Ava Gene's Reviews

One of the best restaurants in Portland. The service and atmosphere are fantastic. The salads are unique and generous portions should be shared. They are all organic and unique. We loved the bean, beets and albacore salad. We also shared the tagliatelle bolognese which was amazing. The pasta was cooked just right. And how can chicken taste that good. We had the half chicken that had a unique rub on it and was so moist and delicious. Everything about Ava Genes is perfect!

We waited 20 minutes after our reservation time to be seated, so I was grumpy. However I set aside my pique and attempted to enjoy the meal. First: a round of snacks. Deep fried vegetables with honey and chile. OK, so I ate it. But it was clunky and heavy. Minimal flavors, just fried. Second course: a salad of a mild italian form of chicory, dressed like a caesar salad. Quite respectable, tasty. Main: chicken marsala. This is where the evening went south for me. Honestly it's not hard to make a reasonably flavorful Chicken Marsala: use a good reduced chicken stock for the sauce base, flavor with marsala and aromatics. In this case, the chicken breast was quite nicely cooked but utterly without flavor. Stil, kudos for getting the meat cooked without turning it Saharan. But the sauce and toppings (chanterelles and chicken cracklings) could not make up for the complete absence of flavor in the sauce. No salt. No umami. No body except what I suspect was cornstarch thickener. And I'm sorry all you precious gourmands who think chanterelles are the ultimate -- they have zero flavor. Zero. Try some nice hedgehogs, some porcinis, creminis, or even good old button mushrooms. This is Portland and chanterelles are foraged so they are supposed to be wonderful. But they're not. On a positive note, the wine list is extensive and reasonably priced (though poorly organized IMHO). And I had an amazing nebbiolo grappa at the end. Due to the long wait for our table they comped us a nice chocolate sorbet, which we appreciated. But $32 for a mediocre chicken marsala is just painful. I guess they're doing something right because on a weeknight the place was packed when we left after 9pm. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.

We initially found this through Bon Appetit magazine and it deserves its great reputation. Daily menu varies with available produce and even "regular " menu items can change a little day to day depending on what's available to give things a new twist. Home made pastas are outstanding. Celery salad and Pork entree were exceptional. Tiramisu included a Nutella layer which made it decadent. Staff is enthusiastic and efficient...great service all around.

This was my 2nd visit to Ava Gene’s and it will probably be my last. I wanted to love it like so many others but I think it’s overrated. Our reservations were 7:30 on Friday night & the place was packed with incredible energy. However, the noice level is so loud that you aren’t able to speak to the person next to you without yelling. Our biggest disappointments were the service & the pasta itself. Our server was so busy she didn’t have time to talk to us about the menu nor did she have any basic knowledge of the wine list. We ordered the chicken ragu & it wasn’t anymore than chunks of rotisserie chicken with very dry pasta we had to scrape off the tops of our mouth. There are to many great restaurants in Portland it’s not worth going back to this mediocre one.

We had a party of 6 with varying tastes, so we chose the family style at a set price per head, 4 courses including dessert and coffee/espressos. It is a long leisurely dinner, but we were not prepared when the secondi came out. Too full! The food was amazing, really enjoyed it and the atmosphere. Servers were attentive but not hovering. Wine selection was perfect with our dinner. They also have a bar with some very creative drinks. Would definitely go again!

We went here for our 40th Wedding Anniversary. Everything was better than expected. Wait staff Zach was ready when we needed him but never intrusive. Everything was brilliantly prepared and beautifully plated. Would recommend this place to anyone with good taste. OH and the wine list was carefully selected and well thought out as to pair easily with the food. Perfect!

We didn't have a reservation but when we arrived the host said we could sit at the kitchen counter. I am so glad we did. We got to see how all the dishes were prepared and the line staff were friendly, knowledgeable, professional and they made delicious food. We shared three small vegetable dishes and one pasta. All were well balanced, had impressive plating, and used great combinations of ingredients. Service was timely and non-intrusive and our server listened and provided excellent recommendations. I'd go back again in a hearbeat.

Great food, lots of small plates to share. Try as many of the pastas as you can! Very hard to get into so make sure you have a reservation.

If you’re looking for a step up in your dining while in Portland OR Ava Gene’s is the place to go. The menu is varied, not too extensive and well laid out. The food preparation was superb as to taste and presentation. The service was top shelf, second to none. I asked our server Elan to walk us through the menu. She gave us an overview and then took the time to describe in detail every item we asked about, she really knew her stuff. The food came out of the kitchen perfectly timed and exactly how we ordered it. Ever dish we ordered, and we ordered a lot, was delicious so it’s hard to pick favorites. The uova diavalo appetizer, the agnolotti pasta with corn and lobster mushrooms and the pork saltimbocca were especially tasty. The wine list is extensive, too extensive for me but no problem, 2 minutes with the sommelier and we had the perfect bottle selected. All in all one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a city with many choices.

We had a lovely meal at Ava Gene's. It's posh Italian food and the menu is inventive without being weird. The service was lovely and the wine was great. Would highly recommend.

This is a wonderful restaurant with a constantly changing menu, close attention to seasonal opportunities and a knowledgeable staff. The small plates are great to share but consider ordering two if there are four of you. Order things you do not normally eat. Vegetables are great and imaginatively seasoned. Good and fairly priced wine list including local beer

I was so disappointed by this restaurant. It's overpriced which wouldn't be so bad if he food was edible:((((. I also don't like that you have a waitress that takes your order then you never see that person again until they bring you the check. Not personal at all!!! The atmosphere is nice but dark. It's a struggle to see the menu and not to mention it's hard to decipher what you are ordering. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. Terrible and over priced!!!!

Went in for dinner with the family, had a great meal - it was peach season so we ordered an appetizer with cheese and peaches that was incredible, also had some other appetizers that were good too - warm greek olives, Burrata cheese was incredible. Dinner was fantastic and we even went for desert - Panna Cotta, Chocolate gelato and sorbetto. We will be back to Ava Gene's Sadly, our server barely cracked a smile the whole meal and wasn't very helpful or talkative - it seemed like most of the servers in Ava Gene's were gloomy. Come on loosen up and have some fun - you are working in a fantastic restaurant.

This is my third time at this restaurant. First 2, I really enjoyed it, a friend of mine couldn’t stop talking about it. Service was good , food was delicious , prices were affordable, place is a little tight, but everything went well. I recently went for the third time, a friend of mine was visiting out of town , and I thought he would love this restaurant. I don’t know what happened to this restaurant since my last time... Service was not that good anymore Food was not great anymore Portions were smaller And prices were outrageous! I couldn’t believe the prices ! Everything was like double since my last time. Unfortunately that will probably be my last time, and my friend’s too, because she just went back again and had the same experience (after loving this place so much) and told me the same, I won’t go back :( good thing is that Portland has so many great places to go:)

First the Very Good, the greens, the salads were ahmazzing. I want to go back for the greens and veggies. But if you bill yourself as an Italian restaurant, I will hold you up to high standards for Italian food. I sampled the tasting menu, the salumi board for one was delicious, the 3 salads were divine, the 2 pastas the agnolotti and another with ragu were basically a B-, pastas are made in house but the ragu was bland and the agnolotti in a greenish sauce was a bit banal tasting. Then there was roast pork with white beans and chile, was very good. Finally the panna cotta was excellent. For everything else that was non-pasta, I give Ava Gene's a 4. The pastas were not up to par, thus rounding off my restaurant rating to average.

I would come here for some wine and a couple of small bites, just to sit for the awesome ambience. Love the Roman vibe with menu picks. No visit to Portland is complete without coming here. We celebrated my son's birthday here last month and it was divine as usual. The staff is always so knowledgeable on everything. Exquisite food, great presentations, awesome wine selections. Pricey, but soooo worth it.

Heard great things from locals. Visiting city and staying close by thought I’d visit. Ambiance good, seat at the bar immediate. Attentive serve staff behind bar. Off to a good start. Ordered two dishes. Fritti of zucchini, aubergine and onion. Have had this combo in many places. The batter was good and crispy. The onion was great. But the zucchini and aubergine were too bigger chunks so ended up soggy and waterlogged. Not good. Main was a spaghetti dish of linguine with hazelnuts and other additions. Have had dish many times also. Clam’s good flavor, pasta a little too well done but the worse part was you could lift up the food in 1 chunk. Too gummy and congealed. Could only each 1/4. Far too heavy for this classic Italian combo. Even the person sitting next to me commented and indicated her dish of winter squash was also soggy. My son a chef in Portland also commented on his experience with the pasta. Not likely to go back. Very disappointed. Out of the blue they brought some pizza from next door (a pop up I later learned) as a freeby. Now that was good. Very Neapolitan style. Should have gone next door.

had a great meal out at Ava Gene's. We had many interesting vegetarian options and all were good, esp Polenta.

This may be the best meal I’ve ever had. The service and atmosphere were perfect and the food was just unbelievable.

