Basta's Trattoria

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Tadimdia C.

Joined 7 months ago

This is the place to dine in NW!

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alsacelorraine

Joined 3 years ago

This is one of my favorites. I go here for all my hot dates and special events :) The mussels are my favorite. I always order the bread/olive oil, and their martinis are very good. Dirty, of course. The wait staff is knowledgeable and diligent, and good-natured despite me stumbling out drunk a couple times. The atmosphere is intimate and sexy - a cozy Mediterranean delight!

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Brunner Properties

Joined 2 years ago

Already great, getting better. The Happy Hour menu is at the top of the list of our favorite menus at any restaurant (and we eat out a lot), and it's available until closing time. The pork tenderloin in a port wine sauce with feather-light fried potatoes at $8 is a full meal accompanied by a $4 caesar salad. Delicious! Anytime sausage is on the menu, order it and you'll be transported to a Tuscan village. Ditto the regular menu. Watch silenced but subtitled movies projected on the wall while you enjoy the full bar and comprehensive wine menu with dinner. Join the late-evening crowd in a friendly, robust bar scene. The kitchen and serving staff are all Basta's veterans; friendly, knowledgeable and hard-working. Owner Marco Frattaroli is a restless creative always raising the bar on making dining at Basta's a memorable evening. He goes to great lengths to procure the freshest and finest ingredients. He was mentioned in an October, 2011, Wall Street Journal article in reference to the series of historical dinners he created at Basta's and which were hugely successful. Basta's has grown and matured into a comprehensive, superb Italian restaurant which continues to add subtlety and variety to its solid base.

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s1225

Joined 4 years ago

Awesome Happy Hour and Super Fun Server. My friend and I wandered into Basta's because we were walking down the street and wanted a drink (no preconceived notions) and the sign said Happy Hour All Day (really 5pm to close, but still cool). It was exceptional. Our waitress (can't remember her name, but she had bright red hair) was HILARIOUS. I don't know the last time I had service by someone who seemed to enjoy her work so much. The cocktails were delicious, fairly strong and moderately priced ($8). Didn't taste a ton of the food, but what I did have was really good (and cheap! $4 for the little eggplant, zucchini and mozzarella rice fritter and $2 for a huge plate of yam fries). Overall, our server really made an impact and I hope to be back for more soon!

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bristolbear

Joined 5 years ago

Thank you Forkfly! Thank you Bastas!. I saw Basta's on Forkfly. They were promoting the braised wild boar with polenta and grilled radicchio for $10! I had never been there before but had to try it! It was in a great part of NW with on-site parking. It happened to be 1st Thursday so they were pretty busy, had live music. The staff was all very friendly, we were seated immediately. The food was perfect as was the atmosphere and my overall experience. I will definitely spread the word!

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Kiddcassidy

Joined 4 years ago

Cool people, good food, great value. This is a great locals spot. I've been to a bunch of restaurants since I moved here and Bastas really has a neighborhood feel. If you can catch it you may even see the bartenders change the music from jazzy classical to Bowie before they close. It's an upscale dinning experence in the back and on the porch (only on Friday and Sat) but the lounge plays old Hepburn movies and the Happy Hour is outstanding. And try the drinks! Ask any server or bartender to match a wine by the glass or what's good and you'll never be disappointed.

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Midge4673

Joined 4 years ago

Great happy hour menu, pizza, Italian wines and great crowd in the heart of the Pearl district. Good crowd frequents this restaurant. All the wine by the glass are good and there is bottled wine available, which is well priced. I would like to see the wine selection by the glass swapped out more frequently as I have gone there for months now and see the same wines over and over, which there are 4 non-house wines that are always listed.

I typically sit at the bar and depending on the bartender, the service varies. I would like to be offered a glass of water when I sit at the bar. I can get tastes of wine beforehand. The owner seems to know the wine very well, much better than the staff. I would like to see the staff be able to recommend certain wines with foods as even the Italian Garden staff can do this.

It's located in a nice spot and has it's own parking which is a huge benefit in an area where off-street parking can be very difficult to find.

There are some new additions to the happy hour menu which I have not tried. I've tried the spagetti and meatballs ($5), chicken skewers with yam fries (only $3) and the ceasar salad ($4)...the wine is typically around $9, but $2 off during happy hour.

The owner is usually at the restaurant and converses with the regulars which is nice and adds a personal touch to the restaurant.

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Eduardo97205

Joined 5 years ago

Awesome Lounge Menu and a Staff that rocks!. The food at Bastas is prepared with care an I can honestly say that I have not ever had a bad meal there. One can pop in and have a simple item from the lounge menu or enjoy some of the more hearty meals served off the dining menu. The Cafe Bastas Cocktail is a must! The staff is polite but not in your face which makes it a good place to take a date. They know their stuff. From preparation of the dishes to wine pairings of the expansive Italian wine list. They are pros. It is no wonder this place is a NW institution.

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CaptainVespa

Joined 5 years ago

Happy Hour with the best unique special dishes in Portland.. For many years I enjoyed the good food at Bastas. There are many items on the menu, from Pasta, Pizza, Meat and Cheese Plate, Hanger Steak etc. The recent changes to offer Happy Hour all day, which is served in the lounge only, has many added dishes. Next to the regular offered itmes there are one or two specials added on. A few month ago it was a 'house-made chicken sausage'.

The newly added items are 'macaroni and cheese', yes i know, it is a Ristorante italiano, but it is a great dish for the winter season. The added Raclette Cheese tops of the great taste.

Also, the second dish, the 'Lingua di Salmi' is a rare item to get here in Portland. The cow tongue is prepared right, served with red cabbage, presented nicely.

I really enjoy the little culinary dished offered by Bastas which are unique and available for a short time only. Keep it up, it is always a surprise what addition to find on the menu.

Great wine, great food, great staff.

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lsb123

Joined 6 years ago

great Italian. This quaint italian bistro was surprisinly good.. The food was imaginative as it was good. with everything from pork tenderloins in a port & veal reduction to simple meatballs and spaghetti. All was top notch. The service was very good as well. The waitresses paid attention to every table and detail to enhance our dining experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant