Ava Genes

Overall the food here is great. My lady is from Italy, so she is the real barometer of Italian food. She said the pasta dish she had was cooked perfect as the pasta was not soggy and had firmness to it. I had a dish with Salmon in it and I was surprised at how good size the salmon was...us fat american's like lots of meat so good on them. The dish I had (see pics) was delicious and very well prepared and tasted good when it was all mixed together. My only complaint is that no pasta came with it and my lady reminded me that in Italy, pasta is a separate course or something. At the very end, we had tiramisu and some chocolate dish with gelato which was also great. Prior to the meal, we had some bread and the one crunchy bread was on point especially when the butter was spread on it. As for

Ava Gene's in Portland continues to impress with its inventive Italian-inspired cuisine, emphasizing hyper-local, seasonal ingredients that shine in every bite. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and securing a spot at the chef's table was an absolute treat, providing an intimate glimpse into the kitchen's masterful orchestration. The new head chef proved exceptionally friendly, engaging with diners and genuinely appreciating feedback on the evolving menu— a personal touch that elevated the entire experience. My conversations with him and his personal travel experiences really made me feel welcome Standout dishes began with the vibrant beet root salad, featuring roasted beets, juicy citrus segments, crunchy pistachios, and a creamy burrata centerpiece that tied the sweet, earthy, and tang

Ok I loved this place first and foremost. I have to get one thing off my chest before I give it the amazing review. I ordered the Pork plate which was 96 dollars. Wanted to treat myself. Flavor was decent but the meat was tough. Was no way near worth that much. I’m Sorry but no. EVERYTHING else was amazing. Pasta delicious and handmade, pate and tartare were out of this world good. Wine was top notch! Service? Excellent beyond belief. Out waitress was so nice and helpful. The Sommelier was also so nice and was wonderful to have someone to talk wine with at dinner. All n all this place is wonderful. Will be back for sure. Just not for that Pork dish.

Wow- we’ve had a number of exceptional meals in Portland recently: Arden and L’Orange stand out. But Ava Gene’s really wowed us too. This restaurant excels at creative and unusual vegetable preparations and last night’s dinner was a perfect illustration.We luckily happened into their Monday night dinner (during November and December). The set menu includes a sample each of 4 starters, a pasta, and dessert. Wine pairing also offered. Starters included crisp polenta bites with rich romesco sauce, slices of caramelized Delicata squash topped with a superb fresh pesto, smoked fennel bulb ( really smoked!), and an absolutely delicious crisp radicchio salad with hazelnuts. Pasta was dressed with a kale pesto, mushrooms, and calibrian pepper (we thought a light sprinkle of hard cheese would have

I love the waitress of the restaurant so much! They know we are really shy to celebrate my birthday, so they are always very nice and polite (not to loud) when they want to say HBD to me. They’re really sweet! Fresh salad, yummy pasta + amazing dessert 👍👍👍