A PLACE THAT WOULD RESONATE WITH OUR GUESTS AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. A PLACE THAT COULD FEEL LIKE A LOCAL EUROPEAN CAFÉ, TAPAS BAR OR TRATTORIA. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS IN CARINA LOUNGE. A NOD TO THE CLASSIC BONES OF THE FORMER BASTA’S/TASTY FREEZE RESTAURANTS BUILDING, CARINA LOUNGE IS A MODERN, MEDITERRANEAN EARTH-TONED PALATE THAT ENVELOPS YOU IN LIGHT AND WARMTH. THEY ARE INVITING GUESTS INTO THEIR “HOME”. TO LAUGH AND ENGAGE AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. TO FEEL GOOD AND ENJOY FARE THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO A PLACE OF COMFORT, BOTH FAMILIAR AND FAMILIAL. SMALL PLATES TO ALLOW FOR SHARING AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE MANY FLAVORS. COCKTAILS, WINE AND BEER FROM EUROPE AND OREGON, THAT PAIR WITH THE SEASONAL INFLUENCES OF CARINA’S MENU.
Modern bistro fare & bar snacks in a contemporary dining room with bar seating & outdoor tables.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 410 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
Phone: (503) 274-1572
Website: https://carinalounge.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: carinalounge.com
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Carina Lounge (@carinalounge) • Instagram photos and videos
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Reviews
Everything we ordered was excellent. It’s a perfect spot for a date night or a relaxed get-together with friends or family.
Located in the heart of NW Portland, the restaurant offers some outdoor seating for when the weather’s nice. The staff was warm and welcoming, with great wine knowledge that really added to the experience.
Parking is limited to a small lot, but street parking is available nearby.
This place is a hidden gem in Portland that deserves to be shouted about from the rooftops—especially after the experience my husband and I had!
We first heard about Carina Lounge in the most serendipitous way—chatting with the owner at The Salt Line Hotel during Christmas. He casually mentioned he ran a restaurant and the moment he said “Carina Lounge,” my husband and I lit up like a couple of starstruck foodies. We knew right then: we were going. And let me tell you—it exceeded every expectation.
We finally made it there for a long-overdue date night, also doubling as my husband’s belated birthday dinner. And as fate would have it, there was a city-wide food contest going on: order the featured pasta special and you could win it for free. Um, yes please?
Let’s talk atmosphere. It’s giving sultry, moody elegance with a hint of Japanese influence—dim lighting, a gorgeous bar setup, and flickering candles on every table. Parking was a breeze (yes, free lot—hallelujah), and the vibe instantly had us in relaxation mode.
Our server? An absolute gem. I could write a love letter about the banana daiquiri she made me—hands-down the best I’ve ever had. It was dangerously smooth, with that perfect balance where you don’t realize how strong it is until you’re halfway through your second. A+ mixology.
We started with the meatball appetizer: juicy, flavorful meatballs smothered in a sun-kissed San Marzano tomato sauce, topped with fresh basil, pecorino, and parmesan. Paired with that Crostini baguette? Chef’s kiss. My husband devoured them like a man possessed (in the best way), while I saved room for the main event…
My goat cheese ravioli. Oh. My. Gosh.
As a goat cheese lover, this dish was my personal nirvana. The ravioli texture was silky and tender, stuffed with a vibrant, tart goat cheese filling that danced in harmony with the velvety parmesan cream sauce. It was tangy, bright, and luxurious—like being wrapped in a warm, cheesy, edible hug.
My husband got the burrata & Italian sausage penne—the contest dish—and the man looked like he was falling in love all over again. He said it was the best pasta he’s ever had (aside from my ravioli, of course), and I believe him, especially given the huge smile he wore the entire time.
Then the magic happened…
As we were finishing up, our lovely server came back and casually let us know my husband WON the pasta contest—his dream dish, totally on the house. I could’ve cried. It was such a thoughtful, joyful surprise, and truly the cherry on top of an unforgettable night.
Bottom line: Carina Lounge is doing everything right. From the food, to the drinks, to the service, to the vibe… we were blown away. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just want to treat yourself to an exceptional meal in Portland, GO. And order the pasta. Trust me.
The food was good and the service was excellent. The happy hour menu had a wide variety of items so we ordered our entire meal from the small plates menu. We had steak bites, chicken, prosciutto, clams, bread, cauliflower and ravioli among other things. Definitely would recommend the clams and brussel sprouts. Those were our favorites.
Prices were decent and the portions were fair. I enjoyed sitting by the window, watching the ppl walking by, while feeling the warmth of the sun on one of the few sunny days in March.
Would definitely recommend checking this trendy place out.
Carina Lounge feels like the type of place locals go, and all the staff knows them. It’s in a great place in Nob Hill for vintage charm and people watching. The staff were very kind, attentive enough without being smothering, cool, and very generous to us.
I forgot to take a picture of the meatballs, but they were divine. Perfect marinara flavor with cheese, and French bread.
I can never get Brussel sprouts right, but I do enjoy them by someone who knows how. The vinaigrette glaze was delicious.
My husband decided to be adventurous and get the Salmon risotto. He loved it, and even ate the skin. The risotto was a perfect flavor that I can’t quite figure out aside from the cheese goodness. I do love salmon, but also a lemony chicken. So I went with the Lemon Caper Chicken . It was the perfect blend of comfort food, with exquisite flavor. Plus, I love carrots!
Of course we had to have room for dessert, and went with their gelato to which they obliged my request for a neopolitan dish. Then add a homemade biscotti on top, which I LOVE, and my husband always thinks its funny I get excited for them.
The next time you want to venture into Portland for a great meal and atmosphere go here.
The large restaurant is lively and bustling, but there is a quiet and cozy room to the left of the entrance that is a nice contrast to both. We enjoyed our meal in the cosy one, calm room. It was happy hour, so we enjoyed some of the appetizers at reasonable prices and the flatbreads and lasagna were very good. My husband especially liked the Flatbreads. The food was all very tasty and well presented, and the atmosphere was very relaxing. The staff were all attentive and pleasant. I would definitely visit here again when I want to enjoy dinner in a relaxed and elegant atmosphere. ✨
03/04/2023
We had dinner in the cozy room again. My husband had the wine and I had the Fragola because I enjoyed the cocktail I had last time. We had Steak Bites, Mussels Sauteed, Piri Piri Prawn, Uncle Vittorio’s Pork Ragu and Pizza Bianca. We were seated in the back and the staff was very attentive, always asking if we were missing anything and decorating our desserts with birthday decorations.
We went around 6pm on a Saturday and got seated at the bar right away.
Dark mood lighting, clean elegant decor, and a friendly smiling staff start things off right. We order a couple of light cocktails that were clean and refreshing.
Appetizer of oven roasted Brussels sprouts were tender with a great charred flavor.
Main dishes of the shredded pork pasta with tomato sauce which had really good flavor albeit the pork was too chewy; and the goat cheese ravioli which is an absolute home-run! This entree looked small at first, but it’s dense and flavorful which made it satisfying and plentiful.
Dessert was the crème brûlée and a tiramisu. Both were fantastic!
What an excellent find in NW Portland. Hats off to everyone working at this fine place for a great experience.