A slice of Italian café life can be found on the corner of SE 28th and Belmont with the opening of Accanto, a casual  enoteca with a strong emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients and soulful Italian cooking. Owned by the team re-opening Genoa Restaurant, Accanto will inhabit a formerly vacant space in the historic Genoa Building. Sitting virtually empty for the past three decades, the space has received a complete renovation by a trio of Portland design and architecture firms eager to resurrect a quiet neighborhood corner.  Accanto will offer this inner eastside community a friendly place to share an espresso, a glass of wine or stuffed foccacia warm from the oven.  

With Executive Chef David Anderson overseeing the kitchen, Accanto will feature many house made ingredients – from spinach pasta and fresh mozzarella to salumi and grissini. Offering several small dishes for sharing and a handful of entrees, Accanto’s menu will change with the seasons. Inspired by the many neighborhood enotecas he visited throughout Italy, chef David Anderson wanted to create Portland’s version of this communal gathering space where the food and ingredients are of the highest quality. There is even a cozy space in the back of the cafe stocked with culinary resources – from magazines and cookbooks, to news about local food and farm organizations. Interested foodies can even browse through the Genoa recipe archives from the past thirty years.

Accanto’s wine list draws from Europe, as well as the Pacific Northwest; guests can also choose from Genoa's extensive bottle selection.  The beverage list features cocktails made with spirits from local distillers, as well as Italian Grappas and digestivos.  Since we live in the greatest beer city in the world, local microbrews will always be on tap.

Accanto is a place that has been waiting to happen.  After many years in the making, this quiet neighborhood corner will finally come to life.  We hope that you can join us and be a part of our community.