Nostrana

Nostrana is a beloved wood-fired pizza and Italian restaurant on SE Morrison Street in Southeast Portland, Oregon, founded by chef-owner Cathy Whims. Since opening in 2005, the restaurant has earned national recognition as one of the finest pizza destinations in the United States, earning James Beard Award nominations for Outstanding Restaurant and Outstanding Chef. Whims trained in Italy and brings a deep respect for Italian tradition to a kitchen that insists on exceptional ingredients sourced from Oregon farms and Pacific Northwest producers. The wood-fired oven, burning continuously at high temperature, is the heart of the restaurant: it produces blistered, char-edged pies with a supple crumb and a crust that balances chew and crispness in the Neapolitan style. The Potato-Rosemary Pizza—thin-crusted, olive-oil-dressed, and fragrant with fresh rosemary—has become a signature of Whims's kitchen and an unusual alternative to tomato-based pies. The Margherita Vera, made with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and basil, is the benchmark by which the wood oven's mastery is best measured. Beyond pizza, the menu includes seasonal salads, handmade pastas, and market-driven antipasti that change with Oregon's harvests. Burrata with seasonal accompaniments is a consistent highlight. The wine list focuses on Italian producers with a curated selection of natural and biodynamic wines from smaller importers. The dining room is large, lively, and warm, with exposed brick and the glow of the open oven visible from most tables. Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner; the restaurant also offers a lunch service on weekdays that is less congested than the evening rush.