Genoa

My boyfriend and I have gone here every year for our anniversary. I have never received anything under perfection! The customer service and atmosphere is worth the price alone. Comparable to any other restaurant in its price range I would say that Genoa is easily the most worth it. Unfortunately they have gone on a hiatus again () but hopefully they’ll be opened back up in time to go again!

Went here for portland dining month and was super impressed with everything. We got a 3 course meal with wine pairings, all of which were spot on. First course was sous vid rare steak with leek purée, followed by a smoked pasta dish and a seared duck final course. The smoked pasta dish was ridiculously good, never had anything like it before. The duck was also phenomenal, and the cheese dish we got for desert was earthy and delicious. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a fine dining place in Portland.

Last Friday night, 7 friends and I dined at Genoa to take advantage of the $ 29 3-​course Portland dining month deal. I had never heard of Genoa prior to studying the 90+ restaurant list on Portland Dining Month’s website, but the food and history of the restaurant really differentiated itself from the monolith of participating restaurants.
Let me tell you, Genoa did not disappoint. The restaurant isn’t in a very large space, but the décor was lovely and crisp. The service was great as well– our server took our coats and seated all 8 of us immediately upon arrival. Our server explained each of the courses in detail, and even sometimes several times over as there were 8 of us dining.
I loved the amuse bouche, and really appreciate when a restaurant includes one in their menu. It’s always fun to be surprised, and this surprise was delectable. It was a green soup served in a tall shot glass. The soup was thick, salty, and just delicious.
I chose the carnivorous (as oppose to vegetarian) menu, which included: bistecca tagliata, arugula, Parmesan and lemon (first course), smoked cappellini, clams, cod «chorizo» and espelette jus (second course) and roasted magret duck with pancetta, apple and frisée (third course).
The first course was tasty, but nothing terribly innovative. It was very reminiscent of cold beef. I hate to downplay the dish, but it just tasted very basic. The second course was delicious and definitely went beyond my expectations. I loved the saltiness of the smoked pasta and the clams. The third course was also very delicious. The duck was perfectly seared; the fatty skinned was so crispy, it melted away at first bite.
I ended up ordering dessert, which was not included in the $ 29 dining month special. The dessert was an airy, chocolate-​y, coffee-​like «cake» with crispy wafers. It was sweet, tasty and enough for sharing for two.
I would recommend Genoa for people who enjoy chef’s tasting menus. The innovative and expertly concocted dishes were very enjoyable, and the general attitude and feel of the restaurant was very accommodating.

I was a bit hesitant when I made reservation at Genoa. I had heard it could be a bit stuffy and it definitely was. Upon entering, my coat and pannier were taken from me. The dining area was a sea of white hair and dinner jackets. Like the clientele, the staff was also dressed formally. I didn’t really expect this level of formality for a restaurant in the SE Belmont neighborhood. In terms of décor, layout, and atmosphere, this was nothing like Le Pigeon, where I dined not too long ago, and also opted for the tasting menu option. The difference wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just didn’t expect it to that degree. The restaurant was kind enough to combine our two 4 top reservations in the back to one large table and there was no wait whatsoever even though the restaurant was packed.
Our waitress was prompt and courteous, but somewhat lacking in knowledge. When we ordered our drinks, she wasn’t sure what beers were tap or of their price. This became more obvious throughout the night as there were other questions about the food. We were also never informed that the price of several items on the menu were different since we were participating in Dining Month.
We were given an amuse bouche of a small, grassy soup. Although it looked like a shot of wheatgrass, it was quite rich and one of the best soups I’ve ever had. Creamy, salty, and overflowing with umami. I don’t know if it had mushrooms in it or what exactly gave it the savory taste. Simply fantastic and I would order a cup of it any day.
Our first course was rare, sous vide beef served cold. It came with arugula leaves and what I believe was an arugula paste and dollops of white parmesan sauce. Although the beef had a nice sear on it, it was rather flavorless. I found myself having to add a bit of salt to it to up the flavor profile. Good, but the most disappointing dish of the night.
The second course was smoked capellini pasta topped with cod and clams. I’ve never had a smoked pasta before and I’m a big fan of smoked foods. The capellini blew me away. Between the perfect al dente texture and rich smokey flavor, it was one of the best pastas I’ve ever had. Another dish that I would without hesitation order again. I’m also now on the hunt for other smoked pastas.
The third course was sous vide duck. Perfectly moist and served rare. Not only was the meat full of flavor, but it was accompanied by fried duck skin on the side that was amazing. At this point I was just so taken aback by the quality of the food that I stopped taking notes. This was yet again another dish that was simply perfect.
The meal was so good that we ordered dessert as well. We got both the poached pear with ice cream and fluffy chocolate thing. Again, both were excellent.
I cannot wait to go back here. This was definitely one of the best meals I’ve ever had.

