DeNicola's Restaurant Reviews

Nice Ilatian restaurant. Good food and plenty of it. Bread and antipasti out of this world. I had clams clams an linguini. Delicious. Service excellent. Best meal while we in Portland. Will visit again.

We've been coming here a couple of times a year for several years. It would be more but it's about 30 minutes out of our way each way. Have had a dozen or more items from the menu and I'm never disappointed. It's home style italian, no pretensions or annoying fancy pants stuff. Just yum with attentive, friendly and inuit I've staff. A wonderful family, date night, or solo eatery.

We finally made it to this place. We've driven by a million times. It's a nice quaint place. Great food. Come as you are, not pretentious. I had Chicken Cacciatore with cheese ravioli. The waitress was extremely friendly and very attentive. We will be back! It's a nice family place at very nice prices.

Went there for a slice during Pizza Week. Getting there by bike was quite an ordeal -- although they do have two bike racks right out front. We were promptly seated and our order was taken, and even though they knew from the start that we were there for the pizza slices, they treated us just like an ordinary customer. But, the pizza was fairly cold and god awful. It's a Portland institution which has been here for a long time, so I would probably go back and give them a second chance, ordering something else off the menu.

We have been to Denicolas several times and have been pleased every time. This is not a chain but a locally owned restaurant with a great reputation. Their Spaghetti is really yummy. The dinner salad and bread bowl are wonderful. Their blue cheese dressing is great! I wish we had found it sooner!

Denicola's has some absolutely amazing entrees, chicken cacciatore is our favorite. Very friendly staff with a family-owned feel. The decor is a bit dated so I wouldn't give the highest marks to the atmosphere but the food more makes it well worth a visit. Plus, it is affordable and they often offer discounts like all-you-can-eat spaghetti night and online coupons.

This is my idea of the perfect Italian restaurant. Absolutely delicious, thick and cheesy, everything I ever had here was absolutely delicious! Wait staff is always pleseant and it's obviously family owned and run. Never waited for more than a couple of minutes. There are fancier "Italian" restaurants of course, with infused pine nuts and all that over the top stuff, but I don't care much for that. This is the old family Classic Italian, in my mind. Garlic, breads, cheeses, meats, sauces, all that. This place has awesome antipasto, breads, and of course the sauce, thick and not watery, nailed it. Never had dessert because I'm always too full. The Gnocchi are fantastic, and so are the raviolis, you can't lose if you want the real Italian food.

Used a Living Social coupon and it made for a great value. Not very crowded but did have to wait what seemed like a long time for a not very friendly waitress to help us. Had two dinner salads, a large pizza, and a half a loaf of garlic bread. Thick crust on the pizza (normal crust for this restaurant ) was a good choice. Not sure I would return without a coupon, but possibly.

There were 8 of us here for a family dinner, so we tried a variety of items on the menu. This place has been around for years and although we arrived right after they opened (4 pm) it got busy soon afterwards. They have a decent, reasonably priced wine list and bar, including some good beer choices. The pizza looked great, but we didn't order it. Pastas were good, especially the baked tortellini. Steamer clams were also a hit and we had lots of good bread on the table to soak up all the good broth they were served with. My eggplant Parmesan was a bit too heavy on the sauce, but OK. The Hunter chicken was good also. This is a good place for basic Italian at a reasonable price.

We were drawn to this restaurant by a Groupon offer. We found the food to be tasty from the antipasto to the dessert. Our server was very attentive - keeping an eye on us from afar and spacing the courses without our feeling rushed. The Groupon brought us in but the food and service will bring us back. The one drawback was the sparse parking (possibly due to the popularity of the strip club next door).

I really enjoy taking my family to DeNicola's. We have been many times: as a couple, with our kids and for big dinners with family. This isn't fancy italian food by any stretch, but it's good. My favorite thing about DeNicola's, though, is the atmosphere. It's a family restaurant- a great place to take kids and have big family dinners. Don't come here for a romantic dinner or a quiet evening out. The staff is super friendly as well :)

I ate at DeNicola's this evening & had the Linguine by the Sea. It was delicious! 7 large prawns over linguine seasoned with fresh garlic, romano cheese & lemon pepper. It was amazing! Give them a try!

