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Amy Lam
Amy Lam is a writer and editor based in Portland. Read More
Must-Try Italian Restaurants in Portland
Italian restaurants in Portland serve up Nonna-style pastas and updated takes on classic dishes.
Amy Lam
Amy Lam is a writer and editor based in Portland. Read More
Portland’s Italian culture persists thanks to early pioneers of the city’s bygone Little Italy, where Italian immigrants flourished alongside the old Jewish Quarter in 1900s South Portland. Even the prolific national chain, The Old Spaghetti Factory, was born in the Rose City. (Fans of classic red sauce and meatballs can visit its historical waterfront location, a local favorite since 1984.) From Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas to hand-made pasta, Portland’s Little Italy lives on across the city’s neighborhoods — read on to indulge in a few of our favorites.
Luce
This intimate restaurant is a Buckman neighborhood staple, serving rustic handmade pasta with (my favorite) antipasti and a healthy salad selection. Luce’s menu is updated seasonally, but a few dishes are consistently available. Try the warm octopus salad, fresh and tender charred octopus and chunks of potatoes and olives under a drizzle of olive oil. You can’t go wrong with any antipasti or crostini, crispy toast topped with your choice of salted cod, smoked trout or rabbit liver mousse (or get all three).
I haven’t even mentioned the pasta! Oh, the pasta! One of the things I love about Luce is the option to order half portions of salad and pasta, so if you go with a group, you can have a tasting feast. The spaghetti, dressed in a simple garlic and wine sauce, wakes the palate with a dried chili kick. The heartier pappardelle with rabbit is a thick pasta dish with a sweet tomato sauce. Get an order of focaccia to sop up all the sauces.
Gumba
There’s no shortage of dining options in the Alberta district, and Gumba stands out as a top choice for anyone in the neighborhood. From its humble beginnings as a food cart, Gumba now calls itself a “pasta parlor” inspired by Italian from-scratch pasta. Don’t let the casual vibes fool you; they’re serious about their food. From top to bottom, their menu is stacked with comforting dishes like house-made burrata and warm, airy Neapolitan-style fry bread.
I’m a sucker for thick noodles, so naturally, I’m a big fan of the menu’s mainstay beef short rib pappardelle. Al dente noodles, served with tomato sauce and tender beef that melts in your mouth, are balanced with briny olives and garlic.
Lilla
Vegan diners who love Italian cuisine rejoice: Lilla is here! Gone are the days when vegans are relegated to plain spaghetti with tomato sauce; Lilla’s plant-based menu will satiate every craving — from savory meatballs and chicken parm to creamy alfredo and rich bolognese. And there’s pizza, too, like the Panna e Funghi, with a smooth alfredo base topped with mozzarella and chunks of mushrooms like portobello and grilled maitake. Every bite is a contender against non-plant-based pizzas.
Sometimes, you crave comfort dishes like chicken parmesan with robust bigoli in a sweet marinara sauce. The faux chicken patty is crispy with a slightly nutty flavor that blends well with the saucy dish and dollops of mozzarella. If you plan on making it a date night, Lilla is centrally located within a short walk of fun times like mini golf at Birdie Time Pub or experiential art installations at Hopscotch. There’s also bowling at Grand Central or laughs at Helium Comedy Club.
Even More Italian Food in Portland
Mamma mia, these joints hit the spot.
Nostrana
Anyone recommending Italian food in Portland would be remiss if they didn’t mention Nostrana. Since 2005, Nostrana has treated diners to elegant Italian fare made with seasonal, fresh local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Chef-owner Cathy Whims is a James Beard Award finalist deeply influenced by former mentor Marcella Hazan, an Italian-born food writer known for introducing traditional Italian techniques and recipes to American audiences.
The menu often evolves based on what’s available from local farms and sources, but mainstays include the Insalata Nostra, a radicchio Caesar salad drenched in house dressing and balanced with parmesan. A wood-fired oven sits at the heart of their kitchen, cooking up roasted trout or Neapolitan pizza. I’m partial to the classic Margherita, with perfectly charred and chewy dough and sweet San Marzano sauce.
Montelupo
With locations in Northeast and Southeast Portland, Montelupo is a quaint Italian market and restaurant dishing up unfussy and hearty fare. The Kerns location features a rotating pared-down menu of simple classics, so you can try spaghetti dressed with garlic and olive oil or in a red sauce with plump meatballs. Diners can sub for gluten-free pasta as well.
As good as the pasta is, my heart belongs to the focacceria in the Sellwood location. Baked until crisp and golden brown, Montelupo’s focaccia-style pizza has a light, chewy texture and comes topped with pepperoni, fennel sausage or mushrooms with sunflower pesto. Those cursed with gluten intolerance can also eat here; their focaccia offerings include a simple gluten-free red sauce slice with mozzarella and basil. Both locations include a cozy market with fresh pasta, house sauce, and Italian pantry goods you can bring home in your carry-on.
Portland Restaurants
Explore the many other delicious cuisines Portland has to offer.
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