I think this might just be the most overrated restaurant in Portland. We ate here for the first time after hearing nothing but good things about it, so I was stunned how bad the food was. We participated in the 3 course meal for Portland dining month and the first course was literally tasteless. I think this was my first time to eat something that tastes like nothing. My second course was delicious, but teeny tiny and my husbands second course was awful. We got the same 3^rd course the duck and it was just okay.
The wine flight for $ 18 each was better than any of the food we had.
For the money you could eat lots of other places and have a much tastier meal.
I have eaten at their sister restaurant Accanto which was MUCH better and much cheaper.

Fine dining at its finest! Each dish is expertly and thoughtfully crafted. The service is professional and very knowledgeable, and they are happy to explain the dishes and make recommendations. I’ve never had a bad dish here – a great way to really treat yourself!

My husband took me here recently for my birthday. We had a five course meal, which offered 3 options per course. Honestly I couldn’t figure out what half of the food was from the menu but I was able to identify enough to decide on what I’d probably like. The food was all beautifully prepared and delicious. Each dish was a work of art and preparation was extremely creative both in presentation and taste.
Service was excellent. We have no criticism at all — they did a beautiful job on dinner. We brought our own wine — I think corkage was $ 25 a bottle. After reading reviews here I think I would opt for their tasting menu next time as these folks clearly know their food and I would imagine their pairings of food and wine would be quite good.
Really a nice place to go for a special celebration. We left the kids at home and I wouldn’t bring young kids here. This is where grown ups go to treat themselves.

food and service is over top great.
don’t just go here for special occasions it’s not that expensive, stick a crowbar in your wallet and go see for yourself.
It’s as good as it gets

Took my sweetheart here for her birthday celebration at 2000 hrs on a Saturday. It did not disappoint. Did the wine pairing and it was unbelievably fabulous (and I’m not much the wine fan — such variety: saki, whites and reds!)
Got tipsy in just the right measure. We are drinkers so the «wait» period normally given to those that aren’t? was seemingly long between notes. Some times appearing excessive (we spent three hours seated at the dinner table start to finish — time flew however). Our waitress was knowledgable and bestowed just the right amount of an accent upon each introductory plating.
We enjoyed several mouth orgasms the entire evening. When the evening was through we were both happy and satisfied (to tired for a nightcap!)

Impressive service, presentation, atmosphere, and quality. As good as it gets!
We enjoyed a great prix-​fixe menu where we each chose something different throughout the dinner, and shared bites of each. The bistecca for him and ceviche for me for the antipasti, agnolotti for him and gnocci for me for the primi, salmone salad for him and prosciutto e melone salade for the insalata, and finally, for the secondi, lamb for him, and halibut for me. My halibut was cooked perfectly, and his lamb looked rare, but tasted just right. The wines were excellent (cabernet franc for him, and nebbiola for me), and the service top-​notch. The room was warm and inviting, and the entire place was spotlessly clean. Genoa is a great place to take your time dining, and to savor the experience.

