We keep coming back, and here is why: there are few restaurants that invoke the sort of on going conversation that Ava Genes does. Well after our latest meal, we're still talking about it. The service, the meal, the experience. That's why we keep coming back! read more

We just moved in a few blocks away and really wanted to like this place but it's just off on too many things that make a spot THE spot. First try, we walked in at 10:04 on a Friday night and were happily (Disney villain like) turned away by the hostess. It says on the outside they close at 11 and we saw quite a few tables who were just sat and hadn't ordered yet but she said last seating is at 10. If I were the owner I'd be mad bc the food isn't cheap so having a gatekeeper turn away $100++ over being 4 minutes too late is wild. We finally got to try it and it was a big letdown. We did a walk in and were only given the option to sit at the bar or outside. Outside tables can't be pushed together so if there's more than 2 people you sit adjacent to each other. We sat at the bar and were mostly ignored. My water glass stayed empty (had to ask for a refill). Beyond the lackluster service, the food wasn't good either. The meatball appetizer was the saddest, tiniest 3 meatballs for $16. If they tasted great, I'd be ok with the price but they had a watery flavorless tomato sauce and they were tiny and tasted like vinegar. I've never had vinegar meatballs so I'm not sure if this is normal? We also tried 3 different pastas. The spaghetti dish tasted like what I imagine a children's menu butter noodles at an Olive Garden might taste like. It was literally butter on noodles with a hint of lemon. For almost $30. The farfalle with lamb was salty and the noodles were overly Al dente. I appreciate Al dente noodles but not when it's hard in the middle of the bow tie. Our friend got the tagliatelle and it was bland. Not much veggies. My husband was still hungry after eating his whole plate of spaghetti so he finished our friend's tagliatelle and a quarter of my farfalle. It shouldn't take 2+ plates of pasta and an appetizer to fill someone up. I ended up making food when I got home about 2 hours later bc I was still hungry. On top of it all, 20% gratuity is included so I don't think the servers are trying like they would if they had to earn their tips. Overall, one of the biggest letdowns in SE so far. If you want to pay a lot of money to be ignored and leave hungry, you will love it here. read more

See all

Great atmosphere - cozy yet bustling, refined yet rustic. Alas, 2.5 hours and $200+ later... it's still just pasta. Not the best you can get in Portland by a mile, especially at its price point, and not the worst. Just an incredible time and money suck. Even with lots of encouragement up front to order everything at once, there's a LOT of downtime - so much so that it leans on neglect, forcing you to desperately toss any impression of a request their way without the courtesy of a second pass at the menu, let alone thoughtful council. Don't order anything by the glass and expect to see it refilled promptly. That said, service is friendly and thoughtful - one of a very few places that seems to pay attention to reservation notes. I wouldn't say it's necessarily worthy of a 20% auto-gratuity, much less a tip above that, but at least the few people working there are well paid. read more

Sat me terribly for my bday dinner, right by the front door in winter. Honestly as a brown person the staff arent ever very thoughtful when I come in. But the food is pretty good, just not worth the service and price. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Pasta taken to another level. Besides having some types of pasta you don't see every day, the delicacy they put into each dish, and all the great quality ingredients, and the thoughtfulness in the preparation, it's unique! This is another restaurant where the team pays a lot of attention to our food restrictions and helps us to know what is more recommended based on what we can't eat, making notes in the menu calling out what would work better for us (I love when they do this and show attention to the customer). The salmon was amazing: well done as I ordered, and the greens were so flavorful! I'll definitely be back to this great location with a great team - from the hostess, waiter, and cooking team, they were all very knowledgeable and ready for all our questions. read more

