When Maine Italian food hits the national stage, you know it’s something special!
Lovefood is a popular online food platform that provides recipes, cooking guides, food news, restaurant reviews, and meal planning.
They also make lists, which we love, so when it came down to listing the Italian restaurants in the United States, we were curious to find out which Maine business serves up the most delicious meals
Solo Italiano Restaurant, in Portland, is known for it’s elegant, refined Italian food. Many of the dishes are inspired by the northern Italian city of Genoa, which is where Chef Paolo Laboa is from, and there’s a real focus on showcasing the freshest local produce.
Customers say that dining there feels like eating at a restaurant in Italy, and rave about the freshly made pasta, especially the bucatini with green crab.
Chef Paolo Laboa, a native of Genoa and winner of the 2008 Pesto World Championship, teamed up with his wife Mercedes, to bring authentic Genovese cooking to Portland’s Old Port, putting together simple, fresh ingredients with techniques from northern Italy.
Solo Italiano opened up shop in May 2016, taking over the space of the old Ebb & Flow on Commercial Street, and from day one, the plan was to keep things real.
Read More: The Best Place to Eat in Maine, According To ‘Man V, Food’
@sistersnacking How to spend a perfect 24 hours in Portland Maine #sistersnacking #lobster #lobsterrolls #maine #portlandmaine #mainefood ♬ original sound – Sistersnacking
Here are some of their signature dishes:
Handkerchief Pasta with Genovese Pesto — house‑made “handkerchief” pasta tossed in authentic Genovese basil pesto.
Carbonara di Mare — pasta with uni, guanciale, shrimp, etc.
Gonfietti con Prosciutto e Burrata — a starter/focaccia‑based dish with prosciutto and burrata.
Focaccia di Recco — the thin, cheese‑filled focaccia that’s baked very thin.
@klc1016 Solo Italiano, Portland Maine #maine #italianfood #foodie #travel #portland #portlandmaine ♬ Portland – Rook1e
A top level Italian dining experience, Solo Italiano Restaurant, is a perfect date night, or special occasion restaurant, especially if you are a true Maine foodie!
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