We live in southern oregon and have access to the best Italian restaurant ever, Paisanos in rogue river , we never thought we would find somewhere with better Alfredo sauce but this Alfredo is so rich and buttery you will never mind better , and the creamy pesto is the best

We have been coming here for years and have yet to find anything that was not amazing tasting. Reasonably priced for the portions. Friendly servers, great family owned business and you feel that when you walk in and are greeted.

The spaghetti with meat sauce was outstanding! I expected it to be good, but not this good. Just the right amount of spice in a great sauce. And Renée was a great server. If you're looking for tasty Italian food, go to DeNicola's.

DeNicola's id the traditional East coast Italian cuisine that I grew up with in Ohio, It is delicious. Portions are ample. Our server Tobin was great. As we live on the west side of Portland we do not get here as much as I would like but we love going back!!!!

We went here because we had a groupon or living social, I don't recall which, but we had been meaning to try it so that reminded us to go. It is one of the few places I can go in PDX which has an authentic east coast feel to it. The food is great. We even went back and it was still just as good. True Italian servings, aka don't go home hungry, cuz you can't.

Who doesn't love some fresh pasta with homemade sauce made just for you. This place has a wonderful, laid back atmosphere, and the decor hasn't changed in decades. It's a timeless classic just like every plate of food that comes from the kitchen. Stop in for a meal, you won't regret it.

This family place has been in business for many years and is undergoing some flooring renovation currently. This did not detract from the wonderful dinner we had. An antipasto dish and bread was brought first. Two of us had the chicken parmesan , one had the spaghetti and I had the linguine with prawns. The selection of wines was varied and we enjoyed a great bottle of nero d’avala. The server was friendly and efficient and the price was reasonable.

Quite possibly the best Italian Restaurant we have ever visited. In addition to excellent management, service, food and background music, they offer a wide range of selections...and generous portions. FYI: They are open during the current health concerns and their prompt "take out" options still offer excellent food and generous portions!

I first went to DeNacola's just after it opened. I recently had the opportunity to go back after an absence of about 20 years. When we ordered the pizza my Boys' eyes almost popped out of their heads. They had never seen pizza that thick. The pepperoni tasted like pepperoni, the mushrooms tasted like mushrooms. The pizza is not cheap, but it is well worth the price. Go to this place, as a family, have pizza, invite your friends. This is not a pretentious restaurant, it is what a family restaurant should be.

True old world Italian hospitality, decor, and dining experience. Super friendly hostess and staff, knowledgeable and welcoming. Antipasto will get you started while you wait for your entrees that were served promptly and hot. Enjoyed pizza and pasta with decent wine list. Highly recommend!

We have visted this restaurant four times in the last four months. We've tried the veal parmesan, eggplant parmesan, meat manacotti, and one of the calzones. Additionally, as part of the meal, we've tasted the side spagetti, the side salad, bread offered with meals, the salami plate, and the spamonie (sp). Everything was absolutely delightful. Great taste and plentiful. Superb veal parmesan and eggplant parmesan! The building from the outside is not imposing. It almost reminded me of an old Denny's building. The interior is family friendly, and not too fancy. The servers and owner not only made us feel welcome, we were appreciated. It was a wonderful experience. Again, it was all about comfort and casual dining. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to enjoy a great meal in a comfortable, casual diningroom.

Expected a much better pizza .....It was flavorless ...the cheese tasted as if it were an inferior quality. The crust was way to thick and not enough sauce...so the pizza was very dry.. The veggie toppings were added raw after the pizza had been cooked.. which I absolutely DID NOT LIKE.. Next time I will go to Amalfi's for a good PIZZA

All you can eat spaghetti always brings us back but this evening was the worst service we've ever had. When we complained to the owner all she did was argue with us. She blamed it on the cooks and said its not the waitresses fault. Maybe this was her neice or something? Very disappointing, guess we won't be back.

