Castagna Reviews

Having been turned off by the 1 1/2 hour waits at the cool restaurants--and hungry enough to take a flier--we spied Castagna on our way to yet another all too full hip spot---and decided to give it a try. Turns out it was a good impulse as Castagna was a winner on all counts (other than it could have been a bit warmer at our window table). We had a selection of tapas dishes that we shared and they were prepared in ways that allowed each ingredient to shine in a lovely presentation. Our waiter was very attentive and accommodating and the prices were reasonable. Even though Castagna is highly rated, it was a Sunday night, which combined with it's slightly 'in-between neighborhoods location' lead to it having seats (while at the same time was still about 85% full). I'd certainly be happy to return as well as recommend it to others.

Fabulous. Great service, innovative food, wonderful wine list and inexpensive considering the sophistication level of the restaurant. If you want cheap, go to a food cart, but this is fine dining at its best at a fraction of what one would pay in New York, Los Angeles or other cities who have food that can compare. It is quiet, the service is attentive but not overbearing and parking is a breeze. The cafe is also great for a casual meal - particularly the burger or hanger steak.

It was nearly 4 on a Saturday. After calling several of our favorite restaurants and being told there was no seating available, we tried this place. Upon arrival at 5:30 it was nearly empty but quickly filled. Apparently we got lucky. The cauliflower soup was wonderful as was the spinach filled tapenade. The main courses were okay but not memorable. I had the halibut and the wife had the whole chicken. The lemon doughnut desert seemed a tad undercooked. The extra bucks we paid for the kens artisan bread was something I would not pay for again.

This restaurant is a quiet, formal place. I was with three friends and we ordered the full chef's tasting with the wine pairing. Dinner took over three hours! The food was delicious but took a bit too long between courses which were a biteful or two for most courses. If you are looking for a big meal, this is not the place. However, my friends and I who are not huge foodies, found this to be an amazing experience.

I had avoided this place because I thought it was going to be too expensive and too hard to get into. I was able to get a seat at the bar and was glad I did, I found the restaurant quaint, charming and had great service. The food was very good and they had a good selection of wines by the glass. My only disappointment was the dessert, it was a pots de creme and there was really nothing special about it. A pre-made, refrigerated bowl of what was more like just basic pudding. I will go back and look forward to trying other things on the menu

I can only speak to the Chef's Tasting Menu as I've never been able to forego the experience in order to try their "normal" fare. Castagna doesn't serve "food", they serve miniature culinary masterpieces that should come with a warning label "May cause taste buds to orgasms." Executive Chef Justin Woodward is an artist who creates gorgeous little edible worlds that are as much a delight to visually explore as they are to savor. Every exquisite creation and every tiny part of that creation is a uniquely flavorful experience for the palate AND the soul. I also adore how the wait staff describes the courses and all the lovely commentary on the ingredients. It adds so much to the experience. We first experienced Castagna on a whim for my birthday 3 years ago and we return every year with friends as my birthday present. It is always my BEST present!

The restaurant is charming and intimate. The servers are attentive, friendly and warm. Not sure if it's a regular thing, but they had a horseradish vodka martini which was unique and worth a try. The food was good, although some of the sauces were one note and could have used a little more complexity.

This is a really great place for a quiet evening with a close friend or partner, or for a gathering of folks who you just want to have a fun evening with. This café is the sister site to the more upscale dining experience of Castagna, next door. I can't imagine what could be more "fine" than this, however....everything was just as elegant and the food as finely prepared as one would want! They are open for dinner 7 nights a week. Happy hour from 5-6 and 9 to close. Check out the website linked below....the menu is very well put together with enough variety and choices for most palates. Northwest cuisine with a touch of Mediteranean-like accents. The three of us had a reservation but they say it is only requested for parties of 5 or more. We had a Ceasar salad and a butter leaf salad.....shared. Both excellent, very fresh and just the right amount of dressing. One of us had the scallops starter....plenty to eat if you're into small portions. Then the other two shared a pizza which doesn't appear on the menu currently posted on the website. It was a thin-crust pie approx. 12-14 inches, no tomato sauce, with goats milk cheese and artichoke hearts. Very flavorful and a nice break from the norm. Without the tom sauce,however, it was just a bit dry. I would definitely have it again, though. We shared a dessert.....the chocolate pot de crème.(A fancy name for a pudding-like dish). Delicious! They have a full wine list and a bar that can make you just about anything. Word is their happy hour is one of the most popular in Portand. Come on and find out for yourself!

We dined in the Castagna Cafe, next door to the restaurant. The food was very well prepared, I had no idea chard (the seasonal vegetable) could taste so good! The menu is fairly limited but includes a 3 course price fixe for $25. Our only complaint was the acoustic environment, the concrete floor and walls make it noisy and sometimes difficult to converse.

My sister and I celebrated both our birthdays at once with a trip to Castagna for their 20-course chef's tasting menu. Considering the level of quality of the food and service, the atmosphere never put me ill at ease and allowed for a relaxed and very fun evening. They even gladly put birthday candles on one of our deserts, which brought another smile to my face :) The food itself was unsurprisingly excellent, even if it wasn't all things I would normally have eaten. Thank you Castagna for taking us on such a fun and exciting culinary tour of Oregon!

focussed flavours, sophisticated with little complication. very nicely presented and smooth delivery. great wine pairings and delicious bread service

On a hot July Portland evening my husband & I ventured to Castagna for a gastronomic adventure. Choosing the chefs tasting menu with wine pairings we ate our way through a huge number of courses (I lost count after 12, I blame the wine) spending at least 4 hours in the restaurant eating. All the staff were incredibly knowledgeable, the service was truly impeccable which is a rarity for me to proclaim. The ambience and decor classy. Having tried many a chef creation in the past I was impressed to try new inventive, exciting dishes. As with all tasting menus don't expect large portions, you will be full simply from the multitude of courses. The bill was on the large side (just shy of $500 for two) but worth every penny for the experience!!

We started with the Fried Cauliflower with Yogurt -- outstanding flavors! Drinks were poured well with good happy hour prices. We shared the Alaskan Halibut for Two. This is a beautiful, massive chunk of fish cooked "on the bone". The halibut cleaved nicely into two "steaks" that were perfectly cooked. Our meal was rounded out with sides of runner beans (with tomatoes and parmesan) and seared beets with tahini.

We were staying in the Hawthorne area and happened upon Castagna. Very open and clean ambiance with excellent staff. We were there during their half price dinner specials and had a burger w/onion rings and a shrimp croquette, all of which were very good. I don't think the burger is worth the regular menu price of $12 but it was great for $6. I had a couple of very tasty GoodLife Descender IPAs on tap. It's hard to choose from all the options in this neighborhood but you won't be disappointed with Castagna's half price specials. We felt at home there.

Wow, wow, wow !!!! This place is serious. My husband and I recently had the 7 course-tasting menu and wine pairing at Castagna and I am speechless. We have been to several 1 star and many 3 star Michelin restaurants around the world, and Castagna is in the game. The dishes are beautiful to look at, thoughtful in their ingredients and brought many, many eye-closing moments. We upgraded and added in 1 Wagyu Beef and OMG…the best bite of meat EVER !!! Service impeccable, and just a fantastic experience…well worth the money. Michelin…if you are reading this…time to put Portland on your map and reward Castagna with 1 star…or maybe 2.

So many guides give high ratings to Castagna. It presents an array of unusual food items, such as burned leek, that are supposed to amaze and amuse diners. Of the items I received, only the Kobe steak made memorable impression: I was impressed by the taste and texture, but also by the $40 addition to my already very expensive meal. The servers were great. The wines were unusual but not surprisingly excellent. Overall, Castagna is trying too hard.

One of the most respected restaurant owner's in Portland, who created the resurgence of culinary sophistication recently confirmed to me what I already have known: "Castagna is the best restaurant in Portland." Great food and atmosphere, under the watchful eye of Monique. Nothing beats it.

Visiting from UK and made a reservation for dinner. Food was fabulous - innovative and creative. Service was attentive and discreet. We opted for the Chef Taster Menu with wine pairings and were extremely impressed. Loved the "Snacks" particularly the beetroot and beef, then the fish, lamb, beef and duck were all superb, and the desserts were amazing with particular praise for the potato ice cream and wine pairing. A dining experience we will mot soon forget!

We did the pre fixe menu ($75, 3 course + about 8-10ish snacks). They also have a larger I think 8 course menu for $125. For us, we did the smaller pre fixe since there were 2 of us and we chose different options for each course so we in essence had 6 out of the 8 courses from the chef's menu. The food was all delicious though if I were to be very critical it doesn't necessarily stand out for me compared to other high-end restaurants. But the presentation was gorgeous for each and every course/snack. Overall, a very solid meal and I only docked 1 star because it didn't stand out from other restaurants in its class, but nothing to fault either!

Very special, unique, extra-ordinary, yummy, delicious, delicate, amazing, interesting! I felt like I was on the Food Network . .. like Iron Chef and they were serving me these most amazing dishes. I highly recommend Castagna and I do really believe that this was one of the best meals I have ever enjoyed in any restaurant anywhere. Bravo! Thank-YOU!

I never got to eat here so I really can't review the food but I certainly can review the staff. We had reservations for over a month in the cafe for a very special birthday. Our party had spoken to the restaurant on several occasions and confirmed our reservation for the cafe. When we arrived we were seated in the restaurant where only a pre-fixed menu is available. We brought the error to the attention of the staff before water was even poured. They explained that they had confirmed our resevation for the restaurant not cafe and that we would have a one hour wait to be seated in the cafe. We produced email and voicemail confirmation proving the error was on their end not ours. There was never an apology or attemp to make the situation right. We got nothing but attitude and blatant rudeness. A woman said she would the owner over to talk to us and about 10 minutes passed with no owner. During this time nobody even acknowledged us. We asked when the owner would be over and they stated she had left the restaurant!! We left very disappointed as this was a big event we were all looking forward to. I cannot emphasize the attitude and rudeness enough. I would not recommend anyone plan a special dinner here or expect your reservation to be honored! PS I am a former fine dining server of over 5 years. This was unacceptable!

Returned to dine at this wonderful restaurant. Being the little brother of one of this foodie towns icons, doesn't deter the place from having its own, unique blessings. Casual, chic, inventive and good value food, good local and international wine list, all topped by excellent and friendly service. Definitely a "chestnut" in Portland's dining scene.

I don't know, I thought this place was just okay. After liking the happy hour menu I finally made it here for happy hour. The portions are indeed small, and even though the burger wasn't ba it wasn't that great. Just a plain old burger. The service is kind of slow and the drinks were not really strong. I think this place needs to kick it up a notch. I don't think I would even try the full out restaurant next door.