This was a return visit for us even though it is a bit pricey. The vibe is upscale yet comfortable. Seating at bar or kitchen counters allows for following the action, even though it can be rather noisy. We started with Straciatella and really loved the thick cut bread. Three board salads were fun but the Sprouted Barley was our facorite.Mezze Rigatoni and Tagliatelle were flavorful but we all found it too salty-must have been a fluke because last visit they were both perfect. Cacciucco was fantastic. The servers knew their stuff and were helpful. However it could be quite some time in between visits to the table.We'll go again for the freshness of ingredients and overall great food, along with interesting cocktails and a very nice wine list.

This was our 2nd time at Ava Gene’s. We consider it a must when we come to Portland. We asked our server for the highlights and we went with every one of her recommendations. Everything was amazing. We had an excellent wine that did not break the bank. 4 of us shared 2 applies and 3 small salads and we each got our own main. It was the perfect amount of food. The chef is a master at making salads. He combines ingredients that just work together. It is difficult to explain to people who focus on meat dishes just how good the salads are. You will never have a better kale salad - even if you don’t like kale. We will be back.

I've been to Ava Gene's multiple times now and every experience is different and excellent. A friend first took me there for my birthday. We sat at the counter, which I highly recommend. The staff was attentive and entertaining. I have food allergies that can normally lead to problems at Italian restaurants and they were beyond accommodating. Since then, I've made a point to go back on every trip to Portland that includes dinner. You can taste the freshness of the pasta. The trio of salads is always a hit. Cocktails are seasonal and worth starting with before moving onto wine. I really don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Bon Appetit!

The four of us were immediately impressed with our waiter. He was knowledgeable without any hint of condescension. The menu has a lot of Italian words so we asked a lot of questions. For all of us, the left side of the menu was where all the tasty bits were. The salumi is amazing, the fritti out of this world and the salads - we shared two - were the highlight of our meal. The bar drinks and wine list kept us happy. The right side of the menu left us puzzled. The Sunday Sugo was very good, but the two entrees we shared, lamb and tuna ... well lets just say neither one got finished. Lamb shoulder was gamey and chewy and as other reviewer noted the veggies on the plate were superfluous. That said, I could have eaten an entire plate of the green parched wheat the lamb was served on! I couldn't make it past a couple of bites of tuna. It just didn't work after all the fantastic salads. Texture and taste were off. Although we doggy-bagged the lamb and tuna, by morning they were in the trash. We will be back. What this place is really about is the small plates. The entrees whiffed.

We had one night in Portland on the last night of our family vacation & through Trip Advisor I chose Ava Gene's. Service and atmosphere were perfect. The seasonal food was off the chart (tomatoes!!!!) all the small plates were perfect. The only reason for 4/5 was the daily fresh pasta, "Meatball Monday" was just ok and the Halibut, which was still on the menu probably should have not been. "End of the season" was mentioned as I inquired about the preparation of the dish, and I suppose it was my fault for ordering because it was flavorless and dry. Otherwise we would highly recommend this establishment and so happy we chose this as our only special restaurant on our trip to Portland!

Love this place. The warmth and friendliness of the staff that greeted us was equal to the warmth of the vertical wood grill in the kitchen. Watching the teamwork and artistry in the kitchen is inspiring.

Upon a recommendation by friends, my family ate at Ava Gene's on a recent visit to Portland to visit our daughter. We were celebrating her birthday and our last night in Portland. We arrived without a reservation but were greeted warmly and offered a seat at the counter. I was disappointed at first that we couldn't sit at a table together but it ended up being a great thing. We found it fascinating to watch these very talented line chefs prepare our food right before our eyes. As busy as they were, the chefs still took time to look up on several occasions to ask us how things tasted. The waiter was also super helpful and patient with us as he explained the menu. We decided to share and try a little bit of everything. That way, each of us got the opportunity to sample a variety of meats and cheeses, breads, the most amazing salads and of course, pasta. But this is not your typical Italian fare. Described as rustic Italian cuisine, it is food at its finest. Truly. The portions were just right and everyone left satisfied. By no means food snobs or critics, we know and appreciate good quality food and fresh ingredients when we taste it and good service when we experience it. Our dinner at Ava Genes was something we will always remember. Highly recommend you experience it yourself.

This is a quaint gem of a restaurant in Portland serving locally sourced Italian fare with a fairly decent array of vegetables incorporated into the menu. Burrata was the main highlight! Sheep's cheese and black trumpet mushroom dish was also delicious! I had the steelhead as the main course. Everything was great except it was a tad undercooked for my taste! Cocktails and dessert were also very good! Great place for a family dinner.

We had been to dinner previously and were impressed. This time we tried brunch and it was delicious. Easier to get a reservation than dinner, also. The food is very flavorful, across the menu.

We visit Portland quite frequently and could never get a reservation here, but our luck finally won out! Menu looked amazing and our daughter said the vegetable dishes were beyond belief! She was right. We share three: a carrot, a beet, and a bean dish. I have never tasted such delicious and creative food. Their chefs must spend hours chopping. If you can get a reservation, this place is worth every penny, Plan ahead!

thought the restaurant and bar were crowded, our party of four was seated promptly at our reserved time. Service was typically "Portland friendly" (a good thing), and servers were well informed about dishes ingredients and preparation. Our salads were notably tasty with fresh ingredients and light yet flavorful dressings. All main courses, which included meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, were all well received and fully consumed. Dessert was a shared fiore del latte, which was beyond delicious.

Have not been to AVA Gene's in quite a while when they removed my favorite bean bruchetta it fell off my list ... but last nights dinner reminded me that the food is quite good. The service was topnotch. Reservations are difficult to obtain if you are a 'last minute' like me ... Smh the manager did a great job with a mag of Caprilli we brought ... the 75.00 family style I will give an '8' for value

A friend recommended and WOW, we had a spectacular experience. Fantastic service and a truly authentic Italian menu. Small place, so make a reservation well in advance. Great wine list too.

We had some excellent food – well worth a return visit. But there were a couple of problems along the way that keep me from giving the restaurant a “5” rating. One of the items that I ordered was forgotten, and when I reminded the server, he apologized and within a relatively short time, I received the item (a side dish). But this was after all of us had pretty much finished our meals. Our friends said that this was typical of Portland wait staff, but I’m not from Portland. As an apology, we received a dish of ice cream to share with our desserts. The coffee, while good, was at best less-than-hot, something I could drink in a very quick gulps while it was still warm rather than sipping as it cooled even more. (By the way, our main dishes were served on appropriately warm plates.)

What a great experience and meal at Ava Gene's. The pasta was perfection, the vegetable dishes to start were delicious. We finished with a strawberry tiramisu that was an indulgent, creamy and sweet finish to our meal. Wine list was extensive with lots of price categories and geographies represented. Go! If I lived in Portland I would go all the time!

We managed to hit some really great places in Portland including Higgins and Cabezon, but this was hands-down the best. The salads are perfect. Our family tried the peach/tomato and the broccoli/cashew. I could have easily gone down the list and tried each one as the ingredients were so creative and worked so well together. We had pastas and the braciole, and each was perfect. The panna cotta is not to be missed either. Service was wonderful - attentive but unobtrusive. I'd like to go back every night. I thought the meal was also quite reasonable. Will think of this place often when we have to head home.

Chose this venue for my Birthday intimate family dinner. It was wonderful in all regards. Service, atmosphere,food quality, cocktail wine selection. I won’t drone on as the recent reviews give it the dudes it deserves. Well worth it. Make a reservation well in advance.

The food is wonderful, prepared creatively, and the service is impeccable. However, because of the restaurant's popularity, it is best to plan ahead with reservations. One other caveat, this is not a neighborhood Italian restaurant with family oriented prices - this is a relatively expensive venue, but one worth seeking.

For me and my wife ... coming from Bend, where its somewhat culinary-barren compared to PDX ... we LOVED it. Our server was professional an personable. The salads we enjoyed were fresh and added just the right touch to the entrees. The martini was prepared as requested ... VERY DRY & VERY COLD which, frankly, I have come to not expect based on dining in restaurants with a very small but very busy bars! They even had 2 bartenders on duty which was a big + on a Friday night.

This restaurant is all my family hyped it to be...the BEST Italian food. We had a party of 5 and our table wasn't ready at our reservation time, but that was the only downside to the evening. We asked our server to ask the chef to create a "chef's table" from the menu. What a fantastic food extravaganza! We had 3 different appetizers, the artisan bread with cherry tomatoes that burst in your mouth when you took a bite. An explosion of sweet tomato flavor. The Cantaloupe Giardini was the essence of summer, sweet, ripe and full of flavor. The tortellini with wild mushrooms was fabulous as was the Saltimbocca. But the highlight of the meal for me was the tagliatelle which was thin, chewy and perfect. It will be my gold standard for pasta from now on. All pastas are made in house. We were so full we didn't have room for dessert after this almost 2-hour feast. Service was just right, our server had knowledge of the local ingredients used in the dishes and didn't hover, but didn't abandon us either.

Cozy Italian restaurant with tasty food. The menu is limited for vegetarians. The kale salad was lovely. Nice atmosphere, good service.

My girlfriend and i had a lovely time at Ava Gene's last month during a trip to Portland. The service was excellent and the food was amazing - immaculately prepared, creative, and delicious. I highly recommend putting them in your dining plans and definitely try a few of the small plates.

