Nostrana (restaurant)

Nostrana is an Italian restaurant in southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. Cathy Whims opened the restaurant in 2005 and serves as chef and owner. Nostrana serves classic Italian cuisine and has been dubbed "Portland's capital of the Negroni". The restaurant has received a generally positive reception, especially for its pizzas and happy hour menu. In 2018, Whims opened the European wine bar Enoteca Nostrana next door to the restaurant.

Not to be confused with Nostrana.
Nostrana
The restaurant's exterior, 2019
Restaurant information
Established2005 (2005)
Owner(s)
Head chef
Food typeItalian cuisine
Street address1401 Southeast Morrison Street, Suite 101
CityPortland, Oregon
CountyMultnomah
StateOregon
Postal/ZIP Code97214
CountryUnited States
Coordinates45.51734°N 122.65144°W / 45.51734; -122.65144
Websitenostrana.com

Description and history
Interior, 2019

Chef and owner Cathy Whims opened Nostrana in Portland's Buckman neighborhood in 2005, along with her partner David West as well as Mark and Deb Accuardi.[1] Whims and West purchased the Accuardis' portion of the business in 2008 after differences of opinion over levels of service.[2] Brian Murphy serves as executive chef.[3][4]

The menu features classic Italian cuisine such as pasta, pizzas, and salads.[5][6] Entrées are seasonal, but Bistecca alla Fiorentina and fettuccine with tomato butter sauce inspired by Marcella Hazan (one of Whims' former teachers) are regular options.[7][8] According to Thrillist, which dubbed the restaurant "Portland's capital of the Negroni", Nostrana started the costumed gala Negroni Social, which inspired Negroni Week.[9][10]

The restaurant's interior features vaulted ceilings and an iron chandelier.[11] According to Eater Portland, the restaurant's atmosphere "straddles that line between 'casual-ish' and upscale".[12] As of 2016, a sommelier is on the floor nightly.[13][14]

In 2017, the restaurant was featured on the "Italian Favorites" episode of Iron Chef Eats, a companion series to the Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet.[15][16]

Reception
Menus, 2019

Nostrana was included in The Oregonian's 2012 overview of the city's best pizza and 2014 list of Portland's ten best restaurants bars.[17][18] Nostrana ranked number 6 in the paper's 2015 list of Portland's 101 best restaurants,[19] and number 3 on the same list in 2016.[20] In 2017, The Oregonian's Michael Russell wrote: "On a perfect night here, the famous radicchio salad, the al dente pastas draped in tomato-butter sauce or sage butter and the attentive service can make you think you're eating at the best restaurant in Portland. Even when the kitchen isn't firing on all cylinders, Nostrana remains the neighborhood Italian joint of your dreams."[21]

In 2005, Willamette Week contributor Roger Porter described Nostrana as "a rustic yet beautiful Italian restaurant with a kitchen that turns out some of the most honest, authentic food in the city".[1] The newspaper's Martin Cizmar wrote a review in 2016 called, "Nostrana Is What People Mean When They Ask for 'A Nice Italian Place with Good Wine'", in which he described Nostrana as "a classic" restaurant with "a steady, restrained fine-touching that delights traditionalists".[5] Nostrana was included in Willamette Week's 2016 lists "My Oh My, Portland's 8 Best Pizza Pies" and "Our Favorite Italian Spots in Portland",[14][22] as well as the 2017 list of best restaurants along southeast Portland's Belmont and Hawthorne districts.[23] Nostrana was also included in the paper's lists of the city's best happy hours.[24][25][26][27]

Tent for outdoor dining in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic

In her Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon books, Rachel Dresbeck called the Neapolitan pizzas and desserts "outstanding", and wrote, "The grilled and rotisserie meats are perfectly done, sharing touches of Tuscany while being, at the same time, all Oregon."[8][28] Julian Smith of Frommer's gave Nostrana two out of three stars, and said the restaurant hosts "one of the east-side's best happy hours".[29] Sunset also recommended visiting for evening happy hour, available daily.[30] Layla Schlack of Wine Enthusiast Magazine called Nostrana a "Portland institution" with a predominantly Old World wine list.[31]

Erin DeJesus included Nostrana in Eater Portland's 2013 list of "The 12 Best Restaurants for Dining Solo in Portland",[32] and its 2014 list of "Essential 38 Portland Restaurants".[12] The website's Alex Frane included Nostrana in his 2018 list of Portland's "primo" Italian restaurants, in which he describes Nostrana as "lauded" and "legendary".[11] The restaurant was included in OpenTable's list of "The 100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers", according to data provided by more than twelve million verified reviews for more than 28,000 businesses in the U.S., collected between August 2017 and July 2018.[33] Nostrana ranked number 15 on The Daily Meal's 2019 list of "The 75 Most Romantic Restaurants in America".[34] Zagat gives the restaurant ratings of 4.5 for food, 4.3 for decor, and 4.4 for service, each on a scale of 5.[35]

Enoteca Nostrana

Nostrana's "sister" wine bar, Enoteca Nostrana, opened next door to the restaurant in 2018.[36][37] The 1,500-square-foot (140 m2),[38] 40-seat bar emphasizes European and natural wines and has a modern aesthetic compared to Nostrana's "rustic" atmosphere.[39][40] Enoteca Nostrana's interior features Italian design and a two-story wine cellar made of glass and steel, capable of storing 3,000 bottles.[41] The bar's opening selection featured 130 wines.[42]

