"Downtown Portland's intimate osteria since 2011 - chef Simone Savaiano's handmade pasta and 400-plus Italian wines, for a quiet anniversary dinner."
About Mucca Osteria
Mucca Osteria is an intimate Italian restaurant at 1022 SW Morrison St in downtown Portland, opened in 2011 by chef-owner and sommelier Simone Savaiano. He sources carefully from local farmers and cooks authentic regional Italian food in a narrow, bi-level room, and the osteria has become a quiet downtown standby for a serious pasta dinner.
The cooking is regional Italian, built on handmade pasta. For more of the city's Italian and special-occasion tables, compare the Roman-leaning Ava Gene's, the rustic Nostrana and the wood-fired OX. For the wider category, see our Italian dining guide, or plan a milestone with our anniversary picks.
The Kitchen
Chef-owner Simone Savaiano puts handmade pasta at the centre of the menu, rolling it in house and pairing it with carefully sourced local produce. Signatures run to maltagliati with rabbit, olives and pine nuts, a Dungeness crab salad with endive, arugula, apple and a champagne vinaigrette, and slow-roasted pork shoulder with wild mushrooms and polenta. Pasta dishes sit in the mid-teens, while secondi of steak, duck and fish hover in the low-to-mid 20s, and a six-course chef's tasting menu is offered for those who want the full kitchen treatment. The wine list is the other half of the draw, with more than 400 labels from every region of Italy, chosen by Savaiano in his sommelier role. This is careful, ingredient-led cooking rather than spectacle.
The Room
The room is narrow and intimate: a bi-level space of exposed-brick walls, rustic chandeliers and tall windows over a busy downtown corner, seating a small number of tables at a time. It sits on SW Morrison Street in Portland's West End, walkable from downtown hotels and the theatre district, and the close quarters make it feel personal and quiet rather than bustling. The scale and the candle-lit feel suit a date, an anniversary or a small celebration, and the long wine list rewards a lingering evening. Because the room is small, booking ahead is sensible, particularly at weekends and for the tasting menu.
Best for an Anniversary
The intimate brick room, the candlelight and the handmade-pasta menu make Mucca Osteria a warm anniversary or first date dinner, and a quiet table for a proposal over a long Italian wine list in Portland.
Not for
Not for a large group or a quick, casual bite - this is a small, intimate osteria built for an unhurried pasta dinner and a long wine list, best for two or a small table.
Frequently Asked
What is Mucca Osteria known for?
Mucca Osteria is known for chef-owner Simone Savaiano's handmade pasta - such as maltagliati with rabbit, olives and pine nuts - and for a wine list of more than 400 Italian labels, served in an intimate, exposed-brick room in downtown Portland.
Where is Mucca Osteria?
Mucca Osteria is at 1022 SW Morrison St in downtown Portland's West End, walkable from downtown hotels and the theatre district, in a narrow bi-level space on a busy corner.
Who is the chef at Mucca Osteria?
Chef-owner and sommelier Simone Savaiano opened Mucca Osteria in 2011 and leads its kitchen, cooking authentic regional Italian food from carefully sourced local produce and selecting the restaurant's Italian wine list himself.
How much does Mucca Osteria cost?
Pasta dishes sit in the mid-teens, while secondi of steak, duck and fish hover in the low-to-mid 20s, and a six-course chef's tasting menu is offered for a fuller experience. With the wine list, it reads as a mid-to-upper Portland dinner.
Do I need a reservation at Mucca Osteria?
Because the room is small, booking ahead is sensible, particularly at weekends and for the six-course tasting menu. The intimate, bi-level space seats a limited number of tables at a time.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Mucca Osteria
Booking ahead is sensible for this small room, especially at weekends; Mucca Osteria is at 1022 SW Morrison St in downtown Portland.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1022 SW Morrison St, Portland, OR 97205
NeighbourhoodDowntown (West End)
CuisineItalian
PriceMid-to-upper Portland; pasta mid-teens, secondi low-to-mid 20s, six-course tasting
Dress CodeSmart casual
SeatingNarrow, intimate bi-level brick room
ReservationRecommended
