Carina Lounge — Restaurant in Portland

If I could give Carina Lounge 10 stars, I absolutely would. 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...

i came here last night and was blown away by all the favors they managed to pack into small plates. i ordered bread, brussels sprouts, ravioli, and the steak bites. the bread was very yummy, though i wish there was more bread instead of a lot of crust. the brussels sprouts were incredible... they were cooked in a marinade type sauce that added so much favor. i believe they would be perfectly for sharing as i was unable to finish the plate all by myself since the favor was strong (not a bad thing at all!!). with the ravioli, u can definitely tell it was fresh made (or at least my mouth thought so). ive never had goat cheese before, only sheeps milk cheese but it was quite similar. i was shocked at how amazing the sauce complimented the pasta, i wanted to bathe in it. the ravioli pasta itself was quite thin so the ratio of ravioli to cheese was a bit off for my taste but i still ate every last bit!! the steak bites were cooked in what seemed to be mostly olive oil and garlic which really complimented the steak. i really wish there was more steak though... it was so good i couldve eaten 10 plates of it. the potatoes were not my taste as i personally dint like roasted potatoes that big because theres not much favor that can be forced into it but again.. personal preference. the pieces that were smaller though were so so good!! just enough seasoning to make it super yummy. for dessert i had tiramisu which honestly was probably the best ive ever had. it was laid on a bed of homemade whipping cream (at least i think? idk it was BOMB i loved it) and had just enough coffee to where it didnt overpower the whole dessert. all in all i absolutely loved my experience there!!! please keep in mind im a very picky eater and like to nick pick details about food but thats just a personal preference!!! all my comments about each plate does not overpower the fact that i loved each one! i also believe that maybe someone will find this helpful when ordering if they like similar things service was INCREDIBLE too!! my server was very nice and answered my questions about some of the plates. i felt very welcome and cared for. definitely coming here again, i think i may come here today for lunch and get the seared salmon LOL please do yourself a favor and go to carinas, you definitely...

We asked a friend for recommendations of a place to be "wowed" and WOWED we were!

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...