Mucca Osteria Reviews

My daughter and I dined at Mucca last night and tried the $95 six course Chef’s Tasting.. They don’t have a printed menu; we were told that they would email it to us that evening, but we haven’t received it yet. We especially liked the octopus and the scallops. The wine pairing was reasonably priced at $65 and the quantity was generous. Overall, the food and service were good.

We shared a Caesar salad that had the best dressing in decades. It has the right amount of anchovy. I had the chicken ragu, my wife the caccio y pepe. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente in both cases. We will eat here again. This was the best Italian food I've had in probably 30 years. Do try it.

Everything here is well thought out, prepared and delivered. We thoroughly enjoyed our entire evening. Very quaint atmosphere. We ate upstairs and would recommend. Service was polished, knowledgeable and friendly. Pastas were all homemade. Wild boar parpadelle was delicious! Foie gras torchon with quail was awesome! Highly recommend and best dinner we had in Portland over 4 evenings!

Don't miss the duck.. All dishes from first to dessert were delicious. We celebrated my birthday and I really enjoyed it

Go for the ambiance and great service, stay longer than you thought and go back again for the amazing food. And the burrata salad? Perfection.

We were here 2 years ago when we last visited Portland. Everything remains at the high standard we experienced then. I had carpaccio to start and it was excellent. My wife had the pasta special and I had their mainstay by fungi pasta. Delicious as I remembered it. We had their panna cota and it remains fantastic. Service is wonderful and the meal is paced well. Good wine selection too. A great place to eat.

We had a fabulous dinner here. The menu is very interesting and the food was delicious! Very extensive wine list and $25 corkage.

We were with friends from Portland and they suggested this establishment and it was fantastic. Great service to start and very helpful server with her recommendations on food and wine. Every one enjoyed their selections and many sampled each others. My favorite was the Bistecca -fantastic. You will not be disappointed.

Everything was pretty good here. But I like the salad the best. Clean simple taste with a touch of sweetness from the grapes really boost up the aptitude. The panna cotta and the almond ice cream gave the perfect ending to the meal.

This was my first visit, Holiday gift from Daughter and Partner, who joined me. It is hard to describe what a wonderful experience it was, actually, it was more of an adventure through culinary artistry. I shall return.

Omg what an experience! This evening my OH and I went unannounced (no reservations) to this Italian restaurant. We were offered an outside table on a perfectly warm evening. We opted for the 6-course sampler menu. It was fabulous. Portion sizing perfect. I’d never had octopus as a terrine. The pasta dish was sooo tasty - I can’t quite decide if it was the anchovy breadcrumbs or the nuts in the mix. The menu came with an amuse bouche and a cleansing ice between entree and dessert. Plus the standard bread and olive oil accompaniment. There was only one little hitch, in that the wait for the entree was long - but we were offered a taster of Italian wine (aside from our cocktails) to tide us over. Every course was interesting and tasty, although I thought the entree lacked pizzazz compared to all the other sample dishes. We sat through the meal for 3 leisurely hours! So European! Loved it. I want to go back and try their winter sample menu! This was probably the most expensive dinner I’ve had. But I walked away thoroughly impressed and pleased with my experience.

Yes, I mention the wine first because their list is superbly well chosen. And the wait staff is usually excellent at discussing the various choices. There have been occasions when a wine on the list is sold out but that's understandable as they are not buying these wines in bulk! So on to the food. It is usually very good. The sous-vide prepared meat is a real standout. The fish is fresh and prepared in unfussy ways that let the natural flavor of the ingredient shine through. The tasting menu - if you are hungry enough - is great value and a superb way to sample what this kitchen has to offer. You probably senses a but coming, so here it is. The pasta is not al dente - it's tough. I just returned from time in Italy and even there chefs do not prepare pasta like this. American chefs have their own definition of what al dente means, even Italian American chefs. Nobody likes overcooked, soggy pasta but throughout Italy you experience the delicious, springy texture of perfectly cooked pasta...not the chewiness of undercooked pasta. Every otherwise thoughtfully prepared pasta dish at Much Osteria would benefit from leaving the pasta boiling for just a couple more minutes. Not only would they taste better, the pasta might stay at least warm a little longer. I'd give this place 5 stars were it not for the rubbery pasta.

Overall, it was a pleasant experience. We were seated promptly upon arrival (reservations required) on the upper balcony where the tables were appropriately spaced for safety, and all staff members were masked. The service was a bit slow at first, but I think that's expected these days, as most restaurants are understaffed, but otherwise the service was very friendly and attentive. I struggled to find a white wine on the menu that wasn't minerally and overly dry, but the owner was patient and helpful. He explained that, due to supply chain shortages, their selection was low. Ultimately I selected a verdicchio which was a perfect pairing with the food. My husband and I both thought the food was quite good, but not anything particularly special. I started with the carpaccio topped with a Gorgonzola drizzle which, in my opinion, overpowered the flavor of the carpaccio and was unnecessary, although I did love the unexpected crunch of toasted hazelnuts. Personally, I would have preferred a more traditional preparation with a simple drizzle of olive oil and a shave of parm, so the paper-thin beef could really shine. My husband had the tuna tartare which was very tasty but seemed a little out of place on an Italian menu. I followed the carpaccio with the mushroom-filled tortelli which was very delicious, rich and full of flavor. My husband enjoyed his spaghettone with guanciale and black pepper very much. At the end of the day, the food was good and the service was good, however neither of us felt as if the meal was noteworthy or a particularly good value for the dollar. I wouldn't not recommend it to a friend, but I wouldn't highly recommend it either. Most importantly though, it was a nice evening out with my honey.

Went here for an anniversary dinner. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the complementary anniversary Champaign to the desert this was a first class meal. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. A bit doesn’t but totally worth it. Staff was so attentive and interested in making sure you had a great dining experience. Great food. Great service. Definitely check this place out!!!

Had fine meal here - a la cart at the chefs table Ordered seared scallops starter- easily the best scallops we have ever had- Compares favorably with finest European restaurants Then a pasta with braised ground boar- tasty Then perfectly cooked halibut with rotini in prsto sauce- excellent Highly recommend this restaurant

We visited this past Saturday and had were not disappointed. Service was excellent - the server knew the menu so well and guided us to great choices. We ordered a salad and the scallop appetizer to start. Without even asking, the kitchen took it upon themselves to spit the plates so we started with salad and then followed with scallops. So nice! The pastas were handmade and so delicious! And dessert was spectacular! It was our anniversary and everyone wished us a happy day! Must go back!

A return visit after several years to this fine intimate Morrison Street delight. Two levels, large windows to the street with comfortable seating. Had a reservation and we were seated on the upper floor. The service was impeccable, full linen, daily specials were explained in detail, the wine list is extensive and the food presented with nicely arranged plating. The restaurant also offers a 6 course tasting menu. We chose to order off the ala-cart menu. House made bread with good quality olive oil and lemon citric butter was very good (3 bread types). Price for the food quality, service and ambience is worth the higher pricing. We look forward to another visit.

We walked here from our hotel. It was great from greeting to departure. We found the ambiance lovely. We were walked up the stairs to a lovely table. Modern Italian was the theme. We started out with a great Sangiovese and some fabulous house made breads with a wonderful olive oil. Service was impeccable. Our entrées were delicious but not overdone. Dessert was a Tiramisu with a chocolate sorbetto accompanied by lattes. A great evening and meal.

Portland residents and visitors have a true gem in Mucca Osteria. Our mini vacation in Oregon led us here. There are SO many choices for meals in Portland but I can't recommend another restaurant more. This dinner was worthy of ANY we've had in Tuscany.

After reading the reviews, I made a reservation around a month before arriving in Portland. Looked forward to a great night out to celebrate our 46th anniversary. Arrived after walking severyblocks from our hotel to be greeted by an extremely rude male, not sure if he was management or what, but gave him my name to let him know we had a reservation. He returned and said we could either sit at the counter, which was a stool or have a table outside. The table outside was one of two on uneven ground and we were placed at this table with a dog sitting right next to us at the other table. Sat ther for about five minutes without anyone coming to greet us. Now I’m 68 years old and I’ve never gotten up and left a restaurant before but this one we did. Horrible experience. The food maybe good but the attitude of the staff sucks. I would suggest going anywhere else than taking a chance at this establishment.

