Slideshow

Slide Show: Ava Gene's Debuts on SE Division

December 7, 2012

The Dining Room

Serving up a hearty menu of in the coziest atmosphere around, Ava Gene's is sure to be a go-to destination this winter.

Come in From the Rain

Stepping in from the slick city streets, Ava Gene's offers a convivial space for romantic dates, hungry families, pre-dinner drinks, or a late-night snack.

Fired Up

The eatery's open kitchen is flanked by a long counter for front-row seats to the culinary action. Because the kitchen window spans the whole room, every seat in the house offers a glimpse of chef Joshua McFadden and his team.

A Gallery of Sorts

Like the nature painting-packed walls at the Woodsman, Duane Sorenson has decked the few solid walls of Ava Gene's with old-school art. Through the door on the left lie the epic bathrooms (complete with a vaulted ceiling and plaster walls glimmering with

The Bar

Cocktail wizard Evan Zimmerman has unleashed yet another winning drink program into Portland's booze scene. New concoctions include the Lights Out (with 23 year-old rum, Becherovka, bitters, and black truffle) and the Pan-Am (with Cedar-Steeped Campari,

Seats with a View

The dining room is separated from the bar by shelves of wine bottles and glasses, while the seats along SE Division offer a view of Portland's fastest-growing restaurant row.

The Nosh

Early favorites on the menu include the nduja (pronounced en-doo-ya) spreadable salumi, fresh and creamy burrata, delicata fritto piled with Sarvecchio cheese, chile flakes, and bee pollen (pictured above), and the Sagna Riccia pasta with lamb ragù and c

Stargazing

The dining room at Ava Gene's may take the prize for best lit restaurant in PDX, giving the space infinite curb appeal and a magical glow once you're inside.

Peek inside the long-awaited new eatery from Duane Sorenson—the brains behind Stumptown Coffee and The Woodsman Tavern—now serving hard-to-find Italian pastas, wood-fired meats, and crave-worthy charcuterie.

Restaurant Openings, Duane Sorenson

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Portland Monthly

Slide Show: Ava Gene's Debuts on SE Division

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