4. Restaurants

Nostrana

1401 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR, 97214
  • (503) 234-2427
  • Store is closed

Nostrana Menu

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  • Jon B.

    Took my girlfriend and her parents to Nostrana. Great food. My GFs parents loved it.

    (3)

  • Cathie C.

    Wonderful ambiance, great food.

    (5)

  • Brenda P.

    It's official, Nostrana is now my favorite Italian restaurant. It had stiff competition from Alba Osteria - now out of business, and Pizza Italia. But it emerged the winner in all categories, pasta, primi, secondi and dessert. My first meal at Nostrana's was with my husband and two other couples. My husband and I shared the Bistecca alla Fiorentina dry aged thirty-one days, 2-inch thick, 1 kilo Painted Hills rib steak. It is $60 and considering the amount of meat one gets, a great price! It arrived perfectly cooked, neatly sliced, on a huge platter. It was one of the best steaks I've ever had and I'm used to great steaks at places like El Gaucho, The Urban Farmer and Morton's. The bread that is served is all made in house and it is some of the best bread I've had in a restaurant. We ordered green beans which again were perfectly cooked and very tasty. However, the pasta with bolognese sauce was the star of the show. It was as good, if not better, than the same dish I've had in Italy. Unfortunately, it is only served occasionally. Luckily, the daily selection of pastas are every bit as good. One of our friends had a pizza. Since my husband's and my unfortunate experience with terrible pizza at A Pizza Scholls - soggy crust, terrible sauce, we were hesitant about any restaurant claiming to have great pizza. Nostrana DOES have great pizza. As good as the New York pizza with which my husband grew up in New Jersey. It has a crispy crust and wonderful sauce. One can not go wrong with any of the pizzas, although my favorite is the Salumi. We chose a butterscotch pudding for dessert. Sadly, it was impossible to lick clean the small glass it arrived in. Since that first dinner, my husband and I have been back multiple times for lunch as well as dinner. Everything we've had has been delicious. The service was terrific! Elizabeth, our server, was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. If you haven't tried Nostrana, I can heartily recommend it.

    (5)

  • Ronald A.

    We were in the neighborhood for an event, met some friends and decided to stop in for dinner. We got a table outside because they were full inside. This was better; it was cooler and quieter. Thursday is gnocchi night. We shared a couple of salads and then ordered three orders of gnocchi for the four of us. It felt like we had gone back to Italy. Melt in our mouth is the best way to describe the meal. We had a Gorgonzola sauce, a ragu and a pesto with baby shrimp. All different; all excellent. We had a nice fairly priced rose to wash down the meal and a melon sorbet to cleanse the pallet. Great meal; great prices; great evening.

    (5)

  • Sherry S.

    Yes I will click on that "Update my review" button.. and not just because of the star spangled banner service that we all received. It was stellar from the phone calls about my reservation, to the hostess at the front desk and finally to the awesome server. Oh my stars indeedee! I was the only lush, I mean person that drank and had a wonderful perfectly shaken (not stirred, at my request) complete with ice crystals on top dry gin martini.. On to the food! We ordered 3 of their pasta dishes and I sampled my daughter's tomato cheese pasta. Hubby and I had the radicchio caesar of course and it did not fail to be scrumptious and I think it's a "signature" salad here. We also split the smoked trout pasta which was smoking good, perfectly. Never had to ask for bread as it floated to our table without effort. This occasion was for my daughter's birthday and I know I picked the right place. We split 2 of their desserts and they brought a chicken? or a rooster? candle for her to blow out. Not sure of the significance unless it checks in with "Keeping Portland Weird" or maybe??? put a bird on it? We loved him anyway.

    (5)

  • Robert H.

    Nostrana has a small, simple and straightforward menu. That is complemented by their wine and cocktail menus, including using house-made nocino. They are known as early Portland proponents of wood fired pizza. We had the mushroom, which was light and finished with unfired arugula and pecorino. Thin crispy crust-style. Nice touch, scissors for dividing the pie. Their pizza topping combinations may seem too simple, but they are surprisingly perfect. Not swimming in cheese, mine had a lightly oil+vinegared salad on top, A fine example of what Nostrana does! The founder of Nostrana started out at Genoa in its grand era. The food here reflects that, care and quality of ingredients, but without the gravitas. Great greater and server staff. Airy high ceilings mixing modern furniture with walnut casework, and an in-view kitchen. Enough space inside for conversation, and outside seating in season without feeling crowded. Nostrano is a Portland classic you can love for a reason.

    (5)

  • Nandini M.

    Delicious Italian food in a nice and airy space. We ordered an amazing zucchini and squash pizza to share as an appetizer and it was the best of the whole meal. My ravioli entree was nice but I wasn't wowed by it. In my opinion it wasn't filling enough and the butter and wine sauce needed more oomph though the pasta was fresh. The blackberry cobbler and the butterscotch budino were also great and worth ordering again. Overall everyone at my table licked their plates clean! The menu is very diverse and changes regularly and the staff was helpful and friendly. This was my favorite meal I had in all of Portland!

    (4)

  • Amy D.

    3.5 stars but rounding up. We stopped by specifically to try their pizza, and stumbled on their late night happy hour (from 9pm until closing, which is either 10 or 11pm)! They have a special menu during this time, and you can save a couple of bucks off their pizza margherita. The restaurant was still busy when we got there at 9pm, but there were a few tables available. They also have bar seating as well as at the pizza counter, which is where we opted to sit since you can also watch them cooking all the different pizzas. We tried: -Happy Hour Charcuterie (Artisanal Meats [Proscuitto, Pork w/Peppers], Condiments [Fig Jam, Pickled Turnips, Cornichons], $5, yelp.com/user_local_phot… ): Good, but not amazing. The proscuitto wasn't more delicious than others I've had, but I enjoyed the fig jam this came with. The happy hour version is abbreviated from the main menu one, which was the perfect portion size for me. -Complimentary Bread & Focaccia ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ): Good, but they didn't give us olive oil and balsamic to dip the bread in! We would have asked, but were trying to avoid eating too much bread. Both the focaccia and bread were good. -Pizza Margherita (Tomato, Basil, House Mozzarella, $7, yelp.com/user_local_phot… ): Yum- this version was good, but the novice pizza person worked on ours, so we felt like the pizza we got wasn't quite up to the usual Nostrana standard. I liked the chewiness of the crust, but I wished there was a few more slices of cheese (although I always feel this way, I guess it's the American in me). Worth trying once though, since they stretch the crust to order, and all the ingredients seemed really fresh. My only complain is that it took FOREVER for our pizza to come out, since they got slammed right when we arrived (I'm assuming due to the happy hour starting), and the fact that they had the pizza newbie working (he was soooooo slow). However, our server was very apologetic, and came by to give us updates on when to expect our food, which was appreciated. Overall, I wasn't amazed by the food I had here, but everything I tried was solid. I would definitely come back to try additional dishes. Parking can be tough since there aren't a ton of spots available in the center they are located in.

    (4)

  • Vinnie B.

    Nostrana has been on my short list of places to eat. I am not a big fan of huge menus at restaurants. Having said that, I thought this menu was a little on the small side as far as choices. I tried the Flat Iron Steak ( medium rare as they strongly recommend), it was just OK..it is served on a bed of dandelions? I think..I also had the Chicken, this was good, it had a nice smoke flavor to it, the polenta that it is served with was a little on the pasty side for my taste. definitely better than the steak though, the best thing I tried was the Insalata Nostrana Salad.( their version of a Caesar) this was very good! Service had some misses, but recovered well. All and all I would come back for happy hour and get this salad and share a margherita pizza.

    (3)

  • Lee H.

    Thanks to a friend, I was pointed to Nostrana for their late night happy hour. In short, it's one of my favorite HH menus I've come across in my short time living in Portland. Happy hour runs from 9 p.m. to close (around 10 p.m.) every night. The menu features pizzas for $7 and $8 as well as two pasta selections and salads. Wine for $5 a glass, and a house gin and tonic or campari and soda will set you back only $5. If you go, consider going off the HH menu for dessert. The night we were there, the rotating gelato flavor was prune and armanac. Our bartender/waitress suggested we get it drizzled with chocolate sauce. One word: amazing. I'm a huge fan of butterscotch budino, and what started it all for me was my first taste of the Italian thick pudding at Mario Batali's LA restaurant, Mozza. Since then, whenever I see a butterscotch budino on a menu, I order it. Well, not only does Nostrana have budino on its dessert menu, but the recipe is from Mozza. Nostrana, you've won my heart.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    Amazing pizza and (free) bread served with olive oil for dipping. This is an upscale Italian joint, so prices are on the high side for pizza. Also, they aren't willing to do half&half pizzas and they don't like you to add or subtract from the pizzas on the menu (this isn't a "make your own pizza" kind of place). As a result, I had to have an entire pizza to myself, which is fine except for the fact that it was $17. I can't have dairy so I got the Funghi pizza without the mozzarella and it was still sooo delicious. That crust is MONEY and you get to cut your pizza with these scissors -- being able to play with your food and having it be okay is always a plus. The pizza -- very thing crust with a nice pillowy, crispy and chewy outer crust and the toppings are top notch and very well seasoned. *not gluten free friendly!

    (4)

  • Tanja O.

    Food was delicious. Patio was sublime. We got a table for 6 on a Friday night without a reservation. I had the tuna and corona beans with pickled veggies. Light, tasty and crunchy. The rest of my party had pizza. All were devoured. I love the changing menu based on the availability of ingredients. It's always fresh and new and different. And the strawberry rhubarb crisp was actually crispy and just the right amount of sweet. So delicious.

    (5)

  • Stacy C.

    I don't for a second think all of the positive reviews have it wrong. Maybe there's something wrong with me, maybe it was an off day but I wasn't moved by my experience. Love the decor, feel of the joint. Sort of classy, woodsy/warm industrial feel. Lots of windows, warm fire from the kitchen. Greeted immediately by hostess. Waitress? eh not sure what was going on there. Smoked trout birds nest something or another..nice flavors, tooo salty for this girl, liberally topped with shaved leeks (I believe) which left me one big leek the rest of the day. My friend had the soup of the day- good and the insalata salad which would easily feed two. Focaccia was excellent. Not a bad experience, I'm not flipping out saying Id never go here again etc..but eh, I've had better. I was here several ago and had a flat-iron steak I'll always remember as one of the best I've had.

    (2)

  • Allison B.

    Nostrana is fantastic! Reasonable prices and beautifully crafted dishes. Don't skip out on a woodfired pizza- it makes for a great appetizer with a few people. I had the seafood ravioli and it was Devine. I will definitely come back to Nostrana

    (5)

  • Lisa H.

    Nostrana - the short review: Step 1 - save some money up to enjoy the experience. Step 2 - get a dinner reservation. Step 3 - GO! Below is the longer and more thorough review. Ambience: We found it classy, calm and easy. The four of us were able to carry on conversation easily at our table. Many restaurants are loud when they are busy but we found Nostrana to be loud enough have enough privacy with conversation and quiet enough we didn't have to strain our voices to speak. Service: This was our first time here in YEARS and it was my favorite meal in a long time. From start to finish, it was enjoyable. The hostess, server, expo were all polite and helpful. When the General Manager stopped by he was kind, helpful and easy to talk to. Thank you all! :) We has a Sunday at 5pm reservation for 4 people and the restaurant was packed within 30 minutes of opening (at 5pm). I knew it would be busy because we didn't have many time options to get a table. Luckily for us, we desired an early dinner. We shared courses family style and it was fun to try many dishes. Round 1. We had cocktails & appetizers. $17 Funghi Verde Pizza (Description from the menu: shiitake & maitake mushrooms, house mozzarella, garlic, arugula, pecorino) This was fresh, delicious, light & thin crust made it easy to eat. $18 House charcuterie (from the menu: crispy pork trotter, lamb liver & cherry pâté chicken liver mousse, ciccioli, smoked ham albcore tuna rillettes, fried chicken hearts pickles, pear chutney) I always enjoy trying the charcuterie because it's different at each restaurant and I will get to taste something new. Round 2. We had a bottle of wine, 1 pasta, 2 veggie sides & 2 beef main courses. $18 Goat cheese stuffed pappardelle (from the menu: sage butter, roasted butternut squash) This went quick. We devoured it. Handmade pasta is my favorite! The delicate tastes of butternut squash goat cheese and sage butter melded perfectly. HIGHLIGHT: Bistecca alla Fiorentina!!! This is a lot of beef so when our server offered to have it sliced, we said yes. Good advice. I would order this with 2-3 other people to share. $75 Bistecca alla Fiorentina (beef main dish) (from the menu: dry aged thirty-one days. 2-inch thick, 1 kilo St. Helens rib steak, grilled to medium-rare, garlic-rosemary oil) Second favorite, the Tagliata, was also fabulous! I would definitely order this again. $24 Tagliata (beef main dish) (from the menu: dry aged seven days. Painted Hills flat iron steak grilled to medium-rare, sliced arugula, garlic-rosemary oil) $9 Sautéed mixed greens chili, garlic was a delicious preparation of kale. $10 Roasted Blue Truck Farm delicata squash aged balsamico was soft & savory. Round 3. We had 4 desserts & "beginner" amari flight (3 different tastes) $7 Chocolate budino was my favorite. It was rich and chocolate-y! $7 Pizzeria Mozza's Butterscotch budino was tasty and has strong butterscotch flavor and on the sweeter side. $8 Pumpkin cheesecake had australian butter pumpkin, pecan praline pecan shortbread crust, chantilly cream was light and had great textures from the crusty shortbread to the smooth cheesecake $3.5/scoop Lemon gelato was bright, fresh, light and easy to eat! The amari flight was fun and new to us. I would like to try the intermediate flight next visit. It reminded me of trying a port flight. Though obviously with different flavor.

    (5)

  • Ritu K.

    I'm on the fence about this one. It was a nice dining experience but nothing memorable. For the restaurant itself it's large, modern/rustic Italian (does that make any sense?). I liked the tall ceilings in the dining area, as it's perfect for larger groups and doesn't feel claustrophobic, but it's also pure cacophony in the restaurant. I don't mind yelling at my fellow diners, but if you're looking for a quiet meal- look elsewhere. My eyes made a beeline for the pizza, but since I'm on strike from cheese I opted for the pasta. My pasta came with rabbit and the sauce was a bit sweet for my taste. My father in law ordered the pizza which he didn't rave about. As promised in other reviews they hand you a pair of scissors to cut the pizza. The crust didn't seem very crispy and was super easy to cut through, but he didn't seem too excited with his meal. For dessert we ordered a delicious sounding rhubarb tart, which was a pure mushy mess. What a bummer that was. The only real standout for me was the cafe shakeretto- a delicious shaken coffee concoction that was pure bliss. I was instantly transported back to Rome where we discovered the amazing cafe freddo (a similarly delicious cold coffee drink). I would return alone to drink this iced coffee and highly highly recommend it. Other than that Nostrana was just meh.

    (3)

  • Mike W.

    I love Nostrana, The food, the service, the wine selection. It's amazing every time. We typically like to come in for late night happy hour pizza, salad, and a bottle of wine. If you do want to come for dinner, make sure to get a reservation. While they typically hold some tables for walk-ins, the wait is pretty long. The ambiance of Nostrana is classy but casual. Wood trimmed everything and the stone pizza over is open to the dining room. Really the only other thing I can say is that you should 100% believe all of the amazing reviews.

    (5)

  • Steven M.

    Well we made it back for my Husband's birthday, and we dragged our friends with us. I am so glad that our first visit was not a fluke. The staff continue to be pleasant and very efficient. The pasta continues to be fresh and vibrant, which is very important to me in an authentic Italian restaurant. We did try the wood fired pizza - lovely and perfectly cooked with a crisp crust and wonderful fresh mozzarella. The only sour note of the night was the chicken - it was over and dry, but still edible. The flat iron steak was the winner of the night. The menu is updated daily and so is constantly changing for the seasons. Love that! The cocktails are very nice, and one of the best whiskey drinks I have had in a while - try the Bofovum. The panna cota was out df this world - a definite must. Food: 38/40 - chicken dragged it down Staff/Service: 19/20 Vibe/Decor/Atmosphere: 19/20 Value: 19/20 - a little spendy on the alcohol Total: 95/100

    (5)

  • Jaila C.

    The scallop appetizer was divine. I've also enjoyed the Diavola pizza and pork chop here. That said, during my last visit, for the price and generally good word on the block for Nostranas, my expectations were not met. They skimped on the wine, the staff were pleasant but not attentive. I had the salmon, which was cooked nicely but nothing out of this world and the vegetables served with it were not tasty at all - absent lobster mushrooms and the sautéed spinach was bitter and gross. Nothing special. Overall, it's a bit of a hit or miss here!

    (3)

  • Msc C.

    The charcuterie was creative and very good. I loved the fresh clams and garlic on the pizza. The service was 5 star!

    (4)

  • Kamryn C.

    I came here for dinner on my last night in Portland, and was overall impressed. The wine list is solid, and the prices are reasonable. The restaurant gives you complimentary bread to start, and continued to provide more as we ate our weight in carbs. We started with burrata and zucchini carpaccio, and as always, it's hard to go wrong with burrata. I had pasta with a red pepper sauce and accentuated with creamy goat cheese for my main dish. The flavors were light, which was perfect for the warm almost-summer night. The menu changes often to reflect seasonal changes, and the restaurant offers a nice, modern twist on traditional Italian food.

    (4)

  • Lauren B.

    I loved my meal at Nostrana. I was there on a Monday and it was very busy but the service was great and the staff was all over the top friendly. We got the margarita pizza to share 5 ways and it was the best pizza I have ever had. I highly recommend saying yes to sprinkling sea salt on top of the pizza. For the main course, 3 of us got the spaghetti and meatballs and 2 of us got the shrimp ravioli. Everyone was highly satisfied with there meal. For dessert, we shared 3 things- the blueberry cheesecake, the butterscotch pudding with a salted top and the berry crumble. All over the top delicious. We left the restaurant very happy and with overly full tummies. Go to this restaurant!!

    (5)

  • Celia T.

    My friends and I were in town for the Wizard-world comic-convention. We wanted to eat someplace nice and quiet since we had been around florescent and millions of people all day. So I pulled up yelp and started poking around for a nice place to dine. Nostrana popped up, and it didn't disappoint. We were bit worried because we weren't exactly dressed up to eat somewhere nice, but we were treated very well. And the food was filling, a bit rich in some cases. I think my favorite thing about the place was their pizza. We had a plain one, which was just sauce and slices of roasted garlic. You actually sliced the thing yourself, with scissors which is pretty cool. So I'd give this place a try again when I'm not blowing all my money on stuff from comic-con.

    (4)

  • Georgie K.

    Back to Nostrana after a meh-average experience compared to how it usually is. It was just as it always has been, wonderful. Our waitress was perfect, food was delectable, sublime and amazing and we did not want for a thing all night. The last time must of just been a bad night and a sub par waiter. Look forward to our next time!

    (5)

  • Debbie B.

    I love the atmosphere at Nostrana. Comfortable and welcoming dark woods and accents make it feel cozy. Our server was friendly and knowledgable. Looks like it has a good bar and nice wine selections. We just had a short lunch. I ordered a roasted chicken with spicy onion relish on polenta with roasted turnips. The skin on the chicken was nice and crispy, as was the polenta. I liked it. All in all though, the plate and flavors could have used a spot of color and freshness. There wasn't much of a flavor profile and it was a bit salty. A small bunch of greens or colorful fruit veggies would have helped. My dining partners had meatball paninas and they were awesome. Much deliciousness in the bites they shared with me. Definitely want to return here to try some other dishes and the pizza.

    (4)

  • Heather C.

    My boyfriend and I wanted to eat Italian food and saw Nostrana had great reviews, so we decided to go. Their menu changes everyday. From today's menu we decided to get the Insalata Nostrana to start things off with. It was very good decision. For entrees I decided to get the Funghi Verde pizza which was fresh and light. My boyfriend had the Worden Hill Farm Pork Chops. He said they were very good and I loved the collard greens and binge potatoes. This is not a typical Italian restaurant where you get pasta and salad. I think it's great to support local restaurants when eating out and this place was very good, and worth checking out. Our waitress T-bird was very knowledgable and let us know all about the menu.

    (5)

  • Nick T.

    Nice place my girlfriend found this place at 930pm looking some where to eat that we both never had been before and in the area! Great food good prices. Soda isn't refillable only in glass bottles. Lemonade was very good but not refillable as well which was kinda weak. Food overall was very good! 4.5stars

    (4)

  • ari g.

    Sometimes you are just glad that something was created. A song, a painting or in this case, the Diavalo pizza topped with arugula. It may be worth your soul.

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    We enjoyed our meal here. My husband had pizza and I had a pasta dish recommended by our server. We were both happy with our choices. The place has nice decor and vibe. We'd stop by again when in the area.

    (4)

  • Jo R.

    I love the food, but it's always so loud here! I've been coming to Nostrana for at least 10 years, and it's always been loud. Service wavers. It can be really slow, and the hosts can be snotty. But, there's a great bar, nice wine, and delicious food. Sigh. The things I do to eat well (like putting up with crowded parking, slow service and shockingly loud dining rooms). The reward? Great, classic Italian pizzas, good pastas, delicious appetizers (fonduta please). Happy hour is good too, if you can get a seat and stand the wait.

    (3)

  • Kelsey M.

    You can't help but finish the whole pizza. SO delish. The Ensalata Nostrana is so unique - one of my favorites! One of the best Happy Hours in Portland - I prefer the 9-close for a late dinner/snack.

    (5)

  • Rachael M.

    I shouldn't be surprised that a nice Italian restaurant would have amazing capellini in red sauce, but I couldn't believe how incredible it actually was when I ordered it! I expected it to be great, and it was excellent. I will be back!

    (5)

  • Rahima C.

    I can't get enough of this place! Perfection in a restaurant: the energy is great, the food is out of this world and I introduce a new friend to this place at least once a month. The French 75 is the best in the city. The Nostrana salad tingles my tastebuds, the pizzas are on par with Italy! My only wish is that Nostrana would carry some Walla Walla Reds! These "rib eye in a glass" deep reds would round out the flavors in the food so well!! I'll enjoy your Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo until then. :) My husband and I visit Nostrana at least once every other week. We seriously cannot get enough. It gets busy so plan in advance!

    (5)

  • Emily H.

    We dined here for a holiday event with my husband's work group. There were eight of us, and they had pre-arranged a set menu with select choices from the full menu. My husband and I started by sharing a wine flight, "Winter Bubbles", a trio of wines from Italy. We love sparkling wine, and this didn't disappoint. Our table also ordered two bottles each of two different wines to share, a red and a white. For the meal, the table was served two different salads family style. The insalata mista and the insalata nostrana. Both were fresh and delicious. They also served two kinds of artisan bread with olive oil during this course. Excellent quality as expected. Next they served two pizzas, a Margherita and a Salumi. I do wish they would have cut these into more appetizer sized slices though because we still had our entree courses to come! Or maybe I should have asked for slicing scissors as it sounds is the usual presentation? They were both good, and I probably could have stopped then and left satisfied. For the entree I had sturgeon with sautéed greens and mushrooms and mashed potatoes. The server let me substitute mashed potatoes for the usual polenta served with it since I don't care for polenta. I appreciated the flexibility there. The entree sides were flavorful, but also quite rich with butter and olive oil. The fish was prepared well, tender and flaky. My husband had the tagliata steak. It was tasty, but the presentation (served on simple arugula leaves) was a bit too simple for his liking. He was eyeing the sides that came with my entree. So of course I let him share some of mine. For dessert, my husband and I selected two different things to share. The butterscotch budino, which was served in a cup. And the chocolate budino, which was served like a wedge of mousse cake with whipped cream on the side. I'm usually satisfied with just a few bites of dessert by the end of a big meal, so I didn't eat much of it. But they were delicious as expected. I also had the house coffee which was fresh and bold. All in all, I'm glad we had the chance to dine here. It was a very pleasant evening.

    (4)

  • Janice K.

    It's one of my favorite restaurants to go to in Portland. I've been here several times for dinner either for special events, with friends or just because. I love the atmosphere! The restaurant has high ceilings, large windows with a rustic feel to it. People usually come slightly dressed up but it's still very casual at the same time. Their known for their wood burning pizzas and wines!

    (4)

  • Julia M.

    Great service . Fish Friday got the calamari pasta and rotis chicken and butterscotch pudding . Have no complaints what so ever. Cool rustic dim lit atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Ahran J.

    I usually don't give five stars. I base my reviews on how the food quality matches the price. 5 stars mean the food quality far exceeds the price. Try GNOCCI, PORK SHOULDER, PIZZAS, and CRISPS. the clam gnocci was fabulous. I am very strict on gnocci, and I would revisit for it. the pork shoulder also was cooked on point, the sauce was flavorful, and the veggies that came with it were also cooked wonderfully. The pizzas, too, were great. I had three slices with gnocci and pork shoulder ( how am i not over weight thank god) the black berry crisp was heavenly. I cant wait till the apple crisp is on the menu since I heard it is super.

    (5)

  • Marna G.

    Ok - let's just get it right out there. I know I'm going to be crucified because I'm not screaming from the rooftops how wonderful Nostrana was. And I truly doubt that my review will be shown on the front pages of yelp- that's A-okay! On to reviewing - Maybe it's because this restaurant had been talked up to me so much that the expectation and anticipation for me was way more than what the restaurant delivered- I don't know. I know it didn't help that anytime I attempted to make a reservation those answering the phone were on this side of rude. That's always a bummer. I know it's a popular restaurant. I know it's gotten most booked in Portland. I get all of that. But what I don't think the restaurant understands is the people answering the phone are your frontline - it's the restaurants first public impression, and if those booking tables aren't hospitable and kind that can leave a sour taste in the mouths of many. Secondly - I might be wrong, but I think because of the high ceilings the restaurant is really loud. If it hadn't been so incredibly hot outside I think we would've sat outside maybe? So I don't think I would be attempting to have a romantic meal there- you have to raise your voice over the din to talk. I also felt as high-end as this restaurant was the chair should've been more than cafeteria chairs. They were super uncomfortable. Our server was delightful - she explained the menu and we asked her opinion on appetizers and we ordered: the House Charcuterie which included: grappa lox, vin santo pâté, ciccioli, smoked ham albacore tuna pâté, duck prosciutto, pickles crispy pork trotter, blackberry mostarda Maybe I was having an off night but it was okay. I have had better. I think what I should've ordered and I didn't against my better judgment- no in Fondo Salumi. My thinking is that I would've enjoyed that much better. Myself I really wanted a salad and I heard nothing but rave reviews about their salads so I went on to order their Insalata Mista what again was okay - it was greens served in a big bowl and I wasn't sure if I should eat my salad out of that entire big bowl or if I should put it on my plate. It was awkward. Some of us ordered pasta and some of us ordered beef I ordered -the Worden Hill Farm Overnight Braised Pork Calais flint polenta, braised Kingfisher mixed greens pancetta, roasted scallion. And it was nice. Next time I will give the pizza try I hear that's great. I will give props for the desert - the Pizzeria Mozza's butterscotch budino was superb. Out of this world superb. The wine was nice. Of course it was incredibly spendy:) but then what restaurant that that is as hot as Nostrana is written about isn't! Right? Will I be back - yes family wants to try it and we will be back soon.

    (3)

  • Brittny B.

    Exceptional food and exceptional service! Our male bartender/waiter was great and very knowledgeable. I definitely recommend this as a must try!!

    (5)

  • G T.

    The comp bread is good. The $5 house salad is good. I gave it 1 star because the fettuccine sauce was way too spicy. Tasting the sauce itself was so spicy I drank the jug of water. Nowhere on the menu indicated spicy. I usually know to ask if it's spicy at restaurants but I didn't expect full blown hot sauce in my pasta. The other thing was that the waitress didn't apologize or provide any remedy. She just asked "is it too spicy for you?" The menu indicated the tomato sauce it used. I googled it to see if it was a spicy sauce, but I couldn't even find that exact sauce on the first page of the google search. I don't think restaurants should expect their customers to have to research on their own to know it's spicy.

    (1)

  • Rebecca C.

    Great food great wine and awesome place to take family when they are visiting from out of town. Its a bit speedy but the food quality and service are impeccable. Love the rustic feel even tho it's new construction. Good times love this place.

    (5)

  • Katherine M.

    Everything tasty, not a bad dish. We all sampled each others' food choices which included pasta, steak, chicken and fish. What was most impressive were the vegetables and how they were cooked...really excellent. The salad was exceptional too. The noise was pretty penetrating.

    (5)

  • Heather F.

    I guess I never got past the fact that I was sitting in a plastic chair overlooking a parking lot. It was a gorgeous summer evening and sitting inside would have been sinful, but the plaza location seriously detracted from my experience. I tried to ignore it, and I thought a glass of wine would do the trick. Unfortunately, glasses range from $8 to $16, which is way more than I wanted to pay. Again, I'm in a plaza, not overlooking a vineyard. So I ordered one of the only two beers on draft (I know it's an Italian restaurant, but come on, we're in Portland!) and that was that. The table bread was wonderful, as was the radicchio salad. We ordered the diavola pizza, which was very good, but not necessarily fantastic. I probably should have went for the margarita instead since it's a bit more affordable ($12 compared to $16). Overall I think I can find better pizza elsewhere, definitely better drink menus, and absolutely a better atmosphere. It wasn't completely horrible, but I doubt I'll be back.

    (3)

  • Gerald K.

    One of Portland's best Italian restaurants! In the top 3 and all are 5 star! Had a spectacular dinner last night! The Insalata Nostrana is excellent.....a radicchio salad. Thursday is Gnocchi night! If you have a soft spot for gnocchi like I do you owe it to yourself to go next Thursday! Gnocchi is taken to an art form here......little fluffy pillows of yum! The other main course was a flat iron steak sliced served over arugula with EVO. It was simple and amazing!

    (5)

  • Tim P.

    Best...Old Fashioned...ever! 32 different restaurants and "cocktail boutiques" to find the perfect drink and this place is 3 dashes above the rest! Wow! If you're a fan of the classic, and I mean "classic", then stop searching and order here. They gave me the recipe, I bought the materials to-the-letter and made my own...amazing!!!!! These folks know how to do it right. Congrats Nostrana! Oh yeah, the food is incredible as well!

    (5)

  • Alice F.

    First off im rating this 2 stars cause my friends and family liked the food (I did not like mine). Was a good environment if you like loud rooms and judging staff. We were a group of 4. Our waitress was HORRIBLY rude (I do not feel comfortable saying her name on here). I just think if you are gonna spend $400 on a dinner for 4 people you should not be talked down too. I am a very shy person and all 4 of us admitted we were uncomfortable the whole LONG dinner.

    (2)

  • Hulk I.

    I was disappointed with the pizza. We ordered the margherita pizza with prosciutto. The sauce was too salty and over powering. I couldn't taste anything in the pizza. We think the prosciutto was too thin and a bit over cooked. Thick cut would have been better. Not enough cheese and the crust was too soggy. We also got the rotisserie chicken, that was excellent. The waiter were great and polite. The food just wasn't good enough. Oven and shaker does a better pizza. There prosciutto is cut better there.

    (3)

  • Tim F.

    I've only been there for HH and it's a perfect place for that. Good pizza, excellent bread with olive oil.

    (4)

  • Peter P.

    FRESH lemonade, which I liked mine since it was sour to the max (I like my lemonade more sour than sweet, kudos) and the chef's pizza recommendation was impeccable. Olives were a bit tad saltier than what I'm used to but hey, that's olives for you. Great vibe, great food, great drinks, what's not to love?

    (4)

  • Jackie B.

    I really do not understand the hype. We came here for happy hour (9 PM) because we heard it was the best in town. When we got there on time, we still had to wait a while for our table. It wasn't so bad - we had a chance to chit-chat with two other groups that we saw there that we had ran into earlier in the week at other restaurants. When we were finally seated, we were seated RIGHT by the door even though there were several other open tables. Since I am from Arizona and it was cold and rainy that day, I was hoping for a warm fire or something to make me feel more cozy; however, it was a little bit dark and COLD in the restaurant. I kept a down coat on and was still chilly for the entire meal. The waitress that we were given acted like she could have cared less about helping us. She seemed annoyed at any question and pretty much ignored us most of the night. For starters, we ordered the margherita pizza and a salad from the happy hour menu. These were both pretty good. For a main course, my boyfriend ordered some fish/pasta dish (can't remember which kind, maybe sturgeon?) and I ordered the mac n cheese from the happy hour menu. Mine was about 1/4 of the price and better. The fish in the pasta really overpowered the dish. Also, the pasta appeared overcooked and was limp and soggy. Our friends ordered a different pizza and pasta dish (both with meat, so I abstained) and a bottle of wine. The wine may have been the best part of the meal! I'm not sure this restaurant is worth the cab ride from downtown. They seemed pretentious and simply didn't seem to care if we had a good experience. Perhaps try off-peak hours to see if that gives you a better experience.

    (3)

  • Sunita S.

    We came here on a Monday night for my husband's birthday. I have had better and quicker service at a busier restaurant on a Friday night than I did here on a Monday night. It took 20 mins for someone to notice us and come wait on our table. By this time we were so hungry that we placed our entire drinks and food order at once with the hope that this would make things faster. The food was very mediocre for such a highly rated restaurant. There was absolutely no flavor in the food and the marinara sauce looked like pureed tomatoes.

    (2)

  • Ali S.

    My husband and I just visited Nostrana for the first time (with another couple) and we were very pleased. The service was great, our table was ready and waiting for us (we had reservations), and the food was worth every penny. The cheese and meat plates were very well designed. Con: We went on a weeknight and the parking wasn't great. I can't imagine what it's like on a weekend! There are some empty lots just up the street, so, in a pinch, you could park there.

    (4)

  • Natalie H.

    Fantastic pizza and pasta. Wonderful wine selection. Instead of two glasses, my fiancé and I wanted to purchase a bottle but our server was scarce and 20 min to order drinks made us change our mind. Our server's presence was minimal throughout our meal. So minimal, that when molded cauliflower showed up in our salad another server addressed the issue in his stead (that server, whomever he was, was fantastic for the few moments we interacted with him). Our original server showed up 5 min after the salad had been removed from our table and bill completely unaware of any problems. Maybe that's a sign that quality checking needs to be more frequent and communication more robust. The food was delicious, I think we just got stuck with a disinterested server as it seems other tables received more personable and timely service. Service needs to keep up with the spectacular food PDX has to offer! It's a shame that it doesn't.

    (3)

  • Kane K.

    I only give it 3.5 stars because of the cool setting inside. The waiter/ waitress were awesome and very kind The food .... Ehhh I got the fettuccine pasta (salty) sauce was bland . The meatballs were good had a kick to it. The pizza was good ! Just giving it 3.5 stars because of the inside decor / the serves

    (3)

  • Toby P.

    I visited Nostrana for the first time with a business associate who suggested it for lunch. There's no doubt that the pizza and bread from the wood fired oven are very good. However, I found the other items we ordered fairly underwhelming. We had the Gnocchi with Mussels, which was totally ordinary and didn't look good on the plate. We also had a salad, which though fairly good, lacked any kind of artistry in the presentation. For a restaurant with James Beard accreditation, you would be inclined to expect more.

    (3)

  • Tiffany M.

    Went here this past Friday night and having having no expectations, was pleasantly surprised. The happy hour menu was great and very affordable, although after having tried their food, I wouldn't hesitate to pay full price. The radicchio salad was unexpectedly tasty and fresh, as was the pizza ingredients. The bartender made drinks well and was attentive if not overly friendly but considering that it was pretty busy that was not a problem at all. Planning to update my review to either a 3 or 5 star rating after visiting once more and trying more of the menu.

    (4)

  • Ryan Y.

    First, they messed up our reservation. We called to change our reservation from 6 to 10 people. When we got there, they said they still had our reservation for 6. The hostess acted like she couldn't accommodate us. Guess what? When the manager got involved, out of nowhere, empty tables opened and they could seat us. The server was a bit pretentious when it came to the wine selection. I would expect this in the Pearl, but not in SE. The appetizers were overpriced with little portions. I would not recommend the cheeze platter or charcutterie. I ordered the sausage pizza. It was good, but not great. While it's supposed to be gimmicky, it was so annoying to cut my own pizza with tiny little scissors. I have medium size hands and the scissors were like kids scissors. The tiramisu was good, but not great. As many of stated, it's mediocre. If you take the price out of the equation, it's a good place. You add the price, I would never go there again. There are so many better Italian places in Portland.

    (3)

  • scott l.

    One of the best places in town

    (5)

  • McKenzie M.