Really fantastic, beautifuly presented food. It was a perfect way to end a hot summer sunday with dinner here. I had the vegetarian selection and my brother and sis in law had their meat selection. We all went with the wine pairing for each course and everything was paired perfectly and explained expertly and passionately by the sommelier. May I also add that service was excellent! I don’t always assume there will always be great service in nice pricey restaurants because I’ve experienced newb sucky like service at high profile restaurants. I was very pleased with this.
Even with the vegetarian courses I was very satisfied and not hungry afterwards. It’s not exactly what you think of as traditional Italian but new/​modern Italian. We bypassed the dessert menu because we were set on dessert elsewhere. I wish to return. Worth every penny. Make a reservation, take a shower, wear some deodorant, and look polished but understated pretty cuz it’s SE Portland. We’re not in the Pearl district so no need to look high maintenance and shit. damn I cursed in a refined restaurant’s review. Everyone in the restaurant looked so summery nice. Refreshing.

I’m from NYC, the mecca of great inventive delicious luxurious fine dining. So I never have high expectations when I travel… This was my first time in PDX and I was blown away at my recent visit to Genoa.
From the outside, the building is very non descript and sleek. Once you enter the décor is very minimal but tasteful. The space is intimate and the lighting is set very low so it is a welcoming warm setting.
Our waiter Lee and their sommelier Michael were some of the best I’ve ever come across in the high end restaurant world. They both are passionate about what they do and the food and wine they represent for Genoa.
The menu is a five course tasting menu, each course had 3 options you are asked to choose one of, and with the option of wine pairing as well. Trust me, do the wine pairing, even if you aren’t a wine connoisseur, Michael and Lee were great at explaining what areas the wines were produced in, why they were chosen for the particular dish and what flavors you would taste come through and such. Again pick the wine pairing!
We began our evening with a glass of champagne and an amuse bouche of a cold soup that had a hint of truffle in it… sadly can’t remember what was in it but hot damn it was delicious. We were definitely excited for the rest of the evening meal…
For the Antipasti course we ordered the Agnello e ceci-​corned lamb, nasturtium, chickpeas, castelvetrano olive: CRAZY silky and chewy all in one bite, the chickpea purée just brought the entire dish together.
Uovo di anatra-​soft boiled duck egg, asparagus, parmigiano reggiano, pimenton croûton: The duck egg was sous vide so it was like a ball of silky pudding. very understated flavor wise but everything was still well seasoned and went perfectly.
For the Primi course we both ordered Tagliarini– nettle tagliarini, braised ham hock, wild greens: the homemade nettle pasta was absolute heaven! The braised ham hock was generously shredded on top of the pasta and the slightly salty silky bite was the perfect amount of salt and spice for the creamy pasta.
For the Insalata course we ordered Cozze– marinated mussels, potato, chorizo, sepia vinaigrette: Beautiful dish, nothing was overpowering and again a great combo of flavors that you would never think would meld together.
Ravanelli– heritage radishes, sea vegetables, oyster leaf, coastal flavors: such a different dish from anything I’ve ever had. The vegetables were slightly crisp with a nice hint of the the ocean from the sea beans.
For the Secondi course we ordered Salmone– spring chinook salmon, peas, carrots, vadouvan: So I was told to always try the westcoast salmon, and apparently the local PDX salmon is amazing and it seriously freaking was. The carrots were sous vide so it added another level of texture to the dish.
Agnello– lamb shank, san marzano jam, garlic confit, spring onion: a lot of strong flavors in one dish but not one over powered the other. Amazing.
For the Dolci course, Lee brought out all three options they offered on the menu for the evening. A mascarpone semifreddo with braised fennel and strawberries, a carrot cake with a foam on top and a chocolate cake deconstructed on a plate… the semifreddo hands down was the winner… but all of them were delicious.
I loved my visit to PDX but having dinner here was what made the entire trip just that much more amazing. It is a Must Go!

