Italian

Nostrana (1401 SE Morrison St., 503/234-2427, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–11 p.m. Fri., 5–11 p.m. Sat., 5–10 p.m. Sun., $18–24, pizza $9–15) is the latest outpost of Cathy Whims, who led the much-revered Genoa kitchen for many years. Her new enterprise takes her a ways from Italian high cuisine: Nostrana is part wood-fired pizza joint and part rustic Italian home-cooking restaurant. Order one of the excellent pizzas—perhaps prosciutto and arugula—and augment it with a selection of wonderful salads, soups, house-cured meats, and wood-oven cooked meats. The menu changes nightly to ensure that everything here is absolutely fresh and seasonal.

3 Doors Down (1429 SE 37th Ave., 503/236-6886, 5–9:30 p.m. Tues.–Thurs., 5–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 4–9 p.m. Sun., $17–26), as its name implies, is a few doors away from Hawthorne Boulevard [1]. Dishes are Italian influenced but inspired by the Northwest’s bounty. The most requested dish is vodka penne with spicy Italian sausage and plum tomato cream sauce.