Dining Guide

Oporto Fooding House & Wine

Weekends bustle at this Midtown spot, and the noise level can reach deafening. Never mind, couples seeking romance relish putting their heads together in its dimly lit setting with a wrap-around-the-room bar, open kitchen, and dangling rope lights. We prefer to visit at off hours, chat easily, order several small plates, and graze while enjoying the excellent wines by the glass. Don’t miss the crostini of silky house-smoked salmon draped over mashed avocado with spicy pickles. Ditto the seared scallops over a piquant cauliflower-turmeric risotto. Sadly, our basil pesto pizzette was overbaked, and the canja de galinha (Portuguese chicken soup with rice, mint, and lemon) was—yawn—boring. One dinnermate relished the unusual feijao con fideos (gigante beans and spaghetti with tomato, feta, and kale), while another deemed it too oily. Don’t pass up the flaky, buttery chicken empanadas.