Italian Joint

i like this restaurant. it's convenient and not too big, not too small. only issue so far is a bit inconsistent on the service, and had one dish that was not too great. overall its good and i will eat there again. Pros: good food Cons: see below more

Our first attempt to eat here resulted in us leaving after 45mins waiting outside in the rain. There are only 9 tables each set as two-tops and about 7-8 spaces at the split up bar. When 3 or more people show up (especially families with kids like us) you are at the mercy of the people finishing eating and having a hostess who is smart enough not to keep sitting parties of 2 which never makes a 2 tables next to each other available to push together. We left the first time. Our second attempt was last night. Same issue. 30 min wait while vulturing over tables that the guests were done with there meal and wine but were just lingering. We finally got seated and we were able to put in our order right away (because I asked for menus while we waited) but we didn't get our food for another 40mins. When we did get the food it was terrible! Not to mention overpriced. My husband couldn't even eat his Chicken Parmesian as it was so rubbery. The kids were falling asleep at the table as this had been a long ordeal, so I left with the kids while my husband stayed to pay the bill. He sat at an empty table for 20 minutes waiting for the check. The restaurant is so small and the waitress saw the kids and I leaving so it made no sense as to what took so long to settle the bill. I seriously believe there was 1 hostess, 1 waitress and 1 cook working. We will never go again! Pros: In my neighborhood Cons: Too small, horrible food. more

I've wanted to try this place for a while, and as my husband and I walked up, we were afraid it was going to be full. It is very small. Which can be nice, because it can feel cozy. We were pleased with our food, my husbands chicken alfredo was great, he appreciated that the alfredo was not TOO rich and creamy, because sometimes that can just make you feel sick. I loved the spicy tomato basil soup, it is thick like a sauce, with plenty of taste, croutons and cheese on top. The best part was the house red wine, $11 for a carafe that was exactly 41/2 glasses, the wine was nice, we asked and it is Pebble Creek Merlot/Cab blend. The bread is from Grand Central Bakery, and the pasta is fresh from a local source (I'm thinking probably Pastaworks up the street, but the waitress wasn't sure.) For as busy as it was (at least 6-8 people waiting all the time) the service was still prompt, not overly attentive but hey, for a packed restaurant you can't really expect that. You can put your name and cell number on a list taped to the door, and they will call you when your table is ready. The caesar salad was also good, not bitingly garlicky, but smooth garlic (does that even make sense????) Overall, a very nice evening, and my husband and I will definitely be back. Pros: great wine Cons: small and busy more

Man this place is hot. The food is awesome the wine is divine. The servers are lovely. I love the location it's on Hawthorn but just in the right spot so parking was simple. Even my picky kids were able to find something they wanted. Their bread must be bakery fresh because it was SO fresh. I have never had a ceasar salad so tastey. Go Italian Joint! Now an almost weekly spot for our family. Pros: salads! bread! wine! prices! parking! more

this place has amazing spag. and meatballs!!!!!!!!! TIny but super good. I HAD THE ALFREDO< SUPER AMAZING AND YUMMY Pros: YUMMY FOOD Cons: TINY CENTRAL more

My boyfriend and I went there for a romantic dinner and loved this place! The restaurant is tiny but worth a wait. The lights were dim with candles on every table. It was definitly an intimate setting. Everything was resonably priced and delicious. The cesear salad was awesome! We got the carafe of house red wine for around $8. The fettucine alfredo was creamy and flavorful. My boyfriend's chicken parmesan was thick and juicy. It was just what we were looking for and will surely be back. They've also started serving lunch at even a cheaper price. Pros: romantic ambience, food, price more

We were drawn in by the cute ambiance, however after first bite, we were drawn to our water glass suffering from dehydration. I have never had saltier food. Salt isn't as salty as the food at the Italian joint. It was is the kitchen was saying to us, "WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO EAT OUR FOOD! GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK!" I can usually eat anything if need be, not the case with the food from the Italian Joint. Beware. Pros: Cute Cons: Awful food more

Quaint little joint, excellent service and a wonderful dining experience. the happy hour beverage prices were great. i'm no Italian food snob. It was just perfect for this cold weather, warm and yummy Italian food with red wine. Loved the ravioli and the caesar was delightful. will definitely return. more

The service was really good and the ambience was nice for such a small restaurant but the Chicken Marsala was the worst I've ever had and I've had this dish at many restaurants. It was bland and really citrus-y. My girlfriend thought her entree was terrible as well. Maybe they had a fill in chef or just a bad night but we wont eat there again. The spicy basil soup was really good, it was like a bowl of warm spicy marinara sauce. I was really hoping to like the food because it is rare to find a homestyle Italian place in Southeast. Maybe we will go back for drinks and soup but definitely not for a full meal. Pros: Service Cons: Entrees more

I guess I just don't get why there are any decent reviews on this place. It's too bad because it is a cute little place. My only conclusion is that people like cheap prices so people have to say they like it. The sauce taste like it is right out of a can. Hunts tomato paste to be exact. I also had a friend that use to work there and he verified that the food is basiclly frozen and heated up. I guess you get what you pay for. Please take the bad reviews seriously because they are indeed so very true. more

Where do I start? This isn't a swanky Italian place, no it fits more with a Sopranos theme. Think old Italian meets Hawthorne. The menu is awesome and the caesar salad is the best I have ever had. . . I think Olive garden is prepackaged and nasty and the TIJ is so not. Almost everything is made from scratch. The breads are tasty and the wine selection is satisfying. Go take your date there and have a romantic night of Italian food! Pros: too many to list Cons: a little on the smaller side (but its cozy romantic) more

