Mingo has been a stalwart in Italian cuisine here in Portland for decades. Small, intimate, homey, it's like my grandmother's kitchen growing up. But grandma didn't have the level of sophistication the chefs at Mingo bring to the table every night. The flavors of Italy run throughout the menu, but the innovation and willingness to push the boundaries based on local ingredients is the reason to eat at Caffe Mingo.

I always feel like family whether I'm eating and the bar, staring into the chaos of the kitchen or tucked away in a corner sharing a table with friends. That belonging drives the connection to the food as well. It is all very approachable and delicious. From the local pork to the polenta; rissoto to the chianti, Mingo delivers.

They always seem to be busy so plan to wait next door in Bar Mingo for your table. You can do a starter there and carry the rest of your appetite a few steps south to enjoy a the northern Italian fare served up in Tuscan style...