After a three hour arrival delay, I finally made it to Portland. It was late, and I was hungry and not looking my best. We just made it to Cafe Castagna about an hour or less before closing. We were the only customers. We ordered off the happy hour menu. The bartender made a great martini. Despite the late hour and the low cost final bill, the staff were so polite, patient and accommodating. After a long day traveling, this level of service and food was gratefully appreciated. As for the food, we were very impressed. The burger was quite possibly the best we'd had in recent memory. My friend never tried arancini before and was pretty happy with Castagna's version. Very good!

We had always heard very good things about Castagna but our dinner exceeded every expectation. The service, decor, and presentation were flawless but it was the food which really shone. I think many restaurant experiences leave you thinking, "How interesting! I could try this at home." Not so with Castagna. The inventive, even playful, combinations of tastes and textures are so original that the diner must simply enjoy and savor the moment.

We had been waiting for a guest to come in town and take them here. We had heard pretty good things about this place and really wanted to try out molecular gastronomy! Each course was incredibly tiny, more so than any other place that I've ever been to. The size was a bit disappointing, but it was the flavors, they did not meld well together. The wine pairing was fair, again, not nearly as good as it could of been. I wouldn't consider the cuisine French. What made this evening so discouraging, was after we paid $200 a person, we all left still hungry. Glad we tried it, just bummed it didn't meet expectations.

Michelin*** which means "vaut le voyage" IE worth the trip. We were visiting our son, his beautiful wife, who chose castagna, and their 22 month old son from freezing north new jersey, so I guess it's a stretch, but this restaurant surpassed our imagination. The chef's idea of snacks reminds me of Marcel rouff's "the passionate epicure, adventures of dodin bouffant. A menu in the narrative simply stated "boiled beef" but it was a mouth watering dish. Likewise at castagna simply mentioning snacks. There were 8 on the $110 chef's tasting menu , each fantastic. The 10 following dishes were marvelous. We did not choose the wine pairings @$55 per person but chose excellent wines, actually the passionate epicure who married me 52 years ago did the choosing. One review mentioned that castagna matched alinea in Chicago and el bulli in Spain. I looked up alinea and their tasting menu was $210 and many of the reviews were dismissive. The chef who preceded justin Woodward, chef lightner, left for NYC and opened atera, a restaurant recently reviewed by Pete wells in the NY times. Some of his dishes seemed weird and Pete wells hated some of them, but gave it *** . The tasting menu was $150 and we don't plan to go. Chef Woodward has surpassed chef lightner, making full use of all that Portland has to offer in locally sourced foods. In short, we loved it and look forward to our next trip to visit family, a trip truly "vaut le voyage" and castagna.

Wow... tried their tasting menu, was not impressed. They were trying too hard for my tastes. I thought after the great reviews I would give it a try. I know its a tasting menu but I felt like it was just tiny portions of pretentious food. Left hungry and unsatisfied.

The focus of the dishes are middle Eastern flavors. We recognized spices, tastes from Spain, Morrocco, etc. Zatar, botega, harissa, etc. The chef uses alot of green herbs in sauces and condiments on each dish. My favorite was the chickpea flour fried sticks with harissa and a garlicky alioli. Fresh zucchini, green beans watercress and snap peas gave an interesting flavor to the salad. The pickled onions were the best part. The pickled ramps were also tasty in the appetizer. Their French potato salad was great. The potatoes perfectly done and creamy. The grilled beef in the entree was a little tough but had a good smoky taste. The herb sauce was unnecessary. The grilled halibut collar was fabulous but watch out for bones! The herb sauce on this was great with the taste of capers enhancing the flavor of the fish. Finally the dessert with Halva ice cream with shredded Halva was tasty!

Every thing we had was wonderful. Steak Tartar, butter lettuce salad, brazed romanesco, and a roasted Kaboche squash salad. The pastas were an excellent entree, the fries on the burger were tastier than the burger, It was juicy and properly cooked just not that flavorful, on a brioche bun with Walla Walla onions. Wonderfully spirited bartender and a good selection of specialty cocktails. Small draft beer list and a variety of white and red wine, Comfortable minimalistic environment. Excellent service.

While living the region we had a 'circuit' of favorite eateries and Castagna, the cafe, was one of our favorites. The cocktails were fresh. The Bees Knees or a Bullet Manhattan is recommended. And if you see Pacific Sardines on the appetizer menu, have an order. Staff are always pleasant. Now that I live elsewhere we make sure to drop by when we travel to the area.

Since the Fall of 2009, I have dined at Castagna in between 25 to 30 times. I am finally writing a review. I think by now I have a deep understanding of this restaurant. About half of my visits were with Chef Lightner running the kitchen and half with Chef Justin. As most people know, Chef Lightner opened Atera in NYC and received 2 Michelin stars in its first year. Chef Justin has built upon the foundation created by Chef Lightner. I readily admit that the food is challenging. There is no restaurant in Portland like Castagna. The flavor combinations are innovative, yet there are always delicious (at least in my opinion). Just to give one example during my last visit, Chef brought out a dish of duck confit with winter roses---a stunning dish. The desserts are the best Portland has ever seen. Chef Justin combines with Pastry Chef Eve to create incredibly sophisticated desserts. Justin spent 1.5 years working under then-pastry chef Alex Stupak at wd-50 and Chef Eve spent, I think, 5 years in Paris with one of those years working with the Robuchon team under legendary Francois Benot. It is worth going to Castagna just for the desserts. I admit that Castagna is not for everyone. But for those who love it, will REALLY love it. One more thing, there is Castagna and Cafe Castagna, and they are located right next to each other. Castagna is the one with Chef Justin running the kitchen. Cafe Castagna is the casual restaurant.

Chef Justin Woodward displays much imagination and creativity to produce a menu of exceptional delights. Excellent! Would be a strong 2 Michelin star restaurant if Michelin covered Portland.

If you are looking for a change of pace for brunch or dinner head to cafe castagna. Their brunch menu is unlike anything else you will find in Portland right now if you are bored with the same old brunch fare. For instance the hummus with sujuk sausage is amazing. They serve heart coffee perfectly brewed. They always have an amazing changing selection of fresh salads/veggies/ plates to share to get some greens and vitamins in with your brunch. Dinner is equally good. Plates to share a perfect. The chef also liked the way we order our selection of plates and sent two additional plates to share as compliments. The highlight that we didn't order that the chef sent was the grilled beets. I thought I was over beets until I had them served this way! Servers are friendly, knowledgeable and prompt.

One of the best dinners ever—food and service. We had the 7-course chef tasting menu. Amazing combinations, sauces to die for. It’s pricey, but worth every penny.

Castagna offers a very creative menu leaning towards molecular/modernist cuisine, without feeling awkward or out of place. Describing the food in detail would not make it justice, just expect every course to surprise you in one way or another with a texture, a flavor, a color you have not experienced before. It is not only about ingredients, it is also about craftsmanship. A lot of thinking goes into every detail, including the amuse-bouche, and you can tell from looking at your plate that the kitchen is staffed with skilled professionals who make certain everything is perfect before it leaves the kitchen (and that is not that common.) In addition to that Castagna is a calm, simple and inviting place with very competent, discreet and knowledgeable staff. If you want to treat yourself with something unique, something you just wouldn’t be able to make yourself or find in other nice restaurants in the area, give Castagna a try. It is pricey; but it is the best value in Portland for upscale dinning.

Had a great lunch recently. Wonderful fish soup for me and great pork sandwich for my wife. I had an interesting cocktail and a couple of glasses of excellent muscadet which is OK when you don't have to work the rest of the day. My wife liked dessert too This is a top restaurant at dinner time and for special events based on past experience but try it for lunch too.

We have always had a great dinner here. Nothing by accolades. Perfect for a quiet evening.

This restaurant surprised me, because from the description, it seemed like a more casual, mid-priced food joint. In fact, it is a spectacular gourmet fine dining experience like little else I've come across pretty much anywhere. There are two options for dinner; a chef's tasting menu and a smaller prix fixe menu, both with optional wine pairings. There's also a seasonal cocktail list. I had a blueberry shrub cocktail with tarragon that was so refreshing, and perfectly complimented the hot August evening. I chose the prix fixe menu, which, with the five "snacks", came to almost 10 courses! I agree with other reviewers that the snacks are the best part! Not only are they extremely delicious and inventive, but they are presented in a beautiful and even playful way that makes the dining experience so much fun and more enjoyable! I was snapping photos and grinning like an idiot the whole time! The entire menu is sustainable, fresh, and local, which I am a fan of, and the wine pairings perfectly complimented each course, from the snacks to the dessert. The wait staff was very attentive. I never had to ask for dishes to be cleared away or for more water to be poured, but they also did not rush or intrude. Each dish is presented and explained, which I found added a certain bit of elegance and interest. This was one of the best dinners out I have had. It was pricey, but worth the money if you are a foodie looking for something unique, fun, and delicious.

The sister restaurant to Castagna, but nobody's little sister. Cafe Castange stands on it's own and gave us one of our favorite meals in Portland.

I can't say there was anything about this experience that was worth remembering or writing about. I feel like I understand what they were trying to do; however, I think they completely missed the mark on execution. We were both hoping after each dish it would get better; sadly it didn't. Bland, odd flavors, weird textures...

Not the least expensive, for sure, but if you really want the best ingredients, the best presentation, and the most interesting mixes of flavors, the tasting menu at Castagna is really the best dining experience Portland has to offer. The atmosphere is nicely spare and unobtrusive, the service alert and informative, and the wine pairings are not just appropriate but sometimes thrilling.

James Beard nominating committee: If you do not give Justin Woodward the 2016 award it would be a crime. We have had many meals at Castagna and overtime is a new and exciting gustatory adventure. My palette leaves with a big smile. It is one of the finest restaurants in Portland, and is definitely a destination for all gourmands. My highlights for the Valentines meal: Beet chip tartar Kohlrabi with dill and sauce Red pepper leather roll up with goat cheese Stuffed sun choke with Oregon truffle Dungeness crab with pomegranate pomelo and goat milk butter The staff are excellent and very knowledgable about preparation and sourcing of their food. The wine pairings are always in harmony w/ the courses. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Vibe/atmosphere: 20/20 - cool/chic and comfortable Staff: 20/20 - perfect Value: 20/20 - get ready to spend some dough, but worth every penny( by which I mean every $100) Food: 40/40 Total: 100/100 - perfect!

