October 25, 2003

Porto Terra

Where: On Sixth just south of Yamhill
Bill: Mushroom risotto
Kitty: Veggie ravioli of the day
Dessert: Flourless chocolate cake with cherry gelato; cheesecake with carmelized apples
Cost: $50

At first I was concerned about the lack of separation between the bar and the dining room, but Porto Terra makes it work. It's not your typical bar--no loud music and lots of light. It didn't bother us much.

I liked the decor, and the table was comfortable. Yes, I'm saving the best for last.

That is some damned fine food. The chef at Porto Terra understands that cooking vegetarian is not a limitation. My ravioli was stuffed with cheese, veggies, and a small amount of nuts. The sauce was a light veggie broth (my only complaint: a little too salty), and topped with slices of mozzerella that were thin enough to melt into the dish. Just heavenly.

Bill's risotto was equally fantastic. The risotto itself was covered by a layer of fried zucchini, giving it the texture of a savory pie. The risotto was cooked in the same broth as my ravioli, giving it a strong, deep flavor. As good as the ravioli was, I'm ordering the risotto next time.

The desserts were good, but not spectacular. I did enjoy the ice cream very much--it had a strong note of cinnamon. And bless them for having a human sized portion of cake--enough to eat, not die from.

We'll be visiting Porto Terra again. I'm anxious to try the rest of their fare.