Fino - Bistro Bar Pizzeria Reviews

They have the best burgers and fries around. Hard to find these days of fast food. The spaghetti and meatballs are also good.

Nope, avoid. Not the place to go to. Basic and expensive food. Service charges and the steal 3% of tips from the staff. Avoid

The pizza was super fresh and tasty but the amount of grease was a bit much. Just grab extra napkins and go for it! Allow 40 + minutes to be made on busy nights as well.

Pasta, Pizza and more. Food and service were both good at this neighborhood bistro. Daily specials and a yummy Spinach Artichoke dip.

Lots of great pizzas, with vegan options, and pizza by the slice as well as whole pies. They also have some great salads, pastas, and appetizers. They also have some great microbrews on tap. Happy hour is a really great deal here.

My last review of Pizza Fino was in 2013; I was just in Portland and had another delicious dinner there. This restaurant is so reliable, year in and year out. The food is always excellent and the friendly, relaxed service is terrific. Kids are welcome, too. The chef is so creative that in addition to the basics we expect at an Italian restaurant, he adds surprises like the French Cassoulet I ordered. It was as good as any I have had in Paris. Wow! The tiramisu continues to be perfect and I will continue to order it every time I am lucky enough to eat at this lovely restaurant.

Good service (but not great). Place tries to be a bistro but the two dishes we had were spectacular misses: rabbit and pasta dish was drowned in a weird watery broth and smothered in so much rosemary that the overall effect was way off and the dish almost inedible. Elk was weirdly served with kraut and while the roasted veggies were great the weird watery broth hurt the dish and the meat was so bland it was difficult to enjoy. Elk has a wonderful flavor so I was surprised it could be messed up this badly. This dish also smelled burned. Caesar salad was good but not close to best in town as one writer says. We didn't try the pizza due to time pressure, but if I go back (unlikely) that's what I'd get. If they insist on trying to be a bistro, they go study good ones like Farrar ' s or brasserie montmarte.

I recently dined here with a group of friends. We all really liked the physical elements that contributed to the restaurant's atmosphere, like the lighting and the windows. Our server was patient, understanding, and friendly- we even felt comfortable joking around with her. However, while the service was good, the food was lacking. The garlic knots were just okay. On the large pizza we shared, the majority of the toppings (which cost $2.50-$3 extra) were soggy and mushy, like the breaded eggplant and the caramelized onions that were too sweet. The Nutella dessert was tiny and mediocre at best. At the end of the night, we all felt that we had just massively wasted our money.

Delish! Started with a creamy asparagus soup. Tasted like Spring with a bit of a bite at the end. (Maybe white pepper?). Small shreds of fresh cheese sprinkled in Did the pick your own topping. Was in the mood for a vegetarian so we had a large Half breaded eggplant and carmelized onion and other half only cheese for Tweens. (About a dozen interesting vegetable add ons and the plenty meats choices. e.g. smoky mozzerella, red onion, artichoke hearts) Crust was thin but slightly chewy. Sauce was more on the tomato acid side (which I prefer over sweet!). Service was good. Attentive and pleasant even though we were obviously not locals, which is always a sign of good service! Highly recommended, if Pizza Fino were in my neighborhood I'd be a regular.

We met here because it is a favorite of a local relative. We ordered 3 pizzas for the 8 of us and it was more than enough. The pieces of pizza were cut too large, however. We asked for something to cut it with and the table knife they gave us didn't work for that. The pizzas were very attractive and tasted good. They had (mostly Italian?) entrees, sandwiches, appetizers, and pizzas, of course. We got there just in time to claim seating before it filled up. We sat by the back door (that opens to the small parking lot) and it was cold because people kept coming and going. We stayed quite a while visiting after dinner and weren't rushed to leave.

I ordered the lasagna, and it was very delicious! Our server was friendly and told us right off the bat what they were out of so we knew not to order it (I've ordered food and had the server tell me after that they were out, which is very annoying!). Cute neighbourhood!

Passing through Portland on a road trip with my daughter. We dined at this very quaint italian restaurant. From the minute we walked in we felt welcomed. We were greated by most of the front staff. Our server Nancy, was so kind. Then there's the food. We ordered the Arancini for an appetizer which was perfect. The risotto was nice and creamy. They were served over Marinara sauce that was one of the best I've had in a long time. Although they're pizza looked very inviting from other customers who I noticed had ordered, we each chose a pasta dish. Definitely all freshly made in house. For that reason, they are definitely reasonably priced.