Don't go to this place unless you bring your own waiter/ waitress because there to busy smoking / drinking in the back lot. The only way this business get customers is by snagging with the lame coupons. Food portions small / pricing is high and there discounts are lame. This is not a Goodfellows type of restrauant. If your wanting good food / service you wont get it here. The discount is not worth your time. This place i would recomend years ago, i mean years. The reviews must be fake

I took family from out of town here for a relaxing dinner, The place had an odd odor to it, though it was supposed to be a very good place, and it was for the most part everything but. Out of 6 people none of us could come up with something to eat off the large expensive menu that looked good other than the pizza, Honestly I should have bought dough and the meats and did this myself, Atmosphere was very plain, service needs polish, I do believe that the owners kids are the wait staff and they don't feel they need to wait on anyone except themselves, I watched them eat. Price $69.00 for 2 large pizza's and soda's, I choked on the bill, but I had a groupon and the owner refused to let me use it, The owner just wanted to argue so we payed the bill and left. I looked at the reviews and ratings before I went and that turned out to be a mistake, you can't believe all you read in this case. I will not return.

I ordered a meat sauce lasagna to go, thinking it would be large enough to fill me up. I knew there was a problem right when they handed me the bag, as it was very light. They wanted extra money to do garlic bread so you just get a couple pieces of plain bread. The flavor was very good but I could have eaten 3 of them just to fill up. I'll spend 15 and get a huge portion of lasagna from Costco in the future.

My son lives in Portland and is a vegetarian, making it sometimes difficult to find a decent place for my wife and I to eat with him and his significant other when we come to town to visit him. My son suggested that we all try DeNicola's. Turned out to be a great suggestion. This is an old-style family run restaurant. The menu is varied with way more than enough choices to pick from, The atmosphere is old-style Italian and is very warm and inviting. The meals will run you from $12 to $19 depending on what you order and what you have added to your meal. This turned out to be a bargain price based on the quality and quantity of what we were served. The service was friendly and efficient. I had the cannelloni/manicotti combination and it was the best Italian dish I have had in years. I have a feeling that this will become one of our go to places to eat whenever we are in town.

And they couldn't even get that right. It was watery and tasteless. The house Chianti was ok, but I don't think I'd try it again.

A discount coupon took us to this outstanding restaurant, but we'll be back, coupn or no. Terrific southern Italian food. If you grew up in Jersey, Phili or NY you would be very much at home in this restaurant. Food is ample, tastey and service was great. We paid to have the full dinners that included salad and antipasto. Everything was GREAT. The house salad was one of the best I have had in along time; simple, but fresh & topped with their house blue cheese dressing!!! The breads were warm and yummy. I had the Gnochi Mezza Mezza, my wife had the Dungeness Crab Alfredo. We needed "to go" boxes. The desert menu looked wonderful but there was no room. Maybe next time!! Bring the whole family.

I am.used to really really good Italian. If you're looking for that you are in the wrong damn place. It's ok I mean the noodles are over cooked. The sauce or average and the rest is just average

My husband and I come here often when we want comfort food and good service. Everyone we talk to is so sweet to us and our child. On one particular evening we witnessed a table of some of the rudest people ever and the staff was so classy and helpful. You all deserve medals for that moment because that family was truly heinous! Anyways, we love this restaurant and we always get excellent portions and all the comfort we need when we decide to indulge. It’s a local spot and a family business we really feel is important to support in these times. My favorite thing to eat here are the meatballs, spaghetti with meat sauce and the husband loves the Alfredo. We always have to take things home because there is usually so much food. Great people watching too and also has great large party accommodations. Really enjoy this place, it’s cute, kitschy and has heart.

We went here Friday night and being a popular place, it was busy. We were seated promptly and the waitress came over and took our order. We have had the pizza here before and it was great but decided on dinner items. I had the TORTELLINI AND GNOCCHI WITH MEAT SAUCE COMBINATION plate and she had the CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO dish. Both are highly recommended along with the rest of the menu. Great service from all of the waitstaff and they made sure our beverages were kept full.

Spent New Year's Day at work so we decided to treat ourselves to Italian food after work. This family run establishment offers tasty dishes in a warm and friendly dining room. The veal parmigiana was hot and satisfying, although the veal was a bit tough. The chicken picata was superb. Served with a side of ravioli and a red sauce that's out of this world delicious!!