Brought friends here for dinner and wow! did we ever have a great dinner. It’s all about the high quality food here along with the most excellent preparation and presentation. I had pork saltimboca. The pork was cooked to perfection, juicy and tender with a covering a cheese that was crispy. It was such a perfect size that I was satiated upon finishing. My appetizer was calamari that included fried hot peppers. This place is the best. Get reservations!

So many people recommended Ava Gene's as a must during our trip to Portland. I'm glad we stopped, but it did not live up to the hype at all. Service: Somewhat confusing. The restaurant was super nice to allow us to push our reservation back an hour, but servers had odd reactions throughout the night to our stories. We were there during my brother and his wife's one year anniversary, but after spending hundreds of dollars on the meal, were not given any sign of gratitude or congratulations. Maybe that is not custom in Portland, but having lived in NYC, Boston, Chicago, and other major cities, I definitely excepted at least a free scoop of gelato. Food/Drink: Some items were out of this world. The chicken liver and rhubarb, WOW! Crumbled pistachio ice cream, yummy. The pesto ravioli was liked by half the table, and no one cared for the calamari. The rest of our pastas were very tasty. Great wine menu for decent prices Overall: Definitely a nice place to visit for a special occasion but do not go in with super high expectations.

This place came highly recommended. But like many would be high-end eateries in this city, it disappoints. The space and atmosphere and staff are all fine. It's the food that is not quite world class where the prices would lead you to expect a gastronomic revelation. Things started okay with a reasonable frito misto - a little oily but okay. The prosciutto was tasty too. Then came the rather too al dente pasta and the seemingly unfinished gnocchi - lacking that little crust formed by a final spell in a sauté pan. Instead they were just spongy lumps of potato with a few mushrooms. The tagliatelle was a little too al dente and the meat sauce was minimal. Finally an alcohol-free tiramisu barely deserved the name. The wine list is very good if a little pricey.

Been looking forward to trying this touted Italian restaurant for quite some time. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed (casarecci,-rolled pasta-wild mushrooms•, garlic, chile, parsley-lukewarm not enough flavor) though others in my dining party were ultimately satisfied (spelt linguine, mussels, dungeness crab, calabrian chile, parsley;braciole; and lamb,carrots,chicory,saffron,hazelnuts, and cherries.) Our party of four shared appetizers: sheep's cheese, black trumpet mushrooms, arugula on bread;beets, citrus, onions, w/basil vinegar;carrots,radish,hazelnuts,feta, aleppo. Because prices are on the high side, unlikely to give the restaurant another try in the near future. Next time I'm craving Italian, I will head to Accanto! (A little more reasonable price wise and food with more flavor.)

It is somewhat expensive but we sat at the kitchen counter and learned a few things about they way they prepared certain veggies. Their salads were fabulous, In fact, the entire meal was incredible. Make sure you come VERY hungry!

I made reservations months in advance. This place books up! The food was very good, service was great, just wish the noise level was less. Portions were small for the price.

Wow, I mean really wow! My wife has eaten at Ava Gene's a couple of times and I have wanted to eat at the restaurant for years. Last night we went. And it did not disappoint. The amount of care and attention that goes into each dish, is evident in every bite. From the Decour to the service professionals, everything about the restaurant is top notch. The food was just spectacular. We had a variety of dishes, including a starter Barrata, a couple of the salads, a pasta course and a protein serving. The celery and peach salad was outstanding. As was the pole bean and cucumber salad. The Roman style pasta dish with a peppery flavor was one of the best I've ever had (I'm a total sucker for carbonara and Roman style pasta dishes). And the pork chop - well, it was just succulent. I'm not sure that it's too large a statement to say Ava Gene's is one of the best restaurants in all of Portland; and perhaps on the entire West Coast. A couple of things to note: (1) sitting outside is quite nice but the ambient noise is a little distracting; (2) the service is outstanding. You can tell they have taken every extra step to ensure every member of their staff is totally conversant on all aspects of the menu as well as all of the drink options. This extra attention to service is totally enhancing to the overall quality of the meal and makes the cost of the dining experience completely worth it! This is one of Portland's best restaurant gems And we will certainly be back.

Set in the restaurant area on Division. We looked forward to our visit. Starters were all wonderful and creative. My son loved the fried vegetables. The pastas were good. The chicken pasta was the best. Room very small and very noisy. Staff attentive. No need to dress up.

Portland's SE Division St. has become quite the "Restaurant Row," with Pok Pok, Salt & Straw ice cream, Olympic Provisions, Mexican food, two other Italian restaurants...AND, gloriously, Ava Gene's. Perhaps it's because I live in the SF Bay Area, or grew up in LA, or visit NYC, but walking into Ava Gene's does *not* prepare you for how great the food you are about to enjoy actually is. This was truly an excellent meal. We had four appetizers and four pasta dishes (and passed on the entrées). The appetizers were amazing; the pastas were truly superb. The wine list is exquisite, both in terms of the breadth and the quality of the selection. As with any great wine list, there are some great buys if you know where to look, too. My only complaint is how the wine is stored, when the bottles are not kept in the wine "cooler," but that said, I've never had a bottle here that I thought was "cooked" or had a dried out cork, so maybe I'm just being overly cautious. Ava Gene's is a standout among Portland's already outstanding food scene...

We recently had dinner at Ava Gene’s and we loved it! The ambiance was lovely, not too loud. Service was attentive. And the food was outstanding! Can’t wait to go back to Portland just to eat here.

Ava Gene's is regularly listed as one of the top restaurants in Portland with good reason. The food is excellent in a range of ways - flavouring is innovative and well executed, dishes are beautiful, ingredients are fresh, local and left to speak for themselves, all hallmarks of the approach to let local and seasonal produce be the star. The chefs curate the meals, and are matched in delivery by the floorstaff and barpeeps. Service is excellent, attentive but not drive you crazy. There is a great cocktail and wine list, carefully chosen and well explained. You'll need to book, so plan ahead, but make sure you go and experience a thoroughly enjoyable meeting of art and soul with food. Oh, and the space is gorgeous, which adds another layer of yes.

Beautifully prepared + artfully simple plating + attentive, knowledgeable service + gorgeous summer al fresco dining = the ultimate experience!

Finally Ava Gene's has re-opened post COVID. This is my second time returning there in this last year and both experiences have been excellent. Ava Gene's has a lovely, warm, welcoming atmosphere--but do get reservations ahead of time. The food is creative, beautifully prepared, with interesting specials, and great service. We loved the oysters with their particular mignonette; I had the chicken for the main course: seared on the outside and tender on the inside with deliciously prepared greens. My husband and I shared a lovely Italian red wine from their wine list (you have to request their full wine list). The cheesecake panna cotta was an interesting blend of sweetness with tomato and basil on top. Personally, I would have preferred less tomato and basil, but it was beautifully prepared. So glad Ava Gene's is back!

We just went last Weds evening and the food was amazing and so was the wine. We ordered the gnocchi with wild mushrooms and a brussel sprout salad. Both of which was amazing. Also, per the server's recommendation we got the gnocco and prosciutto. It was also very good. I will be back next time I go to Portland. We had great seats too, we sat overlooking the kitchen staff preparing food. I'd recommend going early and making a reservation. We wanted to order the spaghetti and crab but they had just sold the plate because we went so late.

We had a fabulous meal and great service this evening. Our server was helpful with suggesting wines and let us have a taste of some to help us decide. The food was delicious and expertly prepared. I loved the polenta.

I love Joshua's cookbook Six Seasons, so had high expectations for the restaurant. Not disappointed! This meal was just about perfection! Great service, our waiter was even very patient with my husband, who can never decide what cocktail to order, and guided him to one he loved. The only mistake we made was ordering too much food - and it was delicious! Started with Rockfish Arancini, very good. And Toast with lardo, garlic confit, parmigiana....unbelievably good! The table next to us didn't finish theirs, and we almost grabbed it! Then Burrata, which also came with bread. The citrus salad with pistachios, castelvetrano olives, parmigiana AND pistachio cream was to die for! The pasta was great - Housemade cavatelli with nettle pesto. I wish we could go here more often, but a trip to Portland will definitely be in order just to go back!

From the homemade breads to the curated charcuterie platter through delicious pasta and the unbelievable chocolate sorbet (alone worth the trip), this funky Italian bistro in a wonderful place to indulge in updated Italian comfort foods. Excellent wine list and great servers round out a wonderful evening. And not too loud for a pleasant conversation.

Well worth the wait! We have been trying to dine here for sometime and finally secured a reservation this past week. The food was prepared beautifully, fresh and tasty.

One of the best meals we ate in Portland - and that is saying a lot as Portland is full of incredible restaurants. We didn't have a reservation, but on a Monday night were able to get a seat at the Chef's counter in the back with only about a 20 minute wait - and it was even better than sitting at a table, in my opinion. We loved watching all of the dishes get prepared and sitting by the wood burning stove. The kitchen staff's choreography and skill is impressive and entertaining to watch. Every bite of food we ate was incredible - highlights included the roasted heirloom tomato toast (still dreaming about the tomoatoes), the meatballs (which were the special that night) and sweet corn agnolotti which was mouth-watering. It's expensive but worth every penny. Would return here in a minute if I ever come back to Portland.

