Dinner Date at Nostrana

Normally our favorite thing to do on a Friday night is to order take out and have a relaxing night in. After exhausting work weeks we often don't feel up for a night out. But lucky for us, our company celebrates a little something we like to call "Half-Day Friday" during the summer months. You work a couple extra hours during the week, and then come noon on Friday, you can start your weekend early! It's kind of the most amazing thing ever. So these days, after vegging out for a little and taking the pup out for a nice long walk, we feel energized and ready to try new restaurants. Which is exactly what we did Friday.


Nostrana is an Italian restaurant located in southeast Portland. It's not small, but it somehow still feels very cozy. We got to sit at the pizza counter, where we watched the chefs toss the pizza dough and slather it with delicious tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. Yummm. I can't say enough about how incredible our food was. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water! I also enjoyed a fun trio of sparkling wines, all which I loved. It's the perfect spot for a romantic date night if you're ever in the area.

P.S. Just a fun little memory. Half way through our dinner another customer stood up and clinked his glass and asked if everyone in the restaurant would help him sing happy birthday to his friend, who was celebrating her 60th birthday. Everyone in the restaurant bursted out into song, it was so fun! 

{Photos © Liz Denfeld}