See all

We came to Ava Gene's to celebrate a birthday. It had been on the list to try for a long time. Service was fantastic - attentive and our server was very informative, helping us navigate the menu and figure out what to order. We got the bread service, meatballs (which really should come with bread themselves since the sauce is so good), beets, fennel salad, beans, 3 pastas, the salmon and gelatos - 1 parsnip and 1 pistachio. The standouts for me were the beets which were smoked and paired so well with the orange - and the parsnip gelato. It wasn't very sweet and had a nice hint of cinnamon. I've never had parsnip in that form before. The pastas were good, but salty, even for a restaurant, especially compared to the non pasta dishes. It made me really wish we had some extra non seasoned veggies on the side to help with the saltiness. Overall a good meal, but spendy. For pasta I might go to one of the many other options but I did really like some of their other dishes and they are a Portland establishment. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is a beautiful restaurant and you can tell they pride themselves on quality ingredients. We went in on a Monday and apparently that's when they get their fresh half pig for all their pork dishes! I absolutely had to try one. I tried the ragu which was a bit salty and one note. However everything else I tried I really enjoyed. The broccolini was tasty and fishy, the beets with burrata were smoky and delicious. The bread was a crowd favorite. The ginger zero proof drink was nice and tart and strong which helped me with the ragu. I'll definitely be back, if not mostly for the delicious and fresh veggie apps. read more

See all

4.5 stars. Excellent service. Food is solid and unique here. MUST GET: - snap pea salad with crispy rice. This one has really interesting texture with crispy rice and crunchy snap pea. Some Vietnamese flavors in this dish. SOLID: calamari salad with ceci (chickpea): tender calamari with chickpea. SKIP: Rigatoni with gianciale (bacon). - large strips of bacon. A bit too salty. Carrot agnolotti - a bit too rich for my taste. Didn't love the sweetness inside carb. May need a bit more acidity or herb in this one to balance the flavor. The next table has the linguini with clams and shrimp and jalapeno. Looked delicious. We couldn't order it due to dietary constraints. Excellent sparking orange wine by the glass. La Collina 'Lunaris Secco', beautiful balance of acidity and a hint of sweetness. Went well with most food. Haven't had many sparkling orange wine in the past - this is one of the best I remember among sparkling red or sparkling orange, including rose champagne. Beautiful interior and the service was excellent (loved our waitress Erin who was friendly, great with kids, and great in antipating our needs). I didn't like the carrot agnotti. They subbed it out right away and accomodated ordering a half portion of pasta given that I showed up with 5.5yo and couldn't eat too much food. The bread was burnt with the calamari salad and they got new ones right away. read more

See all

This is a tough review to write. The restaurant has many elements that would make it a five star establishment: great service, good ambiance, reservations are available, good location, etc. However, the food itself is where it falls flat. The portions are tiny, it's very expensive, and the flavors are not hitting the mark. We tried the broccolini, it was very salty and not much to it. We also tried a few pasta dishes and the pork ragu was very disappointing. A ragu is a slow-cooked and beautifully rich sauce. What I received was dry noodles with a sprinkle of dry pork crumble which was incredibly salty. This place looks great on paper, but if there are many other establishments in Portland with excellent food! read more

It's been many years since I have had the opportunity to visit this restaurant. Luckily it is as good if not better than I remember it. The service was exceptional. We went there for March dining month, but I was the only one at the table that got the March dining month menu so it was nice to be able to sample a variety of dishes. The beet salad I had with Barata cheese was the best thing next to the tiramisu dessert. My friends little ears pasta with clams and some pancetta was out of this world. Yes it's expensive but definitely worth it. I hope to be able to go back. read more

Some really nice Italian food in a comfortable space with friendly service. We tried several dishes and all the desserts, and would run back anytime. Excellent execution on the food, and superb ingredient quality. We will definitely be returning for more the next time we are in Portland. read more

See all

A word that I reserve for only the finest experiences, sublime! For as next level as this experience is, it was also extremely friendly unapproachable. The mood in there is light yet professional. They have a wonderful wine steward by the name of Beatrice that I highly recommend taking advantage of their exceptional knowledge. Now for the food. We ordered everything! The pasta is so stopping. Velvety, flavorful, beautiful, thoughtfully prepared. You honestly can't go wrong. Clearly with everything that we ate and drank, we spent more on dinner than we normally do, but it was worth every penny. And I can't wait to go back again. read more

See all

Staff was super attentive , we did the reservation on ressy we got their 10 min early and we were seated right away. Very good job in explaining food plate sizes and not pushy at all on trying to sell you food . Every meal had new utensils .the also cleaned the table and all waiters stopped by to fill water and make sure the area was clean ! Drinks were really good and over all the price was fair ! read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