    This is place is nothing if not Italian- high-ceilinged dining room, beautiful bar, view into the bustling kitchen, soft butter yellow lighting, pictures of bucolic villages lining the walls, and some five-star food. It reminds me a lot of Lucca on Fremont, but just a hair better. What's impressive about the food is the attention to the details. Even the olive oil that comes with the bread basket is notable. The radicchio in the Insalata Nostrana is easy to eat with the leaves cut into bite-size pieces, and dressed well, with the right crouton/salad ration. It's a little creamy, a little bitter, and a little crunch. It's awesome. The pizzas are the star of the show here: chewy and crisp thin crust, tomato sauce with just a touch of sweetness, and rich in-house mozzarella with some serious flavor. It's fine dining pizza, which has an appeal of its own. I did try the tiramisu, and it was very good but not the best ever. The cake was spongy in a delightful way and the main flavor was cream, with the chocolate and coffee more like complimentary flavors as opposed to the key players. That said, it has the complete package and is definitely worth five stars.

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    I found a new favorite place! Another one of those places that I've had bookmarked for a really long time and I wish I came here earlier. Nice ambiance with good food and service. MUSHROOM & VERMOUTH SOUP ($9) : Lots of mushrooms including hedgehog, black trumpet, cardoncello, and shiitake. Very strong, rich mushroom flavor which is what I was looking for. Nice start to the meal because it was a broth base so it was quite light. PIZZE FUNGHI VERDE ($17) : This was my favorite dish. Their pizza is really good and next time I'm here I'll order pizza for my entree. Crust was thin but chewy with a perfect amount of toppings. This came with shiitake and maitake mushrooms, house mozzarella, garlic, arugula, and pecorino cheese. Great combination of flavors. PAGLIA E FIENO PASTA ($18) : Spinach and egg fettuccine with smoked sturgeon, spinach, shallot, crab cream, and white wine sauce. I only had a bite of this but really enjoyed it. Pasta was cooked well and I liked how the cream sauce was not too heavy. GRILLED IDAHO STURGEON ($28) : I love ordering fish so I had to try this dish. The grilled Sturgeon was just a little rare for my taste though. It was served with roasted brussel sprouts and polenta which I think I actually enjoyed more than the fish.

    (4)

  • Vanessa M.

    Chef Cathy nails the food here. We sat at the bar, and the "mixologist" was great! So many drinks to choose from that are all made with care and special mixes. We got a few pizzas for the table as well as salad and all were fantastic that we had no leftovers even though we over ordered. The Funghi Verde was my absolute favorite! She keeps getting nominated for a James Beard award and she deserve to win!

    (4)

  • Louis L.

    This is one of my go to places in Portland. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly for our 7:00 reservation. It was Tuesday and the place was filled, for good reason. We were able to hold a conversation in spite of the noise level, which to me represents good vibes and energy. Our server was friendly and professional. We went with old standbys: sharing the radicchio salad and margherita pizza. For main entrees, salmon (with sauteed greens) and tagliata (flatiron steak on arugula). The salad and pizza were good as expected. The entrees were simply superb; the salmon moist and delicate, the steak was tender and flavorful. Normally we go with the bistecca Florentina but this is equally excellent. If you have a larger party, do go for the bistecca, you can't go wrong. We opted for champagne, coffee and dessert elsewhere to round out the enjoyable evening.

    (4)

  • Daisy D.

    We love the food at nostrana. However, we went recently and it was so hot!!! It felt like we were in an oven! There is no ac or even air circulating. I would avoid going until they fix this.

    (3)

  • Joe D.

    Nostrana is home to the best salad in town. (Insalata nostrana) The wood fired pizzas are delicious. The menu changes a lot which is nice. The pasta dishes are tasty but not too extravagant. The bisteca florentine is a delicious and always perfectly grilled medium rare steak. The deserts are great. I enjoy the wine selection as well as the always tentative service. Nostrana is one of portland's well known gems. Reservations are always a good idea. It's one of my absolute favorite restaurants. Many Portland foodies agree!!

    (5)

  • Dalia K.

    Kale salad, gnocchi and pizzas were one of the best we've ever had. The restaurant decor and ambiance was simple yet intriguing. Servers were hardworking and helpful. The menu was limited but at the end of our meal I realized it had to be because they've mastered all the items. Good job!

    (5)

  • Maria I.

    Big disappointment tonight. Nostrana is one of our favorite places to go for pizza but tonight, Sunday, since we had no reservation, althought we were told we could sit outside first come first serve basis, we were turned away with four or five available tables outside.... Simply because it was just the two of us and the free tables are for four or more customers.... Even there were not any yet! Big dissappontment with customer service. Obviously our bill for two does not matter to Nostrana anymore! Beware, should you have a spontaneous desire to eat there and it's just the two of you...

    (1)

  • Lyndsea M.

    Amazing food. Fantastic service. Fair prices. The pasta was the best I'd had. I don't remember the name, but it was angel hair pasta in a lemon creme sauce with fresh clams and spinach. I over ate a little because I didn't want something so delicious go to waste. To drink I had a "Don't Call Me Shirley". It was both delicious and funny. The service was fantastic. I would put down my fork after the last bite and they would be right there to take my plate away. Same thing with drink refills. And I was sitting outside. The staff was very professional and super nice. I would definitely go there again.

    (4)

  • Bartek K.

    I expected a 4 and got a 5. Sat at the bar and had a full dinner with drinks. The gnocchi aren't worth getting but the Tagliata steak was fantastic and the pizzas looked perfect. It seemed to be by far the most popular thing coming out of the kitchen. You're probably going to drop $100 for two on a nice romantic dinner.

    (5)

  • Tim S.

    Bruschetta is amazing as is the cannelloni and tuna salad. Bottle of Ciacci Brunello

    (4)

  • Duane P.

    This is the first lunch out we have had in awhile as we seem always seem to do breakfast/brunch or dinner. I had been to Nostrana a couple of times but it was a long time ago. What was I waiting so long for in between was the question I was asking my self after this great experience? We arrived about 1 and had no wait. I love to sit in front of the pizza oven and watch the chef do pizza and watch the others work the hot and cold stations. The service was spot on. I like the carafe of water they leave with you. We ordered the "Insalata Nostrana" salad made with Radiccio and the "Diavola" pizza made with spicy sausage and provolone. Both were outstanding. Along with it was their house bread and olive oil for dipping. My fiance' is Italian and she hadn't had uncut pizza in Portland and neither had I. Overall it was a great experience and you can bet it won't be so long in between until the next time we visit.

    (5)

  • Leanna O.

    First visit for us. I would give this place give stars except for the very very small portions. The food was amazing I has the goat cheese pasta which was the best pasta I have ever had. My husband had the Sturgeon and loved it. Our friends both got a pizza which they were very good sized so it was just the entrees that are small. Also the appetizer was not big enough for 4 to share maybe more for 2 people. Our waitress was not overly friendly but that does not bother me but I know some people like a friendly waitress out was a bit snobby.

    (4)

  • Olivia C.

    Really great food Nice staff.

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    Love the menu, the pizza is fabulous. Great atmosphere, large dining space, but still feels intimate. Doesn't get too loud. Wish they had a little more selection of wine by the glass. Great bar area that is part of the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    Had dinner with the parents here last Wednesday after work. We arrived at around 5:30pm and there was no wait at all. Dad and I started out with some wine, both were delicious (he had a white, I had a red). Our server was very friendly and patient. We started with a garden salad, with fresh lettuce, cauliflower, carrots and radishes. You dress the salad yourself, which is nice- allows you to control how salty and how light or heavy. The one salad was plenty to share between the three of us. Parents shared the charcuterie board, which they both enjoyed. For the main course, we shared the pappardelle (omg, like a dessert pasta, it was so good), a margherita pizza done just the way I have had in Naples, and the carrots. Everything was so good, and more than the three of us could handle (but we wanted to try it all!). Before we stuffed ourselves to the brim, we ordered dessert- the butterscotch budino and tiramisu. Both were damn good. I'm a tiramisu snob, so this is saying quite a bit. I highly recommend this restaurant- perfect for a date, for friends, or for family.

    (5)

  • Curtis C.

    Went back the other night with a party of six, and received some pretty poor service. I was really looking forward to dinner, as I had a great experience my first time. The place wasn't even packed, but it took a good ten minutes after being seated to get water, followed by another ten minutes to even order drinks. I don't think we had cocktails until about 30-40 minutes after being seated... That's pretty lame. Same story with the food, with one exception being the salad. Everything else took forever. When we would ask the server about the delay we got a bit of attitude as though he was put off by us asking where our food and drinks were. Even an espresso at the end of the meal took about 15 minutes to arrive, and by that time we were all ready to go. Luckily we were comped for the espresso, but after that experience, I'm hesitant to return or recommend this place to others. I thought at first it was just me, as I can be somewhat demanding, but when discussing the meal with my friends later, they were all in agreement about the attitude and slow service. Oh, and the desert was still so sweet that it could cause sugar-shock! I tried to warn my friend, but she was undeterred. After she tried a bite, her only comment was "you told me so".

    (2)

  • Stacey D.

    Delicious!

    (4)

  • Stacy Z.

    Had dinner with a group of friends here on NYE, and it was fabulous! Our waitress, wish I had gotten her name (short blond kind of curly hair) was sooo nice, and took all of our questions and silly requests in stride. Especially for it being NYE when most probably dont want to be working she was the nicest. But on to the food. We ordered meat and cheese boards off the dinner menu, as there were a lot of us sharing. They were both delicious, the meat board had a lot of types of meat I don't normally see on the typical charcuterie tray. The cheese board was tasty, but a little small for the price, but I'm a pig, so.... the bread and olive oil were perfect. oh, and the salad. YUM! I'm a pizza fanatic, and the happy hour margherita pizza was soo tasty. The crust was thin, a little chewy the way I like it, with just the right amount of sauce and cheese. Lastly, we had the bucatini pasta, a nice thick al dente noodle, with a light sauce and sausage, delicous as well. Sadly we didnt have room for dessert, guess I'll just have to go back. All in all I thought it was a great meal, great atmosphere, great service, and really nice of them to actually offer a regular menu PLUS happy hour on NYE, when most restaurants were only offering price fixe menus. So, thank you Nostrana for a lovely way to kick of the New Years Eve festivities!

    (5)

  • G C.

    Maybe the best garden salad ever. Arugula with shaved parm with a lemony but not tart dressing. I'd come back for that alone .

    (4)

  • Sophia G.

    I can't speak for anything else on their menu, but their pizza is out of this world! I've tried the Diavola, Alla fiamma, and the Bandiera and they were all amazing. I can't decide if the Bandiera (arugula on pizza is a must, occasionally) or the Diavola (spicy!!! and those peppers were great!) were better. Go and get a few to share. As for the restaurant, itself, the interior is dim and quiet, giving the place a romantic atmosphere. The old Italian photos blown up on the wall and the decor mix old and new perfectly. The best part was that we didn't need a reservation for 4 on a Thursday evening, and we were seated right away. Love the place. Hope to return some day.

    (4)

  • S C.

    Living in Oregon, I sometimes forget how great our dining is. And it's places like Nostrana that always make me remember the great gift of Portland food. I started with the Insalata Nostrana which was one of the best salads I've ever had. The freshness, lightness, and bitter undertones of the radicchio were complemented so well by the tanginess of the great Caesar-style dressing. My family and I also had the Salumi pizza which was excellent! The pizza dough was also one of the best I've ever had! We all had pastas, except for my dad who went with the lamb chops. Needless to say, we were all thoroughly content with our entrees. To add to our satisfaction and pleasure...DESSERT. I had the Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Tart, which was by far the best dessert I've had in a while. My family members went with the Lemon blueberry tart, panna cotta, and Tiramisu...all were great but nothing that special. Mine definitely was! Wrapping it up - one of the best dining experiences I've had in my 18 years in Portland, Oregon. Oh and get the house made blueberry orange soda, you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Brandi M.

    Love Nostrana.

    (4)

  • Nancy L.

    Lovely Oregon wine flight. Delicious fresh Italian country bread. Beautiful room. Tiny portions and that's coming from someone who's lived and eaten in NYC for 10 years. My seven year old who is under 50 pounds ate the entire salmon entree by herself! Everything except the shiitake soup was too salty. The goat cheese pappardelle was good but about a dozen bites. The server was so so. He was a little snide probably because we had kids in the party but since my kids each ate an entree what's the big deal? The hostess was wonderful.

    (3)

  • Keith A.

    oooooooo baby nostrana was awesome. My friend and I wanted a place to open up some old bottles of barolo and this is where we were pointed to. Now, I should note that they do have corkage here, so no, it wasn't free byo by us. Looking at the wine list, I almost wished we didn't bring our bottles, sorry, who am I kidding, I was dead glad we brought our bottles. But, still this was a great wine list that was absolutely perfect for the menu. It was almost all italian wines as it should be, and they covered many different regions in italy. I should've written down everything, but my friend and I were ordering up lots of different dishes. We made sure to get the pizza as a starter. This was some utterly amazing pizza and I loved that it was hand made. great sauce, but even more, great crust. We got the diavola because we knew we needed some proteins for the bottles we brought. I also remember us getting some linguine with clams and white sauce that was just completely spot on in every single way. I should also note, the olive oil that they had with the bread was so beautifully pure and really some of the best olive oil I've had. I would've loved to have had that all night. The service was absolutely fantastic as well. Along with the food being tremendous, we were always checked in on. It was definitely busy as it was a friday night and in full force, but that didn't effect the service at all. I can't wait to go back here the next time I'm in portland.

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    I've reviewed Nostrana before and have always really, really liked the food. I still really, really like the food; however I've had to downgrade the stars I give this restaurant because the service has gone downhill and continues to do so. Tonight I had dinner at Nostrana's with a friend. The server assigned to us had waited on us at least three times previously yet pretended she had never seen us. Our steak took an hour and a half to get to our table and our vegetable dish was completely forgotten. We had to remind the server about the vegetables and then they arrived cold. The servers, with the exception of the bus gal, seem to believe they are doing us, the customers, a HUGE favor by waiting on us. The manager is aloof and unfriendly; so while I do like the food, there are plenty of other Italian restaurants in Portland where the food is great and the service is great as well. I really hope that management reads some of these reviews and makes changes accordingly.

    (2)

  • Jim C.

    This is a very good but not outstanding Italian restaurant. We loved the delicious bread and the quality of the olive oil was exceptional. The pizza is very good by American standards but not perfect. The crust was excellent as was the tomato sauce but the cheese was not as good as others that we have had at pizzerias that claim to serve the true Napolitana pizza. The pasta was very good but I would give it a B- rather than an A. What irked us was the complete inflexibility. When we asked for any slight variation on our meal, our erstwhile waitress would run back to the kitchen only to be rebuffed. We live in Italy most of the year and any great Italian chef can whip up a tomato sauce that would blow you away without hesitation--not here. "No we prepare our sauces in advance and can't separate the meat balls from the marinara sauce". "No, we can't take the spinach out of the baked rigatoni." I realize that our family is not easy to feed, but truly great chefs can prepare anything with talent and imagination and love to test their skill with special requests. That's why I give Nostrana a B- and reserve the A for real Italians like Gaetano (Lo Coco) in Berkeley, Giovanni (Andreoli's Italian Grocer) in Scottsdale and Valter in Salt Lake City (Valter's Osteria).

    (3)

  • Stephanie B.

    This place actually deserves a 4.5 but because that's not an option, I'll go with the 4. So here's the deal: really good Italian food and wine but not "blow me away good" Italian food. We sat outside (yay - the weather was perfection), ordered two pastas and a pizza. All three dishes were absolutely delicious, service was great, but again, not a meal I'll remember forever, so can't give it the full 5!

    (4)

  • Elaine S.

    Food is consistently good, however, today they gave me about 5 bites of rotisserie chicken and still charged $16 for the plate. Everything tasted good, but the waitresse's only explanation for the stingy portion was that sometimes the chickens are small. Really? You can't see the problem there on the plate and make some adjustments to compensate? I won't be back to a place that thinks it's fine to gyp customers like that.

    (2)

  • Jens J.

    The great service I received at lunch today outweighed other considerations I had about Nostrana, including a smallish lunch menu and an oddly-flavored olive oil. I was surprised how big the high-ceilinged restaurant interior was, you would never know from the street. I liked the mural of the banquet scene at the back of the restaurant, with a pig poking its head out from underneath the tablecloth. The combination of oak and pine wood in the restaurant was pleasing. The variety on the lunch menu was very limited. Aside from pizza and gnocchi, lunch was pretty much just salads of one sort or another. I opted for the two-course lunch of soup and rotisserie chicken salad with a glass of white wine. My very sweet and accommodating waitress allowed me to substitute ice tea for the wine, though not without first trying to coax me into getting the loganberry spritz. The iced tea was superb. It had a milky burnt sienna appearance with a typical pekoe flavor. Nice and strong, I might add. Before my soup came out I was provided with a plate of unheated sliced rustic bread with olive oil for dipping. The bread had a very nice almost feathery texture. I didn't like the olive oil, however. It tasted unpleasantly like leaves or lawn grass. My soup (served chilled) came out in what looked like a coffee cup. The menu described its ingredients as buttermilk, parsley and paprika. Well, that's not all it had. It was chock full of cilantro. Of late, I've tried to make peace with cilantro, but after a couple spoonfuls, I realized this just wasn't going to work. My waitress saw that I had set the soup aside and offered to have the kitchen make me a cheese plate as an alternative. I heartily agreed. When she came back with the cheese she remarked that when she confronted the kitchen help about the cilantro in the soup they confessed that there was cilantro, but thought they had only used a little and commented that I must have sensitive taste buds. 'Tis true! In addition to a wedge of goat cheese, my cheese plate consisted of two little crackers, a dab of honey, a slice of "something" (it didn't seem like cheese to me) made with fig or date. The "something" was good, but what was even better was the goat cheese. Besides having a perfect mild flavor (not overly goaty), the cheese was ultra smooth and creamy. The rotisserie chicken salad was excellent. With a hint of lemon, it had mostly dark meat, finely sliced red onion, capers, and slices of a couple different vegetables I didn't quite recognize. Served over a slice of toasted rustic bread. Note: they have A/C (you can be sure nobody was eating on the patio today in the 90 degree heat).

    (4)

  • Shelley M.

    There are several things that make Nostrana a great place to eat. First there is a great parking lot that makes it easy to access. The place is inviting from the moment you walk in. The service was great starting with the greeting when you walk in. The bread they bring to the table is awesome! I had the Margherita pizza which was delicious. The crust rocks. The wine is pretty pricey (the glass I had was $13) and it was OK. I probably would skip it next time or try the house wine. Overall it was a relaxing dinner in a super nice environment. Seemed like mostly couples or groups of adults although I did see a few families. I definitely will go back.

    (4)

  • Paul S.

    I had my first visit to Nostrana a few weeks ago. The food was really nice, but the service was lacking. We had called ahead to make sure we could do separate tickets and were told that we could. We even asked again when we arrived and was told that we could. When our server came to the table (male and I can't remember his name) he was very abrupt and did not want to separate the tickets, saying it was "against the policy". After being informed that we had called he said he would do it. There were several female wait staff that stopped by and checked on us and were extremely nice. I wish this had rubbed off on our server. When the meal was over, which was good, our server came back to the table and basically only said "Since you are a party over 5 we automatically added the 18% gratuity" and walked off. When he came by another time he said, "I just want to make sure you know there is 18% gratuity included" and walked off. I found this odd. What he didn't realize is that I usually will leave more than an 18% tip when the service is good. Needless to say, the 18% is all this individual received and I wish I did not have to do this. Overall, the food is really good, the atmosphere is nice and the staff were attentive (except for the guy waiting on our table).

    (3)

  • Erin N.

    The wine was really great. Too much to choose from, but that's what waiters/sommeliers are for, right? The food was ok, 5 of us shared a cheese plate, 2 gnocchis, a pizza, and the chicken, and some tasty choco dessert. Someone said the tomato gnocchi tasted like Spaghetti-o's. The chicken, however, was super moist and flavorful. But, skip the cheese plate. Not enough, and the best thing about it was the accompanying fig spread. Our waiter ran hot and cold. He was super friendly at first, but seemed to disappear for long periods of time. Granted, the restaurant was pretty busy, but he rarely did the waiter check-in thing. He may have been off put by our rowdiness. We all agreed that even though our table age averaged out to 34, we felt like the restaurant was a bit too stuffy for us. As the wine flowed, the juvenile humor came out more and more. That might explain our waiter's disappearance. Bill was something like $220 for 2 bottles of wine, a few misc cockctails, and all the above food. Not bad for 5 people for a fancyschmancy dinner.

    (3)

  • Stephanie F.

    Very rude. Walked in with my kids and got the look of "kids are not welcomed" Was told we could come back in 3.5 hours @9 p.m. for a table. My kids are 13 & 10 & often we are complimented on them. Won't be back. Went and gave our $$$$ to Touche'.

    (1)

  • Michael F.

    Seriously small portions. No really, when you are warned about the size of the portion you have to wonder. "It cannot be that small." Yes, yes, the portion is that small. Ever seen a film where a plate is served in an elegant restaurant and the diners look at each other wondering where the food is because all they have in front of them is contained on a single spoon? This is Nostrana. Don't get me wrong the food tastes great, but I came to eat. My plate of pasta was smaller than a Costco muffin. And you know what is really crazy? You pay full price - $12 to $15. Although they have a steak on the menu for $60. In a full dining room of 100 some people I didn't see anyone with it on their table so I don't know if that says something or not.... I will give them props for a great drink menu. If you like to be adventurous then try out the specialty cocktails. I tried a few and was pleased with both.

    (2)

  • Gaela W.

    Since my first unfortunate meal at Nostrana a few years back, I decided to give them another shot and I'm so glad I did. I happened to be in the neighborhood on a Thursday afternoon and stopped since my friend suggested pizza/pasta. Had the gnocchi with tomato sauce and it was amazing. Hands down, the best ever and yes, I have eaten gnocchi in Italy. The radicchio salad was perfectly dressed and the butterscotch budino is absolutely addictive.

    (4)

  • Lesley H.

    Yum, yum yum!! My daughter and I visited this place based on her seeing it in an eco-friendly, farm-to-table movie and we both loved it. I had the lunch special which was indeed special - a simple, yet delicious salad, a pork/potato compote of sorts which I loved and wanted more of, with a glass of wine for only $15. Vegan daughter had a specially created plate that she relished. Service was great, friendly, helpful.We will definitely visit again next time we are in Portland.

    (5)

  • Kai B.

    Nostrana is without a doubt, the greatest pizza in town, holding that title by their phenomenal crust, and the dough used to make it. Admittedly, I have never ordered anything else on the menu, and don't really plan to. That's not to say that the rest of the menu is bad, it's more that the pizza is just that good. Something about the dough sets Nostrana's pizza apart. It's the perfect combination of a nice bit of crunch and char on the outside, yet this very rich, chewy inside, that's extremely satisfying to eat. Of course the toppings are good as well--I wouldn't consider them any better or worse than any other similar place--but it's something about the way the Chef Cathy Whims does the dough that sets Nostrana apart. I would arguably consider it the best pizza crust I have ever had at any restaurant. The quality of ingredients cannot be overstated. Pizza is an incredibly simple dish, comprised of so few ingredients, that the quality of every small thing is going to make a tremendous amount of difference. The differences in, say, yeasts for the doughs, and tomatoes for the sauce have an enormous impact on how the overall pizza will turn out. For what you're get, the pricing is excellent (around $15 a pie). If you're a college guy, you could do a pizza by yourself, but if you're on a hot date, splitting a pizza is fine, especially considering the fantastic bread and olive oil that precedes the meal.

    (5)

  • Robinton H.

    I lived 5 blocks away from this place for 2 years and never went in. Huge mistake. Recently decided to go try it out after moving to NE a couple years ago. This place is fantastic. Great atmosphere, Great architecture. We really liked the charcuterie, the pizza was great, and the chocolate tart was fantastic. And since all that great food is so well priced I can get a great bottle of wine and not feel too guilty. Really impressed. Well done Nostrana.

    (5)

  • Everett S.

    Been coming here for years even though I am not even of legal drinking age. Everything I've had is good, especially the pastas and meats. The bread is decent, you can even buy a loaf to go. A great dinner spot.

    (4)

  • Shannon P.

    Great pizza, great wine list, good pastas and we had an awesome seasonal dessert -strawberry-rhubarb crisp. So, so good. And great service.

    (5)

  • Melissa G.

    First off, the food here is PHENOMENAL. Hands-down, knee-slapping, 5 stars for the food. *Thinking about their wood-fired pizzas and knowing that I'm going to have some for dinner can get me through the worst of days. From the $6 happy hour Marguerita, to the $12-$18 rotating pizzas, including the dungeness crab pizza (which we've eaten with our eyes mostly closed and in complete silence it is so good) and the always amazing fungi pizzas. I've joked that I would like to wrap myself in a giant, thin-crust, chewy Nostrana pizza like a blanket and eat away at it in my sleep. *Happy hour is from 9p to close 7 days/week with unbelievably low-priced goodness. My favorites from this menu are the spicy bar nuts, buttery roasted olives, the crisp and tangy insalata nostrana, baked-to perfection bread and olive oil, which has those grassy notes that I love, and, of course, the marguerita pizza. *With a happy hour menu like that, why even look into the regular menu? Because there are things in their that'll make you drool just reading about them. Like their Thursdays-only gnocchi - which have all been savory and so very filling, but the gnocchi semolina is much lighter, like the best mashed potatoes (and I make damn good mashed potatoes) and I wish it would never end. They also occasionally have olive oil flights, seafood pasta like you've never seen or tasted from any other menu, and they always have many "happy" meat options. *Desserts - BUTTERSCOTCH BUDINO. Get it. It will make your eyes roll back. And if you want to double it up, get the chocolate budino and dip each bite of that into the butterscotch budino. I know. Crazy. OK. So it might seem obvious that I've been here quite a bit, sometimes weekly with a couple of girlfriends the last couple years. But I've also been coming here since before they even had a sign up, and they were serving pizza with a pair of Office Max, orange-handled scissors and the owner, Cathy Whims, was still cooking in the open, entertaining kitchen, smiling and chatting with us over the bar while tossing pizza dough, and her staff, at the time, were all so very friendly. That was maybe...7 years ago? I am not sure if it is under the same ownership; the food still has the same greatness, but the staff has grown into a mostly extremely snooty, don't-smile-showing-teeth type of people - particularly the hosts/hostesses and half of the servers. Last night, we had an unexpectedly large group of 10 people join us, and had to add two chairs to our table before we placed any orders, and the host said "ugh, you guys always do this," while placing a chair down and literally stuck his nose up in the air and walked away. Really? We've eaten with a group of people this big 3 times! And this was the first time we didn't have reservations, but they sat us after 5 minutes because there were plenty of seats open! On other occasions when we've been in our usual group of 3-4, their biggest flaw is that they often forget our drinks and I'm starting to think its to get us out faster... I don't get it. We're a pretty quiet, average 30 somethings, sometimes giggly but never raucous group of girls that come here for the food, sometimes weekly, to deflate from a hard-days work and we still get this snooty, oh-its-them type of feeling. Maybe we need to develop a stick up the butt type of attitude to adapt to their atmosphere so we can keep enjoying their food? Oy. So conflicted.

    (3)

  • Erik I.

    The pizza was incredible. Four mushroom pizza with arugula on too. delicious. The pork belly cruise was fantastic. The server had no problem accommodating me by replacing the potatoes with extra greens. Very kid friendly. My kids screamed the whole time and no one even batted an eye. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Daniel T.

    Holy crap, how have I never dined here all these years. Nostrana is an Italian restaurant tucked away in a strip lot that used to be a grocery store. Ordered the Salumi pizza, a dish that had cured salmon, and gnocchi with tomato butter sauce with a few friends. What I liked about this place is the menu is always changing, they are always made fresh to order using seasonal ingredients. When the food arrived I sampled everything and OMG the pizza was fabulous one the best I've had in Portland. The cured salmon was something new for me to try but it was pretty darn good too. The gnocchi blew me away, so simple but tasty! As for drinks ordered the Rickey the hard way: Hendrick's gin, lime, cucumber, basil Boker's bitters, Pacifique absinthe, rocks. It was strong and well crafted. I'll be back Nostrana, they have a nice happy hour too. Definitely call to set reservations as they can be quite busy. Their staff were nice and served us well

    (5)

  • Srutih C.

    Food was delicious and well prepared. Pizza Margherita tasted good, but was soggy! Beautiful space and great service. I would go back, but skip the pizza. Butterscotch budino= AMAZING!

    (4)

  • Kevin R.

    For me the Pork Porter Chop was a life changing event. My life is now and shall ever be divided into before and after the Nostrana PPC. I've never even imagined a better preparation of pork. Service and setting were very good. You may have to wait but wait you should. The pay off is mighty.

    (5)

  • Mc G N.

    Semi snooty fat forward Nuevo italian. Service was good. Especially by portland standards. Quality ingredients but this all tasted like 'it's a night out lets SPLURGE and forget our diets' rather than subtle and well balanced. My pasta was swimming in oil and had probably a 1/2 cup of it in the bottom of the dish.

    (2)

  • Jennifer H.

    This place lives up to the hype. The food was fantastic. We had their house salad and it was truly one of the best salads I have ever had. I had the pizza with arugula it was amazing. My husband had the gnocchi with butternut squash and scallops. It was equally good. The true highlight was the olive oil. I have never been a big EVOO fan, but this turned me around. We thought it must have been infused with flavor it was so good, the waiter assured us it was not and that we had just never had "really good OL" He was right. :) Go, eat... LOVE.

    (5)

  • Maureen H.

    Not impressed at all. Went with my daughter who came in from LA and some friends due to all we had heard about it. We were very disappointed. We sat in the corner by the drapes and froze the whole time we were there. Food was mediocre and server was standoffish and seemed to have an attitude if we asked any questions about the menu. I was sorry we wasted our time.

    (1)

  • Christine P.

    One comes to Portland expecting good food...but this place exceeded expectation!! The service was fantastic, both service and kitchen. I was lucky to sample lots from the menu due to the size of our group, but the lamb and the salami pizza are two of the single greatest things I've ever tasted!!

    (5)

  • Karen S.

    Great place to visit for a special occasion and any other day too. Very fresh and yummy pastas and breads. Beautiful indoor and outdoor patio seating areas. 2 courses and wine lunch option is delicious way to introduce yourself to Nostranas.

    (5)

  • Kristina K.

    "Mastered the art of pizza crust," should be written on below their Nostrana sign outside. We went on a Tuesday night. The place was packed; no thanks to Nostrana's mention in Williamette Weekly's Restaurant Guide 2009. Even with the crowds, our servers were attentive. We ordered the Chantrelle mushroom trio special. One of them was a pasta and the other two were dips/spreads. All three seemed a bit on the salty side. Nostrana's menu changes daily, but if they are serving the mussels on brushetta; get it! Nostrana served me the best mussels I've ever tasted in my life. This was my favorite dish of the night. As for pizza, we had La Napoli (tomato, olives, capers, house mozzarella, Mama Lil's peppers and oregano). The crust was crispy and chewy. The toppings were just enough. The side view was a sight to be seen. Nostrana's pizza is a slice to be tasted. P.S. I know we ordered a pizza with capers and olives, but all the dishes we had were kind of salty. Just a warning.

    (3)

  • Andrew S.

    Good Italian spot for either Lunch/Dinner. Easier to get in for Lunch. Deal is good. And there is a nice variety of Italian. Also, well prepared and healthy. I have tried the specials and the wood stove. Enjoyed both.

    (4)

  • Nathan O.

    Happy hour on a Saturday? Yes please. Margherita Pizza was delicious, but I was a bit turned off by their minimum at happy hour policy. I had no desire for a drink, but was forced to find something or pay $3 for a subpar lemonade. It's the best $6 you are going to find in all of Oregon, topped with large basil leaves. The best part of the pizza experience is the silver sheers that comes with it. A friend of mine said it best: "It just feels right". Slicing through the thin crust with a pair of scissors is a bit uncanny, yet incredibly practical for the moment. The ambiance seemed a bit off for a Saturday night, with low-lighting, wealthy families drinking high-end wine, and a man with a large hat tossing pizza doughs. It all seems normal and expected, but what threw me off was the Glitch Mob background music (think techno/sub-dubstep found in an urban lounge).

    (3)

  • Kat T.

    I dined here on New Year's Eve with my significant other and had a wonderful experience. That night the restaurant offered a prix fixe menu and we were extremely pleased with the quality of the food as well as the service. Despite having a set menu our waitress was on point and knowledgeable, stopping by intermittently to sweep away an empty glass or replace silverware between courses. She was the perfectly attentive without making us feel like she was hovering. As far as the food goes, a nice bonus was an unadvertised amuse bouche and the flight of vintage champagnes they were offering for the night. Highlights from the four courses include a wonderful pasta course of tagliolini (the noodles were light yet rich at the same time) and an out of this world dessert. I'll admit when I first saw cookies in the dessert course I was a little underwhelmed, but in person the little confections were just what I was craving to finish the meal. I'm positive it did not hurt that they arrived swimming in a pool of delicious zabaglione (I resisted licking the plate, but only barely). All in all, I was more than pleased, and would be happy to spend New Year's (or any other eve for that matter) here any time. I highly recommend Nostrana to anyone looking for a quality meal with exceptional service.

    (5)

  • Richard L.

    Our favorite "celebration" restaurant. Great salads (but be sure to order only one for two of you) and the pizzas are outstanding. The wine flights can be a good way to check out a few options at one sitting as well.

    (5)

  • Kristine T.

    Our favorite dining experience of our whole vacation. This place is tucked away in an unassuming part of town, but once inside the feeling is warm and cozy. Every dish we ordered from starters, to charcuterie to the pizza and pasta were all phenomenal. The ingredients are fresh and flavor combinations are what you would think of as rustic Italian but in an upscale dining environment. Service was attentive, cocktails were also tasty. I just adore their wall of spirits, quite impressive. As with pretty much all of Portland, the two of us were able to dine on several dishes, enjoy libations and dessert for a VERY affordable price. A meal this delicious and memorable would typically run us around $225 back home. Here, only $140! Only wish we had something this affordable around these parts.

    (5)

  • Marie N.

    Always fantastic! The food, the drinks and the service are consistently top notch. My family eats here often and we have never had anything but a great meal. On our most recent visit I had the lamb, 2 people had the pork belly and another had a pasta entree. We started our meal with a margherita pizza with prosciutto and we all had the mixed green salad, which you dress yourself and always reminds me of the salads we had growing up, simple but delicious. This is a great place!

    (5)

  • John L.

    A great place with really nice interiors, the wine list is complete and it is a nice touch to have your wine flights change with the menu We were seated and greeted by a very friedly hostess. Started with a bean Arugula pesto soup very bland with no depth beans were fully cooked though. Then had the steelhead which was pad seared to perfection but the mushrooms and spinich below were oily or buttery if would would so call it and had no flavor. The gnocce were pretty good really large format like a large sea scallop in sizenot quite cooked enough and the sauce again with no depth or essense. the Pizza was a nice presentation but if it were not for the spicy peppers( which were a good choice of topping) or the spicy salami there would be no flavor to this dish. The Kara Kara sorbet was out of this world and the large rooster candle for ones birthday was great and quit fun

    (3)

  • Ben F.

    Tonight we shared a pizza and the MOST AMAZING steak for two, their Biscetta. It costs $60, but worth EVERY penny. I would highly recommend you get it for two with a salad. Also had an excellent new whiskey, Noah Hill. We sat at the bar tonight and had a great time talking with the bartender's Douglass and Blithe who made a good time even more enjoyable. If you get Douglass, ask him to make you a homemade Ginger Ale or better yet, some of his homemade Ginger Ale with some Jamesons. Finished the meal off with what is still the best desert in town, the Pizzeria Mozzo's Butterscotch Budino!

    (5)

  • Matt D.