It might be helpful to note that there is a Castagna Cafe and the Castagna restaurant, the latter being a high-end restaurant with fixed price menus. Both are in the same building, with different entrances. I noticed one of the reviews mentioned hamburgers so it obviously referred to the Cafe. We ate at the up-scale, fine dining part of Castagna and chose the 10-course "summer menu" for $95 per person plus the wine pairing for an additional $55. They also offer a "chef's tasting menu" for $155 and a $75 wine pairing. First of all, I want to compliment the chef on creating such delicious, creative dishes which were beautifully presented. He is obviously very talented. However, both my husband and I felt that the portions were much too small. You could have fit all 10 "courses" on one dinner plate and still have plenty of room left over! Now, let me explain that we are perfectly familiar with the concept of a fixed-price tasting menu. We have enjoyed such meals all over the world, including at Michelin 1-, 2-, and 3-star restaurants. But this is the first time we've felt that the dishes were minuscule. Most were amuse bouche size, except for the duck which was slightly, but only slightly, larger. While the flavors were incredibly yummy, most dishes consisted of only one bite, and we craved one ot two more mouthfuls of those delectable morsels. The only thing that kept us from leaving hungry was the delicious rolls. Also, the meal took 3 hours -- too long! We would have loved a meal with, say, 3 or 4 of those marvelous dishes....but in larger portions! That would have been fantastic. Service was excellent.

This was our sixth meal here over the past two years. The place has cycled through different chefs and visions of cuisine, and we are happy to find the current iteration is a winner based on this meal. Excellent Pacific Northwest inflected nouveau-bistro dishes, deftly executed, with top quality ingredients. Appropriate portion sizes, at a fair tariff, although the wine is aggressively priced (the one price wine list experiment is ancient history). Excellent creative cocktails. Attentive, but not cloying service. Will return soon. Recommended.

Great food in ambience in this small, sleek restaurant. Romantic with excellent wait staff.

This place has such a huge following and is surrounded by hype in Portland. We are foodies and our daughter (an even bigger foodie) who lives in Portland insisted we go here for dinner. As my husband and I own restaurants in the SF Bay Area, we were excited to try something new. We always order way more than necessary using the opportunity to taste many items for fun. I must say that I did not really enjoy a single item on this menu. We were crowded into a corner and it was very cold and noisy. The ambiance is beautiful (expensive) and the bar was hopping but it was impossible to get a seat and almost impossible to make it to the bathroom the crowds were so squished in and the wait was long. I must say that our server was exceptional and also nothing was bad at all...it was well cooked and also fresh but the flavors were just either boring or not tasty. They don't look like they are having a problem so I am sure they will do well....but for this palate I will skip Castagna and will not recommend it to others in the future.

Great food, good service, elegant dining experience where you felt comfortable lingering over your meal. Unique menu offerings. Gracious owner removed large floral arrangement from dining area because it contained flowers that bothered allergies.

In a city of innumerable excellent dining choices Castagna is in a class by itself. We worked our way again through the chef's menu which, including 8 amuse bouches not even listed on the menu, numbered 21 courses in all. There was not a single dud and each was original highlighting unexpected flavor combinations or riffing off classics. It is certainly expensive yet worth every penny. Our foursome dined for 4-1/2 hours; obviously they could not, like most restaurants, turn that table during the evening. Further, Castagna passes another benchmark of mine. While I love to cook, and own a sous vide, these are NOT dishes I will dream of making at home. These are dishes I can experience no where else. We will be back!

Just took my adult children and two grandchildren to dinner at Cafe Castagna and it worked for all of us. Delicious food for the adults with the best hamburger or gourmet margarita pizza for our grandchildren. Not only did they clean their plates but they had a hard time keeping the adults away from their fries which were deliciously well cooked! The desserts were equally appetizing. We were thrilled with everything and it made a special evening even more special.

The Chefs tasting menu with wine pairing is the only way to go here. The wine coordinator Brent is supremely knowledgeable and a pleasant sort of fellow to boot; and nearly every wine pairing was spot on; except the final desert wine which for me was way to deep and sweet. As to the food, well the portions are appropriate and the quantity of courses is sufficient and well paced so that you when you leave- about 3 hours later- you are very satisfied, and glad for the experience. Be prepared to pay up but the culinary talent is worth every dollar. Personally, I was dazzled by the glazed morels-the high point of this dining experience, but then dropped like ball from a second story window when the very next course arrived ( the squab was not to my liking) Now, that does not mean that it was not very good, it simply did not work on my pallet. I didn't much care for the squid, either. The snacks however were perfect, and the dark fruit plate was delicious.

Being a vegetarian our expectations are never very high of the multi course prix fix tasting menus. This however turned out to be a truly amazing experience. Of course the presentations of food was great what with it being a fine dining place, but the play of favors was very unique and we left having enjoyed one of the best meals in a restaurant in a long time. My new favorite restaurant in Portland.

Pork cheeks on creamy polenta -- to die for. The pork was ultra tender. Burgers also are delicious. Well season on a terrific bun. Friendly service. Good open-air vibe.

Four people had dinner at Café Castagna last night. The wait for simple burgers was more than 40 minutes, and when the food arrived, none of it matched our orders. The burgers were nothing special. My dining companions urged me to write this review so that other diners would be aware of the mediocrity of this place.

We ate in the Cafe with two other couples. The food was OK, especially since we went to socailize with the other couples. The service was very good, and the waitress was very helpful with serving the wine one of the other couples had brought. The final verdict, if you are in the neighborhood, and you need to eat, go to the Cafe. But, if want if you want to hear yourself or anyone else who is talking, go very very late in the night.

Staff has excellent knowledge of food and wine! Fresh creative flavourful food! Plus three dessert dishes!

A special evening out. We opted for the eight-course dinner menu ($98 per person) and wine pairing ($55 per person), and couldn't have been more pleased. The other option was a $155-per-person chef's tasting menu. High marks for service. Each course's presentation was beautiful, a few breathtaking. The dining room has a quiet sophistication, which allows you and your dinner companion to have a conversation. Some patrons were dressed up while others were more casually dressed, and everyone looked relaxed and comfortable. The meal featured brilliant flavors and creative combinations. Overall, Castagna offers a memorable fine dining experience in Portland. Don't miss it!

In the past when visiting the Café, we typically ordered their terrific hamburger and frites, or chicken sautéed in a pan. Having not been back for a couple of years, last night I am pleased to report that we had a meal that was extraordinary. As an appetizer the beef tartare was exceedingly well prepared and presented and delicious and my roasted half chicken brought me back to our days in Ohio where we typically had Amish chicken--smaller chickens, carefully raised and produced. While I am not claiming that we had Amish chicken last night, the smaller chicken was very tender, carefully prepared with a very crispy skin, and in a delightful sauce. However, my wife who is no stranger to good meals, claimed that her albacore tuna in a gazpacho was one of the best meals she has ever had..(if not the best).and she is not known for superlatives when it comes to her reviews of her meals. The menu is somewhat limited in choices but it is easy to check it out online to determine if they have a dish that you can anticipate eating. We had single glasses of white wine which were superb,and nicely supportive of our meals, and the attention of the servers was ever-present but not obtrusive. When asked about our meal and wine, and we indicated our positive feelings, it was quite evident that they were very pleased, and it was not an ungenuine response. They were very warm hosts. This is a café and not a traditional restaurant, which by the way they have next door, and as such there are a number of smaller tables and the lack of carpets, etc, makes for what in a traditional restaurant woulde be a noisy atmosphere. But it goes well in a café.

This restaurant should have a Michelin star and the chef should've been awarded a JB. The setting is nice, staff is knowledgeable and make you dinning experience smooth sailing. The food was amazing. I have eaten one of the beast pieces of trout in my life here. The. Sommelier is very good and knows the history and parcels of the wine he's serving. I would recommend.

Living nearby I went here on almost a monthly basis for a few years. I enjoyed most of the menu and a wonderful cocktail and wine list. I was especially fond of the Steak Frites! I have been twice in the last few months and both times left feeling a bit let down. First, quite a while ago they went to no tipping. This meant they were adding a more than average tip to your bill. At first I was pretty offended but decided hey, if they want to limit themselves that's fine - I usually left a 30+ percent tip, now I go with what's on the bill. Second, they got a new bar tender - a young gal that's not very friendly and thinks pretty highly of herself but when asked what her specialty is she draws a blank, so stick to wine or a vodka and cranberry. Lastly, my beloved steak frites... It was once a dish I craved, but the last two times I was there the steak was tasteless and like chewing shoe leather. After the first time I just figured they were having a bad night, after the second time I decided to make the schlep across town to St Jack for my Steak Frite fix.

After moving to Portland from Chicago I have been missing true fine dining experiences. This was that experience. Top notch in every way. We chose the $95 dinner menu (9 courses?) and EVERY dish was outstanding. The creativity and flavors never overshadowed the main ingredient. Unique herbs sometimes as small as one small leaf were so filled with impact. Good solid wine list and very knowledgable and friendly staff. Thank you Castagna. Delightful!

We thoroughly enjoyed dining at Castagna Cafe. It's a combination of Northwest and Mediterranean. We liked the idea that the menu was a combination of the reliable called "classics" such as the hamburger with fries, baked penne, and mozzarella pizza. However, the menu highlighting "to start" items and share plates looked (and supposedly taste) inventive that we opted for the "Let the chef decide" option: dinner for the table at $35 or $45 per person - a good price. While we hesitant to dine at restaurants that have a prix-fixe menu with no substitutions, the waiter said the chef can accommodate any tastes or sensitivities...and I have quite a few. The selections were excellent. A loose recount: 1) flatbread and trio of dips (chicken live mousse, harissa and green chickpea); 2) charred beet soup with crème fraiche: 3) asparagus, goat feta, tarragon, and preserved lemon - the best we had during our recent trip; 4) cobia fish with snap peas...Note: --I thought we were getting steelhead trout so next time, I will inquire about the sustainability of the fish served- in this case I believe the cobia was local; 5) crispy chicken thighs with aioli, urfa, za'atar; 6) sautéed spinach, freekeh, tahini, green garlic, pistachio...along with some picked vegetables and other delights. Dessert was simple but phenomenal: vanilla ice cream with chocolate/walnut crumble with crushed mint leaves. The meal was enjoyed with a bottle of Crowley Chardonnay. All the dishes were well apportioned and the taste was really balanced. Excellent, friendly service.

We tried the tasting menu which was absolutely delicious, and very reasonably priced. The cooking is imaginative and the service is sound. Very good wine list. Not sure if the restaurant has a Michelin Star but if not it is certainly heading in that direction.