Walked in with no reservations...sat quickly. Wine list and cocktails were wonderful. In house pasta was excellent, fresh oysters as well.

Came across this place during a walk around Portland and am so glad I did. The food is incredible and the front of the house staff were as perfect as the food. This has to be one of the best restaurant meals I've ever eaten, top 3 for sure.

What a magnificent restaurant! (Were we in Italy?) My wife and I recently made our first trip to Portland, and based upon recommendations and reviews, Mucca Osteria was our first choice to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed on Sunday, so we made a reservation for the preceding Friday night. Knowing of our special event, the staff was 100 % “over the top” in helping our celebration. The restaurant is small and two-storied, semi-formal, but yet very comfortable -- exactly the “look” one would expect from a Tuscan trattoria. The service was impeccable -- friendly and helpful -- and helped us select a fabulous Brunello for the special occasion. The entrees were outstanding, and more than met our expectations, with my wife enjoying her Agnolotti alla Carne e Ricotta (pork, beef, and ricotta-filled ravioli), and me the top sirloin steak. The toppers of the evening were the complimentary celebratory Prosecco upon our arrival, and especially this special dessert celebrating our “almost” anniversary! Don’t miss Mucca Osteria -- my wife and I would go back there in a heartbeat!

This was, in every sense of the phrase, a true first class dining experience. This dining experience can only be compared to some of the Manhattan Italian restaurants we have been to except we feel that the food here was better. The food tastes better than it looks. In all, this was the best experience we have ever had. Knowledgeable staff to pair wine preferences and food choices. First class srom start to finish.

Great intimate spot for lovely Italian food. If all are athletic, ask to be upstairs as it is more intimate and quieter.

Our good friend and loyal customer, Michal Dwyer occasionally brings us to Mucca for dinner. They are so accommodating and service is up most important to them! Since our friend is a regular they don’t hesitate to bring in a extra table if they are completely committed. The martinis are delicious, the cuisine is as if you were sitting in Italy, the servers are welcoming and knowledgeable about the offerings! It’s always such a treat when we are guests of Michaels! Thank you Mucca for always a exceptional time. Cheers Lemke Verderber Family

Mucca Osteria serves excellent and creative Italian food in a modern bistro environment right in downtown Portland. (Don't confuse the Osteria with the Mucca Pizzeria, which is next door and has it's own menu.) The Osteria is not large and so advance reservations are advised. Every dish we ate was wonderful. Seared sea scallops were full of flavor and beautifully prepared. Beef tartare was seasoned with some unusual ingredients (e.g. pomegranate seeds and mushrooms) that made it a special eating experience. Pastas with duck ragu and oxtail ragu were both tasty and perfectly cooked. The chefs know how to take a great Italian base and improvise just a bit to make the dishes special. The service was super-friendly and super-efficient. (Our waiter let us taste a couple of the red wines so we could order glasses of the one that was perfect for us.) All in all, we are really looking forward to our next visit to Portland so we can go back!

We settled on Mucca Osteria when we were looking for some fine Italian. This place did not disappoint. We chose the Five-Course Tasting Menu with paired wine. Each of the courses was interesting and delicious - and we thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairings. Service was good - not overbearing and informative regarding what we were being served and descriptions of the wines. We stayed for nearly 3 hours and it was a great dining experience. We would happily go back.

My husband and I both agreed this was one of the best dinners we have ever had. Luckily our hotel (Sentinel around the corner ~~ also highly recommend) suggested Mucca for my birthday dinner. It was such a special treat. We had the six course tasting menu and it was incredibly delicious. Every item was brilliantly prepared. Our wonderful waitress, Tara, had suggested an outstanding red wine to accompany our dinner (we chose one glass vs. the paired wines with dinner). The ambience is charming. The restaurant is very clean. All of the staff (especially Tara and Justin) were friendly, efficient and helpful. We felt like we were dining in Europe. What an excellent experience and evening! We can't wait to go back. :)

We had a great breakfast at the Jack Rabbit. Our service wazs Dave. He was super. Very profession, and also very kind and informative as we asked about the neighborhood. Great food and sdrvice. thank you

This is probably my favorite Italian restaurant in Portland. Great food, very good wine selection, and a nice ambience in the downtown area. The pasta is always fresh and fabulous -- try the tortelli ai fungi or the wild boar ragu.

I had been wanting to eat here forever but it had just never worked out before. I sat at the chef viewing table and the entire experience was amazing. The quality and flavor and presentation of the food was exceptional. It was a wonderful meal and a terrific experience!

This place was a real surprise! We have both spent time in Tuscany and the dishes we enjoyed reminded us of that experience. Delicious! They even had Vin Santo and biscotti which I have only seen in Tuscany!

The Food; wine list and service are all excellent . The atmosphere is very pleasant. Our reservation time was honored and our table was waiting for us.

For a very high end Italian dinner, I can recommend this without hesitation. The food and service were impeccable.

Mucca Osteria is on an old block, tucked away near the library in downtown Portland. The food and service are excellent. Great negroni cocktails. Halibut and corn/crab soup were outstanding. Have been here twice in 2019 and loved it both times. Will be back for sure!

My husband and I visited Mucca recently. We decided to go all out and have the 6 course tasting menu with the wine pairings. We loved the food and the service. Unlike many restaurants, they listed what was on the tasting menu up front. I appreciate this because I have an allergy to shellfish and don't like being surprised. The pace of service was perfect. We did not feel rushed from course to course, nor did we have long waits between courses. Every course and wine was described in detail when it was served. Everything was beautifully prepared and presented. This is not an inexpensive meal, but well worth it for a special treat.

6 of us dined here in a busy Saturday night. Restaurant was loud and bright light over the table that couldn’t be dimmed. Service was very personable and friendly. Extremely disappointed with the meal. First course was undercooked cold scallops poorly plated and on a very unattractive plate. Next course was the pasta course which was very under seasoned and served just warm. The fish course was very disappointing and presentation lacking. Dessert was very good. Excellent wine list. Not sure I would recommend eating here when there are so many other options in Portland.

We had an amazing meal. Everything was superb, from the salad to the pasta to the fish. Go, eat, and enjoy

Excellent food: taste, ingredients, presentation. Art pieces that taste awesome. Attention to details: great fresh bread, music, decor Service: elegant, attentive, efficient Great experience. Highly recommend.

This restaurant never disappoints. If you don't know what you're in the mood for, ask them to select for you. You will be glad you did. They will even pair a cocktail with your meal if you ask.

While I haves lived in Portland several years, I had never made it to this gem until last night. We choose to go there on a strong recommendation from a newly respected acquaintance. Boy, was she RIGHT! A home run for the taste buds! Thank you acquaintance, we loved it. Don’t forget to save me a seat.

I almost don’t want to give the excellent review Mucca Osteria deserves in case it makes it hard to reserve a table when I want to go back. :) I couldn’t give it a more perfect rating, really! It’s still one of the very best meals we’ve eaten, in a very quaint and cozy setting, with the most attentive and friendly staff, and amazing chefs who create the most detectable dishes!! Try the tasting menu; you’ll love it. There is honestly nothing not to love about Mucca Osteria! We definitely highly recommend it and can’t wait to return. :)

