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Home » Blog » Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Published: May 16, 2016 / Updated: April 30, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

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Authentic Italian cuisine, craft cocktails, and a thoughtful wine list shine at Renata Portland, one of the city's restaurant darlings!

Renata Portland, Oregon restaurant - review on UrbanBlissLife.com

Renata Portland

When the state's longest running newspaper dubs you the 2015 Restaurant of the Year within weeks – six weeks! – of opening, expectations run high. Very high.

Unless you have a customer like me, whose expectations immediately come down – way down –anytime any of the mainstream media critics place an eatery on such a grandiose pedestal so soon after the paint dries. I've had my food-loving heart broken one too many times and my stomach will groan with stories of woe from disappointed visits to "the best restaurant in Portland" claims.

But instead of breaking my heart, Renata restaurant in the Central Industrial area of Southeast Portland, Oregon, won my heart. Big time.

Renata Portland, Oregon restaurant interior

Now, I'm not saying everything I've ever had here is 100% jaw-dropping and amazing or even that you'll find the most exciting dishes on the menu.

I like Renata because the menu stays true to its Italian origin while still allowing room for hints of play and modern adaptations by Chef Matthew Sigler. The food IS delicious, without trying too hard.

I like Renata because the cocktails are GREAT everyday cocktails: no combinations that are so wild and crazy you're wondering if you're paying for creativity instead of taste; the cocktails at Renata worth every dollar, and are a bargain during apertivo hour, when they are only $8 each!

I like Renata because it's so Portland-meets-Italy-meets-my-house-and-yours all at the same time: it's upscale Italian food, representing all regions in Italy, in a casual, gorgeous dining space where you would feel just as comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt laughing loudly with your two kids as you would hanging out with friends or dressed up for an intimate date night.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

In addition to the well executed, delicious dishes and thoughtful cocktails, the restaurant is spacious and comfortable, with high open ceilings and ample walk (and breathing) space between the rows of tables.

There's a large bar area where you can enjoy a drink or two with friends, and a fabulous outdoor covered patio that allows you to full enjoy the best season Portland has to offer: we call it the sunshine season, and it lasts from now through about mid-October. During the sunshine season, temperatures hover in the mid-70s, it's never humid, and the nights don't get too cold either...and the days are long and glorious.

This is when most of you who do not live here will decide to move here. Trust me.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

So what better way to celebrate the Sunshine season than with an Apertivo happy hour out at the patio or the bar of Renata?

Apertivo Menu

From 4:00 - 6:00 pm Monday - Friday, you can enjoy a special happy hour "Apertivo" menu in Renata's inside bar and covered outdoor patio area.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

The cocktails, which are all a flat $8 during Apertivo time, are beautiful – and mighty tasty.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Arrossire: cappelletti, punt e mes, benedictine, soda.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Church: gin, aperol, lemon, cocci americano.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Chef Sigler prepares a delectable array of small plates for apertivo hours. They're definitely meant to share, but you don't have to share if you don't want to. I'm all for creating a full meal for yourself with two or three (or four?) of these dishes!

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Ceci Bean Panelle: Pecorino, lemon $7

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Piadina: Broccoli pesto, ham, ricotta $10

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Panzerotti: mozzarella, marinara $9

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Polpettine - lamb and beef meatballs

Dinner

Dinner at Renata is a special treat as well. If you love housemade pastas with simple yet elegant sauces, like I do, then you'll love Renata's full dinner menu. Note: like most restaurants, the main menu items do change from time to time.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Salads are well-portioned and are hearty enough to enjoy if you are looking for a light dinner, but also light enough to enjoy as a starter before your main course.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

You could order a variety of hearty main dishes, such as a big ol' rib eye, grilled swordfish, or wood fire octopus, but one of the few places I will order pasta when dining out these days is at an Italian restaurant. And here at Renata, they do pasta so very well.

The above photo is of agnolotti with butternut squash and sage ($19).

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

This pasta dish is a beef bolognese canestri ($17).

Pasta dishes usually cost between $17 to $22, while pizzas cost between $15 to $22, and meatier fare such as the pork, fish, or steak dishes, cost anywhere from $24 to $30.

Renata restaurant in Portland, Oregon

Hubby and I actually enjoyed a lovely dinner at Renata for my birthday this year, and they surprised me with tasty almond cookies and a birthday candle. So sweet!

Each time I have been to Renata, I've been welcomed with a smile from each staff member I came across, and service was both friendly and timed well. I can't wait to go back, especially to take advantage of Apertivo hours on the patio soaking up some of our beautiful Pacific Northwest sunshine season!

Visit Renata

Renata also has a small parking lot, which is always a welcome feature for any hot restaurant in the Portland area, but I've also found street parking within a couple of blocks fairly easily when I've dined here, no matter what time of night.

626 SE Main St,
Portland, Oregon 97214
Phone: (503) 954-2708
RenataPDX.com

HOURS:
Aperitivo Hour: 
Monday – Friday 4:00pm-6:00pm
Sunday through Wednesday 5:00-9:00pm
Thursday & Friday 5:00-10:00pm
Saturday 5:00-10:00pm

Thanks to Renata for the complimentary blogger happy hour pictured here. The dinner items pictured in this post were paid for out of my own pocket. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Catherine says

      May 17, 2016 at 5:55 pm

      Mm, the cocktails and food look incredible! There's something about authentic Italian that is so comforting and friendly. Glad to hear Portland has a great place to eat some!

      Reply
    2. Pech says

      May 16, 2016 at 6:11 pm

      I want to go back for more of those gooey fried cheese dumplings/Panzerotti! I've always thought the pastas here have been spectacular too. I also like their volcanic soil wine selection!

      Reply
    3. Maggie Unzueta says

      May 16, 2016 at 12:50 pm

      The lamb beef meatballs... I'm drooling. What a great restaurant!

      Reply
    4. Meredith {MarthaChartreuse} says

      May 16, 2016 at 12:18 pm

      I've been to Renata a few times and their more traditional dishes are always the stars. I love the pastas and really enjoy the happy hour bites.

      Reply
    5. Mary @ Vindulge says

      May 16, 2016 at 12:13 pm

      Oh wow, I still have yet to dine there, though I drive by it all.the.time!!!
      I love your description of the disappointment that sometimes comes from big time reviews. I feel ya!
      Glad to know this place lives up to the hype! I'm dreaming of another warm and sunny Portland afternoon so we can swing by and check it out for Apertivo hour. Also love your mention of the noise factor, and that I'm likely safe to bring my (loud) kids with me... no babysitter needed ;)

      Reply
    6. Raz says

      May 16, 2016 at 11:58 am

      Wow! I love the place its Instagram worthy. :) and the food looks del1 :-)

      Reply
    7. Denay DeGuzmazman says

      May 16, 2016 at 11:51 am

      I love the interior design of this gorgeous new Portland restaurant. And the food looks fabulous too! For me ambiance is just as important as the taste of the entrees and from what I see here this eatery is a real winner!

      Reply
    8. Melissa says

      May 16, 2016 at 11:18 am

      I would love to try this place it looks great!!! :)

      Reply
    9. Jessica says

      May 16, 2016 at 10:47 am

      So fun!! I miss Portland so much. It really was one of my favorite cities I have ever visited.

      The food and drinks look delicious. Great photos!

      Reply

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    Hey Hey! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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