This place is one of the better tasting in Portland despite the previous review below. I can say that spending time in both Italy and NYC. The place is a little small, and the decore could use some help. The food was good, and we didn't have to wait too long. The spicey angel hair pasta is recommended. more

I really don't understand how people can say this place is good. I could understand if the food was medicore because people have different taste buds and ok food to some would probably taste good/bad to others. However, the place is DISGUSTING. The worst italian food ever and I've had my share. I think the people who think this place is "so good" should go to The Olive Garden, or Old Spag Factory because if you think this place is good, you would be blown away by the other two I just named because those too are also nasty but would probably taste wonderful for those who like this GOD AWFUL PLACE. I would suggest going to Bastas, Fratelli, or my favorite, 3 Doors Down. However, if you like the mushy, pasty, canned tasting food then the three I just named wouldn't fit your style and you should just stick to the Italian Joint. more

I'm not sure why some of the guests of this restaurant are so disgruntled. I've found the restaurant to have the best Caesar salads I've ever eaten. It's definitely not for people who think Caesar salad dressing comes from opening a bottle from the grocery store. As a matter of fact, the tastes are so delightful that I've been turned off from other "authentic" Italian restaurants around town that use American Cheese Foods kraft Parmesan Cheese on their table and in their cooking. The wait staff is usually hip 20 something girls and boys, and so far, as many times as I've been there, no one has been rude. I give them four stars because I want them to get a bigger place. Pros: Caesar Salad and Food. Cons: Small Place more

I tried this place for the first time after hearing mixed reviews. I found the food to be as ample as the bosoms of my waitress. For fourteen dollars I had delicious rustic bread with olive oil, an insanely garlicky caesar salad and the rich Seafood Alfredo with spinach noodles. I will be trying the food here again, for sure. Pros: Good food for the price, attentive service Cons: The place looks a little run down.. more

I love this place. Friendly, great value, great food. There is a wait on Fridays and Saturdays about 8PM or so because the Italian Joint is small and does not seat too many people. The fact that people wait for tables here tells me a lot about the food. I don't expect to have everything to my taste at a restaurant but this food has not disappointed me and it has been consistantly terrific. If you are looking for casual, good food, reasonable price and friendly check it out. Pros: Great ambiance, parking available, great food Cons: They deserve a larger place more

THE WAIT STAFF AND CREW DID SUCH AN EXCELLENT JOB THAT WE WERE STUNNED!! WE HAVE SOME "SPECIAL" NEEDS WITH ALLERGIES IN THE FAMILY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE FOR US THE BEST SEAFOOD FETTUCCINE THAT WE HAVE HAD. THE PRAWNS WERE HUGE, THE SCALLOPS DELICTABLE, SHRIMP IN ABUNDANCE AND A CREAM SAUCE TO DIE FOR!!! ME, I HAD THE SPAGHETTI WITH A HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE THAT WAS OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD!! WHEN I BEGGED FOR THE RECIPE...THEY JUST SMILED AND INVITED ME BACK FOR MORE!! YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT I'M GOING TO TAKE THEM UP ON THAT OFFER. P.S. - DON'T FORGET TO ADD THE COPPOLA ROSSO WINE WITH YOUR DINNER TO MAKE THIS TRULY AN ITALIAN ADVENTURE!!! BON APPETITO!!! Pros: VERY ACCOMODATING STAFF AND OWNER!! Cons: TOO FAR AWAY FROM HOME TO VISIT NIGHTLY!! more

The place has the right mood going on with it being tiny with cozy lighting (if they bothered to light the table candles), though the food needs work! I'm not a food snob and will eat just about anything...but the chicken piccata was too salty and over buttery as was the garlic bread. My daughter had the tomato basil soup but it wasn't soup, it was a thick marinara! So we just took turns using the "soup" to dip the garlic bread. Oh, and then there was the wait: We stopped in thinking its simplicity would mean simple and responsive service. We walked in, were looked at and then ignored for 10 min. When I interruped her, the waitress suddenly became nice and offered us a table?? After being seated, it took about 15 minutes to get our drink order, another 15 for the drinks, and so on. We spent about 2 hours there and didn't even have dessert! Though to be fair, she was the only waitress so I can understand the wait if they were just understaffed for the night. Also thought they could use more price variation. Why would I spend $12 on a plate of plain ol' spaghetti when I could get a $12 plate of crab and artichoke ravioli? I think the "joint" has its heart in the right place-it just needs to have its salt taken away & an extra waitress tossed in. It's better than the Olive Garden and canned food but probably more suited as a place to stop after dinner for a late night glass of wine or coffee and piece of dessert, that is if you're not in a hurry. Pros: Cozy atmosphere Cons: Long wait, food too salty and over sauced more

The lettuce on the salads was dirty and limpy and our dinner looked like slop and it tasted like it too! The help was totaly unprofessional / we were ignored for about 20 minutes....seemed like the help was to busy chating instead of taking care of the customers .....whats up with that?? Over all I give it a big fat ZERO! I'm surprised this place stays open I'm telling all my friends not to go to this JOINT! Pros: none Cons: everything more

My previous review was removed for being too scathingly honest. This place is not any kind of Italian that I grew up with (I'm paisano) and I can only say that Chef Boy R D tastes better than this food. The server was abhorrently rude and didn't seem to care either. Fruit flies and the sound of traffic right outside capped off the evening with my guest and I giving 2 thumbs down. I'm not even sure if they're still opened, but I wouldn't be surprised if they closed. Those giving raving reviews must be from places where Italians never resided. Pros: none. Cons: all. more