I took my ailing father and his wife here on Jan 25th because he had never tried any sort of tasting menu and because he thought Italian food was spaghetti and meatballs from the Old Spaghetti Factory. The funny thing is that when I told him I was going to take him out for Italian, he grimaced and said that he was not in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs (which, if you know italian food, is not even an Italian dish). But I digress. I tried for 2 days to get a reservation but they were booked. But persistence pays off and I was able to snag a table (albeit right in front of the entrance... burrrr) for 3 at 5PM. I told them we'd all be having the chef's tasting menu. The TLDR version is this. The service was outstanding. The food was outstanding. The wines were outstanding. The ambiance was outstanding. Having traveled from the top of the boot all the way down to sicilia. I will have to say that the food is authentic and the wines are excellent. The detailed review: Preface. I am an experienced fine diner. I've dined in Michelin star restaurants across the US and Europe. From Per Se in NYC to Atelier Crenn in SF to Christian Etienne in Avignon etc etc. So I am a stickler for service, attention to detail, and food. Upon entrance, I asked if there had been any cancellations so we could get a better seat by the door. We were offered the bar overlooking the kitchen which they called the chef's table (as is often the case). As my father had trouble with his legs, we opted to keep the table by the door and avoid the bar height chairs. We were then promptly seated and introduced to the menu by out waiter. He also asked us for still or sparkling. We opted for portland's finest (still). He explained the different items in the tasting menu and also the wines in the pairing (note: the wines in the pairing are not decided in advance and could change during the course of the night). So we were off to the races! The started us off with an aperitivo made of some italian liquor which I do not remember, but they made the drink look like an old fashioned. They also brought out some bread which included a salty but crusty and soft focaccia. yum Then came the amuse bouche, which was a scallop expertly seared in a parmesean based cream sauce. YUM-E! It was pared with a refreshly sweet but acidic northern italian white from piedmont I believe. The next course was a radicchio and endive based salad that was brilliant! my dad didn't like it because it's somewhat bitter. Well. I supposed bitter herbs and leaves are an acquired taste, but I loved it! Also paired with an appropriate white. Next was a tuna tartar that was to die for. yummmmm. Again paired with an appropriate white. I will say this about the wine. the chef favors the north so you're going to get more valpolicella and nebbiolo based products as well as whites around veneto... so from the white paired dishes we moved to the reds. First was a braised pork and carmelized onion topped bruschetta paired with an excellent valpolicella based red wine. Meaty, juicy and just the right amount of crisp around the edges of the crostino. Afterwards came the primo piatto which was an exceptionally authentic and delicious pici al ragu (rabbit). I haven't had pici at a restaurant since I was last in tuscany 2 years ago. It was magnificent. My father was shocked out how real italian pasta could taste. As I already knew my way around italian reds and had been talking to the waiter about italy and my travels, i felt like he might give me a freebee that would go well with the meaty pici. I asked if i could have a taste of a brunello di montalcino. And he complied! He poured us each a tasting portion of a 2012 (which was a very good year by the by). It was excellent and smelled exactly like what brunello should smell like. yum. Well, by this time we were stuffed. But we pressed on towards the secondo piatto. which was a beautiful braised pork in an outstanding demi glace which, from what i could tell was made from the pork drippings and red wine and some secret ingredients. accompanying it was a bread and ham meatball with a creamy sauce. It's more swiss than italian, or so i was told. It was also delicious! This was accompanied by a fine nebbiolo. again. yum. The intermezzo course was a refreshing sorbetto. i do not recall what wine accompanied this. The final act was a chocolate souffle with vanilla gelato accompanied by a sweet red montefalco sagrantino. I have been to umbria and tried the famed sagrantino, but i have NEVER tried a sweet version of it. It was very interesting as it tasted like sagrantino... but fortified (though it wasn't fortified but twice fermented). We were at our absolute limit and could not eat or drink any more. We continued our conversation with each other, with the waiter, and even chatted up with the chef. who, although is from rome, favors the cuisine from the FAR north. Perhaps we will see som saffron risotto or milanese cutlet show up on the menu at some point, who knows. But he clearly was happy with my interest in italian cuisine and culture. The waiter was excellent the whole night. There was only a minor flaw manifest in two ways in that we found bone/scale in the rabbit and tuna. No matter though. they were small issues and they offered to exchange the dish. I declined but wanted the chef to know to prevent it from happening again. All said, we spent close to 3 hours there. It was a near Michelin star experience. Truly. Just a slight bump in the formality of the service, suited waitstaff, and the elimination of minor flaws (bones, scales), and I firmly believe these place is headed for one star... if michelin rated portland restaurants... which they don't. If you're looking for a 90% michelin experience at 50% of the price in a city with no michelin guide, you have found your restaurant. The price of the tasting menu is incredibly reasonable as is the wine pairing. Go. get a reservation. don't wait. they book up fast. Ciao, grazie!

From the moment we stepped into the restaurant we were made to feel welcome and a member of the family. The service was outstanding. It was very busy but we were well taken care of. The menu was interesting and has something for everyone. The scallops were especially outstanding. Great Italian wine list as well. The pasta dishes that my wife and I shared were both first rate. One of the best Italian restaurants I have eaten at in the United States. Did I mention the service was amazing!

Food was exceptional and customer service was unbelievable!!! Dessert was something else, it was unbelievable good and it was beautiful done. love this place

A must try in Portland! They easily put together a tasting menu that worked around allergies. Our wait staff was the best we’ve ever had. Cannot recommend enough! I’m still thinking about the rabbit ravioli and the prosciutto appetizer.

There are few restaurants that hit all the nails on the head, but Mucca Osteria has achieved the elevated dining experience. Unpretentious, elegant ambiance, focussed personal service, excellent wine list, perfectly cooked creative and totally fantastic cuisine. This is a totally spoiling experience. You'll compare every other restaurant to this one's standards.

It's been open a while now and we'd heard great things but somehow hadn't been, until a couple of years ago. And we loved it from the start--the food is amazing, and the wine list and wines by the glass are superb. We recently introduced friends to it and they've already been back by themselves they loved it so much.

You feel like your sitting at a true, authentic Italian cafe. Service is warm and friendly without being over bearing. Food was excellent as was suggested wine and cocktails. It’s easy to recommend this one to small groups or couples. Get your reservations in, very small restaurant.

Went here for a graduation celebration. My daughter ordered the mushroom ravioli and it arrived cold. She requested to send it back to be heated up more and the waitress took it back. When the waitress returned with the newly heated pasta she somewhat defensively said that she had talked to the chef and that was how it was supposed to be served. We were all taken aback and thought that comment was unnecessary and kind of rude. It was also very odd because other people in our party had also ordered the mushroom ravioli and their food wasn't cold. Overall, the food was decent, wine was good, but the service left something to be desired.

I had been looking for a place to take my 8 year old daughter to dinner before the Katy Perry concert - a new place for us, a little bit fancy, and delicious food. I was thrilled with our experience at Mucca Osteria! Everything was perfect! Our server was attentive and treated my daughter like an adult. Our entrees and dessert were delicious as was my cocktail. I even found street parking less than a block away. I will definitely be coming back with the rest of the family and for date nights. I highly recommend this restaurant!

I was thoroughly impressed with Mucca Osteria. From the quaint interior to the top notch service, they were the definition of boutique fine restaraunt dining. Then the food arrives.....WOW....we are talking next-level Michelin qualifiable cuisine. I had the prosciutto e barratta, served to look like a flower with mozzarella in the center, then a new ravioli dish that when I took my first bite, I literally said WOW! It was a dish that every once in awhile you taste something so rich and decidedly different that you've had before, and at such a flavor level, you will remember it. Again, this "wow" happens every once in awhile, and I am thrilled to say it happened at Mucca Osteria. To the small open kitchen to be putting out such quality I commend you. I have dined on business and personal trabels over the years at Michelin level restaraunts in Paris, New York, London, SF and LA...and I have to say the food and experience was at this high of a level. So if they are already getting the accolades as a top notch restaurant, I say well deserved. If they are not, they need to be on people's radar because Mucca Osteria has rightfully earned high marks. Much respect Mucca Osteria!

We stand by our earlier review: this is a great restaurant and the food is absolutely delicious. This was our 2nd time here in 2 months, 4th time in a few years (our loss that this place fell off our list of places to eat out for a while) and the food is consistent in how awesome it is. Get a reservation (you'll need it) and definitely plan to enjoy at least 3 courses or try their prix fixe. BUT..... we were disappointed with their service this time. 1. We booked through open table and made a note that we wanted a more private table since we were celebrating our anniversary (something we also noted in our reservation). They gave us a lovely table but did nothing about the fact we were celebrating (we weren't looking for free stuff, but it would have been nice to hear "Happy Anniversary, thank you for celebrating with us"). It may be unfair; with Open Table specifically asking if you are celebrating something, they are setting up an expectation that the restaurant is aware and will at least acknowledge whatever you said you were celebrating. 2. We'd brought a bottle of wine with us for dinner and, with our permission, they promptly opened it after seating us. However, the gentleman who opened it asked if we wanted cocktails and we said yes, but he didn't ask what so we thought he was the sommelier and would send the waiter over. We ended up sitting for 10 minutes (not drinking at all) before he came back and took our order. We would have loved this time if we'd had the cocktails we'd wanted to order. 3. Although we had reservations, they were running behind and we waited about 20 minutes before we were seated (although, again, they seated us at a lovely table). I'm not sure why they didn't offer us the option of going to Shift Drinks to wait and they'd call us when our table was ready, but it was an option they offered to everyone showing up after us (there isn't much room to wait). Just know that it is an option for you if this happens; Shift Drinks is about 2 blocks away and makes good cocktails. 4. The tables are small so we appreciate the restaurant keeping our "to go" bag elsewhere while we finish our meal. But it was something we had to remember to ask for (and almost forgot). More places are doing this-- it is becoming a pet peeve when staff doesn't at least bring the bag out with the check ready to sign. Not sure what staff is waiting for, but we had enough leftovers for a meal (we over-ordered knowing this-- totally worth it) so we would have been very annoyed to have left without it.

