Mucca Osteria in Old Town is the best Italian restaurant in town. Haute fine dining, exceptionally talented in their kitchen. Tasteful wine menu. Great for cocktails and a bite, old prohibition style champagne glasses. New favorite. In good taste. read more

Me and my husband love MUCCA Osteria. The pizza that we had was so good we couldn't stop eating it. Yummy, yummy, yummy. I would have to say it's one of the best pizzas I've ever had. The customer service was excellent too! We were given some amazing suggestions on which pizzas we should try. When our pizza was finished it was brought outside to us and we were told it would be best to try it fresh. Since we were going to be walking down the street to our hotel we did as we were told and we're glad we did. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant as well. It's such a cute business. It's a great place for a date night. If you're looking for good pizza, great customer service and a romantic atmosphere try MUCCA you won't be disappointed. read more

This was a special-occasion meal for us, and it absolutely lived up to the experience we were hoping for from a restaurant of this caliber.I made reservations online, and when we arrived, our table was already set up and waiting for us. We started by going through their extensive wine list, and after a conversation with our server, we settled on a beautiful bottle of red. Their wine selection is truly impressive and deserves a special mention. So if there's burrata on the menu, I'm ordering it and of course, we did. It was phenomenal. It came with an assortment of breads from the bread basket, and every bite was delicious.For our mains, my husband ordered the duck entrée while I went with the seafood dish. Both were fantastic--an easy 5/5 for the food. The service was equally impressive. Our server was attentive, friendly, and somehow managed to appear exactly when we needed her without ever hovering. Pricing reflects the quality of the food, the exceptional wine selection, and the level of service, but for a special occasion, it felt justified.Highly recommended for a memorable meal. read more

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We returned tonight to Il Nostro Posto Felice (our Happy Place), Mucca Osteria in Portland. Walking through those doors felt like stepping back into a memory we treasure. We were there on opening night fifteen years ago, the only guests in the room, not by design but by fate. Even then, the owner, Simone's, service, presentation, and unforgettable flavors absolutely floored us. Fifteen amazing years and many visits later, Simone and his team have wowed our tastebuds yet again. If we lived in Portland, we'd be here every single week without hesitation. Simone, the owner, chef, and heart of Mucca brings Italy with him in every dish. His success isn't accidental, it's built on how deeply he values his team, his heritage, the pride he pours into every plate, and the genuine warmth he and his team shares with everyone who walks in. It's palpable and you can feel it. He's a talented chef, a devoted family man, and truly one of the good ones. And after all these years, he still remembers us. If you're visiting Portland, Mucca Osteria isn't just a recommendation, it's a must. A place that doesn't just serve dinner, but gives you a memory you'll want to revisit again. read more

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Came here during a work trip, dinner for 1. Wish I had more people with me because I wanted to try everything, even the pre fix menu and their pasta dishes but I knew the duck would be enough for me. Service was great, I'd recommend sitting at the counter to see all the action.id ed come by to try additional items on their menu as well as try their pizzeria next door. read more