I positively love dining at DeNicolas. The owners are so nice and anyone and everyone is welcome. They are supporters of the LGBTQ community which is comforting. But most importantly, their food is soo good! I've been going here for the last 3 years and will continue to go for many more years to come. My favorite dish is Linquini a Vongole (Clam Linguini) with the white sauce. The pizza is great too and they offer gluten free options! In my opinion, I think the portions are fine. Don't worry, they give you the opportunity to fill up on bread, meats and cheese which is served before your meal. I never leave hungry! If you're visiting and looking for comfort Italian food, this is the place.

I was looking for a great Italian restaurant that was close to home with great selection and even more important - great food. DeNicola's is the place. I had the baked ravioli along with a dinner salad. I can't believe the amount of food that was served - as well as how great it was. The hostess was friendly, the wait staff on-top of everything. I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a restaurant and can't wait to go back and try the lasagna. Definitely, my go-to place for Italian fare in Portland

I ate here quite a few years ago and was not impressed. The antipasto was uninspired and the pasta was just... bad. I hear that they have tried to reinvent themselves recently... I certainly hope they did.

We were treated poorly and lied to about space available. We were stuck staying because no where else had the space available to accommodate our size of group. The service was slow and I was extremely embarrassed for being in charge of picking this place. Everyone was very disappointed. I also hated the pizza crust. It had zero flavor and was dry.

I am so disappointed in our experience. We have eaten here 3 times total & the last experience, is our last time. We had a coupon, so I took my family out for a farewell dinner for one of my sons moving back east. It is nice when we can all get together & a Italian dinner seemed a crowd pleaser. I like to support family owned restaurants & this was affordable as well with the coupon. To cut right to it, we were sat down & waited 20 min before I tracked the hostess down & asked her if we even had a waiter. We had a 5 year old with us & the wait was beginning to be unbearable. Thanks goodness we had water, but that was it. She said "Yes you do. I will let him know you are ready" So he shows up looking like he ran a marathon & out of breath. I felt bad to give our order. He seemed so over worked. He said they only had 2 wait staff on that night & had opened another section that was supposed to be closed due to the large crowd. We were made to feel bad for showing up on such a busy & understaffed night. Bread was FINELY brought to our table & could see the bread was just white fluff. Not great at all but we were starving! After some more waiting, our food comes out...here is the bad part. It was across the board awful. We each got something different & all said we could do better with canned sauce or making our own. I got the olive oil & garlic & parm. spaghetti thinking this would be a simple dish to share with my granddaughter. Even she would not eat her favorite simple dish. I was so hungry, but after 5 bites, I asked for a box thinking I must be getting sick, because I lost my appetite (I had to throw it out at home). But, it was just bad food. The oil tasted like cheap vegetable oil. Not olive oil at ALL. there was no flavor from the cheese or garlic. Just cheap oil! Everyone took a few bites of their food & the rest was just wasted food. The other 2 times I went there, it was OK. Not great, but this time was the last time. A waste of time!

We were reacquainted with this restaurant through an Entertainment coupon. Their service was excellent. Several servers made sure our drinks were filled and that we had what we needed. I began with a salad, that had excellent house-made blue cheese dressing. They brought us bread and a small appetizer dish. Our meals were great. They acted as if they were truly glad we were there - we're not getting that everywhere anymore. I can't wait to go back and check out some of the other dishes.

This was our first time here, (bought a groupon for 4, that in itself was great usually it's for 2), Every one said the food was ssooooooooooo good!! We had to take home some of it in a dogie bag, and believe me we all at a lot before we left. I have never, in a restaraunt taken a piece of bread and wiped it across a place of marinara sauce and put it in my mouth before, (if I could have licked that plate I would have) That IS THE BEST MARINARA SAUCE I HAVE EVER HAD. ( that is saying a lot because I am 70 years old and have been to Italy twice). I have to agree with others the service is excellent. Don't mess with perfection, this place is a definitively a blast from the past!!!