    Nostrana is quite an odd place. In a neighborhood where street parking is the norm, they have a massive parking lot. In city where strip malls are generally made fun of, they're located in one. In a world full of mediocre pizza, Nostrana hits the nail on the head. Honestly, there are so many things about Nostrana aesthetics that would be off putting to me. When you first walk in the door, it's almost as if they borrowed a few design tips from the Olive Garden. This combined with the fact that they're oddly placed in a strip mall can give an impression of inferior, chain-like food. None of this matters, though. Why doesn't it matter? Because Nostrana is making (in my humble opinion) the greatest pizza in the city. I've tried all of those other "best pizza places" in town, and while they are good in their own regard, they don't hold a candle to Nostrana. I don't know what it is, but chef Cathy Whims must work some sort of voodoo magic on her dough. Every single time I've been here, the dough was think, crispy on the outside, soft and slightly doughy on the inside, and it has the perfect amount of char. Each and every slice is absolutely flawless with these gorgeous charred bubbles, and every bite has a slightly sour but beautifully complex flavor profile. Wild yeast DOES make a difference, people. More pizzerias should throw out the fleischmann's and start rising their own dough with that beautiful, single celled organism flying through the air. I can't bring myself to try anything else when their pizza is so perfect. The funghi verde is by far my favorite, with it's delicious shiitake mushrooms, arugula (my favorite leaf), cheeses and lemon. Their margarita is done like a margarita should be; san marzano tomato sauce, mozzerella, and just a few sprigs of fresh basil. It's all about the crust, people, and a small amount of high quality ingredients should not detract from that. When it comes to pizza, simplicity is perfection. Pizza, while wonderful on it's own, is something that should really be experienced with a decent glass of vino. Nostrana has a beautiful list of wines, including a HUGE variety of Piedmont wines, which is one of my favorite regions. The prices are a tad steep, but this is to be expected from a restaurant of this caliber. The last time I made it in there, I went with their summer of Riesling flight (Oregon and Italy), which was a damn steal for just $14. 5 stars just isn't good enough. If I could give them 100, I would do it.

    (5)

  • Desmond K.

    The food was excellent as usual however was disappointed with the service. We've been going there for years and love the place. Last night despite having a reservation was given bar seating. When we inquired WHY we were not given an answer. To add insult to injury, the couple before us was given a choice between 2 tables. They picked one table but we were not given any choice. Not what I expect. Hope it's not a sign of things to come.

    (3)

  • Katie C.

    Had the Laughing Stock Pork Barcialona, to die for!! Seriously the most phenomenal thing I've had in a long time.

    (5)

  • Tasha A.

    There are so many wonderful things that can be said about Nostrana! For one, the parking is ample and free - something pretty rare in Portland. As other reviewers have pointed out, Nostrana is located in a strip mall, but that term kind of has a seedy connotation which in this case it shouldn't. The other businesses that share the parking lot are a yoga studio, a vintage electronics shop, a cute bar, and two dental offices. We were about a half hour earlier than our luncheon reservation time, but there was no problem being seated. The reception person was very warm and welcoming and personable. We had a small but nice wooden table for two by a window overlooking the street and a park. Within 3 minutes, our server, Carrie, arrived with a carafe of water and the menus, followed shortly thereafter with a tray of rustic bread slices and some rosemary crusty bread triangles, served with olive oil. While it was delicious, I think the flavors would have been much enhanced if the bread had been served even slightly warmed instead of at room temperature. Our server was helpful with my wine selection; in fact, she offered to bring me a small sample of each of the two red wines I was considering ordering a glass of so that I could taste each one. (Wonderful of her to do that, since I didn't care for either one and wound up with a yummy Chianti). House wines were a bit spendy, I thought, the least expensive at $8, I believe, for nothing really out of the ordinary. The menu is a bit limited. My lunch partner ordered the house salad which he found exceedingly fresh and tasty. Really - I've rarely seen him practically inhale ANY dish, let alone finish it all. We chose to share a bay shrimp and pasta dish at about $15. The portion was tiny - really, not sufficient, in my opinion, to quell the appetite of even a small eater like me. However, the taste was wonderful, and would have been even rave-able if it had been more than lukewarm. That part was a bit disappointing. Our server was demurely attentive - not one complaint there. Loved the fun and tasteful decor. Overall, a good experience, albeit overpriced for the size of the plates. For the money, there are many other options out there, but the service really is terrific at Nostrana! As a sidebar, you're in a great neighborhood for exploring the unique and quirky architecture of east Portland along with the neat shops nearby.

    (3)

  • Toby R.

    Probably the most overrated place I've been to in P-Town. The pizza with clams was definitely a misfire and unappetizing, and the spaghetti and other entrees and pizzas we tried were nothing special. Service was great, as were the environs, so it might be worth a second try.

    (3)

  • Audrey S.

    I don't understand the big fuss over this place. We went a couple months ago and it took the hostess 20 minutes to seat us despite having a reservation. Once we were seated, we waited another 15 minutes until a waitress came up to our table (only because my friend went up to the hostess to make he aware of this). However, no one apologized for the wait. As for the food, the pizza is good, as in decent. I can make better pizza in my own home and for this reason will not be going back. Yes, it's brick oven but I've had better brick oven accompanied by better service. So if you're in the neighborhood and feel like poor service coupled with mediocre pizza, then go for it.

    (1)

  • Jose M.

    We were there yesterday (Sunday) for a dinner, a group of 17 people split into 2 sets of table. The servers were very friendly and the atmosphere was really great. They have a great selection of wine, but I didn't try any. This restaurant serves Neapolitan, wood-fired-style pizza. A very thin pie, about the size of single plate. You could probably eat the whole pizza by yourself. Since we came in a large group, we ordered all pizzas they have. Some notes/tips: 1. The pizza will be served to you uncut unless you ask them to (which we did). 2. The Funghi, if you ordered it with egg, tastes like a great breakfast. 3. La Dolce Vita is the 'anchovy pizza', but you can order it without the anchovy (which we did). But if you do that, it makes the pizza really really sweet due to the caramelized onion. I guess that's what the anchovy is for. 4. A couple of my friends think that the 4 Formaggi (4 cheese) need more Gorgonzola. My favorite pizza here would be La Dolce Vita that we ordered without the anchovy. Though some people things it's too sweet. Last but not least, try to be here early for dinner (we were there at 5:30pm on Sunday). A few people were waiting for a table when we left (7pm).

    (5)

  • Erin O.

    I always do a menu check online before patronizing a new restaurant. Portland's pretty accommodating of vegetarians... but not always. Nostrana made me a little nervous. It seemed I was destined to dine on pizza, pizza or pizza. Not that I dislike pizza! But a gal likes options. Well, not only did I have a really fantastic meal here, appetizers through dessert, but the (wood fired) pizza was quite delightful. Also, they have gnocchi Thursdays! But can we get back to the dessert. Because, THIS IS THE DESSERT SELECTION I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR. Not only have I been craving crumble topped with ice cream for months, but they had puddings, tiramisu... It was tear-to-eyeballs bringing.

    (5)

  • Shanna K.

    Found this lovely gem via Yelp.. so thanks folks! Hidden away in a residential neighborhood, the atmosphere is fairly casual, but service is top notch. Indoors can get a bit loud but it wasn't awfully so on the Sunday evening that we went... and it was pretty full. Outdoor seating is available with heat lamps but the view is that of the parking lot so I can't say it's the best ambiance. Started with cocktails... like ya do. They have an interesting and unique list with original creations as well as variations on a few well known classics. Do give it a look. I choose the Bocce Ball (vodka, housemade rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice, sprig of rosemary) - A bit too sweet, but they were happy to correct it for me. Otherwise delicious and refreshing. Would be great on a hot day. My friend choose a Prosecco based cocktail with a fresh fruit puree. I want to say raspberry but unfortunately I neglected to write it down. Either way it was lovely. To eat we started with the Orsara toast-ciabatta bread frittata with heirloom tomato and basil salsa. It was just a nibble.. almost an amuse but a bit heartier.. and completely delicious. A triangle of not quite bready/not quite eggy frittata.. but somewhere perfectly in between, topped with flavorful... and not at all spicy as the name might suggest... chopped heirloom tomato "salsa". From there we moved on to the Charcuterie plate - house made ciccioli, proscuitto wrapped fig and country pork pâté with marinated mushrooms, onion marmalade and wild plum mostarda and the Insalata Nostrana - radicchio and Parmigiano-Reggiano with rosemary and sage croutons in a Caesar style dressing. The salad was wonderful. Simple. Crisp. Cleansing. Not at all bitter. Large enough for two people to share. Perfect. Everyone should do this with radicchio at home.. it's fantastic. The Charcuterie was a bit of a surprise, however. The country pate I knew well. The wrapped fig and I were old friends, too. But, I had never had ciccioli before and didn't really give it a thought when we ordered it. Figured it was just another cured meat.. Well...sort of. It is made in house, so YMMV if you try it elsewhere... But on this night at Nostrana it was kind of like pork confit for lack of a better description. Only with little bits of pork and a lot of fat. It is, afterall.. made from "leftovers"... Cooked down to make something delicious and sustaining. Not for everyone... but completely charming in it's own way. Presented in big creamy fat laden scoops on crusty toasted bread.. I was both intrigued and somewhat repulsed at the same time. To be completely honest. I knew that much fat would make me physically ill (I have issues with it) but at the same time I was intrigued and humbled by the use of the entire animal, the nasty bits.... as Anthony Bourdain would say... sitting before me... and of course.. as a food geek, I had to try this thing I'd never had before. Had to. I picked the pork out as best I could and smeared it on the bread with a bit of the fat for good measure. After all.. what is butter or oil.. right? It was ALOT to be reckoned with, especially for one person, but in the end it *was* lovely... especially with the onion marmalade. I'm probably good for just one bite, if I ever come across ciccioli again... It's not something anyone needs to consume in large quantities... but nevertheless I have *great* respect for the woman who had the courage and ingenuity to put this on the menu. (Oh yes, female chef... 2009 James Beard award finalist, heads up Nostrana. Hooray! Girl power!) After that we sat and talked for a bit. I had wanted to try their fantastic looking wood fired pizza as well but I could not. Completely stuffed, even on just that little bit... Sad... but next time. My friend did order dessert though. Simple sweet cream gelato and coffee. It was everything you would expect. As was my wonderful Pinot Noir. Perfection. I would happily go back in a minute and plan to when I return to the area for future visits. You should too.

    (4)

  • kelly k.

    Nostrana is mine and my husbands go to place. I have never had anything but an exceptional meal here. We've been maybe half a dozen times and I've had something new each time. Although I was sad when they quit serving "Vespa". One of my all time favorite white wines. The service is friendly and unpretentious. They treat you like they are glad you are there. the atmosphere is casual but elegant and warm. Probably the only negative is that there tends to always be small children here. they serve pizza. Which i've never had. But where there is pizza there is kids and we aren't fans of nice sit down meals with small kids. However.. I can say I've yet to be irriated by them.

    (5)

  • Megan N.

    I didn't enjoy myself. Our server was very rude, and for the price I payed for my pasta the portion barely helped my hunger. Didn't like the flavor either.

    (2)

  • Tet W.

    I came here for Saturday dinner and I've been looking forward to some good wildfire pizza but before I get into the food let me describe the ambiance. When you walk up the building the docor is modern contemporary with wooden tables and sleek red curtains. The lights are dim with candle light on the tables. The place has a cozy cabin feel with an industrial twist with the open pipes and air vents on the ceiling. This place is really packed where friends and family gather for conversations. The place is a bit noisy but definitely romantic. This is a nice place to take a date despite the noise level. I made reservations prior to coming and I'm glad I did. I was immediately seated and my order taken. I started the night with the Briar Rose "Mandrona" Formaggi which is Oregon goat washed rind, Taleggio style. This is a very light appetizer which came with house-made crackers, wildflower honey, a generous portion of cheese with Membrillo (I think this is a cube of Italian jam). The goat cheese had a strong stinky odor as does most aged cheeses, but the taste wasn't very strong. In fact it was light, creamy and delicate considering it was aged. You have to try it with the honey and membrillo...oh they go together great. Nothing like creamy sweet goodness to get your taste buds going. This appetizer was $5. Although it was great, the portion size was a bit small. Anyway, you can also order the Formaggi with Rogue Creamery Oregon Blue cheese or Ubriaco Vento cow cheese. Each is $5 unless you order all three which is $14. For my entrée I ordered the Diavola Pizza which came with spicy sausage, house mozzarella, provolone, tomatoes and Lil's peppers (spicy marinated peppers). The pizza was outstanding. I think it's better than Ken's Artisan Pizza and equally rivals Lovely's Fifty Fifty. Still, the king of wood fire pizza is Apizza Scholls in my book. Anyway, my pizza came with a thin crust with the edges burnt with a nice crunch. The ingredients were kept simple and I love how there was a real sense of balance to the ingredients. There wasn't too much or too little of everything. No one ingredient overpowered the other and every ingredient can be tasted in literally every bite. How's that for balance! Everything is fresh and made with the best quality produce. They serve the pizza whole and you use scissors to cut your pizza. This is how they do it in Italy if you've ever gone. The use of the pizza cutters is mainly used here in the United States, so I was delighted to see that they serve pizza the way they do in Italia. I highly recommend trying this restaurant for a fine dining experience. You'll love the food and ambiance and the wait staff really showed a nice team effort. Oh one thing I should let you know, for those of you who drink soft drinks...they do NOT have free refills. Each soft drink will set you back $2 and the glasses don't give you much. For those of you with sensitive teeth, the water they give you is ice cold. If you are one with teeth sensitivity, you may have to let your waitress know to give you room temperature water otherwise it's coming ice cold! Just some minor details to keep in mind. For those of you trying out this restaurant for the first time, you got to order one of their pizzas. It's what Nostrana is best known for and let me tell you, it is DYNAMITE! The pizza is a bit greasy but to be honest, every pizza I've ordered in Italy was fairly greasy and it has to do with the fat content of the cheese. Authentic Italian cheeses have a very high content of fat compared to cheeses made in the United States but this is why it is richer and more flavorful. I can't wait to come back to try more of their pizza variations. I just ate dinner here and already I'm temped to make another visit.

    (5)

  • Michael U.

    I'd heard that Portland's pizza scene was "good, but not great - aside from Apizza Scholl's" and yet with that in mind I mapped out two definites and one "maybe;" Nostrana - a spot that would actually cap my first day in town when the person I was staying with agreed to give up an old grudge with service and allow Chef Cathy Whims' SE Morrison regional Italian restaurant a second chance. Having dined at Ox earlier that evening before the Trailblazers game and then hoofing it back to my friend's home before heading out our arrival at Nostrana would be just shy of 10pm and despite the late hour the space was surprisingly full - a few tables open, but the only two-top being cleared as we were greeted at the hostess stand and after a few moments we were led to our seats...where we proceeded to chat without looking at our menu for a good fifteen minutes, a time during which our waitress was actually incredibly patient - though she did stop in multiple times to see if we were ready, had questions, or wanted drinks. With the space large and heavily wooded plus high ceilings and an open kitchen where the stone pizza oven stands proud the space at Nostrana is decidedly "Italian" inspired and although 'buzzy' I never found the room so loud that I had to raise my voice to be heard over the din (compare this to Mozza or Balena or Babbo and it is a welcomed change) and once orders were placed service was on point - items arriving quickly beginning with a flight of reds for my friend and a glass of 2006 Falchini Vin Santo del Chianti with two small biscotti for myself; a dessert wine with a great nose and a lot of sweetness that probably isn't everyone's idea of pizza wine but one that did just as well for me throughout the meal. Moving next to a pair of Nostrana's famous pies, round and uncut in the traditional Neapolitan manner (served with scissors,) the first was a well prepared and wet Margherita that, although featuring excellent quality toppings, fell flat for me due to a dull and flavorless crust lacking enough heft or char. Better by far, a second pizza, the seasonal Granchio with Dungeness Crab, Crème Fraiche, Fines Herbes, and Paprika Butter would not only up the ante by improving on the crust with more bubble and smoke, but would also work wonders in the balance of ingredients - particularly the manner in which the slight sours of the crème Fraiche and hefty smoked savoriness of the Paprika acted to highlight the sweet, fresh crab. I've since told my mother I'd love to see her mother's signature Hungarian paprikash matched to this sauce as opposed to chicken and sour cream in the future. Adding a last savory largely because it is something I cannot pass up, the Gnocchi alla Romana would arrive as expected, though to my dining partner's surprise with three large semolina dumplings baked in a cast iron pot, swimming in a pool of fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, porcini mushrooms, and rosemary infused cream. Dense and delicious, finished in the wood burning oven which added a smoky nuance that really brought out the rosemary I loved the flavors, but found the gnocchi to be a bit mushy - not bad, but not the superlative version I'd hoped for. Never one to pass on dessert - even at second dinner - two were ordered and having already had Mozza's budino (reported to be Nostrana's most ordered dessert by our waitress) I went with the Chocolate Budino with Chantilly Cream while my friend selected the Ricotta Cheesecake with candied orange & chocolate on a pistachio crust. Starting with the budino, cake style as opposed to pudding, the classic combination of chocolate and vanilla was essentially a rich chocolate devil's food cake and although perhaps not the most daring dessert, it was beautifully balanced and the chocolate with olive oil fruitiness was quite nice. Moving next to the cheesecake - let's just say the texture was great and the crust was good - the rest of the story consisted of Julia and I making jokes about Kraft's "Terry's Chocolate Orange," not particularly a good thing. Overall a nice meal in a pleasant environment with what I felt to be good service considering the hour and our dilly-dallying over the menu I cannot say Nostrana struck me as a restaurant helmed by a Beard Award finalist, particularly given the strength of Portland (and the Pacific Northwest's) culinary scene, but at the same time it was good enough for the price and I wouldn't hesitate to go back to try more of the pastas or pies in the future if I was craving Italian and living in, rather than visiting Portland.

    (3)

  • Matt L.

    "I don't want to finish this," Diane admits. You're busy chewing your way through a mouthful of whatever she ordered, and you are enjoying yourself far too much to have it go to waste in a hasty swallow. One more second - now take a sip of wine - Ahhh. "You'd better," you chide, picking out a bite of your own pasta, "it wasn't cheap." "No, I mean, it's so good that I don't want to commit myself to just this dish. I want to order something else and try that too." "You are unbelievable." She rolls her eyes. "Don't try to tell me you don't know what I'm talking about." You don't - try to tell her, that is, because you do - know what she's talking about, that is. You sampled eachother's Gnocchi (ooh, that's a good one, have to remember that) and wine and the various little bites of delicacies on the charcuterie plate; Everything has been fairly phenomenal. Even your coffee is simply good coffee. You've put less cream and sugar in each successive cup. "I suppose you could always take the rest to go, and we could order dessert?" "Oh dessert," she moans, "no way. We can't break our streak of being too full for the final course." "We *could*..." "No." She takes another defiant bite, closes her eyes for a moment, then swallows. "No, I'm just going to have to soldier on." "First world problems," you sympathize, "food's too good to eat." "Absolutely."

    (4)

  • High S.

    Losing a couple of stars, tonight, because the dude answering the phone put me on hold "for just a moment" which, basically, means, he's never going to pick up the phone. When I called back after waiting for 10 minutes, the phone went right to voicemail. You've got to be kidding me, Nostrana. There are so many restaurants, of varying service, located in different neighborhoods that there is always time to pick up the phone. if you're *that* busy, hire someone, solely, dedicated to picking up the phone while your other staff handle the influx of customers. You're not even closed for another 2 hours (?!).

    (3)

  • Aaron H.

    Yelp strikes again. Did a simple search for pizza within walking distance of our hotel on Naito Parkway and Nostrana came up. Ended up taking a taxi there but then a nice walk over the Hawthorne bridge back to the hotel after dinner. Gnocchi appetizer which was only available on thursdays was excellent. I choose the option the pork ragu. I went with the Daviola pizza which was great. You can see the char right on the crust which was probably the best part. Would highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Lucy S.

    Pretty good food in a nice space. It's a good place for a nice dinner date out, but not a place I would come back to regularly. Average age when I went was in their 40s and it's definitely a quieter sit down kind of place.

    (3)

  • Elyse L.

    Nostrana has a great location and atmosphere. Once inside, I felt relaxed and, with the decor and open kitchen, almost as if I was sitting down to eat in a European country. The service is superb and the friendly staff offer great menu suggestions. Between courses, our table was cleaned off and we received new plates and silverware. The fresh bread and olive oil to start out with was delicious and enough to be a satisfying meal in itself. My purple cabbage Caesar salad was crisp and the dressing was a great compliment with the sharp taste of the cabbage. For the entree, I ordered the Margarita pizza and it had all the right ingredients except the crust was mushy and greasy towards the middle. I tried a few other items on the table, including two pasta dishes and a no cheese olive-tomato pizza and there were all very good. Nostrana is an excellent place to bring a large group (expect a fairly high bill though, 18% gratuity on parties of 6 or more) or for date night. I recommend sticking with the pasta, fish and meat entrees and if you are looking for great pizza, try Ken's Artisan Pizza.

    (4)

  • Donna K.

    I love this place for happy hour. A great place to sip on wine and gather with your friends to talk for hours ! The happy hour menu is not something you could really get full off, well possibly the pizza, but it's good socializing food. Plus, you should save room for their tasty dessert options! We tried their special saffron and pralines gelato and it was just the after dinner dessert one could hope for. Creamy and not overly sweet, it was all gone with a quickness between 4 friends and 2 scoops. I would like to try regular dinner here, it seems to be a reasonable Italian restaurant. Yum!

    (4)

  • Marissa K.

    This place was great! So busy, but the service was excellent. Make sure to make a reservation during the weekend. I absolutely devoured my wood-fired pizza, served uncut with a pair of scissors, which I thought was hilarious. The cheesecake was to die for, too.

    (4)

  • Tess P.

    We had really good food here. Good pizza, great chicken, and the tagliata was excellent. Our server did not appear to enjoy his job and was pretty unhelpful. I get that it can be a thankless job, but when you can't even answer a question without showing disdain for your customers, maybe it's time to think of a new line of work. We found it amusing and couldn't wait for him to come back to our table as each interaction with us got progressively worse. So, the food was great, but there are a lot of places to eat in this town, and I prefer friendly service.

    (3)

  • Connie C.

    Nostrana is one of my favorite restaurants in town. I love everything about this place: the service, ambiance, and most importantly the food! I like that their menu changes daily. I highly recommend the pizza Diavola. Another one you can't go wrong with is the margherita pizza. For my main entree, I had the Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut and I just devoured it! The fish, fingerling potatoes, and veggies... everything was so flavorful. For dessert, definitely get the apple crisp! Tip: If you're coming here for an occasion (like a birthday) and you bring your own cake, keep in mind that they will charge $2.50 a person to cut your cake.

    (5)

  • Leslie L.

    We kind of randomly chose Nostrana for dinner on a two night stay in Portland, never having heard of it before. Are we ever glad we did! We had a tomato soup that sang of freshness, a mushroom/ mozzarella dish that could be served n heaven, and a pizza that had a crispy crust and a perfect combination of tomatoes, sausage and peppers. Each member of the staff we dealt with was beyond helpful and pleasant. The pistachio gelato was a perfect capper. This was truly a special dining experience.

    (5)

  • Madeline H.

    Amazing food and impeccable, attentive service. My friend and I sat at the bar and shared a four course meal - salad, pasta, pizza, tiramisu. Every course was insanely delicious, sophisticated but approachable. What an excellent experience!

    (5)

  • A L.

    Great atmosphere, friendly and courteous staff. Went on a Saturday night, couldn't get reservations until late, but they encouraged us to come in as the have a large full service bar. We were seated right away and had a deliciousness caesars salad and pizza followed by an amazing apple cranberry crisp. Everything was delicious!

    (5)

  • Mary R.

    Highly recommend for a night out with out of town guests or family. Nostrana hits that right note of fine food, warm atmoshphere, roomy tables, and wonderful service. Recently I indulged in the most delicious sumptuous savory hand-made pasta stuffed with mushrooms. Wow. I just kept quiet the entire meal because had I mentioned how incredible my food was, my table mates would have demanded bites. NO WAY.

    (4)

  • Eunice R.

    Great Pizza! The Margharita and the mushroom pizzas were great! Also the Goat Cheese Stuffed Parpadelle pasta was delicious.

    (4)

  • Alison V.

    This was a good, unique Italian place. I enjoyed pulling up to the place and there being a parking lot (which is unusual for Portland these days). The restaurant was a little loud because the ceilings are so high, but overall the atmosphere is very cool. They have a huge bookshelf with wine and alcohol, a wood pizza oven, and cork flooring which I appreciated. I got spaghetti with goat cheese and some type of meat I couldn't pronounce. We went on meatball Monday! where you can get their special of spaghetti, meatballs, and a poached egg for $20. This wasn't my favorite Italian place, but it was up there.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    Late night happy hour review: So after watching the epic Dark Knight Rises at the OMSI IMAX dome, hunger started to strike. I checked out my happy hour app and Nostrana was listed nearby for late night happy from 9-11 PM. I coordinated with my friends and cruised on down. Upon entering the place was pretty busy and I was not sure if the happy hour was located only in the bar section like other places. Thankfully the hostess said happy hour is allowed anywhere in the restaurant. I grabbed a table and a few moments later my friends arrived. We were given both the happy hour menu and regular menu. The late night special has an extensive selection to choose from. They have 2 beers on tap to choose from for $4 and house wines for $5. $6 is the highest price on the food menu that includes the margherita pizza and the Nostrana Mac and Cheese. We started off with the charcuterie plate and added a selected cheese for $3 extra. Complimentary bread and olive soon arrived with the meat and cheese platter. The prosciutto and salami went well with the bread and olive oil. The pickled carrots added a nice touch to the platter. The blue cheese was quite strong and balanced well when honey was added. It was best to eat that separately. After the appetizers cleared out, the pizza and the mac cheese arrived. We added prosciutto for $4 extra to the margherita pizza. We were given special knives and scisssors to cut the pizza. The happy hour pizza can easily feed 2-3 people. The crust is soft and moist. The toppings fell apart pretty easily so we devoured it as fast as we could. It had the right amount of sauce and zing. The mac cheese is not really the standard mac and cheese you see at other places. There is a tomato base and the penne is cooked to the crisp. It reminded me of cheese lasagne when I dug into it. The total bill came to about $30 for 3 people and we were quite full and satisfied. The service is stellar and very prompt with the drinks and water. I lked how we got half our food first then savored the rest so to not feel overwhelmed. Only 2 beers on tap however so not much selection on that end. There is an extensive dessert and wine list available which looked quite appealing. On a last note - the regular menu has a 2.5 lb steak for $60. I was told it can easily feed 3-4 people so if everyone chipped in it can be affordable to try. Looks like that will be the case when I return again.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    This place was on the James Beard award list for best chef's finalist award so I had to try it when in Portland. The restaurant had a cool vibe and neat décor and I always like when a restaurant has a wood fired oven. Happy Hour menu is pretty good and reasonable. Had the mac and cheese, which was absolutely amazing. The charcuterie was pretty good but a bit funky, but then again, so is Portland. My friend had the smoky rotisserie chicken and she said it was the best she ever had. I had a carbonara pasta dish that was excellent. My partner had mushroom pizza and he asked for sausage to be added and they were accommodating. The server started out a bit snotty but she warmed up. Service was VERY slow but then again, it was a Saturday night before the Rock and Roll marathon so I will cut them a bit of a break.

    (4)

  • Heather S.

    This place is the best. I mean really, it's so fantastic! I've been to Nostrana several times and it was actually one of the first places I was introduced to in Portland. Located in a weird little strip mall on Belmont, heaven is waiting. Homemade pastas, sauces, pizzas (no sharing trust me, you'll eat the whole thing yourself), and a great selection of wine and cocktails. I love everything about this place! The staff is also very friendly, which, let's face it, is a little rare among the Portland Foodie crowd. Nostrana is definitely my 'go-to' place when I don't know what I want, but I want to go out.

    (5)

  • Wayne C.

    I went to Nostrana a number of years ago and had a less than savory experience. In fact, I vowed never to go back. Well, you know what they say about making such grand proclamations . . . We went back to Nostrana this week and boy was I wrong. The food, the service, the atmosphere were all fantastic. I had a really wonderful meal and know with 100% certainty (because everyone told me) that my family had a great meal. We ordered a wide assortment of items off the menu - from the various salads (the radicchio salad is the best I have ever had in Portland) to the wonderfully decadent wood oven pizza. Everything was great. What made the evening most memorable was the excellent service. At one point during the evening, a member of our dinner party wanted a group picture. The manager himself came over to take the photo. Talk about service. I admit it - I was wrong. We will definitely be back to Nostrana and encourage families with small children looking for a nice night out at a "foodie" restaurant to consider Nostrana as well.

    (4)

  • John B.

    Best to make a reservation, as I feel it's always busy, but it's worth the wait if no reservation. I love their Insalata Nostrana and their Granchio pizza with Dungeness crab (best with an egg on top). Usually good beers on tap and good cocktails. One of my favorite east side restaurants. Can't go wrong here.

    (5)

  • Geri Ann B.

    Superb! Well known for their gnocchi but all their hand made pastas are perfect. Every time I come here, every course is a highlight, starting from the crusty bread, the rich olive oil, the nice selection of cheeses, the sharp cocktails, the toothsome pastas, the deeply layered sauces. And the charcuterie - don't miss the charcuterie plate with its unique combination of rich terrines, cured meats and tangy pickles and jams! On our last visit we indulged in the rhubarb crisp for dessert which much be ordered ahead. Oh my, the sweet almond cream took it to an even higher level, and adding a scoop of their vanilla bean gelato was a great add. Though we thought we were absolutely stuffed, the two of us easily gobbled up the rhubarb crisp which could have easily fed four. The ambiance is great for all kinds of gatherings - business dinner, romantic dinner, cocktail gathering for friends - enough buzz to have good energy, but not too loud that you can't have a decent conversation without yelling. Its place like Nostrana that make Portland one of the best dining out places in the country.

    (5)

  • Karthik U.

    When my friend told me about this place, he mentioned it's the best Italian food place in town. He then spoke about it for days after and I was tempted to try it out. When I drove up to the strip mall it's located in, I was like "Really? This place?" That's probably the last time I'll judge a restaurant in a strip mall before walking in. The ambience is pretty decent, what you'd expect in most fine dining restaurants. They have an incredible selection of wines, but I'm a beer guy so I went with the Hefe. We were given a specials menu and we ordered most of our stuff from there. Now I don't know the Italian names, but we had an assortment of Salami, Smoked Halibut blended with mashed potatoes, and a salad for appetizers, and they were all top notch. We got the steak, a pizza and the fettuccini pasta for the main course, and tiramisu for dessert, all the while sipping on fresh cranberry juice. I'm not going to go into details about each dish, but suffice to say that each one of them was epic! It made all other Italian places I've eaten at feel like fast food joints. I'm definitely coming back to this place, and I'm bringing all my friends over! And oh, call to make a reservation! They fill up pretty quick, and if you just walk in, you'll probably end up waiting a couple of hours!

    (5)

  • Marcie M.

    Ohhh eeeeem geeeee. I wish I could hit the "Find a Table" button and make a reservation right now. YUUUUUM. This was my most favorite meal I had in Portland the whole week I was there and of course, it was my first and I wasn't able to get back before I left. Sighhhh. So good. We got a recommendation from the gal at Enso to head here for some fabulous dining and warned that there may be a wait. On a Tuesday night without a reservation it was 45 minutes but we waited only about 20. Not bad considering people were pouring in, the parking lot was full and the patio fuller. I knew immediately it was going to be a good choice. The woman who assisted us was pleasant and happy to get us some drinks at the bar while we waited and we were served by a lovely attentive knowledgeable woman who was happy to make recommendations. I am always excited when the server eats the food that is being prepared. After all, they are technically "selling" me on it and I want to ensure it's good! We got a couple of plates to share and she also rec'd that we share the Nostrana Insalata which was one of the best salads I've ever had. It was definitely the Caesar dressing that made it most enjoyable! For dinner we split Tagliata which was iron steak over a bed of greens and it was cooked absolutely perfectly. My mouth is watering remembering the layers of flavor. We also indulged in some pasta with shrimps in a white sauce that was the special and is not on the menu right now. We loved it. The portions were very well sized (not too big but not super small) and the shared entrees allowed us to try more than one thing and enjoy many options. They also served bread but to avoid getting full we didn't even taste it. I now regret that. I definitely loved my experience here. I would absolutely go back if I ever come back to Portland and would recommend it to tourists and locals alike. If you don't want to wait, FIND A TABLE. :)

    (4)

  • Alex V.

    The pork chop was A+

    (4)

  • Crystal L.

    This place was amazing! We sat at the bar and the service was wonderful. The bartender was attentive and helpful with our drinks(suggestions and pairings). Dinner was perfect! I had the smoked rotisserie chicken and it melted in my mouth. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone! Great atmosphere too.

    (5)

  • Meghan C.

    I hadn't remembered that I had dined here before when I made the reservation after searching Yelp Reviews. The moment we pulled up, memories came flooding back, like foodie black magic. The space is spectacular! Wide, open and smartly laid out. With a constantly rotating menu, I can confirm the multiple items we had were superb. The standout was the Lasagna. Wine list was fantastic.

    (5)

  • Flory W.

    Had dinner at Nostrana recently with my family. If you are looking for good Northern Italian food, an elegant yet relaxing atmosphere, and excellent service, this is the place to go. Between us, we had all three salad selections and everyone raved about them. We tried four of the main course entrees and they were all very good and tasty, but not 'great'. (To be great, it has to taste better than I can prepare at home :). The desserts were fabulous, but the portions were small. We were not on a budget, which is just as we'll as the price tag kept going up and up with the drinks and wine that we ordered. Nostrana offers a wide variety of imported Italian wines, but they were surprisingly expensive. A larger selection of Oregon Pinot Noir would have been appreciated.

    (4)

  • Rory B.

    I'm always impressed with the cuisine, and last night was the first time I had experienced any hiccup in service. I highly recommend this for parties of all sizes. Truly a solid restaurant!

    (4)

  • Sunil R.

    While the food is great, I would like to focus I the service we received. Our server was amazing, personable and attentive to our table in just the right ways. Come here not only when you want amazing food, but when you want to feel welcome and comfortable.

    (5)

  • Shannon K.

    What a fabulous restaurant! Great food, great service, beautiful ambiance! The nostrana insalata salad was to die for.. Also had the margarita pizza with prosciutto added.. The crust was a perfect balance of soft and crispy, and the sauce topping ratio was perfect.. Can't wait to come back to try other things the menu has to offer!

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Portland pro tip: This place has a ridiculously awesome happy hour. I would be lying to you if I said I didn't secretly love going to Blazer games in part because I know it's a guaranteed trip here after for the 9PM-close party in your mouth. We've never made it past the wood fired pizza, bcs let's be honest, why mess with perfection? My favorite is the margherita, with a nice glass of red wine- usually for me, that includes a Sangiovese or a Merlot, but their wine list is fantastic enough that you could go back time and time again and never get bored. It's also worth mentioning the wood accents, warm colors, and dim, cozy lighting make you feel right at home, and give the whole place a rustic, romantic feel- such a great place for date night. If you're feeling fiesty, the changing sorbets also are a wonderful way to end a meal- not too heavy, not too sweet, just the way I love to end an hour spent in Italian heaven.

    (5)

  • Ryan H.

    Love this place. Can't say it enough. Staff is very friendly and knowledgable. Great wine selection that rotates as well. The pizza is delicious and a regular go to. Have had the aged steak as well and it is definitely good. Will be coming back often.

    (5)

  • Ed L.

    Went here over Christmas with my out of town family. The recommendation was that this was an excellent place worthy of checking out. It was alright. Started with the olive oil sampler. Interesting to sample them like wine or beer. Couldn't say I really appreciated what I was doing but, hey, it's their deal. I had a pasta dish which was ok. Aunt had the steak which was ok and very small. Others shared a pizza. The pizza was very good. Service was kinda snotty. Like everyone had something better to do. And very Portlandia....which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

    (3)

  • Sherri H.

    Wow this place is fantastic! Had a pretty damn delicious dinner on my most recent visit to Portland. Our group of 5 went on a Monday night around 9:30pm, and though they close at 10 on Mondays the hostess and our waitress were very gracious and we were not rushed. The ambiance was very nice and the place is big so it felt spacious and relaxed, which adds to the enjoyability of a sit-down meal. We shared everything: - Insalata Nostrana ($5 from Happy Hour menu; we ordered 2) - Pizzetta stracciatella (super delicious version of tomato/mozz/basil) - Smoky Rotisserie Chicken - Salumi pizza - Margherita pizza + arugula ($6 from Happy Hour menu, full size) - Meatballs with pasta, a Monday special Everything was amazing but the meatball pasta was my favorite. The meatballs were mouthwatering, the pasta was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was to DIE for. Even after I was full, I ate the rest off my boyfriend's plate. One person got a Summer of Riesling wine flight and the rest of us shared a bottle. It was more than enough food and all for $31/person with tip. Extremely reasonable for such a delicious meal (compared to the NYC prices I'm used to)! One of the best meals I had on my vacation.

    (5)

  • McApo E.

