Iorio Revisit

912 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR
(503) 445-4716
Iorio

I had to come back because the food is spectacular at this place. SPECTACULAR!! But also, the last time I came my pictures turned out awful. Seriously, read the review, but turn your eyes away from the embarrassingly bad pictures.

The  salad of the day was a caprese. It was drizzled with a balsamic glaze and served with very thinly sliced bread. The presentation was stellar and the flavor was just as good. I would definitely suggest this if it’s on the menu when you are there.

My husband and I both agreed we were getting the Pork dish because we didn’t want to share. That plan was all good until she told me the special of the night was Razor Clams.  You see, I’m a sucker for Razor Clams. I love them. They are large steaks of sweetness and they always seem to need to be fried. Oh yum! These were served on a bed of sauteed kale and potatoes.

My husband stuck to his plan and he ordered the Pork dish, just like we had planned. Again, it was off the charts amazing. He had the braised pork with polenta. I wasn’t expecting the solid polenta in strips (it looks like fries in the pictures) but it was perfect. The pork and the sauce was easily soaked up by this polenta. So far we are 2 for 2 on the seasonal pork dishes.

Our daughter came with us. I felt bad, because on this night she ordered a Caesar salad. She had just gotten back from Papua New Guinea and her tummy was not in the mood for any food, but she still wanted to ride along and be with us. So we looked like bad parents that wouldn’t feed our child, but we really did try and feed her. In our defense the Ceasar Salad was really good, not overly sauced and came with some good “croutons”.

Now you can see why this restaurant has made my Favorites List. It is dang cute on the inside providing a very romantic setting. Think date night people! This is the 2nd time I came here using a Groupon. Make sure you make reservations if you decide to come because this place does pack out and there is usually a wait.

Remember Iorio is all about seasonal fare. What I ate might not be on your plate.

• Atmosphere is incredibly romantic, yet there were kids in there too. It’s a smaller space, but they can also accommodate groups.
• Service was great again.
• There is a good wine selection, a few beers by the bottle, but no beers on tap. They also have some cocktails.
• Pricing was pretty typical for this quality of restaurant. Between $15-$20 per entree and the portions were on the larger side, but not over the top. I felt like it was priced perfectly.
• iorio is located on Hawthorne Street.