DeNicola's delivered me a pizza through Grubhub tonight. A fine pie, size "duet" to serve two. Great pizza, I'm just not sure where it belongs in the Portland hierarchy of hip pizza joints. Verdict? A soft contendor with the best. Very tasty sauce, fluffier crust than I usually prefer, but perfectly done tasty, soft crust. A substantial pie, more than enough for two people; it's thickness makes up for it's narrow diameter. If you like a thick pie, give these fellas a shout. Now for the creativity expected from a Portland pie: extra points for fearless anchovy application. Double extra points for the visually impactful layer of *whole* pepperoncinis land-mined over every inch of this respectable little pie....looks like a game of battleship! Quality meats, an appropriate, if not indulgent, amount of default cheese (my fault for not ordering extra cheese....ALWAYS order extra cheese). So, this is a creative, delicious, and premium pizza. I'll eat at DeNicola's again, after I complete the rotation of excellent PDX pizza places, which will be a long while because it's a rare treat. Props to the hardworking GrubHub guys and gals, they never disappoint. The perfect pizza for tonight, and I've got NO COMPLAINTS!

We have two places we go to when we need a quick meal and this is one of them. I favor the cheese tortellini and my husband loves the (spaghetti with) meatballs. I order from the senior menu so that I can enjoy the antipasto and still be able to finish my entree. It's a family run restaurant so you see the same staff over and over and eventually get to know them, and they you. The service is fast and friendly and the food is consistently good.

What A rip oFf....OrdeRed tHe Honored citiZens sPagheTti aNd Italian saUsage aNd raVioli DINNERS..tHe siZe of tHe plAte wAs a cHilds pOrtion aNd it wAs $13.00 a plAte...wHen it wAs seRved it mOre resEmblEd a diShoNored citiZens plAte......tHe oNe saUsage on tHe spAgheTti wAs nOt eVen Italian it wAs Mexican choriZo...tHe so-calLed aNtipastO plAte aMountEd to 4 smAll cUbes of chEese...2 sliCes of pEpperOni aNd salAmi..a fEw sliCes of carRots...aNd 2 pepPers... the serVice wAs terRible...hAve eaTen hEre fOr oVer 20+ yeArs bUt the laSt tWo diNing exPeriences haVe beEn un-acCeptable.. so >>>dEniColA's yOur History.......wOn't waSte anyMore mOney HeRe......

We almost didn't go here because I didn't see it on Tripadvisor since it was so low. Luckily we have some local friends who recommended the place to us and we were sure happy they did. We're originally from the east coast, my husband from NY and this was authentic homestyle NY/NJ Italian at its best. The building itself is old but kept up well. Service is brash (hey we are talking east coast right? Lol) but efficient. My wine was filled to the brim and the fold fantastic! I got the pesto Alfredo fettuccini and which was perfect and my husband got the manicotti which he said reminded him of his favorite place back in queens. Seriously so glad we came here, everything else looked too expensive and/or pretentious for what we were looking for (solid Italian food).

Our family has been going to DeNicola's for over 30 years and we're taking the third generation to dinner there now. It has always been a very friendly place where we feel at home and welcome. The menu is wide and deep and everybody can find something they love, from the six year old granddaughter to me, the picky one. Portions are generous without being ridiculous and everything is very good. I'm a big fan of the Manicotti and Cannelloni combination and my spouse loves the Eggplant Parmigiana. The kids go for the standard pasta with sauce and, of course, it's never complete without spumoni and, for the adults, a nice glass of wine. This is the perfect family restaurant in old SE Portland, and you won't break the bank, either. Be sure to bring an appetite and a smile.

My daughter wanted to return to this restaurant after many years. The food was good, the portions huge, and the service great.

Man, oh man! Do yourself a favor and go to this great restaurant. I went for dinner around 7 on a Friday. No crazy wait times, no crazy prices, but amazing homemade Italian food!! The entire staff is great and you won't leave unsatisfied. Unfortunately, they didn't have a wheelbarrow to remove me from the premises afterwards =( I had to walk out on my own >=|

After a couple less than satisfactory Italian dinners in West Linn and Lake Oswego recently, I was really jonesing for some great Italian food. We drove to DeNicolas and were really pleased to see they're still setting the standard for Italian food in Portland. Mamas' recipes are time-tested! My table ordered the pizza, the lasagna, and pasta with jumbo shrimp. All were excellent. The same friendly servers and quality food we've loved for years. I wish the bread was more flavorfull, but that's a small detail when you consider how good the main courses were. All the flavor without any of the pretense or downtown pricing. It doesn't matter where you are: it's worth the drive!

