Just out of the downtown core in a small bungalow, Ariana (1304 NW Galveston Ave., 541/330-5539, 5–9 p.m. Wed.–Sat., $15–29, reservations recommended) is one of the most appealing and intimate dinner restaurants in town. The Mediterranean-influenced cuisine is prepared with care, elevating dishes as simple as beet salad to remarkable heights. The oven-roasted halibut here may be served with zucchini “pasta” and lemon sauce, and truffles are used to flavor corn and frites. In the summer, seating expands to a deck.