Cute and quaint place. Homemade pasta is a must. Tritata salad was delicious and refreshing. Great place for a date!
Stephanie S.
I ordered the eggplant dish for my bday thinking it must be a great way to celebrate my bday with a highly rated place near me. What a bad decision! It was sour like vinegar is free! Omg I have not had pickles that tasted more sour than that. And mind you, I love sour flavor, so much so that I drink rice vinegar for fun sometimes. But these eggplants acidity level just threw the taste off sooooo much that I had to toss the whole thing in trash. I almost never ever waste food! I am so upset for almost a year now. Didn't really want to write a review for a neighborhood spot back then but today Yelp poked me to write reviews, and I realized how bitter I still feel about my ruined bday meal. Do here we are. Somebody pls tell me that it was a mistake a misfortune that I got served such an inedible plate, cos I really wanted to like this place. :(
Rishi S.
This was a great spot for Friday date night! I want to preface that we went vegetarian, and ordered the Tagliatelle and Cacio e Pepe! The Tagliatelle is the star ! Lemony flavored pasta with perfectly cooked mushrooms, asparagus, and garlic slices! The Cacio e Pepe was meh...I have had better. Next time, I would go with the pomodoro spaghetti! These dishes are the right size, and the handmade pastas are not too heavy - love that!
Erin M.
Had dinner here recently and really enjoyed everything we tried. My partner and I split the salumi and cheese board, tagliatelle pasta and cacio e peppe. The tagliatelle really stole the show for me. The pasta was fresh and delicate, with a light oregano flavored sauce and sautéed asparagus and mushrooms. So simple and delicious. The salumi and cheese board was generous, but nothing over the top...I would try something different next time. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and service here. Great local spot, very cozy and delicious comfort food. Who doesn't love a big bowl of pasta?
Evan Abraham
Girlfriend and I got the ravioli and tagliatelle, both were dry and undercooked. Cocktails were small and expensive. The desserts and staff were the only good things.
Elizabeth Sizemore
The food here is spectacular. Their house red is also very good. We had the pappardelle and lasagna and cleaned our plates. It's got a classy neighborhood vibe. The counter order situation is less than ideal, I feel, for this type of place. We were lucky enough to be inside right next to the bar, and the Bartender took special care of us. Otherwise, you have to go get back in line to order another drink or dessert, and good luck with that on a busy Friday or Saturday evening as the doorway gets very crowded with people waiting to order and get a table or collect takeout.
Patrick Wrobel
Great food, but we happened to dine when service wasn't great. We were literally forgotten about and nobody checked in on us. The hostess seemed uninterested in helping us. I asked her where our last order was and she said she would check but then never did. Place wasn't busy at this time, nearing 8pm.Waited 30 minutes for dessert. Dinner was almost 90 minutes long, with us having finished our food around the 45 minute mark...felt like we were hostage to an order we ended up regretting.
Keizzel C.
Craving Italian food near Lombard? This is a good spot to check out! Easily found they have a nice indoor/outdoor space for you to enjoy your meal/wine. We came during peak dinner hour on a weekday and it was ~45min wait for food even though you can get seated/drinks first. They have some tables on the side but don't allow food to be served at them but honestly wait wasn't too bad if you want to grab a drink or walk around before hand. Came on a whim but made a full dinner out of it by ordering the three meatballs appetizer, beet salad, grilled polenta with sausage/peppers, and carbonara. Ordered two glasses - one white and one red and all of it came around to ~$80. I thought the prices matched the portion sizes since the entrees were hearty and savory. I enjoyed the apps of the meatballs/salad. The salad was unique with the flavors and vinaigrette but didn't see it initially on their menu online so wonder if it was a special? The meatballs are great to share and they were moist and the sauce was light. As for the entrees the carbonara looks smaller in portion but it was actually super filling and I ended up taking some of it to go as well. It definitely still had some full garlic pieces in the entree so if you're not super into garlic it might not be your jam. The pancetta pieces were great though and loved the crisp they had. The polenta entree was huuuuge and didn't just have cut up pieces of sausage but a full sausage on top of the polenta. There were plenty of peppers to pair as well so it has a nice kick and spice for the entree. This was good if you want something different from what you find on standard menus. The only con was that the sausage was a little overcooked making it a bit dry. Wine was meh so probably wouldn't ordered them again. All in all closer to a 3.5 stars but moving to 4 stars for the overall experience without a reservation.
John R.