What a wonderful ()for us) find. Small/intimate restaurant with fabulous food. We were there with friends ansd all, were ecstatic about their dinners. We will be back

The food is delicious and the attention to detail is really remarkable. Once again Mucca does not disappoint. I recommend this restaurant for a great experience and a wonderful meal. p.s. let the waiters choose the wine that best pairs with your selections. They know the list well and will not let you down!

Lovely 2-level and (seasonally) outdoor seating suitably formal enough for business dinners or a special occasion, but relaxed enough for a weeknight meal. Reservations are definitely recommended, and the counter can be a great spot for a more casual meal. Service is very attentive to ensuring a lovely experience (ours brought a bit of white wine to pair with one seafood course when we had ordered a bottle of red for the rest of the meal without our requesting because "we had to experience it with a nice pairing"). Yelp, Opentable, etc. list this restaurant as "$$$$", however I would definitely say that one can enjoy a meal without spending as much as many other restaurants in that "$$$$" category, particularly if one treats the pasta as a main course.

Three of us ate there. One who is vegan appreciated ability of chef to adapt many of the menu items (server was very well-informed). House salad, bland at most place,was very tasty with greaty subtle flavors. Gnochchetti ai Funghi was excellent. Tiramisu very good, but Pannacotta even better. Servers were busy, but very attentive. Answered all our questions from those about items on menu to where they get their olive oil. Next time will try to get seats at counter downstairs so can watch chefs at work.

We were in the Portland area as house guests of very special friends. We wanted to take them out for an outstanding meal. This place was recommended and my husband went online and read reviews. We ordered the five course tasting menu. Each dish was presented beautifully and each was exceptional in every way. We brought a wine and ordered one from the menu. They also charged us corkage. When again we are visiting our friends, we know we will be back...

The food and the service are amazing. All the ingredients are so fresh and you can taste the real flavour of real food, it makes you want to go back right away, which is what we did. We made a reservation for the next day only half way through our dinner, can’t get enough.

We had the six course meal and everything was prepared perfectly. The steak sous vide was absolutely the best ever. Each course with prepared skillfully and presented beautifully. Several of the courses actually had more than one item and we also had a bonus amuse bouche and palate cleanser. This place is worth the extra expense. One of our best meals ever.

Delightful meal, great service. Very extensive Italian wine list - including some wonderful Amarones, which became our choice!

This was our first visit after seeing this busy place on many trips to Portland. Like so many other reviews, we found the food to be delicious and the service was excellent and unobtrusive. We had a shared a Tatara di Tonno and it arrived pre-split and nicely presented. I had Tagliolini/Shrimp and husband had the filled ravioli- both absolutely delicious and very obviously house-made pasta. We shared a fabulous Pannacotta for dessert. Portions were appropriate- not massive, not tiny. Service was watchful throughout without hovering. Our table was right at the railing upstairs and it can be very loud- for a quieter meal, ask for a table closer to the upstairs bar or against the wall. Loved it, worth the money, and looking forward to a return soon!

Another exceptional dining spot in Portland. Great Italian food with an excellent wine list and attentive service. All courses were flavorful and beautifully prepared. Keep this Osteria for your special occasions!

My husband and I did their 6 course featured menu. Everything tasted outstanding. Every dish was well thought out and beautiful. The service at Mucca Osteria is beyond acceptable. They really go above and beyond when it comes to hospitality.

Stop reading this review and make a reservation to dine at Mucca Osteria. I AM NOT KIDDING. I believe I had the best meal of my life here the other night. I ordered the Tortelli ai Funghi, which is a mushroom and ricotta filled tortelli. Make a reservation now!!! I wish I lived closer.

This restaurant isn’t deserving of the top rating for Portland restaurants. The veal ragu that was served looked nothing like what’s on their website. It was ground beef and totally underwhelming. Borderline fraudulent. The tortelli was fine, the bistecca was properly cooked, the spaghettini ala grichia was ok. Scallops were served lukewarm. Most glaring was it literally took over 30+ minutes to get our entrees after the appetizers, and there was no engagement from the staff to dress it, other than to say she checked with the chef and the food is coming shortly…and it arrived 15 minutes later. They had two cooks in the kitchen and clearly they are understaffed. Frustrating end to a weeks worth of excellent dining in Portland. Lots to choose from… Departure restaurant, XLB for dumplings, Afuri izakaya, Serratto, Din Tia Fung in Tigard to name just a few we experienced this week. This place was a miss.

At the time of our visit Mucca was the #2 ranked restaurant in Portland and it was packed every time we walked past during our visit. We did book on OpenTable but on arrival stood around a while in the entrance waiting for a table. We did get one upstairs which was very nice, and our server Nicholas was very good. We decided to share the Prosciutto e Burrata (one of our favourites) and it was beautifully presented as 2 mini-servings and tasted unbelievably fantastic (photo attached). We had the special Paccari with prawns as a shared starter which was brilliant too (photo attached). Nicholas recommended a bottle of a Sicilian red wine, Occhipinti Il Frappato 2015, which was great too. So after all of this waxing lyrical why have I rated it only "Very Good"...? Well, we thought that our mains (Pork shoulder and Carre di Agnello) were OK but not great. Without tip the cost was $190 for the 2 of us.Next time I might have 2 appetisers...

In from out of town on college visits and got very lucky stumbling across this great little Italian restaurant. Walked in off the street and they sat three of us. Does appear to be a Tasting Menu heavy establishment, but we were able to order a la carte. The three pasta dishes were all excellent, the bread was fresh and delicious and the dessert very good as well. Staff extremely friendly and accommodating. Downtown Portland can be a bit harrowing currently, but if you find yourself down here, this is a definite gem. Would go back tonight. Not cheap but not exorbitant prices either.

We went for our anni, the service was amazing, the wine pairings delectably accompanied our several courses designed to delight! I highly recommend this spot for a special occasion! Make a reservation though, it gets packed!

As a Portlander, I am pleased that this downtown restaurant has held the test of time especially given the changes to downtown. Their pastas are handmade, with the exception of gluten-free dishes. The menu is traditional Italian with starters and two courses. Cocktails are creative and boozy. We had the Barbabietole e Caprino Balsamic Roasted Beet salad w/Goat Cheese, Walnuts, Orange Mineral Water, and Radicchio and tomato and crab bisque soup. Pasta dishes were Bucatini w/ Polpo Crispy Octopus in aTomato White Wine-Squid Ink Sauce, Gemelli (extruded pasta curls) w/Prosciutto and Arugula in a Lemon-Butter Sauce, Tagliatelle w/Oxtail Ragù and a Horseradish Whipped Ricotta. We brought our own wine. No dessert.

Decided to go there for the food reviews by reporters as well as customers. On a weekday, so no wait. Location was fine, at least a security guard was not far away. Food was what we went there for. Ordered the seared sea scallops, it was OK, bot impressed in terms of the taste. The main course Linguine con Ragù d’Anatra con Finocchi e Olive was disappointing. The pasta was not well cooked. They cook pasta like French fries. They used a basket to contain the pasta, the same water probably had been using to cook pasta since they opened, for a few hours. They did refill water to make up for the water loss, but the starch coming out from pasta would stick to the pasta, plus the pasta could not be thoroughly swimming around to soak in fresh water and reject the starch, since they were contained that little space in the small basket. And the pasta coming out did not go under tap water to rinse the loose starch away. So the whole dish tasted gluey, the pasta did not have the clean and cutting feel. The waiter was great, very knowledgeable about the food and could tell you the specific about each dish.

