Ava Gene's

You can dine on house-made primi and a board of dishes "from the garden " like carrots with quinoa , cashews , and honey vinegar or celery topped with almonds , dates, and parmigiano. Read more

Best update of Italian cuisine I’ve tasted. Explosions of flavor, especially the Giardini menu. Pane slays, too. Amazing bar staff . Soundtrack also top notch. “All My Friends” a perfect complement.

I always try to get something different. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. My favorite salads have nuts and cheeses . Get the fried rabbit if you have a chance.

Can't decide? Get Chef 's whim Tasting Menu . June highlights: 500 day aged prosciutto , beet watermelon salad , broccoli + pecorino fritti, sugar snap pea + mint chopped salad , lamb ragú , panama cotta.

Our group ordered several dishes from each category. We rode with the recommendations from our sever. All food was delicious. Favorites were in the firsts and seconds. Service was terrific!

Bartender Evan Zimmerman is behind the menu. The eight-item cocktail list features unexpected flavors like black truffle (in the "Lights Out") and campari seeped with cedar (in the "Pan-Am").

Love this spot. It's a win whether you come with a group and order a varied menu or post at the bar and vibe and sip on a Fight Kat. Dope staff all the way around as well .

Best pasta I've ever had was the corn agnolotti lobster . Get the DUCK !!!! We sat at the chiefs table which is a must. If you like beef the rib eye and the wagyu made us second guess our order.

Another fantastic restaurant from Duane Sorenson. Focus is on Italian food with the vegetable dishes often being the stars. The atmosphere is casual , comfy and lively . The service is excellent.

We ordered three of the garden items. All excellent. Plus I got the pasta that sounded good. It was fantastic. Later I heard detailed descriptions of dishes. All sounded wonderful

Favorite restaurant in Portland. Bon Appetit Magazine just ranked it #5 on their list of best new restaurants of 2013. Food and service are meticulous, all locally sourced , and very reasonably priced.

Double down on the giardinis and pane options. Mains are great too but salads and bruschettas are A+

We are obsessed with this place! Order everything you can! We’re still dreaming about the Fava Toast , Garganelli, Cavatelli , Lamb Leg , and the Broccoli .

You can't go wrong with any of the pastas on the menu. Also loved the Panna Cotta last time I was there. A great recommendation by our very helpful waitress .

I'm not a vegetarian , but could eat just the veggies and be happy, The Tuscan Calvary Kale salad is just out of this world. Don't miss the beets or carrots either.

Chef Joshua McFadden 's dishes — especially toothsome pastas and vegetables — prove this book should be judged beyond its cover. [Eater 38 Member]

Pasta is super fresh. One of the best linguini and clams I've ever had. They have house negroni in a bottle.

Late night reservations have the added perk of being able to take home a gratis loaf of bread from Roman Candle Bakery ...just in case you aren't already full.

At this trattoria-inspired spot, chef Joshua McFadden turns out Italian dishes such as rabbit agnolotti with chicory and striped bass with duck-egg mayonnaise .

Absolutely delicious! We got the little gems salad , the ragu and the Ossobuco- you cannot go wrong with any of these. Yum!

Freakin awesome, always! Plates are just the right size for sharing a few bites each.. Order everything. Or a few things twice!

Never have had a disappointing meal here. The pane is great. Need to get burrata . The peanut gelato is in my PDX 'ice cream ' bracket. The lamb ragu is magic.

Really incentive and delicious vegetable options! And the blonde redhead cocktail is a solid Old Fashioned remix.

An atmospheric Italian-American restaurant , with the look, feel, and fantastic food that you’d expect at the buzziest Brooklyn hot spot.

Tell them you want membership in the Ava Genius Club. It's 20% off for tourists . #protip

Try the Gnocchi . The honey provides a sweetness that I loved.

Panna cotta with berries was homey and sublime.

Ramp butter and mushroom toast was amazing. As was linguini with anchovy .

Get anything and everything. Blown away in every way by this establishment.

Smart, insightful servers, amazing cheese , salads and non-standard pasta dishes.

Everything is amazing, one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been too!

Pizza , chicken , pasta salad , and beer to go!

Try a bunch of the "vegetable dishes " and the burrata . Such fresh and good food!

On top of the pastas , all the salads were amazing

Spaghetti with artichoke and sea beans

Great wine paired with garlic bread . Pastas were delicious!

Delicious food and a lovely atmosphere. Ava Gene's never disappoints.

The rabbit is great! Don't skip the salad course.

Don't ignore the salad section of the menu, which includes complex flavors that still let the ingredients shine.

Organic wines are goooood!!

Get every vegetable dish on the menu and the lamb plate to share

Amazing food, stunning menu, gorgeous decor!

I actually enjoyed the cucumber salad more than the pasta .

Best garlic bread I have EVER had.

The best dinner spot in Portland- methinks

The garlic bread really can’t be beaten.

Get the Pane with sheep cheese ! Amazing ????

Quality Italian good in portlanf

Wow. Just Wow. Unique and memorable.

The menu has a glossary, and the waiters prefer you read it rather than ask them questions.