Very successful evening, and we recommend. The restaurant is a bit difficult to get to because of repairs on the road leading to St John's bridge; this is temporary, and points to the importance of supporting local restaurants. Driving leisurely, at about 5 PM, it took 25 minutes from downtown Portland. Well worth it. A small restaurant with focused Italian menu. Chalkboard changes daily, with regular items on a printed menu. We had 2 small salads: the tritata and the pear/beet salad; house lasagna and squash/cheese ravioli; and canoli to go; 2 glasses of house dry Italian white. The two salads were extraordinary--the tritata had small spring leaf vegetables, a rich aromatic/vinegar-based dressing, and some small hot peppers for zing. The beet/pear salad also excellent. The small (half-serving?) salads were very generous. The lasagna was light and airy, very pleasant, and a huge portion (we took home half.) The ravioli had excellent flavor and the pumpkin seeds were a crisp touch; but there was too much oil, which added unnecessary heaviness. The canoli were good, though the shells did not have quite the pop or crunch I am used to. The wine list was undistinguished; the wines were minimally described and should be replaced by a better description. The simple white I had had good acid and was a decent food wine. We were there early about 5.30, and it filled pretty quickly; I don't have a sense of crowds or wiat times. The service was excellent and friendly. Adverse comment -- the floor and walls are unprotected concrete and the noise level is unnecessarily high and 'bright.' The owners should hang some large muslin sound baffles from ceiling and walls, which could be done very inexpensively, and would improve the ambience. I'll look forward to going back for sandwiches, cheese board, and relaxation. Nice place.
SuzanneLG
We were coming home on side roads when we happen to be going through Saint Johns and stumbled upon this restaurant., but I’m glad we did. I had their meatballs which was amazing and I had the beet salad which is also over the top for me everything was fresh and then meatballs we’re made from grass Freed Beef. It was cold out and the place was so full we had to eat outside but because of the heat lamps I was comfortable and it was next to the road and it didn’t bother me at all. So as the title indicates , I want to go back.
Been twice in the recently and super impressed with every dish we’ve gotten especially the pasta entrees. As expressed previously, the lasagna is otherworldly. I’d say they are doing some really incredible stuff at Gabagool. In a city full where there’s some great Italian spots in Southeast and downtown, i’m so happy we can get equal caliber of deliciousness here in the neighborhood.
Pam Mickelson
Three times the joy!We came here twice while staying in town. They make their pasta from scratch. Yes. SCRATCH PASTA!We ordered three different items. Everything was delicious. The ravioli was probably our favorite.We ate inside. But they have an outdoor heated patio with picnic tables.Be sure to stop here and enjoy the goodness.
John Doe
Best lasagna I've ever had. Look forward to trying the other food.
Crista Miller
This is one of my favorite spots in Portland. The food is delicious, the portion size is perfect, it's got heated outdoor dining and tasty drinks. I love, love, love the cacio e pepe and carbonara and lasagna. Everything I've ever tried has been delicious. They also catered to my nut allergies safely multiple times.
Kevin Schoonmaker
Got their polenta and sausage with a plate of pickled vegetables by myself after work one day. Exceptionally delicious and perfectly seasoned, good portions. Service and vibe was great.
Cute and quaint place. Homemade pasta is a must. Tritata salad was delicious and refreshing. Great place for a date!
I ordered the eggplant dish for my bday thinking it must be a great way to celebrate my bday with a highly rated place near me. What a bad decision! It was sour like vinegar is free! Omg I have not had pickles that tasted more sour than that. And mind you, I love sour flavor, so much so that I drink rice vinegar for fun sometimes. But these eggplants acidity level just threw the taste off sooooo much that I had to toss the whole thing in trash. I almost never ever waste food! I am so upset for almost a year now. Didn't really want to write a review for a neighborhood spot back then but today Yelp poked me to write reviews, and I realized how bitter I still feel about my ruined bday meal. Do here we are. Somebody pls tell me that it was a mistake a misfortune that I got served such an inedible plate, cos I really wanted to like this place. :(
This was a great spot for Friday date night! I want to preface that we went vegetarian, and ordered the Tagliatelle and Cacio e Pepe! The Tagliatelle is the star ! Lemony flavored pasta with perfectly cooked mushrooms, asparagus, and garlic slices! The Cacio e Pepe was meh...I have had better. Next time, I would go with the pomodoro spaghetti! These dishes are the right size, and the handmade pastas are not too heavy - love that!
Had dinner here recently and really enjoyed everything we tried. My partner and I split the salumi and cheese board, tagliatelle pasta and cacio e peppe. The tagliatelle really stole the show for me. The pasta was fresh and delicate, with a light oregano flavored sauce and sautéed asparagus and mushrooms. So simple and delicious. The salumi and cheese board was generous, but nothing over the top...I would try something different next time. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and service here. Great local spot, very cozy and delicious comfort food. Who doesn't love a big bowl of pasta?
Girlfriend and I got the ravioli and tagliatelle, both were dry and undercooked. Cocktails were small and expensive. The desserts and staff were the only good things.
The food here is spectacular. Their house red is also very good. We had the pappardelle and lasagna and cleaned our plates. It's got a classy neighborhood vibe. The counter order situation is less than ideal, I feel, for this type of place. We were lucky enough to be inside right next to the bar, and the Bartender took special care of us. Otherwise, you have to go get back in line to order another drink or dessert, and good luck with that on a busy Friday or Saturday evening as the doorway gets very crowded with people waiting to order and get a table or collect takeout.
