BEAST

Beast

5425 NE 30th Ave

Portland, Oregon 97211

(503) 841-6968

Beast has to be experienced to understand its culinary elegance, refinery, and simultaneous simplicity. The concept of the restaurant is basically this: Beast is open every Wednesday through Saturday, with 2 dinner seatings on each day. You make a reservation as early as possible, you come for your desired seating, and you are served a six course meal from the chef's imagination, which is different every week.

The restaurant is small, essentially a kitchen and a dining room the same size as the one in your house. The experience therefore, is that of dining over at a friend's beautiful apartment (a friend who can cook really, really well). It's intimate and lovely, and the communal seating encourages you to converse with your neighbors about the food. On the particular evening I went, I lucked out having an especially great dining parter in filmmaker Todd Haynes.

Since this wonderful meal occurred months ago I can't remember what each course was, but just trust me when I say that Beast is a unique and delicious experience.