My husband and I came here on a Saturday evening. We had made reservations through Ressy. When we got there, we were greeted nicely at the door. Not long after we were taken to our seat. We sat at the kitchen bar. We were able to see the kitchen staff preparing and cooking the food. It was a fun experience. We ordered a little bit of everything. The food came out in a timely manner and we loved it all. The pork chop was indeed the star of the show. read more

See all

What a cute little spot. When we first walked in, the vibe was cozy with warm lights and a welcoming atmosphere. The food was delicious, and the bottle of wine we shared was amazing. Portions were a little small, but everything was full of flavor. The service was great, and everyone was so friendly and helpful. We'll definitely be coming back again. read more

See all

If you are on the fence, lemme just tell to do it. Sure it's a little pricey but the quality of the food is amazing. Tips for a good experience: 1) Make a reservation. This place is so busy and for good reason. Do it at least a week ahead. 2) It's family style so bring your friends, share, and split the bill. Not sure how much to order? Ask your wait staff. For our party of 5, we were told we ordered humbly, which is a nice way to say you need a little more. 3) Parking is difficult but there is a tiny lot nearby shared with another restaurant. Failing that park on the residential streets about a block away. 4) it gets loud, but don't shout at each other as that will make things worse. 5) Portions are not huge but surprisingly filling you without overeating. Don't expect leftovers. 6) It's dimly lit for the ambiance, so use the flashlight on your smartphone to read your menu. 7) They have a coat checkin. Use it. It's warm inside so not having to deal with your coat is nice. 8) they have still and sparking water. I love the option of sparking water. It's complimentary too! The flavors are phenomenal. Perfect textures, flavors, aromas. Enjoy every bite and take your time. This place is not to be missed and quite an experience you won't forget. I can't wait to go back. The menu is seasonal so always changing. read more

See all

Had an incredibly memorable dinner here years ago when I was having a major chef-crush on Joshua McFadden and his vegetable book. I have dinner out every couple months with a friend and we usually go to a mid-priced restaurant and have a lovely meal. We planned for a slightly larger group this month and I wasn't sure if our friends would be up for this, but we're all glad we had dinner here. The restaurant is beautiful, but coming and going, it feels pretty small and tight. It's also rather loud, although once we were seated in our little corner table, it wasn't so bad. I'm guessing those in the middle tables might have more issues with noise? Service was on point and friendly. We weren't super hungry, but since everything is family style, we weren't sure how much to order. Our server was so diplomatic - she did feel that our order was "humble" and suggested we add another primo or secondo. We did and every plate was fully cleaned. The food to me is indescribable - its very well made, tasty and creative. I always think even the simplest foods in Europe are so good and this restaurant is one of the few that rivals food in Europe for me. I will return and hopefully soon. I told my friend that I simply want to come back and order the entire vegetable line up with some bread or polenta next time. read more

See all

Sadly, this was disappointing. Service: Good, attentive, and generally informative but also a tad misleading due to items on the menu being very non-authentic. I'd expect someone to tell us if a dish is more likely to taste like Thai rather than Italian! Ambiance: it's casual and like your average restaurant but for how pricey this place is, I'd expect a lot more. Food: The tiramisu is really good. But that's about it. We had two of their pastas and neither of them were the kind that I'd want to go back for. We perhaps made the wrong choice with our first course but the menu makes things sound different than they taste. And finally, please don't put a candle on a dessert and wish someone for their special occasion if you're going to leave the item on their bill. I don't think people expect you to take items off their bill, but being pretentious about it by placing a candle on dessert, when a dinner for two costs $200 is a tad off-putting to say the least. I'd say there's plenty of places in Portland (even just on division) that are better so skip this one. You're not missing anything (you can always take home their Tiramisu, which, to be fair, is good). read more

We had dinner here a few weeks ago for my friend's birthday and enjoyed every little thing. The service was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The ambiance was relaxed and the lighting was a bit dark. We started with some lovely bread and butter. Then, cocktails and chatting & we ordered some starters and a bottle of wine. I know just a little about wine so my wine enthusiast friend selected a bottle of red. It tasted good to me.. And it really opened up after a little while and paired nicely with the very rich pasta.. So much good food and good times! We will definitely be back! Thanks read more