Specials of branzino appetizer, fish of the day and truffle pasta were amazing. The prosciutto and burrata appetizer was almost too pretty to eat, like a rose! Only concerns were service was either too slow or confusing as to who our waiter was as we had four; and then not being able to make any modifications or even being able to know what cheeses would be on the cheese plate before it arrived.

We had a remarkable dinner in the upstairs loft section of the small dining room at Mucca Osteria. It’s an intimate, loud restaurant, with a small room down, and a smaller room up in the loft. The staff care intensely about your experience. Very attentive service is provided, and they are delighted to help you with meal and wine selection. The panna cotta I had for dessert was as good as I have had. My salad and pasta course were excellent. You will spend lots of time and money here but you will have a unique dining experience. It is a great place to take someone you are looking to impress.

We ate here for my husband’s birthday dinner and it was absolutely delicious! We enjoyed some scallops and bruschetta for appetizers. For dinner out table had the halibut, the duck, and the tortellini. It was wonderful and the service was great!

We were a group of 6 colleagues/friends in town for conference. Had a terrific dinner and experience. The service was excellent - attentive and friendly. The fish of the day - halibut - was excellent. Pan seared with veggies. The pasta special with truffles was also excellent. The only dish that wasn’t a big hit was pasta with wild boar sauce. It was good but not great. For desert we had the chocolate soufflés. So good. Highly recommend!

We chose this restaurant based on Trip Advisor reviews and the ability of online reservations. The location was in a fun pet of Portland and parking was easy, both street and lots available nearby. It’s a small restaurant with few tables. Overall the food was good and the drinks selection decent. The waiter service was good. We had ordered a birthday cake for one of our party. We even stopped and talked to the manager during the meal. The cake never arrived (we weren’t charged for it) but it was disappointing and a big miss. The appetizers were good, and 3 of the 4 entrees were good. We expected more from a restaurant so highly rated by TA reviewers.

Once in a while you come across a restaurant that is uniquely great, this is one of them. The charm of a small restaurant the attention to detail by the servers and the aromas and flavors that fill the two floors are truly a great experience. Bravo !!! Make sure you make a reservation with plenty of time if you want experience this charm of Portland.

My server, Jenny, was terrific. Not only did she explain each of the courses to the tasting menu, she gave extra tidbits of information about the food and wine pairing. I even had an opportunity to ask the chef questions about how he prepared certain courses. This was truly an amazing culinary experience. I highly recommend!!

We wanted to try this restaurant after reading the excellent reviews. Made a reservation and were seated outside at our request. My husband had a wonderful salad and I had the buratta with prosciutto to start. The burrata was delicious. I would have enjoyed it with crackers or bread. A bit too much prosciutto for my taste. I chose the pasta dish with venison sauce and enjoyed it very much. My husband had black ink pasta with shrimp and a pepper sauce. He enjoyed his dish as well. The best part of the evening was the outstanding service and friendly waitress. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and wines and had a bubbly personality. Very reasonable prices too. Would recommend a visit to Mucca when in Portland.

My first trip to Portland found me wandering around downtown on a Friday night looking for somewhere warm and inviting that would accommodate a solo diner w/o a reservation. I was about to give up when I noticed Mucca Osteria across the street. I knew nothing about them but needed to get out of the cold rain. Luckily, they were packed, but had one seat left at the counter. I was in heaven for the next 2 hours. I decided to splurge and have the 6 course set menu with 2 glasses of wine chosen by my waiter. The food was impeccable, and getting to watch the five-person kitchen in action was a real, eye-opening treat. The service was highly professional yet friendly. I ended up going back the next night. Highly recommended.

I'm excited to have found this fabulous restaurant and I went there twice in two weeks to celebrate. The food is the best. Prepared with care. Lots of flavors and textures. Great menu. And the service is delightful.

In a setting of understated elegance, we were served by a team of staff at a perfect pace. We ate upstairs where the noise level was a pleasant background chatter but still quiet enough for easy conversation. The food and wine were delicious of course. Perfect for a couple enhancing their connection!

We have lived in Portland for more than 40 years and frequently eat out. We made a reservation at Mucca Osteria because of the reviews on Trip Advisor. We selected the six-course tasting menu with wine pairings..an expensive choice but an amazing culinary experience. My wife has gluten intolerance and the chef altered a few items to accommodate her. The experience was so delightful I bought a gift certificate as a thank you gift for a physician who had given us outstanding service and care. Highly recommend!

I have now visited Mucca, twice. Both times my expectations were were exceeded. Don't miss this restaurant for continental Italian Food.

I was excited to have dinner here after reading so many positive reviews. Mucca Osteria did not disappoint. My filet mignon was perfectly seasoned and cooked. My husband had the noodles with boar meat ragu and it was extremely flavorful. The service was excellent despite being extremely busy. Our needs were met in every way. This restaurant is not necessarily a family place to get giant portions but if you love quality food and enjoy fine dining get reservations here!

Delightful staff with amazing menu of Italian food. Cocktails are spot on. Wine menu is extensive and deep...quite a delight!

This place looks very fancy and is good for a date, although the food is regular, the pasta is very thick and looks like not fresh. The relation price vs value doesn’t make sense to us. Also there is a tip already charged to the check.

We've been to this restaurant at least 3 times and each time has been perfect. Fantastic food, wine, and service. No exception this time. We share through the courses. Each course was split by the kitchen & beautifully plated. Plenty of food for 2 people by doing this. Seafood was very fresh so fear not. A chef who knows that his dishes don't need an over abundance of garlic & cheese. This is not Italian American. Our server was knowledgable & suggested a wonderful white wine from the extensive, all Italian, wine list. I can't imagine that you would be disappointed, so , go!

It was a business dinner, good place for conversation, wine was good, atmosphere felt Italian and non rushed.

Great food and service. Limited menu but what they offer is very well prepared. very good wine list, but a bit pricey.

Mucca is a phenomenal experience. The tagliatelle with wild boar was excellent. They accommodated my wife’s gluten intolerance by preparing a special risotto dish that was exquisite. The sous vide pork shoulder was the best I’ve had outside Italy. All of this was coupled with an exceptional wine list and great service.

My wife and I just came back from having dinner at this marvelous restaurant. The service was impeccable. I am always on the lookout for an outstanding Italian restaurant and this did not disappoint. We had the burrata and heirloom tomatoes as an appetizer and the tomatoes tasted like they just came off the vine. We then shared the tortelli with porcini mushroom and the halibut. The halibut was cooked perfectly. I highly recommend this restaurant! I can not say enough good things about it!

We enjoyed a Six Course Degustation Menu sitting outside as it was an exceptionally hot evening. The service was good but we felt that the staff were tense and not engaging. Food was fabulous. Needed assistance with choosing a wine. The Sommelier who attended found us a lovely White wine. But we were taken aback at the price per glass when received the Final Bill. Next time we would purchase a bottle.!

Why am I not eating here every night? Amazing food that is inventive without being puzzling, great cocktails and one of my favorite Portland wine lists. Go here, and go often. It’s a gem.

probably the best Italian spot in PDX. Have eaten and scores of spots in Portland, this is a must go. read some bad reviews, they make no sense. I would go back here every week. Pastas are excellent, desserts are excellent, going back this week. Compare to top spots in Seattle like Carmines, night and day. this place is the real deal!

Best meal in a while. Space is pretty, service excellent but unassuming. Loved the scallops and the tagliatelle with duck Ragu was as good as any I’ve had. Teenager loved her tiramisu. We will be back anytime we can.

We were visiting from out of state to celebrate our anniversary and Valentine's Day and wanted the perfect mix of romantic vibe with amazing food. Mucca Osteria was a hit! We were afraid to try to the octopus which was the first course and it ended up being our fav dish of the night...although everything else was not far behind. Every course was absolutely delicious and tasted just like the food we had on our recent trip to Italy! And the cocktails were also superb...one came with a cute heart in it. The service was impeccable and everyone we interacted with were just incredibly nice. They even gave each lady a rose at the end of the night. It was obvious they took pride in their restaurant and wanted their customers to leave happy. We could not have asked for a better experience. We will come back every time we are in town!