I don’t give any restaurant or business bad reviews lightly. Unfortunately this place met all the criteria for that. We were a group of 4 which all left hungry and very disappointed. I’m not easy to disappoint, but this must be the worst price to performance I’ve ever experienced. The pasta was undercooked, luke-warm at best and over-salted. The halibut was not even a square inch of fish for a wooping 34$. All in all, I think Ava Gene’s has the worst price to food experience and should be avoided in my opinion. Portland has so many great restaurants with much higher standards than this. Ava Gene’s unfortunately doesn’t even reach the mediocre mark in my opinion.

This place is always packed. I went on a weekday around 5 and still couldn't get a real table, had to be seated outside. The menu doesn't include everything the dish is plated with, which is a pet peeve of mine. I ordered the lasagna thinking I would get a solid cut of lasagna as it is the "special" of the day. However, I received a small hot (like molten) ramekin with a hefty slice of bread. No one wants to dig hot pasta out of a boiling hot ramekin on a spring day. It took over 20 minutes for the lasagna to cool down (because ramekins keep heat in), and I burned my mouth trying to eat it. Worst presentation of lasagna ever. Also, the filling was severely lacking, hardly any sauce/meat/cheese and about 7 layers of very thin pasta. Really the opposite of what lasagna should be in my opinion. Not sure if I could have hated the lasagna more really. I definitely ordered the wrong thing. I think my taste buds were off that day because everything I had tasted overly salted. My favorite part of the meal was the wine my server recommended, and the service I received. At the kind of price point they have, they better nail each dish and they didn't do it for me on any of the three dishes I tried. I'd rather go to grassa and get an unpretentious bowl of pasta.

One of the best meals I've ever had in Portland. I don't know why I've been putting this off for so long. Heard great things about this place. Really lived up to it's reputation. Just be aware the menu changes regularly so you might not get the same options as those mentioned on Yelp. I would definitely go heavy on the appetizers/salads and probably lighter on the entrees. My favorite was probably the sheep cheese with cherry tomato and basil. It was straight up deliciousness. I could eat several of those by myself. The burrata was also quite good. The salads were quite fresh. Only gripe I have is that one of the salads was so fresh there was a small bug in it. We showed it to the waiter but they didn't comp the dish. One of the pasta dish was quite good but they changed the menu already so don't recall exactly what it was. I got the special, the barciole, and it was good but not awesome. Might have been because I was too full... The service, other than the little bug incident, was impeccable. Will definitely be back and will be bringing friends and out-of-towners here. They also have private parking lot which is a huge plus in this neighborhood. You can also jot down 1 block to Salt n Straw for dessert!!

Really 4.5 Stars. With only a few missteps from the kitchen this was a near perfect meal and certainly my favorite dinner in Portland. First off, it's a beautifully appointed room, combining simplicity with just enough decorative appointments to warm the room and welcome the guest. Our server was a delight from start to finish. She was informative, funny and accommodating. The meal was coursed out well and she made excellent recommendations. Our party of four shared the large salumi platter, the burrata, gnocchi fritto (minus the prosciutto since we had so much on our sliced meat platter), squash stracciatella, a small side of cavolo nero (kale) salad, orecchiette with clams, agnolotti with hazelnut and sage, and a pork main with lemon. The vegetables sides were the only weak spots both being a little too one note in flavoring. Every other plate was extraordinary and the quality of the ingredients was evident with every bite. For dessert we shared a cannolo filled with ricotta, pistachio which would have been better with a crisper shell and an excellent version of an affogato. Overall an enchanting meal: food executed by a talented kitchen and served well by a professional staff and all set in a charming and comfortable room.

This has to be my favorite restaurant in Portland, which is saying a lot because Portland is foodie town! The food is so flavorful and the service is excellent. Everyone who works there takes a hand in making your experience fantastic, from taking your coat to finding you the right drink to clearing plates for more food. Truly excellent service. On top of that, the food is amazing. They buy a lot of their produce and meats from local farmers and then mix it all with amazing flavors. We had an appetizer that was essentially local beans on toast, but the flavors of the beans and the bread went well beyond what we expected. I could eat there the rest of my life and be very happy! We shared a toasted spaghetti, 3 of the salads, the bruschetta with beans, some cocktails and espresso drinks. I can't recommend this place enough. Know that they get very busy so you want to make reservations or get in early! We were two and came in at 5pm and got lucky enough to get a table right away.

Can i give them 6 stars? This is by far one of the best meals I have had recently. We sat at the kitchen counter. The food was amazing and the wine pairings were outstanding. The somm was great.

The space is small and cozy, but pretty loud so not great for an intimate dinner. We were a little disappointed by the service, which started off very slow as we waited at least 15 minutes after initial greetings to place our order. The waitress sent us a complimentary appetizer as a gesture of goodwill, which we appreciated. The food was quite good. I thought appetizers were actually stronger than the pastas, which were fine, but nothing special. Overall, a nice spot but I expected better based on all the strong reviews and awards.

I'll get the one negative out of the way up front..seems they've got an exhaust fan issue in the kitchen..the place smelled heavily of fryer grease and our clothes reeked afterwards.. That said, I'd do it all again.. There was not one single miss in all that our 5 person group ordered.. Burrata with grapes and radicchio Radish, stone fruit and brown butter salad Lamb, mushrooms, turnips Pork, hazelnuts, plums.. And much more... Too many restaurants don't live up to the hype or the ego... This one does over and over..

One of my colleagues visited Portland for a conference so we decided to meet up at Ava Genes and have a friendly dinner/informal meeting to talk about work improvements and such. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and seated immediately (we did have reservations). The food was wonderful and the wait staff made suggestions and recommendations since we were unfamiliar with the menu. We were pleased with the selections. Everything was tasty and priced within reason. The staff was attentive and helpful. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great meal in a good location need other interesting things in Portland.

I had a great meal here with a girl friend. this is a very popular restaurant and big in the Portland foodie scene. We started with a fresh mozerrella with a rhubarb jam (18$) and other things, so good, see photo. We did not have alcohol but fresh juice drinks also in photo. We shared everything and it was all good. The pasta tasted hand made (24$), the bread was perfect, salad every thing was delicious. I loved all the vegetable side dishes. It was very busy but service was smooth. For two of us it was almost 120$ with tip. The food was really very good but it did seem a little pricey.

Love this place. Definitely on my return list when I come to Portland. Lots of real interesting options for shared appys. Salads, charcuterie, all kinds of really good things. My friends had the lasagne which looked amazing and I had the linguine with clams which is amongst the best I have ever had. Nice atmosphere and extensive Italian wine list. 5 Stars baby!

We really had a delightful evening at Ava Gene's. The restaurant is really beautifully decorated, with much attention to detail. It really isn't very large. Our waitress was really great, explaining all of the dishes with much personal detail. We started with an amazing carpaccio and Fritti Misti, which was fried vegetables. I was hesitant about this dish, but it was amazing! My husband had a fabulous, tender braciole, I enjoyed a very delicious pasta ragu dish, my daughter's pork dish was so, so good. We live out of town, but will certainly return when we visit Portland next year. Really enjoyed Ava Gene's!

My daughter suggested this place and I was not sure if it was my " cup of Tea". How wrong I was!!! After two and a half hours, I can't wait to come back. Decor was modern and very relaxing. I had a " to die for trout recipe." for my entree.Service was five star as was the food. You will need reservations. This is one of the best restaurants I have even experienced.

We have been to Ava Gene's several times and have been amazed every time with how delicious the food is! We have ordered off the menu, and we have also tried the "Family Style" dinner. You can't go wrong with either method. Some tips to enhance your experience: -Make reservations (call or open table) -Look at the menu online ahead of time -Ask the wait staff for drink pairing suggestions -Family Style is A LOT of food and is an awesome way to try something you wouldn't have ordered. It is seven courses. -Make sure someone in the group orders the pine cone syrup pana cotta. Dress is typical Portland style where anything goes, however I always feel like dressing up a notch when we go to Ava Gene's.

A place for not your average Italian food experience. Goes beyond just pasta. The fish (halibut) was excellent. The Cesar salad was perfect. The calamari for the appetizer with made to perfection. menu changes to take advantage of seasonal items. reservations suggested.

If you are looking for that farm to table fresh, locally sourced, high energy and great vibe dining experience.... look no further. The food is impeccable, outstanding service with knowledgeable staff. And an extensive wine list. Full bar as well!

Salmon was so well done it had to be pried off the skin. Piece was so small and thin they really should be ashamed. Salads were very good . Potato salad exceptional. Desserts tiramisu very tasty but you must like it thick like cream cheese. I will not be back again.