    We wanted to take my husband's mom and grandma out for a nice dinner, and a co-worker recommended this place. We were not disappointed. The tables were a bit crowded together, but the atmosphere was charming and classy. The service was good, and the food was incredible. My husband and his family loved the Tagliata (dry-aged flat iron steak), and my Radiatori (pasta with tomato butter sauce) was delicious. My husband said his cocktail was "top notch," while I skipped the alcohol and had a "Don't Call Me Shirley," their version of a shirley temple, made with true grenadine--it was amazing. We had the fresh berry tart for dessert, which was also tasty, and it was my birthday weekend, so they brought out a birthday candle--a beeswax rooster--which was a nice touch. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Mike F.

    The place was packed, so we sat at the bar for dinner - Bartender was great. Excellent knowledge and communication skills on both food and drink - The minestra soup was one of the top three soups I've ever had. I wish I had a thermos full of that broth right now and it's 8am. The several varieties of mushrooms were perfectly firm - I really enjoyed the braised lamb and the mashed potatoes swimming in the reduction. It reminded me of a really good scotch beef, but lamb. Great atmosphere. Buzzy, but not too loud.

    (4)

  • Jonathan Y.

    Went here with my brother and sister-in-law, as well as my wife. The ambiance is nice, although the tables may be a bit close to one another. Feels like you are dining in a barn, or old pub with really high ceilings. The appetizers we had were really good, but the main courses themselves were really bad. We had a salami and cheese plate which were both excellent. They got eaten up really quickly, and the cheeses were diverse enough to keep our attention the whole time. We also had the Insalata Nostrana, which is radicchio based with a caeser salad dressing. This was honestly one of the better salads I've had, and the raddicchio leaves were a fun twist. Didn't go over so well with the girls, but my brother-in-law and I loved it. For dinner we ordered two pizzas and two baked gnocchi (al romana) dishes. The pizzas were flavorless and soggy. Even with a raw egg in the middle, the pizza lacked any savory flavor. Easily top 3 worst pizzas I've ever had in my life. I didn't finish and didn't bother bringing it home. The same went for my brother-in-laws pizza which was the diavolo. The baked gnocci wasn't good either. Both girls did not finish and did not bother taking it home. They said that it tasted like a mushy baked potato. Given that gnocchi is made from partly potatoes, one could somewhat expect this. However, I've had baked gnocchi before, and this was no where near in comparison. The marinara/red sauce was bland. We ordered some old fashioneds, which were great. If the main course had been even remotely tasty, we would be back. Unfortunately, since it's not a cheap place to go, you can find much better elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Amy P.

    Did not eat there. Not curious enough after the poor service after entering the establishment.

    (1)

  • Kristen M.

    AWESOME LATE NIGHT HAPPY HOUR (Woot Woot!) I've heard a lot about Nostrana and I've FINALLY had a chance to dine here with my fellow grubbers! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Nostrana, it is a well-respected, rustic, Italian restaurant developed by James Beard Award Finalist - Best Chef in 2012, Cathy Whims! The atmosphere of Nostrana is very inviting! Consider it to be rustic-modern with a casual wooden ski-lodge kinda feel. Their late night happy hour is from 9 PM to closing (nightly). You can also order items from their dinner menu if you don't feel like anything on there either. So as you can imagine, my fellow grubbers and I were able to take advantage of the HH menu and items off their dinner menu as well. [devour] *CHARCUTERIE ($5, **3.5 STARS**) A mixture of artisanal meats and cheeses. If you crave a certain cheese, they may be able to apply that request on that charcuterie plate. One of my friends has a love for blue cheese and they were able to provide something similar. *WOOD OVEN CIABATTA & ARBEQUINA OLIVE OIL ($3, **4 STARS**) I love warm, fresh bread! And I'm glad this dish came with Oregonian olive oil to dip my carbs in! Leave me alone with this thing and it'll be demolished. Yes! Something so simple can also be that satisfying! *INSALATA NOSTRANA ($5, **5 STARS**) One of the favorite items delivered at our table that evening! Consider the this salad as Nostrana's version of the Caesar's salad. Made with radicchio, parmesan cheese, rosemary-sage infused croutons, these items were enveloped with their Caesar-style dressing. The dish was addicting and I wouldn't mind ordering this salad, over and over again! *PIZZA MARGHERITA ($6, **4 STARS**) Consider the pizza margherita to be a simple, thin crust, 12-inch pizza, delightfully cooked in their rustic oven. Made with your traditional ingredients - tomato, basil and their "house" mozzarella, this dish was quite divine! I would actually consider consuming a plate of this on my own if I had a chance! =X *PIZZA MARINARA ($5, **3 STARS**) Our table decided to add prosciutto (additional $4) and anchovies (additional $3) as toppings to this pizza. These options were also available for the pizza margherita as well. The prosciutto was quite delicious on this pizza! But unfortunately, the anchovies were a bit too overwhelming in saltiness, that I had to make sure I drank some water to dilute the sodium content. I should've anticipated that since anchovies get that kinda wrap. In retrospect, I would've taken out the anchovies and have the 12-inch pizza left only with the prosciutto. *NOSTRANA MAC & CHEESE ($6, **3.5 STARS**) I love carbs and cheese. Especially if the cheese is melted on the carbs! Upon a 5-inch round casserole dish, this dish consists of penne pasta made with five different cheeses, sliced tomatoes and cream. A pure devil-ish delight! *BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA ($65, **5 STARS**) yelp.com/biz_photos/nost… This item was on the dinner menu (not HH). As one of Nostrana's popular dishes, this 31-day dry-aged St. Helen's rib eye steak was about 2 inches THICK and weighed about 1 kilo (~2.2 lbs)!!!! This lovely piece of meat was cooked medium-rare to our liking with garlic-rosemary oil. For all you carniwhores who love a piece of beef, this dish can be quite daunting for one to consume. I was glad that my fellow grubbers and I were able to endure and share this dish fam bam style. I also liked the fact that Nostrana was able to slice up the meat in several pieces for us to easily consume. One of the memorable pieces devoured that evening! [dessert] *RICOTTA CHEESECAKE ($7, **3.5 STARS**) For those of you who don't know, I'm a ricotta slut. I love this cheese in everything! As enticing as it sounds, the ricotta cheesecake was made with a light, crumbly, pistachio crust, decorated with an orange marmalade on top, and decadently glazed with melted dark chocolate syrup. While I have tried ricotta cheesecake from different bakeries, and have found the texture to be dense, Nostrana's version is light and fluffy, even though it was decadent in calories, I sure didn't feel like that while consuming it! [imbibe] *HOUSE WINE - CHIANTI ($5/glass) for this HH price, this was a great way to accompany our meal! Service - was phenomenal. Reservations were kept and ready upon our arrival, water glasses were attentively filled and, they accepted several cards for payment (thank you!). I couldn't ask for more from everyone here! From simple food, wonderful service and great ambiance, Nostrana is truly a gem within the SE PDX district. I would recommend Nostrana for their HH! I would love to come back and try their dinner, but their HH is irresistible! Yelp 2013 100 for 100 Challenge - Review #23

    (4)

  • Alyssa C.

    I've never been here for dinner, so I have to precede that this review is for happy hour/bar hanging ONLY. The first time I came here for HH was straight from the gym and they brought me a whole pizza for $5. MIND BLOWN. Holy crap this was some good pizza - one of the best of its kind. Pretty much all the other menu items are obsolete. The house wine is decent too - overall, super amazing legit happy hour. I came back here with a friend for a drink - we sat at the bar and ended up having so much fun. We made friends with the people sitting next to us and with the bartender who poured us some amazing house-made limoncello and when I asked for a boozy dessert, let me try a lineup of different liqueurs to go in my affogato. One of the best bar experience I've had yet in Portland and a super good happy hour that doesn't skimp on quality. Win all around!

    (5)

  • Courtney T.

    Got this spicy salami pizza with peppers and a touch of honey. This was three weeks ago and I'm still thinking about how good it was. We also got the smoked chicken entree with mashed potatoes, which was also quite good. The restaurant has a parking lot too, which is nice and the interior has big exposed beams and nice lighting. I'm glad we chose this place for our only night in Portland.

    (5)

  • Beth M.

    So delicious. One of my favorite places in Portland. The pizzas are amazing (and they give you pizza scissors)! The wine flights are a lot of fun too. Highly recommend

    (5)

  • Maryam B.

    Basically, I love this restaurant and here is why: 1. It is an incredibly beautiful space - towering ceilings, exposed wood, stacks of firewood, big windows, etc. etc. 2. The service is wonderful - always just attentive enough, knowledgable, courteous. 3. The happy hour! The Margherita pizza is $6 after 9pm, and let me tell you now that it is an incredible Margherita pizza. Also, their Insalata Nostrana, which is essentially their take on a caesar but made with Radicchio, is also on the happy hour menu and is delicious. 4. Everything I've eaten here is delicious. Obviously some things are better than others, but everything has been good. 5. Their butterscotch budino is ridiculous. I don't think I could ever eat a whole one on my own because it's quite rich, but it is wonderful, especially with the suggested pairing. 6. Their menu is constantly changing, but still consistent. There are some items on the menu that are staples, but a lot of the items are changed frequently. 7. Perfect place for a date, perfect place to go with a friend, perfect place to take guests from out of town, perfect place to take your parents, perfect place to go for a nice dinner with a group of friends. If you haven't been here yet, you definitely need to.

    (5)

  • Ryan A.

    Fantastic classic Italian restaurant. Excellent food and wine selection, and the wood-stove pizza is delicious. I've been to this restaurant a half dozen times for dates and even a graduation dinner. Service is typically excellent; however, my last visit was a bit soured because of an unfriendly male bartender. Doesn't take much away from the quality of this establishment. Also, they have a great late Happy Hour.

    (5)

  • Jenny H.

    My boyfriend and I decided to head down to Portland for his birthday and picked this place after seeing the great reviews and also craving Italian food, especially pasta! Well when we got here, we were greeted by the host who told us that we will have to wait because she wasn't the host.... ? Yeah we were confused as well. After giving her a weird look, the host who is the host came and seated us outside. Once given the menu to look at, we looked at our options and saw that there was not much to pick from.... They didn't have any pasta dish except for gnocchi dishes.. At that point we did wanted to leave but decided to stay because we got lost getting there, drove all the way there and already ordered two glasses of wines. OK well I got the oven roasted chicken which was DELICIOUS! The caramelized onions that topped the dish went well with the chicken. My boyfriend for the sausage pizza which was meh.... alright. The prices here are ridiculous! I was kind of sad about that. So... with the two glasses of wine plus a salad to share and two entrees came up to be very expensive... But I will say that our waitress was awesome! She was funny, talkative, and silly. =P

    (3)

  • Michelle P.

    I had a meeting at this restaurant-we had both heard how good the good was. Well that doesn't hold true if lunch. The selections were minimal, the wait a bit long & the amount of food we got was sparse at best. And I could not find pasta with red sauce. I do not recommend this restaurant unless you are not hungry & enjoy being talked down to

    (3)

  • Natasha S.

    This place is a classic I come to every time I am in Portland. Impeccable customer service, top notch food, and quality wine flights. They don't have anything on the menu for gluten free-ites, but this is a place that is well worth the tummy ache the next morning. Their pizza is something straight from Naples cooked to perfection in their brick oven. Any kind you get will be out of this world. They have three different kinds of wine flights to choose from and 10 pizzas. The service is attentive, they manage to refill water and change plates and silverware without you noticing and truly understand the art of service. We ordered desert and every bite of the ricotta cheesecake, tiramisu, and butterscoth budino was worth every cent and calorie. 5 stars through and through. Thank you for getting it right!

    (5)

  • Y A.

    5 stars for food, 4 stars for service, 5 stars for prices. The best food restaurant I've ever been in the States.

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    Nostrana has been around seven years & we just became aware of it a couple months back. Our friends had nothing but good things to say about the food, the service, the ambiance... the everything. With that we set up a double date for a Saturday night dinner. The air outside was comfortably warm so when asked whether indoor or outdoor seating we chose outdoor. We had made reservations & luckily so as seating was full in both areas at 7:30pm. Our lighting was by candlelight & a full moon rising into the dark sky; quite intimate. We agreed to order & share everything as most of the items everyone decided on sounded delicious. Some of the menu items change daily & others don't but a new menu is printed each day. To start we ordered the Insalata Nostrana ($10) which is possibly my new favorite caesar salad in PDX. It's an Italian salad made with radicchio leaves & a light but flavorful caesar-style dressing. For our entrees we ordered the Funghi verde ($15) & Margherita ($12) "pizze", the Tagliata ($21) & the Fettucini ($15). Of the two wood-fired pizzas the Margherita was surprisingly better. The Funghi verde lacked sauce so this is not the choice for you if sauce is a key ingredient required on your pizza. The lack of sauce made the pizza more bland & tiring to eat with just shiitake mushrooms & arugula. Cutting the slices ourselves with pizza shears was a nice touch, though. The Tagliata had incredibly tender slices of flat iron steak (dry aged seven days) laying on a bed of arugula. The meat bursts with flavor while it melts in your mouth. This is the dish I wish I would've ordered. The one slice of the steak sample wasn't enough. The Fettucini was not at all how we thought it'd come out to be. It was made with flatter, thinner fettuccine noodles, olive oils, chopped chives, thinly sliced prosciutto & minced garlic. No alfredo sauce whatsoever. We enjoyed every last noodle. This is a perfect place for a romantic dinner or a small gathering with close friends. The quality of food is superb, the service is welcoming & helpful & the atmosphere is inviting. We had a wonderful first time experience & can't wait to back!

    (4)

  • Walter H.

    The good stuff: Pasta seemed to be home made, and was delicious. Service was excellent, and all of the dishes were yummy. Not as good stuff: It almost seemed a bit pretentious being in there; like the restaurant was trying too hard to be more upscale than it needs to be. It's Portland - chill! And the portions were closer to "eclectic" dining spots than real food. Pasta shouldn't be huge, but it should fill you up, and the portions, while delicious, on both our plates were a bit small. Also? Noise level needs to come WAY down.

    (4)

  • Scott S.

    Very Very Good, but for the accolades I was expecting nirvana. Make sure to order dessert (wood fired cobbler). Will definitely continue to go.

    (4)

  • theresa s.

    This was the 4th restaurant my boyfriend and I drove to on a Sunday night, and we were so excited that it was open. Apparently most restaurants are closed on Sundays in Portland. How odd. The restaurant is nice and charming, very woody. The service is great and it was crowded, but luckily there were two seats in front of the pizza oven. I thought the view was pretty cool. I ordered the lasagne and my bf ordered the chicken. Mine was delicious, but after a couple bites the pesto taste was overwhelming. I tried a bite of my bf's chicken and liked it. My bf enjoyed it as well. Overall, the food is tasty and decent. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to gloat about either. i think the food is a little pricey for the value, but we had the passport card so it was definitely more than worth it for us.

    (4)

  • Giggly C.

    can buy their awesome bread and take it home. we've done it 4 times now and i love it. add hummas or bruchetta (?) topping or eat it plain. so wonderful. i forgot how the food was,but i'll remember the bread forever.

    (5)

  • Devon D.

    airy, melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto, absolutely fabulous fresh pizza, crisp & satisfying salad, the tastiest marinated olives, and really fun campari & soda. i would be happy eating nothing other than the charcuterie plate for the rest of my life... and this is all for happy hour!!

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    Very reasonable prices for such a critically acclaimed restaurant. As other reviewers have mentioned, the caesar salad with radicchio is very tasty. The pizzas are among the best you'll find anywhere....perfectly cooked crust with high quality ingredients, it's as simple as that.

    (5)

  • Mister X.

    I echo Brent's review. This is a great place, open and yet still inviting. It's a great place for a date. It's quite loud in there, so you need to get real close... On a nice day, you can sit outside and let the people waiting for a table stare at your food and plan for their own order. Our server was great and turned me on to a Black Butte Porter which tasted like chocolate. I was pretty impressed until I realized the ingredients actually included chocolate. Isn't that cheating? Would this make it the wine cooler of beers? Well, I don't know. To make up my mind, I ordered a second bottle. I'm still not sure. We started with the Corona Beans and tuna appetizer. Very good, big enough for four. We then shared two pizzas, each big enough for 1.5 people. The first was a Margherita Pizza with mozzarella di bufala. (Water buffalos must be working overtime, which would explain the higher prices... I see bufala everywhere now). The second was the Sofia - Potatoes, rosemary and bacon. Both were very good, excellent pizzas. Our server, damn her, bless her, tempted us with a plum and strawberry crisp with almond sauce that was so go good we could not put down our spoons until it was gone even though we were absolutely stuffed.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Nostrana has two separate seating areas, the more formal dining room and the less formal bar area. I've always chosen to eat in the bar there are plenty of tables and lots of open space. The kitchen must be small as bread is always served to assuage the hunger of the diners while they wait. I haven't been served a bad meal across multiple visits. The pomme frites are fantastic.

    (4)

  • Ranie G.

    I was the first to arrive for a dinner with friends at Nostrana. The hostess told me that she couldn't seat me until my party arrived, but asked if I would like to sit at the bar while I waited. I declined, thinking that they would be along soon. Ten minutes later, when I was still waiting, she asked if I would like some water and a menu to look over? When the rest of my party arrived 45 minutes late, I already knew what I wanted to order, and the hostess had been a delight to chat with. Collectively, my table ordered the pizza with mushrooms, the pizza with pine nuts and pesta (the names I've forgotten) and a salad. The pizzas were both amazingly delicious old-style pizza, uncut and brought with a knife and fork. The salad was gigantic with huge fresh veggies on top. Not very practical for a salad's sake, but it looked superb. I made the mistake of ordering dessert afterwards: not a mistake because it was bad, but because I was so full I could hardly eat even half. But I do recommend that you try whatever fresh fruit cobbler they offer at the time. If you really want to experience this place, don't expect to leave without spending at least $30. But the flavors and atmosphere are worth the occasional splurge.

    (4)

  • Jen O.

    We love Nostrana and have been back many times. Dare I say it might be the best restaurant in town? If not, it's definitely in the top 5. We've never been disappointed - it is consistently phenomenal every time we visit. The food is so fresh and everything we've ordered has been top-notch. The staff is always friendly and very knowledgeable about the food and wine. The menu changes frequently, but here are some suggestions: Get a pizza or gnocchi as an appetizer, and then have one of their entrees (Note: the chicken, fish, and pork options are consistently better & more creative than the flatiron steak, which is frequently on the menu). And you must, MUST try their butterscotch budino with salted caramel sauce. Really. This is the most delicious dessert I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Emily G.

    Our experience with Nostrana started a year before actually getting there for dinner. Last spring, my boss gave us a gift certificate as thanks for babysitting his kiddos. Somehow, we ended up losing it. When I finally fessed up that we'd lost it, it was almost a year later. My boss called Nostrana, told them the situation, they reached back into their records, and agreed gladly to re-issue the gift certificate. That's some customer service right there. Tonight, my partner and I went out for our first meal at Nostrana. We were greeted warmly by the host, shown to our table, and greeted by an equally warm and friendly server. She answered all our questions, helped us make decisions, and we proceeded to have one of the best meals we've had in a very long time. We split 3 courses (bruschetta with smoked mozzarella, candied sun dried tomatoes, and olive tapenade, a sausage, mozzarella, broccoli, tomato, and kalamata pizza, and steak with rosemary and olive oil. I also had a rhubarb/lemon spritzer). Then, we had chocolate budino (flour-less chocolate cake/pudding) and gelato + cappuccino. Before tip, our bill was $64. Nostrana has both excellent customer service and some of the best food we've ever eaten. It's absolutely going to become our new special occasion spot.

    (5)

  • Emily M.

    I found Nostrana to be very welcoming and warm on the inside despite the very high ceilings. The food was good, althogh not really what I would call authentic Italian. I definately suggest ordering the Mista salad, it comes in a a big bowl big enough to share between 3 people. The service was attentive and helpful. We had a very pleasant evening, they were very accomodating even with one person arriving late to join our table.

    (4)

  • akzidenz g.

    food is great, if you go for happy hour. prices for pizza are 50% off! the olive oil for the bread was the tastiest ive ever had in my life. service is slow and the waiter wasnt the *nicest* but the atmosphere in the restaurant is awesome. open kitchen, wooden furniture, and a tall wall of random fantastic things. cant wait to return, for happy hour that is.

    (4)

  • Rebecca P.

    We took advantage of the Restaurant.com coupon for Nostrana to celebrate my birthday. It was outstanding! The waitstaff were likable and the service was impeccable. We liked it so much that we ended up going back later that week with friends. I highly recommend the smoky rotisserie chicken. A pasta with fresh figs was also exquisite.

    (5)

  • Mary D.

    Nostrana is good but somehow never quite as good as I expect it to be. It's a pleasant enough atmosphere, albeit a bit noisy. I had the Insalata Nostrana which sounded good reading about it but which was a disappointment -- a whole lot of radicchio and dressing so eventually boring. My pizza was very nice. I think one can do better for the price.

    (3)

  • Jennifer W.

    Excellent ceasar salad. Fabulous really. Rest of food okay, pretty good. What really turned me off was wait staff. Our waitress, Heather, was not very nice and it really ruined our dinner experience. She may have been put off by waiting on two women who were not drinking alcohol. Little did she know that one of them waitressed for 10 years and is an excellent tipper for good service. We went on a weeknight and it wasn't packed so it wasn't as if it was super busy. She gave us a dessert menu and then completely left us for almost 15 minutes (we timed it) while she talked to another table. We opted just to leave out of sheer frustration instead of getting the coffee and desserts we had wanted. I wouldn't go back. If service had been better, I might have as the salad really was excellent, but it is super noisy, the rest of the food is only good and the service was really off putting.

    (2)

  • A. K.

    This is a good place to take your parents. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with high wood ceiling beams, domed wood-fired oven and a striking bar. Service is friendly and not pretentious. The food is reliable if not particularly interesting. So what's the problem? It's just rather expensive for unmemorable food. The pizza toppings are tasty, the crust is thin, tough and soggy; appetizers are simple (tomatoes with herbs, rice with cannellini beans) to the point of being unimaginative. The wine selection is excellent but wines by the glass are $9-12, cocktails in the same range, so it's hard to get out of here without a significant expenditure; if you're going to splurge a bit, Portland has better to offer.

    (2)

  • Joseph P.

    Wow, now due to my restructuring my review system, I would have given them 5 stars, but now I'm reserving 5 stars to only the best, as if you think about it, there should not be that many 5 star places, if so, then it devalues the star system all together. Sorry, Now about the food. Wow, they like many places in Portland, they support local ingredients, which is a very good attribute. The night we ate there, yes there was a foot of snow outside and it was very very easy to get a seat. Thank goodness, because I was suprised they were open. The food was top notch in freshness and quality, and the wait staff were very helpful. I would say that the interior design is something to look forward too as this had an open style setting that is warm and modern. I had slow roasted pork and smoked ribs, and at one point I had no idea what I was putting in my mouth, because it was amazing. The Flatbread style pizza was quite good, and the gelati and Blueberry crisp were also worth the small wait. I'm going back again, when I visit Portland on a less snowy day.

    (4)

  • Lacy C.

    My boyfriend and I went to Nostrana around 8pm on a monday night and found it extremely enjoyable! We shared a pizza and also an appetizer both of which were unique and enjoyable though not the best food ever had I will admit (thought not bad in any means). The real winner of this restaurant was the staff! They were extremely helpful, down to earth and constantly making sure everything was perfect. though they did it in a way that was not annoying and like they actually cared about our dining experience!! For that alone I will recommend this place to my friends! The atmosphere reminded me of a laid back more natural doug fir type, with unique lighting and minimalistic decor which comes across as very classy and yet still relaxed and not too stuffy. The bar was impressive looking and while we did not partake or any alcoholic beverages I watched the bartender make some pretty stiff drinks....which is a good thing sometimes :) As for the price yes it is a little up there ($15 for a pizza) but we shared ours and also the pate plate (and of course their great free bread) and for around $30 bucks left full and happy. I really had a great time! It also looked like it had ample room for larger amounts of people (there were 2 separate b-day parties going when we were there and both parties seemed very well taken care of!), though I too recommend prob on the weekdays..

    (4)

  • Larry H.

    I like this place but service can be really slow when it gets busy. Great appetisers, would recommend the fig, grape, and prosciutto plate. Decent wine selection with a nice top-shelf bar and the obligatory microbrew list. The only place I've been with better prices for a snifter of clear creek pear brandy is Paddy's downtown. The wood-fired oven and its wood are the highlight of this place as the servers will tell you, so the pizzas are definitely the stars of this place. If you don't get the pizzas though you may be disappointed since the quantity of food vs. price can be a bit skewed. Jesus, it's not like the wood-fired oven makes meat taste much different from regular oven-roasted meat-the wood flavour is too subtle to stick on anything besides dough and possibly fish, give me some more lamb for friggin' $24!!! Anyways, come here for the pizza and you can keep the meal and beverages under $30 with the tip included-for other stuff be prepared to shell out. The pizzas are definitely for light eaters so if you're like me, you might want to fill up on a chicken before coming here to really appreciate it. One of these days I'd like to come in here and put down the $60 for the 2" thick kilo of steak and just chow down, or at least watch someone else buy it and chow down, or even better, let someone else buy it and watch me chow down. What can I say, I've got a thing for having a big slab of meat plopped down in front of me, steaming and dripping blood-not so much a thing for people watching me eat and wondering how I stay svelte-I exercise to eat like an elephant people, and I eat like an elephant because I'm always hungry from exercising...simple as that. No need to stare in wide-eyed shock...the applause is amusing though.

    (4)

  • Brent F.

    The wood-fired pizzas made in the oven imported from Italy are what pizza is SUPPOSED to be like. Served with a big fat knive and fork, these pizzas are amazing. Also great salads, excellent wine list, in an open but warm and friendly space. One of the best new additions to SE dining so far this year. Open 7 days (which is refreshing) and serving lunch and dinner. Menu is changed daily and the produce, meats and cheeses are from local purveyors. I'm very happy here.

    (4)

  • Dave K.

    Cathy Whims established an enviable reputation with the legendary Genoa, so you know she can cook. Nostrana is a completely different animal, but that doesn't mean you will be disappointed. The building is large, airy and beautifully designed. The dining room is open and informal. When you enter, the first thing you see is the woodpile from which they stoke the showpiece of the restaurant - - the wood-burning pizza oven. The heady smell of woodsmoke and pizza dough immediately gets the mouth watering. This restaurant is at its best with the pizza and pastas. The pizza dough is thin and crackly, with a chewy, yeasty taste and a hint of smoke from the wood. So satisfying! The quality of the pasta is excellent, but the portions are on the small side. I would like a bigger plate for the price, but they always taste great. Whims is a master at gnocchi, which is often rubbery and heavy at other venues. Here, the gnocchi is soft and fluffy and always sauced just right. Service has always been decent, but certainly not like the pampering you get at Genoa. That's not necessarily a negative, since Nostrana is certainly meant to be casual. We always arrive early for dinner, so the kitchen is never backed-up and the waitstaff are not overwhelmed. I cannot speak for the service when the joint is jumping in primetime. When I get craving for fine pizza that's not too expensive, Nostrana is the first place I think of. I guess that makes me a regular.

    (5)

  • Andy W.

    Nostrana can be a lot of different things depending on your need at a given time, and even if the food is always terrific, the quality of the overall experience can vary somewhat. It can obviously be a restaurant for an expensive dinner out. It can also be a place for a reasonably priced late night snack. Or a couple of after-dinner drinks and dessert. Each version of Nostrana almost needs a separate review. 1. So I'll start, as one always does, with dessert. Let's say it's about 10pm, you've had dinner at home, you're heading to a show at Holocene, but the band you like doesn't start until 11, and you need something to keep you going until then. Butterscotch Budino. That, my friends, is enough to love Nostrana. Tiramisu ain't bad either. Throw in the grappa pairings, and it's a done deal. 5 stars easily. 2. Ok, let's say it's 10pm, you went to the theater at around 7 and haven't eaten anything. You'd rather not go to Cartopia, because it's cold outside and you'd rather not take stuff to go, lest it get soggy or cold on the way. Happy hour pizza and a bottle of wine (with optional dessert). It's good pizza. The scissors are a nice touch. The radicchio caesar salad is an excellent accompaniment. A solid 4 stars. 3. Now, let's say it's some kind of special day like an anniversary, and you want to take your lady friend out to a romantic dinner at one of Portland's finest restaurants. Well ... the food is terrific -- delicious, seasonal Italian-style entrees -- but the atmosphere doesn't match, with its loud, cavernous dining area. Not so conducive for a romantic fancy dinner for two. And the service is really friendly, but the fact that they are working in such a huge space can gum up the works. 3 stars. But the overall bottom line is, Nostrana has fabulous food up and down the menu, and that's what I really want to focus on.

    (4)

  • Ahlam S.

    Beautiful restaurant. Very romantic but not in a cheesy, awkwardly quiet restaurant with annoying Italian music playing in the background kind of way. We got lucky and ended up dining around Happy Hour, so we ordered 2 pizzas, their roasted bar nuts (which I'm still craving), olives, some salads in addition to our entrees. Service was perfect. Really friendly, honest and genuine. Most importantly food was great!

    (4)

  • Tom J.

    I was really displeased with my experience here and if I ever move back to Portland, I can guarantee you I won't be darkening Nostrana's doorway. We went for dinner for a friend's birthday who really wanted to go here. We put our names on the list, we had a party of four, and waited an hour and a half for a table! The manager and host couldn't seem to keep track of things and others who came in after us were seated before us. The manager was aware of this situation but wasn't the least bit friendly and didn't offer us a free appetizer or anything for the hassle. Our server was friendly but inaccurate. I asked if the sausage pizza was very spicy as it's listed as spicy on the menu. I hate spicy food. She insisted it wasn't very spicy at all. I bit into it and it was super spicy, way too spicy for me. By this time, I was starving, so I forced it down, but it made for a very unpleasant dinner. I did like that their desserts are very small. Dessert should just be a few bites, not an all out pig out. Because of the desserts and the okay service, except for my pizza issue, I am giving two stars, but it was not a fun night. They make pizza that is just as tasty at Vincente's, Apizza Scholls and Ken's Artisan Pizza, so there's not reason to bother with going to Nostrana, unless you are really, really into super snobby, yuppie scenes.

    (2)

  • John H.

    BOOM. Margarita pizza hmm TRIPLE DANK. And the atmosphere is BOMB DIGGITY. YEEOOWW

    (5)

  • K P.

    Delicious, delicious wood fire pizza and Caesar salad. In a small strip mall. Make reservations. Even at 11:30 AM on Monday they were packed.

    (4)

  • Af R.

    Nice ambiance, great pizza, awesome happy hour. Radicchio salad was good but a bit too much dressing. Will be going back for sure...

    (4)

  • Beth W.

    Even though the late-night happy hour prices have gone up it's still the best deal in town for: GREAT service, awesome wood-fire margarita pizza and seasonal tap. First place I had Double Mountain was here. I mean, food carts are more expensive than this jam! I love you Nostrana. In winter, man, this place make me feel like GOD! Don't raise the late-night price anymore. I've given you so much money I NEVER would have. You CAN'T afford to lose me. Recession, never end -- apologies unemployed dad. I just love it. The name even reminds me of Nostromo -- the name of the spaceship in ALIEN...not the Conrad book (BORING!) Extra points for the name. We call one of the servers "Master Server" -- which sounds like it has racial connotations but doesn't -- Master Server is so good, he's like a ninja that just sneaks in and takes care of everything but you never even know he's there!!! Master Server knows he doesn't need to BS with you or pretend to like or say your name 400 times (see: Etta review). He's got a job to do, he does it with grace. Master Server also rides the number 15 on Belmont because we've seen him on it and we think he lives around 34 and Belmont...we're now stalking Master Server. But this guy, do they have awards for this kind of thing. Yup. That's called a big a*s tip.

    (5)

  • Kay K.

    We had dinner here last night and it was incredible. The service was outstanding. My water and wine glasses were never empty, the server had wonderful food and wine recommendation and was not pushy at all. The food was just what we wanted. A fresh Idaho sturgeon with a blood orange sauce and puréed parsnips. My husband got a pork belly dish with roasted potatos and kale. The best meal we've had in portland thus far. We will be back.

    (5)

  • Hannah H.

    My boyfriend and I went in for dinner and had an awesome time. The service was perfect. The food was delicious and the wine menu had something for everyone. You can't go wrong by dining here.

    (5)

  • Aimee L.

    By far the worst restaurant service and most mediocre food I've had in years. Waited forever to even get acknowledged. Rude waiter, when asking for balsamic to go with olive oil at table, says 'this isn't Olive Garden'. Didn't bother complying with nut allergy restrictions, making my partner physically sick at the table. And the food that was eaten? Bland, overrated, overpriced. Absolutely baffled as to why this place gets so many raves - I will never set foot in there again.

    (1)

  • Sara L.

    My boyfriend and I visited Portland on a whim, and I found Nostrana accidentally from a tourist magazine recommendation. It totally exceeded my expectations! The pizza was simple yet delicious, the spinach and egg pasta my bf got was light yet creamy. We also had a plate of salami as appetizer. Would go again.

    (5)

  • Ray V.

    Those bastards! Win a James Beard award and you think you can rest on your laurels? Well think again! ... Ok, thats not really what I'm writing because not only have they not sat back and been complacement but over all Nostrana is pretty darn good. I've been here twice and my wife three or four times and all of the experiences have been good. The service sometimes is a little slow, but not so much that you focus on it. Some of it is because the food can take a while and that's ok. Because the time they take to craft their dishes is well worth it. If you go and they have squash blossoms, don't hesitate to order them they were out of this world. The pasta dishes have all been nicely done and the mashed potato and fava beans were quite tasty, put me in mind of a nice Chianti. The pizza while good, isn't what I would call the best in Portland but I would rank it in the top tier. And the desserts so far have been delish, my favorite being this last time with the strawberry and blackberry crisp with almond cream. Well worth the risk of ordering ahead for the cook time. Food wise, the cheese plate is a definite miss. The price is too high, the little bite size portions of pate and tureens though tasty are definitely time intesive and drive the price up for a plate that will really only feed 1/2 of a person. Back to the service, the staff has always been friendly, but sometimes they can come across as standoffish. A little quiet as they swoop in and scoop your plates up or replenish the water bottle. At no time can I remember any of the other drinks being offered again. Maybe thats my old age creaping into the memories. Yes I still believe they deserve 4 stars. Nostrana may not be my first choice, or even second or third, but I think they are one of the finer restaurants in Portland. Heck some one should nominate them for a James Beard award...

    (4)

  • Nichole S.

    I would love to bump this up by a star but I wasn't wowed by my meal and I really did love my wine and the atmosphere here. The room is huge and kind of a fun place to eat I would say its romantic but also kind of homey. Our waitress was friendly and efficient but i would say she had too many tables at once because we were left too long in between visits for my taste. I enjoyed the wine as well I had a glass of sparkling rose that was one of my favorites and the bread/ dipping oil is really nice. We got something similar to an appetizer sampler with olive oil poached scallops truffle flan and bruschetta. The scallops were nice clean and well prepared the flan tasted nothing like truffles and was over cooked in my opinion. The bruschetta was a pice of the foccacia bread with a bunch of cheese it was tasty but I wouldn't say it was worthy of a solo component status. Next we had a pasta course Capellini which was well done the pasta was perfect and the sauce had great flavors. The shellfish seemed pretty weak very small and on the cusp of being over cooked. Overall I would order this again. Lastly we got the braised lamb which was not very memorable in-fact what I do remember was the mashed potatoes were cold. The carrots were nice and I like how the braising liquid wasn't over reduced it was tasty but not memorable. For dessert we has quince bread pudding which was very bad and we didn't eat it when it was cleared I guess this was not picked up on. The tiramisu was ok again not memorable. This restaurant is pricy and in my mind I would prefer the quality of food was equal to the price.

    (2)

  • david m.

    The restraunt has a very warm modern feel. The service was amazing and the locally sourced food has fantastic flavors. The Dungeness crab pizza is in the top three of pizzas I've ever consumed!

    (5)

  • Jasmyn M.

    Sadly, this review will be brief because my memory of my experience was overpowered by drunkeness. What I can remember was that my party of 8 was filled with lucky ladies because we landed on a Gnocci Thursday (care to disagree?). I can also remember that their cocktails (well at least the first 3 from memory) and their pizza were some of the best I've had in the city. I wish I could provide more detail, heck, even more interesting anecdotes but that will have to wait until another visit. Which I hope to be soon, real soon. I may have found my Portland Nopa. Swoon!

    (5)

  • Douglas C.