See all

fantastic service for an evening cocktail! enjoyed chatting with the bartender, such fun + creative cocktails! got the olives too which were amazing! love the building & interiors! will be coming back for dinner read more

See all

Interior is so well done, you step off the street and right into a new little world. The staff were so pleasant, dialed and focused, they all worked so perfectly as a team. For 4 adults, we shared the following: 2 orders of the calamari octopus antipasti, 1 order arancini, 1 gem lettuce salad, 1 kale apple walnut salad, 1 lamb pappardelle, 1 rigatoni and 1 crab garganelli. For dessert we also split the tiramisu and a scoop of dark chocolate gelato. Everything was delicious and the 3 pastas were unique and well-made. My favorite was the lamb pasta, the meat was just falling apart tender and I loved how fresh herbs were laminated into the ribbons of the pasta. The tiramisu also stole my breath, it was simply the best tiramisu I've ever tasted. The chocolate gelato was outstanding also, so decadent, creamy and probably made in-house. The guys in my party all enjoys cans of local Living haüse beers, although there is no beers available on draft. I tried a strawberry flavored mocktail but was somewhat underwhelmed. I did appreciate that both still and sparkling water are complimentary at every table. We will definitely be coming back for celebratory dinner or date nights. If you go, I'd advise making a reservation for your party, the entire restaurant filled up quickly after opening. read more

Ava Genes - Gem Lettuce Salad - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Their menu changes regularly with local seasonal ingredients and you can tell because everything is so fresh and delicious. Fairly small inside but very cute interior and on a nice shopping street. First time here but I'd go again, went with my parents and they've been a few times! read more

See all

We found the food to be salty, and for some dishes, way too salty. Arancini is a ball of risotto coated with breadcrumbs and deep fried. It's Sicilian street food and about the size of a orange. I have not had it, but have had suppli, which is the Roman version. The Ava Genes arancini appetizer is four pretty,but small balls. They're not bad, but balance between crust and filling is definitely different from the real thing. I would prefer more filling and less crust the way Italians prepare their suppli and arancini. read more

The cavatelli was one of the best pastas I've ever tasted. The meatballs too. Burrata with beet salad was spectacular. Expensive special occasion spot read more

My favorite place for special meals. There are so many vegetarian and vegan choices. The service is first rate and the ambience is great for a first date or any other occasion. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

At least 10 years since I've been here but was in the area for a show and decided to check it out again. Service was top notch, everything was delicious, and they got me out in time for our show as requested. Will be back again soon. read more

Delicious food and warm service and ambience. Wished we lived in the neighborhood so we could walk in anytime!

First time dining at Ava Gene's tonight, the restaurant is nicely decorated and was dimly lit so would be good for date night or intimate evening with friends. Service was great and the host handling reservations was very accommodating. Our meal was just alright, unfortunately did not really live up to the hype or we visited on an off night. Our server Beatrice was patient with us and helpful with suggestions and making sure we had enough food for our table of four. We were told to order 10 - 12 items as they're smaller portions and I believe we ordered 11. I think we all just snacked on everything so we weren't overly full by the end of it and had leftovers to take home. To me that's a sign that we were a little underwhelmed with the food as our group usually does a good job of clearing our plates. In my opinion the appetizers kind of stole the show - the best thing we ordered was the grilled shrimp with crispy rice. Extremely flavorful and everyone at the table favored that dish. We also ordered the arancini, olives, bread platter, meatballs, burrata, beets, duck ragu, the zucchini casarecce, the cappelacci, snapper and the chicken. I did enjoy the chicken & snapper was just alright. Overall three stars for food, five stars for attentive service and how accommodating they were. read more

See all

I have been wanting to come here for years and have been waiting for an occasion special enough to justify a visit. Last night I walked by, saw some open spots and decided to seize the day. I'm so glad I did! (And so grateful the host squeezed me in without a reservation!) Being Italian, I figured my first visit should test their take on the classics so I had the Meatball Antipasto and the Spaghetti. I instantly realized why this has been a favorite dining spot for so long. The meatballs were luscious and the spaghetti was delightful. All the flavors and textures were brought up to a higher level. What a feast for the senses! Atmosphere and service were great. I will definitely return to explore more of their menu. This is a place to discover how flavorful, delightful, and enriching food can be! read more