Mucca is the best or second best Italian in Portland. (Ava Gene's is right there). Great food, excellent service. Sidewalk tables in the summer months. This is not your normal pasta Italian, not much pasta at all, in fact. Great creative dishes, wonderful flavors. Love this place!

Service was impeccable and the establishment is lovely. Ingredients were fresh and perfectly prepared. Presentation was beautiful. It's pricy- but so popular that I would recommend reservations even during the week.

Food, ambience and service all first rate. Pasta prices are high for Portland, with a very modest serving size running well over $20. Starter, pasta, dessert and a glass of lowest price wine will run >$75, which is steep for Portland. If you choose a main instead of a pasta, maybe $5 more, which makes the pasta seem even more overpriced. Or the 6 course tasting menu for $75 without wine or tip, which also makes the $75 3 course meal seem overpriced.

Maybe Italian wine isn’t your thing, but if it is, Mucca is Much Gusto! With some 450 Italian wines to sample and pair with your favorite pasta. Endless opportunities await!

Had high hopes here. First off, sat us on the sidewalk next to the insistent bus coming by every 5 minutes blowing dust up everywhere. No bueno. Ordered several apps. Scallops and salad were excellent. Had two bottles of wine and cocktails. All very nice. Ordered pork shoulder and venison pasta. Both were a bit dry and the pork was too salty. Both disappointing. Sorry wish I had a better experience.

First time we (four of us) dined at MUCCA. We had been to the theater and always go to a good restaurant afterward. This is definitely a good restaurant, well, perhaps we should say an excellent restaurant. Good service and very good food. We each had something different and we were not disappointed. Fish, raviolis, carbonara, and excellent dessert.

Visiting Portland several years after moving away, we looked forward to Mucca. The tasting menu is literally forced on you. Do not reserve on Open Table because there is no option to the tasting meu; call if you want a la carfte, Aside from the pasta course, the tasting menu hardly seems Italian. The course after pasta was beef and lentil salad and the beef (sirloin) was really chewy although cooked medium rare. We wanted wine by the glass and they were out of one of only 3 whites available by the glass. One of our party does not eat seafood. The second course was scallops and she asked for something else. Nothing available; they brought her scallops. A really disappointing experience from a place we loved in the past.

I ate two heaps of the bread it was so damn good. The pasta was to die for also. My friend suggested we come here when she had met the owner years before. This is another long overdue review but I’m glad to finally mention how great Mucca is. This is one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at. Highly recommend!

When we want to travel and can’t but want to celebrate this is where we go. We get the chef special and have never been disappointed.

The food was we selected was wonderful...we sat upstairs. You are tended to by a primary waiter, then another half dozen waitstaff rotate through with various attentive moves. The staff is low key, skilled and pleasant. Beginning to end perfect save one thing...seems to be a Portlandia thing...the noise. If you sit upstairs, sit toward the bar/exit signs to diminish loudness from below. Otherwise, really a pleasing evening...we will certain return here.

This restaurant earns its TripAdvisor high rating! The service was perfect, yes perfect, a word I don't often use. Our server was attentive and gave us some great recommendations once we asked for them. If you love good Italian, this is the place for you. And such a wine list, with great strengths in the Italian selections (well, of course). We had a table on the upper level, which was a bit more quiet that downstairs. Great dining experience!

The service, the ambience, the food were all excellent. It is a bit pricey but the food is not typical and it was totally unexpected.

Two people, tasting menu plus wine pairings - not terrible but certainly the worst 400 dollar meal I’ve had. I’m well traveled and we focus a big part of our travels on food. We are foodies and look for the best. This restaurant was just fair. Food wasn’t superlative but wasn’t terrible either. Neither of us finished every item on the tasting menu - a first for us. But still the food was okay. What was truly BAD were the wine pairings. They were all Italian wines and all truly or nearly awful. My wife and I both agreed the tawny Porto with desert was the best but that’s not saying much. Now we did watch other tables and it looked like the main entrees were better than the tasting menu. On positive note, service was great, attentive and when we weren’t happy with wine we were provided alternatives (tho they weren’t great either). Hate to write such a negative review but everything but the service was sub par. We wouldn’t go back. I’d recommend they get a sommelier to get better pairings.

Made the dinner reservation at the recommendation of a tour guide. We were not sorry. The food was fantastic -- delicious, beautiful, perfect. One of the best dinners I have ever had.

On our first night in Portland we decided to visit this restaurant. The service was impeccable! Staff were knowledgeable and made great suggestions. We had the Chef's 8 course menu with the paired wines. All the courses were delicious. Wines were well paired and selection was very interesting. Fully enjoyed the meal!

Fabulous experience - memorable menu items like a great carpaccio , octopus pasta , and tasty meats. Also great desserts, and despite the wine list being too long it was easy to find the right things on it. Service started out really excellent but attention to our table dropped off to merely adequate as the night went on.

In most respects, our family outing to Mucca was satisfactory, including excellent food, a nice setting, and other than I am about to describe, good service. However, we had serious issues with the wine service. I ordered a Barbaresco that I was familiar with with reasonable pricing (~$65 a bottle). After I ordered, they came back to the table to tell me they were out of that wine. Fine, but rather bringing the wine list, and asking for me to choose again, they brought two bottles that were their recommendations that were similarly priced -- one Barbaresco I had never heard of and a Gattinera. Although made from the same grape, Nebbiolo, Gattinera is from inferior terrior and not of the same quality as a Barbaresco. Fortunately, I had remembered my second choice (2013 Producttori del Barbaresco) and ordered it. It was a fine example of Barbaresco with bright acidity, medium body, good structure, a clear but bright red color, and a long finish. Since we had a large group, I asked them to bring another bottle and open it to let it breathe. The second bottle never appeared. We were enjoying our dinner and the waiter poured off the remains of the first bottle (glasses now about half full) and removed the bottle. A couple of minutes later he returned to the table with an open bottle, saying he had already opened it to let it breathe away from the table. Rather than bring a new glass similar to ones we were using (decent crystal) for the tasting, a small, heavy low quality wine glass was brought for the tasting. If you are not aware of fine wine protocol, a bottle of wine should always be opened at the table in the presence of the person ordering it for tasting, and presented in a fresh glass of the same quality as in use. This is to show you that you are getting a pristine bottle of what you ordered. I must of made some sign the waiter found acceptable as he immediately began pouring the wine into everyones glass, removed the tasting glass, and diluted mine with the new bottle. I was feeling very uncomfortable about what was going on, but since we were having a nice family reunion, I did not want to make a scene. As the balance of the second bottle was poured, the wine in my glass became less bright, in color and acidity, the finish disappeared, and the flavor became a mild flavor you would expect from a high yield low quality vineyard. Now it is possible that there was a huge difference in quality from one bottle to the next of the same wine, from the same vintage, but I think it very unlikely the difference would be as dramatic as I experienced. Frankly it tasted like Gattinera plunck. If the restaurant had opened the second bottle in my presence and presented it to me a fresh glass of quality crystal, then I could have no question. I may even have been able to detect the inferior quality in decent crystal. Based upon what happened, I have serious doubts about the integrity of the wine service at Mucca.

This was a most pleasant surprise. The food (we had duck in a tangy, rich glaze that was fantastic, and wild-boar pasta that was surprisingly light and totally satisfying) was just terrific, starting with an individually prepared split of the burrata appetizer which had the perfect blend of a light mozzarella shell, wrapped in prosciutto, surrounding a delightfully creamy interior. The wait staff, from the host, to our waiter, to the bus boy all shared an obvious enthusiasm for the food and for the enjoyment of their patrons. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and superbly professional.

Make a reservation for upstairs! This place fill up and the reason is because of how amazing it is. If you love wine, they have people that can help you like Nicholas. He went above and beyond with service and helped us to feel like the entire night was about us. Their food is incredible and there is a variety for all food needs. There were a few couples there having romantic dinners, and there were a few families too. Every time I come to Portland, I make sure I visit Mecca.

My wife and I regularly eat at high end restaurants with Michelin stars. Our meal here was cooking of Michelin standard. This was classic Italian with a healthy nod to modern techniques. Neither of us could fault our Antipasti or Primo Piatti. For me shrimp to start, light, delicate and so tasty. My wife's zucchini soup likewise. To follow, for me tagliatelle with duck ragu, beautifully balanced with a depth of flavour that speaks of real skill in the kitchen. My wife's shrimp tagliolini was equally accomplished. Good service, excellent wine wrapped up an unexpectedly high quality, delicious meal. GO!