    Nostrana is located in, what is now, a strip mall that once was a supermarket. They did a nice job repartitioning and converting it because there is now a wine store where the frozen food once was, a stereo store in the old produce section, and Nostrana where the baking goods might have been. Nostrana is a nice place, especially when it's cold outside because they have that big wood-fired pizza oven sitting in the middle of the place. The place gets quite crowded, and it fills up fast once the doors open. We were the second couple to cross the threshold on Friday night and the place was packed with employees waiting for the crush. Our waiter looked like an 18th century swashbuckler. He had a quick smile and was very professional. We ordered Dungeness Crab Pasta with tomato, pine nuts, and currents, and Goat Cheese Papardelle with lemon sauce and arugula. While we waited, we shared a small appetizer pizza with black trumpet mushrooms and white truffles. We also shared the house radicchio salad. The food was very good, but they use a little to much olive oil for my taste. The pizza looked like a olive oil wetland, and both entrees were quite oily as well. However, the flavors were wonderful and we left nothing but empty plates. The real surprise was the Radicchio Salad with parmigiano, rosemary sage croutons and Caesar dressing - I could have eaten two! They make their own pasta and pizza dough, and the wood fired oven turns out fresh breads as well.

    (4)

  • Karli Z.

    One word: rhubarberella (sp? doesn't matter). Just ask for the rhubarb cocktail. I'm in the food industry. I go out often. Yet, never before have I tasted something so delicious, fresh, and unique. Hon. Est. Ly. Just order it. I was with two other ladies (one who is a bartender herself and we all felt the same way) Go. Now. GO. Also- go after 9pm and partake in one of the best happy hours in Portland. YUMMY Pizza. $6. It's almost like you're stealing. (Also try the mac and cheese. SINFUL. And it's post-rapture so it doesn't matter anymore. Indulge already.)

    (5)

  • Hovie G.

    We returned for another dinner (reviewed July 28th 2013) hoping that my star dish, the Nostrana salad, would be back to standard but sadly it wasn't. I hope that Kathy gets her recipe standardised so her chefs can consistently reproduce it, as it was very disappointing for me. The main courses were very good and reasonable portions but sadly the lack of flavour in the Insalata Nostrana should not be a recurring experience at such a top restaurant.

    (3)

  • Brock H.

    Used to live right around the corner when this space was part of Subee's (AKA Scratch & Dent Foods). So every time I'm in Nostrana I'm reminded that I'm sitting in what used to be the produce section of Subee's. It's a pretty amazing transformation that has taken place from a run-down grocery store to a swank Italian restaurant. For some reason I still think of Nostrana as a pizza place. When they first opened that seems to be what all the buzz was about. Don't know if they've expanded their menu over the years, but I was in there the other night and the vibe was much more very nice Italian restaurant that happens to have a wood-fire pizza oven. On previous visits the pizza has always been excellent, but I don't think I've ever branched out beyond pizza and a salad. It's a huge space that was full on a Tuesday night so they must be doing things right. We sat at the bar so we wouldn't have to wait. We had a couple of really nice cocktails, pizza as an appetizer and split an order of the pork ribs. Everything was excellent. I think it was seeing the Bistecca alla Fiorentina on the menu that drove home that they are doing some serious Italian food here. Having to cut the pizza with scissors seems a little gimmicky, but we had to do that a couple of times traveling in Italy so I guess it's authentic. Need to return some time in the 'Italian Restaurant' headspace and try some more of their classic Italian dishes.

    (5)

  • Bill D.

    Very nice thin crust Pizza in the Italian style. Give it a try at lunch when it's much less crowded. I met some nice folks sitting at the Pizza Bar. The raved about their pizza and their trout. I had a Diavolo and could taste every element of the pizza - they were all very appealing.

    (4)

  • Mark P.

    Excuse me didn't we order the margarita pizza? That's it right there. Where's the cheese? Our menu states what's on each pizza. Where's the cheese? How's your 3 bite charcuterie board? Where's the cheese? How's are those 3 ravioli? Where's the cheese? We only give cheese to men in hounds tooth. Where's the cheese? How about another 3oz $9 cocktail? Margarita Pizza It's toppings are fresh sliced tomatoes, fresh sliced Mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves. It represents the colors of the Italian flag. I believe it was the first pizza to use cheese, the pizza's we all know and love today. Read more: wiki.answers.com/Q/What_…

    (2)

  • Megan C.

    Had a wonderful romantic dinner here on NYE and everything was fabulous. Started with negronis and a salumi pizza, then the tagliata (totally amazing, it was like buttah) with a side of stewed cardoons. Dessert was the must have butterscotch budino. This was my third time at Nostrana and I'll definitely be back any time I can think of a good excuse. Amazing cocktails and food with warm and friendly service.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Food is very nice. Steak is well aged, however service is suspect and they know little about wine.

    (4)

  • Samantha S.

    This was our first trip to Nostrana and imagine our delight when the Italian wine maker at Marchesi said that this place was one of his favorite Italian places in Portland. So Marchesi Sangiovese bottle in hand we headed over there for dinner. It was an excellent meal with very few hiccups. We started with the scmorza cheese in hopes that it would be a tomato-based bruschetta with melty cheese but found it was just melty cheese, mushrooms, and pancetta- excellent to be sure, but I was hoping for some veggies. Next up was soup and salads. Two of the people at my table got the pasta e figioli and it was delicious. I has the Insalta Mista- it was huge. For a starter salad the portion was quite generous and it's served in a large glass bowl. I'm not sure if it is intended to be shared, but I would say that it is. I had the green garlic and pork canneloni and it was amazing- super supple and flavorfull. It was Meatball Monday so two of the people joining me took advantage. One had the spaghetti and meatballs and the other the meatball pizza. In both cases the meatballs were excellent. The pizza was almost too hot to eat when it came to the table, but our watering mouths quickly doused the flames. The other guest had the farfalle with primavera. It looked good but frankly, the portion looked really small. I know that we should all be eating less, but this was really small... it was still good and after the bruschetta and soups/salads it was probably just right. The final course was the rhubarb crisp- A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The Almond milk was just the right touch to top it off. Sweet, sour, milky, crispy, and creamy all in one bite. We had a Restaurant.com certificate and they added the gratuity onto to the check based on the gross amount before the discount, which we thought was a little weird but ensured that the excellent service was rewarded appropriately. By all means give Nostrana a try- it was great meal in a casual setting.

    (4)

  • Peter G.

    I like Nostrana quite a bit. I've had a ton of dining experiences here and I cannot say enough how much Nostrana represents a shining example of just how good simply prepared food can be. Service here has gone from terrible to fantastic since having made the smart choice of adding the role of front of the house manager to the roster a while back. One such front of the house manager was a woman with a rockin' booty who just worked it like there was no tomorrow. Only enhanced my experiences there, she did. Carrying on...The front of the house staff are very well informed about the food and drink. The wine list, by the way, not bad at all. It's evolved well and is maturing nicely. Food! Food, food food. Clearly well sourced, seasonal ingredients treated with great care. There's so much more to try than just pizza and pasta here, but that's not to say both those offerings should be looked over. The pies they sling here are some of the best you can get in town and their pastas are beautiful and fresh. Nostrana's good about hosting fun events as well. The Palio a few years back was a blast. Just go to Nostrana...it simply means "ours".

    (5)

  • Cee V.

    Had high expectations which weren't met due to: Pizza crust too soggy and limp Tiny amount of wine poured per glass, full of cork bits, and tiny mixed drink Strange linty gunk in husband's water Building it's in is like a mini mall All these would be excusable if the meal was less costly and the place wasn't lauded as one of the best restaurants in town. Our service was great.

    (3)

  • Dion A.

    We ordered the pork chop entree and a prosciutto pizza with a farm egg. The food wasn't bad but it wasn't that great either and the ambiance is rather snotty for a $$ place. Overall, there's better pizza to be had for a more enjoyable setting and cheaper prices at Sizzle Pie.

    (2)

  • Jacob D.

    Best Neapolitan pizza in Oregon. Served with scissors, which apparently is the traditional way. We also had a mixed meat plate which included some wonderful hams and even some delicious headcheese which I was convinced to try after I had several glasses of wine. We ate other things too - saltimbocca, which was awesome. But then I got pretty hammered and don't remember the rest. You should go here.

    (5)

  • Sandra C.

    This has always been one of my favorite, more romantic restaurants to go to (when I have some spare $$). It is a little pricey, but the food is definitely worth it. The atmosphere is perfect for a more personal 3rd date. As a foodie I have to admit that the crab pizza is always on my mind....months after I last had it!

    (5)

  • Lisa T.

    Ok, here's the deal. I want to love Nostrana. People I know and whose food sense I respect love Nostrana, reviewers love Nostrana, the menu when I read it makes me think I could love Nostrana. However, the best I can come up with is a tepid sort of liking for Nostrana. And that is mostly directed at the happy hour, which is available anywhere in the dining room. $5 for pizza you cut with scissors, yes please! When we went for dinner recently, I felt rather let down by the experience. The Tagliata was okay but the one at Piazza Italia in the Pearl buts it to shame. My husband got the lamb, found it to be seriously overcooked. It didn't even look good on the plate, sort of greyish. Our companions got the soup, which was phenomenal, creamy and rich, but it seemed to me this was the only dish that really delivered. That is how the whole place seems; like it is setting you up, making promises that won't be delivered. Amazing space, great wine list, great looking menu. But then, everything falls a little flat. Service was good with greatness, dinner was just okay, everything just short of expectation. I think I will stick with the late night Happy Hour as it seems the only place that Nostrana really shines.

    (3)

  • H O.

    +: Good meal but a little too salty for me. -: It's basically in a strip mall so the outdoor patio environment suffers a bit when the interior is super warm and comforting. !: I'll pay for good food but I honestly felt a little ripped off. ?: I understand

    (3)

  • Brittany N.

    The arugula pizza with lemon oil is to die for! The fresh bread is so fresh...and also to die for! The unfriendly dude at the front is not to die for. Luckily our server was much warmer. The restaurant however was not warm...we were cold sitting inside on the lovely, summer afternoon. Should have tried their outdoor patio... The place is beautiful with tall ceilings and simple decor. I would recommend it for a date spot :]

    (4)

  • W S.

    I've been there twice now The first time service was so slow it took an hour and a half for lunch. The second time, the hostess was snotty. Why go back?

    (2)

  • Elaine W.

    First time here, but very pleased with our dining experience. I recommend making reservations, especially for dinner...on a Wednesday evening, the place was packed. Rustic, yet elegant ambiance - both with the space and the menu. Our party of four began with a charcuterie and cheese plates and bread with olive oil. Then we shared two pizzas - marguerita (classic mozarella,tomato,and basil) and salumi (salty and spicy) - which we loved cutting apart with the shears provided. For our main courses we had rotisserrie chicken (served with some of the best mashed potatoes I ever had), spaghetti, and flat iron steak. We split bottles of Rose and finished the meal with sorbet and strawberry crisp. My description of the food and drink does not do justice...this is a great place to spend an evening with friends or family. It feels a lot fancier in person, and inexpensive considering the great service and delicious food. I would definitely return on my next trip to Portland!

    (4)

  • Lori F.

    I loved the atmosphere, service and tasteful decorations at Nostrana. If i was judging on those things alone, they would get a solid 5. We took a seat at the pizza counter and there was so much to see. A giant pot of boiling water, a wood fired oven, bearded dudes spinning pizza dough and chefs creating thought out dishes. The menu was jam packed with diverse options and because it was happy hour, I was half tempted to order EVERYTHING! I went with the eggplant parmigiana which was delicious but they weren't joking when they called it a small dish. It was served in a tiny bowl just a thumb bigger than a Dixie cup. Good thing there was another plate filled with fettuccine to mooch from. The fettuccine noodles were light and shiny and cooked to perfection. The oven baked chiabata was creamy and rough in all the right places. Whoa! That kind of sounded dirty! One of my biggest pet peeves when dining out is when I get my food before I get my drink. I ordered the spaghetti western, their version of the Margarita and it came after my food did. I know it was a busy night so I can't be too mad at them but it really makes a difference when you have time to enjoy a nice drink as a precursor to a good meal.

    (3)

  • Zuzana K.

    Oh, yes, yes, yes! Food was amazing, atmosphere very comfortable and warm and the service was attentive. We sat at the window table, right next to large rosemary bush. The smell of it throughout the dinner was enriching the dinner experience. Some of the previous reviews mentioned that the portions are small...The portions were perfect, assuming that you have appetizer, salad, entree and desert. If you purchse only the entree, you will not get enough food and you will miss the point of dining in Italian restaurant. The cocktails are quite authentic. Italians typically enjoy bitter aperitifs because that prepares the palate for the dining.

    (5)

  • Nan C.

    OMG what a delicious dinner! I had the Rotisseire Chicken. Yummmm. It had the smooth texture of the chicken mixed with a little fried crust. And the sweetness of raisins (yes raisins) was complemented very well by a spicy aftertaste. Heavenly!

    (5)

  • Captain B.

    Nostrana is our place to go for one of the best pizzas in Portland. Mostly it's all about the crust, and Nostrana knows it!! Our fave is the Salumi pizza...tomato-base, lots of spicy salami, pickled red peppers, provalone cheese, fresh oregano and a drizzle of diluted honey which offsets the tangy peppers. Almost always perfectly baked (like in under 3 minutes!) and served hot by the very quick and friendly staff. The drinks are excellent, but can be expensive...always check with the server so you don't get sticker shock at the end of the meal. The fruit cobbler is a treat, especially with the almond cream poured over at the getgo...make sure to let the server know your desire to have one of these at the start of the meal, as it requires some oven time to complete.

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    $5 for a delicious, wood-fired margherita pizza, all while sitting up at the pizza bar watching it happen. This was the scene. The space is big and open, that doesn't mean it isn't intimate so much that it ends up getting kind of loud on a busy night. They pack the tables in without referencing a can of sardines, so you at least have elbowroom and shouldn't have to hear awkward conversation from your neighbor. I find more and more that I prefer sitting up at the bar, anyway. There is just so much more to see and be entertained by. Who doesn't love a meal with a free show? While the menu is typical for most Italian spots in the area ($9-15+ primi; $18-$25 secondi), they embrace pizza more than pasta. So pick your Italian poison carefully when coming here. The real gems are the Happy Hour and the ridiculously decadent desserts. The happy hour is every day after nine, which is perfect for a late night meal. None of the food is over $5, and drink specials are the same. Yeah, you need a drink minimum, but for a $5 pizza, I'll do it up right. I tried campari for the first time. Definitely an acquired taste. The pizza quality is your typical wood-fired, thin-crust offering. The middle gets droopy from the cheese and sauce, and the crust is pillowy soft. They even give you scissors to cut the pizza, which is brilliant. No more mangled pizza! We made an evening out of the pizza and a side of anchovies, the charcuterie plate (soft, delicious meats!), two drinks, and the butterscotch budino. Good God. Rich and delicious. I'm glad we split it. It'd probably have gone diabetic. I think it was $26 before tip. Not too shabby. The servers were nice and friendly, not letting the packed house get them down. Only the pizza cook rolled his eyes when two last pizzas were ordered up right before closed. I can't say that I blame him, but I can assure the worst thing that happened to that pizza was the dirty look. The whole experience is tied together with hip-hop infused mixes of some older songs. It was fun.

    (3)

  • Tristan E.

    Food was uneven; ambience loud; service was a bit pushy. We shared the Chantarelle Trio plate. Two of the dishes were tasty, the third a bean salad was boring and I couldn't figure out why they bothered. We shared entrees. The scallops were delicious and perfectly cooked; the quail was charred to the point of inedible--very disappointing. For dessert the butterscotch pudding was excellent, the tiramisu average. 5 stars for scallops and butterscotch pudding, 1 for the quail, 2 for the chantarelle trio and 2 for the tiramisu = 2 over all.

    (2)

  • Matty D.

    Great food as always, but horrible service. I often take business guests here, but never again. I do not need a waitress with attitude at Nostrana. If I'm at Dick's Last Resort on the Riverwalk in San Antonio that's fine, but not here. Sorry, there are too many great restaurants in Portland to waste time here. And waste time we did; nearly three hours for dinner?! We were practically the only people in the restaurant for the first hour and a half. The server was completely disengaged, never introduced herself and never offered any assistance with the menu (the guests were from out of town and not familiar with all the dishes). If you are having a bad day and don't want to be at work, then either pretend to be a great server or leave. I've always had great experiences here, but it takes only one deplorable server to send me elsewhere for future business (and most likely, personal) dinners.

    (2)

  • HOWIE B.

    Well worth checking out. Friendly service, nice digs, delicious shroom pizza, tasty chicken entree, fair prices, good cocktails. Do go.

    (4)

  • Clani Z.

    Nostrana is mediocre at best. We went there twice in the past and were not impressed. We thought we'd give it another chance, since the owner/chef had been nominated for James Beard several times. Again, not good. The pizzas were soggy and over-salted. The charcuterie was bland. The Nostrana salad was good though. But that was the only good dish of the night. To top it off, the service was unfriendly. It's expensive and definitely not worth it when there are so many good restaurants in town.

    (1)

  • layla k.

    This was our favorite date night dinner of the entire Portland trip (which is saying a lot)! The room is so vast but still warm and inviting. We had the baked ricotta in fig leaf, endive Caesar (best I've ever had) and fungi and sausage pizzas...we couldn't have been more sated and happily fed.

    (4)

  • Erika B.

    I loved Nostrana! The pizza was delicious and generously sized. The restaurant was beautifully decorated and comfortable. The view of the pizza oven and pizza being made added to the charm. Service was very good.

    (4)

  • Ridge T.

    My wife and I recently returned from Italy and experienced a lot of Pizza. The pizza here is as authentic as it gets. All of the food is spectacular especially the salads. As I write this I've decided to go there for lunch next week.

    (4)

  • Jillian R.

    I was VERY pleased with the food here. Here are the specifics of our meal: 1. App: the Insalata Nostrana was a very nice way to start the meal. It's very parmesan-y & somewhat heavy on the dressing, which I like, but just giving you the heads up to order it with light dressing if you don't. 2. Pasta: the Pappardelle with duck ragout was amazing! The pasta was clearly made fresh and I highly recommend it. 3. Pizze: the Pizza ala Fiamma was equally good--a little bit of spice and the roasted red peppers made the dish. I also liked the fact they give you scissors to cut the pizza, since my grandma always used to do that =) 4. Side: the grilled cauliflower side was one of the best I've had. I would absolutely come back to this place when visiting Portland again.

    (4)

  • Art A.

    Wow. I was waiting for my once in a lifetime dining experience in PDX. More like, once in PDX experience. Last time we visited it was Le Pigeon, which was absolutely phenomenal. This time, it was Nostrana. WOW! We ordered a bottle of wine, then realized we all wanted a cocktail. So we all ordered an Old Fashioned and Kevin ordered a tequila drink. Meanwhile we opened the bottle of red to let it breathe, which it needed. We ordered two small plates for the table: buratta (hello, HEAVEN!) and scamorza cheese (good). Kevin and I then shared the Insalata Nostrana. OH my goodness! Its a must. The dressing? Best ever! Its a Caesar like dressing and it will leave you breathless. Must try! Eric and MB shared a salad that they enjoyed, but not quite as good as ours. Then I had the Luganega spicy pizza, which was divine. Kevin had a pasta dish that was similar to gnocchi, but not quite. It was equally amazing. We thought we would stop there, but we were convinced to order dessert. And we are glad that happened. The four of us shared the budino (sp?) and tiramisu. The budino (sp?) was one of the best desserts I have ever had. Wowzers. No wonder it was a JB Award nominee or winner. Everything was terrific. Can't wait to get back to PDX and back to Nostrana!

    (5)

  • Cindy I.

    I hate to give it only two stars because the pizza was VERY good, BUT we also got the rotisserie chicken and it was RAW inside. We went there on a Wednesday night and they said they had one chicken meal left at 7 pm so I jumped on it. Wish I hadn't! I am happy to report I did not get sick, maybe because we stopped eating it before ingesting too much or the overdosing of acidophiles after we got home. Even though the pizza was as close to Italy that we have had with excellent tasting sauce and flavorful crust (was a little tough) I can't see that we would go back. After we reported the chicken was raw the manager she said well we serve organic chicken so we try and cook it more medium so it doesn't get tough! That is crazy, you never serve medium chicken, you use a meat thermometer and make sure it is cooked through. So cut into your meat before eating there and make sure it's cooked. I hope they change their practices!

    (2)

  • Dani B.

    Amazing to the max! It's like they transplanted a little piece of Italy right into Portland's backyard. The food is top quality but for a reasonable price. They have an amazing wine and beer menu and the restaurant itself is a beautiful sight for sore eyes. Take a date, the family or all your friends thanks to its large yet intimate size that includes a classy outdoor patio. I had the radicchio Cesar salad and I'm glad. The pizza margarita was also delicious but not too filling so I had room for their seasonal ale which was the perfect accompaniment. Come one come all, this is a great spot to hit up all year round.

    (5)

  • David B.

    Best Salmon I've had all year. I can't tell you why, the dill sauce with it was very good, but the salmon by itself was better - very flavorful, a little sweet (that sounds wrong but it was sooo right). My date had Fettuccine, which she liked, but I wouldn't say was anything *special*.

    (4)

  • Catherine G.

    Date night and this was a great choice. While the space is very open and high ceilinged Nostrana feels intimate and boasted an eclectic crowd of families, couples, and singles. Lots of great people watching! Of course, it's a restaurant so on to the food- and drink. I started with a Pomona and it was fizzy and fresh not too sweet. A definite recommend if you like prosecco based cocktails- and I do! I had the insalata mista which was big enough for two and then the fettucini with mushrooms and ham. Both were good but did not wow me. What I am still remembering is the caulfilower sformata that my husband got. It was the most perfectly sized creamy delicious cauliflower dish I have ever tasted. It was our hands down favorite item. My husband got a margherita pizza and while the crust was amazing the toppings were a bit goopy- as in slid off the piece before you could get it in your mouth. This restaurant is authentic Italian from start to finish which means they make their own bread and pasta- and it is sublime. The menu is small with limited choices so depending on when you go you may not find something to your taste but it will be fresh and unique. Like a kind of steak that is usually only found in Italy that already has my husband salivating. If I sound schizo about the place it is only because I did not love my dish but I did enjoy the evening enough (great waitstaff, wine, my husband's food) that we will go back.

    (3)

  • A C.

    I love Nostrana! Reliable and consistent delicious food every time. The service is always solid and friendly.

    (5)

  • MrMeowgi I.

    I find myself craving Nostrana at least once a week. The food is amazing, and the pizza alone brings me back on a regular basis. They also have a great happy hour and service is always excellent.

    (5)

  • Maxine C.

    Keep going back and never disappointed. The servers are courteous and knowledgeable; the space is elegant and comfortable; and the food I've had is absolutely delicous. The only reason not to give this restaurant 5 stars is due to the noise level, which can make conversation difficult. Would recommend the flat iron steak, salmon, Nostrana salad and Butterscotch Budino.

    (4)

  • Atha M.

    So, soooo good. Beautiful interior, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, great wine list, attentive and knowledgable servers, fresh, seasonal ingredients, and menu items that let those ingredients speak for themselves. Everything from the wood-fired pizzas, to the pastas, to the meat dishes, to the desserts I've had there are really top-notch. It is pricey, but you never feel like you've gotten anything less than your money's worth.

    (5)

  • Ashna R.

    This place is definitely tied in my book for best restaurant in Portland (alongside Le Pigeon). Everything here was excellent: the food, the service, the ambience, and the presentation (they make each dish look like art). Definitely try this place out, but be sure to book in advance! The place is pretty tiny and looks like it fills up pretty quickly.

    (5)

  • Nita M.

    Nostrana has awesome pizza & awesome dessert, but their cocktails sucked. Nostrana's pizza is neapolitan style but the teeniest bit thicker (which makes it better I think) & more smoky than most neapolitan places. The sauce is great, the cheese is great, the texture is fantastic, and it's overall delicious. My boyfriend and I split the Margarita and added arugula on top which added a nice spicy bite to what are otherwise very familiar flavors. The cheese plate was pretty disappointing - I don't think their cheese selection is as adventurous as it could be and the pairings were boring & have been done far too many times. I certainly expect more creativity from a James Beard award winning chef. The salted caramel pudding dessert was out of this world good, like foodgasmic good. If you like caramel or butterscotch flavors, you will absolutely love this dessert. If we weren't going out to a bar later, I would have ordered one...or two...more. I would avoid ordering drinks off their cocktail menu and instead get wine or a basic drink (gin & tonic, etc). The Sanguinello was awfully tart and overly sweet. The pomegranate cosmo was easier to drink but still way too sweet and not worth $10. My boyfriend had something that I can't remember from the cocktail menu and he didn't like it much either. We went to Nostrana after stops at two different happy hours & were looking to continue the imbibing which unfortunately Nostrana's drinks did not assist.

    (4)

  • Jameson H.

    Menu is fresh, original, and fantastic - It's clear Chef Cathy Whims has an intense attention to detail. Bartenders have created a wonderful cocktail list, and even got my wife to drink Gin. That never happens. :) Lemon thyme fizz is where it's at. Awesome patio - will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Julie M.

    This was my second visit to Nostrana in 4 years. My first visit was better. We went for our anniversary and the food was mediocre at best. The vibe has turned uber-snooty and the prices were through the roof. Too loud. Too crowded with hipsters. Won't go back.

    (2)

  • Jennifer Z.

    I was looking forward to Nostrana for many reasons. Decor was nice, although the atmosphere wouldn't be my first choice. We were seated at a table in the middle of the noisy room. Food was just okay. We were taken by friends who love it. Service was just okay. Drinks and desserts: just okay. We would only go back if we had to, such as a party or work event.

    (3)

  • Rani V.

    4 stars for: happy hour pizzas and beer -1 star: happy hour red wine (I'd love to change my vote on this.)

    (4)

  • Britt C.

    Meh, indeed. We went here for their New Year's Eve price fix expecting a memorable meal worth the cost and were thoroughly disappointed. It wasn't bad at all, but just completely overpriced for the quality. You'd be wise to spend your money somewhere that's worth it...like Beast or Irving Street Kitchen.

    (2)

  • Hibk B.

    amazing beyond delicious food!

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    I've only been here once so far but LOVED it! The restaurant has a great ambiance and looks inviting with a large dining area backing up to the open kitchen complete with large brick pizza oven. There was a wait fo the tables so we sat at the bar next to the kitchen but we didn't mind at all as it gave us a great view of all the pizzas being made. We ordered the most amazing dish as an appetizer: Scamorza cheese bruschetta with shiitake mushrooms and proscuitto. The cheese and mushrooms came warm and baked in a cast iron skillet and you spread them on the crostinis with procuitto. The only thing that would have made it even marginally better would have been some fig jam, or something to break up the flavors of the cheese. We also ordered the oysters which were a deal at onloy $2/each. For our entrees we ordered a pizza (the Sonia) and a pasta (Pennine). Both were great. The pizza was delicious and the crust was done to perfection. The pasta was perfectly al-dente and the correct portion, very flavorful with the sausage and light sauce. For dessert we ordered the ricotta cheesecake which was tasty but slightly (very slightly) dry. My fiancee wasn't a huge fan, being a big cheesecake guy but I thought it was a nice change over the traditional. The only other negative for the entire evening was that the two hostesses working that night weren't very friendly and dismissed us quickly as we first entered the restaurant, not even looking up to ask if we'd been helped. The remaining wait staff members were friendly and attentive so perhaps it was just an off-night. We loved our overall dining experience at Nostrana and will definitely be back soon!

    (4)

  • Frank B.

    Best meal of a week long vacation between Seattle & Portland. Service and food was outstanding. Now if I can only move Nostrana from Portland to N J.

    (5)

  • Rita C.

    Love this place. Great room, smiling attentive service, delicious food every time. They even turned down the music for me when I asked. Love, love, love this place. We had the best waitress this last time we went. Her name is Mary. She was smiling and pleasant and helpful, without being ingratiating. My pork chop was stellar. Another time we went, our waiter overhead us talking about a trip to New Orleans and, being a NOLA native, he offered lots of very good advice. I think the coolest thing is that you get to cut your pizza with scissors. The wine advice is good, too. I'm into this place 4ever.

    (4)

  • Sara G.

    Nostrana has become a favorite spot for us in Portland. It's quick, it's delicious and mostly local and it's a great place to catch late happy hour or sit on the patio with friends on a sunny summer evening. The pizza is by far my favorite, but the raddichio salad is amazing and we've tried to recreate it multiple times at home. We'll be back, Nostrana -- again and again.

    (5)

  • cal p.

    stopped in for wine and pizza and I was impressed. Quality pie and the first one i have ever cut with scissors. The staff was friendly and the wine selection was above average. I will definitely go back on my next trip to Portland. The addition of bread and oil on the side was perfect

    (5)

  • Pete L.

    My friend Andrea S. (from Trieste) recommended that I try Nostrana for a late Saturday Happy Hour. Here's how that hour played out: A glass pour of 2008 'Basadone' by Casello di Verduno (Piedmont) was absolutely spectacular. This exotic, lusty brunette steps confidently out of the glass with deep, dark fruit and fairly intense incense on the nose. ($12) Insalata Nostrana. Radicchio, Parmigiano-Reggiano and rosemary sage croutons, Cæsar style dressing. While the dressing was delicious, a bit too much was used on my visit and didn't allow the radicchio to come forward. ($5 HH, $10 dinner) Pizza Margherita. Rich, buttery housemade mozzarella is the star of this hand-tossed, wood-fired pizza. ($5 HH, $11 dinner). Dessert: Two gelatos: Espresso and bittersweet chocolate. Both were quite tasty: the espresso gelato was surprisingly fragrant (Ethiopian Yergacheffe?). The bittersweet chocolate yielded to the palate in a velvety, sybaritic manner. (~$7 for the pair) The bar in front of the wood-fired oven was quite warm (great for that date who's perennially cold) and affords a box seat to the culinary drama that unfolds in the open kitchen.

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    I want to really like this place, but it doesn't quite hit the mark, as a standout for interesting Italian food. I would recommend it for a very good wood oven pizza experience, but if you're expecting a large menu of things to choose from, you'll find menu a bit sparse. We started with baked Octopus (a bit oily), I then had a very good salad special with Mache and fresh cut Grapefruit slices, then the Truffle Gnocchi. Gnocchi was a bit bland and underwhelming. I wonder how other Gnocchi dishes are, as they seem to have a few options to choose from. Hubby had a good margarita pizza (very good crust). It appears they have put a lot of effort into the décor - with nice high ceilings, exposed wooden beams and nice lighting. But almost feels like they put too much effort into it. Complete with life size black and white photo's adorning the entire restaurant (which appear to be the families photos, but could easily not be), you leave feeling like you have just had dinner an upscale chain restaurant. The signage is strange too. They have a big plastic sign attached to the top of the restaurant that reads "Olio Nuevo" - which means they are serving fresh crushed olive oil (a nod to the Tuscan Olive Crush in December). They then offer a few dishes that appear to have Olio Nuevo, but the story isn't really told properly. Fresh crushed Olive Oil is delicious and there is a story there... That said, the service was good and prices are reasonable.

    (3)

  • Jeff M.

    A Haiku Review of Nostrana: My girlfriend loves it. I find it over-rated. You can be the judge.

    (3)

  • Ryan D.

    Stopped in here late at night for the 9 PM happy hour. Were starving and just looking for a place that was open. The atmosphere is fantastic and inviting and the staff very friendly. We ordered a smattering of items from the happy hour menu and well deserved drinks. The salad was phenomenal and the mac and cheese dish (not your moms trust me)...was excellent. The dish incorporated a tomato sauce into the dish which was perfectly flavored. The bread here is rustic, and you can fill up on that alone! The dessert was the chocolate something or other that was almost better than sex! Rich and creamy without being overpowering. Our server was exceptionally friendly and gave us tips on the local area. I would definitely come back here for dinner next time I am in portland!

    (5)

  • Joseph H.

    Mmm, mm, pretentiousness tastes good! There's a secret society of Yuppies that visit Nostrana and somehow sneak in through a gateway left in the fabric of space time in Southeast Portland. They must come across the bridge at lunch or something. You know the type, they're really looking for a chain restaurant, but the size of their ego and 401k pressures them into something original. Phew, they found it at this nice strip mall off Morrison. Fortunately for the rest of us Nostrana is great and all haughty personality aside it pleases the palette. The big "N" as the sign denotes outside is a place for the pretenders to fantasize about money in a recession while they chatter and pratter away. Okay, this review is about to go down a dark hole, let's rescue it before we're buried in Narcism. The lowdown: Nostrana serves good food on a very well rounded and very local menu. Part in part because of former co-owners Mark and Deb Accuardi. The unsung heroes of Nostrana actually designed the beautiful wood laden architecture and also helped in the menu planning. Cathy Wimms, head chef and genius in her own mind, would have you believe this was all the work of her deft hands and henkel blades. Not entirely true, although her and her husband are very good at adding the snooty and the stuffy. Wimms in my opinion is at her best sharing and caring at Farmers market when she doesn't think she's the end all be all of cuisine. This attitude permeates Nostrana and the help sometimes looks whipped into submission. It's like there's some rule on the restroom wall that lists smiling and conversation as two things you will not do at the Big N. The food, the food! This is it people, the reason Nostrana deserves 4 stars. Not service, not attitude, not strip mall bridge cross over yuppies, it's all about the food. Great food and great prices. Wood fired Pizzas, a beautiful radicchio caesar, sometimes seared rabbit, rotisserie chicken, delicate pasta, the food they get right nearly every time. At lunch, they serve some very exceptional Italian sandwiches that are light on food coma in case you've over done your Bunk intake down the road. Nearly everything on Menu comes in at or below $15 which makes it perfect for a downtown lunch or a little date night. So live well and never mind the pretentiousness, it makes for a great meal and if you can be lighthearted about it the atmosphere makes for great people watching. It's good food.

    (4)

  • Christine S.

    I was in Portland yesterday on business and we all decided to go here. We were a party of 5 and got there around 5:30. The restaurant is very beautiful and it is a very large room with high ceilings. As the night progressed, it did get pretty noisy there. We ordered a bunch of plates and shared them: Homemade Gnocchi The Prawns Margarita Pizza The Salumi Pizza 2 Cheese Plates. 2 desserts I have to say it was just okay. I wanted to like it because our waiter ROCKED. He also had a 15 person party and he was able to handle them and us. So let's say the service is 5 STARS. We were all drinking all different cocktails, and he kept everyone's glasses full and was very charming. The Margarita Pizza was a huge disappointment. The crust was mushy, and that was the last thing I expected because they have this huge ceramic pizza oven in there. I can see this place being an okay place to grab a nice lunch but if you are planning to be blown away by this place, I would skip it.

    (3)

  • abby p.

    The atmosphere is at once warm and casual, chic and earthy. The soaring wood ceiling adds a sense of grandeur, while the cork floor and indoor woodshed make it feel homey. It can get a bit loud, which is my only complaint. But we were there on a Saturday night and I have been on weekdays when the chatter is greatly reduced. The food had the four of us in a state of gustatory ecstasy from the start. We got the charcuterie plate first and nearly got another because it was so delicious. I was especially enamored with the braciole. Next up was the baccala and duck confit salad - also, scarfed down so fast that I did not even get a chance to ponder the appropriate adjectives to describe these delicious plates. Great start to the meal and nice complement to the cocktails we all got. Then, we moved on to wine and shared a pizza that was impossibly tasty. It was a pork confit, mascarpone, pecorino and green garlic pizza with just the lightest dusting of controne dried pepper. It sounds so simple that it could easily be overlooked. But I was beside myself. The flavors were in complete harmony and the tingle of the controne (similar to cayenne) was pure pleasure, not pain. The crust is perfectly thin and lightly bubbled on the edges. For the main course, I had the chicken. This is always a good way to get a measure on a fine restaurant's kitchen. Nostrana did not disappoint. Crispy skin laden with herbs, tender, juicy meat, cauliflower florets with a touch of crunchy, roasty browning and an herbed yogurt that was just the right garlicky cooling complement. My companions had the other three entree offerings, of which I was most impressed with the speck wrapped halibut. But all of the entrees were fantastic and had us simultaneously moaning and exclaiming. By this time we had completed our second bottle of wine and I would not have thought dessert possible, but we all went for it anyway, after seeing the offerings. We also decided to get some dessert wines as they had very nice pairings for each of their dessert items. I got the tiramisu, which I have not bothered to order anywhere in a good long while as I am often disappointed. Nostrana's version was perfection: not very sweet at all, creamy, not cold, just the right hint of bitterness from the cocoa and espresso. I also enjoyed the butterscotch budino with salted caramel. In fact all of the desserts impressed and the Vin Santo I had was a great way to round out a memorable meal. The staff is friendly and easy. You can tell they actually like working there. All in all, I loved it. I will definitely be going back and could see this becoming a family favorite

    (5)

  • NL C.

