A longtime Italian restaurant in Old Town is celebrating its rebranding with a special dinner tomorrow night (Thursday).
Il Porto Ristorante is working on “refreshing the brand” at 121 King Street, with plans for a new logo, revised website and updated menus “to reflect a more modern look while staying true to what Il Porto has always been,” a spokesperson told ALXnow.
To celebrate, the restaurant is hosting a “Renaissance” relaunch dinner from 4-10 p.m. tomorrow with live music and homemade Italian fare at discounted prices.
“For the Renaissance event, we’re bringing back original menu items at original pricing from our early days, alongside live music throughout the restaurant,” the spokesperson said. “Guests will be able to enjoy classic dishes like spaghetti, lasagna, and more at a fraction of their usual price.”
That includes $10 calamari fritti and antipasto appetizers, a selection of $15 entrées and $5 homemade tiramisu for dessert. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
Il Porto has been around since 1973, when it was founded by “Mr. Ray” Giovannoni at the historic property, which was originally constructed more than 200 years ago.
Today, the restaurant is owned and operated by brothers Akbar and Wali Zadran. Akbar first joined the restaurant as a bartender in 1982, before acquiring it from Giovannoni in 1990. Wali joined him in 2001.
The Zadrans also held a special throwback dinner in 2023 commemorate the restaurant’s 50th anniversary.
“We’ve survived three down cycles,” Wali Zadran said in a release. “Business died out after 9/11. Then came the 2008 crisis and most recently COVID. That was the worst. What kept us alive was the loyalty of our patrons and employees. I cannot thank my employees enough for their dedication and hard work. Some managers and even some busboys have been here longer than I have been.”
While Il Porto is getting a new look, the revised menus will not feature any major changes. According to the spokesperson, the restaurant is currently planning “a more extensive redesign” with interior renovations sometime in 2027.
Photo via Google Maps.
Dining and Cooking