My wife and I shared scallops for an app and they were very good and nicely cooked. I had the papardelle with ragu- it was tasty, but I thought the noodles were a little heavy and several were stuck together. My wife had the duck breast which she enjoyed. I liked it too, but I'm more of a crispy skin roasted duck guy and this had almost no skin on it. Our friends both had the tagliatelle which they enjoyed. We had a nice bottle of ItaIian red for $50 which was near the bottom end of the wine list. It was a very good, professional dinner, very fairly priced. I wouldn't rave about it, but I would recommend it.

enjoyed my entire meal and drinks, but wasn’t awestruck - another example of hyperventilating reviewers, hence “4/5.”

I was given a gift certificate for Mucca Osteria. Surprisingly, I had never heard a peep about this gustatory treasure! My daughter and I visited on a Friday evening. Mucca has a large, well-trained staff. They observe the old ways of sweeping crumbs off the table between courses, and being ready to assist in any request. Where else are you served 3 varieties of freshly baked bread--hot from the oven?! Every dish is exquisitely prepared. The plates arrive looking like a picture from a gourmet magazine...and tasting better! Mucca may be Portland's finest restaurant, bar none!

Warm and cozy, fabulous authentic food and attentive service. Great central location. Reservation is a must.

Very good food and the service outstanding ! Highly recommended. The wine selection is very good. The tartare is exceptional and the pastas (carbonara and duck ragú) were also great.

A wonderful restaurant. Outstanding food, great ambience- felt we were back in Europe- and staff were friendly but not intrusive - including owner who gave helpful advice re wine to pair with food- and other non related info about Portland. ( A much delayed review but I kept receipt with the intention of doing a great review - and I just found the receipt!)

We appeared here with our sister and brother-in-law for a pre-Valentine’s dinner, and on a whim ordered the six-course prix fixe dinner, with wine pairings. We have been dining with the two of them for decades, and this evening was perhaps the best meal we have shared, with the possible exception of a restaurant we were able to find a few years ago in Manhattan. The wine selections were so interesting that we asked for (and were willingly provided) a list. My brother-in-law is currently searching the local wine importers to order one or two of them by the case. And oh the food. Not only creative and varied, including the amuses, but all delectable. If you haven’t tried this place, you are missing a gem.

We had an early supper at Mucca Osteria on a quiet weeknight. It was our first time there. The menu is appealing and diverse, and it contains all of the basics with creative twists. The dinners were absolutely delicious! Tagliatelle with sausage and wild mushrooms in a very light marinara was lovely. The pork roast was maybe the best we have tasted anywhere. Seriously tasty appetizers and a delicate profiterole dessert provided a great beginning and conclusion to the evening. The wine list is extensive and greatly overpriced, and the prices of the wines by the glass offerings are ridiculously high. All in, we would go back for a special occasion, but not for “honey, let’s go grab a bite somewhere”.

We did the tasting with wine pairings it was great. Each dish was thoughtful and yummy and wine paired well. Service was nice as well.

I'm in Portland for a short visit and this restaurant was a wonderful pick. I did the tasting menu and the wine pairing and both were excellent and a good value in my opinion. The servers were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable.

My husband surprised me with dinner at Mucca Osteria- what a great dining experience! We both tried the 6 course tasting menu which included radicchio/endive Gorgonzola salad, tuna avocado tartar (my favorite), hand rolled pasta, bruschetta with feta mousse, and pork shoulder over wine-poached pears. Ended the meal with the chocolate course and a cold, refreshing lemoncello. Service was excellent, the wine was excellent. Highly recommend for celebrating a special occasion or just to try for the experience (I’m certain we will be back!).

On a recent trip to Portland, my wife and I had dinner at Mucca Osteria, which I was excited to try after having read many great reviews. The restaurant was also only three or four blocks from our hotel, so it was a convenient walk to get there. It turns out that Mucca Osteria was a perfect choice, and it was definitely the best dinner we had in Portland, both due to the great food and the excellent service, all in a cozy ambiance. When we arrived for our reservation, we were quickly greeted and surprised to see how small the restaurant is, with only two or three tables downstairs due to Covid protocols. There is also the upstairs (where we were seated), which has about four additional tables. I definitely preferred the cozy upstairs seating, since the downstairs is a bit dark with the ground floor windows currently boarded up due to recent protests. Our server was incredibly nice and very attentive throughout the meal. The restaurant has a very extensive Italian wine list, so I appreciated that our server was eager to discuss it with us and help us find a great wine. Once we decided what type we wanted, he brought up a couple different bottles to choose from in our price range and described each one. It was a much more hands-on, in-depth wine selection experience than we are used to in most restaurants, and it resulted in us finding a bottle that we really enjoyed. We then split the seared scallops and burrata for appetizers, and we were so impressed that they went ahead and split the portions onto two plates without us asking. Although it’s no problem for us to share off of the same plate, it was really thoughtful and nice to have it already split up and plated accordingly just from mentioning that we were going to be splitting the items. The appetizers were both very tasty. We tried one of the pasta specials as a mid-course to share after the appetizers, before moving on to our main courses, which were the spaghettoni alla gricia for my wife and the sous vide steak for me. The pastas were very good, but the steak really stood out to me for being the best part of the meal. The sous vide preparation was perfect, creating a really tender and tasty steak dish. For dessert, we split the flourless chocolate cake, which was rich, but very good, just like the rest of the meal. We had no complaints whatsoever with this meal, and we very much enjoyed all of the food and the wine. It was just icing on the cake that service was impeccable throughout the experience. We thought the prices were reasonable given the high quality of the meal, and we would absolutely love to come back to this restaurant if we’re in Portland again. I highly recommend Mucca Osteria – it’s definitely a gem among Portland restaurants!

Don't go expecting the usual Italian dishes. Mucca is much more creative than that. The two dishes we had were superb, especially the distinctive sauces. The service was just right. The atmosphere is cozy. If they gave scores for walkability for restaurants, this place would get the highest score. It's on the Max line, the streetcar line, and it's an easy walk to everything downtown.

My favorite Italian restaurant. The food is fantastic as is the wine options and I love the atmosphere as well.

Found this little restaurant strolling in portland. It immediately appealed to us enormously. Simple and modern decor. Very friendly staff. And tasty pizzas.

Small main floor sitting area - nicely intimate. There evidently is a more generous upstairs dining room, but we did not investigate. Solid tuscan fare - pasta and salads. Wine list was a bit sparse. Wait staff attentive and knowledgeble. Cooking staff were eager to please regarding any dietary restrictions we had.

We enjoyed our meal here very much. Great quality food and a lovely setting. Pasta was delicious. Would recommend for a high-end Italian dining experience.

We travel to Portland often and this will be our new favorite restaurant. We decided to do the 5 course chef's choice. All five courses were spectacular. A squash soup with panchetta, a scallop appetizer that was to die for and then a pasta with a ragu duck sauce, a short rib that fell of the bone and then an amazing tiramisu. All this with excellent service and a fun lively atmosphere. We will be back for sure!

I would not recommend. It wasn’t exactly bad, but nothing special either, and not worth the price. The scallops were very undercooked (almost raw inside) and were nearly cold. The truffle tagliatelle lacked flavor. The steak was overly salty. While relatively small, the restaurant was loud. It also shook every time the light rail went by. The seating was also uncomfortable with firm bench seating that lacked seat depth. Not exactly a romantic experience.

Mucca continues to outperform other restaurants in their field. The food is meticulously, and deliciously, prepared. Well worth the effort of making a reservation or stopping by.

Very friendly staff, excellent food and a busy kitchen. You feel welcomed as though going to friends' for dinner. Excellent food - highly recommend it!

Visited with family and had the pleasure of sitting at the bar watching the chefs cook, undoubtably the best seat in the house.

This is a very relaxed restaurant on a neighborhoody side street. Impeccable and gracious service. Gorgeous decor, great for sitting outside in good weather. Very small and gets quite busy.

Very nice wine list, delicious food, good service. An intimate atmosphere. The feel of an older small Eoro restaurant.