After traveling through Europe in previous trips, we were amazed to find this intimate restaurant off the beaten track in a small area not far from downtown Portland. The menu was set and we went with the wine pairing as well, we were not disappointed, from the 5 'snacks' at the start, which were made with such intense detail, to the delicious dessert.....we were blown away by the intensity of flavours and the beautiful presentation of each course. Great price and the service very good.

We ate her last Friday night and were completely blown away with the Autumn menu. There were 4 of us and we all had the "regular" menu. The service was absolutely top notch and the food was delicious. This same meal in any other city would easily be twice the price. We all opted for the wagu beef option (replacing the pork which was on the menu) and I can safely say it was far better that the "tasting" wagu I had at Spago's on Maui. Of course, this is not your regular dinner, but for a special night out with great, innovative food and magnificent service, this is the only place to go in Portland.

Loved, loved this place. Prix Fixe menu that changes due to what is available. One will not be disappointed w/the variety of dishes, service and ambiance of this restaurant. Would have had dinner there again if we had been staying another night.

One of my main reasons for traveling is Gastronomy .... and this Restaurant defines that word. They offer two tasting menus both available with wine pairing ... if you wish to order wine on your own, the selection feels very curated featuring small producers. The service is very well timed and the staff are engaging and knowledgeable and just a delight. The food feel crafted and the flavors unique and harmonious .... truly spectacular ... I'm not a fan of Sous Vide cooking and I think this is the first time I have truly enjoyed something prepared in Sous Vide (the short rib). I feel I can't recommend anything since my impression is that menus and wine lists fluctuate to mirror each other. It truly was a DINING EXPERIENCE .... it's pricey but worth the cost !

Enjoyed the tasting menu with paired wines and it was wonderful. Very interesting items and the staff explained each dish carefully. Paired wines were very good and complimented the food well. However the wine to food ratio was heavy on the wine side and didn't feel safe to drive after the dinner was over.

The formal dining room has two tasting menus: the summer menu and the chef’s menu. We choose the summer menu. The dishes were visual works of art and beautifully presented. The dishes tasted wonderful. Spare and minimalistic, the dishes were between one and four bites. For the shrimp, cucumber, salmon, and corn starters we accompanied them with a glass of Champagne. With the albacore, we had the recommended Riesling. The pairings were near perfect and clearly added an element to elevate the dishes. For the maitake mushroom and pork dishes, we opted to have the bottle of Pinot Noir that we brought. The mushroom dish was exceptional. The meal was finished with ‘pre-dessert’ iced melon over raspberry ‘sorbet’ and a remarkable light scoop of creamy iced goat’s milk. Sometime during the meal, excellent hot buns and butter were brought out; which stood out on their own, but also appeared to be a concession that the rest of the meal was a tad on the light side. Pacing was well-timed and service was appropriate. The meal took about three hours. We understand the longer chef’s menu includes a number of amuse bouches, to which we will try on our return.

This was a great place for a special birthday. Your choices include the fixed menu at $65 and a wine pairing for $35 or you can do the tasting menu at $110. The food in incredible with service to match. Plan on a long slow dinner with time to talk in between the plates. The menu changes monthly and the fixed offers two dishes for each of the main courses. We ordered one of each and split each dish when it came to give us more options. Service starts with a series of "snacks" which are bite-sized amuse bouche and I think we had four. There is a bread which is a very crusty sphere (watch, it is hot from the oven) which almost looked deep fried. Then the main courses - each a treat. None of the dishes are large, but eaten slowly over time you will not be hungry or overstuffed. This is truly fine dining. GET A RESERVATION if you are going on a weekend.

We popped in here early, 5:00 on a Thursday so it wasn't crowded or noisy yet. Wait staff was amazing! Before we paid the bill the place was filling up. I love that they automatically add 20% to the bill for tip, they are very up front about that fact as their mission is to have a living wage for their employees. And I don't have to figure it out myself. lol We are usually generous tippers so it makes me cringe to hear stingy people complain about this, you try to be a waiter. =) Anyway, the staff here is def worth that and more. We comment on this place every time we drive by, and finally stopped in for happy hour burgers and fries before seeing a movie at the Bagdad. Bread with sea salt and butter was wonderful. Burgers came cooked just as ordered and taste like a little slice of heaven on a soft brioche bun. The fries come separate and are my absolute favorite kind, fresh hand cut, so they're a little darker looking than the pale, soaked, frozen kind. They're not thick and had nothing on them but sea salt. Wonderful! I had a G & T and was buzzed halfway thru, what? It didn't taste that strong, so good ;-) My husband was very impressed with his lager since he's quite picky about beer. The desserts looked amazing but we were so full we had to pass. Can't wait to come back here, maybe splurge and try the full restaurant on the other side. Or the all day happy hour on Sundays, which has a little more variety to the H.H. menu than the other times. Street parking.

Not knowing that the restaurant is a fixed menu at $65.00, we were very surprised when we arrived on Thanksgiving weekend with 3 children ages 8, 11, and 14. No adjustment for the kids! The food was very unusual, interesting and tasty for the adults. Very small portions, but there were intermezzos too. I would recommend it for a special event such as anniversary, birthday etc.

Nice curb appeal, and more casual interior. Concrete floors made me think we would freeze, but it was the perfect temperature inside on a cool wet evening. We made a reservation for 6:30, and found out the crab dish was already sold out. One of our guests had wanted to order that, so it was disappointing. I am allergic to shellfish, so was a bit challenged with the menu. My husband had the pizza and gobbled it up! The steak one guest had was 'ok' he said. I settled for a hamburger (I'm not a beef person), and was pleasantly surprised it was well worth breaking my no red meat rule. The bun was tasty, and the burger cooked to perfection. I subbed a green butter lettuce salad instead of fries, and the waiter was very kind about that. The salad was plentiful and fantastic! Wine list was average-I'm not a French wine fan, so had a Crowley Oregon Chardonnay. Overall we had a nice evening. The restaurant automatically adds 20% for tip, as they want to 'pay a living wage.' If we had been served poor quality food, or poor service, I'm not a fan. Wasn't a problem though.

I realize that the Portland "vibe" is laid-back, but when I'm paying $230 USD for a chef's tasting menu and premium wine pairings, I would hope that the chef and wine steward would focus on refined tastes, rather than on just organic and/or local ingredients. Don't get me wrong, I like local flavors and organic ingredients; but the flavor profiles of the dishes was inconsistent, and some of the organic French and Oregon wines were rather flat. Overall, the dining experience was quite good, but just not at the food or service level of nearly $300 per person, including cocktails and gratuity.

We heard Castagna was excellent, but our dinner exceeded our high expectations. There are two tasting menus: chefs $165 and dinner $100. Dinner for two, corkage fee $35, a $44 half bottle, and assigned 20% tip was about $370. There is a nice and reasonably priced European focused wine list, While each course is relatively small as usual for a tasting menu, we had the Dinner tasting menu and we were easily satiated. More importantly, every serving was artistic, flavorful with fresh ingredients and superbly prepared by Chef Justin Woodward. The service was excellent headed by the wine coordinator Brent Braun. We constantly said "Wow". The ambience is tastefully casual. We will return and highly recommend, and we will return.

Went with my son for a birthday dinner. We had the 10 course dinner and my son also had the wine course pairings. Courses are small with unique flavors and arrangements. A diner has just two choices for dining, a ten course chef's choice or a fifteen course choice. Each dish is presented in a decorative format that is as tasty to look at as it is to eat Expect to spend three hours here at minimum due to the number of courses. Many of the dishes and combinations are unique and unusual. Service was great with a explanation that comes with each course. I would not come here if you are super hungry and not patient as it takes a while to move through the meal. This is a foodie paradise.

Had dinner here on Friday night. We weren't exactly overwelmed with the food but the atmosphere was airy and uncrowded. We had several of the vegetable smallplates. The grilled eggplant was extremly flavorful and my husband's salad nicoise was unique with a cream based dressing. I had the albacore tuna which was just slightly too raw and not the most pristine piece of fish but the mediterranean flavors were delicious. The plating is extremly rustic and haphazard. The small plates are, too me, a bit over priced considering how little work goes into the dishes.

This could have been a five-star rating, had we not had a rather unpleasant experience with the chef at Cafe Castagna. Four of us came here for Portland Dining Month. There was a set menu offered for this event, but the restaurant was also serving its regular menu. The set "Dining Month" menu's main course was trout, which I really dislike. Everyone else at my table wanted the special Dining Month menu. Well, it turned out the chef would not serve the three of them the special menu unless I had it, too! It was "everyone or no one." So, I ordered the special menu and couldn't eat my main course! An unfriendly policy, because the chef would have made three of the "Dining Month" dinners if the party had only been the other three people (without me). When we ordered, we explained the situation to the waiter, who explained it to the chef, and the chef STILL insisted that the only two choices were that all four of us have the "Dining Month"menu, or else none of them could have it! This did not seem like good customer service. It created a very awkward situation for me and for my friends. Too bad, as the rest of the dinner was great, and the waiters were very attentive and efficient.

My husband and I had the tasting menu dinner here in July. The restaurant is pleasant and the service attentive. We had the meal of 10 courses + 4 extras. Of the 14 courses 3 of them were quite good -- the duck chips (it was like several potato chips with a duck flavor), the roasted fava beans, and the wheat flavored ice cream. The other 10 courses were either bland or had tastes I didn't care for, e.g., a hunk of smoked pork. Each course is presented with the waiter giving numerous details and pouring sauces, etc. on the food. Who cares that a course looks like a rock if it doesn't taste good? Licorice crumble maybe is a new idea but again, it's not tasty. At first it was fun getting the different course, after a while one just counted down until the dinner was over. Portland has wonderful restaurants, there's no reason to eat here.

I am sorry that I am not able to provide a great deal of details on what I had as I had my meal months ago. I should have written the review then. It was one of the best meals I had in Portland, so I felt the need to write a review even that late. We went for the tasting menu and wine pairing. I could not count how many courses we had because we had a lot - all the extra snacks and extra in between dishes. However, what impressed us was not the quantity, but the quality and creativity. It was a long (hours) night full of wonderful surprises course after course. While I am into simple cuisine, I am not often impressed by molecular gastronomy. At Castagna, the chef really gets it. Molecular gastronomy is used the right way to create taste, look and structure to impress and surprise you - not as a gimmick for the sake of it. Wine pairing was well done, showing a lot of understanding on the wine as well as the food. Very generous pour. Besides amazing food and wine, the restaurant was beautifully decorated in a minimalistic way without being too cold. Service was also top notch from our server. Not a cheap meal, but money well spent!