After living in Portland 6 years and searching and discovering some of the best restaurants around, tonight I went to The BEST restaurant I’ve eaten at IN MY LIFE!
Genoa, I’ll be back! 5 courses, each one a beautiful artistic medly of color, texture and flavor! We did the wine pairing, which I highly suggest. I know its pricy, but save up, cause you don’t want to miss out on this. Micheal, the wine guy is a genius, really. Such perfection. Each course was described in detail as were the wines. The waitresses were so sweet and we never felt neglected. Thank you so much to everyone there tonight.

This is THEE fine dining restaurant in Portland. Hands down. That’s all there is to it.
The food was excellent and creative without a ‘trend’ in sight, but without the old and stuffy rut that places like this can get into. So, sorry pork belly wrapped in bacon wrapped in nettles basted in PBR fans, head elsewhere.
Yep, the Prix Fixe is $ 65. It’s right there on the website and if you don’t like it, don’t go or go next door to Accanto. And certainly don’t go and then bitch about the cost as if they sprung it on you like a cold handed physician asking you to cough.
I had the vegetarian Prix Fixe and my dining companion had the non-​veg option. We both left perfectly full but not bloated; just that perfect balance.
The service was the best service I’ve had outside of Michelin star restaurants in Europe. Lee is a total pro. Was there when you needed him but never hovered, never disappeared, and gave us just the right amount of interaction.
This restaurant will be in regular rotation on my restaurant list for anytime I need that extra bit of pampering.

Genoa is back!
We have been coming here on a yearly basis for some 30 years. We have had some memorable meals here. However, the last several years have been difficult. Last night, we had one of our best meals ever. It was expensive and worth every penny we paid.
The menu is 5 course with a fixed price. It has a vegetarian alternative. The first course last night was a rabbit pâté. I loved it. However, two of my compatriots do not eat rabbit. They were given the alternative, which they both loved. If you are a beet eater, it was wonderful.
Although the primi was a lasagna, it had a freshness that I normally would not have expected. It was not overwhelmed by sauce.
We had a particularly good experience with the wine steward. The white we wanted to begin the meal with was sold out. He recommended an alternative, something we had never had before, that was better. He clearly knows his wines. We brought our own bottle for the red. Corkage is $ 25.00, which a consistent with the prices on their wine list. They clearly have lots of people bring in bootlegs, because their only question was whether to decant the wine.
We all had the lamb. Perfect is the word. We stopped talking and simply enjoyed the food.
For dessert you have a choice of one of three sweet or three cheeses. My companions went sweet while I chose cheese, which went well with he last bit of wine.
This was one of the most satisfying meals I have had in a long time. The portions were just right for a five course meal. The flavors were just bright and fresh. The service could not have better. A bot over three hours flew by without s even knowing it. We got our monies worth and more.
I am glad Genoa is back. It is well worth it.

Simply amazing.
That pretty much sums up my experience at Genoa. The service and the food were impeccable and it definitely lived up to my expectations after reading so many positive reviews.
Genoa is known for special occasion dining, a place where people celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and such. They offer a 5 course prix fixe meal for $ 65 and the average dining time is somewhere between 2.5 to 3 hours so be ready for the time commitment. Don’t worry, it goes by fast especially if you are with someone you like! My Genoa occasion happened to be an anniversary and it didn’t feel like we were there as long as we were (just about 2.5 hours). The courses came steadily but you had time to digest a bit and talk about how amazing the dish was before the next one arrived. We practically had the place to ourselves because we dined on a Sunday night with only 2 other couples so it was nice and intimate. Our waiter was great. He took the time to explain the ingredients in each dish and was very attentive without being overly so.
On this particular night, the menu offered items I’ve never even heard of. Salsify? Uni butter? Thank goodness for google and my trust in the chef who did not disappoint.
So was it worth the money? Yes! It is a food experience unlike anything you’ll come across during a normal night out for dinner. Their menu changes weekly so it will always be a unique offering and if you are love food and trying new things then you must eat here one day. Worth every penny.

