the menu and the food. Great spot for live music and dancing, but make sure you eat before you go.

We were wowed!!! We sat at the chef's counter and it was magical. All the dishes were family style so we were able to try many. The arancini was spicy and crisp, beet salad is NOT what you think and our favorite! read more

Ava Genes - Double smoked Beet salad - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Over the years I've been to Ava Gene's a number of times. I'm sad to say that this will be our last visit. The food overall was fine but the server was overtly pretentious, repeatedly stating that we hadn't ordered enough food, which was not accurate. My entire party was put off by the pretentious tone. For all of the food that we apparently didn't order enough of, our bill came to $400. It just wasn't an enjoyable fine dining experience. read more

Yummy food and drinks, beautiful atmosphere, knowledgeable staff. Would definitely go again

Our first time here, but recommend by serious foodie friends. We enjoyed the appetizers and entrees. A large staff of warm and energetic team members paid close attention to our needs. Best of all was my USS Oregonian mixed drink. The best cocktail I have ever had at a restaurant. Well played. read more

Ava Genes is my first pick when I want to celebrate something or someone special, because everything about this place makes it the perfect choice! The food is outstanding - flavorful, creative, in generous portions. The service is knowledgeable without being snobby, and attentive to the exact right degree. And the space itself is so warm and wonderful - you feel like you're in a centuries-old Italian eatery, not a relatively newly constructed building! I went last night with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, and it was seriously just perfect. read more

Not only was the food AMAZING, but the staff was INCREDIBLE. The chefs were so fun to talk to (we were at the chefs counter). They answered all of our questions and were beyond friendly. You can taste the local ingredients and care put into their food. We will be coming back soon! read more

Ava Genes - Pork loin - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Solid and memorable experience here when we visited Portland. My wife and I came here on our last night in Portland and it was definitely a hit. We ordered the black linguine and the bolognese and they were absolutely amazing. The waited recommended a bottle of Chanti and it paired well with our meal. The cannoli was the perfect ending to our dinner. They even had a coat check when you walked it which was a nice surprise. We will definitely be going back. read more

Incredibly disappointed in this place after all the hype. Mediocre flavors. Way too salty, overpriced beyond belief. Our market price pork chop turned out to be $110. The server should have informed us we would be spending this much. We shared every course between 2 of us and spent almost $300. Mandatory 20% tip. For that kind of cost this was not a fine dining experience. The music was blaring so loud we had to shout and the table next to us was so close we were practically touching elbows. Portland has so many good food options I don't know how this even flies here. read more

Our visit to Portland would not be complete without going to Ava Genes! We ate at the bar..what a fun experience! We always enjoy doing that & getting to talk to the chefs preparing the food. And their food is incredible! 'Delicious' doesn't describe it...you'll just have to see/taste for yourself. read more

Yummy food but let me ask you this question. My friends and I split a couple pastas as seen in the photo. Good quality food, small portions, very expensive. So my question is, is it worth it? The total ended up being 290$, tip not included. I am a young person so this left a dent in my friends and my wallet. The food was high quality, and I do recommend just keep in mind that the price is sneaky. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A group of us were celebrating a friend's birthday and it had been awhile since we ate at Ava Genes. What we ordered: burrata, arancini, greens and herbs, fusili bolognese and tortellini. Burrata - while good it was wasn't amazing and the portion size was less to be desired. Each of us basically had one small bite with lots of greens leftover. The best appetizers were the arancini - perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and heavenly on the inside, packed with flavor. The portion size was 3 but since there were 4 is us she added an extra - thank you staff!! The green salad was good, but again nothing to write home about. Both the pasta entrees were also good but portion size could be larger. We did save the best for last - we got three desserts (I forgot to take a photo of the chocolate). They all were amazing hands down. The ambience was nice although it did get so dark as the night went on. Your see many tables with their phone lights turned on so they could read the menu. The bathrooms were also pitch black too! Staff were helpful, informative and so pleasant. read more

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My partner and our 14-year old daughter and I had a nice meal here the other day. We sat outside. Honestly I was hoping for a 5-star review, though to be honest it wasn't particularly outstanding. I don't really remember too much of what we had (it was about a week ago) -- I do recall particularly enjoying a pasta made with sweet potatoes (it stands out because sweet potatoes aren't usually something I enjoy, but this was excellent). Service was friendly enough. The plates are quite small, and the price can add up. I've heard that the indoor seating at the open kitchen/bar is really where it is at, so I'd be open to coming back to try that sometime and perhaps it'd warrant an extra star. read more

Obnoxious, pretentious, entitled service personnel. Food is excellent, and wildly expensive. Dark, make sure to bring a flashlight if you want to see how much of your paycheck you're spending. I won't be back. read more

Ava Gene's had been on my radar for months, but I have a tendency to book last minute and this is the sort of spot you need to make reservations well in advanced. Finally, planned ahead of time and made a reservation for 4. Parking was a little bit of a struggle. Had to circle around, but luckily got street parking alongside the restaurant. We were seated quickly. Tables are rather close together and venue was fully booked in this open restaurant, so it was on the louder side. Nevertheless, it's cozy and buzzing with patrons engaged in their conversations. Server stopped by and gave us a guidance as to what to order. The menu has such diverse ingredients of their dishes, it can be difficult to imagine the taste combinations; thus, I appreciated the guidance from our server. I love being adventurous with taste combos, unfortunately, one member of our group was not, so I attempted to be diplomatic with my choices, even though they weren't always my first choices. Antipasti Spuntini: Burrata, cipollini agrodolce, green beans, fried onions Fritti: Gnocco Fritto, prosciutto, apple butter, sarvecchio, chile, sage. Pane: Sheep cheese, tomatoes, garlic, chile. Giardini: Greens, herbs, flowers, sauvignon blanc vinegar Primi: Cavatelli, wild mushrooms, savory, parmigiano Dessert: Spiced ricotta cannolo-roasted plums, pumpkin seed brittle Everything was unique, fresh, and tasty. Finally, the menu is constantly changing with similar dishes but changing to fresh seasonal ingredients, so you will never get bored and will have to keep returning. I need to go back for a table for 2. read more

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We had a lovely dinner, perfectly paced, food was impeccable. We created happy memories for our daughter's 16th with a party of 6, and the service was top notch. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Ava Genes fires on all cylinders!!! We had reservations at 4:30 ( when they open ) and were able to find parking close and conveniently - which is a huge plus in Portland dining. I love the outdoor aesthetic - it has a New York Hidden Gem' kind of vibe. The inside is beautiful. The decor, ambiance and feel inside is fantastic! It brought me back to some of the eateries we dined in - in Paris! The hostess was kind, checked our coats ( free of charge ) and we were seated promptly. They even accommodated to moving us farther from the entrance door ( away from the bustle and hustle ) without a second thought. The bathrooms are beautiful - my aesthetic is a modern take on a vintage classic. They have tons of aroma candles throughout the restaurant, bathrooms, and tables. The staff is amazingly attentive // filling your water as soon as it hits halfway, checking in, and attentive to any questions. We ordered: - Straciatella, Rosa di Isontina, Ceci, Bottargo, Olio Nuevo : a homemade bread ( some of the best I've ever had ) with a house made spreadable cheese, with garnish's. YUM! Delicious! - The Cabbbage salad, with Salami and varied garnish's: Yumm! I could have had a couple plates of this as an entree! - House Made Focaccia with Pesto: Fantastic breadd , would have loved some oil or lemon in the Pesto - Cavetelli, Pork Sausage, Leeks, Parmigano: Amazing flavor profile! - Spaghetti with Purple Clams: loved the Flavors and lemon accent This is an establishment that holds itself in high regard - which transcends through its ambiance, staff etiquette, high end ingredients, and flavor profile! Fantastic! read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

If there were only more stars I could give this fabulous place. Where to begin? I'd just returned from 10 days eating in Italy and Ava's menu was beyond anything I experienced there! We encouraged our waiter Leda to select our appetizers and entrees! Excellent choices! And, Gabe came over to help us with the perfect wine! The cocktails are unique and worth exploring! The bread beyond - and I'm not a bread eater usually! The espresso martini is the best I've ever had. The dining experience felt so cozy and homey! I took my daughters for their birthdays - the one day that they're the same age. We never felt rushed to leave or move on to the next course. I would so highly recommend this place..and will be trying to book it again this weekend. I'm driving 3 hours to eat here! Says it all right... read more

My first visit to Ava Gene's for birthday dinner. My husband been to Ava Gene's before few times. He had prior experiences to compare to. 5 star for services, service is fantastic. They are very attentive and really tailor to the speed to enjoy the dinner without being rushed. 1 star for food, overall soaked with salt. We order Beet salad, burrata cheese as starter. Beet salad had good flavors but too salty, it really ruin other flavors within to experience. The Burrata must have been soaked in salt, it was absolutely salty I couldn't even finish my bite. Cheese looked to have great texture but with rocks of salt on the burrata cheese just ruined my pallet. Pastas (black ink and Agnolotti) was cooked to ok. We did have to request no salt on our pasta, but it was still quiet salty for me. Overall I have to say my first experience was under impressed. Food was so salty overall I couldn't enjoy it. Though my husband finished most of the food (he hate to waste). We struggled with bloat and we're thirsty throughout the night. I think the ambiance is worth to visit but the food I think you can find decent Italians at other places. Complete disappointment and likely I don't see myself revisiting. read more

Service was fantastic...atmosphere was really fun and relaxed. Food and drinks were amazing. Almost five stars...save for a bit of upselling (personal peeve) and pasta was far too salty...which is a shame because the flavors were so wonderful. Probably my favorite restaurant I've been to in Portland. read more

Excellent farm to table. Ever changing menu. It will change everytime you go! Service was very friendly and attentive. Overall a wonderful evening with a group of friends. I recommend sharing plates! read more

Purely based on food, 4 stars. Had the gnocco fritto, borlotti bean, and cappelletti. The borlotti bean was something I have not tried so was refreshing to try something different and new. I loved the garnishes on the cappelletti (asparagus, lemon, cheese, etc) but was a bit disappointed in the stuffing, it was just the ricotta. Wished it had more as the garnishes were really superb. Another reason I took off a star was that the bean was a little salty but overall the experience was awesome. The wait staff were very knowledgeable and welcom read more

This resturant is very nice and classy. All the food was delicious and I enjoyed it. My only complaint would be that the menu was a bit hard to read and the food came out slowly. Other then that it was great! The service was also very good. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Phenomenal food and service! The bread! Well, everything really. It was pricey but so worth it. We all loved the atmosphere and our food as well. Thank you, we will be back! read more

First things first, how dare you!! (I will explain) I had the hard decision of choosing to eat here for dinner one day or brunch the next day. I chose brunch because I was tired and the Uber ride from where I was staying would be too much at night. So I chose brunch. Would you hate me if I said I never loved burrata until this restaurant? Would you hate me if I said that I didn't buy a mimosa because I was afraid it would take away from all I could eat? If so, hate me all you want. You see, I came to the restaurant because I was interested in their "Tagliatelle alla Carbonara, Pancetta, Egg, Pecorino, Scallion." But I didn't choose that because my wise and brilliant server directed me to the most popular item with was the burrata with soft scrambled eggs, Hollandaise, and sourdough. It was one of the best decisions of my life. Even now I show friends and very loose acquaintances photos of the dish (see attached) to encourage them to visit when they are in Portland. It is just that beautiful. In addition, I also ordered the babka waffle with poppy seed and maple butter AND the "Olive English Muffin, Beet and Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese, Capers, Roe, Sprouts" I was so satisfied by my choices. I had plans to brunch hop to other places due to my limited time in PDX but I couldn't do that now due to all that I devoured. For that, I tell this restaurant how dare you! But seriously, do come with a friend. It makes finishing these pieces easier. Though I was told that it was the type of restaurant to change this based on availability/freshness, they will still have the standards on the menu. I will definitely come back for the tagliatelle one day read more

Ava Genes - Burrata, soft scrambled eggs - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We first started with the little gems salad. I was super excited because it sounded so amazing. When the salad was brought to us the lettuce looked as if it was drowning in the dressing. The dressing itself was delicious but it overpowered the entire dish. After a couple of bites it became too much. The second dish was the linguine (mussels). The linguine was perfectly al dente! But, the pasta was too salty. I felt like every bite I took I was shoveling salt into my mouth. Don't get me wrong this place is tasty. But I believe my overall experience would have been amazing without the over kill of the salt and dressing. read more

