Cindy Thomas, July 12, 2015
Renata was named the Restaurant of the Year 2015 recently by the Oregonian. I had been wanting to try this place for a few weeks and was lucky to get a reservation after the stellar review by the Oregonian. We were not disappointed!
June menu and lovely water bottle
We dined at Renata on a warm June evening and requested a table on the patio. We were greeted quickly and the service was prompt and friendly. I was impressed that we had the chance to interact with both of the owners during our dining experience. They both take time to check on every detail and make sure that the customers are enjoying their meals.
Open kitchen dining room
The dining room is a gorgeous and welcoming space. Lots of smiling, happy diners!
a beautiful summer night on the patio
crispy pork trotters
We started our meal with an order of pork trotters upon the server’s recommendation. These were a combination of tender pork and an assortment of veggies mixed together, breaded and fried to perfection. They came on a bed of mostarda which is a fruit and mustard sauce. Just divine!
chopped salad
Next we enjoyed the chopped salad which was fresh and hearty with mortadella and pecorino cubes.
Canestri pasta
For dinner we shared two different pasta dishes. The Canestri pasta with it’s braised pork and chanterelle mushrooms was our favorite. I had read that the pasta is made in house and is not to be missed. I agree! Please order the pasta when you go!
The dessert course
For dessert we tried the passionfruit panna cotta and the chocolate semifreddo. We love panna cotta and usually order it whenever it’s on the menu. This one was good, but it couldn’t compete with the luxurious chocolate semifreddo. What I loved most about the semifreddo was that it had a perfect balance of texture and flavor: smooth, crunchy, sweet and tart. That and the fact that it was a frozen dessert on a hot night made it a stellar experience. The cappuccinos were perfectly made and satisfying. Our server mentioned that they source their coffee beans from Ristretto Roasters. An excellent choice.
Overall, the whole dining experience was magical. I can’t wait to go back!
Click here to learn more: Renata
Welcome to my site! I'm Cindy. I'm a native Oregonian and have lived on the west coast most of my life. I have been interested in food and cooking since childhood. Food is something I'm passionate about! Whether it's growing a garden or scouting out the best new restaurant in town, I'm all in! It is my hope that this site will be a place to share all kinds of delicious goodness from my native northwest and beyond!
