We got last minute counter reservations, so kind of got entertainment too ;) Service is always great at Nostrana and they include your tip in the bill. This is to pay their servers a living wage and I am HAPPY to pay it. Ambiance is well, busy. There's always something and if you sit at the bar next to your date you can hear them fine. Some folks a little challenged in the hearing area (like me) may find it difficult to hear people at your table, so just lean in to talk. Because: The food. The Nostrana salad (basically a kick a$$ radicchio Caesar) is amazing and I order it every time. Both pasta and pizza dishes we got were amazing (veg options absolutely) I miss living on the east side, so getting back to Nostrana is a treat!!

I will explain my rating...but I highly recommend. The appetizer- The Spanish Octopus was tender and the potato tasted great but way too spicy to really enjoy. My husband's arancini was absolutely delicious. It is probably the best "rice ball" I have ever had. Pizza- We split a margarita pizza and yes it was amazing. The scissors added a nice touch. Dessert- I had a butterscotch budino and my husband had a blueberry panna cotta. The Budino was the best I have ever had. It really was exceptional. The service was very efficient and the restaurant was beautiful. We had many different workers dropping off the food and drinks as well as the server who took our order and made sure we were okay. I am fine paying a 22% service charge if you want to spread it the wealth among all of the workers. But passively aggressively asking for extra tip, definitely ruins a fantastic meal. We left an additional tip assuming this was common practice in Portland, but it was not.

I can't say enough good things about Nostrana. It is a true grown-up restaurant of the best kind. Quality and beautifully crafted food with incredible service and the best window seats. It's always just the right level of busy but you can have an effortless conversation.

I came here for an early dinner recently and had a great time. As it was a nice day out, my boyfriend and I sat outside on their patio. However, I also noted that the inside of the restaurant is so beautiful that it makes me want to dine here again (but inside next time haha). My boyfriend and I ordered their foccacia & ciabatta, their cacciucco, the polpettine pizza, and meatball capellini. Everything was delicious. The foccacia and ciabatta came out with the most fragrant and delicious olive oil; we had to ask the waitress where it was from (and we'll definitely be buying some of our own). The cacciucco was delicious and light, with lots of seafood. The polpettine was amazing with a light and thin dough. And the capellini was delicious, with generous portions of meatballs. I would definitely come back and would love to try their wine bar next time.

Bellissima beautiful ~ equally enjoyable indoor or outdoor. Pup friendly on the patio. Service ~ consistent. Not so personal, just proper. Our own Italy here ~ freshest quality ingredients means $$$$ but chewy pasta textures and extensive wine selection is top notch. Only good memories here.

Nostrana is a little off my beaten path. In the way back, there was an amazing Italian place just a block or so away, and not that long ago, Zell's was just down the block across the street. But there's not a lot that pulls me down to that part of Morrison these days. However, a couple of weeks ago I noticed Nostrana when I was detoured past it, and thought this looks like a good date night place. It did not disappoint. If you're not familiar -- and I wasn't -- Nostrana is a multi-time James Beard award wining Italian restaurant with a mostly authentic Italian pizza bar. The focus is on locally sourced seasonally fresh ingredients, and delivering that in a leisurely paced atmosphere, cultivating a quiet old-school lodge type feeling. Unlike many modern places with tons of exposed beams and ducting, their designer provided layers of sound baffling that makes it a muted environment for quiet conversation rather than a cacophony of discord. Which serves as the perfect jumping off place for the meal The service was prompt - water and table bread arrived on the heels of the menus. Specials were discussed, and we were left to ponder. After ordering wine we were left to contemplate the rest. Our selections for the evening light. We started by splitting a insulate Nostrana, made from brined radicchio served Caesar style. Then my partner selected the wood oven roasted stuffed Idaho trout -- the roasted cremini, portobello and porcini mushrooms combined with scallion and a pecorino based salsa were piped into the cavity of the fish with was then wrapped and roasted, served on a bed of Mediterranean spiced lentils and a side of roasted Brussel sprouts. It was cooked to perfection, crispy skin and light, flakey meat. I selected the grilled pork chop, finished with a balsamic glaze and served with chickpeas and grilled broccolini. Both were incredibly well prepared and tasty, and the portion sizes were right on the verge of "too large" and quite satisfying. The wine list was vast, but we didn't have time to linger over a bottle, nor to stay for dessert. I'm confident that future trips will allow us to explore that more fully. This is not a place to be casually dropped into. Reservations are highly recommended, and we were very lucky to get walk-in seating. It's also not a cheap date -- this was a special evening and I don't think that the total was out of line, but it's not a trip to Denny's. In any dimension. this is clearly one of the best restaurants in the area, and I can't recommend it highly enough

I had the good fortune to walk in here again last night and was immediately reminded of why this is my most favorite restaurant in all of Portland. The first impression I have upon walking in to this place is how warm and comfortable it is. I just love the lighting. It comes alive at night. And they've really mastered the acoustics. Even though the restaurant is full, it's not too loud in here. It's quite comfortable. And their space is amazing. They have a large indoor and outdoor space. And they have both a bar-bar and kitchen-bar. Something for everyone :) The service is always excellent here. They are always most knowledgeable and attentive. I especially appreciate how our server tonight helped my daughter select a wine she would enjoy. I have been here several times now and have always enjoyed everything I've had, from appetizers to entrees. The bread is spectacular (of course!) and I've enjoyed several of their appetizers and entrees. The shishito peppers were delightful and anything with fresh tomatoes is a must have! The steak and the tagliatelle were terrific as well as the pizza. I especially appreciate how they provide a broad range of dining experiences from a multi-course meal to a simple pizza. All are top-notch!