    I ate at the corner bar with some friends that I was visiting in Portland. I was pleased with the ambiance and actually was really happy that the 4 of us ended up on the l-shaped corner of the bar. I had the rye whiskey old fashioned which was really delicious. The bartender was very knowledgeable and very excited about his job. Very chatty, which isn't usually my thing, but he was nice. I wasn't very impressed with the capellini with puttanesca sauce and albacore tuna. The marinara sauce was very acidic and tasted a little too simple. Not very "puttanesca". Also, I had wished the tuna was served either as a fillet or torn up. It tasted slightly overcooked. The pizza was ok, good wood-fired crust. However, again, since this pizza had no cheese on it, and mostly sauce, I just couldn't get into it. The tiramisu, blueberry & vanilla gelato, the cranberry tart were all fabulous desserts. The tart was my favorite and I thought the gelato was a bit harder or freezer burned than it usually is. Overall, I would try another dish, but compared to the amazing Italian fare I normally eat in Chicago, I wouldn't call this a fantastic Italian restaurant.

    (3)

  • Courtney G.

    Really, the 9pm HH is about as good as it gets. It's really outstanding food for $5 or less per plate. I feel really bad for another reviewer whose Margherita Pizza had no cheese. Mine was delicious, with the perfect amount of fresh basil, unbelievable tomato flavor, and chewy fresh mozz. The $5 red wine they were pouring was really tasty and I freakin' love Campari and soda. But, really, they had me at house-made tonic. We were seated instantly at 9:30 on a Saturday night. The service was attentive and professional. The prices were right. The food was great. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Josh F.

    Best ambiance in the city, best happy hour (if you can wait until 9:00 PM, best pizza... a little pricy on the entres (paying for quality)but, you can share a pizza and then one dish to make it more affordable. OR just wait until 9:00 and have a kick ass filling Happy hour! Cheers!

    (5)

  • Carl T.

    Great place! Real splurge for me, but worth it! Bread and olive oil very fresh and distinctive. Gnocchi in tomato sauce were delicious. Wine list extensive with flights of three related wines of several kinds available for tasting at a reasonable price. And definitely say "to hell with my diet!" and get the vanilla bean gelato with espresso for dessert!

    (4)

  • M K.

    Enjoyed the cheese plate although it was a small serving. The crab pizza was quite tasty and the. Steak was really nice with arugula. Also did a wine flight and enjoyed it. I can see why they have been a James beard nominee 5x but it wasn't at that extra special level.

    (4)

  • Jill C.

    Yummy...may be my new favorite Italian spot in pdx!!

    (5)

  • Shane W.

    Amazing pizza and salads

    (5)

  • Kelli W.

    Spectacular! Not knowing anything about this restaurant except that friends had given it two thumbs up, we took our out-of-town friends here on Saturday night. I had made a reservation, so we were able to site down right away. The decor was good, but not great, and the location seemed odd to me (it rests in a strip-mall type of place). None of that mattered once our food came out. We ordered the funghi verde pizza for a starter and it was the highlight of the meal! The crust was light, toothsome and slightly charred. The lemony arugla topping was the perfect playmate for the earthy mushrooms. WONDERFUL PIZZA. I would go there for the pizza alone. We then ordered two pasta dishes: a duck ragu rigatoni. This was marvelous. I couldn't get enough. There was a subtle sweetness to the ragu that I think may have come from the slow cooked carrots. It was wonderful and amazing and I didn't want to share any of it. We also ordered the goat cheese stuffed noodles with shrimp and pea shoots. The flavor in this dish was lovely, but we didn't find very much goat cheese in the noodles. We also ordered the Tagliata flank steak, which was cooked to perfection and had the most exceptional flavor. This was served over a bed of that lovely lemony arugula. Nothing was too heavy, which can happen to often at italian restaurants. We ended the meal with three desserts: the tirimisu, which was nice, a chocolate bundino, and (our favorite) the Nancy's Yogurt panna cotta with rhubarb jam. The panna cotta was sensational!! Overall, the service was quite nice and attentive. The atmosphere was nice, even if I felt slightly suspicious when we first arrived. The food here is magnificent.

    (5)

  • michele f.

    Went for the first time for an anniversary dinner, used a restaurant.com certificate. I had read up on the place and expected poor service so I wasn't surprised when our waitress was passive-aggressive in how we troubled her for more things like water and bread. The unnamed wait staff that buzz about the place were all very helpful and made up for our primary waitress' lack of interest in making our evening special. The food was delicious and a bit spendy. The crowd had a very bridge and tunnel feel- like a lot of suburbanites coming into town for dinner. It was packed by the time we left. BF had a pizza with spicy sausage and I had the small plates trio. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get my own pizza after I saw the portions of my dinner. We also had one of the cheese plates- two smallish slices of cheese- plus the honey, two teeny crackers and the weird fig/anise patty thing that others have referenced. Although the cheese was good- I could have bought a whole brick at Trader Joe's for the $5 I spent. oh well. We shared a raspberry apple crisp for dessert (which was quite yummy.) The dining room is beautiful with a very urban feel that still feels comfy. Make a reservation if you go for a weekend dinner, or plan to eat at the bar if you don't want to wait long for a table. We enjoyed the flight of three rosatos from the Piedmonte region! We may consider returning with another restaurant.com certificate after we've exhausted our options for italian food in this town- bad service being the reason, not the food.

    (3)

  • Jav V.

    I go back and forth on whether or not I like Nostrana. I had a few not so great pizzas there, but the last time I went, they were really good. They definitely make a good crust. I guess it just depends what's on it. They had an awesome asparagus salad last time too.

    (4)

  • John T.

    This place far from impressed me and got closer to it was just an OK place. We had a few dishes and each had a flaw. Our mac and cheese was over done. The pasta had dried out and was hard as if it was pour out from a box of pasta and mixed around in the sauce. the other half wasn't burnt to a crunch but the taste just didn't do it for me. Our pizza was also half blackened. i was being polite and tried to hint to our server rather then just say hey our food is burnt during a busy service but that didn't work. oh the stuff pappardelle, what a nice idea. Stuff with goat cheese and pesto. Except it wasn't basil pesto but another veg which i couldn't remember but describe to me as something similar to kale. I wish i had known this because my friend doesn't like spinach or kale and he couldn't eat it. Worse at 15 bucks for 5 strips of pappardelle, that was rather saddening. We could blame it for an off night but it was a rather disappointing dining experience for me.

    (2)

  • Audrey T.

    I give it 5 stars because of the happy hour. Best happy hour in town. $6 (use to be $5) margherita pizza. With house made mozzarella, tomato, and dough. Hard to beat!

    (5)

  • Carlo X.

    I've never seen this place less than 60% occupied, so they must be doing something right. The pizza is above average, even better during happy hour. The only mediocre meal I've ever had was the lamb. It was a bit dry, but good flavor. This is a good reliable restaurant for those days where you want a good meal now, maybe entertain someone from out of town, or don't want to take a gamble trying something new at the last minute.

    (4)

  • Tabletalkpdx.com T.

    The best manager I have seen in action in quite sometime. Working solely for the good of the customer, and therefore, the employees and the business. Sure, the food is terrific, but when you have a manager like that who assures good service, too, then you have something.

    (5)

  • David G.

    I was in Portland visiting from Los Angeles this past week and wanted to try out some good restaurants. My wife suggested Nostrana and I was so glad she did, it compared to anywhere I have eaten in LA. When we arrived we were told they were fully booked but they could seat us at the bar, this ended up being a blessing in disguise as the bar staff were awesome as was an old couple who sat next to us (bought me a scotch woohoo). The atmosphere is amazing in this place, any young lads reading this, it is a perfect date place and should help you seal the deal!!! I ordered a pork porterhouse and the Mrs got a spicy pasta. The Pork steak was seriously the BEST I have ever had. You bit into it and juice filled your mouth I would definitely recommend if you are hungry. The pasta that the boss (wife) ordered was also fantastic, it included a meat that they rarely get in. Drinks are fantastic too, house made tonic, good scotch/liquor selection too. All in all, I would highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Kerri H.

    Happy hour here on 2 different occasions. LOVE IT. Sat at the bar and was completely mesmerized by the wood fire... I love being warm, so it was nice and cozy. Had the pizza with prosciuto, and shared the crisp with my friend. OMG. to die for. The radiccio salad was a welcome variation of the ceaser. Happy hour makes this place much more affordable. Reservations might be helpful, but we didn't wait long for seats at the bar in front of the woodfired oven.

    (4)

  • Kari V.

    I'm only reviewing the to-go bread they sell out of their kitchen. It is hands-down the best bread I've had in Portland. It's ciabatta-type bread, but with an open crumb and soft springy texture inside. The crust is chewy with a nutty flavor. You have to be careful when you cut it, so you don't flatten it by mistake. I'd eat a whole loaf if I let myself! I wish they sold it in stores closer to my house!

    (5)

  • Diana M.

    The service was pretty slow, but overall the food was worth the wait. The atmosphere is nice though slightly pretensious. Again all made acceptable by the food. Skip the cheese plate appetizer, it's alright but the portion is hardly worth the price tag. Definitely do the drunken pork roast, it was melt in your mouth good. Easily one of the best entree's I've ever had. The pear, walnut and honey crostada with vanilla gelato was divine. Just the right mix of crunchy sweet and smooth. The gelato was the perfect blend of light, fluffy and sweet. Overall I gave this restaurant 4 stars because despite It's shortcomings the staff did their absolute best to make sure we enjoyed the meal and the food made up food the rest.

    (4)

  • Erik P.

    Amazingly good. I don't know why it isn't a five star restaurant. Haters...

    (5)

  • courtney f.

    i am not exactly sure why everyone is gaga for this place. overpriced with small portions. service was decent, but not amazing. there are so many great restaurants in pdx, why here? given, there aren't that many decent italian restaurants, but if you are looking for delicioso, try Lucca at 24th and Fremont, or Lorenzo's on Mississippi;-)

    (1)

  • foodfoodfood f.

    Pizza is great, so is the pasta with Marcella Hazan's famous tomato butter onion sauce. Also love the tagliata steak and butterscotch budino. Service is impeccable. I sent something back because I thought it tasted kind of off, and they responded by comping our desserts and coffee. Really a class act - would definitely go again.

    (5)

  • Hollywood V.

    While visiting Portland and having no clue as to where to eat we looked thru a magazine called WILLAMETTE WEEK'S 2011 RESTAURANT GUIDE. In the mood for Italian, we narrowed down our choices to 5. Then as any smart eater will do we checked YELP for recommendations. We decided upon Nostrana and away we went. We enter a very large dimly lit room with the requisite open ceiling with exposed ducting and pipeworks. Not having a reservation we are offered seats at the pizza bar. We accept and our food adventure begins. From our vantage point at the pizza bar we can watch everything going on in the restaurant. We watch the pizza makers hand toss pizzas and fire them in a subway tile covered wood-fired brick pizza oven. That in itself was mesmerizing. But we also got to watch other chefs roasting chicken and beast on open flame wood burning grills. On top of that we were close enough to where the waitstaff picked up orders to see everything going out. From pizzas to half chickens to radicchio salads, everything looked amazing. The one negative note if you could even call it that was the noise. The other diners were just talking but the noise was a steady din that seemed to get louder the longer we stayed. It even overwhelmed the noise of the open kitchen. On Thursdays, Nostrana offers handmade gnocchi with several options. I chose gnocchi with bay scallops, brown butter, and gremolata. It was simply divine with very subtle spices and a hint of lemon. My wife chose the gnocchi served with chanterelles, leeks, controne pepper, and cream. I rarely see her finish a full plate of anything but this time she not only finished it but she dragged it out so it would last. She loved it. Since she has better taste than I do, If she tells me she loves it it really must be good. We had started our meal with a cheese plate that included 2 small pieces of Pecorino Tuada. Sheep cheese that was buttery, vegetal, and salty. Two slightly larger pieces of Blu del Monviso. Cow cheese that is rich, creamy, and slightly pungent. We also had one thin wedge of Pleasant Hill cow cheese made from raw milk that was quite gentle but firm. It was served with a spot of wildflower honey, a spoon of melon marmalade, some house-made crackers (think thin tortilla chips with no flavor) and some delightful 'salami' made from figs and walnuts (no meat). Overall, for the price and my large appetite, I could have skipped the cheese and gone for the Insalata Nostrana, a salad constructed with radicchio, parmigiano, rosemary-sage croutons, and a Caeser-style dressing. But if you are a very light eater the tiny bites on the cheese plate were tasty. Not typically dessert people, we went out of character and ordered a dessert to share. We shared a Butterscotch Budino with a salted caramel sauce. Can you say "Heaven"? Summed up: Nostrana is yummy, loud, and somehow comforting. Food prices are reasonable but drink prices kept us happily with water.

    (5)

  • Ninihada C.

    The food is just "meh" and I was a bit peeved that I had to dress and toss my own salad. The capellini was underwhelming. The ricotta cheesecake was pretty bad. My husband did enjoy the bolognese but thought the price was a bit high for the portion. Overall, unimpressed and have decided its not worth going back.

    (2)

  • Emma P.

    Nostrana recently got on the late night fine dining happy hour bandwagon with the most incredible deal I've seen in my many recent happy hours: $5 Nostrana pizza. WHAT?! You can get a BEER and a WHOLE PIZZA for $8!!!!!???? Picture this: Housemade mozzarella cheese that is so finely textured and rich, tomato sauce that feels like it got picked off the vine just moments ago, and a pair of scissors to hack away at the pie like an elementary school project. All this paired with $5 glasses of wine, $3 Moretti beer... and $5 Nostrana Radicchio salads with crack dressing. We were four ladies fresh off a 3 hour class in land use law and we needed a drink pronto. Our server was incredibly suave. We got fancy restaurant service for what we would have paid for some plastic clamshell full of cart noodles (which is also delicious, but does not make you feel nearly as ladylike). I am so happy you are offering food at price levels affordable to stressed out graduate students, Nostrana: props to you!

    (5)

  • Julia L.

    I would have given Nostrana 1 star, but the drinks we had while we waited were awesome and the overall wine selection and bottle that was suggested was pretty good so I give it 2 - but begrudgingly. Upon arrival, we stood un-greeted for almost 5 minutes. I take that back, we were 'greeted' by a frantic server who mumbled something about the hostess being busy and she'd be up in a couple minutes. Once being acknowledged we were told to wait by the door and had to ask if we could go to the bar. Once there we ordered a round of drinks - fresh and delicious! The menu is printed nightly depending on what is fresh and available and always looked good on the website - fresh and local was our initial draw to Nostrana. Our server was rushed and was sweating profusely as she abruptly explained that the kitchen was out of the crab stuffed halibut, spinach, oysters, the NY strip, veggie strudel and the special chicken. That left us 3 entrée options - including the $60+ prime rib (for one person). Needless to say it wasn't hard to choose our dinners. Did I mention it was a little before 8:00pm? So, relatively early to be running out of that much food. We asked a couple questions regarding wine and the menu and after she came back to get our order said in a sarcastic way, "Did you come up with any other questions regarding the 3 options?" She ended up suggesting a great wine and a tasty appetizer, but had some attitude issues. Both our entrees were hands down awful. My friend ordered a steak with a mushroom stuffing and it came out overcooked and barely warm. I ordered the lamb with a mushroom stuffing (surprise surprise) and brussel sprouts. It was the worst presentation I have ever seen. It looked like a disgusting mash of whatever was left in the kitchen with the fat separating and pooling up right in front of me. There were bones in the 'mash' with absolutely not a spec of meat on them. I literally lost my appetite (which very rarely happens). On the bright side, the brussel sprouts were good and at least my pile of food was hot. I took it home the food thinking my dogs were about to get a $30 lamb dinner - and after it sat in the fridge over night, I couldn't stomach feeding it to them either. I will never go back despite the fantastic ambiance, eclectic décor and wide open kitchen with the brick oven. I have heard the pizzas are good so if you go, I would consider those and any drink with grapefruit in it!

    (2)

  • Gemma S.

    The melon wrapped in prosciutto was possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. I'm getting married in another city and I told the caterers I want it exactly what I ate at Nostrana. The service is unbeatable, too- everyone really cares about what they do!

    (5)

  • Jack K.

    We tried the aged flat iron steak, sausage pizza, and Manila clam pizza. The garlic rosemary oil on the arugula was bland, but otherwise it was all really good. The pizza was similar to Ken's, thin crust with just a little cheese and sauce, but very flavorful. Had the pear crisp for dessert which was amazing. Everything caramelized in a hot ceramic dish with almond cream poured over the top. The Sicilian wine flight was good, but the pours were chintzy. About a dollar a sip and I took small sips. Service was efficient, but impersonal. The interior was dark wood and soft lighting. The strangest thing about this place is that it looks and feels exactly like a restaurant in the suburbs. One of us commented that this is where kids from Beaverton go to eat before prom. Everyone inside was over-dressed for Portland and I'm pretty sure they really all were from outside town. The beige stucco strip mall with parking out front is unlike anything else in the city, but looks like a million places in the suburbs. You can't even build a place like this anymore. But that parking lot is like a magnet for suburbanites who want to come to Portland while having an experience they could easily get within a mile of their house.

    (4)

  • Christel A.

    Yes, a little overpriced. Yes, Nostrana definitely sports a yuppie crowd during their peak dinner hours. Yes, it lives in the one strip mall that exists in my neighborhood (it's Belmont, WTF?) But despite those reasons, I really do love this place. It's 1/2 block from my apartment, the pizza is heavenly (seriously, I'll say it here, best pizza in Portland). The wine selection is bomb. AND the "$5 or less happy hour" starting at 9pm until close, is probably the best late happy hour in town. $5.00 pizza, $5.00 wine, are you kidding me? You and your sweetie should definitely check it out... for $20 you'll have a great meal and enjoy Nostrana's cozy romantic ambiance.

    (4)

  • Jessica C.

    My boyfriend and I had dinner at Nostrana last night and certainly enjoyed it. We started with the Pino Noir wine flight. Good way to go if you're not sure about what wine to order. The glasses in the flight were generous. I think we got more than our fair share for $12. After we had finished we each ordered a glass of our favorite from the flight. Now the food: My boyfriend and I each ordered salads to start. He had the Insalta Nostrana- radicchio with a pile of parmigiano-reggiano on top and some crunchy, tasty croutons mixed in. I had the Shepards salad, which turned out to be a rather plain green salad with half a hard boiled egg and a piece of bread with soft cheese on top on the side. It was fine, but I stole more than a few bites from my boyfriend's plate. For our entrees, he order the spaghettini with fried calamari. He seemed to like it, but was maybe a bit underwhelmed. It really was just spaghetti with a red sauce and calamari tossed on top. I had the chicken with black truffle paste and potato-white bean puree. The chicken was delicious and the puree very nice, although it really just seemed like mashed potatoes. That's fine though. Who doesn't like mashed potatoes? I did think the black truffle paste was a little overwhelming. They could have used about half as much and it would have been totally sufficient. Overall, great wine, good service, fine food.... but with so many fantastic restaurants in this town, I can't say that it's a stand out. Can't say for sure whether we'll ever go back. Hey, anyone ever order the $60 steak? I want to hear how that went.

    (3)

  • Katherine B.

    Visited here while on a weekend trip to Portland and was not disappointed, despite a two-hour wait for a reservation time - it's that popular because it's that good. The atmosphere and service were both quite good. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. A couple of small mix-ups with the order (wrong entree delivered to the table, appetizer getting forgotten) resulted in the whole meal getting comped, which was above and beyond, as far as service goes. Oh, and the food? Excellent. We got the halibut and the flank steak - both delicious - and the butterscotch pudding with salted caramel sauce, which has basically redefined "salted caramel treaty goodness" for me.

    (5)

  • Kccstrong A.

    One of our favorites. The Nostrana salad is a must, the pizza is sublime, the roast chicken is to die for, and Meatball Mondays and Gnocchi Thursdays are truly red letter days.

    (4)

  • Joanna R.

    Beautiful restaurant with lots of roomy tables. We loved everything we ordered. Mr R particularly enjoyed his beet salad and I loved my potato leek soup. But our favorite, was our salumi pizza. It was so good that we debated skipping dessert and just ordering a second pizza. We ordered cheesecake instead, but the idea did cross our minds!

    (5)

  • Haroun K.

    The clock strikes 9 pm, and all of a sudden every table has a margherita pizza atop it. The late night happy hour is just ridiculous. The $6 pizza is no secret, and it is well worth the visit if you're hungry some evening. The basil is fresh, and the mozarella is just perfect. We also had the semolina gnocchi (on gnocchi Thursday), which was very unusual, but tasty - creamy and soft, and very unlike potato gnocchi. The tiramisu (made in house) wasn't bad, but wasn't on the same level of deliciousness as the pizza or gnocchi. The wine and beer list were respectable, and service was friendly and informative. I'm sure I'll be back for more!

    (5)

  • Andrea A.

    It took me a long time to write this review but needed to do it. Food is expensive, service was bad. I tried ordering a side from one of the main dishes and they said no because they calculate enough for those dishes. I called in advance to find out if we could take our dog. They said yes but then they did not want to give water to the dog on a hot summer day.

    (2)

  • M J.

    Fantastic atmosphere and amazing thin crust pizza. Best seats are at the bar looking into the pizza oven and go after 9pm for great discount.

    (4)

  • Carol F.

    it's good.

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    I really enjoy the atmosphere here it is very romantic, with dim lighting, and it is in a nice location. The pizza here really is fantastic, the owner came and visited our table to see how we were liking the food and I definitely enjoyed this personal touch, and you could tell that the customers are appreciated.

    (4)

  • Julie P.

    I never thought I could have truly tasty vegan pizza and this place proved me wrong. Walking up, I felt like we were in the suburbs (which is normally not a good association), but my attitude changed once we were inside. Although the wait was horrendous (it was a Friday and we had no reservations - our own fault), they immediately serve you drinks which helps. It has a pretty, rustic interior and wonderful, friendly service. Don't bother with a salad unless you are supremely boring. I was annoyed I wasted the stomach space.

    (3)

  • John L.

    Was afraid I would be disappointed with my gnocci because it was so good the first time.... Did not disappoint! The best gnocci I've ever had! Note: they only have gnocci on Thursdays. I had the one with squash and savoy cabbage. Sounds like a funny combo but it was delicious! Just a hint of sweetness. The gnocci is cooked perfectly. 5 stars!! The insalata nostrana was excellent. I like it better than the radicchio salad at Tasty n Sons and that's saying a lot. 5 stars. The insalata mista was also good, not quite as excellent. Reminded of some of the salads I had in Florence. Fresh crispy vegetables with your own dosing of olive oil and vinegar with salt to taste. Simple and fresh. 4 stars. The pizza funghi was also good. Much more subdued flavors than the other things I had but still good. 4 stars. The butterscotch budino with salted caramel was also really good. 4.5 stars. I really appreciate how they take reservations and have a dedicated parking lot. 2 things hard to find at most other popular Portland restaurants.

    (5)

  • Anita H.

    Oh my, the insalata nostrana is sooo tasty here. When it first came out, I was questioning the heap of vibrant purple radicchio covered with parmesan and caesar dressing. Good thing I practically try anything and everything that is edible, because their salad is pretty BOMB. It's such a simple salad with minimal ingredients but amazingly scrumptious. I actually prefer it over the conventional caesar salad! I am definitely going to try to replicate this at home! As far as pizzas go, it's not one of my favorites in PDX. I ordered the salumi, which consist of Calabrese salami, tomato, provolone, mozzarella and Mama Lil's. The ingredients tasted fresh and had a good balance of spicy and sweet, but my issue was with the crust and dough. I think this is all subjective and is really based on what type of pizzas you like, but I'm not a huge fan of really thin droopy pizza. I wish the crust could have been chewier. In spite of that though, the toppings were yummy. Also, a great atmosphere for large and small intimate groups! I've always appreciated the friendliness of the staff here.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey N.

    This is the best place that we found on our visit to Portland. The food was excellent. Started with negronis a kale salad and an octopie (octopus pizza). We went on a Thursday on which they featured gnocchi. We had the gnocchi and trout as well. Everything was superb. This was my second time at Nostrana and I'll definitely be back any time that I am in Portland. Amazing food and cocktails with warm and friendly service. Simply said, it was outstanding.

    (5)

  • David R.

    Never would have guessed from the outside that it is so beautiful on the inside. And the food was outstanding! Five of us shared two appetizers, two pizzas, two dinners and three desserts. No losers in the group. The trout was extra good. Can't figure out why this was not on our go-to list before, but it sure is now.

    (5)

  • Emily H.

    Amazing, incredible, best place for a classy and romantic date. I love the marguerita pizza, and I always get the cockn'bull ginger beer. Best Italian around!

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    Oh my goodness. My fiancé and I went late night for dinner on a Friday night. The service staff was totally on point and worked together like a well liked machine. Totally flawless. They made some wonderful recommendations and checked in at just the right times. The food was prepared to perfection. We had the pork chop and the halibut, the best halibut I've ever tasted. Seriously. I look forward to our next dinner here.

    (5)

  • T M.

    We have eaten here quite a few times and found certain items to be good (we really like the pizza and oven in general) although a lot of items are pretty small. After last night I doubt we will ever sit in the restaurant again (the bartenders have been friendly). The wait staff is consistently rude and put off but the waiter last night (Brent L) was over the top rude. They wanted to close so he could not have been more disinterested and rushed us from the minute we sat down. We had family visiting from Ireland and he literally took the knife and fork out of my cousin's hand. Another girl came by to try to box up our pizza no more than 5 minutes after they put it on the table. If you don't want to serve the public, don't seat us. We were only there 45 minutes. No good bye, thanks for coming, etc. The only time in my life I wanted to leave without tipping (but still did because the food was good).

    (2)

  • Andrew S.

    We always find ourselves coming here lately when we can't decide what to eat. Never disappointed with the food and service. Drinks are great, pizzas wonderful, salads crisp and the seasonal dishes keep the menu fresh.

    (5)

  • Meghan C.

    If you're looking for a late-night happy hour in Southeast Portland, I don't think it gets any better than Nostrana. Their HH menu has a good number of options, and they're all delicious. Most of all, I appreciate that you can easily make a filling meal out of the HH menu for $15 or less. The pizza is one of the better pizzas I've had in Portland, a knockoff of Neopolitan style that isn't spot on, but still serves to fill the void for now. And it's only $6 on HH! The Insalata Nostrana is basically a Caesar, but it's the best Caesar I've had in a long time. And while the mac and cheese tastes like a cheesier version of penne vodka, is that really a problem? I love a good penne vodka, and extra cheese is just a bonus. Minor note on the happy hour charcuterie: it's good but VERY tiny (I'm talking, one piece of proscuitto and two inches of pate). Don't try to share it between two people, it's impossible. The full menu is also available until close, so there's also the option of splitting a main course between two people and getting one or two things off the HH menu as cheap appetizers. Trust me, this is an awesome idea. Add a bottle of wine and the gorgeous atmosphere, and you have yourself the perfect affordable but classy late dinner date spot. Especially if you end it with dessert--they do tiramisu right!

    (4)

  • Selena A.

    Some research prior to traveling revealed several Portland restaurants at which we simply had to dine. In the end, we couldn't get to all of them and not for lack of trying; I usually eat one full meal and one smaller meal a day but we had three squares every day in Portland. Oy. Though I am sure that the establishments we missed were also wonderful, I am so pleased we chose Nostrana. The dining room is refined-rustic with high ceilings, warm wooden tones and just a few touches, such as succulents in blown glass vases on window sills, to provide visual stimulation. Service was just a tad bit unpolished but extremely pleasant and I'll take the latter over the former. Now the real conversation begins: the food. I labored over whether or not to order the 'Insalata Nostrana,' feeling that I could get a good Caesar elsewhere. I can, but my decision was a good one because this one is not to be missed. Crunchy radicchio, savory croutons and a Caesar dressing that manages to transcend tradition by being traditional. This could have been all I ate and I would have been both quite happy and very satisfied. Thankfully, we were several days into vacation and I had already inflated my eating capacity so I was able to gleefully accept my entrée when it arrived. A modestly-sized piece of Halibut was flanked elegantly by an herbaceous pesto, a delicate, just slightly creamy pond of white beans and a generous amount of sautéed spinach. The entire plate was finished with deftly-handed additions of olive oil and lemon. I think this is an excellent time to mention that sometimes simplicity, when paired with craft, just works. La mia bontà. Così squisiti! These fine pleasures were accompanied by one of the house wine flights. An offering I can't resist, especially when one of the options is three examples of local viniculture for only $14.00! In the meantime, my partner mumbled something briefly about "meat heaven" after he finished his artfully presented charcuterie plate and before he devolved into utter ecstasy while eating the 'Tagliata,' a small-ish offering of 7 day aged flat iron steak over arugula. A small portion that might otherwise have pained him was clearly plenty when each bite was so rich and flavorful. My only regret is that one's belly is only so big and there just wasn't a chance to try the pizza. I'll consider it one of many reasons to return to Portland.

    (5)

  • Ken P.

    Great dinner at Nostrana last night. I made an early reservation for three of us, which went smoothly using Yelp's handy link to Open Table. (Kudos, Yelp!) Likewise we were greeted warmly, seated immediately, and cared for attentively by the waitstaff. No complaints there, unlike some other reviewers experience. And the food was wonderful as always. Would give four stars except I'm subtracting one for Value for $$. Nostrana's prices have gone up since my last visit there. In particular, the alcohol prices. I can't remember any other restaurant in Portland where a glass of wine has cost me more than my entree!! $19 for a glass of Amarone? Come on. Yes, the wine was great but drink a couple of those with dinner (x three friends) and watch the bill add up. I will come back again, because this is a top-notch restaurant. But this will become a "special occasion" restaurant for me when willing to part with that much cash for drinks. IMHO the $$ (two-dollar-sign) rating on Yelp should be three dollar signs, to more accurately inform users what to expect as a total bill for dinner.

    (3)

  • Lor B.

    Two course meal with vino is the perfect way to lunch at this highly acclaimed spot. Was here for business and was so glad I stepped away from downtown Portland to eat at this lovely restaurant. I started with a simple arugula salad with pecorino and pepper then followed with meatballs and polenta baked in a clay dish - spectacular! We ordered an additional pork in spicy calabrese sauce and it was divine! Having vino at lunch made the meal even better. I'll definitely be back! FYI There is parking at this joint - so its easy to get in and out. Great spot for a business lunch:)

    (4)

  • Philly P.

    This place never disappoints! I only knock off a star because their portions on their pastas could be a little bigger for the price and the wine and beer list lacks some of the best of the Northwest. Otherwise this place has it all...service, atmosphere, experience, consistency, and quality.

    (4)

  • Wendy Y.

    My partner and I were steered to Nostrana by some guy who works at Vista Hills Winery who couldn't stop raving about the wonderful Italian meal he had there. As soon as the wineries were closed for the day, my partner wasted no time and drove us over to Nostrana and we arrived some time before 6pm. We got in before the real dinner crowd flustered in but the wait, as we were told, still had to be 30 - 40 minutes. Luckily the bar happened to have two vacant seats, so 5 minutes later, we were seated and going over the menu like starved eagles looking for a fresh piece of meat. The menu changes daily, which reminds me of Kitsilano Daily Kitchen. Because we weren't super hungry, we got a Paglia e fieno (spinach and egg fettuccine house smoked ham, hedgehog smoked mushrooms, shallots, white wine, cream). We were warned the pasta dish was small, we said no problem. In addition to the pasta we ordered a cherry apple crisp which, as warned on the menu, took 20 minutes to make. The pasta arrived and yes it was small but very good. It was full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The mushrooms, the sauce etc. oh man..... I want my fix now. About half an hour later our dessert came. I saw a white creamer and a shallow casserole dish with something that looked dark. It looked boring but it turned out amazing. You have to eat it to know what I am taking about. I started with the almond cream and I TEARED UP, literally. I was so moved. The idea of creating something out of something so ordinary is very inspiring. The fresh apple slices and cherries soaked in cider had a chewy texture of melted caramel. And oh...I am drooling as I write this. I would give up my (brother's) cat to eat this again. The interior of this restaurant is beautiful. It's casual yet elegant. It's very...Gastown. It has a lot of wood beams and big windows. I absolutely adore the selection of liquor. I call it the liquor library because the floor to ceiling liquor shelf reminds me of the library from Disney's Beauty and the Beast cartoon. I've witness a bartender climbing up the sturdy shelf like spider man. We got a chance to chat up with our dining neighbors who happen to be from Vancouver as well. The young couple said they went to Pok Pok and said "the Thai food there was better than the Thai food they had in Thailand". Okay. Noted. As we were having our meal we spied around and saw what others were eating. I saw many pizzas and pastas being ordered. Our newly -made friends had a hen entree and a seared halibut which both looked amazing and massive. Anyway, after a very pleasant dinner my partner & I and our newly-made friends decided to get the bill, head out, and meet at Pok Pok. Stay tune for that review. Service was attentive and parking lot was spacious.

    (4)

  • Ashley J.

    I'd been dying to try happy hour here for weeks, and finally we remembered to make a reservation and tried it. I'm not sure how necessary our reservation ended up being at 9:30 on a weeknight, as it was busy but not full. We enjoyed sitting outside, although some people had tied their dogs up by the stairs so we listened to them bark the entire time. (Leave your pooches at home when you're dining at a nice place!) The service was nice, our waitress didn't make much of an impression on us, good or bad. To be fair, she probably had a lot of tables ordering full price menu items and bottles of wine... I might focus more on those tables, too. The food was also pretty good, we liked the happy hour pizzas and the tomato mac and cheese was okay. Happy hour gin and tonic was delicious, too. I would like to come back and try some full price menu items, as the gnocci thursdays menu looked amazing!

    (4)

  • MarLissa E.

    We love this place. We've come now three times and each time loved our experience. Great choices, excellent ingredients, knowledgable skills. Pizza fungi rocks. Grilled octopus salad was killer and worth the price. Affagato for dessert was perfect. Consistently fine, non-pretentious service.

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    We were turned on to Nostrana by Andrea of Spella Coffee fame, who told us we'd have a hard time getting in, unless we went early and sat at the bar. It didn't seem as difficult as he made it out to be, though - we walked in at six and had a table. The place was busy by the time we left, but not absurdly so. Overall, a great dining experience. Pricey, and the weird, near-strip mall feel outside is a little strange. But, generally, delicious, well-prepared, and fun.

    (4)

  • Jesse N.

    Very tasty! Had the Tagliata and was not disappointed. My date tried the rotisserie chicken dish, it was also very delicious. Both had very unique tastes. I was looking for something a little more quiet and romantic but I was to curious to go elsewhere and I was happy I stayed.

    (4)

  • Silas B.

    Service was so bad it nearly ruined the meal. Waiter had a chip on his shoulder and snarky throughout the meal. Food was good but not worth the wait or the expense.

    (2)

  • Scott G.

    Recently, with my wife and her sister and friend, we returned for dinner. The service was the same as before- inattentive and amateurish. It's not that hard to find a good Italian restaurant so why this place continues to maintain a reputation when it is so carelessly and inexpertly run is beyond me. Many otherYelp reviewers tell of a similar experience so I don't think I'm being a grouch.

    (1)

  • Cass M.

    Nostrana was a great start to an unbelievable night. Started out with a wine flight that surprisingly had a familiar vermintino in it, yeah! Add a couple more glasses to the radicchio salad (amazing dressing!) and things were going quite well. The next course was a slight misstep when the clams and gnocchi came out overdone. Gnocchi were so overdone they were melting. After that a glass of good cananou and the spicy olive pizza put is right back on track and left us with a great memory for the meal Now if we could just convince them to carry mirto digestivos by the glass year round!

    (4)

  • Tom L.

    Great for pizza. NOT great for pasta. Very cut and dry. It was solid food, but our male waiter had this attitude that was unprofessional. Everyone else was nice. If you are looking for authentic... This is not the place. Pizza rocks.

    (3)

  • Michael J.