Great food, but we happened to dine when service wasn't great. We were literally forgotten about and nobody checked in on us. The hostess seemed uninterested in helping us. I asked her where our last order was and she said she would check but then never did. Place wasn't busy at this time, nearing 8pm.Waited 30 minutes for dessert. Dinner was almost 90 minutes long, with us having finished our food around the 45 minute mark...felt like we were hostage to an order we ended up regretting.
Craving Italian food near Lombard? This is a good spot to check out! Easily found they have a nice indoor/outdoor space for you to enjoy your meal/wine. We came during peak dinner hour on a weekday and it was ~45min wait for food even though you can get seated/drinks first. They have some tables on the side but don't allow food to be served at them but honestly wait wasn't too bad if you want to grab a drink or walk around before hand. Came on a whim but made a full dinner out of it by ordering the three meatballs appetizer, beet salad, grilled polenta with sausage/peppers, and carbonara. Ordered two glasses - one white and one red and all of it came around to ~$80. I thought the prices matched the portion sizes since the entrees were hearty and savory. I enjoyed the apps of the meatballs/salad. The salad was unique with the flavors and vinaigrette but didn't see it initially on their menu online so wonder if it was a special? The meatballs are great to share and they were moist and the sauce was light. As for the entrees the carbonara looks smaller in portion but it was actually super filling and I ended up taking some of it to go as well. It definitely still had some full garlic pieces in the entree so if you're not super into garlic it might not be your jam. The pancetta pieces were great though and loved the crisp they had. The polenta entree was huuuuge and didn't just have cut up pieces of sausage but a full sausage on top of the polenta. There were plenty of peppers to pair as well so it has a nice kick and spice for the entree. This was good if you want something different from what you find on standard menus. The only con was that the sausage was a little overcooked making it a bit dry. Wine was meh so probably wouldn't ordered them again. All in all closer to a 3.5 stars but moving to 4 stars for the overall experience without a reservation.
Very successful evening, and we recommend. The restaurant is a bit difficult to get to because of repairs on the road leading to St John's bridge; this is temporary, and points to the importance of supporting local restaurants. Driving leisurely, at about 5 PM, it took 25 minutes from downtown Portland. Well worth it. A small restaurant with focused Italian menu. Chalkboard changes daily, with regular items on a printed menu. We had 2 small salads: the tritata and the pear/beet salad; house lasagna and squash/cheese ravioli; and canoli to go; 2 glasses of house dry Italian white. The two salads were extraordinary--the tritata had small spring leaf vegetables, a rich aromatic/vinegar-based dressing, and some small hot peppers for zing. The beet/pear salad also excellent. The small (half-serving?) salads were very generous. The lasagna was light and airy, very pleasant, and a huge portion (we took home half.) The ravioli had excellent flavor and the pumpkin seeds were a crisp touch; but there was too much oil, which added unnecessary heaviness. The canoli were good, though the shells did not have quite the pop or crunch I am used to. The wine list was undistinguished; the wines were minimally described and should be replaced by a better description. The simple white I had had good acid and was a decent food wine. We were there early about 5.30, and it filled pretty quickly; I don't have a sense of crowds or wiat times. The service was excellent and friendly. Adverse comment -- the floor and walls are unprotected concrete and the noise level is unnecessarily high and 'bright.' The owners should hang some large muslin sound baffles from ceiling and walls, which could be done very inexpensively, and would improve the ambience. I'll look forward to going back for sandwiches, cheese board, and relaxation. Nice place.
We were coming home on side roads when we happen to be going through Saint Johns and stumbled upon this restaurant., but I’m glad we did. I had their meatballs which was amazing and I had the beet salad which is also over the top for me everything was fresh and then meatballs we’re made from grass Freed Beef. It was cold out and the place was so full we had to eat outside but because of the heat lamps I was comfortable and it was next to the road and it didn’t bother me at all. So as the title indicates , I want to go back.
Restaurantji Recommends
Been twice in the recently and super impressed with every dish we’ve gotten especially the pasta entrees. As expressed previously, the lasagna is otherworldly. I’d say they are doing some really incredible stuff at Gabagool. In a city full where there’s some great Italian spots in Southeast and downtown, i’m so happy we can get equal caliber of deliciousness here in the neighborhood.
Three times the joy!We came here twice while staying in town. They make their pasta from scratch. Yes. SCRATCH PASTA!We ordered three different items. Everything was delicious. The ravioli was probably our favorite.We ate inside. But they have an outdoor heated patio with picnic tables.Be sure to stop here and enjoy the goodness.
Best lasagna I've ever had. Look forward to trying the other food.
This is one of my favorite spots in Portland. The food is delicious, the portion size is perfect, it's got heated outdoor dining and tasty drinks. I love, love, love the cacio e pepe and carbonara and lasagna. Everything I've ever tried has been delicious. They also catered to my nut allergies safely multiple times.
Got their polenta and sausage with a plate of pickled vegetables by myself after work one day. Exceptionally delicious and perfectly seasoned, good portions. Service and vibe was great.