Porta Blu

Upscale Italian restaurant at 1029 El Camino Real with wood-fired pizza, hand-rolled pasta, fresh seafood, and an extensive Italian wine list in an elegant dining room.

Porta Blu occupies the lobby level of Hotel Nia in Menlo Park, cooking Southern Coastal European food drawn from Spain, France and Italy with seasonal California ingredients. Lemon ricotta pancakes and Dungeness crab eggs Benedict anchor the daytime menu, while dinner leans on coastal seafood and prime steaks. The name translates as blue door, which the restaurant calls a symbol of Mediterranean culture and hospitality. Seating spans a dining room, a patio and a lounge with a bar.