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Over a span of three nights, I had the pleasure of dining at Mucca Osteria. It's a small and cozy Italian inspired restaurant in downtown Portland. I dined at the chefs counter each night, where I had my own personal show of watching the skilled chefs prepare meals with grace and precision. The restaurant features an incredible wine list that leans heavy Italian, but does also feature some French and New World wines. The wine selection (curated by the amazing Sommelier Monika Deliova) was recently awarded the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Each night I relied on Monika to pair wines with my dishes. I came in with some Italian wine knowledge, but Monika was able to build off of that and open my horizon to regions and producers that I previously didn't know. She knocked it out of the park, and never missed. The first two nights I dined with my wife. The last night I dined solo and did the tasting menu. Below are the dishes enjoyed over the three nights. Each night before the courses came out they brought us their fresh baked breads of the day, one focaccia and one sourdough. The flavors change for both each day, so it was it's own fun surprise each night. Some of the highlights were: Prosciutto e Burrata. 500-day Parma Reserve Proscuitto with Burrata. This dish has thin slices of pickled red onion and balsamic drizzles which offered a bright contrast to the fatty cheese and meat. I really recommend this starter since it paired nicely with everything they have to offer. In our 3 nights, we ordered this more than once! Capesante Con Fonduta di Parmigiano Seared Sea Scallops with Parmesan Fondue and Shallot Relish with a Saffron Gel. The scallops were cooked perfectly! The parmesan fondue offered a rich and creamy aspect that paired so well. Tortelli ai Funghi Mushroom and ricotta filled tortelli - brussel sprouts - almonds - white wine glazed shallot cream sauce. The white wine sauce offered a bright pop of acidity to the rich and creamy tortelli. The brussel sprouts were seared and offered a bit of a welcome crunch to the dish, a fun texture difference to the soft and creamy pasta. My wife says she for sure order this again. Chitarra al Nero Di Seppia Con Fruitti di Mare Squid ink infused chittara - mixed seafood - white wine shallot tomato sauce - lemon foam. This was the most comforting dish, like a warm hug. All of the ingredients were cooked to perfection. The shrimp and mussels were plump and sweet. The sauce was rich with the right amount of tanginess from the tomato. What I loved was that the tomato sauce didn't overpower the dish, and it wasn't overly saucy. Everything in the dish just worked so well with each other. If this is on the menu the next time I visit, I'll definitely be ordering it again. Dry aged bone in steak with salsa verde tossed potatoes and broccoli raab My wife and I both acknowledged and admired the crust on the steak. No matter how hard we've tried, we've never been able to achieve a crust like the one at Mucca. A true compliment to the chef! The mustard sauce on the steak was something that I never would have thought to do, but the acid and tartness was a fun compliment to the fatty steak. The broccoli raab = chef kiss. I'm a huge fan of broccoli raab, and this was perfect! The three nights at Mucca were magical, and I don't say that lightly. The restaurant is really doing something exceptional here. From the fresh daily baked breads, the killer wine list, amazing fresh dishes, and the incredibly attentive and skilled staff... Mucca is a do-not-miss restaurant in Portland. read more

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Had a lovely anniversary dinner here. Beautiful but not fussy, everything was delicious and our server was wonderful. read more

Mucca Osteria - Our favorite was one of the specials- oysters - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Amazing experience going here. I ordered the ribeye with the carrot soup and a manhattan and sat in front of the bar and had an excellent time. The staff was amazing and knowledgeable. The ambiance is elegant and classy yet still feels relaxed and cozy. I think the main reason I chose this place was also for the parking that is maybe 1 block down at most which I liked. I will definitely be coming back to try out more of the menu read more

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Overpriced. Overrated. Lackluster service for auto 20% gratuity. I'll preface this by saying we had several excellent dining experiences in Portland while visiting from out of town including Dolly Olive, Hearth and Vine, and The Side Door, so I had high expectations for Mucca Osteria. This was especially so since we had been turned away as walk ins the night before, so made a reservation for the next day. From getting seated it was obvious this place was going to be pricey, especially as the menu indicates 20% gratuity (regardless of party size), and cards cannot be split more than 3 ways, but we were in for the experience and had high hopes given the reviews and apparent popularity. It was a disappointment from the get go. The water is served in bottles left at the table, but for our party if 6 we kept running out and the server was too busy waiting too many tables to keep up with refilling even after we asked multiple times. The bread basket was good, but took forever to be served, and was the most filling thing of the entire evening! The portions are tiny-- think huge plate that if you leaned on one side it would tip, with a small circle bowl portion in the middle with max 8-10 bites of pasta. We started with the beet salad which was nothing special. The beets were cold and a tad tart, the ricotta, oranges, and micro greens added some texture, but I've had far better beet salads elsewhere, and it'll set you back $24. For my main, I ordered the asparagus spaghetti. Not only was it tremendously bland even with salt and pepper, I could have made this at home blending asparagus, heavy cream, and basil. It was extremely disappointing at $36 and I was so hungry I had to order French fries elsewhere after dinner. To add insult to injury, I ordered a decent wine, but the cheapest to not splurge, and when the check came (we split 3 ways as we were with friends) I was mischarged for the highest priced one. When I told the server after our card had been run because she said she knew what we all ordered by heart, she said, oh it's like $4 difference, which was embarrassing to call me out in front of our friends, and I had to correct her that it was actually $10 more. Then it took forever for a manager to credit the $12 (because auto gratuity had to be returned too). We wanted to order dessert, but the experience was so frustrating that we got dessert elsewhere. I'll caveat my review (which would have been 1 star in light of my friend's dining experiences). My friends who eat meat (I'm vegetarian) enjoyed their meals more than me, which included halibut, seafood pasta, and the ragu pasta. And my friend who had the mushroom tortellini enjoyed it as well, so perhaps I ordered wrong. But an Italian restaurant should be able to make awesome vegetarian pastas. Period. I would not recommend wasting one of your precious vacation meals here. read more