    Wow this place was good. Went last night (Sunday) with wife. Although we had no trouble making a reservation earlier the same day, it was fairly busy by 6:30. Normally, Kim and I love our own dishes so much we don't like to share. But since it was our anniversary, we decided to share each dish. (I also wanted to sit together on the same side of the table; but struck out on that one.) Cocktail menu: has a Negroni of the Month! 'nuff said about how awesome is that! List of amazing things we had: - seared beef bresaola - insalata Nostrana (basically a radicchio caesar...mm!) - goat cheese stuffed pappardelle (so rich I was glad we were sharing) - grilled cattail creek lamb chops (so good I wish it was all mine) - berry crisp (ordered in advance due to prep time).....yum yum yum! It was a perfect evening for sitting out on the patio. Our service was great. And I found the overall prices to be reasonable, especially for the quality of food + service + ambiance. There were so many other things on the menu I wanted to try! This is a place to go several times, probably even regularly. Bravissimo, Nostrana!

    (5)

  • lora v.

    Fantastic food an great cocktails. We sat at the bar and had a lovely conversation with the bartender. So why the 2 stars? Rude service, with a high emphasis on turning over tables. We had finished our main plates and were waiting to order another round of drinks and dessert when we were handed a check - not by our server, but by her boss, the head bartender. Meanwhile, the older (and probably more spendy) couple next to us were offered desserts. I had overheard a staff member ask them to turn over a bar seating when we sat down (the man had been there an hour - gasp!). Maybe I shouldn't have been surprised when the same thing happened to us. We' were younger (in our 30's) then most of the crowd, but I can't remember a time when I've felt more judged at a restaurant. So, my takeaway - don't go unless you plan on spending at least $50-75 pp, or you'll get second class treatment.

    (2)

  • Nicole J.

    One of my favs. The pizza and pasta are authentic, but in portions that allow you to enjoy all of the options. They gave us a great table in the center. We went for our anniversary and the service was on point. A few suggestions: comp dessert if someone is celebrating with you as their restaurant of choice. That's just classy customer service that nostrana should give. Also, update the bathrooms. The food and atmosphere is what will bring us back. The food is really amazing. Can't wait for the next excuse I can think of to go.

    (5)

  • Naomi V.

    I went twice in two weeks, and enjoyed every single part of both meals. From cocktails, appetizer, main course to dessert (the butterscotch pudding, which is incredible). I had the most tender flat iron steak I've ever had-- aging meat really works. It was smothered in a garlic infused oil that was delicious, although by the end of the meal, started seeming a little TOO garlicky. I just had the rest wrapped up to go, and it made an amazing steak sandwich the next day. Pizzas are great-- true Italian style with the thin crust and simple toppings.

    (5)

  • Joe J.

    So, after a long Monday, and really after only being in the city for a few months, I narrowed down dinner options and chose Nostrana. I ran into Cathy Whims, unknowingly, at an event recently and have been meaning to stop by. The 2013 JBF nomination really forced my hand, though. Came in for dinner - around 730 or so. It was busy, even for a Monday. I was flying solo so hoped to find a comfy seat at the bar. The place is gorgeous and the bar is actually broken in two - a traditional bar area and then the pizza counter (facing directly into the pizza oven and the kitchen. I took the pizza counter and the great service got me a glass of Pinot Nero rather quickly. I ordered the Polppetine pizza (meatball pizza, basically) with Arugula add-on. Crust was cooked to perfection and the pizza had a good mix of heat and bite. Arugula was fresh and held up well to the baking. Wine pairing was awesome. I had another glass. Eyes bigger than the stomach caused me to have leftover pizza (God forbid!) but, the fresh apple crisp listed on the menu was too tempting to pass up. Order it early as it is so fresh it needs a good 20 min to have it prepared for you. My only mistake was savoring my Pinot and not getting a dessert wine with the crisp. All in all, I'm definitely glad I made it in here. Congrats to the Nostrana team and Cathy - it's great having a comfortable, high quality, great service place making great food. I don't even usually go "out" for Italian, but, this was the exception. Perfect for a date, a celebratory dinner or flying solo and wanting some good food and wine.

    (5)

  • Bertrand R.

    We were taken here by my sister and loved it. Really good food and great service. The chef/owner has been nominated for James Beard Awards multiple times so you know you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Marsha W.

    We held my daughter's 30th birthday at Nostrana, so we wanted something special. We were not disappointed. We started with their warm wonderful bread, and the charcuterie platter- beautifully created with a number of delicacies. Fresh and full of flavor. Next we ordered salad, several pizzas, the pasta Bolognese and vongole, the cheese platter and several bottles of wine -- all sharing and passing our orders. We particularly liked the Insalata Nostrana, the Salumi pizza and the pasta selections. To finish our meal we ordered a budino and a Tiramisu. Then we ordered ANOTHER budino - one just wasn't enough. Our desserts where brought out with a special birthday candle, making it so festive. The wait staff was friendly and efficient. We had a few special requests and each was granted graciously. The restaurant had a comfortable noise level. Wine list is a bit pricey and a few of us didn't care for one of the pizza selections. But on the whole, it was delightful. It could be a romantic dinner, business, or adult. Not recommended as a place for small children.

    (4)

  • Brian M.

    We had a group of six and every meal was terrific. A couple of gnocchi's, lasagna, meatballs, lamb and I had the salmon. We also shared the tiramisu and some fresh gelato for dessert. Awesome meal and awesome service.

    (5)

  • Susan B.

    When does it become OK for a restaurant to be a bad neighbor? Its 1: 00 on a Monday morning, and Nostrana one again has a party going. Complete disregard for the people living in the nieghborhood. Nostrana this is a residential neighborhood, please respect the families that live around you.

    (1)

  • Alexandra N.

    My wife and I went out for our anniversary dinner here and we really enjoyed it! Everything was fresh and tasted great! We had the seared scallops, fettuccine with clams and shiitake mushrooms, the tagliata, and the yogurt panna cotta for dessert. Add to that a bottle of chianti and some after-dinner housemade limoncello and we had one fine meal. It's a beautiful, open space, too. Nostrana provided such a nice, romantic evening for us. We'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • marisa m.

    Went for the late night happy hour pizza. It might be the best pizza in portland. And 6 dollars for a full size pizza can't be beat. I can't attest to the rest of the menu but I know I will be back for happy hour.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    I could come here and just eat the delicious bread they bring to your table and leave a happy girl! But you would be a fool to miss out on the wood fired pizza that Alone is worth the trip not to mention the radicchio salad, and pastas.... I must visit restaurant in P-town!

    (5)

  • Annie S.

    In town for a convention, and not knowing anything about the area - I consulted Yelp for Pizza and Pasta and found many selections. Sadly, two with great reviews are closed on Monday, so we chose Nostrana. What a wonderful find! My friends who were with me are from Costa Rica and have had many incredible meals in Europe to compare this restaurant's fare. They each chose the Meatball Monday special: fettucine with pork meatballs. The pasta was perfect and not overly thick, as some fettucines can be. It was perfectly sauced -- yummy tomato butter sauce and meatballs. I ordered the Granchio pizza, which is crab with creme fraiche, herbes and paprika butter - oh, oh, oh. It filled a large dinner plate. I ate the WHOLE thing! The crust is crunchy and lovely and thin, so I really could eat it all - by myself. So delicious. Once we started eating and discovered how delicious our food was, one of my friends declared that we were going to have dessert. She ordered the Ricotta cheesecake with pistachio crust and I had the Buttersctoch pudding with creme fraiche and salted caramel sauce -- both were heavenly. There is nothing better than having a delicious meal, perfectly created. We all loved our experience here and tipped well! When we're back in Portland, we'll be back!

    (5)

  • Myra F.

    18 young people for dinner! The restaurant was great to work with. All the food was delicious with choices to make and lots of delicious food! From bread, to salads, pizzas, entrees, and desserts! My only comment would be that the desserts came out 2 or 3 at a time. Other than that, it was a perfect place to have a party! Busy restaurant, great buzz, great service! A job well done!

    (4)

  • AF J.

    This place has really nailed inauthentica! With an incredible happy hour and a whole bunch of questionable negronis on the menu, I must admit that I am mildly offended by the large "last supper" wall canvas painting. It is sometimes cold. Bathrooms are forgettable, but some great scissors accompany your pizza. Again, CONFUSED! Fake fancy--is my general, underwhelmed complaint and the hosts are mediocre-warm. However, I would show up after 9pm any day of the week to eat some arugula, fancy cheese, and radicchio. Boom.

    (3)

  • Krista G.

    They have a parking lot and take reservations and that kicks ass! The pizza with crab and mascarpone, paprika and herbs had huge flavor and the crab was so moist and delicious! I loved it! Also had some rotisserie chicken and a skimpy serving of taste bud blowing rosemary mashed potatoes. My two cosmos were pure Bliss, made with love I tell you!

    (4)

  • Kelsey M.

    The food is really good here, and I recommend getting one of the aged steaks. The portions are fairly small, so be ready to order several courses and drinks. Someone at the table next to us got a pizza from the wood-fired pizza oven, and it looked delicious enough to warrant a special pizza return visit. It had at least one person at our table experiencing food envy. The vaulted ceilings are beautiful but make for a very loud restaurant, so it's not an atmosphere that I'd call relaxing. The vibe is a tad pretentious as well, but not so off-putting as to keep me from returning for pizza.

    (4)

  • Stacie O.

    My husband and I had a wonderful experience eating at this restaurant. The atmosphere was homey and the food was far beyond what we had expected. I recommend getting the pizza that came with its own "pizza shears." Awesome restaurant.

    (4)

  • Lucia M.

    Great food! Their Margherita pizza was delicious.

    (4)

  • J L.

    Great value. Atmosphere and service were outstanding as was the food. Standouts were the semolina gnocchi, octopus, cognac, and butterscotch budino pudding. The chicken was cooked perfectly, but a little on the salty side from the brine.

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    For the wait and the price, the food and service was underwhelming. Dinner portions were surprisingly small--I would've thought they were appetizers if I didn't know better. Everything tasted fine, it just wasn't as great as you would expect from the atmosphere and the prices. Had the crab and ricotta canollini (sp?) and it was literally three 5 inch rolls of pasta stuffed mostly with ricotta, from what I could taste. By the third canollini, I was already tired of the flavor. The service could've been much better too: a bus boy took away my friend's appetizer plate before he was finished with it and without even asking if he was done. And our waitress continually mixed up the orders at our table and we kept getting the wrong drinks/plates set in front of us, so we had to keep passing things around to get it to the right person. Then it took the waitress 15 minutes to bring us our bill. All the while, I could see from our table that she was struggling at the register to remember who got what. There were only three credit cards to choose from! She then handed everything back, with the credit cards attached to their corresponding receipts... Well, turns out she handed everyone the right receipts in terms of price, so we didn't think anything of it--but she had charged the wrong credit cards! When you get your receipt back to sign for your credit card, you assume it's billed to the right card, so you just sign for it.. I realize now we should've checked the credit card number listed on the receipt too. My SO had signed for our bill of $99, but today he saw that his card was charged $138, which was the bill of another couple at our table. Was sorely disappointed and will not be coming back. This place is overrated.

    (2)

  • Heather S.

    It's hard to believe you can use your Passport card at Nostrana where the chef is a James Beard Award winner!!! Nostrana offers stellar food, attention to detail, and a beautiful atmosphere. First, you can sit outside at fabulously relaxed-looking tables with umbrellas, kind of like being on vacation in your home city. The way they've decorated, including with the fireplaces and fans make the ambiance cozy and spacious: a rarity. The bread -- everyone mentions the bread -- and, it's true: I went off my no-bread diet to indulge in the soft, crusty delight, but OMG, it's really the olive oil that's the star of the show: buttery, grassy, and vibrant, it's Arbequina olive oil (a varietal from Spain now grown in California), is the best thing since their sliced bread! Honestly, I wanted to bathe in it, and drink the stuff! I sincerely thought of dunking my beautiful piece of seared tuna ($22) in it, and though the olive oil was the best I've ever tasted, I'm glad I didn't since the tuna was incredible: moist, chewy, I could taste the grill. It came with an incredible sauce (herbed aioli), heirloom tomatoes, and roasted squash -- seriously the best tasting squash I've ever eaten (and I've eaten a lot of squash!). My partner had the the smokey rotisserie chicken ($19), which was tender, juicy, and smokey in the best way! They have a woodfire oven, and make pizzas, which I'm sure are amazing!!! I wish they had more on the menu for vegetarians and/or vegans. Other than the olive oil, the bread, the tuna, and the chicken, my favorite part of the meal was the dessert. Blackberry crisp (order ahead as you have to wait 20 minutes), with almond cream was incredible: bursts of sweet and tart bursting in our mouths, we kept burning the roofs of our mouths because we couldn't wait. It was that good. If you want a decadent restaurant that feels homey with the best food you can imagine, Nostrana is about as perfect as you can get.

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    My experience here, unfortunately, was also full of boo. To be fair, we were a big group, we did roll in late -- sans reservations, and we were tired and hungry. Ok. That's on the table. But the food wasn't. We waited, and waited, and drank some poorly suggested wine, and waited, and an hour and fifteen minutes later our food was delivered, minus a dish. I'll go back -- thus the three stars. But overall, not anywhere I would ever suggest.

    (3)

  • Haley B.

    Yeah, the butterscotch budino is one of the best desserts I have ever had. The pizza is pretty good too. Everything else is average. DON'T order the fettucine. It is nice pasta, but the sauce tastes worse than chef-boy-ardee. (Glad i don't know how to spell that). However, nothing could be good enough to make up for the terrible service. We took out of town guests. What an embarrassment! They said they would never go back.....neither will we.

    (2)

  • Deanna N.

    Yes, they know me here because every night at 9 pm the have happy hour. And now there is a fabulously beautifully lit patio. The pizza is by far true Italiano in nature with a wood-fire oven. I am partial to the plainer margarita with fresh basil on top. And the Caesar salad is the best ever - why because its radicchio. Add the summer roses and I was in blissful date night mode. And chatting with Beard Nominee and owner Cathy Whims is a joy. I think the secret is out she is opening on the west side in the Pearl soon. Another wood-fire means pizza and I am sure other delish surprises.

    (5)

  • Carl T.

    Sunday evening dinner and we went to try Nostrana. We were referred here by a family member as one of his favorite Italian restaurants in Portland. It was around 5pm when we arrived and there were a few people waiting. It is obvious you should make reservations. We did not have any but the wait wasn't that long and the Host or restaurant manager Doug was very accommodating to our party of five. We asked if we could order a glass of wine while we waited for our table and he swiftly recommended a nice Chianti. All is right. : ) Once seated we again employed the wine knowledge of Doug. He steered us right to a wonderful bottle of red to match the dinners we were ordering My wife and son ordered the "Bistecca alla Fiorentina dry aged thirty-one days 2-inch thick, 1 kilo St Helens rib steak, grilled to medium rare garlic-rosemary oil" to share. I ordered the "Cattail Creek Overnight Lamb salsa calabrese, garlic bruschetta, sprouting broccoli" and the "Insalata Nostrana radicchio, parmigiano, rosemary-sage croutons with Cæsar-style dressing" The salad was something I had never had before the bitterness of the leaves and the sweet yet garlicky dressing was wonderful. The food arrived after well over an hour. Good things are worth waiting for so be prepared for a wait. My lamb was cooked to perfection, soft and moist and full of yummy, deliciousness. Unfortunately the Steak was still mooing and my wife had to send it back . They tried to send re-fire it but it still came back very raw. At this point Doug tried to make everything okay and he brought my son out a substitute dinner of the Lamb which he thoroughly enjoyed. Sometime mistakes happen, its how you react that makes the difference. Dougs professionalism and speedy reaction to our situation has ensured we will be back and I'm looking forward to ordering this same dish and I know it will be amazing next time. We had the "Pizzeria Mozza's butterscotch budino" for dessert OMG! YUMM! Thanks again! We'll be back.

    (5)

  • evan r.

    Went for lunch, sat for an hour to get our food, ended up having to get it to go, they messed up the order and gave me a ham pasta instead of my vegetarian stuffed goat cheese pepper. What a complete cluster #*(&$@#. Too bad, i used really like Nostrana and recommended it but this is crap. $18 for something i can't eat!

    (1)

  • Urban S.

    Easily one of the best dining experiences in town. After trying several of the pizzas and a few entrees, you can tell that the quality of food is extremely high and that they have perfected their craft. The must try items are: gnocci, pizzas, and rotisserie chicken. Service was excellent and they hit the mark on every level. I have only good things to say about Nostrana.

    (5)

  • Scott S.

    Went for the late night happy hour. Great pizza for 6 bucks. Might be the late night deal of the century...at least in PDX. Also got the dinner menu meat board. Great pickles and an amazing fried pig trotter cake! Fried pork trotter....mmmmm The bar is beautiful. I can't wait to come here for a real dinner sometime soon

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    Nostrana has absolutely to die for Brick oven pizza. The Margherita is so simple, just fresh mozzarella, basil and marina, but is heaven in a slice of pizza. The ambiance is beautiful, cozy, and inviting. The bar and wine menu provide just about anything you fancy, and the deserts are scrumptious, and generally fairly lite. A one of kind Portland Gem.

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    I have been here twice so far and my assessment from the first time I visited is: the food and pizza were fine, but it didn't live up to the hype. I love the space, but a lot of the staff doesn't seem to be as knowledgeable or helpful as they should be. For my second time: I came back very recently and, unfortunately, the experience didn't get better. First off, our reservation was for 8pm; time seated, 8:18. Not a huge deal just a little bit of a let down with a 2/3 full restaurant, but I figured they were spacing tables for servers. The sat us and gave us our bottle of wine we brought. Then we ordered: Nostrana salad - which is awesome but appears to be made ahead of time (soggy croutons, slightly wilted), still a great salad and unique. Rotisserie Chicken - this was fairly good, but the brown-orange salsa too closely matched the skin color so it looked like the skin went bad - additionally the salsa didn't add much flavor. The carrots were WAY overcooked - like old people food and the crispy potatoes were just out of place on the dish. Ricotta stuffed pork chop - Unfortunately, it wasn't cooked well, the chop was raw in the middle which had to be sent back and recooked. The risotto cake had good flavor but way, way overcooked, and the sautéed greens were fine. I will say the onion marmalade on top was pretty awesome - great flavor between the reduced onions and raisins. In hindsight, I think the soft cheese stuffing, keeps it from cooking properly. Service wise we had a bit of an issue as well: 1. The salad came out within 3 minutes of ordering. Our entrees came out 45 minutes later. Both the manager and the server apologized, but without offer of retribution or some measure to correct the situation. 2. We brought a bottle of wine with us - a big Napa Petit Verdot and they brought us small tasting glasses. After not seeing our server or hostess for 20 minutes, I went up to the bar to get big kid glasses. The manager and server helped make a recovery and comped the pork chop and corkage and brought us two awesome digestifs - a limoncello and a malvasia - these were killer. Cathy has a much better thing going at Oven and Shaker, in my opinion. I don't know if that's because it's newer so she's more involved, but Nostrana could use a better focus on quality and expediting. I want to love this place but right now, it might be another two years unless it is for cocktails and the salad, which I can just as easily get at O & S.

    (2)

  • Patrick M.

    Have to say with the mixed reviews I was a little skeptical. Overall the service was great and the food was excellent. The salad mista was HUGE. Very flavorful as well. There were not very many vegetarian options for my partner. Which when I made my reservation I had indicated it was his birthday. There was nothing said or done. We will definitely be back, the food and service was the key point!

    (4)

  • Sean D.

    My favorite restaurant I ate at while I was in Portland for a week (also ate at #2 Costagna, #3 Aviary, #4 Andina, #5 Pok Pok, #6 Little Bird, #7 Tasty n Sons). Their take on the caesar salad was excelent. My one complaint about this place is that everything looked so good that ordering was best decided by eeny, meeny, miney, moe. They also have late night specials on their pizzas and some other small starters.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    Nostrana is featured on a fantastic documentary, "Ingredients" so it was a must see on my trip to Portland. The chef, Cathy Whims, creates a new menu daily around seasonal, locally grown foods. My best advice? Go to Nostrana on Thursdays when they feature fresh, home made gnocchi. I sat at the Rooster Bar for lunch, since I was by myself. Luckily for me, everyone in Portland is so friendly. The gal sitting to my left gave me a piece of her Arugula Pizza with Lemon Oil to try and I begrudgingly gave her some of my Gnocchi with Scallops and Mussels. The bread is amazing, don't miss it. Being a sweets girl, the best part of the meal was the Butterscotch Budino topped with salted caramel sauce.

    (5)

  • Tasha D.

    Had a fantastic happy hour dinner here. From 9-10pm they have a really nice menu of affordable pizzas, salads, charcuterie, wine, and other delicious snackies. The waitress and the manager were absolutely charming and provided some of the best service I've had dining out. My friend and I had a lovely meal and would absolutely be back for happy hour again, or for a fancy celebratory meal.

    (5)

  • Rick K.

    Went here w/ the wife & friends for late night HH...SCORE!!! I looked @ the regular menu and this place can get pretty expensive but the HH menu was nothing of the sort. We ordered the wood oven pizza ($6) which was one of the best pizzas I had in Portland not named Apizza Scholls! We also ordered the homemade mac-n-cheese which was also extremely good. I will definitely be adding this place to my list of favorite late night HH's!

    (5)

  • Nancy C.

    Four of us went for dinner on a Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. We were seated promptly, and quickly captivated by the vibe of the restaurant. What a great space! The food was outstanding! Unfortunately, our service experience did not live up to our surroundings. Here's our list of interesting experiences: 1. It took over 15 minutes for one person to receive a glass of wine. When we asked about its arrival, our waiter told us: "The bar is busy." No apology for the wait. No: "I'll check on it for you.". 2. When one person asked for extra limes with a gin and tonic, they received only one. It took 10 minutes to get the extra limes to the table. When that same person ordered a second gin & tonic, again, only one lime was in the beverage. NOTE: Only one lime was in the beverage. This is a key element in this part of our dining adventure. When the person politely asked for additional limes, a member of the bar staff brought a couple to the table, put them down in a huff and had the sheer audacity to say (this is a quote - his exact words): "There are plenty of limes in your gin and tonic." Apparently, not only is this man rude, but he can't count, or does not have a good grasp of the distinction between singular and plural. 3. One person in our group ordered gnocchi. The three other people received their dishes in a timely fashion. They attempted to serve an incorrect gnocchi dish. The server rolled her eyes, and huffed, when we graciously pointed out the dish was not the right one. The kitchen scrambled, and the dish was served within minutes. Unfortunately, the gnocchi was woefully undercooked. Our server graciously took it back to the kitchen to have it re-done, apologizing profusely for the delay. ASTOUNDINGLY - A few minutes later, the manager of the restaurant came to the table and told us that the gnocchi is always cooked the same way, and the dish was fine. He did NOT offer to get a menu to let the person pick another dish. Rather, he offered a choice: "You can have the dish as it is, or we can re-cook it, and it will fall apart because it will be overcooked." Might as well put a "comma stupid" after that comment. What a way to treat a diner. Another patron at the table, completely dumbfounded by this treatment, literally transferred half of her meal over to the bread plate of the person whose gnocchi was undercooked. You think that might have gotten the manager's attention. He just watched it happen, and still did not even have the courtesy to offer to get a menu and prepare a different dish. The diner turned down his offer of making the gnocchi the "wrong way." IT GETS BETTER! The diner whose gnocchi was horribly undercooked is a mental health care professional - read that as: the chick knows how to tactfully deal with conflict. She took time away from our meal to seek out the manager to discuss his condescending treatment of her. Did he care? NO Was her gracious? NO Did he apologize? NO Did he take this as a second chance to make things right? NO Basically, he was an arrogant, condescending toad. 3. Yes, they do not cut their pizzas. That's fine, but other reviews indicated that scissors are brought to the table for the patron to use to cut the pizza. We asked about getting the pizza cut. WAIT FOR IT. One of the wait staff rudely told us that pizza can only be properly cut immediately after it comes out of the oven. With that, she walked away. 4. Three of us ordered decaf cappuccinos at the conclusion of our meal. Only two were delivered to our table. After 10 minutes of waiting, the person who was missing the cappuccino reminded our waiter that she, too, had ordered one. The waiter curtly pointed out that they can only make two at a time, and that they always serve them as soon as they are prepared. The diner expressed frustration with this approach to client service, pointing out that it would have been nice for the server to have explained this procedure rather than letting the diner think their order had been forgotten. 5. To top off this lovely experience, I went to the ladies room near the end of our meal. You know how some people can just bowl you over in a crowd? Basically, giving you a shoulder as if you are on a soccer field? A fifty-something woman did that to me on my way to the bathroom. She was heading toward the back of the restaurant. Amazingly, on my way back to the table, the same woman, now heading toward the front of the restaurant, did the same thing. This time, I was quick on my feet, anticipating the shoulder, and moved out of her way before impact. GUESS WHO? The hostess. I had no idea this is who she was until we walked out the door. My serving as a tackling dummy for the hostess was the highlight of the evening. Need I say more?

    (2)

  • RJ H.

    Delicious and inviting. Nostrana is one of the biggest dining surprises I've enjoyed in Portland. Though not a restaurant I feel I'd discover anything mind blowing or cutting edge at, it's the sort of place I'd bring my parents or grandparents to in a heartbeat. What they do cover on their vast menu they seem to do well -- approachable, but still competent and flavorful. Service was lovely. Great experience.

    (4)

  • Lydia H.

    I had my farewell dinner here and was very pleased. We got to sit at the pizza bar and we all ordered pizza and some drinks. As much as I love Ken's pizza I fell in love with Nostrana's pizza and think it tastes better. I ordered the Funghi pizza and a Mandarino cocktail. We also split an olive oil infused chocolate tart. Service was very friendly and attentive. I really liked the pizza scissors and enjoyed watching the folks working the kitchen. I only wish I had discovered Nostrana before I left town.

    (4)

  • A B.

    I'm an out of towner but have now been here three times and am ready to declare it my favorite Portland restaurant. Everything I've had is good, and the menu is broad enough that you can come in for a quick salad and pizza or do a multi-course extravaganza. Good wines and service. Nice people. If I were going to nitpick (and come on, it's Yelp, so yeah, I guess I'll nitpick), we did notice that their big bistecca florentine was different each of the three times we were there. Not bad on any given day, mind you, but vastly different seasonings, which strikes me as odd given that it's supposedly the same dish each time. Whatever. It's a good restaurant, and we'll keep coming back.

    (5)

  • Annie K.

    I've been a fan of the chief Cathy Whims for some time and she doesn't disappoint. Try the cannellini beans and tuna to start. My DH, who doesn't usually even want to look at radicchio always gets the Insalata Nostrana. I get pizza without cheese and enjoy it enormously. Skip trying to cut it with the lovley knives they serve it with, and get a pair of scissors. And I haven't even mentioned the TAGLIATA. Stop fixating on the pricey porterhouse and get this! I was raised a vegetarian and was happily a vegan for over a decade and the Tagliata is a reason to eat meat. Perfect with the arugula. And, ask them to save you an order of whatever crisp they have. Several times we've gotten there too late to get one, and I'm always crushed. It's wonderful. I'll also give them big props for the Yogurt Panna Cotta (made with local Nancy's yogurt!). Panna Cotta isn't really my thing, but this dish is terrific. I haven't gotten their mixed drinks, but my SIL, a former cocktail waitress likes them. And, she's tough to please. The wine is lovely, even the inexpensive stuff. But, I'm *not* hard to please with wine. The waitstaff is lovely and friendly and the hostesses have been efficient and kind even when we've been a large unruly group. Sitting outside with kids is great when weather permits. Amazing food, locally sourced, wonderful to eat. We go here almost every time we go to Portland. I eat most anything but try to stay away from dairy. There's plenty here for me, but, this is the place where I most wish I had remembered to bring my lactose pills. I want to eat it all.

    (5)

  • Schuyler C.

    I used to live right by this place. Very ok. The late night happy hour was a decent deal, and I had good gnocci there, but for some reason, despite it being one of only 2 restaurants near my apartment that was open past 7pm, I rarely went there. It's really just ok. The biggest drawback, their house wine (part of the happy hour) was atrocious. I mean awful. Meh-worthy, but for nice atmosphere and a pretty decent late night happy hour pizza.

    (3)

  • cindy k.

    Great options for vegan pizza choices. Be sure to make reservations. We did not and ended up at the bar, which resulted in very attentive service.

    (4)

  • Allie R.

    Some friends generously gave us a gift certificate to Nostrana, and we came here on our anniversary to celebrate. The wine flights are a fun way to try a variety of Italian wines that you may not otherwise sample, and the farmhouse dinner is excellent. For dessert, I had the best panna cotta I've ever had -- truly excellent.

    (4)

  • Genoa J.

    I really liked this place. We came in for late night happy hour, and I felt bad because we got there at 9:15 when they close at 10. But the service was good enough and he didn't seem to have too much disdain for the fact that we were ordering happy hour in a place with pricey entrees. The food was phenomenal. We had a Caesar salad and a margherita pizza. Both were excellent. The pizza reminded me of some that I ate in Italy.... how can that be bad? Even though it was getting late, they still served me another glass of wine, and seemed to have no problem as we ( and the rest of the restaurant who had wandered in for late night happy hour) sat until well after they closed. Overall I would say it was a good experience and I would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Betsy S.

    Sat at the pizza bar and watched them toss pizza dough high into the air. Service was great, ambiance was great, although it felt a little too "perfect" and not quite as cozy/intimate as I'd like. Overall, the food was solidly good, but didn't wow me. I will come back, but not on my top ten list.

    (4)

  • B R.

    Pizza is the only thing I get here and is really good with average prices

    (4)

  • mya j.

    Loved the food here. They have a few vegetarian options. For happy hour, they have some of their pizzas for $5

    (4)

  • Andy T.

    I was somewhat disappointed with my first trip. I took some friends there last saturday night. My friends pasta was undercooked and was sent back. The second plate was barely passable. It was comped however. The pizzas were good but over priced. The bruschetta was good but small. I spent $17 on some toast with truffles and a cocktail. The cocktails were honestly the only thing that wowed me. With the food, ive had better for less $

    (2)

  • Jillian M.

    We absolutely LOVED Nostrana. We went in to have one of their wood fired pizzas and had an exceptional evening. The service was amazing, our waitress treated us as if we were the only people there and the staff was extremely efficient in providing information about the dishes dropped at our table as well as clearing items. The food arrived quickly and it was exceptionally good! We ordered the Charcuterie appetizer, a salad that was big enough to share and 2 pizzas. The crust was smokey and crisp and the toppings were perfectly distributed. We loved that you can see the pizza dough flying into the air and the place was a buzz with activity and chatter but not to a fault. Every table was full at 7:30 on a Monday so they're doing something right! We will absolutely be back.

    (5)

  • Kathy B.

    I went with a group of friends and we sampled their pizzas. I loved them all and I'm picky about my pizza. I've tried other pizza places in Portland that have come highly recommended and I didn't enjoy them. Nostrana was very good and I'd recommend them to anyone. Loved the atmosphere and I'd definitely go back to try their non-pizza items.

    (5)

  • l M.

    My friends brought me to Nostrana a couple weeks ago saying that the pizza there was delicious, and they were right! We tried a couple different pizzas and they were all excellent. This place has a wood oven that enhances the flavors of the dough. Good selection of wines and very cozy atmosphere. I will definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Stephy S.

    Nostradamus once predicted The Death of Henry II from a jousting accident. He then went on to predict the great fire of London in September 1666. But nowhere in the prophecies did I find a warning about the wretched experience I was about to have at Nostrana over the weekend. We came here to celebrate a fantastic event! One that my girl had been working on for months and after all was said and done it was a true success. And so, being lovers of all things food and wine-related, we figured we'd splurge and hit the town for some tasty grub and some delicious wine. When our server came over, we described to a T the kind of wine we were looking for. Full-bodied, spicy finish, robust, meaty, I mean, details were given, heads were nodded in understanding approval and what was served...quite possibly the worst tasting wine I have ever had. Seriously, i couldn't even drink it and neither could anyone else at the table. Clearly the girl working here either didn't know her wines and was faking it (a crime that should be punishable by boxed wine for life) or she really thought this was a good wine, in which case, my goodness, does she have a thing or four to learn about wine. It is seriously such a pet peeve of mine in restaurants when you ask for a specific thing and the server fakes it. If you don't know the wine list, it's cool, just find someone in the restaurant that does. Don't sell me a bottle of wine you know nothing about and then look dumbfounded when it isn't anything like what we asked for. So annoying. Then there was the food. I ordered the last order of lamb because, well, I love lamb, but after waiting over 45 minutes for our food, that lamb wasn't sounding so amazing anymore and when it finally did arrive it was waaaaay over-salted and not that good at all. We ordered the Northwest cheese plate and that was a sad and wimpy display of NW cheese and the salad I ordered never showed up and after finally giving up on this horrible wine, I sat there a good 15 minutes waiting for another glass of something else after I ordered it. Just a total train wreck and a real sour note to end the night on, but at least the company was good.

    (1)

  • Jim A.

    I'm a simple man with a simple palette, and Nostrana... She's a not so simple. I ordered a pork loin with some crazy plum sauce. Once I scraped the plum crap off to the side the pork was good. I'm didn't like the greens that accompanied the pork. They were very bitter. A couple of people from my group (of 9 people) ordered the salmon. It was a very small portion. They said it was good, but due to the lack in size it wasn't good for the price. For the most part under $30 per person is going to happen, but if you like to flex your wallet you could really jack up your per person price. If I recall correctly there was a steak option that was upwards of $60 or $70. When all was said and done our group left very liquored up, still hungry, and with an expensive tab.

    (2)

  • David S.

    I'm generally not a huge fan of Italian food (with a few exceptions), but I thoroughly enjoyed Nostrana (and the fact that I know someone on the staff didn't hurt). The restaurant is in one big room with an open kitchen: I really like the venue. I was there for lunch with a few friends. We shared a couple of appetizers (one of which was the pate (yummy)... and I can't remember the other one), after which we got pizzas. I thought the pizza was really good (very thin crust, Italian style), and the sizes were very generous (we didn't even get close to finishing what we ordered). Good food! Good drinks too (check out their cocktail menu), and great service. I'd definitely go again.

    (4)

  • S T.

    I am a big fan of Nostrana. In particular, I love three things: the Pizze Margherita, the Mongrana (Wine), and the Butterscotch Budino with Salted Caramel Sauce. After three visits, it is still pretty much the only menu I will order. The pizza is straightforward: wood-fired crust covered with San Marzano tomatoes, house-made mozzarella, and basil. If I can practice willpower, this $11 pizza will cover my dinner and perhaps a lunch the next day (but I can honestly say that this has not always happened). There is an addictive quality about this pizza that precludes me from venturing down the menu. And, if you were to ask me about my favorite pizza in town, this is definitely one of the best! The Mongrana Querciabella Toscana 2006 is a fantastic blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. My server recommended it, but at $11/glass, I could only justify one glass. Ah, the Butterscotch Budino! While this is a dessert created by Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery and Pizzeria Mozza fame, I am so glad that Nostrana brings it to us. I will probably never visit the famed home of the Butterscotch Budino, so I am eternally grateful that I can taste it any time I want, thanks to Nostrana. Imagine a creamy, not-too-sweet, pudding-like dessert, covered with a caramel sauce that has just a touch of sea salt...just enough to leave you wanting more (and wishing you hadn't agreed to share a dessert with your abiding dining partner...no matter how much you care for him)! I have only been to Nostrana on Sunday evenings (and generally pretty early). So, I am always pleased to see that the restaurant is pretty much full when we leave. Probably the only criticism I would have is the service. We have never had a negative service experience, but I like to establish a relationship (albeit short-lived) with my server. Typically, I have seen as many as four different people during a meal service. While I prefer to work with just one or two servers, it is not a deal-breaker for me. I consider Nostrana to be one of my favorite restaurants...and maybe one of these days, I will venture out and try something else on the menu!

    (4)

  • A Q.

    Happy hour margherita pizza deal = awesome. Beautiful chewy crust. Romantic. Good wine.

    (4)

  • Petrea H.

    We went to Nostrana for our daughter's birthday, and had a splurge. Appetizers, salads, a pasta for one of us, and entrees--pizza, scallops, chicken. 2 desserts Steady, competent, perfectly timed service. Food arrived at a steady pace but not rushed. Great wine recommendation. Inventive and super fresh dishes that scream Italy in their simplicity. Contemporary industrical chic, lively, fun atmosphere. YUM

    (5)

  • Kim S.

    Since my previous review with a less than great experience, I have returned to Nostrana's five times. Each time I was again overwhelmed with how good it was, back to its old perfection. And each time the waiters even recognized that we had an Italian accent even when speaking English. The waitress who provided the bad experience before was gone. I asked about her. She did not work out. It was just bad luck on our part, not a terminal decline in the restaurant. I am glad to report that this is still the only Italian restaurant on the west coast that I would consider going back to.