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My husband and I found this place while apartment hunting in the area and were drawn in by the beautiful ambiance! Ava's is gooooorgeous and I'd recommend grabbing a drink here for the setting alone. We sat at the chefs counter which was a really cool experience. The kitchen is a calm, collected and almost zen-like well oiled machine and it's fascinating to watch. We each had a cocktail, both unique and well balanced. We really enjoyed our appetizers (the buratta and the beet salad with a hazelnut aoli) and felt like they were both really solid choices. The buratta was salty but it made sense with the flavor profile of the dish and we didn't think too much of it otherwise. However, my husband ordered the cacio e Pepe and I ordered the tagliatelle bolognese and both of our dishes were extreeeeemely salty. Now, we both really enjoy salt so we were able to bear it, but truthfully, it was too much even for a salt lover. I'm not sure if they over salt their pasta water or if it happens during the sauce making process, but it was potent. The cook on the pasta was lovely and everything else about the food and the dishes themselves was great (although it is quite expensive for the serving sizes) but the over salting of 3/4 of our order is the reason I have to give a 4 star review over a 5. read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The atmosphere of Ava Gene's is amazing and it is what it is, an upscale Italian eatery. The food was incredibly rich with the flavor that it's intended to taste like and I find it takes itself too seriously. Portion sizes were a tad bit small for my liking but too large for any reasonable leftovers. My favorite menu items were the Charred Cabbage and the Spaghetti All'amatriciana read more

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Excellent food. Exemplary service. Not inexpensive, but worth it. Pasta cooked "al dente" as most prefer. I prefer it a bit softer, but flavors were just right. We enjoyed the smoked beet salad, tagliatelle, duck and a deconstructed cheesecake, cocktails and wine. All better than any meal I've enjoyed in Italy or any other Italian restaurant. We live nearby and will enjoy this restaurant often. read more

This was our first time at Ava Gene's and we had shared with our native Italian friend that we were headed there. She said the food was good, but the service was poor. We were hoping she might have had a one off experience, but sadly she was right. The food is wonderful. The pasta's are delicious, the chicken liver mousse was perfect, and I was shocked at how fantastic the beets and mustard gelato was. But that's where it began and ended... The service is beyond subpar....especially because they include a 20% gratuity regardless of how good or bad it is. And it was disappointing. 1. We ordered cocktails, and they came out after our antipasti. The bar may have been backed up...but it took about 20 mins to get them. They were really good for sure though. 2. Our server started off so strong, she was lovely and explained all the nuances of the menu ... We ordered and then she did a solid slow fade. By the end of our secondi, she was actively clearing dishes from every table around us, chatting with them, offering desserts (most of those tables had arrived after us)...and we sat there for a solid 20+ mins again waiting for someone to come clear our plates and offer us dessert. She walked by us without acknowledging us at all at least 3-4 times. Finally, we had to ask a different server to provide us with the check and clear our table. We wanted dessert, but we were with our parents and by 9pm, they were fading fast. After the table was cleared, and the check was requested, we waited more...as our server walked past us clearing tables and delivering checks. My father in law finally had to get up again and go to her and ask for the check. She delivered it and then hurriedly disappeared mentioning that the 20% grat was included. We wouldn't have given a 20% grat for that, but i guess you can perform however you want if it's baked in there. Food - 5 stars for sure Service - 1 star Probably won't recommend or return based on the disinterest the staff had in helping us. Such a shame! read more

We just keep coming back here again and again! It's my top choice for a special occasion. My goodness, the service is incredible. They are attentive and personable, and do a beautiful job of explaining the menu. There is a real sense of pride that they seem to take in the food they serve. It's a gorgeous setting as well - dimly lit, decorated with class and interest. But THE FOOD is out of this world. I've been several times and it remains some of the best pasta I've had in my life. So delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned, and always so complex and interesting. This past visit, the burrata with apples and mushroom chili crisp was a highlight - I was licking the spoon. The triangoli filled with celery root in a cream sauce.... Just wow. If you haven't gone, it's an experience you need to have, and well worth the cost. read more

We made reservations for 6:30 Saturday night. We arrived a bit early they seated us straight away. We had our choice of sparkling or still water, nice to have the option. We were offered wine from an extensive wine list I saw barbaresco on a full page didn't take time to see the barolos or nebbiolo wines. But quite a few. We had probably seven different wait staff tend to us during our meal. The kitchen staff sous chefs, sauciers and chefs putting on a show dressed in Italian fashion. Our table was cleared several times to make room the next course with new plates and The chefs counter was buzzing with content and cheerful customers enjoy their experience. The anti pasta prosciutto was delicate and sweet not too salty. Heirloom tomato salad and the dressing was superb. Salad greens had a nice mix and slight hint of a dressing. The main pasta the squid ink with mussels and clams was tasty al dente maybe a bit salty delicious just the same. Next was the bavette steak a bit difficult to cut but melted when it touched the palette a bit salty too. More of a note that said oh this has some salt. Eggplant puree went well with the bavette which might be in season in July but a bordeaux sauce would have brought that to another level. We had our final addio with another wait staff we had not seen until then. Until next time! read more

The food is fabulous, but the staff's enthusiasm really makes the experience. From the host to the food servers, all show a love of food that is extraordinary. Beatrice, the sommelier, was a stand out. Her knowledge of wine was second only to her desire to learn more. Our faves: Antipasti: The eggplant caponata was a surprise, & delicious. Giardino: The beet salad was simple, yet exceptional. Pasta: We went there for the pasta stampate (corzetti), but were wowed by the dicl tagliatelle. The oeach dessert was a flan served with a raspberry gelato. read more

Last minute reservation for my B-day dinner. The tables were fully booked but they got us seats at the chef's counter, had fun watching them cooking. Started with puffy bread served with prosciutto and plum sauce, it was almost nice combination of savory and dessert. Then we got gnocchi with chicken, it was really nice silky texture and a little spice added a nice kick. Vongole was nice, but a little bit salty and fatty for me, though. And finished with coconut pineapple sorbet which wasn't over sweetened, and it completed the dinner nicely. The service was very nice and I had no complain overall. I also recommend to try their brunch, along with Bloody Mary! read more

Ava Genes - New American Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I'm enjoying some left-over pork loin and huckleberry hunter sausage as I write this, that fantastic flavor even a day later is inspiring me to review. Ava Genes used to be a go to place for celebratory dinners for my family 8-10+ years ago, but for some reason we stopped frequenting it and I haven't been since before the pandemic. Some former Portlanders returning for a visit had Ava Genes on their list and I'm so glad they did. We had a fantastic meal. We shared two antipasti dishes - corn arancini and grilled calamari, two giardini - burrata with with peach, chili crisp and tarragon, and nectarines with crispy rice, two pasta dishes, and the pork loin wrapped in prosciutto referenced above. Every single dish was outstanding, with beautiful and interesting flavor combinations. They have an excellent wine list, but I brought a bottle I was wanting to share which they opened for a corkage fee. We did not get desert as we had a craving for Pinolo Gelato a few blocks down. The staff were great too. They were happy to accommodate our hearing problems by seating us a particular table and even turning down the music (requested in advance). Waiter was attentive but not intrusive, which I prefer. Ava Genes is definitely back on my list of places to get a special meal. read more

Really disappointed. Was looking forward to going there. It was nicely decorated but the food was just "ok" .. considering the prices. Two people at our table ordered the pork chop which had a "MP" by it. How expensive can a pork chop. Well .. that entree was $90.00!! For a pork chop. It was also overcooked so not the best. The tip was also included in the bill and we weren't able to tip the server with what we feel the service was worth. $500 for four dinners, an appetizer and 4 drinks .. Will not be back read more

The food was 5 stars... The service was 5 stars... The continuously pounding Rock, however, was SO loud and was so annoying it detracted from an otherwise wonderful dining experience. Everything else was so carefully appointed such as the tabletops, and the decor. The food was excellent too I wondered how such loud and distracting music would be chosen. We asked our server, and the volume was lowered, which helped. But, if you too would be annoyed by loud rock during a $$$ dinner, I'd unfortunately, reconsider. read more

We love this place for fine dining. The service and food are consistently excellent. Volume is a consistent issues. Sometimes the music inside is too loud. Given the size of the restaurant, the tables are very, very close together and it's quite loud with just conversation, too. Eating at the outside tables (to avoid the volume inside) is also challenging as there is a bus stop and it's a very busy and congested corner. But, if you are going for the food and service, you shouldn't be disappointed. read more

The most bizarre service experience of my life. Three of us ordered food to share as wait staff suggested, from a variety of courses all at once, as we were instructed to do. We were then told what we ordered would not be enough and based on how hungry we all were we politely disagreed. She persisted in a very uncomfortable way and would not leave the table until we ordered a salad we didn't want. Throughout the meal, staff hovered constantly to clear our plates before we were finished using them and when we asked to please keep them they gave us negative facial expressions each time. The food was over sauced and over salted, which I could forgive if the service wasn't so unpleasant. We spent nearly $300 for a truly terrible experience. Ava Gene's is Ava Means. read more

Great date spot! Amazing food and attentive service. Love the seasonal menu, and how they pace a multi course meal. read more

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