A tale of two restaurants that are one: Portofino and the new Milano

HARDYSTON—It has been nearly a decade since the opening of the Portofino Restaurant on Berkshire Valley Rd. in Oak Ridge. The Jan. 23, 1997, edition of the Advertiser-News introduced area residents to this new restaurant. In that article, restaurant patrons John and Buffy Whiting reported, "We found the friendly and attentive services of the staff outstanding and the food exceptional." Over the next 12 years, Portofino created a large following of customers due to the friendly service offered by the restaurant's founding brothers, Mendy, Tony, and Mike Asani. Recently, the brothers opened a clone of their restaurant in the long-vacant Gilberto's building near the McAfee border on Route 94. The restaurant was renamed "Milano." Milano offers a wide range of lunch and dinner options, ranging from salads, to pasta, fish and meats. Like its sister restaurant, Milano does not have a liquor license. To ensure an appropriate beverage to compliment the meal, the Asani brothers invite their customers to bring their favorite beer, wine or other adult beverage to enjoy with their meal. Since the February opening, additional seating has been completed in a banquet room, the parking lot is nearing completion and decorative outside lighting has been installed to illuminate the parking lot and the restaurant's outside.