Service. Food. Ambiance. Checks all the boxes. But the quality of the kind and efficient staff is what earned the 5th star. Mahalo! read more

This is as close to being in Italy, I think I have found anywhere on the West Coast. I usually sit upstairs but this was very spur of the moment so I sat at the high top that makes you feel like you are in the kitchen. The kitchen staff seem choreographed by chef Jeremy, who once was a dancer. In a small narrow kitchen, watching the beauty of their dance was breathtaking. Not one jostled shoulder or dropped plate. And the Torttelli ai Fungi, Monika suggested is absolutely 5 stars. read more

The place cozy so definitely get a reservation. The staff are friendly and Will explain everything special if you are sharing. Start cocktail that was really good. We had duck and pasta it was really good. The desert was good too. read more

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Been here a few times- food is always amazing, drinks/wine are great. Service is always good. Parking can be hit or miss especially if there is a show that night. Would recommend checking this restaurant out. read more

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Muzak Muzak Muzak Ok I got that out of my system. And it was playing fairly loud too. The food was quite good overall, but the music was abhorrent (my partner said he felt like had been placed on hold on the phone) The staff were eager and helpful. The scallops themselves and topping were so good, cooked perfectly but no need for the swipe of white cream stuff (Parmesan aioli?) Crab salad was great --added a little lemon. Ravioll was delicious Beef short ribs were perfect, rich --the potatoes and broccolini they came with were salted to death This place could be better and really off the hook amazing and wonderful with a few tweaks. read more

We loved this restaurant so much, we brought our teenagers to try it. They loved it too. The chefs and servers were very accommodating to the kids picky tastes. read more

Mucca Osteria - Small kitchen, but pulled off a brigade style hierarchy exceptionally well. - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Cute place and love the open environment, and I can see how it would also feel more intimate and romantic in the later evening. I had been next door last year for the pizza and loved it so my husband & I wanted to try this place! Started with the burrata and the cauliflower soup- both were amazing, but the soup especially! I would recommend and order again, the flavor was way better and different then I thought it would be- a lot of attention went into every detail in this soup! The bread basket was great as well as the service. However both of us were slightly disappointed in the main dishes we chose. I went for the seafood squid ink pasta as I love seafood, however I am not sure why but it was just OK compared to the other starters. My husband got the rigatoni which had more of a sweet taste or ingredient to it, which we both didn't care for. We love pasta and have had these dishes or similar in other places, so it wasn't because we hadn't had these before, just didn't meet the hype of the starters. I would be willing to try this place again, but there were also a lot of the dishes that had mushrooms, which I would expect more in the fall or maybe just 1-2 dishes that had mushrooms, as I do not care for them it limited my main entree options. Again great service and I would be willing to try other entrees and come back! read more

