Nostrana takes its name from the Italian word for "ours," a nod to the local sourcing at the center of chef Cathy Whims' regional Italian cooking. Whims draws on personal relationships with Pacific Northwest farmers and ranchers, letting the kitchen's ingredients follow the region's seasons.
Nostrana is the flagship of a small Portland group Whims also runs, which includes Oven & Shaker and Enoteca Nostrana.
The restaurant's cooking has drawn sustained attention from the James Beard Foundation, with Whims named a Best Chef finalist six years running, from 2009 through 2014, after an earlier semifinalist nomination in 2008.
Locally, Nostrana has built a reputation around its pasta, an extensive wine list, and a dining room that works equally well for a regular dinner or a special occasion, with service that regulars consistently point to.
Nostrana is the flagship of a small Portland group Whims also runs, which includes Oven & Shaker and Enoteca Nostrana.
The restaurant's cooking has drawn sustained attention from the James Beard Foundation, with Whims named a Best Chef finalist six years running, from 2009 through 2014, after an earlier semifinalist nomination in 2008.
Locally, Nostrana has built a reputation around its pasta, an extensive wine list, and a dining room that works equally well for a regular dinner or a special occasion, with service that regulars consistently point to.