Micro portions of odd combinations of flavors a godsend. Should have left after the mediocre $10 cocktail, followed by an expensive prix fixe menu of almost inedible "snacks", overly creative and weird entries, pretty yet lackluster desserts. Having been to castagne several years ago and loving it, was sorely disappointed on this visit.

There was four in our party and we all did the Prix Fixe dinner and one added the wine parings. Every dish was plated uniquely and very pleasing to the eye. Not a meat and potatoes kind of place. My favorites were the snacks. Plan for a LONG slow dinner. We were there 4+ hours. Great service.

Two tasting menus available- we went with the 12 courses, which was actually 20 given that there were about 5 "snacks" (bite sized items) that came out in rapid succession once we ordered. We actually liked that-- we were hungry and this got us to the point where we weren't starving and the rest of the meal was very reasonably paced (took us a little over two hours to eat there- table of 2). Our waitress said it usually takes 2-3 hours-- the quickest she's seen was 1.5 hours. The wine list is on the pricer side. They are good bottles but we brought our own and paid the $35 corkage fee (high as well). The cocktail and champagne we started with were delicious, as was the sauterne we had with dessert. Food was excellent. Loved the trout course, the steak and OMG- the bread course was absolutely amazing. It came with 3 options of spreads: miso & brie, a lardo spread, and a solid brown butter. I absolutely can't decide between those, they were all amazing. It wasn't a cheap meal but the service was great, we loved the flavor combinations and enjoyed all courses (there wasn't one we would skip). Personally, I'd like to avoid multiple dessert courses, but they are all reasonably sized as compared to the dinner courses, that it works here.

Visited in June for Brunch - overall not bad - food was pretty good - well seasoned and fresh. The lamb ham was amazing - so make sure you try that. But I'm not sure if I would return - I was a little disappointed with the menu - I was expecting more - and I felt like the portion sizes for the price didn't match up. I heard the main restaurant is suppose to be really good - so I would give them another chance and try that - but I'm not sure if I would try the cafe again.

Went to Cafe Castagna over the holiday break. Really charming spot with very attentive and kind waitstaff. Oysters were excellent quality. Roast Chicken over mashed potatoes was heavenly as was the Lamb. Food came out quick but we certainly didn't feel rushed. Would absolutely return.

I was expecting Castagna to be a wonderful "northwest' restaurant and was completely blown away. Castagna was rated the top restaurant in Portland in 2010 by The Oregonian and the accolades are well deserved. What really sets it apart is the molecular gastronomy that was a part of each course. I was surprised and delighted throughout the evening, with each course offering up a little surprise. The service and ambience were wonderful too.

They changed management and/or chefs and the restaurant we have been coming to for years seems to be gone. The menu is more eclectic rather than the neighborhood café we always loved. The portions especially for appetizers are much smaller and kind of spendy....$7 for a few pickled vegetables? Really? They used to have a fresh fish that was always amazing and the half chicken which was probably some of the best roast chicken in town has been reduced to what looks like an appetizer. Granted the half chicken was usually included with a to go box but what they are serving now seemed like an appetizer or an alacarte dish and again either the same money or more. They kept the signature butter lettuce salad but the dressing recipe didn't seem to be the same. It is a shame but there are so many great restaurants in Portland not sure we will rush back to what used to be our beloved Cafa Castagna.

We came here with friends expecting it to be great based in its reviews and reputation... And we will NEVER go back! We waited for nearly 2 hours for cheeseburgers and a bowl of soup on a Tuesday night!! Yes, there were other patrons dining but let's be real - it wasn't that busy!! The service was terrible - with parties of 6 or more they add an automatic 20% gratuity so they waiter didn't even care to try to provide good service. We asked for split checks in the beginning and the waiter said nothing in regards to that but at the end of our dinner he just set the bill on the table with a menu and said they don't do split checks so we can figure it out ourselves!! The "manager" was too busy at the bar having a drink with her dinner to actually do her job and when approached with our complaints she said she didn't really care! And finally, poor service may be tolerable if food is really worth it but it wasn't at all!! Very average. Nothing special to make any of us to want to come back to give this place another chance! Steer clear of this place... There are soooo many far better restaurants in Portland!

This was the best dinner experience we had in Portland. For once, the ambience matched the quality of the food. The food was seasonal, beautifully presented and excellently prepared. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, pricey, but worth it!

google mentioned that this restaurant serves one of the best foods in the area. i am not too sure about that. i found the menu a let down, the dishes were not that special, quite ordinary but the wine list as advertised was impressive. service was good but stilted, would be good to be a little more casual?

I read about Castagna, and when I saw the price, the price fixed menu, the lack of non-meat options, I opted to reserve at Cafe Castagna instead. Upon arriving, we had a feeling it was not for us, even though the hostess immediately showed us to our reserved table. The table next to us had six screaming women enjoying a good time, so we could barely hear each other. The menu had several appetizers and salads appropriate to a non-meat eater; the server confirmed with the cook that the halibut entree could be made without shellfish (we don't eat that either); there were three pizza/pasta dishes we could have; and there were a few salads that seemed fine. Still, nothing grabbed our fancy, little seemed like something we would really want to eat. We ordered cocktails and marinated olives, as we had the previous night at another place, Noble Rot. This time, both paled in comparison. We ordered a smoked trout tartine. We could not detect smoke or trout, only a soft creamy substance smothered on cucumber and tomato. So disappointing. So we decided to end it there, paid our bill, and left. We wound up walking to another neighborhood close by with lots of restaurants, and had a fun and lovely meal.

I wouldn't have thought that I'd choose a burger here but honestly, there were so many things on the menu that I could not decipher so I went with the obvious. By the way, having a menu comprised of items I've never heard of, let alone have no idea how to pronounce, is such a turn-off. We had to ask our server what she would recommend as a good appetizer to share, because other than a couple of obvious items like olives or bread with 3 dips, we had no idea what anything else was! The burger was delicious...so savory. I added bacon and blue cheese to mine. The bun was toasty and chewy and the meat was perfect cooked to medium. My friend went with the mozzarella pizza and a Caesar salad. She said they were ok. Cocktails were interesting and good. Service felt a little hyper. The second I could have been done with my drink, it was whisked away. I'm actually someone who likes to keep sipping the melted ice for a few minutes. But, they were very friendly and helpful. I'd definitely return for another burger sometime.

Really, really, nice restaurant in a wonderful neighborhood of Portland. Every dish we ordered was incredible. Be sure to try the charred beets and the lamb kabobs as well as any of the appetizers or other entries - you just can't go wrong here. Enjoy the outdoor patio if the weather permits.

Creativity inspires this changing menu. Presentation is both stunning and unusual. As an accomplished cook, I enjoy Castagna because they not only surprise me, but I am often at a loss at to how they achieved such ethereal tastes. I would say this is the best fine dining in Portland.

We chose to have our final dinner of a child-free weekend at Castagna. It was a truly memorable experience with exceptional, unique dishes, well-paired wines, and highly attentive service. Would highly recommend it for a local taste experience!

Dinner was delicious, and our server Kayla was wonderful. The portions were perfectly sized (hate having left overs when we are staying in a hotel!) . Eating outdoors is an option, but we decided to dine in, as there was wonderful R&B music playing in the background ... not too loud, very easy to converse as we ate. Would recommend this one located on Hawthorne Blvd. and will certainly go again!

The chef's menu was ~25 plates, 2-3 bites each for $155 per person. Every plate was artful, balanced, interesting and emotional. Even though we are experienced fine diners, we experienced many new ingredients (e.g., oyster leaf, green almond) that accented and lifted every dish to art status. Easily the best antelope heart and culotte I've ever had:) The foie gras, plum and apple toast was incredibly evocative and touching. It's hard to put >20 plates out, each of which is a winner. Castagna managed this rare feat. The staff was unpretentious, knowledgeable, and warm. Having experienced many amazing meals across the US, Castagna easily ranks better than most Michelin 2 star places. Dinner for 2 with 3 drinks each and tip was less than $500. This is an incredible deal for 4 hours of non-stop gastro art and heart. Thank you Castagna.

My husband and I celebrated my birthday at Castagna at end of August. I picked this place because I had a very good experience here with a friend a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, we were not very impressed this time. Most dishes were a bit dull and not very memorable. The worst part was the beef was so chewy that almost not edible for both of us. We raised the issue but the staff only said "sorry, we'll let kitchen know." For a $400 dinner, we don't feel this is an acceptable response. Portland has so many other fine dining places that offer more interesting dishes with better quality and warmer service, AND often at a cheaper price. I don't think we'll ever visit Castagna again.

Dinner was fabulous with one tasty, beautiful course after another. The whole evening was an experience. Come here for a special celebration. Nothing bad to say at all. Yes, spendy, but you're celebrating.

The food is innovative but the slow delivery took some of the luster off the experience. My wife's pizza appeared that it had spent about 30 minutes in a warmer. Also her Caesar salad was simply pieces of romaine cut across the leaf with a few croutons and dairy based dressing. Not worth the $12. I enjoyed a 3 course dinner with an excellent butter lettuce salad, a main course of Hungarian pork goulash with some sauerkraut, creamy mashed potatoes and sour cream. Not very spicy but delicious. Noisy and not much atmosphere but good for a pleasant, casual dinner.

Castagna was amazing! I just had the opportunity to dine at French Laundry in Napa and Castagna was so much better. We had the larger of the prix fixe menus and no course was a disappointment. The ingredients were fresh and used in creative ways. I hope to go back the next time I visit Portland. This meal was probably the 3rd best I've ever had right after El Bulli and Alinea.

My wife and I were visiting Willamette Valley but we stayed in Portland. One of the vineyards suggested Castagna and we were very pleasantly surprised! We noticed that there were a few negative reviews and were a bit concerned but tried it anyway. The food and pairings were extremely quirky and unusual but in a very good way. This was the perfect place for an adventurous palate and we had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for great high-end yet adventurous restaurant in the Portland area.

We did review this after eating there. Not sure why we were being asked again. We remember enjoying our dinner and would return.

We had an amazing dinner last night. The food is creative, beautiful and delicious. Service was top notch. Good energy!

This place is very expensive. But it is the only restaurant I've been to that seemed worth an incredible splurge. I've been there twice, once for the desert flight and once for the chef's tasting menu. They are incredibly generous and there is just a sense of luxury and plenty. The food is incredible and you get so many extras, it made me laugh. Everything was beautiful and it was a sense of never-ending options, but the portions are small enough that it didn't make me feel ill. The desert flight is "only" $30, and I can see doing that every year or so, as a special treat. The tasting men was $125. Totally worth it, but on a teacher's salary, that won't happen often. I really thought it was the best meal I've had in a restaurant. Really marvelous!

I celebrated a birthday here last week and enjoyed all aspects of the dinner. The cuisine is a mix of molecular (dehydrated, jelled, etc.) and local and seasonal (lots of ramps!). The kitchen nicely accommodated the vegetarian in our group and the wine list is reasonable and interesting. I'd go back--except: I got food poisoning, probably from the fish since that was the only thing I ate that my table mates did not. I called the restaurant the next day and left a message to let them know. Now it has been six days and I have not received a return call. I recovered rapidly after my 2:30 a.m. vomiting but I think the episode should be acknowledged. Would I go back? I don't know--

Our visit was the highlight of any restaurant meal anywhere in the world (that is, after Le Gourmand in Seattle closed). Locally sourced, seasonal, artfully presented, creative, and innovative, the meal was superb.

We did the Chefs menu, must have been 12 plus courses with snacks to begin with. We lost track of all that we had but it was all perfectly presented and the flavors were great. There were a few thing we liked better than others but all was good. They paired the wines beautifully and were not shy about topping off your glass. The Goeduck was exceptional as well as the Foie course.

One of the finest fine dining restaurants in the Portland market. The food is creative and inventive. A well composed menu with some of the most delightful surprises of our dining year. If you are in the mood for a wonderful journey in food this is the place for you.

Unimpressed with their small portions, mediocre flavors, and lukewarm service. With so many other options for truly magnificent food / service / atmosphere in PDX, one can easily find better options to drop $250 for a dinner for two.

We had an excellent dinner here with a party of 7. The staff were courteous and helpful with wine and dinner selections. We ordered a wide variety of dishes all of which were fantastic. Having dined at Castagna , the sister restaurant, and found it to be our top choice in PDX, we were happy to discover the same exceptional food and service at the cafe.

My wife and I chose the "Dinner" menu which included eight to ten small plates with wine pairings. Each course was three to four bites that went from smoked infused mushrooms, trout, wagu beef, three vegetable plates with various emulsions and two desert plates. The entire experience was two hours long. We left with smiles on our faces and very satisfied. This is a place for special occasions as it comes with a price, however, the experience is worth half the cost itself. The attention to detail was superb, the service was the best we've ever experienced. I highly recommend Castagna.

We went there as a party of five and had a terrific experience. The staff was great and eager to please. The food was prepared flawlessly and looked (almost) too pretty to eat. The interior of the restaurant is increasingly interesting as you look around at the simple features like the insets of the walls and the art. This is just a very, very good restaurant.

One must simply visit to believe the sights, sounds and smells. The entire tasting is an extravagant experience best reserved for special occasions and solitary celebrations.

Limited menu. Bread was stale! Food quality was only fair. I would rate the food quality to microwaved sandwiches at Starbucks at six times the price. The service was poor to nonexistent. The wine recommendation was good. I would not rate Castagna in the top 1,000 restaurants in Portland, let alone in the top 100 restaurants in Portland. Overall, two thumbs DOWN.

New friends chose this restaurant and we all learned it was a degustation menu of either 7 or 11 courses with the option of paired wines for each course only on arrival. As we didn't know the portion sizes, we chose the 7-course menu and opted for a single glass of wine each, because we thought 7 different wines would be too much. (The significant extra charge was also a factor.) Each course was tiny to small, but exquisitely conceived, executed and delicious. When a course was brought to the table, the waitperson described the dish in detail. This frequently took longer than the actual consumption and bordered on an annoying interruption to our conversation. However, that's probably just us. We all felt pleasantly sated despite the smallish serves and would recommend this for a special romantic date.

A bit on the pricey side, you soon know why. Food is fresh and unique. House smoked salmon appetizer and celery root soup were fantastic. Service was attentive.

We went to Castagna at the request of a family member who wanted to try it. Their ten course dinner consists of a series of odd, small dishes, which appeared to me to be designed more to showcase the chef's interest in preparing them, than their interest in pleasing customers. Interesting food, but not worth what they charge. Don't plan to go back.

Portland has some of the best restaurants in there world. Hadn't been to one of our great standards, Cafe Castagna, in years and I regret that. This is a FABULOUS restaurant with an incredible staff. We sat outside and had a great corn soup, paté, and I had lamb, which was succulent. My wife had the steak frites, which she loved. We splurged on a delicious blueberry crisp. Wine list is excellent. We went by the glass, and the waitress' recommendations were superb. I won't wait this long again to go back. Truly great.

Since it opened several years ago, Castagna has been among the finest restaurants in Portland. We have gone to both the restaurant and the cafe many times. Four of us had dinner in the restaurant recently, and each agreed that no restaurant in Portland is serving finer food. The service is excellent, the ambience elegant and quiet so you can actually converse, and generally the perfect place for an important dinner.

The food was good, not great, but we won't be going back because, in my 30+ years of eating out, I've never dined in such a depressing atmosphere. It was like a communal jail cell - blue-grayish walls, dark cement floor, no artwork (or at least minimal to the point that I didn't notice any), cold lighting. Ugh, just recalling it gives me the shivers.

We had our last meal in Portland at Café Castagna, and it was clearly a case of saving the best for last. We were a family group of eight people, including children, and everyone enjoyed their food. With that said, the atmosphere was great, and I think it would also be a great place for smaller groups or even dates. The lighting was soft, it wasn't too noisy, and service was excellent. The food is mainly small plates, great for sharing. Everything was good, and in particular I loved the gruyère penne pasta, as well as the grapefruit-mint-onion plate. Prices were reasonable. I'd happily return here the next time we visit Portland.

If you don't know about Castagne, you're slipping. One of the aboslute best spots in town and you would hardly even guess it. Fresh, well-prepared ingrediants, a simple seasonal menu. The best cheeseburger in town. Yes, I said it. Their portions used to be bigger but they were likely just throwing money away on the amazing french-fries. Come for late night, 9-10pm and sit at the bar,

Castagna offers only two menus - longer and shorter versions of chef's tasting menus. The selections are inventive and unique. The service is prompt - unlike many multi-course tasting menus that can be a slog. Truly a special experience.

Visited recently for the 4 course chefs tasting menu and it was a meal to remember! Started with a series of 'snacks' - each of which was so delicious I can't even pick a favorite. The layers of flavor were so incredible it was like a party in my mouth every time. The flavorfest continued through appetizer main and dessert, each of which was served in a unique and beautiful way. We added wine pairings for $35 but I wasn't as impressed with that aspect - might just be a personal thing. The service was impeccable, the ambiance was intimate but casual. In a city full of amazing food, this is a MUST visit.

My wife and I have been here many times for dinner, so for a change we tried the Happy Hour. We were not disappointed. The service was warm and attentive, just as we'd experienced later in the evening when we'd have spent more. The menu was fairly limited, but excellent. The burger is especially good, as are the fired risotto balls and the pork shoulder. We also had the cheese plate, which again was limited, but excellent, with one cow's and one goat's milk cheese. As you'd expect, there was a good selection of drinks, including a bartender's special. We each opted for the house wines, red and white. Somewhat to our surprise, the house white selection was much better than the red. Cocktails probably would have been a better choice after all. The quieter atmosphere made for a wonderful date. We could easily talk, but it wasn't so quiet that we felt as if everyone else in the restaurant was part of our conversation. It was also nice to have a little extra attention from the servers, who were not yet as busy as they'd be later that night. The best thing about the evening was Castagna quality food at much more affordable prices. On an evening when a full dinner is more than you want, but a nice date is still the goal, this is very good choice.

While on a long holiday weekend in Portland, we visited Castagna. We booked the reservation a couple weeks ahead of time through Open Table. Though we arrived about fifteen minutes early, our table was ready. The menu offers three course prix fixe with a only two options per course. They also offer a tasting menu that covers all the choices plus a few more. Castagna seems to be much in the spirit of ElBulli and their molecular gastronomy approach, most notably in their complimentary starters. We were offered five starters, four of which were served on little crackers, often of improbably materials, such as beet chips. There would be maybe a half dozen tiny materials of strong but complementary tastes and textures. The fifth starter was an emulsion of Walla Walla onions topped by an emulsion of green onions, topped by several tiny portions of green veggies. I opted for the wine pairings and was pretty happy with all the choices. I especially liked a Martinez Rioja that paired with my tiny pieces of ribeye and short ribs. We had one hitch when my wife’s “warm” salmon turned out to actually be raw. It just never registered that warm meant raw, or else we would have addressed it when ordering. However, when we called the waiter over, without us saying a word, he offered to cook the salmon, and within a few minutes he returned with a freshly-cooked meal (not reheating the one originally served). I have used the word “tiny” several times in this review, yet my wife and I were both satisfied after the meal. The service was very good. My only nit was that the servers sometime rattled off the components too quickly for them to register. But they were great about coming back and answering my questions. The room was full, but the noise level was fine. This may not be a place for everyone, but I was very happy with the meal.

We had dinner here yesterday w/ friends and we can't say enough good things about the restaurant and staff. Not only did all our senses delight in the parade of food from start to finish, we were also most impressed with how attentive the staff was in particular to our son's nut allergy. When he could not partake of a certain dish, they substituted another. They never made him feel like it was a nuisance. We have eaten in many top restaurants and Castagna stood out in this regard. When I unfortunately had to leave before I could finish my dinner to take care of our dogs back in the hotel, the staff promptly informed me they would adjust the pre-fixe bill to exclude what I could not partake of, and offered to whip something up from the cafe for me to take for dinner instead. Our families had an unforgettable experience and our tweens ( sounding very much like judges on Iron Chef ,and who were at all times treated equally with respect as the adults) are still talking about the amazing fusion of flavors they enjoyed. Overall, it is an experience worth repeating and next time, I will make sure the dogs stay home!

The food is all picture perfect and mostly very delicious. As others have pointed out the snacks are the best part of the meal. Not that the rest was bad but just a let down from the inventiveness and quality of the snacks. Place is nice, staff was very friendly. Would go again.

The first thing to mention is that the menu is limited. It’s not small by any means but the only choice is between two tasting menus, one a light multi course dinner, the other a more robust meal. This is an event as much as it is a meal. If you’re just looking for a meal there are twenty better places for you in walking distance. None, however, is close to as good. Our meal took just over three hours. We ordered the larger meal, the chef’s tasting menu. It started with “finger snacks”, about four of them. It’s hard to say when it switched to the other courses but that’s not really material though my review just I may mix up what is which. There was steak tartar, a poached oyster, a crab bruschetta, foie gras and more, each better than the last. The salad was a purée of beans and caramelized onions topped with herbs a veggies. It might have been my favorite dish. The bead plate was another excellent course. Moving into main courses saw squid, duck and short ribs among other things. This is where the restaurant dropped at stitch. While very good neither the duck not beef was as good as all that came before. I’m not saying they were not good only that they were not as good as what preceded. There were two excellent deserts, a sorbet and an ice cream. Neither was that simple in truth as both were complex and interesting. We had the wine pairing. Come prepared to drink and take a Lyft home. It’s certainly not too much wine but is is ample and it is eclectic. These are not wines you’re going to find in your local wine store. Each is well explained. It was equal to the meal. If you choose to come here, and I encourage you to, I doubt you’ll have the meal or wine pairing we had. In perhaps the best endorsement for this establishment my wife and I started planning our next visit before the meal was done, making a list of those we’d like to join us.