Ava Genes - Spaghetti and Meatballs - Scrumptious! - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Alright guys I've been on a mission to try "portlands best Italian" and this was high on the list. The decor did not disappoint but the attitude and atmosphere was quite arrogant, ruined it for me really, The people and some staff. You might as well eat from your neighbors plate you are seated soo close lol It was the "oh you've never been here before (weird eye roll)....." when we were seated that left a weird taste in my mouth. The staff seems like they kind of worship the place which is good for the establishment but they also include a 20% on the bill. Service was fine The wine list is not large which I like, I hate having a million options, gives me anxiety sometimes. I was excited to try the wagyu tartare and ohhhh boy was it disappointing. I hate hate hate when you order tartare or similar and it doesn't come with bread, a cracker, something! If I would have known I would have ordered the $14 bread. It did have thin pieces of cheese garnish on the top and some small rice crackers? not sure if this was meant to be the cracker? Maybe just put them on the side and add more? The beef was cut into tiny cubes, gave me more of a tuna vibe. I definitely did not like the giant blob of mayonnaise in the middle. I would not order it again. Oh and I don't know what the point or why half of the dish was covered in a dark powder We shared the ORECCHIETTE with Fennel sausage, kale, fennel pollen. It was good but not great, there was a pool of oil on the plate when we were done and I think we both ended up with heartburn later. Not bad, I would say better than ok. But for $29.. The PAPPARDELLE with Venison Ragù Bianco, rosemary, was um a mouth full of rosemary. I love rosemary but damn! $29, I would pass next time I think the best thing was the ice cream I got for free as a surprise at the end. I appreciated that. Unfortunately we were still hungry and headed another place. Would I come back? Sure. Is it one of the best? I would say it's a good try but I tried another Italian spot the next day that was 10000000% better. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

We were lucky enough to be sat not long before the restaurant was set to close, which was so nice of them. Our server was sweet, but there were multiple times where she left us without water on the table. I was really hoping for a creamy pasta when I heard we were going to get Italian, but this menu really didn't do it. They didn't have a single creamy sauce option, she recommended the venison pappardelle as the closest thing, but there was really nothing creamy about it, and the tiny pieces of ground venison were so minimal, it was barely a thing. The bread basket was OK, it was more like crackers and one edible piece of sourdough that didn't really go too far, even with two bread baskets among our nine people. I didn't have any cocktails, but my friend said they were good. Probably wouldn't come back unless they changed the menu, none of the pastas really got raving reviews from anyone in our group. read more

See all

Such a lovely experience beginning to end. Our server, Beatrice, and the restaurant's sommelier, made this culinary affair so relaxing and special. My husband, and I were celebrating our belated 33rd wedding anniversary, and this being our first time at AG's we asked for guidance in selecting our courses and wine pairings - this decision made it easy to sit back and be wowed with every course and wine selection. As others have mentioned, the lighting is dim, but it made for a very leisurely experience, and I loved it!! . Definitely will be back. read more

See all

Always a delightful experience at this restaurant. The food and service is outstanding! We've tried most of the pastas on their menu and you really can't go wrong with any of them. The tagliatelle with the duck ragù is one of my favorites. Also, don't miss out on their pistachio gelato and cannoli! read more

See all

I feel bad for writing this but there is something missing at Ava Gene's. For $230 for 2 people I expect a pretty stellar experience, from the food to the service to the ambiance. The food was absolutely fine. Not spectacular, but no complaints. My 5 ounce piece of halibut was $49. No sides or anything, just the piece of fish. A bowl of creamed corn was another $11 and a bowl of stewed beans another $11. Husband's pork was listed as MP, which turned out to be $5 an ounce, or $70. Tasty, but Exorbitant. Wine was $20 a glass, and pretty small pour. Service was fine, but staff are dressed pretty ratty. Lots of untucked shirts or dirty shirts or just not looking very professional. Fine at a lower price point but at $100-150 per person I just have higher expectations. Ambiance was good. I like how the restaurant is decorated with all the wood and leather. read more