Condé Nast Traveler's Hannah Wallace described Enoteca Nostrana as "splashy", with a "short but fabulous" menu. She recommended select antipasti options and wrote, "Because of its stylish ambience, this restaurant feels like a quick jaunt to Europe."[43] Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland called the bar "glammed-out" and "glitzy",[44] and noted the availability of pizzas from Nostrana during afternoon happy hour.[45] Enoteca Nostrana won in the design category in Eater Portland's 2018 Eater Awards, which recognize the city's best new chefs and businesses in the restaurant industry.[46] In her review of Enoteca Nostrana, Wine & Spirits' Kerry Newberry wrote, "the space evokes Milan more than Portland, with bold geometric flair [and] mod barstools shaped like Champagne corks".[42]

See also

References
  1. Porter, Roger (December 6, 2005). "Yours, Mine and Ours: Nostrana's antique dishes satisfy contemporary cravings". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  2. Perry, Douglas (March 11, 2008). "Restaurant News: Nostrana Team Splits Up". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  3. Jabine, Angie (October 15, 2013). "Restaurant Guide 2013: Nostrana". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  4. "Brian Murphy: Executive Chef". Nostrana. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  5. Cizmar, Martin (October 27, 2016). "Nostrana Is What People Mean When They Ask for "A Nice Italian Place with Good Wine"". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  6. Shepherd, Katie (November 9, 2017). "Quintessential Portland Spot Nostrana Feels Like It's Straight Out of the Piedmont". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  7. Tobias, Ruth (November 29, 2015). "Nostrara". Time Out. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  8. Dresbeck, Rachel (March 1, 2011). Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon (7 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 74. ISBN 9780762774777. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  9. Dombrosky, Pete. "Nostrana". Thrillist. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  10. Rowan, Jason (June 9, 2014). "Cocktail Culture: One Negroni for Every Month of the Year". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  11. Frane, Alex (July 22, 2018). "15 Primo Italian Restaurants in Portland". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  12. DeJesus, Erin (January 7, 2014). "The Essential 38 Portland Restaurants, January 2014". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  13. Bamman, Mattie John (September 19, 2016). "Nostrana Brings Back the Sommelier". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  14. "Our Favorite Italian Spots In Portland". Willamette Week. October 28, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  15. "Season 1, Episode 8: Italian Favorites". Food Network. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  16. "Iron Chef Eats Season 1". IMDb. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  17. Russell, Michael (April 11, 2012). "Portland's best pizza: Nostrana and Firehouse Restaurant offer the best authentic Italian pies". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  18. "The top 10 Portland restaurant bars: Bar Tab". The Oregonian. October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  19. Russell, Michael (December 29, 2015). "Portland's 10 best restaurants: Diner 2015". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  20. "Portland's 101 best restaurants of 2016". The Oregonian. June 1, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  21. Russell, Michael (September 25, 2017). "Nostrana is the neighborhood Italian restaurant you've been dreaming of (review)". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  22. "My Oh My, Portland's 8 Best Pizza Pies". Willamette Week. October 28, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  23. Korfhage, Matthew (November 21, 2017). "The Best Restaurants on Hawthorne and Belmont in Southeast Portland". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  24. "The Best Happy Hours in Southeast Portland". Willamette Week. September 20, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  25. "Here's Are the Best Happy Hours at Portland's Fine Dining Restaurants". Willamette Week. September 30, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  26. "Where to Get Good, Cheap Wine During Happy Hour". Willamette Week. October 5, 2016. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  27. "Portland's Best Late Night Happy Hours". Willamette Week. October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  28. Dresbeck, Rachel (March 1, 2017). Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 65. ISBN 9781493028221. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  29. Smith, Julian. "Nostrana". Frommer's. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  30. "Nostrana". Sunset. ISSN 0039-5404. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  31. Schlack, Layla (December 10, 2018). "Local Meets Global in Portland, Oregon". Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  32. DeJesus, Erin (February 11, 2013). "The 12 Best Restaurants for Dining Solo in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  33. Tagoda, Maria (September 20, 2018). "The 100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers, According to OpenTable". Food & Wine. Meredith Corporation. ISSN 0741-9015. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  34. Mack, Lauren (January 15, 2019). "The 75 Most Romantic Restaurants in America". The Daily Meal. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  35. "Nostrana". Zagat. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  36. Russell, Michael (April 17, 2018). "Nostrana chef Cathy Whims is opening a Euro-style wine bar and it's gorgeous". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  37. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (April 11, 2018). "Cathy Whims Wants to Teach Portland's Newbies to Love Wine". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  38. Mang, Lauren (July 30, 2018). "Portland's Enoteca Nostrana Dares to Take on Memphis Design". Gray. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  39. Brooks, Karen (January 24, 2018). "Celebrated Chef Cathy Whims to Open Enoteca Nostrana". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  40. Forster, Tim. "Pro Italian Chef Cathy Whims Is Opening a Euro Wine Bar". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  41. "Enoteca Nostrana". Condé Nast Traveler. ISSN 0893-9683. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  42. Newberry, Kerry (August 15, 2018). "Enoteca Nostrana". Wine & Spirits. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  43. Wallace, Hannah (December 24, 2018). "22 Best Restaurants in Portland, OR". Condé Nast Traveler. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  44. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (November 28, 2018). "Vote Now for Portland's Most Beautiful Restaurant of the Year". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  45. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke. "Glitzy Bar Enoteca Nostrana's New Happy Hour Isn't Playing With Its Wine Deals". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  46. Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (December 5, 2018). "Portland's 2018 Eater Award Winners". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.