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Nostra Tavola: 20-Minute Drive, $30+ Per Person, Worth the Detour! 🍝

Tired of crowded Portland downtown spots but craving authentic Italian food? Nostra Tavola, hidden in Vancouver, WA, is such a pleasant surprise! It’s just a 20-minute drive from Portland—cross the bridge, and you’ll find it. While it’s a bit out of the way (maybe because I rarely visit this area), this spot tucked inside a shopping center offers tons of parking 🅿️ (no stressing over hunting for a space!) and delicious, Italy-worthy dishes at budget-friendly prices—total game-changer for my “suburban restaurant” expectations! We arrived around 2 PM, and the place was pretty quiet—no downtown chaos, just a cozy vibe from warm yellow lights and wooden tables, like stepping into a family-run trattoria in a small Italian town. No wait for a table; we picked a window seat right away. The server handed us menus quickly, chatted through the favorites with a upbeat tone, and never felt rushed—first impression was a 10/10! 🍴 Must-Try Dishes: All Three Signatures Are Hits—No Misses! I didn’t have high hopes, but every dish exceeded expectations—especially the value: $30-$50 per person gets you a salad, main course, and a shared pizza. We left stuffed and even wanted to take leftovers! ✨ Caprese Salad 🥗｜Cheese Lovers, This Is a Must! If you love mozzarella, don’t skip this! Ripe tomatoes sliced thin, layered with soft, fresh mozzarella, drizzled with a light coat of balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil, then seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper. First bite: sweet, juicy tomato; then creamy, milky mozzarella; finally, the tangy-sweet kick of balsamic. It’s so refreshing—not heavy at all, like eating “a taste of Italian summer.” We polished it off in minutes, and the server even laughed and asked, “Want another round?” ✨ Penne & Italian Sausage 🍝｜Penne with Sausage—So Good, We Licked the Plate! I thought “sausage pasta” might be greasy, but it was a total shocker! The penne was cooked al dente (perfectly firm), each strand coated in a light red tomato-based sauce—not thick or gloopy, but just enough to cling to the pasta. The Italian sausage was cut into small chunks, packed with meaty flavor and a hint of herbs (no overpowering garlic, great for non-garlic lovers), with solid, non-grainy texture. Mixing pasta and sausage together, the savory sausage balanced the sweet tomato sauce—we even dipped bread in the leftover sauce, nothing went to waste! ✨ Pizza Bianca 🍕｜“All Green Leaves” White Pizza—Surprisingly Amazing! When I saw “Pizza Bianca” (white pizza) on the menu, I whispered, “All green leaves? That might be weird…” But the first bite proved me wrong! The thin crust was crispy outside, soft inside—no traditional tomato sauce, just a light brush of garlic olive oil. Topped with fresh arugula, basil, shredded parmesan, and a pinch of salt. First, you taste the wheatiness of the crust; then the slight bitterness of arugula and freshness of basil; finally, the salty parmesan. No boring bites here—without tomato sauce, the ingredients’ natural flavors shine. Even my friend, who usually hates “veggie pizzas,” kept stealing slices: “This is better than meat pizza!” 💡 Practical Tips: Little Details Make the Experience Great! Location & Parking: It’s in Vancouver, but a 20-minute drive from Portland downtown is easy. It’s in a shopping center with tons of parking—no hassle for drivers. Timing: Arrive after 2 PM for fewer people and no waits—perfect if you want a quiet meal and chat. Value: $30-$50 per person gets you a salad, main, and shared pizza—cheaper than most Portland downtown Italian spots by nearly 20%, with big portions. Great for students or family dinners. Service: Super friendly service 👍—the server recommends dishes proactively, food comes fast (all our dishes arrived in 15 minutes), and they check in on taste afterward. Small but thoughtful touches! If you’re in Portland, want to skip long lines at spots (internet-famous spots) and eat authentic, affordable Italian food—don’t hesitate to cross the bridge to Nostra Tavola! It may not have fancy decor, but its solid flavors and kind service will make you say “I’ll be back!” 📍 Nostra Tavola 8070 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98664 #Oregon #OregonEats #PortlandFood #ItalianRestaurant #FoodDaily #PortlandFoodie #Portland 探店 #NostraTavola #VancouverWAEats

