Huntington Hot Spot: Porto Vivo

Huntington Village offers a vast array of restaurants and night spots.  One of my favorite is Porto Vivo.  Nestled at 7 Gerard Ave, just off the main road, the dramatic, multi-level building is hard to miss.  My first time dining there was on a special night out with a few of my friends.  Since it was a special night, we ordered a bunch of different starters, entrees, and EVERY dessert on the menu! I kid you not.  See the picture for proof!

The bar/lounge is located upstairs, where a DJ spins until 2 am on the weekends (late night bar menu is also offered).

The menu is Italian-American with a modern flair.  There is an entire menu page devoted to various antipasti, appetizers, and flat bread pizzas.  We tried the crispy fried artichoke hearts lighlty breaded in parmesean.  The portion was small, but flavorful and it paired nicely with the crisp Gabriella chardonnay that we ordered for the table. Then came a spirited frisee salad with candy cane beets, smoked bacon, orange, crispy warm goat cheese, walnuts, pomegranate and chianti vinaigrette.  The flavor combination of tart citrus mixed with the smokey bacon, sweet beets, and creamy goat cheese was other worldly.  

Now, to the best part of the meal - the flatbread pizza with prosciutto, arugula, and fig preserve.  Oh me, oh my.  I am not a prosciutto eater in general, but this pizza was pure heaven.  The sweet fig preserve mixed with the peppery arugula and salty prosciutto all on a crisp brick oven, square crust pleased the entire crowd.  

Entrees were not as exciting. Wood grilled french breast on chicken stuffed with spinach, ricotta cheese, served with a tomato basil sauce and roasted garlic olive-oil mashed potato fell a little flat.    The entree I tried during my second visit was much more flavorful (see more below).   A side of brussel sprouts, bacon, and apple was a welcome addition to the meal.  Porto Vivo french fries with parmesean cheese, truffle oil, and fine herbs arrived to the table sans truffle oil.  Our server was quick to correct the oversight and the truffle oil did not disappoint.  

Then, came the famous array of desserts!  As I said, my friend ordered one of everything on the menu, check the website for more on the selections.  The most memorable one was the apple ricotta zeppole served with apple brandy caramel.  Minimally greasy, these treats were worth every bite!

On my second visit, I tried the blue cheese crusted beef medallions in port wine sauce.  The medallions were tender and the blue cheese crust complimented the beef perfectly.  A winning side dish was the lobster and truffle macaroni and cheese.  Dotted with fresh lump lobster and a rich, but not overly heavy cheese sauce, this side gave me just the right amount of of surf with my turf!

Porto Vivo holds ladies night every thursday where drinks are half price for ladies all night long.  I actually worked as an extra on the set of Sex & the City 2 with Joy Mangano's (restaurant owner) daughter, Jackie.  I ran into Jackie at the restaurant and she filled me in more about the restaurant's connection to celebrity chef, Todd English.  Stop in at Porto and you might even snag a celebrity sighting of tennis stars, the Williams' sisters, as Joy manages them.  

Definitely use opentable.com to make a reservation in advance - this hot spot books up quickly!