The Portofino Restaurant was opened in 1970 by Chef Sergio Micheli alone with his father Adelmo. They brought to Crystal City, for the first time, Fine Northern Italian Cuisine. Through the next three decades, Sergio and his wife Pilar welcomed thousands and thousands of guests to their award-winning restaurant.
Meet Chef
Richard Micheli
The Micheli family is from the province of Massa andCarrara, in Tuscany. Chef Sergio Micheli was raised inGenoa and the surrounding Italian Riviera region.Portofino, within Liguria, is a picturesque Italian fishingvillage and resort. It is famous for its narrow harbor andhistorical association with celebrity visitors. Theextended Micheli family still resides in northern Italy.In 1993, three generations of Micheli chefs joinedforces as their son Richard, a graduate of thefamed Culinary Institute of America, began hiswork at the Portofino. He has combined his skillsfrom Culinary School with his father’s expertise tobring to Portofino’s patrons a unique diningexperience.