I went to DeNicola's today. Try to go a few times a year for the past 10-15 years. Today I learned that you don't get the antipasto plate or salad without paying extra. The food is good but the policy left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It will be a while b4 I return. Most other Italian restaurants in the area include salad, antipasto and perhaps ice cream, all for one price.

We've been coming here for years and the food is always delicious. A family run operation, their pasta dishes are excellent and the red sauce is what you would expect from a quality place in NJ, NY, or CT. Large portions, great meatballs, lots of cheese on everything - this is a real straightforward, no surprises Italian joint with nice people.

I'm going to be more than generous in giving this 3 stars. I came here 2 weeks ago for dinner with my husband and kids. I had previously visited one other time and was not impressed with the pizza though my husband had loved it (then). We got to the restaurant around 6:30pm on a Friday and were seated right away. Our server (younger male) took our drink order (big plus they serve Stella Artois). From herd our service declined. We placed our order 1 small pizza, garlic bread, manicotti and a order of fettuccine alfredo. Not embellishing it took 55 minutes to get our food. In this time no one even bothered checking to see if we'd like another drink. After 40 minutes I flagged our server down to order another beverage for my husband and I. Meanwhile I'm seeing other families seated after us getting excellent service and even getting their meals. Now one would hope after all that waiting our food would be stellar. No such luck... my manicotti was delicious but my daughter was not a fan of her fettuccine and both my husband and other daughter did not care for the pizza. To top off the night our bill was added incorrect and ended up being $10 more. I highly doubt I will return.

DeNicola's is truly a family environment in every way. Very welcoming and attentive staff anxious to ensure a most memorable dining experience. Excellent authentic Italian menu with family recipes for lasagna, ravioli, and many other pasta dishes, plus a dozen mouthwatering pizza selections. Antipasto included while your meal is swiftly prepared and served promptly. Nice wine and beer selections. Highly recommend for couples, families, and large groups!

We have been coming here for the amazing pizza for over 25 years. Now that we live in Arizona, we still have to get to DeNicola's every time we get back to Portland. The pizza is delicious, as big as ever, and the staff are always welcoming, cheerful and friendly.

This was the second time I ate there. Their combination of Alfredo and marinara sauce is delicious. I recommend the gnocchi with this sauce with focaccia. Service was timed very well with drinks, antipasto, bread and wine. The servers know their products well. And generous portions made for good leftovers the next day.

We went here last Sunday night. My hubby and I got the All you can eat Spaghetti for $8.99 and our daughter in law got the Shrimp Alfredo (gluten free). Our son ordered the Ravioli and had more than enough. They have the best spaghetti I have ever tasted. This family owned business has been around since the 1970's and they never rest on their laurels. Their pizza is also excellent. We did not have that this time but have had it previously. I also love their Eggplant Parmesan. My daughter in law has to have gluten free and she said this was the best GF pasta she has ever tasted. The service is excellent and the owners are wonderful people. May it continue another 5 generations!

Excellent food, (and lots of it!), excellent service, and a relaxing atmosphere made for a very nice family get-together. Thank you!

#1 In Italian Food. Verry filling

We came here with our son and some of his college friends. They were hungry and this is the right place to visit for that! The food was plentiful and very good. This reminds me of a family owned neighborhood place that you'd find back east - and I enjoyed the whole meal. I had the lasagna, which was delicious. It came with a salad and that was also very fresh and good. The bread basket had both Italian bread and bruschetta - we finished 2 and they brought more of the very hungry guys. The bill was very reasonable. I hope to come back for another visit with I'm down that way.

This ain’t real Italian, it’s Italian-American-few-generations-down, but it’s permissible :) As a frequenter of Italy, it’s nice to have something in the area to go to every once in a while, just to remind me of the old home country. Bravo! (But don’t get the pizza - that is nothing like the real thing. Thick crust = yuck!)