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Quality of food A+ Friendliness and helpfulness of staff A Ambiance A- Recommended: Beet salad Duck linguine Sous vie Strip loin steak Panna cotta read more

my bestie came to see me and we wanted to have a nice meal together - so i made a rez here. From the phone call to do so, the staff was super friendly and helpful. that was consistent! This place is the perfect location for a nice meal - not too loud, well lit, yet also romantic... so let me just say that the menu changes frequently - as the tend to do in places such as this - so don't get too attached to ordering what you're seeing on the menu u in Yelp! it likely won't be the same. however.... you won't be disappointed at all!! do yourself a favor and try the focaccia! both breads were excellent and made in house, but we requested more of the focaccia! My sister from another mister started with the perfectly cooked and very tensely tasteful scallops, I had the best carpaccio i've ever had!! I was torn on the primo course, but upon the servers recommendation, i opted for the gemelli and oh my goodness!! i wanted to rub it all over my fave!! it was truly divine!! She chose the guinea fowl for her second i and i had the pan fried fish of the day which happened to be halibut (one of my favorites!) both were perfectly cooked and delicious!! we were too full for dessert - so maybe next visit. I will be back!! read more

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Mucca Osteria was an amazing dining experience! The food was delicious with lots of texture curated into each dish. My favorite were the scallops- they had a sweet relish and salty parmesan sauce which balanced each other so well. The staff was also very attentive and each course was timed very well!! The upstairs area gets pretty loud as it fills up. read more

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One of my all time favorite Italian restaurants in Portland. We have been coming here for 4 years and they continue to knock it out of the park. I do admit, I always get the same entree but only because it's delicious! Leon was our server tonight and was exceptional. We were welcomed back and treated like royalty. My fiance had loved a special Sunchoke pasta from one of our past visits and was very excited to see they had added it to their menu. They also have an extensive wine list, great sourdough& focaccia, and delicious gelato to end the night. As always, we cannot wait to come back! read more

Mucca Osteria - Focaccia Tortelli ai Funghi and Sunchoke Spaghetti with Crispy mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This was one of the best dinners we've ever had in our lives. From start to finish, our server Nick was knowledgeable, professional, funny, personable, kind, and inviting. He helped us choose our cocktails, our wine, our pasta and our main, and he didn't miss a single time. Special thanks to the somm for picking out quite possibly the perfect bottle for both my girlfriend and I to enjoy, in our own ways. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about our experience tonight. They charge an automatic 20% tip on your bill, and you should leave more. This place is that good. Thank you to everyone who made our night! read more

Mucca Osteria - More beauty - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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5/5 in food, service and atmosphere. (visited 3/8) My partner & I had such a lovely dinner date here. The vibes & staff were amazing. I was delighted with the scallops, but was not the biggest fan of the parmesan fondue pairing with it. My partner had a pea soup (seasonal item) and we were satisfied with it. Didn't fill us up which was perfect! We sat where we could watch the food being made & were eager to try the pasta. I had a squid-ink pasta with crispy octopus. I liked it a lot, it paired well with my white wine. My slightest critique was thinking the octopus was cooked a little too long. My partner opted into having the Gemelli con Prosciutto e Rucola. If I could have a do-over, I'd have that too. It was so delicious! All the flavors complimented one another and left us wanting more. We moved on to dessert having the two on the menu. I absolutely loved the Pistachio lemon mousse cake but did not think the candied lemon was a good touch to the plate as the sour and citrus nature heavily overpowered the sweet and light flavor of the pistachio. The chocolate hazelnut mousse was delightful. A little too heavy, but perfect for all the chocolate lovers out there. Seriously dreaming of the next time we visit. read more

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We visited on our last day in Portland for lunch and the food was absolutely delicious! We appreciated that this was one of the few Italian restaurants open on a monday for lunch in downtown! It is on the smaller side so definitely come prepared with either limited seating or book a reservation! But you will not be disappointed with this cozy place that transports you to italy! You also get a beautiful view of the tram passing in front of the restaurant while dining. We were catered to with love and care by the owner (possibly) and staff! read more