I came here for NYE dinner with my better half, and still remember the incredibly beautiful presentation of each of what seemed like 12 courses - the treats just kept coming, as did the perfectly-executed flavor combinations, mostly rooted in French cuisine. One of my faves in PDX, hands down.

I've been here several times over the years, and it never fails to delight. Although sometimes a bit high-brow and full of itself, the food and service are up there with the best in the city. They offer a tasting mention of 10 courses that is $95 and have other options on their menu. It's all excellent... and in a very quiet and agreeable atmosphere. Parking is usually easy on the street.

I'll admit right off the bat: I'm a total modernist cuisine skeptic. I prefer really simple but elegant food, prepared well. I like ingredient-centric cuisine where the food is fabulous but unfussy. We were looking for a really memorable dinner, however, and had heard really good things about this place. I'm willing to give anything a try. And I'm so glad I did. Is it fussy? Yes. Is it potentially overwrought? Yes. But it's also charming and surprising and even humorous. We chose the smaller of the tasting menus. Our meal started with "snacks," as the chef likes to call them. One was a buttermilk puff, reminiscent of those bright orange cheese puffs that come in cardboard cans, except it was white, tangy, and really fun to eat. There was also something small and wonderful that involved fennel pollen and a wild violet gel. I wish I could remember all the details of that meal. There was sous vide lamb collar that was a true feat. The wild ginger ice cream was subtly perfumed. Basically, every detail of the meal--the plates the food was served on, the presentation, the food itself, the interplay between flavor and texture--was spot-on. We oohed and ached at the food, sighed at it, laughed (in pleasure, not mockery), and were generally delighted. It's an experience that you will pay dearly for, but I highly recommend it. You may never have another similar dining experience in your life.

Castagna is still great food, ambiance and service; it's just not the same as it was. The menu still has the old "classics" (butter lettuce salad, hamburger) but it now has a middle Eastern focus that doesn't interest me nor does it make sense at a restaurant whose name means "chestnut" in Italian. Sorry to say that while my food was very good, it wasn't what I wanted at Castagna. I won't be going back.

We wanted a tasting menu for a special occasion, and after research on options in Portland, settled on Castagna. Since we didn't know the chef, we were torn between the seasonal tasting menu (shorter) and the longer (and more expensive) chef's tasting menu. A couple of the items on each menu weren't on the other and were tempting - the waiter offered to let us "tailor" the chef's menu by swapping out some courses - but in the end we elected the longer Chef's tasting menu without alteration because we didn't want to disturb the chef's planned meal progression and preferred to trust his plan. From the first bite, we knew we were in for a treat! Amazing bursts of flavor in every bite - lots of depth, complexity and creativity. We had course after course of absolutely wonderful food. MOST of the courses were completely amazing - only a couple were good vs. awesome. In the end we were very happy we chose the chef's menu vs. the seasonal menu as we wouldn't have wanted to miss anything!! The courses are nice and small, the pacing appropriate with no long waits between courses. A couple of courses had lovely sauces we wanted a spoon or bread to get every bite of - and when we asked staff was happy to oblige! Often desserts at a tasting menu can be a disappointment, but in this case one of the dessert courses was out of this world fantastic - one of the best bites of food we've ever had, anywhere! Lovely presentation and fantastic flavor throughout the meal. Service was good throughout the meal. Nice wine pairings with a nice size serving. A truly fantastic dining experience that we will not soon forget. Worth the cost. We do tasting menus at least a few times per year in different cities all over the place, and this was one of our favorite dining experiences ever.

Sit outside on a beautiful SE Portland summer eve. Enjoy pink bubbles and the house cocktail, Friday's child-tanqueray, aperol, grapefruit, rhubarb syrup. Divine. The butter lettuces never disappoint -hint of garden fresh tarragon, and the cauliflower soup - yes, add Dungeness crab. Yum. Angie is a peppy fun server who has been "family" with the owner Monique for years. She loves the restaurant, so ask for her. We have dined at Cafe Castagna for over 5 years. The cafe fell out of our favor when it went off its traditional menu. The old is back and looks great - oysters, olives, Ken's bread, steak tartare, duck liver pate, pizzas, the wonderful burger - w/ grilled Wallace walls onions and sherry and Aleppo, and so much more. Come in and enjoy. Be aware the special Castagna is next to the cafe and Chef Kevin oversees both. Kudos gang.

Inside this quiet, minimalistic room on Hawthorne, some of Oregon's most talented culinary minds bring a striking blend of creative ideas to their artfully tasteful treats that range across all manner of Northwest-centric ingredients presented at top-notch 3-star Michelin level. The food here is truly on the cutting edge of modern European/American fine dining, and the chef has received a correspondingly high number of accolades. When I was fortunate enough to dine here with my wife I had also, in the past couple months, dined at the best restaurants in Hong Kong and New York, including Eleven Madison Park, often reviewed the best restaurant in America. So my expectations were very high, and Castagna delivered. Every single delicious dish was a wonder of perfectly balanced and colorful proportions. I would argue Castagna in a class by itself in the Portland area. A memorable dinner for sure!

My kids and I wanted to try something new. We opted for Castangna Cafe on Hawthorne Blvd. There are 2 parts to this restaurant; the cafe and the dining room. The dining room offers prix fixe dinner at $75 per person. We went to the cafe side for tapas, or small plates to share. Every plate was deliciously prepared and presented, from the gruyere penne, to the wagyu steak. We also ordered beets as a small vegetable side, which was served with crunchy fried kale and an acidic white cream sauce. The portions are small, but we left feeling satisfied, due to the enhanced dining experience. The decor is contemporary and lean. Corkage is $20 per bottle. For reservations to the cafe book online as they don't accept them by phone. Will definitely go again.

We had heard good things about Castagna, so we stopped by after our tasting at East Side Distilling in East Portland. We decided to sit outside on a very pleasant early evening. Our server was professional and helpful. We ordered glasses of wine from what looks like a pretty decent menu. We split a salami pizza, the scallops and a salad. The food was delicious, the outside are was nice despite being on a main street. I very much enjoyed the meal. It was just as expected. I can see coming back at some point to try the regular restaurant part of Castagna

Six of us set down to one of the most memorable meals ever. We selected the large Chef's Tasting Menu for all of us. 20+ courses served over more than 3.5 hours. Each serving was a delight not only to the palate, but also the eyes. It is a once in a lifetime experience, Excellent service, with great explanation of each course. The servings are small, so one can actually enjoy each, without filling stuffed. Highly recommend that you make reservations well in advance.

Having arrived from the UK approx 3 hours earlier, we wondered whether we would stand up to dinner at what effectively was 4 in the morning. However the quality of the food in the restaurant, the relaxed and excellent service and the general positive spacious feel of the place made sure we did not fall in asleep in our 'soup'! We opted for the short menu rather than the tasting one but the numerous amazing 'snacks' at the start of the meal felt as if it was a degustation after all. The 'snacks' displayed some excellent cooking, with small plates packed with flavour and texture; a pea based cream plate was the highlight. Both the asparagus salad starter and halibut main were also excellent. Although this meal was at the end of a long plan trip and we ate at some decent venues in our 15 days on the west coast, my wife and I both thought this was probably the best overall dining experience of our stay.

We saved the best for last. Castanga was amazing. We braved the full chef's tasting menu and were rewarded. New Northwest cuisine and fully paired with wines is the way to go, and Castanga is where to do it. A must eat when in Portland

I've eaten in the cafe section of Castagna several times. The bread pudding served in winter months is very good. Comfortable bar with a wide selection and good service. The cafe area is small, very busy, often a wait to get in. Good food, a casual menu and environment compared to its adjoining flagship Castagna restaurant.

Dinner here, while expensive, is not to be missed if you are visiting Portland. The preselected offerings are each small in size, but since there are multiple exquisitely prepared courses, individuals will likely be more than satisfied. If you are adventurous and willing to try things like antelope heart, squab, geoduck, squid with wilted sorrel, and vanilla ice cream with black olive strussel, you will find this place to your liking. There is nothing average or typical about the offerings, but everything is very tasty. I recommend that diners include the wine pairings even though it is an extra cost item. The pairings were spot on! Service was stellar, and the sommelier was very knowledgeable.

We celebrated our departure from Oregon with family in this restaurant. It's cozy, has great service,good food, and apparently popular so reservations suggested if it's Fri or Sat night. We had a variety of selections. My choice was the trout. Deliciously prepared. We also had hanger steak and duck leg. We shared several lightweight but tasty veggie dishes such as Beet and celery etc. totally a delightful evening.

I think the food is overpriced, the help is much too solemn, and the portions are very small. Go elsewhere.

We decided to visit Castagna Cafe on the spur-of-the-moment. Fortunately, we were early enough, and they had space. We will return having enjoyed our meal. I had the baked penne with gruyere and chiles, very tasty. My wife had the hamburger, done perfectly with Walla Walla onions. The fries were so plentiful we shared. To start, we had the butter lettuce salad. It was ample for sharing. Service was excellent, and the food very good. If there was a complaint, it was that my wife felt the space to be a bit sterile. However, this is a cafe (bistro), and not the restaurant next door. We had looked into the Cafe several years ago, but then were not impressed with the menu. This time, we could have been satisfied with any of the dinner items.

Ate here January 5th, 2019. I had my eye on this place for a few years, and couldn't wait to go. We finally sprung for a special occasion and went for the full 12 course chef's tasting menu for $165. Though there were a couple of courses that were amazing (Crab with caviar, sake slush, the desserts), the experience was ultimately disappointing for the large price tag. There definitely some odd choices or errors with some of the courses, bullet points listed here: - all 3 breads that were served were very greasy and unpleasant to eat with hands, as was intended. One bread, a blueberry muffin, was a very odd pairing to go with 2 spreads it was served with. - The foie gras was completely hidden beneath a gelatin saucer, which was delicious, but masking the foie. - The pork shoulder was very fatty and the fat not completely rendered. not a great bite. - The beef was also slightly chewy and cold. Was this meant to be hot? Was weird and not great. - All 3 desserts were incredible. Some of the best desserts I've ever had. - Rockfish was great, the trout was so-so. - The crab with caviar blew my mind. My favorite dish of the night. The service was great, very minimal but attentive and available if we had questions or wanted to engage more. We just feel like the meal lacked inspiration and were hoping for something a step up.