Four of us dined here for an early dinner (only seating we could get on a Sunday was 4:45–reservations essential) and had a lovely dinner experience. Elan was a wonderful server and explained the menu very well (very difficult for me to decipher alone). Atmosphere was excellent (lively but not too loud). We had 2 orders of cheese garlic bread (2 pieces per order)(not my favorite bread but others really liked it) and the large salami anti pasta which came with 4 meats and breadsticks (all different and very tasty). One of our group got a Cesar salad which looked spectacular and we got the tomato appetizer which had delicious tomatoes of all kinds covered with a cheese I was not a big fan of. We each ordered a pasta dish-serving size perfect for me but others might think it on the small size. They were all good. Finally, we split one tiramisu which was a classic. I was disappointed with the wine by the glass choices. Dinner with 2 glasses of wine, 2 beers, and 2 mixed drinks was $277 with tip. We would return.

Yum. This place had phenomenally great food and drink - cocktails and wine list. Everyone who worked here was excited about what they were doing, from the servers to the sommelier. The kitchen was a bit backed up when we were there - definitely on the longer side for a dinner. But good was great and we were having fun so no problems. Notably I loved the beets. the gnocchi and the pistachio gelato but all good.

Really creative and tasty cuisine. I only tried the brunch menu, and it was phenomenal. Had the burrito with scrambled eggs and hollandaise, and then the tagliatelle carbonara. Quite authentic and competent preparation. My son had the polenta with trout and egg, and it was super savory and perfectly balanced flavors and textures.

Although we didn't eat dinner, Ava Gene's is a great spot for a delicious cocktail. They were so good, I barely remember how many I had!

I was recommended this restaurant by a waiter from another restaurant. I don't understand how this restaurant manage to be one of the sought after italian restaurant in portland. It's hard to screw up a pasta dish and they Did!!! Big time!!! I started by ordering a Burrata which was a mistake because the burrata don't taste like a burrata, it's stringy and dry! the waiter then recommended the rye spaghetti with ramp, It seriously is the worse pasta i've ever had in my life. The garlic was undercooked, made it taste bitter and there's no other flavor. And the ramp? I only saw 7 glitters of ramp, I seriously count them since there's only few glitters of them.

Still dreaming about this dinner. We split the carrot salad (I could have had another one) and each had a pasta. Great wine list, and the service was amazing. I've looked up the cookbook that this restaurant puts out, and am considering ordering it. Great, great meal.

We had the family style chef's choice which meant they brought five courses of the chef's choice. Each item was interesting and flavorful, though some were better than others. We had a charcuterie board with a variety of meats that was very good. The beet salad was very good, as was the apples and kohlrabi. I was looking forward to the amish butter polenta but it was nothing special. Raviolis were covered in a creamy, rich sauce that was not overpowering. We did not have a reservation so sat at the bar and had a lovely evening. Service was great.

For a while I have looked forward to dining at this Joshua McFadden restaurant. Arriving you experience a lively and welcoming interior. Since we came on Saturday ,Braciole was the special. This rolled flank steak is slow braised and finished at a sear. The steak was very tasty. The problem was the vegetables. The slurry of greens made it difficult to figure what was meat and was was greens. The mix did not work very well to say the least. My wife ordered the Halibut. The fish had a funny texture but tasted good. The problem again was the vegetables. A very curious ensemble of very tough stalks with mint leaves. The stalks were the texture of Asalea stalks and could not be cut even with my steak knife. Overall based on the high prices I would say some serious overhaul is warranted.

Book a table and enjoy some well cooked food in a cosy but busy ambience. Food and wine was a treat and well worth the taxi ride from downtown to division.

We finally went to this restaurant for dinner after hearing so much about it from friends. We had a great waiter who helped us with the menu and we ordered just the right amount and enjoyed sharing some of the dishes. The selections were all original creations with great flavors and textures. Great vibe and we were not disappointed

My wife and another couple celebrated my birthday at Ava Genes and really enjoyed the atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant. We were however seated too close to a couple we knew from another lifetime which made our evening...."less celebratory and more muted" than hoped. The food was delicious and wine choices fine but perhaps we should have asked to have been re-seated; causing even more of a kerfuffle. What ensued was a waiting period for the other couple to depart while drinking a bottle of wine (not a bad strategy) but one that caused a slight delay. Would I go back, yes... but not for a celebration. The entree was original and soup was excellent and yes we had a candle at the end, all good. I thought it was a little overpriced and if I could make one comment it seems that the tables are just a little too close together for a special dining experience. The couple on our other side could hear everything we said and vice versa. Next time we will request a more private table.

Four of us had dinner and everything was wonderful. I had the burrata appetizer, halibut entree and PannaCotta for dessert. All were perfectly prepared with excellent wine pairing suggested by our waiter. Pre-dinner cocktails were delicious too. On top of that, service was professional and courteous Make reservations well in advance!

This quaint little restaurant is warm and welcoming. The menu is plentiful with a robust wine selection. Service is friendly yet professional. The food itself is amazing! A MUST go!

Great culinary experience ! Warm welcome received by the GM Every dish was delicious Atmosphere relaxed Good local wine by the glass A place to recommend if you are in this area!

Finally managed to snag a reservation after trying twice before when in town. Sat at the counter at the kitchen and enjoyed watching the food come together. I cook often from Chef McFadden's book Six Seasons and I rea)y wanted to see and experience his food. Had the Chicken Liver Pane with grapes, a Sweet Corn and Peach Salad, Tagliatelle with Chicken, Chicken Picatta, and potatoes with Egg and Scallions. Everything was good and several dishes were quite good. While we really enjoyed the food, it did not quite reach my 5 star level. Still, quite good. Great service. Modeate prices. And a good show though I must admit that watching the kitchen for an hour and a half left us feeling tired. They worked hard. Highly recommended..

The pastas this time around were well made but average flavor. The apps were the hit with gnocco frito, burrata and the brussel spouts taking center stage. The wine list is excellent but expensive. But the wine steward knows her stuff and pulled out a $64 Mt etna red from 2010 that was a steal.

Fantastic and acclaimed Roman food with ingredients sourced from the Pacific Northwest. The vegetables (gardini) are revelatory and the pastas equally good (don't miss the rye pasta with crab). Love the budino for dessert.

We had a delightful evening at Ava Gene's for a special celebratory dinner.The food was wonderful Our waitress was really great, explaining all of the dishes with detail and made suggestions with the menu. We were pleased with the excellent wine list and great servers round out a wonderful evening.Small critics; 1)The restaurant isn't large and the voice level was not low.2)Fine dining prices a bit high for this atmosphere

With the vast array of restaurants in Portland, this is one you can skip. The noise is deafening--you absolutely cannot carry on a conversation with anyone! The food was ok but not spectacular, especially considering the prices. Division Street has other choices nearby that are far superior.

The menu was varied and recipes unique. My chicken dish was moist. My friend had the fried rockfish with a salad. The bolognese sauce was reportedly good with fresh pasta.

We met a couple from Portland when we were in Seattle and they said they had their best meal ever here - so, of course, we had to book it. We weren't disappointed. The food was really good and we asked for wine advice and the sommelier was perfect in her choice for us. It isn't cheap but you get what you pay for. Excellent service and great food. Well recommended by our new-found friends from Portland - and hopefully by us as well.

Everything about this place says "Original Hipster" from the menu to the strange soap dispenser in the bathroom! But...you don't need to be an original hipster to find this place amazing. Go for the atmosphere and stay for the INCREDIBLE food. I got the impression the menu changes with high frequency but this is also why everything tasted so fresh. This appears to be a true farm to table setting. My only complaint is the menu is complicated to understand exactly what your getting. The good news is the staff is very capable of explaining all the finer details. Incredibly well trained staff here, and patient with all the questions!

The atmosphere was awesome, and everything we ordered tantalized our tongues! This dish with wild mushrooms was spot on.

Ava Gene's was another high point of our Oregon culinary journey. Luckily we had reservations because the place fills up early. We shared dishes. We highly recommend the vegetable small plates, as well as the pasta dishes. The staff does a great job of explaining the menu, because you will need an explanation unless you know Italian (lasagna is not a menu item).

OK so the interior is gorgeous. Feels like an old French bistro. Even the bathrooms have a great feel. But the food is over-priced and average at best. We were two couples consisting of two vegans and two omnivores. Between us we ordered several appetizers and four different entrees. The appetizers were very heavy on the oil side. It's not that hard to make fat and salt taste good. They weren't too bad, but nothing I'd ever return for. The four of us concluded that if we ever ate here again (and I won't) none of us would order entrees as they all fell flat. If you want innovative food, go eat at Departure. Our dessert was also bland, tasting nothing like the description.

Excellent service, tasty, inventive dishes with interesting mixes of flavors and textures. Popular and busy. Fun atmosphere.

The place is Amazing.... homemade pasta,the best calamari, and good drinks!! Everything we ate burst with flavors including the salad.. This is a must when dining in Portland..

My husband and I came from Seattle for a getaway weekend and this was a perfect spot with wonderful fresh farm to table ingredients and interesting dishes. We ordered a starter of crusty bread with sheep cheese, fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic. It was to die for delicious! One of the tastiest appetizers I’ve ever had. The salads were creative with interesting and unusual ingredients. Our waiter suggested several favorites which were terrific. Highly recommend this neighborhood restaurant with lively and cozy ambiance. Just a few minutes from downtown Portland.