Let me start by saying that Hazel and Trevor both made this first time at Ava Genes an amazing fun and delicious experience. Their friendly and engaging personalities made all the difference as we enjoyed going through the menu and few new drinks at the bar. Besides the service the absolute most stand out item we enjoyed was the chicken liver mousse with the focaccia bread was to die for. The tagliatelle with duck ragu and garganelli with pork ragu were both delicious and had us excited to try more items the next time we are able to visit. Thanks Hazel, Trevor, and all the staff at Ava. read more

Ava Genes - Best dirty Martini ever... - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Service is mediocre and good quality is just ok. We made a reservation and the older lady (maybe the owner ) was not friendly at all. The tables are extremely close together, therefore hard to have a conversation due to the noise level. read more

Celebrated granddaughter's graduation. Perfect in every way and plan to return just because.

Returned here last night for my birthday. What an amazing experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp and rice, mushroom toast, chicory salad, carrot dish, seafood bucatini and butternut squash pasta dishes. Our server/sommelier Beatrice was amazing and the ambience at the chefs table/kitchen bar was delightful. It's a pricey spot but absolutely worth it for a special occasion. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Sat at the Chef's counter and had an absolutely tantalizing meal! When you sit here, it's a fixed menu of several courses that come out with enough time in between for you to savor and enjoy each. All while watching the magic these hard working chefs create. Courses are served "family style" even if it's just two of you. After ordering a lovely bottle of Chianti, which the sommelter decanted for us, the first course arrived. It was a thick slab of delicious, crusty bread with a white bean paste, flavored with guanciole and topped with black olives, hints of lemon. From the first bite, we were smiling. Delish! So many layers of complimenting flavors. When we arrived, I mentioned to our server that I had been looking forward to arancini, but they weren't on the Chef's counter set menu. Magically, 2 deep fried rice balls with a wedge of lemon appeared. When we cut into them, the rice and cheese oozed out, just like my Nana used to make! Two different salads were served next. One an Asian pear with sliced hard ricotta, which was crisp and refreshing. The other was radicchio with toasted hazelnuts. Both were very good and plentiful. First course is always pasta and they gave us two seasonal varieties. There was homemade tortellini stuffed with squash with walnut butter and fig leaf sauce. It was slightly sweet, but not too sweet. Definitely a treat as I can't imagine getting this anywhere but here or Italy. Next came the rye cavatelli, my favorite pasta shape made even more Al dente by the addition of rye flour, which stood up to the smoky sauce of various mushrooms. This was my favorite dish of the night. I could eat a huge bowl of this cavatelli. Already full, the second course arrived. Babette steak made from washugyu beef topped with roasted and marinated red peppers. A bowl of greens sautéed in olive oil and garlic dressed with lemon and olives was the accompaniment. The steak was rare and melted in your mouth. The greens were fresh and delicious, reminded me of how my Nana would cook them. For desert - yes, they expected us to have room for dessert - was a small scoop of fig sorbetto and a scoop of olive oil gelato. The fig sorbetto was a refreshing palette cleanser and bursting with flavor. The olive oil was creamy and tasted similar to vanilla with a slightly different mouthfeel. And as if that wasn't enough, they brought us each a slice of the traditional rainbow cookie, three layers of thin cake with jam in between covered in dark chocolate ganache. A very traditional petit four with the colors of the Italian flag. Along side this, was a large pignoli cookie. Made of almond flour with every bit of space covered in pignoli nuts, this was another star of the meal. I brought both home to enjoy for breakfast the next day with coffee. They did not disappoint. Service was impeccable. polite, informative, there when you needed something but never in your face. Dishes and utensils were cleared in between courses, clean silverware and dishes provided for the next, the counter wiped down. We wanted for nothing! Ava Genes was one of my favorite restaurants when they first opened in Portland and I was sad when they closed. I had forgotten they reopened about a year ago, and while other reviews say they had some opening pains, we experienced none of that. It was a first class experience from the moment we arrived until we left. read more

See all

Great seasonal menu during winter. They do pastas really well. Got the rabbit pappardelle which was perfect. Drinks were solid, nothing extraordinary. Lovely atmosphere, good for date night or group outing read more