I could write this in Italian, given that Italy is where I grew up and learned to cook. Mucca is an excellent restaurant. My friend and I were visiting the city and chose this eatery for dinner: the meal was excellent. We tried virtually half of the dishes on the menu: octopus, sea scallops, several pastas (including the one with rabbit ragù, which is highly recommended if it's on the menu when you visit), everything was delicious. The flavors were all very authentic, with very interesting personal twists. Great service, too.

Food is definitely fine with genuine Italian flavors. I didn’t get a memorable experience though because service was plain and smileless

My 14-year-old daughter and I had a fantastic dinner at the Chef's Counter at Mucca Osteria tonight! The restaurant was just a short walk from our hotel and several other hotels in downtown Portland. Service at the restaurant was great and the cuisine was terrific. We shared a 40-day aged steak as a special on the menu, which was delicious and a perfect size for two to share. I'd recommend dining at the Chef's counter, as this was a great experience for us.

Went here for a family dinner. The online reservation was unusual in requiring a credit card to hold the table. That, in addition to a cancellation charge of $50 per person if we failed to show up, raised my eyebrows (and expectations). We arrived to find a small and tastefully decorated space. I can see why they are able to accommodate only a very small number of walk-ins. The service was courteous and extremely helpful in suggesting appropriate wines and food choices. The food was, in a word, fabulous. We tried the tuna tartare and beef carpaccio appetizers-my son wanted to get two more helpings, he liked them so much! The entrees of Bisteca, pici pasta and tagliatelle with ragu were perfect in portion and taste. Dessert we chose, Tiramisu and affogatto, were exceptional. The wine list is extensive and we were very happy with the pairing recommended by our server. It was a wonderful experience, can’t wait to go back!!

We dined at Mucca last night to celebrate my sweetheart’s birthday. Everything from the prompt greeting to a perfect table to attentive, non-hurried pace to three splendidly prepared dishes made for a wonderful experience. Oftentimes when a special occasion is mentioned through Opentable, the occasion is forgotten, but Mucca made sure to mark the occasion with a specially crafted dessert that capped a memorable night. My heartfelt recommendation for this place goes out to anyone considering dining here. Five stars indeed.

We had excellent service and great food at Mucca. The tuna tar tar and panna cotta were our favorites. We were celebrating an anniversary and were treated to champagne and a dessert. Our water glasses were kept full. The noise level was loud and tables were in close proximity to each other. Overall, great food and service for a special anniversary dinner, the noise level kept it from being the romantic meal for which we hoped. We will return to enjoy this authentic Italian food.

Upstairs is a great location for a larger group. Food and service were terrific for business gathering. This is also a great venue for outdoor dining.

There is no better service in Portland. You will feel like you are royalty. The food is awesome and the wine selection is excellent.

Their agnolotti changes with the seasons but I prefer the asparagus topping. I could eat it daily. It is also the perfect place to celebrate your birthday and they give you a delicious delightful treat.

We went for a special family dinner and liked the look of the menu here. The service wasn’t the speediest in the world, almost crossed the line to being a little slow. When we asked for advice, the gentleman spoke very quickly and was difficult to hear. The tables are quite close together which contributes to the overall noise as well. Despite this, the food was delicious. Pasta courses were fresh and not too big, the beef and duck were well cooked. The tiramisu dessert was tasty but really a bit too big.

An unexpected excellent dining experience in downtown Portland. Attentive and thoughtful team service. We ordered from the a la carte menu because we did not have a large appetite, and we could not have been happier with our meals. Quail appetizer followed by duck (me) and halibut (my spouse). House-made amaretto gelato for dessert with grappa as a final touch (had a choice of four which made me very happy). Monica guided us to a delightful bottle of Italian red that complimented our meal. The restaurant reminded me of a bit of Italy stateside. No hesitation in recommending this fine osteria.

This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Portland. The service is excellent, the space is intimate - and I highly recommend sitting at the bar or on the first floor if there's only two of you. Burrata was heavenly for a starter, and it's hard not to order it when we go back. But all the starters are great and some can even work as an entree if you want a smaller meal. Pastas are perfection. I miss it already!

I'm from Alaska where fine dining is anything not out of a can . Just joking, I've been to enough restaurants to know a cut above when I experience it. And Mucca is that. All dishes were different from whatever you might prepare at home and mostly unique. I don't know Italian cuisine at all but I do know the taste, texture and presentation was exceptional. The cured King salmon with flying fish caviar (small eggs, those) had just enough salt to get the job done without covering the wonderful salmon taste. The scallops took a lot of skill to get nicely browned on one side and just-enough-done on the inside. Just well done food, and a huge wine selection by the bottle -do your homework before you go. Cannot say enough about the service. Plenty of waitstaff who were very, very attentive without being overly so. Friendly, but not chatty. Focused on presentation, attention and service. If you want a special night out this is a place to go. The ONLY comment I have about the food, and this is just my opinion, is that I did not like the sou vide beef. I found its consistency perfect but with little flavor, which is my opinion a drawback that most sou vide meats have. For me, sou vide is always about what you do with the meat after you take it out of the water bath -what finish you put on it. For the most part that's adding a sear to the meat, but that sear has to be done with some smoke getting to the meat plus some seasoning byond salt and pepper. But that's my opinion and I'm sure many will like what I did not. Don't miss this place.

The tortelli itself is reason to go here. The service is also first rate. The portions are generous. Hands down my favorite restaurant in Portland. I also really appreciate they allow corkage. Overall, the restaurant is a great value for quality, food, exceptional service and lovely atmosphere.

Pretty good overall - but not quite at 5 level. Service is prompt and friendly. Food was good - 2 of our 3 pasta dishes were like warm so that was a disappointment. The apps we got were good but not super memorable. The sommelier was very friendly and knowledgeable. Dessert was fine but again not memorable. Will definitely come back for the service and would recommend if you’re looking for authentic Italian.

I understand the difference between dining in and take out, but last night's food was very mediocre and neither my husband nor myself did finish it. Venison pasta was very dry a bit too salty, bland squash soup, no scallops for delivery as stated on menu, no fish as stated on menu. Friendly service and fast pick up. Won't be my first choice in the future, especially when in need of protein other than meat.

First the exceptional bits: The service was brilliant. One the best servers I have had. Attentive, he listened, his recommendations were excellent. Good man. Sadly I don’t recall his name but he was great. Great cocktails. My wife had a bellati (great orange cocktail) I had a cucumber martini... terrific. Wife had 2. We had two appetizers (foie gras and Sous vide duck breast) which I will put in the quibbles section below. The main courses were spectacularly designed and executed... (pomegranate squab and agnolotti alla carne) very flavorful, beautiful presentation, perfect bites. (And I don’t say that often). Desserts (almond semifredo, taramisu) were perfectly sized and texturally perfect. Pairing drinks were excellent. Quibbles: the foie gras was saltier that I have ever had. It was delivered with a lovely squab. But combined it was kinda awful. I think it was an error that it was over salted, I couldn’t eat it, they took it off the bill. The duck breast was great with all its components. It needs the hazelnut to blend it all together. There were 4 half hazelnuts on the plate. One I used them much better. Grate the nuts over the dish ... much better. I am giving 5 stars. The fixed all the issues before we left. As I said “mostly exceptional” brilliant.

Seriously this place never disappoints. Plenty of choice on the menu to keep going back. Service too is great!

My favorite restaurant in the city, I recommend having tuna belly. I think it's the best Italian restaurant in town, very nice staff.

Came in early for a dinner before an event at Schnitzer auditorium. Tables are nicely spaced with white tablecloths. Food choices very innovative with attention to presentation. Wine choices match up perfectly with food. Can get several small plates or starter plus mains. We have had several excellent dinners here. Servers are well informed and things moved along at a very nice pace

We selected Mucca for my husband’s birthday. We love Italy and this restaurant was perfect. Intimate, great food, and professional service. Our favorite restaurant in Portland. The special halibut was best ever! Thanks for contributing to making it a great celebration.

One of the best dining experiences ever. The food is stellar- beautifully prepared and presented. The ambiance is intimate, especially the upstairs balcony. Attentive wait staff that is knowledgeable about wine list. Recommend it highly- limited seating- so reserve ahead.

Our group of 6 enjoyed a few drinks and great food while sitting upstairs overlooking the entrance. Server was attentive and our meals were all tasty. Recommendation: Scallops and the steak!