We got ENGAGED HERE! =)
What can I say when the BF secretly plans and takes you here to splurge a few hundred $$$$ to make it a *very special* night?
The price is actually very reasonable for a 5 course prix fixe menu @ $ 65 per person, though the wine pairing and rare alcohol choices will run you up quite a bit more.
Excellent service, really feels like being pampered and not rushed through the ~3 hour meal. The remodeled restaurant is decorated like the dining room @ a fancy mansion, with a cozy fireplace and only a few tables. The attached more casual restaurant next door is excellent I hear, though more «everyday» fare.
Only thing is that the final dessert — macaron and cookies are not on par with what I’d expect @ a high end fancy restaurant, maybe they are not made in house, maybe delivered frozen from another bakery, but it was underwhelming.
Waiter was really nice and polite, none-​intrusive, they laid out the flowers my BF ordered in advance and took our jacket + umbrella away. Patiently explained the dishes and ingredients, as well as took pictures for us. The wine sommelier had excellent command of his field.
Oh forgot to mention that for the same price, they also offer a vegetarian prix fixe menu, mostly similar first 3 courses, with changes in the main entrée.
It will be on our anniversary short list, I am sure. =D

This the best fine dinning restaurant I have eaten at in Portland. All pluses with no minuses.
1. The wait staff are prompt, knowledgeable and engaging.
2. The sommelier was a wealth of knowledgeable with a clear passion for the wines. He was in no way condensing which can happen to folks in that position. It was a pleasure to listen to his explanations.
3. The ambiance is perfect for a meal with folks you enjoy being with for long dinner conversations.
4. The five course dinner was incredible. My main course, a rib eye streak with heirloom tomatoes was the best I have had anywhere.
5. The wine pairings were clearly well chosen for the various courses.
These folks served the various courses at a perfect pace. You never felt rushed nor ignored. If you are looking to have a very special night out I highly recommend you consider Genoa.

Ambiance can be everything to a restaurant, and I’m not used to finding such a stylish restaurant in the Portland area, so dress nicely, as they do for you.
Genoa has a floor to ceiling glass window, for outside passerby’s to view the chef and his staff make there masterpieces. What i enjoyed about this restaurant is it’s fixed price menu, and for an additional $ 40.00, you can have a wine pairing with your meal. The courses are elegantly plated and very rich in taste, that being said i didn’t care for the main as much as I did for the first, second and salad. My main was a simple pork chop on polenta, yes it was tasty, sustained pork, but I felt it could have been better, for such elegant previous courses.
Another thing that was kind of a downer, was the length of time the courses were apart from each other, making it a three hour dinner, so please bring your patents. I think those who go will like Genoa, just because it’s not your typical Portland restaurant.

I recently went to dine at Genoa for their 5 course meal. You have a vegetarian choice for the 5 course meal, which also looked amazing. They prefer that you not mix and match, though.
The chef had a gift of an Amuse Bouche for us. It was delightful! I wasn’t too crazy about the appetizer of cured salmon and bay scallops and octopus, but the following course was definitely a winner! House made pasta ribbons with veal meatballs… so yummy! The rest of the courses were delicious as well!
The service was impeccable, the atmosphere was wonderful, it allowed for lively conversation. Parking was on the street, but able to park near the restaurant.

I certainly thought I had reviewed this fine establishment after enjoying a long, delicious birthday dinner there last winter, but it appears I did not, so here goes…
We headed here for dinner on my birthday last December, and almost immediately, I knew I had chosen the right place.
The service was smooth and welcoming without being obsequious.
The dining room was quiet enough for conversation, but not solemn.
The prix-​fixe meal was outstanding, and gave us just enough leeway in our choices to feel like we could make the dinner our own.
The wine pairings suggested by the staff were spot-​on.
Of course, a dinner like this is not something that most of us can afford on a regular basis, but as Ferris Bueller once said:
If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.