Mucca Osteria - Spicy calabrese pizza - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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PORTLAND PERFECTION! We have not dined here for a few years, Mucca was always great. We returned recently prior to an engagement in Downtown. The remodeled space and new chef blew us away. The space is warm and inviting. The service, some of the finest ever experienced. The team works in tandem and doesn't miss a beat. When the food arrives it's was paired with the perfect wine, suggested (not pushed) by the server. We started with the beets ,moved onto the wildboar pasta and then the short ribs. Everything presented beautifully and seasoned perfectly. It's easy to understand why people review this as one of the best meals they have ever had. Truly in a league of its own. read more

My favorite restaurant in Portland. I've been here a number of times, and usually do the chef tasting menu and wine pairing. Last night, we did a la carte. Literally everything is perfect, and they recently added a four course prix fixe menu that we will have to try. Some of the dishes include elements I would never think of mixing at home, and they made complete sense. To understand, you have to at least order the Capesante (scallops). I was disappointed there was no tiramisu on my most recent visit, but there are no bad desserts. Every single dish is amazing. They recently remodeled, and it's so light and inviting. The same core staff has been here for years, and they're such a part of the positive experience. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

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Update: Mucca is still amazing, and is still my favorite restaurant in Portland. My first visit since their semi-recent remodel, and I think the place looks great! This was actually the first time we went Al a carte with our orders (we've done the tasting menu in all our past visits) and it was just as great as ever. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is that it's many of the same people still working here as our first visit years ago, and they're all incredible at what they do. read more

Mucca Osteria - Pannacotta (Summer Version) - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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We had a wonderful anniversary dinner here and did the prix fixe menu. It is on the pricier side but i felt the prix fixe menu was well worth the cost and very enjoyable! The service was excellent- attentive, friendly, and caring. We got champagne included for our anniversary to start which was a nice touch. The menu changes but everything we ordered was delicious and the four course menu was plenty of food. The presentation of the items was beautiful. There was also an oyster for an amuse bouche which was a good extra touch! And they added happy anniversary to our dessert. The ambiance is wonderful- surprisingly nice for where it is located. They truly made this a memorable meal for us and we loved it! read more

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INCREDIBLE. Came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary and boy was it magical . We did the pre fixe menu + wine pairing and each ordered different things. Everything was absolutely delicious. The only things that were underwhelming were the carpaccio and the wine pairing. It's worth noting we typically are underwhelmed with carpaccio and know very little about wines. It was worth experiencing the wine pairing once but wouldn't go back for it. The stars of the show were: scallops, shrimp pasta, lemon pistachio dessert. Service was also very attentive and well timed! They were all knowledgeable and friendly. read more

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We ate at Mucca Osteria last night- excellent food, very attentive service, nice environment. They were able to handle my dairy allergy easily and even had a delicious dairy free pistachio dessert available. read more

Last night I got the pleasure of coming into Mucca for my father's birthday, I had never been here before so I was excited to see what the overall ambiance would be like. The staff was very friendly and very informative on plates and gave us all of their specials they were having that night. My sister had previously been here so she gave us suggestions on what to get. We started off with some bread paired with a bit of oil which was great! We also had some oysters which were scrumptious, they had a bit of pomegranate sauce I believe and wow were they fresh! We also got beef tartar which I've only had once before this and I was not a fan of it. This time however I was blown away and couldn't stop eating it! I had to stop myself since I had a plate coming and wanted to enjoy that as well. Can't remember the name of what I got but it was delicious! It was very creamy and full of flavor, the pasta came paired with an apple sauce and walnuts which my mother loved! I however am not a fan of sweet sauces so I didn't enjoy it and tried to avoid when grabbing a bite. My father's plate was phenomenal, I am not a big steak fan and when he offered a bite I was a bit hesitant but dove in and wow! I now understand what people mean when they describe a cut of meat. We got a pistachio ice cream and I'm not a big pistachio fan so it wasn't my favorite. They gave him a delicious sweet treat for his birthday and I believe it to be some coconut/cinnamon ice cream, to me it seemed like a scoop of horchata ice cream. Overall definitely worth trying! Very cozy vibes and in a great location which allows you to walk over to some stores to browse and shop! read more