We went to Pizza Fino while staying at a nearby Best Western. As soon as we walked in I knew it was just right: friendly professional staff, smells to tempt you to order the entire menu and a warm atmosphere. we had our 1 yr. Old with us and he was also greeted kindly, another good sign that this is family friendly despite the history atmosphere. Now for the best part, the Summer Gnocchi was out of this world! It was clearly handmade and had that melt in your mouth quality...almost as good as what I had in Italy that I compare every gnocchi thereafter to! It had a corn infused cream sauce accented by fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. We were told this seasonal dish is only on the menu for a few more days but I have no doubt that the winter selections will be just as good. We also had some decent arancini balls, and nice garlicy fettucini Alfredo with homemade tasting noodles. From start to finish the meal was excellent.

Food was outstanding. Service was as well. We had the Rustico and the lasagna. Lasagna was light. Rustico was a hardy meal. Both delicious. Wait staff very attentive and pleasant

We have been going to Pizza Fino since it opened. It's had it's good months and it's had it's bad months. The food has been predictably average at best. There is never a "Wow" factor with this restaurant. If you are looking for pizza, this is a good choice. If you are looking for creative Italian food, look elsewhere. Let's talk about the staff. Hit and miss. A few are very personable and professional. Others have been there too long and need to move on. Atmosphere. Again, hit and miss. You may have a night where it is quiet and cozy, or you may have a night where there are screaming kids running around everywhere. Our experience has been less quiet and cozy and more out of control rug rats. Botom line: If you've never been, try it once and form your own opinion. We still go to Pizza Fino, but only when all other options are off the table. It is our "restaurant of last resort when the only other option is cooking at home."

I wish the clam pizza was clammier

Elena seems to be frequently on hand when we come for dinner. She is extremely well versed in the menus (food and drink) as well as able to provide descriptions and comparisons verbally for you to assist in picking out something you don't quite know if you're going to like or not. Good menu selection they update at a slow steady pace throughout the seasons. Great atmosphere. Nice outside seating, albeit the view is a parking lot, but it's quiet and nice. Elena Elena Elena!

We love this place. We love this place, because the quality exceptional, and the staff is dedicated to what they do. Although we have been here many times, we had no idea that everything is homemade. Even the desserts are made in house, as well as the bread! We knew that it is quality food, and making everything in the house and not cutting corners will keep me returning again and again.

Dropped into Pizza Fino for a quick dinner after being referred by our hotel. Front of the restaurant looks a bit like a nice take-out, but there is a large sitting area and patio in the back. The pizza was great and we also shared the cannelli (sp) bean spread starter and the arugula and grapefruit salad, both were excellent and a little different. Good selection of beer and wine available and they offered dessert but we were stuffed.

We come through town on business once a year and found this place many years ago and never fail to eat here at least once...sometimes more...while we are in town for the week. There's something special about a rainy night and sitting at the bar with a piece of pizza and a cold beer and cozy atmosphere. Seems to be a favorite of many locals who get take-out.

Quaint locally owned, wonderful food, very fresh, quality ingredients

I didn't feel like Italian but I was out-voted. That's how I ended up ordering a burger at an Italian restaurant, and it was magical. Someone in the kitchen has a PhD in medium-well-with-a-perfect-crust. Nice casual restaurant with a friendly staff - whether you order Italian or not.

We felt kind of snubbed here. It was about half an hour to closing time, so, of course, we only wanted to get a pizza to go. Being first-time visitors, we needed a minute to consult the menu, so we stepped off to the side to do so. Even so, the register person gave us such a look of disdain when we were ready to order. Maybe she was having a bad night, so I will not judge her personally. But the feeling we got from her and some of the patrons was 'Yes, we know you are from out of town. You are not cool enough to be here, so leave.' That being said, the pizza was DELICIOUS. A nice, chewy crust. The vegan option is made with a red pepper and ground cashew sauce instead of cheese. So tasty! I would be willing to try it again next time we're in the area. Perhaps earlier in the evening.

Great little restaurant with a small patio out back. The food was amazing. We had the garlic twists (so good), fettuccine and the lasagna. Caesar salad to start. The staff were great! From the front it looks like a pizza by the slice place, but if you want a sit down dinner, head to the dinning room or patio in the back. You will not be disappointed!

Enjoyed the Rustica dish a lot. The sauce in particular was lick-the-plate worthy. Try to get a seat in the small outdoor patio in the back.