I've been here many times over the years... and was extremely disappointed with our recent visit. The food continues to be excellent (though I feel a bit over-priced). The service continues to be very good. HOWEVER, the ambience as become horrid. Previously, I've always felt it was relatively peaceful in the restaurant, but last night you couldn't hear yourself think... and an intimate dinner was IMPOSSIBLE, thus my "average" rating. My wife and I almost started to laugh about the noise, but she refused my suggestion that we just walk out. Speaking of outside, it WAS peaceful out on the street! I kid you not. The noise in that place ranked up there with the louder sports-bars. One doesn't expect to spent $200 (for 2) and get that kind of experience. As is so often the case with noise, it only takes a few groups of business-men to ruin an experience. I'm not going back again. Goodbye Castagna.

...you must visit the Castagna dining room. It is delicious, interesting and thoughtful. The lady who owns Castagna is dedicated to the food and her vision. One of her chefs received major accolades and opened up his own place in NYC and received rave reviews. The current chef, in my opinion, is better than the previous. The owner of this place is doing a service to the city. Keep it up Castagna! Portland doesn't need any more pork belly dishes! More fine dining restaurants need to open up in Portland again. Seems all the ambitious kitchens were replaced by trendy, unremarkable restaurants all cooking out of the same lumberjack cookbook. So boring! We need more Castagna's in Portland, Oregon.

My husband and I have been coming here and castagna off and on for more than 15 years. The butter lettuce salad was still good but there were no entrees that really sounded good to me. I know it's spring, but all the desserts were berry or lemon, which did not appeal to my chocolate loving husband (he will also settle for butterscotch), so he chose to skip dessert (almost never happens!).

and that's saying a lot as this city has so many great places to choose from. Been living here 8 months and eating our way through the city. Castagna was recommended for a special occasion, and it was. Your choice of 4 courses or 10 course tasting menu. We went with the four (prix fixe $75). Although the 'snack' portion of the meal is determined by the chef, you had a choice in salad, entree and dessert. The food was beyond excellent. The chef has some gastronomy type dishes in the snacks. Only one snack listed on the menu but we received 5 or so bite sized pieces, all of which tickled my taste buds. Go for the wine pairings at an additional $35, if you like wine. The choices were excellent and the pours generous. Excellent choices. Will not disappoint. Service was great. Server was highly knowledgable and did not crowd.

Following what WD-50 used to do with molecular gastronomy I have eaten here over 5 times. Sometimes course by course and recently the $95 10-course prix fixe. Everything looks different from what you expect, and then tastes different from how it looks. And the taste is spectacular. I've never been let down here. We are lucky to have this restaurant in Portland. Service and atmosphere are great too.

We didn't have any expectations but had heard some very good things about Castagna and thought we would try it. Very glad we did. If I lived in the city I think think would have become my regular fine dining choice. We had a great waiter that made is feel comfortable while competently answering each of our wine and food questions. The martinis to start were the perfect size for a before dinner drink. The "snacks" were very interesting and even better tasting and the entrees were, quite simply, prepared to perfection. One of the best meals I have ever experienced. It is a bit expensive, but worth it.

Portland is quickly becoming the next food mecca of the US. Since the husband and I are foodies, we wanted to have one fancy dinner during our trip to Portland. We could not have been more pleased with our meal at Castagna. The chef's tasting menu was experimental and delicious, the wine pairings absolutely perfect, the place quaint and inviting, but most of all, the service was warm and attentive. We were taken care of by our server, who never left us with empty wine glasses or waiting for our next dish. Everything from the crab to the foie gras to the buttermilk meringue were superb. I highly recommend Castagna to foodies looking for a romantic dinner in Portland.

This restaurant was a delightful surprise--not your typical hipster place, but rather, a cool, grey vibe that feels more like the casual elegance of NYC/Soho. Eight of us had a really fun evening full of delicious and creative food, fantastic cocktails, well-paced service. We fell quickly in love with the tiny, buttery olives; but when the fried panissa showed up, we were head over heels and had to order a second plate. The roasted artichoke was beautiful and kinda crunchy. My blackberry ciaparinia was memorable, as was the whole trout. Everyone in our party enjoyed their food, the ambiance, and the chef's responsiveness to one person's exteme food allergies. Great wait staff, good wine list. Everything was top drawer. Highly recommended. Underrated.

We went this week for the Happy Hour, where we had a delicious cocktail, ($6), and some bread and butter, olives, and chicken livers with toast points. All were outstanding as was the service. A true bargain.

Castanga has a new chef and menu. We were apprehensive about the menu but decided to give it a try as we have had nice meals there in the past, with the former chef and former menu. The arrangement of the food on the plate is beautiful. Great attention to detail and design. The gem lettuce with elder flower vinegar and bay shrimp was quite good, but the fava beans with mussels was fair. The duck with fennel was okay, as was the poached halibut. They were not horrible by any means but the blending of flavors and ingredients were strange and rather bland. We appreciate the ambiance and the service was okay. At the start of the meal, the waiter noticed that the wine glasses were not very clean, and he took them away and replaced them. When he attempted to extract the cork from our Spanish wine tableside, the cork disintegrated; the waiter vanished and returned with a strainer; he strained the wine into a carafe. As a result, we ended up drinking a wine that had pieces of unsightly cork clinging to the sides of the carafe and in our wine. The waiter brought hot rolls and soft butter; I asked him if he could bring me some hard, cold butter and mentioned that I knew they had cold, hard, wrapped pats of butter in the kitchen as they serve those at the adjoining Castanga Café. He never brought the butter. The desserts were marginal. The baked apple was okay; the rhubarb with accompanying “oat cake” and some kind of ersatz “ice cream” was a joke and utterly ridiculous. Some kind of new age “dessert” I guess. The food was beautifully presented but it seems too much effort is placed on trying to push some sort of culinary envelope. If you are seeking culinary adventure or food as art then do try this restaurant. We left unsatisfied and that’s too bad, as we want Castanga to be successful.

Castagna has two dining rooms. One- more of a cafe, the other an ode to food and presentation. I went to the more formal of the two with my daughter in the midst of a move and remodel of a new house. It was sublime in every way and just what we needed. Elegant, comforting, surprising but comforting. I can't eat dairy, she can't have nuts and yet each course in the 5 course tasting menu was designed for our eating pleasure (heads up - in the formal dining room you can only choose between this and another more extensive chef's menu-but is it ever worth it!). Unlike Gjelina in Sta Monica, CA which epitomizes the attitude that it is their way or the highway, Castagna makes the diner feel like a king (or queens in this case) - no matter what the diner's eating restrictions. The food features seasonal produce and local fish and meat. Each course is presented like an art piece but the taste and texture is what this food is all about -for example, the smoked pork jowls (read the best bacon you ever ate) melted in your mouth and was served on a charred log on a bed of pebbles - you have to eat it to believe how wonderful this whole thing was. If you want one of the best dining experiences anywhere - go to Castagna. You will not be disappointed.The service is impeccable, by the way, and I found the prices amazingly fair. For the 5-course menu and a wine pairing for one diner we paid less than $200 for two with tip.

We decided to go to Cafe Castagna for my birthday dinner in early May. The weather in Portland was amazing and we sat outside on the patio, which while right off of Hawthorne was very pleasant and had a cute view of houses across the street. The food was delicious. We started with a couple of cocktails and a scallop appetizer. Fresh, light, and cooked perfectly. We moved on to the asparagus and egg pizza. The crust was tasty tasty! We finished up with a New York Strip - the fries that came with it were probably the best fries I have ever had a restaurant. Finished with two desserts, a rhubarb and strawberry crisp and a gelato in espresso. The server was attentive and gave good recommendations on food. Not as helpful when it came to the cocktails, as I wanted something spicy. The first one I had was delicious, but when I asked for a little more kick, she told me she didn't think they could do it. Muddling a jalepeno or adding something (I'm sure the bartender could have advised) would have sufficed. Not a huge problem though - that would be my only complaint. Go and try it out!

I love this restaurant. The food is presented in surprising and creative dishes. We ordered the Chef's Tasting menu with the wine pairing. Every course was more beautifl that the one that preceeded it. We loved the duck egg with toasted garlic, tomato tea and smoked cheese. and the chanterelles with young pine, leaves and watercress. The dinning room is peaceful with soft colors and great service. For a very scpecial experience this is the place.

We have been to dozens of fantastic restaurants in The PDX area including the high-end sister property Castagna (next door). Our expectations were pretty high. Other than a wonderful airy cauliflower soup, the rest of the dining experience was just so-so. Deviled eggs with crab was nothing special, beet salad was heavy on the pickle and light on goat cheese, and finally the "baked penne" with caramelized leek was a mediocre greasy Mac-n-cheese. Pretty loud ambiance as the floors are concrete. While I appreciate the automatic 20% tip for the servers, you definitely get nicked more than usual if you buy a bottle of wine (somewhat overpriced as well). Overall, nothing special here - with so many other great options in Portland I would suggest going elsewhere.

food is creative and excellently prepared. We had the tasting menu that was paired with wine. was 20 courses all said and done with the "snacks". Wine pairings were excellent. this was my third time eating here over the last five years. Probably enjoyed this time the most, not exactly sure why. I think that they are on their way to one star status if they polish up the service a tad, not that it was not good, but two times I came back to my seat and my napkin was not folded. Not trying to be picky or anything but if you want michelin, act like michelin Lovely meal, and again particularly good wine pairings

One of three places I tried based on WW's march madness burger bracket match. I ordered the burger rare to medium rare and it came out more like medium to well done. It was otherwise tasty but not my favorite. The fries had some sort of spice on it that made it inedible - it could have been way way too much garlic, but I wasn't interested in tasting any more to figure it out. Note WW says everything comes on the side, which I confirmed with the waitress, and then added I hate mayo aioli etc. She said it is the one thing that comes on the bun, so I ordered it without that. Note 2 there is an automatic 20% "tip" added (I almost always tip 20% but am not usually forced to).

I like waitstaff with senses of humor and this was wonderful. We selected the tasting menu and laughed our way through the small items to begin the meal. We'd prawns, crab, foie gras, and hazelnuts, and savory dishes, and duck, and lamb. All served with humor and wonderful presentations. Its fun and delicious. And Meringue...oh and rhubarb!