I dined with 2 friends. 5:30 on a Tuesday evening. We didn’t know you could make reservations and the only open seating was a small table outside but the concierge was very nice and got us a table in the shade so it was pleasant even though it was a very warm evening. We shared 3 appetizers and 2 entries. All were good portions and delicious. Our server’s wine recommendation was also excellent. Service was attentive and with several thoughtful touches. Top notch experience all around.

We brought our son, Alex, to Ava Gene's to celebrate his birthday, dinner was amazing! We started with the three board giardini each one was more delicious than the other. We had two different pasta dishes and a meat entree, everything was exceptional! We will definitely go back!

We got stuck next to a marble bussing station so we couldn't hear each other, seriously horrible design flaw. Nothing like yelling over an anniversary dinner. Food: salad was one of the best I've had, but the pasta was under seasoned. Interior: really lovely design, just compact and sound adds up. Would recommend if alone or deaf.

I tend to stay in downtown Portland, so my go to Italian is in that zone. However, a friend directed me to this one, and i must say it’s a great contender. Food is great for sharing, staff welcoming and quick, and also has a good atmosphere. Pasta has a great fresh texture, and the fish was cooked to perfection. Staff were very knowledgable about their food and their wine list. Will be returning next time I’m in Portland!

My wife and I, while visiting Portland, Oregon, decided to have dinner one night at Ava Gene's. It's rare that one experiences tasting a taste, a flavor, that you've never tasted before. That's what happened when we had the salad with Mountain Rose apples. (I never knew the inside of an apple could be that color.) The salad was fantastic, the main course, a lamb dish, was also exceptional, and the dessert was out of this world. Who would expect such a phenomenal meal at a little place on SouthEast Division Street? Then, if you have the room in your stomach, wander across the street to Lauretta Jean's for some more dessert!

Completely disappointed! As a foodie...travelling internationally looking for delicious treats...we were completely slapped in the face with horrible service and zero quality control—correction—low standards on food presentation. We specifically waited to get a table here for the squash blossoms and they were served dripping of grease. The sommelier lacked knowledge on the wines being served...hmmm...different standards for sommeliers, too? Will definitely recommend this place does not deserve the right to have a wait list for a table...does not deserve the rave reviews! Place sucks!

It'd been a few years since we were here last and this is the first time for brunch. The space is bright with windows on two sides and has a good atmosphere; and wonder of wonders, they have acoustical absorption on the ceiling, a rarity in today's restaurants, so you can hear each other. Parking can be difficult in the area, but there is a small lot adjacent. The menu has a good variety of options. Our party had a couple cocktails (the Heart of Glass was unusual & good), a beet juice drink, stracciatella (like an Eggs Benedict w/o meat), the babka waffle and the AG burger. All were excellent. Service was good except for a couple small gaps. We've been here for dinner and they have phenomenal salads in season.

We LOVED this restaurant. I would call this ‘Portland’ style italian... meaning traditional italian with fresh fruits ana vegetables mixed in. We really enjoyed the melon salad and the fresh burrata with nectarines

We visited Ava Genes because the Chef wrote a cookbook that we all adore and have made many dishes from it. The book is " Six Seasons". Though Ava Genes only serves a few receipe's from the book depending on what is in season...we were not disappointed. We had a reservation (recommended) and were seated promptly. The service was great considering the crowd. Cocktails were inventive and fabulous. We shared dishes so we all had a tasting of the large selection. We left comfortable and happy. We were never rushed and spent about 2 hours at dinner.

After a week of less than impressive food in some other regions of Oregon, Ava Gene's was a great find. The food was flavorful with good portions. The wine list was great. Best of all was the service. Great attention to the preferences of the customer. I left very impressed and will return anytime I am in the area.

Earlier party was 45 minutes late, but they chose to seat them and make our party wait for over an hour past our reservation time. Regardless of the food quality the wait put a real damper on the night.

This is the best restaurant in Portland. It has an Italian flavor but it is really about fresh! Fresh food! Fresh fruit and vegetables! Fresh bread and pasta! Fresh fish and meats! When I eat fresh food it tastes so much better. Additionally the dishes are creative, different, tasty, and filling. Beer wine and liquors are available as an accompaniment. Please, please, make a reservation as this place is in high demand. Come, sit, eat, talk, and enjoy our favorite restaurant in Portland!

The food here is amazing/ We loved everything we tried. The cocktails are delish. The flavors are so yummy. My favorite place we tried in Portland.

Great Italian! Service was superb. He explained the entire menu. Food was hot and delicious. Setting was romantic but bustling. You must have reservations or you will be sitting at the bar. A lot of locals eat there. A must do if you are traveling through. Enjoy!

Well...After dining a second time I have to review...Not that the first time didn't warrant a review...I just knew I would eat there again, soon. I have spent over 20 years working in restaurants and haven't had a first course this inventive. The key thing is that its done perfectly and its new...at least to me...I pretty much don't want to try to sum it up into words. The things they are doing and putting together are amazing. On the first visit we had a pear dish with mascarpone and probably 4 other components. That dish alone was something I've never experienced and has led me on my own roasted vegetable quest. I'm now eating pears 4 times a week. Actually before eating here I had eaten at Tusk not realizing the two restaurants were related. I was blown away at Tusk as well. Same small "salad" style plates with amazing flavor and new combinations. I was aware of Ava Genes reputation prior to dining here and it fully surpassed any expectation I had. Unbelievably great. The whole thing. Thank you for making something new and making me excited about this style of food...its exciting...Oh yeah..the breads that they offer, amazing...eat some...and pasta was crazy good. The place is not fair to other restaurants and I cannot believe it isn't #1 on this site.

Recommended by a friend who lives in Portland. I was not impressed with the hard-to-read menu (I am not fluent in Italian) and no subtext to explain any of the menu items. I have been to restaurants all over the world and never felt out of place, until I went to Ava Gene's. I had to rely on the waitress to explain the menu items to me, but it was loud and she had to get right up to my ear to talk. Needless to say, sticker shock set in when I saw the prices. However, the food combinations were unique and interesting. I was pleased to see a variety of choices - all of which looked good. I cannot complain about the taste and presentation of the food, it was outstanding. For such a pretentious atmosphere, the wait staff was dressed sloppy and common. My waitress had unkempt hair and was wearing a sleeveless blouse. Either class it up, Ava Gene's, or come back down off your high horse! Fine dining prices, but I would have expected casual dining prices given the atmosphere. I would have gladly paid those prices if I was able to hear myself think and they had a wait staff that was dressed appropriately.

Ava Gene's encourages family style dining so we got to try most of the menu. Everything was good, from the meat board to the bread with beans on it to the pasta dishes. You really can't go wrong here, but the tagliatelle was superb. It's a little pricey for what you get and I thought Nostrana was better but still worth a visit.

We first ate at Ava Gene's after arriving at PDX late. Living 80 min drive away but really needing to eat we were heading for Sen-Yai to find it closed about 3 min before we got there. Thankfully Ava Gene's was still open and \we ended up enjoying really really good pasta and wine instead of Thai. Since then we have eaten there on most subsequent trips. We had every intention of trying other restaurants but always end up voting for Ava Genes. I particularly like sitting at the chef's counter and watching the food being prepared. Everything we have eaten has been perfectly cooked with wonderful combinations of flavors and delivered with exceptional service. I always want to try everything on the menu but knowing that I don't eat huge amount usually end up opting for one of the pasta dishes. My favorite pasta restaurant is Flour & Water in SF but I cannot help feeling the quality here is similar. Must go again soon!

Ava Gene's has had a reputation in Portland for awhile now and I have to say that it is well deserved. Our experience was excellent in every regard. The service started with an polite and professional greeting and went from there. The server was very knowledgeable and was able to answer every question about potential allergens without having to "ask the chef" and was able to direct us to items that would not be issues. He guided us through the ordering experience and we enjoyed everything that he recommended. I asked for a recommendation on a wine (I was interested in Dolcetto) and their sommelier was very knowledgeable and was able to discuss his recommendation in detail. The food was absolutely on point, from the prosciutto and the garlic toast with borlotti beans (think warm garlicky hummus on crunchy toast!), the shrimp with barley linguini (really good), the Brussels sprouts and sprouted barley salad (awesome combination for a starter salad) to the lamb with porcini it was all amazingly prepared and served. The service through out was well executed, with clearing and resetting between every course done promptly and unobtrusively. Everything was done very well and this restaurant has definitely earned it reputation

You may not be able to get your preferred seating time but I suggest you make allowances. It was apparent that a great many diners like Ava Gene's and, I might add, with very good reason. We were there on Aug. 31st for our 5:00 pm dinner reservation. A bit early for us but I'd do it again and again and again. The menu is a-la-carte. Appetizers, salads, pastas, meats and vegetarian. My inventory of selections doesn't begin to do justice to the menu but go and eat for yourself. My wife and I have wanted to go for months so last week we did. Our friendly, helpful and attentive server helped us understand the menu options, which all sound wonderful. We started with the Affettati Piccolo, which is an appetizer sampler of cheeses and meats. Think prosciutto and dry sausage paired with cheeses. Our second course was the tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers and almond salad. The combined flavors were wonderful. I want to describe it as a marinated salad but that simply doesn't do it justice. We loved it. For our main courses or as Ava Gene's calls it "Primi" we choose the Tagliatelle, lamb and pork ragu in Bianco Black Peppercorn and the Saffron Linguine, Clams, Hot Peppers and Garlic Italian Parsley. This was a wonderful meal. Really wonderful. Although we were overwhelmingly satisfied expresso and dessert were ordered. This was a great experience in a comfortably noisy restaurant with an informed server. We'll be back for another terrific dinner. Thank you Ava Gene's and the people that make it the experience it is.