We've dined here twice lately and ordered pizza and a bottle of wine. The first time the crust was way too charred on the bottom and the second time it was slightly charred. The crust is very thin and good if it's not over done. The large pizza is the largest pizza is huge. They had a decent Chardonnay by the bottle which was nice. The place is very cute and quiet in the dining room or you can sit at the walk-up pizza bar in the front. It was quite popular. We sat in the dining room. Yes, I would go here again because it's pretty good and I like the charm of the place.

Vacationing in Portland, we found the Kenton neighborhood and FIno by accident while looking for a place to eat near our hotel in the northern fringes of Portland. What a find! This is a delightful neighborhood Italian bistro with excellent food and reasonable prices. The atmosphere when you first enter from the front is a little off-putting, basically just a pizza takeout counter and a bar. But head down the hall to the right and you'll enter the bistro area, which is much more classy. Note that they are open only for Happy Hour and Dinner, but not for Lunch. It's worth going out of your way to give it a try, but I could see being a regular customer if i lived in the area.

Great food, friendly but somewhat slow service. Had the arancinni, garlic knots, custom pizza, Cesar salad and chicken Alfredo. All the food was great. Salad was one of the best I have ever had. About a 30 minute wait on a Saturday night. Great atmosphere and comfy and roomy booths.

Unfortunately, we live in Mexico and come to Portland every year at the same time of year for business. Fino's is always a MUST, especially on a cold, rainy Oregon night. The staff is always great and friendly and so is the food. Had great wings, pizza, cesar salads and French onion soup and of course drinks. We have eaten in the back in the formal restaurant and it's very cozy, but we usually prefer sitting at the bar with the locals or getting a seat in the windows and watching the rain and world go by. Thanks for a great dinner last night and we'll be back next year...or maybe later this week before we leave town!

Loved the big NY style slices and they make it right. We enjoyed doing takeout here during our one night in Portland. Good pizza.

We had a pepperoni and mushroom pizza which was very tasty. I'm a NY pizza snob, but this was good. The salad was not to my liking. Service was very good.

Ate at Fino’s while waiting for northbound traffic to die down. I had a slice of veg pizza and DH had spaghetti with sausage. We split an asparagus salad. With a glass of wine, total damage was $34. Not too bad. Food was really good, we’d definitely eat at Fino again. Waitstaff was friendly but not overly attentive

I always look forward to dining at Pizza Fino when I'm in Portland because the menu offers so many choices and the food is always delicious. Someday I might even get around to trying the pizza! On this visit, I had beet carpaccio (thinly sliced gold and purple beets with a goat cheese and crème fraiche drizzle, then topped by little pieces of tart apple and bean sprouts in a delicious vinaigrette) and braised rabbit with pappardelle. The rabbit was meltingly tender as were the pappardelle noodles. So good! I finished with the tiramisu. Wonderful and moist. Pizza Fino has all the traditional Italian restaunt offerings: spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, eggplant parmagiana, etc. They also have lots of choices for more adventurous diners. I highly recommend it.

Service was terrible. I was literally the *only* person dining in at the time. Server just disappeared - didn’t come to see if my food was ok, I had to find my own salt & pepper, finally when I was long past ready to leave I told them the meatballs were too dense, unchewable, and terrible, and asked them to bring me the check, which they did - including the meatballs. Told them I wasn’t paying for the meatballs which I just told her were terrible (I didn’t even eat 1/2 of 1). They basically told me ‘sorry, not sorry’, so I asked to speak with someone else. Told me their manager wasn’t there, so I told them I’d accept *any* manager. They disappeared again for a good 5-7 minutes, to return and tell me the manager was in a meeting and the back of house manager was cooking (I have no idea who for since there were only 4 other people in the place [up front for pizzas] besides me). Guess they were the only person in the entire kitchen. And the only other manager was in a meeting (whom I saw on the way out and they literally ran from me) was specious. So the server finally offered to take the meatballs off my check, if that would make me happy. I replied, “No, but I’ll take it so I can get out of here.” I also asked for their managers name and their email address - of which I got neither, an unreadable scribble, and the email address posted on the website. On the menu there is a risotto with “guanciale and kale sauce” (ewww….and kale is so 2010’s). I asked if I could get the carbonara with some of the guanciale in it. The server said they’d have to ask the kitchen, and here is the bs “answer” they came back with: “The chef feels that the spices they use on the guanciale would *not* go well in the carbonara”. Me: What spices are they adding to the guanciale?? It’s already smoked, spiced, and cured….??? (In my head I’m thinking they’re adding something extra awful like celery salt or adobo to go with that kale.) The meatballs were so dense they chewed like rubber, no taste other then cracked black pepper. and the sauce they were in had just pools of grease (see photos). The arancini also highly underseasoned and the nicest one had a whole 3 peas in it and a single strand of leek. The focaccia is served toasted, extra toasty, to hide the fact it seems about 2 days old. The primitivo was served to me at about 80 degrees F, so NO care or respect for the food or spirits, and especially not the guests. Additionally, they charge a 3% surcharge for insurance for their employees. I don’t know how the restaurant industry has so long gotten away with lower than minimum wage and no benefits which are all required by law for every. other. employer. in the country, and I for one am done lining their pockets when they should be beholden to the laws like everyone else. I won’t be visiting restaurants having this practice and will find out for certain before I go. The place also doesn’t have nice ambiance - the dine-in area is mostly just bare 2x’s with liquidation tables and whatnot, and the amazing final touch of dead flowers. Anyway: Would not recommend 1/10. I only gave them a 2 because the AC was on.

