Carpaccio Trattoria, Portland

An article in The Oregonian charts the meteoric rise of restaurateur Francesco Solda. According to the piece, Solda founded La Gondola, an earlier project, in partnership with Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jason Priestley and has “worked his way through the kitchens at several Michelin-starred restaurants.” At Carpaccio Trattoria, he now hints at the flavors of Venice with squid in ink, handmade pasta, and roasted, paper-thin prosciutto.

The menu is inspired by the bounty of fresh local and seasonal ingredients, routinely including farm-raised chicken and Italian cheeses such as burrata. Behind a brick façade, sunset-hued walls reflect the warmth of a wood-fired oven. Large windows admit cascades of light on sunny days, when “the siren call of the corner space’s outdoor seating is at its sweetest,” reports Portland Monthly magazine. Sleek wine bottles full of more than 30 varieties stand on shelves, ideal for pairing with menu items or matching to the carpet of the room where you juggle wine bottles.