Attractive dining area on SE Division Street. Soft lights, nice wait staff and interesting kitchen staff. We sat at the kitchen counter and we noticed that gloves were never used by the prep cooks. Polenta, $7.00, an different creamy, almost like a farinata without beans. Lacked the taste .Citrus salad, $13.00, grapefruit, blood oranges, and oranges with an olive tapenade a bit pricey for the plate. Nice taste.White house wine $14.00, way to expensive. Negroni, $10.00 was good. Buccatini with meatballs, $22.00, was al-dente, nicely prepped and was a small plate. All in all, this seems to be another trendy place that serves food with high mark up. The food is good to very good. Could be a celebration place not a neighborhood gem.

The ambiance was wonderful and the food was excellent. Many items include pork but some items could be made vegetarian. Wait staff said food was Roman inspired. We got a number of plates and ate 'family style.'

Super fresh, inspired take on traditional Italian dishes. Great gnocco fritto with prosciutto and barley salad starters, and pasta dishes as main course. I had linguine with ramps & shrimp, while friends had gnocchi and ditalini with pancetta & peas - no a drop left.

We were seated right away (we had a reservation). Food was tasty. The pasta was salty, but the signature dish, lasagna, was bland. Once a little salt was added it was delicious. Dessert was decadent. Atmosphere was very noisy. Hard to carry a conversation.

Have been trying to get in forever. But too spontaneous and always too late. Finally got the golden ticket. So, mixed feelings after all the build up. Something akin to unrequited love. So, salad phenomenal, (radishes and tuna) also pasta VG, but lamb shoulder preparation a disappointment. Pork fantastic. Just had berries and sorbet for dessert but quite nice. Division feels like college, lots of people strolling and talking. Doubt I'll return and cross the river for another bite. But will go back to Moule and Xico.

Decor: Sophisticated, yet rustic. A soaring space filled with dramatic pendant lights. Cool counter seating near open kitchen. Menu: Variable. Covered fish, chicken & pork plus pasta selections at this time. Service: Impeccable. Our server was patient & helpful, guiding us to a nice medley of tastings, cocktails & wine choices. Quality: Superb. The house-made pastas were wonderful; the chicken Marsala was perfectly cooked, juicy & tasty. Our starters, including the gnocco fritto, were delectable, and fairly unique in our experience. A treat! Portions satisfying. Value: Good, as the experience justifies the pricing. If the establishment had an exceptional (natural) setting or view, it would have warranted five stars, per my usual rating standard. There was nothing more that could be asked for, inside!

The food was fresh and prepared to perfection. They have a great selection of wines and the atmosphere was upbeat.

Great dishes and good vibes. All staff so nice and give a good recommendation to us. They have a great bar as well.

Dinner at Ava Gene's was certainly a five star culinary experience. The food was sensational and the service professional and attentive. I loved the ambience of the place. I most certainly would give this establishment the highest of recommendations. We had the calamari, parmigiano, with black pepper, and the chicken liver, pancetta, sage for starters. I had the Pork Ribs which is a specialty on Thursdays. My son had the house made, milled, and extruded spaghetti with eggplant, tomato, oregano, & fiore sardo. It was simply SO good!

This is real Italian food prepared fresh the way it is meant to be. Imagine yourself at an Italian villa noshing on some fresh bread with cheese and fresh tomatoes before a dinner of fresh past and meats. Mmmmm. Heavenly! That's this place!

Our Portland friends recommended this restaurant, and we were so happy that followed their recommendation! Everything about this restaurant is excellent - the decor, ambiance, the food, the service. It was the perfect choice for our last vacation day in Oregon. Their choice of ingredients is superb. Their dishes are interesting, unique and delicious. Our server was very knowledgeable: she knew exactly what was in each of the dishes, she gave perfect wine suggestions. In short - if you want a great dining experience - I highly recommend this place.

We loved our time at Ava Gene’s! The vibe: cool but inviting and energetic The service: impeccable. Extremely attentive and upbeat. The food: delicious and well prepared and presented. We sat at the “Chef’s table and got to watch the action in the kitchen and that was educational and sort of mesmerizing and inspiring as well! We’d come back in a heartbeat!

lived up to its name in terms of serving fresh locally sourced ingredients. whole meal was a pleasure. as with many of the portland restaurants, they are well trained and well staffed. it has been officially added to the list for future eating.

On a recent trip to Portland we made reservation at Ava Gene's for dinner. I would highly recommend you get reservations as it is a small restaurant. The waitress was wonderful helping and navigating us through the menu. We ordered the garlic bread with our little gem salad. We both really enjoyed the salad, but I would pass on the garlic bread next time, it was really not to my liking. As for our dinners my husband got the special and I had the rigatoni with lamb bolognese sauce. We both really enjoyed our meals, and unfortunately were too full to experience any desert. I would certainly go back when we return to Portland.

Full transparency - we ate at Rosmarino in Newberg last week (Nonna’s recipes are unparalleled). That aside....this is a fabulous Italian meal! Mille Gracie to all who prepared it! Every dish was perfect and so filling that we were certain we’d either die at our table or require some sort of forklift to remove us. Everything was delectable - absolutely everything!

We took our soon-off-to-college granddaughter out for a special celebratory dinner. The service was impeccable and the food sublime. We had a memorable evening.

The restaurant is beautifully lit but so noisy. The staff was excellent. The fod was a disappointment for two reasons. Lots of it was monotonously over-seasoned with a one-note chile--especially the tagliatelle with wild mushrooms. Fresh pasta and wild autumn mushrooms don't need chile. Let the freshness shine! Secondly, presentation made some dishes difficult to eat: my salad, with perfect, surprising thinly sliced matsutake and matching pears, was tiringly difficult to eat since it was stacked into a soup bowl. After a while, I asked to have it transferred to plate, but at the level of hype and price that comes with this restaurant, I shouldn't need to do this. My husband found his salad and salmon entree both monotonously sour.

This restaurant came highly recommended and was tough to get into. We had a reservation at 9 and weren’t seated until 9:20. My fiancé ordered polenta and sautéed greens and I ordered cavatelli with sausage. The polenta was unexpectedly runny and the greens were very tough and unevenly seasoned. My cavatelli was extremely salty. The waiter did take off my fiancé’s dish, so that was respectable. Overall our experience was sub-par for the glowing recommendations by many people. Honestly, the restaurant scene in Portland has been a bit disappointing.

I’ll begin by saying we eat out every night. We are not fussy eaters, but we do like to be treated well and enjoy food that enables one to actually taste the food, not just the seasoning. We have been to Ava Genes before —with and without another couple—and have enjoyed our meals. But that was prior to the shift in ownership. We returned on a Sunday night and had a completely different experience. While I must say Douglas, the bar manager, worked hard to make things right and is clearly an asset to the restaurant, this is a not a place to which we would return. We arrived early having walked and mis-judged our time. We were not greeted with any kind of a welcome, kindness, or warmth. We were simply told our table was not available which was fine as we were early and that we "could sit at the bar". We went for a walk instead. We were seated at a nice table and that was when the real issues began. We enjoy eating slowly and we prefer to order course by course. That apparently is frowned upon and our server Angie tried and tried to force us into ordering all at once. We began with Burrata accompanied by some salad. The fresh greens were so drenched in vinegar and oil we pushed it to side. The Burrata was good but not great. The Burrata came with focaccia which we don’t enjoy so we asked they simply substitute some other bread. Our server said we would have to order a side of bread if we wanted something different. Fine, that’s what we did. However the food runner who brought the Burrata was more than happy to switch out the Focaccia for their filone bread which was superb. Now, because the greens that came with the Burrata were so loaded with dressing, we asked that our next course, a lovely sounding salad of cabbage with quince and other ingredients, be either dressed lightly or have the dressing on the side. We were told by our server after checking with the kitchen, that was not possible. You get it the way it comes. We chose to skip the salad. As this point, we asked politely that she bring our bill. Enter Douglas who understands the restaurant business and fixed what he could. We ended up staying and ordering a pasta dish with artichoke hearts as our next course. It was literally so salty as to be inedible. The kind of super excessive salt that burns your mouth. We each had one bite and pushed it to the side. The chef and then the floor manager Karen defended it - we are known for “aggressive use of seasoning” and I and the chef tasted it and it was “fine”. OK, now we know that Ava Gene’s over-salts the pasta. We then ordered their special pasta of the day which included a wonderful, unique mini-lasagna-like noodle and a delicious sugo which, while saltier than we liked, was in the realm of normal. We decided to skip any contorni (interesting dishes, too much salt?) and desert, pay the bill and leave. We received the bill and Karen was kind enough to remove the first pasta and the Buratta. We insisted on paying for the entire meal, considering the chef defended the over salted pasta as the restaurant’s style. We paid the bill and left realizing we would not return. Ava Genes is now off our list.