The pizza is dependably delicious, the Caesar is my favorite in town, the rustico and daily risotto are fabulous, and the vibe is cozy. Great staff too. We love this place!!!

As a transplanted New Yorker in Portland for the last 1.5 years, have been looking for a place that serves hot subs like chicken parm, eggplant parm, meatball parm, etc. Not easy to find that in Portland. Came upon Pizza Fino and there it was, hot subs on great bread cooked in the oven with great sauce and lots of cheese. Outstanding and close enough to what I am used to back east! We also got a slice of pizza just to check it out - and it is legit. Will definitely be back!

We have enjoyed two separate visits and fabulous dinners in the dining room of Pizza Fino. the waitress extra special for us is Elina. WOW what great personal service and great suggestions. We tried all of the three red wines by th glass of first visit and could not pick the best - all good. On our second visit we had a party of seven and reservations were graciously taken and honored. Salads, soups, entree's and deserts were all wonderful. One of our guests decided this was her new favorite restaurant in Portland. We'll be back and bring another family friend to share in the goodness that the excellent chefs prepare. We have not tried pizza yet, that is week after next!

We come to town every year at the same time for business and Fino is a must-stop for us. But last week, we ended up eating there 3 times. After a long day at the Portland Expo, it just always sounded like a good idea. We love to sit at the window and just watch stuff and have some great drinks or beer...a slice of pizza...and one of the best ceasar salads anywhere. We travel extensively and eat out almost every night from dives to white-table cloth places and I'm not kidding about the ceasar salad! And portions are huge, but a slice of pizza is perfect...not too much. You don't have to eat the whole pie or take it back to the hotel and wolf it down in the middle of the night which is a bad move! LOL. We'll be back next year and thanks for all the hospitality!

This restaurant is in Kenton, which is a cool little slip of a neighborhood close to Jantzen Beach and St. Johns. My son,, his roommate and I stopped in on a whim -- since we like to try new spots we discover. The food was awesome, with an obvious Italian flare. The wine selection excellent and the service solid.

Stumbled upon Pizza Fino on our Spring Break trip to Portland. We were staying in the Jantzen Beach area and wanted some "good" pizza for a change so we goggled the area and found Fino. I didn't know what to expect for neighborhood or anything but was pleasantly surprised by the "upscale" location. Doesn't look like much from the outside but once inside the smells arouse your senses and the atmosphere is eclectic. Ordered a large pie as the only offer two sizes, small & large (decided later that we could have subsisted on a small), and had a cold draft & watched the NCAA tourney while I waited at the bar. The front area has a couple booths & small tables with the bar. The hallway on the right leads past the bar to a dining area which I didn't go check out. The pizza was thin crust, not my favorite, but was very good. I would like to see them incorporate a pan style but would go back when in the area again. Staff was helpful and friendly and the price was what you would expect from this type of establishment.

Intimate, quaint, friendly. Food is good, staff is your typical unusual personality you might expect to find in PDX. Bar cocktails were good, wine selection is fun. Plenty of traffic keep the bar entertaining.

Wonderful meal in every way. We started with the arancini, first time I have had it with marinara sauce. Turns out its a good thing. Sauce was a simple, so it was a nice add. Next we tried a large Caesar. IT'S LARGE. You could make a meal out of this alone. Croutons were good, not too crunchy which is a pet peeve of mine. Dressing was really good, not sure if house made tho. We tried the small Pocket Aces pizza. Great combo of ingredients, prosciutto and caramelized onions were lovely together, a little salt with a little sweet. For dessert we got the finoreos, what fun they are!!!! Good wine prices and variety. Nice staff. Try it, you'll like it.

We didn't see any place good to eat around our hotel in the Delta Park area of Portland but saw this place listed so we drove about 2 miles to find it. It's very small and was easy to miss when looking for it. And like others here commented we went in the front door and weren't impressed but they told us to go to the back room for the sit-down dining. The pizza was very good and service was very pleasant. I loved the Pomegranate Spritzer....yummy. There is parking in the back we found out too late.....and a few outdoor patio tables. The inside is pretty bare bones but the food is good though there isn't that extensive a menu except for pizza.

Crisp, cold, fresh romaine, heavenly dressing. Consistent, each visit. This is my main reason for eating here. Good pasta, pizza and mixed drinks (nice recipes). Not so great draft selection, but again, I dine here when I want a great caesar salad!

If you have a desire for authentic and creative Italian cuisine in Portland, Fino's would be my recommendation. Our helpful and knowledgable server pointed us to entrees that were truely enjoyable. From the shrimp campanelle (the best dish of the night) to the fettuccine alfredo to the cacia e pepe, all were saporific, luscious and mouthwatering in their depth of flavor.

This place is very unassuming. You walk in the front and it looks like counter service but there is a diningroom in the back. The pizza was really yummy, reasonably priced and the diningroom actually looked CLEAN which is not the norm for Portland where I find many of the restaurants are very dirty. Loved this place.

The food was okay. It is not a 5 star place. But, it was okay. There are better pizza places out there and much cheaper.

In town with my wife for business staying at a nearby hotel every year and we always seem to drift into Pizza Fino. It's cozy and friendly and has great pizza and beers and a great place to spend a rainy Portland night. We were again in town the first week of February and ended up eating at Pizza Fino twice...mainly cuz the food was great, but also it's one of the only places that wasn't a diner open late at night! Wanted to give a special shout-out to their Cesar Salad. I eat cesar salads everywhere in several countries and for a cesar that's not made table-side, Pizza Fino has an outstanding salad! It's big. It's dressed just right. And it has real shaved mozzerella on it. Can't beat it. Wish I had one for dinner tonite. We'll be back again next year when we're in town for business!

We ordered the largest pizza for 2 people and had plenty of left-overs. It is a nice quiet place and we've been here a few times before. There is outdoor seating but not very inviting because it looks like a parking lot. The servers are very attentive.

Being in the service industry myself, I know what an issue large groups can be. I'm sure that our party of around 10 was no exception but we received great service none the less. From the hostess to the manager everyone welcomed us with a smile. I shared a pizza named "Pocket Aces" and it was delicious. Although it was delicious, I would have considered the price tag about $5 too high. I still bought the pizza though, so I guess if I'm willing to pay close to $30 for a pizza I can't blame them for charging that.

Not sure if they have a new chef, but the food seems to be improving. The wait staff, well at least some of them, are actually enjoyable and knowledgable now. There are still a lot of screaming kids, running around out of control on more nights than you would care to count, however, I think Pizza Fino has moved from our "we are desperate with nowhere else to go" list, to our "hey, it's in the neighborhood and we did like that last pizza. Oh, and the screaming kids were all just leaving as we arrived." list.

Came to Pizza Fino for dinner. I prefer to eat gluten free. We enjoyed a GF margurite pizza and a smoked salmon risotto - yum! Food service was slow but the food was great once it arrived -and we enjoyed our seats on the patio so no worries for this diner.

I love Italian food and this place was a good choice. Choose one of the 12 inch pizzas and a salad. Of course the beer is delicious.

We asked a local by our hotel for a recommendation for dinner, Pizza Fino was the one. The manager who also was our server is friendly, professional, and gave us great recommendations for things to do in Portland and places to stay. The food was hot fresh garlicky, portions are large. We tried Marguerite pizza, Pasta Alfredo, garlic knots. The next night we came back again and got spaghetti and meatballs to go. Everything was yummy. When we are back in Portland, Pizza Fino will be a return trip. Thank you for such great service!!!

a neighborhood restaurant in the Kenton Portland area. Only open for dinner. The food is very good. The pizza and fino nots are excellent. The drinks are excellent - try the Limonato.

Pizza Fino has recently become just "Fino". I'm not sure why. We were told that the management was still the same, they were just focusing more on their entrees now. That is great if you like garbanzo beans. Two offerings containing them. They took away the only reason we usually went to "Fino", the burger. They made a very good burger. They still have more pizzas than most offer, but no burger. Service also depends upon which server you get, we happened to end up with a bad one. She seemed to be really bored. The other server took better care of us than our server. Wish we could have tipped her. Bottom line, unless we are in the mood for take-out pizza, "Fino" is off our restaurant list.