My wife loves Italian food, and she has been looking for a local place that could replace her favorite Italian restaurant in Seattle since 2004. Well, she finally found it. She absolutely loves DeNicola's food. She had the gnocchi and tortellini combination plate. I had the Crab Fettuccini Alfredo. We both had to make sure we were not inhaling our food. Everything was so delicious. Our server was rather bland, but our busboy, the greeter, the person who walked us to our table, as well as the server who took our dessert order were all great. Despite the bland personality, our server still provided decent service. Do not expect to be impressed with the location or ambiance. Fortunately, parking was plentiful, but the ambiance inside the restaurant certainly did not provide a wow experience. Regardless, we loved the food so much that we did not care about the aesthetics of the place. We certainly plan on returning to DeNicola's as often as possible, despite the fact that it is not conveniently located for us. Also, we were not bothered that there is a Dancers establishment next to the restaurant, but some might need to take this into account.

This family run operation has been around forever! Great pizza and decent pasta. They'll deliver this awesome pie too if you're not too far away. . .

The restaurant has been serving Southern Italian Style food for nearly 38 years run by the same family. I had not dined there for nearly 30 years. A good friend was having his annual end of year friends dinner and I attended. Many in the group have been regulars and has a loyal following. The group ordered a wide variety of meals and seemed quite happy. I ordered the Baked Lazagna, which I generally use as a "test meal" for it's difficult to do correctly. The portion size was good and it came in ceramic baking dish. There was an abundance of real cheese, but I found the meat sauce lacking in real tomato flavor. I must admit that my standards for enjoying Italian food are very high. I cook Italian at home for family and friends and quite a few "foodie friends" claim it is beyond restaurant grade quality. However, I will, most likely, attend next year's event, but order something else - like a large Caesar salad. Because so many in the group liked their food, I believe people might enjoy a dinner at DeNicola's.

DeNicola's Restaurants food is wonderful and the service was excellent and fast and there was no wait. The pizza was the best I have ever had even though my son ordered it I eat it. The pasta was cooked just right and the red sauce was very good to. My mom had the alfredo sauce and it was so creamy and full of flavor that I had to take here left overs home with me, and let me tell you, you will have left overs.

Tried this on a recent visit to Portland as I looked for a restaurant with veal parmagiana (or veal parmesean, if you prefer) and outside of downtown. These folks know how to make a tomato gravy, pound a veal, use sufficient mozzarella, and attend to diners. The setting is a touch rustic -- why are there rarely ceilings in Northwest restaurants??? -- and it's easy to get to as it's on a major thoroughfare. The only disappointment was the bread; while tasty it's typically soft not the crusty Italian bread you may be used to from back east.

There isn't a rating in between average and very good - in my opinion DeNicola's is good if you are looking for basic old style east coast Italian which is exactly what they say they serve. Th atmosphere is comfortable, the service is friendly, the bread is fine (focaccia in bread basket is really good) and the basic old style classics like the manicotti.canaloni combo is very tasty. The thick pizza crust is more like bread than pizza crust but the toppings are good. Prices are fair.

This restaurant is run by a small family. Most everyone who works there form talking with our server is part of the family or "like family." The service was great as was the atmosphere. The food was great as well. They had different kinds of breads to offer prior to the main course being served. Add the salad and antipasto. It was nice to nibble on prior to the meal. I would take the negative reviews with a grain of salt. If I don't like a place I certainly wouldn't go back three times and then write a negative review.

Great Italian family-style restaurant, in a funky lookin bldg on the south-east part of town, next to a strip club! The location had nothing to do with what was happening inside of this Portland gem! There was lots of wood, an angled roof, to accommodate the weather challenges, lots of old-school interior decorations, and PLENTY of seating! There was 4 of us and we ordered 3 dishes, portions were hearty and they did not disappoint, the ingredients were fresh, VERY filling, and traditional, as well as seasoned MILDLY, as I requested! Will be going back, on my next trip!

We are new to Portland, and stopped here on a whim for a weeknight dinner. What a fantastic experience. We loved our food... the sauce was so good. Pat (son of the owner) was a sweet and personable waiter. Hearing we were new to the area, he took the time to write out a bunch of other restaurants we should try in the area. How fantastic is that? If you're into family-run places with history and commitment to the experience, then you'll love this place. Great food, good citizens. There's pride here. I felt cared for and will be a new regular.