After waiting several weeks for a reservation, we looked forward to dining again at this Portland gem. The food and service were terrific, as expected. It can be a bit loud, depending on whether you're near large groups. Sitting at the food bar gets you a great opportunity to watch dinners being prepared and to chat with the chefs. The lamb was perfect, and all our veggie dishes were wonderful too.

My wife and I went with two friends who dine frequently here and who say it is their favorite restaurant anywhere. Perhaps our experience was not representative of the usual food and service, but we were not greatly impressed. Our four-person group had a reservation for 8:15, but we were not seated until after 9:00. The group at the table we had reserved would not timely leave after eating, and apparently the management would not ask them to leave. That seemed odd because our friends said that they had been told on previous nights when someone was waiting for their table. Very shortly before we were seated, we were given some complimentary appetizers and Proseco because we were so hungry. That was very nice, but we had to request it. Once seated, we ordered salads and pasta dishes. The salads were creative, fresh, and good. Our entrees, though, left something to be desired. My wife ordered a chicken pasta. It was tasty but had very little chicken. Likewise, I ordered a clam pasta. It too was tasty, but it had very few clams, maybe six or seven, and they were minutely small and dry. Maybe I was expecting better only because I had just returned from a trip to New England, where I had numerous excellent clam dishes. All in all, Ava Gene's food was good but, in our view, not worthy of lavish praise. Our server, though, was excellent, and she seemed to genuinely regret that we had to deal with so long a delay.

Me and my spouse went for a dinner. We are both like food and eat out a lot. This place offer super expensive small dishes that not even taste good. We both got our pastas cold and they made new ones. But anyway. Spend your money somewhere else. I wish I cloud get a refund

What a great place. We had the family style dinner, which was absolutely amazing! The salads were first rate, pastas delicious and then the pork rib was superb. So much food, but all very tasty! The staff were great and the atmosphere really enjoyable. Highly recommended.

We went to Ava Gene's, my choice for my birthday dinner in early October. I had read/heard that they were a great choice for people who choose vegetarian foods. I did enjoy my bulgar pasta with wild mushrooms. It was very tasty. My husband had the pasta dish with a fish in it, he like my choice better. Really I thought they would have more options to choose from for a vegetarian, but there was not much. It was also quite close quarters to other tables and the window/wall. It was dark too so I had to hold my menu next to a small candle to read it (should have thought of my cellphone flashlight like people next to us did). It was also a bit loud and made it difficult to carry on a conversation. Our server was good and very helpful in considering choices on the menu. It is not an inexpensive restaurant, so prepare to spend a bit. I do think they should have more vegetarian choices and dessert choices, but it seems some restaurants prefer to offer a smaller variety in order to concentrate on getting the food prepared well.

Great warm ambiance. Menu changes daily but is always wonderful. The food was simple, fresh and amazing. One of the best in one of the best food towns in the USA. While others come and go and hit the new best list... Ava Gene's remains a must when in town.

I ate here in November with friends and I couldn't have been more disappointed. All I could taste was oil and salt. Swore I'd never eat here again. Family was in town and wanted to eat at Ava Gene's so I decided to go along and see what happened. Wow, the food was really amazing. I'm glad I got to see what the hype is all about. Can't wait to return.

My mother and I ate dinner here and it was just amazing. She is allergic to garlic and our waitress was extremely accommodating, ensuring that every meal was garlic free. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very nice. We recommended Ave Gene's to all of our family members while we were visiting.

Simply the best. The use of spices and herbs and the lovely creations! Our meals were excellent, service was very good as well....Farm to table idea - I love that! Makes such a difference in the food we eat today.

Had dinner last night at this wonderful place. Sitting at the counter gives one a new culinary experience watching these chefs prepare everything. What a beautiful ballet behind the counter. Everything we had was fantastic, but I must say that the Burrata was my favorite, but I can't wait to visit Portland again to eat here! I would say this is a must visit meal!!!!

This place has delicious food. But prepare to pay twice as much for it as you would in s similarly designed place. The staff was fantastic every thing quite good, but the price dose not match the ambiance!! Out doors , casual furniture & very informal milieu was not congruent with the price. This is why I gave it 3 stars only. If the prices are adjusted to the existing settings I'd definitely give it 5 stars! Merci!

This isn’t your usual neighborhood spaghetti house. The food is Italian with twists to make it more interesting. I had linguini with halibut. It was very simple, made with olives, peppers, mint and olive oil, but very tasty. My husband also enjoyed his pasta with sausage and cauliflower. Once again, it was simple but very tasty. The others enjoyed their halibut with eggplant and the ragu pasta. We shared appetizers of calamari and artichoke with brown butter - excellent. We also shared desserts which finished off the dinner perfectly. The service was attentive without being too much so. The place was packed on a Thursday evening so mKe reservations pretty far in advance.

Going to Ava Gene's is inherently a special event. The ambience is warm, festive, vivacious and the music, which comes across as Italian Rock is perfect. The service is smooth and very attentive, but not perfect as a five star restaurant would be. They pay attention to the condition of the table - cleaning and replacing plate/silver anonymously. Our appetizers were splendid an unique. The Barlatti Beans on a chunk of country bread were perfect and easily shareable. Best calamari I ever had - like a puff pastry, tender from the sea with a elegantly crispy batter that goes "poof". We also loved the carrots and pistachios which had a Mediterranean slant. However, the Primi dishes, which we had as our entrees lost their potential for elegance after being doused with chile pepper and salt in the same amounts for each dish, even when those ingredient were not list on the menu. The linguine did have a clear seafood tone (no actual seafood was discovered), but that was drowned out by heavy salt and chile. The tagliatelle with mushrooms basically tasted like salt and chile and since my wife has an allergy to chile that was a problem, The waiter told us that the chef decided to just 'throw some chile in there". So, that dish was a bomb. Mistacanza - sautéed greens with garlic, olives and - guess what: Chile(!) was barely edible with the chili as dominant flavor. The meal started as so delightful but the pasta dishes lacked elegance and character, mostly salt and chili. They all tasted the same after a while. That was a huge disappointment for our special dinner. I think we will return some day - but with special instructions to chill out on the chile!

I had a superior experience at Ava Gene's - which should come as no surprise. I went on a Monday and had the meatballs as well as the celery salad. Both really good. Same goes for the Negroni and the red wine. But what you should try is the flight of chinato as the "post-dinner drink" - surely something you've never tried before and really something special.

We had heard a lot about this restaurant and were looking forward to trying it. It was busy when we got there a few minutes before our reservation time. That came and went, and the staff told us that the party at our table had already paid and we just chatting. They eventually gave us a place to sit outside while we continued to wait. They did not raise with the other party that there were people waiting. We were finally seated about 40 minutes after our reservation time. The staff were nice in giving us appetizers for our wait. We were a group of five; three of the five meals were bland and without any taste. Again the restaurant comped for those meals. The environment was nice but we wouldn't go again.

The trend for restaurants is hard surfaces, high ceilings, and decibel levels that force one to have to almost yell to be heard. If this is your idea of a great place to have a meal, then Ava Gene's is for you. The layout is such that there is no reasonable place to wait for your table to be readied, and so one is awkwardly left wedged in between servers and other guests. The food is very good overall, but oh so pricey. The chacuterie platter is excellent. Good wine selection. Again, the tables are wedged in and makes service awkward for wait staff. Overall the food is very good, but the atmosphere and noise level takes this out of the running for an intimate and relaxing meal.

Excellent quiches and pies! Her crust is fabulous as are her rolls. The help is always nice and friendly.

The food here is creative and the service is very good. The pork with Italian beans was excellent and my wife enjoyed the rabbit dish. Both paired unusual accompanyments with delicious results. The $25 corkage fee is excessive given that the wine list only contains Italian wines and fails to include the excellent regional Northwest U.S. wines that I enjoy drinking. The Italian wine list is extensive and includes many price ranges--but sometimes other wines pair better with a dish than an Italian wine.

Had the privilege of meeting our daughter’s best friend and her husband for dinner at Ava Genes. Daughters friends choice. Interesting venue. Very attentive service and great food. Would highly recommend. Although a bit noisy we could still carry on a conversation.

Here is a place that mixes and matches all kinds of food you have never seen together on a plate before and makes you want to come back for more. Their menu changes often so you won't ever get bored.

Ava Gene's is Italian/Roman with a huge emphasis on locally sourced veggies. We could only get a table at 4:30pm but decided to go ahead after reading such great reviews in foodie guides. For starters we ordered squid and the summer squash salad. It was at that point that I jumped online and ordered Joshua McFadden's Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables so I could re-create the dishes back home when we returned from our trip because they were AMAZING. For mains we ordered the Braciole and the Lamb & Pork Ragu Tagliatelle....PERFECTION. The vegetables were so ripe and perfectly seasoned and the meat was tender/melt in your mouth. The service was well executed and the restaurant fit out is tasteful and well appointed. Well done Ava Gene's on just about EVERYTHING!!