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Mucca Osteria was the best meal I had in Portland with wonderful service and atmosphere! Not a ton of vegetarian options, but the few they had were spectacular. Pricey, but totally worth it for a splurge meal for a special occasion or travel! The Broccoli soup special was out of this world incredible! read more

Mucca Osteria - Broccoli Soup (special) - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The variety of dishes we tried was immense, and all were pretty tasty. Among them, the chopped salad stood out as my favorite antipasto, with its fruity and fresh dressing. The handmade spaghetti with mussels was a highlight; it was perfectly cooked and flavorful. The braised pork shoulder was another standout, incredibly succulent and tender. Overall, the dining experience was excellent. The table bread was fresh, although the steak, while perfectly cooked, didn't quite justify its cost in terms of quality. The service was impeccable, with our server being polite, knowledgeable, and attentive. The entire staff, from the host to the servers, demonstrated sincere dedication to their work. Outside the restaurant, the surrounding blocks are dirty and unsafe, which is no fault of the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere, lighting, and overall ambiance were greatly appreciated. It was a haven from Portland squalor. However, the space felt a bit cramped, in my opinion. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience. Is it the best Italian restaurant in Portland? I might need to return and explore more of their offerings to make a fully informed decision. Expect to spend around $100 per person a la carte, which for us was excluding alcohol and dessert. I would say one would be better off getting the four-course tasting menu. read more

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Mucca was recommended by a couple of friends so I was surprised with a tasting menu dinner for my birthday. Surprisingly the space has an upstairs which offers you a little more privacy unless you want bar seating downstairs to watch the chefs. The menu changes so you can come back different times and try something new. In unfortunately didn't get pics of all dishes but I really enjoyed the tartare, scallops, and bolognese on the menu. The main protein for my visit was a niman ranch steak and it was super tender on a veggie bed. The tasting menu items are rich and hearty so even though the portions look small you will be full once you get to the end. The dessert was decadent and they even gave me a free scoop of ice cream for my birthday - thank you! Service here was attentive and provided a wonderful birthday dinner. read more

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Several friends and I spent an evening at Mucca to celebrate my birthday in January. I am so very glad we chose Mucca! From the magical street block, you'll enter where original Portland architecture pairs with mature trees that hang twinkling lights. Even in the rain and fog, this is a welcoming experience ahead of a great meal. You'll enter the quaint foyer of Mucca, draped in luxurious velvet curtains that keep the cold from entering the small space. I recommend arriving on-time or early, since the team can sometimes swap your table to a better option. Once seated, you'll be introduced to the staff who will host you throughout the entire experience. We decided to partake in the prix fixe menu, and started with espresso martinis. One of the persons in our group also added the wine pairing. You will have wonderful menu options to choose from, so we recommend having a variety of each course with your group so you can share and try new things, too. I chose the scallops as my first course, which included the most decadent fish I had ever tasted. I wish I could learn how to prepare these bad boys since I still dream of them. I did the truffle pasta for my next course, which was a meal from my dreams. Then, I went for the steak, which was the perfect ending before moving onto dessert. Of course, the staff also brought us more desserts with lit candles to celebrate my birthday. I am a major fan of this space. The large ceilings and loft dining room with narrow walls and large windows has such a European vibe, and I honestly felt like I was back in Greek mountains. I cannot wait to be back here for another experience. read more

Mucca Osteria - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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it was a really cute restaurant, i liked the dim lighting, the presentation was nice, the servers were very attentive & overall decent food. read more

