Grassa — Restaurant in Portland

I wanted to like this place. The staff was friendly, but everything else missed the mark.

We came to celebrate with friends, ordered a wide variety of food and cocktails, and took employee recommendations. Ordering was the high point. From there, it went downhill fast.

The margaritas were awful. We each took some sips, then went back up to replace them with other drinks on our own dime. The other cocktails were marginally better, but nothing I’d order again. The only drink worth having was the strawberry Italian soda.

Starters arrived. The burrata and Caesar salad were fine. Not memorable, not bad.

Then the entrees showed up. Three out of four, with the missing dish “coming later” and an ingredient missing on the Mac & cheese because the kitchen was behind on pork belly. Twenty minutes later, no fourth dish, no missing pork belly for the mac. I went to check on the missing food we’d ordered and was met with confusion. No one knew what I was talking about. After some back and forth, turns out they served us a kids’ mac & cheese by mistake instead of spaghetti and meatballs, hence the missing pork belly.

When the missing food finally came, the pastas were gummy and undercooked. Rushed, sloppy, and disappointing.

Management stopped by with excuses about online orders and a slammed kitchen. They handed us a $30 gift card, which felt like an insincere and weak attempt to patch a $210 bill for an experience that felt barely above one of those bar and grill chains. Won’t be cashing that one in.

In short: friendly service can’t save bad drinks, botched orders, and careless execution. Truly a let down and I...

Was recommended to try this place, but the food quality could be better.

The service was great, the server was able to make some recommendations about some pastas we can try and also were patient to give us time to make a decision. The way they serve is more like a cafeteria (you find your own seat and serve yourself water).

I ordered the Pasta Alla Chitarra and my partner ordered the pork belly mac and cheese. The food came out looking really good for photos, but once we started eating, we felt quite sick after. The Pasta Alla Chitarra was really good for the first bite, but as you start eating a bit more, you’ll notice there’s a significant amount of oil in the food which is gross.

My girlfriend loves mac and cheese, everywhere we go she always tries to order it, and when she had this one, she was quiet, and that’s when I knew, she wasn’t a fan of it. The pork belly was too oily and a lot of fat (more than expected), and they added a lot of syrup/caramelized it too much. The mac and cheese wasn’t savoury, and it was only sweet and she couldn’t really taste much of the cheese at all.

The worst part was, we both got sick (food poisoning) right after this place (we haven’t had other meals the entire day other than this one) and since we live in Canada, it was a rough drive home. It’s tough that this place has a great vibe, atmosphere, and service but because of the food, I wouldn’t come back here again (unless you want good food pics, since their food...

This was my second time dining at Grassa, and at a second location—and once again, it was a standout experience. From the moment I walked in, the cozy, welcoming atmosphere set the stage for an unforgettable meal.

The star of the show, of course, is their handcrafted, house-made pasta. The Pork Belly Mac n Cheese was pure perfection—fresh, tender, and cooked to the perfect al dente texture. You can genuinely taste the love and craftsmanship that goes into each dish. The Spaghetti and Meatballs were equally amazing, and the Pizza Pocket was a delightful surprise: incredibly flaky with a filling that was both flavorful and perfectly balanced.

What truly sets this place apart is the attention to detail. Every sauce tasted freshly made with high-quality ingredients, complementing the pasta without overpowering it. Even the garlic bread was exceptional—perfectly toasted and bursting with flavor.

The service was top-notch, with staff who were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. It’s clear they take pride in providing an outstanding experience for their guests.

Whether you’re a pasta aficionado or just in search of a warm, hearty meal, Grassa is a must-visit. I can’t wait to...