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Nostra Tavola: 20-Minute Drive, $30+ Per Person, Worth the Detour! 🍝

Tired of crowded Portland downtown spots but craving authentic Italian food? Nostra Tavola, hidden in Vancouver, WA, is such a pleasant surprise! It’s just a 20-minute drive from Portland—cross the bridge, and you’ll find it. While it’s a bit out of the way (maybe because I rarely visit this area), this spot tucked inside a shopping center offers tons of parking 🅿️ (no stressing over hunting for a space!) and delicious, Italy-worthy dishes at budget-friendly prices—total game-changer for my “suburban restaurant” expectations! We arrived around 2 PM, and the place was pretty quiet—no downtown chaos, just a cozy vibe from warm yellow lights and wooden tables, like stepping into a family-run trattoria in a small Italian town. No wait for a table; we picked a window seat right away. The server handed us menus quickly, chatted through the favorites with a upbeat tone, and never felt rushed—first impression was a 10/10! 🍴 Must-Try Dishes: All Three Signatures Are Hits—No Misses! I didn’t have high hopes, but every dish exceeded expectations—especially the value: $30-$50 per person gets you a salad, main course, and a shared pizza. We left stuffed and even wanted to take leftovers! ✨ Caprese Salad 🥗｜Cheese Lovers, This Is a Must! If you love mozzarella, don’t skip this! Ripe tomatoes sliced thin, layered with soft, fresh mozzarella, drizzled with a light coat of balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil, then seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper. First bite: sweet, juicy tomato; then creamy, milky mozzarella; finally, the tangy-sweet kick of balsamic. It’s so refreshing—not heavy at all, like eating “a taste of Italian summer.” We polished it off in minutes, and the server even laughed and asked, “Want another round?” ✨ Penne & Italian Sausage 🍝｜Penne with Sausage—So Good, We Licked the Plate! I thought “sausage pasta” might be greasy, but it was a total shocker! The penne was cooked al dente (perfectly firm), each strand coated in a light red tomato-based sauce—not thick or gloopy, but just enough to cling to the pasta. The Italian sausage was cut into small chunks, packed with meaty flavor and a hint of herbs (no overpowering garlic, great for non-garlic lovers), with solid, non-grainy texture. Mixing pasta and sausage together, the savory sausage balanced the sweet tomato sauce—we even dipped bread in the leftover sauce, nothing went to waste! ✨ Pizza Bianca 🍕｜“All Green Leaves” White Pizza—Surprisingly Amazing! When I saw “Pizza Bianca” (white pizza) on the menu, I whispered, “All green leaves? That might be weird…” But the first bite proved me wrong! The thin crust was crispy outside, soft inside—no traditional tomato sauce, just a light brush of garlic olive oil. Topped with fresh arugula, basil, shredded parmesan, and a pinch of salt. First, you taste the wheatiness of the crust; then the slight bitterness of arugula and freshness of basil; finally, the salty parmesan. No boring bites here—without tomato sauce, the ingredients’ natural flavors shine. Even my friend, who usually hates “veggie pizzas,” kept stealing slices: “This is better than meat pizza!” 💡 Practical Tips: Little Details Make the Experience Great! Location & Parking: It’s in Vancouver, but a 20-minute drive from Portland downtown is easy. It’s in a shopping center with tons of parking—no hassle for drivers. Timing: Arrive after 2 PM for fewer people and no waits—perfect if you want a quiet meal and chat. Value: $30-$50 per person gets you a salad, main, and shared pizza—cheaper than most Portland downtown Italian spots by nearly 20%, with big portions. Great for students or family dinners. Service: Super friendly service 👍—the server recommends dishes proactively, food comes fast (all our dishes arrived in 15 minutes), and they check in on taste afterward. Small but thoughtful touches! If you’re in Portland, want to skip long lines at spots (internet-famous spots) and eat authentic, affordable Italian food—don’t hesitate to cross the bridge to Nostra Tavola! It may not have fancy decor, but its solid flavors and kind service will make you say “I’ll be back!” 📍 Nostra Tavola 8070 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98664 #Oregon #OregonEats #PortlandFood #ItalianRestaurant #FoodDaily #PortlandFoodie #Portland 探店 #NostraTavola #VancouverWAEats

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