Ava Genes

"Tasty n Daughters, the offshoot of Portland brunch golden child Tasty n Sons, opened last year serving a menu stacked with specialty bites from across the globe. Its take on cornbread probably isn’t what the cul de sac’s Southern grandmother fried up, unless that grandmother had a taste for chili pepper and a knack for rebuffing tradition. Tasty n Daughters offers something cornbread adjacent: a skillet corn cake with jalapeño butter, cutting the sweetness of the bread with the first taste of spice. The corn cake is included with the steak and cheddar eggs, but can also be ordered alone for those with enough self assurance to go bread-on-bread." - Scout Brobst

"Available at both Tasty restaurants, the shakshuka at Tasty N Daughters is a throwback to co-owner Ron Avni’s time growing up in Israel. Slowly roasted tomatoes and both green and red bell peppers cook with smoked paprika and sun-dried chili, which cradle the eggs as the dish arrives at the table. Grilled bread placed upright in the dish helps customers dig in." - Nick Woo

"Sure, a lot of Portland restaurants take advantage of the abundance of local producers putting out quality ingredients, but Chef Joshua McFadden really lets these amazing ingredients steer the ship. His ever-changing menu is filled with dishes composed of layers of flavors you've never experienced before. Their modern point of view on Italian food still pays homage to classic traditions in cheese, cured meats, and the pasta itself, but, the Garden dishes are where they really shine. This selection of vegetables is full of surprise with delightfully beautiful colors, textures, and new flavors. The staff is perfectly attentive throughout your entire visit and so helpful in guiding you through the unfamiliar vocabulary of the menu or picking the perfect wine from their extensive yet, thoughtful list." - Factory North

"This Division Street Italian restaurant will offer takeout meals for four or eight diners, as well as pick-and-choose a la carte options like apple and Italian sausage bread pudding, cranberry-kumquat compote, and brown butter glazed carrots. The full meal includes all of the above, as well as turkey (poached breast and confit leg and thigh), whipped potato puree, a salad with dill and shallot, parker house rolls, and a choice of dessert — options include a pink lady apple pie, winter squash pie with pepitas, and Ava Gene’s tiramisu. Order online here for pickup or delivery." - Janey Wong, Eater Staff

"With its warmly-lit ambiance, intimate seating, and extensive list of regional Italian wine, amari, and grappa, Ava Gene’s makes an ideal date spot. The Roman trattoria-inspired menu offers plenty of options: gardini for starters and salads, primi for pastas, and sharing-sized secondi of steaks and old-school Italian dishes like braciole. Chef Joshua McFadden (formerly of Maine’s Four Season Farm and Franny’s in Brooklyn, where he’s said to have made the famous raw kale salad happen) is known to source his ingredients from a hand-picked selection of the Pacific Northwest’s best farm-to-table produce and meats, so expect some pleasant surprises depending on the season."