Piazza Italia brings the generous comfort of an old-school Italian dinner to Portland’s Pearl District, where pasta and wine encourage everyone to linger.
Since 2000, this family-rooted Portland Italian restaurant has welcomed locals with satisfying pasta, soccer-filled evenings, good wine, and warm meals meant for sharing.
From slow-cooked wild boar sauce to creamy pesto with shrimp, Piazza Italia delivers the kind of hearty Italian comfort food that diners remember.
How Piazza Italia won locals’ hearts
Piazza Italia earned its devoted following by giving Portland diners a personal, comforting take on classic Italian food with genuine neighborhood warmth.
The restaurant opened in 2000 when Rome-born Gino Schettini and Portland native Kevin Gorretta combined their love for food, music, soccer, and community.
Their grand opening filled Northwest Johnson Street with music, dancing, and celebration, giving neighbors an immediate glimpse of the restaurant’s joyful Italian spirit.
From its earliest days, Piazza Italia was created to feel like more than another neighborhood restaurant for dinner and drinks.
It quickly became a gathering place where long dinners, glasses of wine, soccer matches, and generous pasta plates comfortably shared the same table.
The menu keeps the experience grounded with traditional Italian pastas built around comforting sauces, slow-cooked meats, seafood, cheese, garlic, and familiar flavors.
Pappardelle al Cinghiale, served with slow-cooked wild boar meat sauce, gives regulars an unforgettable reason to move beyond predictable pasta orders.
Linguine Squarciarella, known as Gino’s favorite, adds a personal touch through egg, prosciutto, onion, Parmigiano, and plenty of fragrant black pepper.
These satisfying dishes feel generous, familiar, and deeply comforting, making them the sort of meals diners happily return to enjoy.
The dining room has its own lively character, with Italian programming and soccer culture bringing extra energy to the restaurant’s personable atmosphere.
After Gino died in 2007, his family continued running the restaurant, preserving the warmth, recipes, and traditions that longtime guests had grown to love.
That continuity matters in Portland, where diners appreciate independent restaurants with a real story, steady identity, and honest point of view.
Piazza Italia remains popular because satisfying food, an energetic dining room, and welcoming hospitality can make even an ordinary Tuesday dinner feel special.
Food Highlights
- Linguine Squarciarella: Gino’s favorite pairs linguine with stirred egg, prosciutto, onion, Parmigiano, and black pepper. Its rich, creamy texture and savory prosciutto make it an essential order for pasta lovers.
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Pappardelle Al Cinghiale: Homemade pappardelle meets slow-cooked wild boar meat sauce in one of Piazza Italia’s most comforting pasta dishes. The wide noodles and hearty sauce make this a must for anyone craving a serious Italian comfort-food meal. 🍝
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Spaghetti Mare e Monti: Spaghetti is tossed with creamy pesto, sautéed shrimp, and mushrooms. This dish is a smart choice for diners who want seafood, earthy mushrooms, and a comforting pesto sauce in the same bowl. 🍤
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Bucatini all’Amatriciana: Bucatini comes with pancetta, onion, pecorino, and a red wine and tomato reduction sauce. The hollow pasta holds onto the flavorful sauce, while pancetta and pecorino bring the salty, hearty finish.
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La Burina: Rigatoni is served with mild Italian pork sausage, peas, mushrooms, chile flakes, and garlic cream sauce. This is the move when the craving calls for creamy pasta with big, satisfying flavor. 🍄
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Rigatoni Bolognese: Rigatoni is paired with a slow-cooked pork-and-beef meat sauce. It is a classic comfort-food order that delivers the familiar, slow-simmered richness many diners want from an Italian restaurant.
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Bruschetta Monferrina: Toasted Italian bread arrives topped with sautéed mushrooms, pancetta, pesto, parsley, and white wine. This starter brings savory depth to the table and makes a strong beginning before a pasta-focused dinner. 🥖
Atmosphere
Piazza Italia has a lively, intimate Italian trattoria feel that suits date nights, family dinners, and pasta cravings after a long day.
Soccer culture, Italian television, and personal touches throughout the room help create a setting with personality rather than a polished, generic restaurant vibe.
The energy is warm and social, making it easy to settle in with wine, good conversation, and a table full of shareable comfort food.
Bottom Line
Piazza Italia is worth visiting for hearty handmade-style pasta, beloved Italian comfort dishes, and a spirited Pearl District setting.
Come hungry for wild boar pappardelle, creamy linguine, or rich rigatoni, then stay for the wine, soccer energy, and welcoming neighborhood feel.
Address: 1129 NW Johnson St, Portland, OR 97209
📞 (503) 478-0619
🕔 Open Mon–Thu, 5 PM–9 PM | Fri, 5 PM–10 PM | Sat, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM & 5 PM–10 PM | Sun, 11:30 AM–2:30 PM & 4:30 PM–9 PM