    (5)

  • Malcolm A.

    Meh. Used to live in Portland at a time when Genoa was rightly so one of the best restaurants in town. Was exciting to check out Nostrana when I read the owner was cofounder of Genoa. Uhh, not very impressed. The restaurant is located in what looks like a strip mall. The interior was nice and airy though. As for the food, mediocre. The signature butter marinara pasta with meatballs was underwhelming. I mean buying a higher end sauce off the shelf would be a better bet frankly and the meatballs were just ok. The fried razor clams were equally boring with a mayo sauce gooped on them. The highlight? The kids pizza my son ordered was quite good, I would say it could compete with a good pie from NYC any day. Unfortunately the wines by the glass were pretty overpriced as well. Sorry to say... but pass.

    (3)

  • Susan B.

    This was our second trip to Nostrana in the last four years...ironically, when we were in Phoenix in April at Matt's Big Diner (which is really tiny), they were like have you been to Nostrana, we love that place! We new we had to go back! So, made a reservation, I love that they take reservations for under 6 people! And, when we got there and realized it was one of the nicest nights of the year and wanted to sit outside, they were really accommodating, plus my nephew was much happier on the bench and not in the high chair. Now let's get to the review! First, the server who we talked to about ordering a bottle, was a true somallier! I don't know if he is a somallier but he knew his stuff! We ordered one of their award winning wines and we were not disappointed! It was maybe one of the best bottles of wine I've ever had...Italian and just so smooth and silky! Now for the food! even Smith tea is always a nice touch! Overall, a wonderful meal and we won't be waiting four years to go back! I can see why they were nominated for the James Beard award We did family style (I really feel the need to set this night up)...I ordered for the table (it was my birthday dinner). Apps: Tuna salad with beans and cauliflower...mmm, we cleaned the plate with the bread. The melted cheese with mushrooms and crusty bread...I don't think I need to say anything else. The salad misto was good...lots of different veggies...some beets and cauliflower...the red wine vinegar was delicious on this. Clam pasta...it wasn't dry like a lot of house made pasta can be..it was soft and nice and the sauce was fantastic! We got the Funghi pizza that had arugula on it...delicious and loved that you got to use scissors to cut your own...our nephew was in heaven! The final item was the 1 kilo steak...it was aged for 60 days and was perfect...the simple olive oil, rosemary, sea salt and lemon were a perfect touch and the meat was just perfect (and I don't normally eat red meat). Juicy and tender. For dessert we got three things..maybe overkill. Dessert was not my favorite course, but overall I still loved our experience! We ordered the rhubarb apple crisp in advance...I felt like it could have had more rhubarb, I also did not love the almond sauce that they poured over it, everyone else loved it though. The tiramisu was a little too espresso dipped... But, there was one item that was delicious and had me licking the bowl! The caramel pot. It was a butterscotch pudding with a salted caramel sauce. I wish we had only gotten that...it was divine! Oh, and serving Steven Smith is always a nice touch! I can see why they were nominated for the James Beard award this year too!

    (5)

  • Annelise K.

    Our party of four had a great meal on a Sunday night. We were pleased to see it was full and lively, but there were a few empty tables and we were seated promptly. Our table was near the bar and the open kitchen and signature wood-burning oven--I'd definitely choose to sit there again, as it was fun to see all the plates come out and lust after them. The service was great: attentive, casual-yet-professional. The staff seemed able to take care of their customers and still engage in a little joshing and small talk among themselves, lending a nice un-stressed vibe to the place. Two of us enjoyed the quince sour for a cocktail while quizzing the waitress about various obscure terms on the menu. It was an excellent cocktail, though I thought the quinciness was rather subtle--more of that aromatic quincy twang would have been enjoyable. And it was $8, not out of line I know, but a splurge for me. After enjoying excellent bread dipped in STELLAR California olive oil (I mean it was mind-boggling!), we shared two appetizers: one was a sort of unmolded souffle of cardoons, cheese and porcini mushrooms which we all loved, and the other was "wood oven roasted Scamorza cheese with shiitake mushrooms" ($9) which was delicious as melted cheese with mushrooms is bound to be, but nothing I couldn't do at home in my toaster oven--I'd make a different choice next time. Of the main courses, the "Tagliata-Strawberry Mtn. Flat Iron Steak, sliced and served rare over arugula with garlic rosemary oil" ($18.50) was a surprising triumph. It was one of the best steaks I've ever tasted: flavorful and so very tender, crusty with salt and seasonings. We all raved about it.. We also had "roast lamb" which I think should be re-named--it was more of a stew or a braise, and it was meltingly tasty and not gamey at all. It was served with mashed potatoes and rabe, both perfectly adequate and a good compliment to the lamb but nothing remarkable. Lastly, we had a Sicilian rabbit fricassee, robustly sauced with tomatoes, green olives and capers and topped with chopped almonds, accompanied by local Ayer's Creek polenta, which was a brown/yellow blend and distinctly different in flavor from other polentas I've tried--less corny, more subtle. For dessert, we had to quiz the waitress again: what's a budino? Sort of a pudding, we were advised, and indeed the butterscotch budino with salted caramel sauce ($7) was a smooth creamy not-too-sweet custard topped by a deeply colored caramel sauce, punctuated with crunchy grains of salt, and loved by all. We all enjoyed the ambiance, the food, and the service. The sunday night live music was a tad loud. Four cocktails, two appetizers, four entrees and one dessert: we paid $40 each including tip. A bit spendy by my standards, but the dining experience was great overall.

    (4)

  • Helen H.

    This place is gorgeous! I just wish I was as excited about the food as I was about the atmosphere. To start I shared a cheese plate with my date. There was barely enough cheese for both of us to taste each one! (and it wasn't that cheap) I had the prosciutto arugula pizza, which was just "good." I'm very familiar with the traditional Italian-style pizza, and I found this one to be bit bland. My favorite thing of the night was one of their signature cocktails. Can't remember the name, but it was REALLY good. So, it was kind of hit-or-miss for me... wah, wah.

    (3)

  • Greg G.

    Hey courtney f. & Jerry S. - a 'primi' or pasta course is not your whole meal, it's a course. The portion sizes are perfectly adequate here, and the quality is well worth the price. We had house cured salumi which was excellent, our pasta choice was a thick spaghetti with a cantaloupe, butter & tomato sauce that was more than the sum of it's parts. Our entrees were lamb & polenta (excellent again), and a pizza with Calabrian chiles that was crispy, perfectly balanced (toppings vs. crust) and delicious. Our server recommended a a great bottle of crisp, red Italian wine that was a beautiful complement to the flavors coming at us from the food. All in all a great evening, we'll be back when we visit Portland again.

    (4)

  • Alison M.

    I guess my expectations were too high for this place. The service was excellent and the food was tasty but extremely over-priced based off the portions you receive. No one should have to pay $25 for Oregon Salmon when the portion is about 3 oz and they serve it with mashed potatoes. Really?? I had the sausage and polenta which was ok. The polenta wasn't creamy, kind of cold and bland. I may go back to use a restaurant.com gift certificate but I think I will stick with their pizza.

    (2)

  • Kel L.

    Butterscotch Budino [insert drool sounds here] with salted caramel sauce.......... AMAZING!!! I want to clarify: I am NOT a dessert person. Give me wine and cheese course for dessert any day, but the budino is platinum! Nostrana has earned 5 stars. We have made several repeat visits (usually on Saturday nights, with reservations) and each time we walk away; it's our favorite place, hands down. To start, the Arbequina olive oil with the bread must be laced with some addictive street-legal substance. I can't write more than what I did on my first review, but know this: 1. Food is sublime (all courses) 2. Wine list is VERY approachable and well thought out 3. Service is top notch Disclaimer, the place is still vibrant (aka-a bit loud due to open concept), and chairs are still not comfy, but completely unimportant when #1-3 are perfect, consistently. Can't wait for my next visit!

    (5)

  • Debbie Y.

    My mom and I had lunch here yesterday and the experience was fantastic. The restaurant is located minutes from where I work which was great. This place beats the more hipster options up on Belmont. We were seated immediately and there was a good crowd for lunch. We were greeted immediately by our server and placed our orders. We decided to share the mista salad which was so good and easily enough for two people. It came in a large glass bowl with lettuces, carrots, radishes, cucumber and beets, a delicious combination. And our server brought over olive oil and vinegar so we could toss our own dressing to our liking. For our second course we ordered the cappellini pasta. The serving amount was perfect, not too much, and the sauce was so good. We both ate every bite. This place is wonderful and I can't wait to return.

    (5)

  • Danphi V.

    A trio of us settled on having a bite here and catching up on a Tuesday night. Upon arrival, place was not real crowded and the entry is a little confusing. We found our friend who arrived early and proceeded to start catching up. Our server came by a time or 2 and seemed a little put out when we said we hadn't really looked at the menu yet. The server kind of had a weird vibe, I guess he is keeping the Portland motto at the forefront (keep it weird). While the 2 women I were with were chatting away, I looked around and thought the space we're in is really well done and feels comfortable, despite being a big open room with a very high ceiling. We got around to ordering and we all went with pizza. The pizza was decent, thin crust and spartan ingredients. My companions ordered more substantial pies and they indicated they tasted fine (including one with an over easy egg on it). I really enjoyed the pasta fagioli soup I ordered. A great value at $7 for a big bowl. The apple crisp dessert was underwhelming and went unfinished. We liked the place OK, I guess. Might give it another try since it is in the neighborhood. Sort of a blah experience, not bad, but not memorable either.

    (3)

  • Liz K.

    I have been here close to 10X and firstly when they won Restaurant of the Year, 4 or 5 years ago? Some spotty times after that with ownership shuffles, and was recently told by a friend to "give it another try!" I did and after my 3rd visit, I can say that Nostrana is back on the list. Service is great (who cares about good food if you are annoyed?) The food is fresh and delicious. Pizzas rival Ken's. Wish there were more CA/WA/OR wines on the menu - not a big Italian wine fan. But will keep going back!

    (5)

  • Juan H.

    Great food. Loved it my first time, then we went in with a big party for my birthday. 13 people and it took 3.25 hours to get us in and out. Our waitor was a snooty,rude, and inattentive jerk. He looked down his nose at us like we should have went to chuck e cheese, (YOU'RE A WAITOR!) It appeared that an automatic 18 percent gratuity meant that a bill well over $700.00 didn't mean that we deserved respect. Not only that but I witnesseded this guy being short with my parents who were not being rude to him. I understand it's stressful being a waitor...wait, no I don't, especially when your tip is over 100.00. I waited several days to cool off before writing this but I'm still pissed. We got our food 2hours into being there. It was goods but, but I think we were being held hostage being milked for more drinks which we gladly obliged. We ended up not making to our planned trip to body worlds. Fine,whatever, the food was exquisite. I loved the steelhead. Pizzas were great. The mussles were delicious. I would return but never with more than four in a party. The atmosphere is wonderful. I won't let one bad stuck up server ruin it, but be warned, it took two hours for food to arrive. Im not exaggerating. We got there at 5:45 and finally got out at 9:15. WE had a nice time. I'm just really upset that people I brought to experience what I thought was a true Portland class favorite and was embarrassed by being treated like second class citizens. Two stars, would have been 5.0 if I wasn't treated like crap.

    (2)

  • Jayne T.

    What a fantastic evening at Nostrana! Everything here is quality, from the Staff to the food. We were warmly greeted by the Hostess as soon as we arrived, and despite a full restaurant and no reservations for a 7pm dining time, they quickly scrambled to seat us. We were offered several options within ten minutes, and ended up choosing to wait a bit longer for seats at the pizza counter, watching all of the chefs in action (great fun!). The Hostess was very accommodating and helpful, and served us refreshing Moretti beers as we relaxed on the couches in the large and comfortable waiting area. The menu is extensive and features impressive and inventive dishes under every course. It is seasonal, so it changes periodically. Nostrana focuses on local, simple, honest ingredients, and with every bite you will feel that love. Our waitress was great. Attentive without hovering, and knowledgeable about the menu. She selected a great bottle of red wine (their list is extensive, to say the least, with wines from every Region in Italy) to go with pizza upon our request. We chose a Barbera D'Alba (Fontanabianca 2007) and it was right on the money. For antipasti we chose small plates, including: Bruschetta (w/roasted yellow peppers, capers and tomatoes) and Eggplant and pesto gratin (topped with parmigiano). Every bite was amazing in texture, temperature and taste. Next time we will try the Formaggi, which is served with wildflower honey, fig & walnut salami, and house made crackers! We had been talking about going to Nostrana for awhile, specifically for the wood-fired aspect. I, however, had no idea that this place would have...get ready for it...the BEST PIZZA in Portland! A mighty bold statement for a pizza connoisseur such as myself, but Nostrana truly delivers. I have not had anything close to such an Italian-style pie as this place. A light, basic tomato sauce combines beautifully with the perfect amount of cheese (housemade mozzarella that is) and toppings, all atop a wonderfully thin crust (with ample flavor and perfect char on the ends). Nothing overpowering or loaded, the way it should be before Americans got a hold of pizza and "supersized" it. The ingredients taste so fresh you would think you were eating straight from the garden, completely reminiscent of my pizza eating adventures in Italy. To add to the authenticity, the pies are served uncut, as in Italy, and you are offered both knives and scissors for cutting (so you can kick it old school or modern style). For the pizze, we chose the Margherita and the Diavola (spicy sausage, pecorino, garlic, lemon oil and arugala), and both were sheer pleasure. I could have ordered one of every pie if my stomach could have expanded more! Desert has to be mentioned, as I think my fiancé died and went to heaven upon demolishing his Pizzeria Mozza's Butterscotch Budino, with salted caramel. Budino is Italian for pudding, and this was the richest, creamiest, most delicious pudding we have ever tasted. Divine and an absolute must try. I enjoyed the housemade Stracciatella Gelati, which was a fresh mint explosion! Pricing is dead on for the quality of food Nostrana serves...we left feeling ridiculously full and happy for much less than expected. What a treat! On the way out we were bid goodbye by the Manager, and we explained how delicious the food was and what great service the restaurant had provided. He was gracious and thanked us for our business. It also should not go without mentioning that Nostrana Executive Chef Cathy Whims was nominated for a 2010 James Beard Award. After all of this, do you seriously need another reason to visit Nostrana? I didn't think so, now get to it.

    (5)

  • christopher s.

    I love me some Italian food, but, keep in mind that i'm from the east coast. What I know and love as Italian food is generally nothing more then a New Jersey hybrid. The awesome italian food is probably the only thing keeping us people who's states border jersey from blowing it up. With that being said, I don't know the first thing about real Italian food, so, if you're looking for authenticity, skip reading my review because I can't give any final say on authenticity. I went during happy hour, it is one of the best happy hours i've discovered thus far. 5 dollars for a pizza that is probably big enough for two people to be satisfied with. There's a one drink minimum but it's not a problem because there are cheap drink prices too during happy hour. I found the seasonal Oatmeal ale to be quite tastey. Overall, nice atmosphere, pretty good food, and the service was pretty damn accommodating considering the size and overall high maintenanceness of our large group. If you come here, go on a sunday after 9, because the happy hour makes this place worth going out of the way for.

    (4)

  • Emily E.

    I love the space. VERY high ceilings, open kitchen & great artwork. Nice décor and ambiance is nice and all, but the food is what to go there for. Their menu is varied and Italian inspired - there is something for everyone, from your traditional Italian fair -pasta, to fresh seafood and everything in between. Their meats and veggies come from local purveyors, so it's also a "feel good, support your local organic folks" kind of place. To top it off, the chef is a James Beard nominee - how can you wrong!

    (5)

  • Lindsay S.

    This was my third time to Nostrana, and I won't likely go back. Not because it was terrible, but mediocre for what we paid. Expecially in terms of the service. Our server seemed bored and uninterested in our enjoyment of the food and experience. I wondered if she was hungover - like she was trying to be there, but just couldn't muster enough energy to fake it. When I asked her for a wine suggestion to pair with my entree she responded "Uhhhh, ummmm. I guess this one." My husband ordered the steak, which was lukewarm. I thought it was odd, but because it was sliced and served on a bed of greens, we figured it was supposed to be that way. I asked her about it, she said it's supposed to be warm, but then offered NOTHING. No comp. Just "sorry 'bout that." But my entree, the fish special, was delicious. The overall experience didn't make up for it though. Maybe we just got a blah server on a blah night but Nostrana didn't win a return visit from us.

    (2)

  • Denise d.

    Their glitches in service are inexcusable, and after so many years in biz and so many complaints, I don't understand how they could continue to ignore it. My only thought is that they've got too big a space, thus too many tables? That valid complaint aside, the food is good. It's more authentic Italian (simple Tuscan) than typically American-Italian, so expect beans, bitter greens, tiny portions of pasta, and anchovies. The radicchio caesar and corona beans with tuna are regulars for us, and the entree meats are usually simple, succulent and big enough to split. After 15 visits have I tasted some missteps? Absolutely. Have I had the embarrassing experience of waiting an hour for food with friends from out of town? Yep, and it took me six months to return. But Nostrana is a regular for this picky and cheap (I don't mind paying a bit if I'm getting something worthwhile) eater.

    (4)

  • Kimberly R.

    Instead of Mexican for Cinco de Mayo, we ended up at Nostrana. We considered this to be an awesome move on our part. Since my friends had their baby with them we were a little concerned that it would be too loud and crowded to be comfortable, but the restaurant was calm and our table fit us perfectly. I was an out of town guest, so we decided to go all out and get whatever our taste buds desired and share around. Our waiter suggested our bottle of wine after the first we chose ended up being sold out. The wine was a decent price and an excellent choice! Yum...this arrived with some tasty bread that had a salted top that I could have easily eaten a loaf of. To start we ordered the cheese plate with honey and walnuts. It came with a thin, crisp bread which was okay and only six slices of cheese (kind of a bummer and the reason for the 4/5 stars seriously). It was a little pricey to be so thinly distributed. The cheese, nut, honey combo was great on the italian bread that was brought though! I didn't really dig the olive oil we had for dipping. It reminded me of wheatgrass, oddly enough. I ordered the Washington caught salmon, as we were informed that it might be the last of the salmon for the season (poor fishies!). My friends got the fettuccine pasta with mushrooms which was amazing. It had a cream sauce that was delectable and I was surprised how much I liked it. I am not much of a cream sauce type. Our other entree was a pizza with egg, and vegetables. That was awesome. I am not sure of the specific name of it, but I loved the different textures and tastes that it involved. We finished the night off with the flourless chocolate cake. It was devoured in Olympic qualifying time. I loved the experience and would definitely come back next time I am in Portland.

    (4)

  • Josie V.

    So I finally made my way over to Nostrana after work one day. The ambience is fantastic. For a restaurant with such high ceilings it doesn't echo as much as you'd think. I had the opportunity to hang out at the bar before my meal. The bar is a great place to eat and drink with one or two people. The staff is attentive! The food was good. I have to say the pizza didn't really live up to all the hype. Don't get me wrong, I did like it but I much prefer Via Tribunali in Seattle and A16 in San Francisco. But for Portland pizza it's great. We had a smattering of different pizzas and my favorite was the mushroom one with the egg! The salted caramel budino is awesome.

    (4)

  • Matt K.

    Well, Nostrana had some pretty high expectations to meet. Everyone had told me to go there for Italian in Portland. Finally, was able to try it. We got there and there was about a 30 minute wait for the pizza counter with no reservation on a Saturday night. We were so hungry, so we kept asking for bread, haha. Here is what we ordered: - Fettuccine with Salmon Roe: Small portion size, noodles were a bit overcooked, and the salty salmon roe did not complement the sauce. Not a fan. - Spicy Sausage Pizza: This pizza was GOOOOOODDDDD!!!! The sauce was perfect, not salty and very fresh tasting. Overall, pizza was great but the fettuccine was disappointing. Atmosphere is warm and inviting and service is friendly .Definitely enjoyed sitting at the pizza counter and watching the pizzas being made. The heat from the oven was nice as well. Get ready to wait if you are a large party without reservations.

    (4)

  • Kimberly V.

    Holy grappa menu, Batman! I'm not sure how the grape-based spirit was incorporated into the distiller's menu specials, but I'm willing to accept it like religion. The grappa is there and it is good. 'Sho nuff. In my mind, all religious pronouncements should end with 'sho nuff. Now you may wonder what about standard chicken and pork entrees would make a heretic like me accept the Nostrana message of elegant Italian cuisine cooked with local produce. It's the sauce. It's that simple. It is typically hard for me to become very excited about a chicken course that isn't fried or served with spice-laden dipping sauce. But the amalgamation of mascarpone, rosemary, and grappa in the sauce on the chicken helped me to abandon my skepticism. 'Sho nuff. But that wasn't the only factor. My pork, which sadly lacked the grappa sauce that the chicken carried, was cooked wonderfully. It was moist and melty. And aside from the fact that I thought I needed a Gob-quality illusion to let the server know when I was ready to put in my order for wine, there were no disappointing feats that graced the table with their presence. From the cheese plate with its milky selections of goat and sheep cheese (because the Nostrana deities work in mysterious ways that include milking sheep, but who am I to judge) to the salted caramel dessert cups not to mention all the courses that came in between, everyone in the dinner party scrambled to pass their plates from one person to the next without knocking over any glasses. Once I finally received my wine, I was extremely pleased to reacquaint myself with the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, last imbibed when I was in Florence a few years ago. That's another thing about conversion by food. It's really not difficult. You don't need vomiting exorcisms or people running around babbling in tongues or paper pamphlets talking about the evils of life with computers. Those kind of trappings have the opposite effect on my largely chaos-leaning mindset. But if you can evoke a time when I felt really content and full to the brim with hearty food and drink, then chances are you'll make a believer out of me. If you doubt the power of the Abruzzo wine outside of my own meager situation, when it was sampled by a couple other people at the table - to hell with you, swine flu - it was favored over the more expensive and well-known Oregon pinot noir. Viva l'Italia in Portland. And viva l'Italia means, in plain English, 'sho nuff.

    (4)

  • Tyler H.

    Go! It is all fantastic! From the table bread to the dessert. The finest Tuscan infused American-Italian cuisine in Oregon. This is one of our (my wife and I) favorite restaurants in Portland. We can never wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Uyen D.

    Unfortunately you can't make a reservation here if you are under 6 people... apparently you can call before coming to get your name on the wait list before you arrive. You may want to try this. I came in at 8:15 on a Friday night and had to wait 40 minutes for a table for 2. We were sooo hungry! We immediately ordered the melted cheese over shitake mushrooms, prosciutto and bruschetta appetizer. It came in a very timely manner and we were quickly able to dull our hunger. The service was friendly, helpful, and accurate, and the food was delicous. I LOVED the paperdelle with pork, I wish more Italian restaurants served this. The shephard's salad was also tasty--served with a boiled egg. My boyfriend had the roasted half chicken. We loved the gratin sidedish--even though we couldn't figure out what it was made of. The pear crisp dessert w/ almond cream was soooo tasty. Dinner worth waiting for.

    (4)

  • Julie T.

    the bf and i decided to check out their happy hour. we heard it was delicious. it was pretty delicious. the dessert was my favorite part...it had something to do with figs...it's been about a month, so i don't exactly recall, but i love anything with fig stuff in it. the server who was assigned to our table seemed rather distant and a bit like we were an inconvenience. we ordered a salad and a pizza,...both of which are amazing values at happy hour. prior to the arrival of our pizza there were some scissors placed on our table with no explanation whatsoever. we could only assume that...A) she had left them there by mistake or B) they were for cutting our pizza. turned out to be the latter. the pizza here is ok. some people rave about it, but i find that the crust in the center gets way too damp and the sauce is a bit tangier/tart than i enjoy. anyway, i do think the staff here is probably nice, and maybe we caught them on an off night. at first i thought it was because we came in so late, but other people arrived after us and were seated, so i don't think that's it. still...it's a good deal for happy hour...maybe we should have sat at the bar.

    (4)

  • James H.

    What a disappointment. We were there on a Sunday at 5:30. Even though the restaurant wasn't busy, the service was uncoordinated, disjointed, and stressed out. We knew something was off when the server remarked how she wasn't happy about working there. Later, the manager sent our bottle of wine sailing off the table and onto the floor. I've had happier and better service at a fast food restaurant. Our party of three included a New York Italian, who was underwhelmed by both service and food. He had the paglia e fieno pasta, a Roman favorite, which lacked sufficient cream and cheese. I had the capellini, which was watery and flavorless. (I sent it back.) The roasted stuffed pork belly was excellent, an exception to the rest of the meal. When the formaggio plate was served, the server neglected to bring us small plates and even one knife, when three knives for the three cheeses should have been provided. Because of the inconsistency in both service and food, we won't be eating there again.

    (1)

  • Stephen O.

    Definitely one of my favorite places in town. Consistent and delicious. Great staff.

    (5)

  • ToriDawn S.

    Love this place! And, unlike the other yelpers, I really don't mind the strip mall situation. It provides more parking than most establishments, and makes the quality of your experience even more of a happy suprise :) I have been to Nostrana twice now and ended up sitting at the bar both times. The tall ceilings are my only decor-related complaint; it can be a little drafty inside. As for food, friends have really enjoyed the charcuterie plate...apparently the rabbit pate is really good. I have had a version of the chickpea, gardinera, and tuna salad at both visits...solid. Make it a point to try the $5 app specials if they have them available, and the shiitake and bacon pizza (MUST add arugula!!). The wine list is ample, well written, and affordable. Had a bottle of barolo at my last visit that was pretty darn delicious. Our bartender Doug was extremely helpful in navigating the list, and has never steered me wrong. The entire waitstaff was friendly and attentive (and cute!), and overall I have always left happy, full, and with money left

    (4)

  • Quynh L.

    My first visit here was 1.5hour wait during peak dinner time and that was for first available seat which ended up being at the bar....was the wait worth it? You bet! The hostess kept checking in on us and offered us bread because we were super hungry. The bread was really good and she then followed up with water. So far service was great...and the food ended up being better. We ordered the Nostrana salad - their version of the ceasar salad..it was YUMMY!!! Different then any other ceasar salad I've tasted! The hand-made double pressed fettucini with oysters was light and not overwhelmed with the oyster flavor. That was the best fettucini I've had in a long time! Ambiance was excellent from the hostess,waiter and the busser and the warm surroundings with the wood fired pizza oven! Try the pizza it's really delish and thin crust just like how it should be..nice and simple with minimum ingredients. After being stuffed..we still went for the dessert :-) the panetone cake..delish..but the biscotti that came with our dessert wine was nice and tasty too! Needless to say, we were stuffed and loved it!

    (4)

  • Pete W.

    We went there this last Friday night; two couples. Fortunately we had reservations because it was very busy. Interesting decor but just pretty good. Service was a bit slow because it was packed but still attentive and they seemed to do the best they could and were very pleasant and helpful. Three of us shared the Bistecca steak that is dry aged they say for 31 days. It is a kilo (a bit over 2 pounds) and was certainly enough meat for 3 adults unless you're an amazing carnivore!! It was sensational...not very good or great...sensational!! $60.00 but a great bargain for three people. Side dishes were excellent and they have three wine flights that let you try different types of Italian wines. Put this place on your bucket list!!

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    Absolutely fantastic food! We both loved every bit...will definitely go back again and again!

    (5)

  • Chris T.

    Awesome brick over pizza like they serve in Italy. Love it!!!

    (5)

  • Connie B.

    If you want great pasta, this is your place, especially for gnocchi. If you want great pizza, this is your place. Try the alla fiamma, a pizza without cheese that is bursting with flavor. You want amazing desert, gelatos are divine, tiramisu is the freshest, budino, and the crisp is worth the 20 minute wait (just order it when you sit down). Fresh fish and dear lord Cathy's laughing stock pork is the ultimate mouth watering special. Finally if you are going to have meat, skip the tagliata and do the Bistecca/ rib steak. It is worth $200 so the $65 is nothing. If you avoid carbs you can definitely split it between two. The bar is top notch and will delight and dazzle your tastebuds if you let them. Cathy Whims is a genius. I love the atmosphere. Go for the bar late at night and you will get a seat otherwise come with reservations. The menu changes daily so not every dish is my favorite but she keeps it real and new and I am willing to follow her adventures because more often than not I leave with multiple mouthgasms.

    (5)

  • Chip G.

    Fantastic pizza prepared in a wood fired stove they way they bake 'em in Naples. Always a rotating menu of salads and appetizers depending on the season. Staff is friendly and well educated on the menu. Can get busy for dinner on weekends for dinner but you can always sit at the bar. A favorite.

    (5)

  • Julie H.

    Every dish we had here was fantastic! The lasagna was amazing, pizza was perfect and cocktails were tasty. The service was great, the vibe was cool. We will go back and back and back.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    The menu is uneven. Some entrees are fabulous (i.e., their pizzas and salads) while others are so-so (surprisingly the pasta dishes). The atmosphere is nice -- a great place to go with friends and enjoy a wine flight and a freshly wood-fired pizza.

    (3)

  • Angela B.

    The first thing you smell when you walk through the doors of Nostrana is the heavenly wood-fire oven. The smell is comforting and feels like home. I have yet to show up at Nostrana without having a bit of a wait, so we typically grab a seat at the bar and share a glass of wine while we wait. The menu features a variety of simple Italian cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients. Although the service is slow, it is easy to forgive them once you experience the food as the flavors are always wonderful and the preparation is fresh and creative.

    (5)

  • R T.

    The atmosphere isn't perfect, and the food didn't exactly have me melting with ecstasy, but the overall experience was pleasant. We had the charcuterie plate, then the insalata mista, then the roast chicken and the steak. The first two courses were just okay, but our entrees were quite delicious--the chef let the quality of the ingredients speak for themselves. The apple blackberry crisp with almond creme was wonderful and not overly sweetened--my idea of the perfect NW dessert! Also, the mixed drinks were original, tasty, and not too sweet, three qualities which I find rare in combination. We'll be back for the happy hour specials--they looked great, and were starting just as we left.

    (4)

  • Arvonn T.

    The service was excellent. The food was.. well.. okay. This is definitely a place you should order, appetizers, entree, and desert. You could just go for pizza and drinks.. but there are cheaper places which have less atmosphere, and the beer selection is better. They had a quite a wine selection, good if you are into that (I'm not. ) This is a good place if you want to sit down in a hot (no a/c in summer), very airy (barn like roof), place and have several rounds italian style courses... a 3-4 hour dinner place. This is a good place if you don't like, or don't want cheese, or if you are Lactose intolerant. As in, there was almost no cheese on the pizza. This is also a good place if you like "pickled" vegatables.. lots of that on the menu. You should probably get a reservation for a group of more than 4 people. Not my sort've place, I won't be returning, but I can see the appeal.. I think.

    (3)

  • Dave W.

    Never had anything but great experiences here. The food is top-notch, the staff is fantastic, and the cocktails are also imaginative and well executed.

    (4)

  • Kathryn R.

    I went here last Friday night and was seriously impressed by the food. We had wood-fired pizza, pasta, and caprese salad. We also pre-ordered the peach and blackberry cobbler and it was to-die-for. By the end of the meal, one serving of this dessert was enough for 4 of us to split. The ambience is great -- very warm and cozy, with a huge bar, open kitchen, and some communal tables. My only complaint is that we went with an 8:30 reservation and weren't seated for at least 30 minutes. With that said, by the time we were seated, it was happy hour, so our 2 margherita pizzas were only $5 each (normally $11 each). Great place for a date or to take out of town visitors!

    (4)

  • Shannon S.

    My parents took me here for my birthday, of course it was my choice, they just paid ;) I loved the space, the high ceilings, the roosters and the open kitchen. The ambiance was lovely. I also thought the food was very satisfying. Maybe not enough, is my only complaint, but we did order a few extra things too. The menu was hard to read, but the waitress was very thorough in describing what we were looking at. I had the halibut. LOVED it. The wine was FANTASTIC, lots to choose from and the waitress made some very good suggestions, which we tried AND LOVED. Overall, I love this place. :)

    (4)

  • Allen L.

    happy hour prices are ridiculously cheap. for under twenty bucks, you can enjoy a fine meal for two....with drinks. pizza is simple and delicious. amazing crust. fresh sauce. will definitely come back for their proper entrees. but even if those disappoint, hard to argue against their happy hour deal.

    (4)

  • Irene C.

    Cool atmosphere, but food and service was average. We had asked the waitress what are some of the popular items on the menu... and really she wasn't much help. She basically pointed out almost the entire menu, but we were somewhat intrigued by the pizzas and the handmade fettucini. So we thought, ok, we'll order the margherita pizza to share and each order our own entree. I ordered the handmade fettucini and was not impressed. At least the margherita pizza was tasty. But they didn't slice it for us, which would have been more convenient. I guess they were going for rustic style? I guess it would've been nice if the waitress could've pointed out what items were most popular that made them 2006 Restaurant of the Year.

    (3)

  • Steve M.

    Best pizza in town. Professional kitchen and waitstaff in an attractive, if rather cavernous and noisy space.

    (4)

  • Janet K.

    This was our 3rd visit to Nostrana. As usual, the food was delicious. Our party preferred the radiccio salad to the insalata mista. Delicious pork confit spaghetti, roast chicken, flat iron steak. The anchovy pizza is definitely strongly flavored. Desserts were out of this world. That said, service was terrible. Very slow and uneven. Waited a long time for some courses. The server was inattentive. The atmosphere was very noisy, enough to interfere with our conversation. We asked 3 times to have music turned down.

    (3)

  • Mary D.

    Consistently good wood-oven pizza.

    (4)

  • Bunneh L.

    Wow, I'm going to have to vehemently disagree with the prior poster's claim that pastas here are no good. The clam fettucine is among the best clam pastas I've ever had (I order this dish whenever I see it on a menu). Nostrana has set the new standard for clam pasta. It's just stellar. Fresh, velvety pasta, fresh clams, and a delicious white wine/garlic reduction sauce. I was in heaven. I've also had a fettucine with a gorgonzola cream sauce that was to die for. Rich and creamy, yet pungent and sharp from the gorg. Yum yum. I LOVE that their pasta is homemade. Their fettucine with sausage and black truffles was another winner. So they're 3 for 3 on pasta as far as I'm concerned. Besides pasta, their pizza is terrific too. The diavolo pizza (w/sausage) is outstanding!! Although the service can be slow during busy times, I will definitely be back to sample any of their pastas. The only gripe I have about Nostrana is that (besides pizza), their portions are quite SMALL, especially the pasta. :( After eating my clam pasta, half an order of swiss chard, a small slice of my friend's pizza, and a cheese plate, I simply wasn't that full. Overall, I recommend this place based almost entirely on the amazing food. Try and go before 6:00 for dinner.

    (5)

  • Patti P.

    delicious! my kids' favorite itlaian restaurant. great pizzas, great wine. the atmosphere and the staff make it a full 5 star experience.

    (5)

  • Cheyenne M.

    I am so glad that this place was good. really great souffle appetizer with something that apparently looks like celery but tastes like an artichoke (it might rhyme with monsoon?). Then the three of us got 3 pizzas to share, the margherita, funghi (the best!) and one that totally looked like a blood covered onion orgy that only a Klingon might eat. But Jake ate it so I guess it has a niche! The meal was cruising along lightly, I was thinking of a favorable review for later. BUT THEN I had the best thing ever, and it's name was the butterscotch budino. Do not die without having this. I live essentially next door and will be back again if only for the budino.

    (4)

  • Paul N.

    This review is based on a limited sample, since we both just had pizza for lunch. But I have not had better thin crust pizza -- just the right balance of crusty and chewy with a hint of wood smoke clinging to it. Service was great and friendly. Nice space, with the rack of wood for the stove sitting in the middle. Don't be scared off by the "it's in a strip mall" comments -- yes there are a couple other businesses in the same structure, but that is not the ambiance of the place at all.

    (5)

  • Keith C.

    This was voted 2006 Restaurant of the Year by the Oregonian, but I thought some of the other restaurants were way better. Food: 3 stars. Just go for the pizza and skip the pastas. At least the food is cheap. Service: 2 stars. We ordered a pizza to share amongst the 4 of us as an appetizer. When the server brought it to the table, she placed it on the corner of the table by me and just walked away without saying anything. Where did they train her, McDonald's? Atmosphere: 4 stars. The place itself is quite cool, although it's located in a strip mall. I like the firewood rack by the entrance and the vaulted ceiling, which gives the place an alpine lodge aesthetic. The crowd is cool. Hits: Pizza Margherita Misses: Pastas If You Like This Place, You'd Probably Like: Giorgio's, Castagna, Fratelli

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

Nostrana

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Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

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