A Portofino’s Power Lunch, Phase 1‑Style

Gov. Ned Lamont and Mayor Justin Elicker took advantage of the state’s recent resumption of outdoor, sit-down dining to partake in a time-honored tradition among state Democratic politicos: a power meal at Portofino’s.

The governor and mayor were spotted picking at salads outside the Upper State Street Italian restaurant at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon, soon after leaving a press conference downtown about a pop-up Covid-19 testing site on the Green.

Unlike at that presser, which brought out over a dozen reporters, public health officials, and curious members of the public, the afternoon lunch saw Lamont and Elicker sitting alone at a two-seat table in a narrow alley tucked around the corner from the restaurant’s State Street entrance.

When this reporter arrived, Lamont was just finishing up a plate of mozzarella, tomato, and basil. Elicker’s plate was clear but for a fork, a knife, and a few drops from where a similar appetizer had once been. Keeping a safe distance, they awaited the main course both had ordered: penne alla vodka.

The reason for the meet up?

“Just getting a sense of how New Haven’s doing,” Lamont said. ​“We’re talking about other communities. We’re getting criticized for opening too fast. We’re getting criticized for opening too slow. Small towns wanted to open up yesterday. Bigger cities, maybe a little more health conscious,” wanted to open up more slowly.

The sit-down had just begun, Lamont said, and the two had plenty more still to talk about.

“We’ve got to work as a team across the state,” Elicker said. ​“No one’s going to agree on every single decision. It’s important that we work together rather than fighting each other on the small decisions, which are still significant to people.”

Lamont was asked about a new initiative to provide financial support for undocumented immigrants, which he had mentioned during the earlier press conference on the Green. Lamont said that a private philanthropy will be making $1 million worth of $300 pre-loaded debit cards available at community health centers around the state.

He said undocumented immigrants will be able to go to those clinics to meet up with a doctor, get tested for the coronavirus if they want to, and pick up one of the pre-loaded debit cards. He said the state will be issuing a formal announcement about the new program in a day or two.

“I’m not very good at keeping a secret,” he said with a smile.

As the mayor and governor continued their lunchtime talk, Portofino’s owner Alphonse DeLucia (pictured) stood on the sidewalk a few dozen feet away, wearing a mask and talking with a friend.

Former Mayor John DeStefano had finished eating lunch at Portofino’s and split a few minutes before Lamont and Elicker arrived. DeStefano dined with the rest of the executive crew at New Haven Bank. ​“It was our first time out since the first week of March,” said DeStefano, who ordered the sea bass.

“The former mayor, he always dines at Portofino’s,” DeLucia said. ​“He loves this restaurant.”

He said the restaurant is popular not just with DeStefano. ​“A lot of meetings take place here,” he noted. State Sen. Martin Looney and Democratic Town Committee Chair Vinnie Mauro, among others, are regulars.

Lamont’s no stranger either. After winning election in November 2018 but before he took office that January, Lamont ate with Nick Balletto at the Upper State Street restaurant to deliver the news that Balletto would no longer be state Democratic Party chair. 

DeLucia didn’t have any particular politico meeting memories to share Wednesday afternoon. He did confirm that his restaurant is a popular spot for local and state politicians.

“They all do a lot of meetings here.”