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I came here for an anniversary dinner a while ago, but totally forgot to write a review until now! Since then, this still remains as one of my (if not the most) favorite anniversary dinner, due to the amazing food and phenomenal service. Inside, it's not huge but they have a lower and upper seating. I would recommend making reservations! My boyfriend and ordered a couple dishes (I forgot the names by now) and they were all SO delicious. The chefs also were able to split the dishes for us beforehand into two (as we like to share), so HUGE bonus points because few places ever do that. We had scallops, pasta, and fish and everything was so so delicious. The sauces accompanying each entree complimented the dish so well and were flavors I've never tasted before. And, in light of our anniversary, the restaurant poured us a complimentary glass of champagne and gave us dessert. Overall, I had the most amazing experience and would love to come back here anytime for a nice night out. read more

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Fantastic! I can't say enough good things about our evening here. We had a flawless service and the entrées we ordered were out of this world. My husband loved the squid ink pasta dish and I had the blue cheese and steak pasta. The bread was fresh. And warm. We had never been here before, but will definitely be back! So glad I made reservations as we had a lovely table upstairs along the railing overlooking the rest of the restaurant. read more

Walked here bc someone suggested it after a walking tour. And I'm so glad I stopped by! Walked into a place that smelled amazing.. couldn't wait to eat. Ordered a margherita pizza with a Kentucky cocktail and sparkling water... Loved everything! Our server was sweet and informative with all the dishes and drink pairings. Can't wait to go back and try a few pasta dishes read more

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One of my favorite spots for authentic Italian with the most exceptional service anywhere in the U.S., I always make a point to visit when in PDX. Chef Simone Savaiano is Sicilian, bringing his exceptional talent and refined Italian fare all the way up to the PNW. From leafy greens to daily house-made Burrata served with a variety of freshly baked breads, starting out is a lovely preview of excitement to come. I visited over Labor Day and was lucky to catch some seasonal heirloom tomatoes served Caprese-style: simple, elegant, spectacular with the finest balsamic, EVOO, crunchy flake salt, and freshest basil pesto alongside their house-pulled mozzarella. One of my favorite dishes, always on the menu, is the Capesante - exquisitely seared sea scallops (made a prior hater a devout convert out of me!) over richly concentrated parmesan fondue, contrasted with a sweet/tart shallot relish. It is the perfect start to an excellent meal. Note: I notice a marked difference when Chef is not in the kitchen, and have concerns. Obviously the goal of any successful operation is to grow and scale, but there must be tight quality control over the staples that built the Mucca reputation to begin with. Because this was once my home-town, I have many favorites and normally choose to navigate the menu myself, but the always-available Chef's Tasting Menu (and optional wine pairings) is a phenomenal way to experience the range of Chef's talent across Mucca's offerings. No matter how many times I visit, or how many other dishes I come to love, I always come back to the Tortelli ai Funghi. Perfectly al dente handmade tortellini filled with a textural blend of mushroom and ricotta in a white wine shallot cream sauce, topped with leafy Brussels & crunchy almonds. Exquisite. EVERY. TIME. Please never change a thing. And this is again why I love Mucca in Portland where so many restaurants are chasing seasonal trends, this is a place that feels like home, where I can get my favorite thing every time, with consistency and exceptional execution. For Secondi, I always order the Pesce - no matter the preparation, the fish and veggies are exquisitely fresh, cooked to perfection, delightful in every way. I'm a chocoholic, so the Cioccolatino is my go-to for dessert. Silky-smooth, just-right rich, not-too-filling, perfectly paired with Madeira. And I haven't yet mentioned, but their cellar of wines is impeccable, with a Somm to guide you through pairings by the glass or bottle, however you choose. read more

Mucca Osteria - Cioccolatino - Italian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I and my husband visited yesterday and ordered roasted beet salad and crab from appetizer, and linguine pasta with duck and short ribs from entree. The flavors were generally good but salt level in all food except beet salad were noticeably too high. This really detracted from an otherwise delicious meal. When female server approached, I politely mentioned the saltiness of the dish, intending it as constructive feedback. Her response was simply,"I got you" before she quickly walked away. This was a cold and unprofessional way to handle a customer's comment. I believe a great restaurant experience is about more than just the plate in front of you. When a customer offers a feedback, it should be viewed as an opportunity for the business to improve. read more