked the red sauce on the namesake Sunday sauce pasta a tad more than Gabbianos (which is a bit sweeter). But didn’t enjoy the mix of meats...came with bits of sliced sausage and braised meat. Just one type of meat would’ve been fine for us otherwise it felt like a hodgepodge/kitchen sink scenario. I don’t believe they make the noodles in house as they had several noodle boxes in their bins while we were heading out. But the noodles were cooked well and the sauces were definitely decent.

Like eating at your Italian grandmas house. So warm and welcoming. The staff was so friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and the portions were very generous for the price. We brought our own wine (corkage fee was only $30) and they even made a point to bring us the proper wine glasses for the 2017 Pinot. They don’t take reservations so we did have to wait over an hour, but it was 7pm on Saturday so that’s expected. Plus there are plenty of of bars within a block radius to grab a cocktail at while you’re waiting.

If you can find the time to make your way here for dinner and a cocktail you would be rewarding yourself. Great service, great staff, and even better food. Pesto Pasta, Chicken parm, the famous Sunday Sauce dish are all well worth the hype. Fried Mutz (mozzarella), garlic cheese bread, and this epic mountain of a Caesar salad is plenty for a group of 4. Would love to come back again to get some of the other items. Glass bottle sodas and the dessert are a great treat!

Lovely and friendly staff here. Traditional Italian food, it was good but nothing special. Ordered the Sunday sauce pasta and the chicken Parmesan. The rigatoni was tough and the sauce was a bit bland. The chicken Parmesan was unfortunately chewy and rubbery. It doesn’t come with pasta but so we paired it with the rigatoni. Was hoping the banana pudding tiramisu was more banana forward like banana pudding! Would probably rate this place 3.5 . 5 stars for the staff! Music choice was quite interesting for a traditional Italian place! Very 90-2000s pop era. Britney Spears nsync savage garden.. you name it

The Sunday sauce is amazing, the meat literally melts in your mouth. The Caesar salad was perfect. Cold, crispy lettuce with the perfect amount of dressing, cheese and anchovies. All my kids were quiet while they ate, which rarely happens. We loved the selection of music; and the restaurant wasn’t too quiet which to me is a plus because I have children. All the staff were super helpful and friendly!

Came on Friday around 7 and waited about an hour. It's definitely vibey and lively. The music is like two volumes too loud. Everything was decently good but I don't think I was blown away by anything. I think the overall pasta was just okay for being an Italian restaurant. I thought the lobster smelled a little fishy. It was the end of the night so I think that's why they offered caviar bumps which significantly enhanced it and thought it made the $30 dish worth it. Spent $84 for two with some leftover rigatoni.

Sunday Sauce feels like stepping into an Italian mom’s kitchen—filled with homemade recipes and comforting twists on the classics. What I liked: Some of the dishes were truly delicious. The sauce lived up to the name—definitely “Sunday best.” It really did feel like eating at someone’s family table. The staff were friendly, and the atmosphere had a fun, lively energy. The meatballs, chicken parm, and Cesar salad were standouts. What I wish was different: It was packed. The wait was long, and unless you’re patient or plan ahead, getting a table might be tough. The music was also louder than expected—fun 80s pop, but hard to have a conversation over it. Is it the best Italian food in Portland? No. Is it worth trying? Absolutely.

We dined at Sunday Sauce yesterday, and we were so glad we arrived about 20 minutes before they opened. We felt a little funny sitting down to eat at 4 PM, but by the time we parked and walked up, there were already four or five groups waiting at the door—and more on the way. The food was delicious. My girlfriend enjoyed a classic dirty martini, and I had a Shirley Temple. We ordered the Sunday sauce, Caesar salad, and the salted caramel budino, and everything was fantastic. I’d definitely recommend getting there early and taking your time to enjoy everything this place has to offer. We’ll definitely be back soon to try their lobster ravioli, wings, and the tiramisu!