Vegan
Beer/Wine
Take-out
18 seat dining room with vegan tasting menus using flavors farmed and foraged from the Pacific Northwest. Previously called Workshop Food & Drink. Open Thu-Sat 6:00pm-8:00pm.
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Last update on 19 Jun 2025 by lilvegancat
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Added by ElectricAntelope on 14 Feb 2023
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17 Reviews
First Review by microwavenby
MedievalBarber
Points +18
WARNING: TOXIC CHEF, TOXIC FOOD - Edit
Hi there vegan food lovers. SALT. That is all I could taste the last time I ate here. It's insane. I think he was expecting snow and/or ice. I sent the dish back and left. There was the owner, smoking a cig and sitting outside (not in the kitchen, where he definitely needs to be) as I departed. Note: besides lame food, he is incredibly rude to other business owners in the area too. I live in the area, so I've personally witnessed his horrible behavior towards others. Avoid this place!
Read morePros: The neighborhood, Other, better restaurants down the street
Cons: Salt, Attitude, Dank
Guest
LaVale
Points +213
Celebrating food - Edit
Going to Astera is not just going out for dinner: it is a whole different dining experience that goes beyond food and service. Don't get me wrong: the food is amazing and the service is impeccable! But to reduce a dinner at Astera to only this would not do it justice. The atmosphere is carefully crafted, from the lighting to the music, creating a space not only to eat, but to celebrate the art of cooking. Dining here feels less like a meal and more like a journey, one that lingers in your memory long after the last bite.
Read morePros: Amazing food, Efficient staff, The overall experience
Guest
lilvegancat
Points +1649
Eating tiny pieces of art - Edit
The botanical menu features truly unique and local flavors from Cascadia. I was impressed by everything presented to me. I would recommend getting the paired drinks menu and they have a non-alcoholic option.
Read morePros: Cozy vibe
Guest
HaikuReview
Points +1139
Haiku Review - Edit
Oft changing menu
Read moreMy favorite restaurant
It’s simply the best
Pros: Intentional, delicious weekly menus, Always fresh, unique, and exciting, Perfect amount of food by the end
Guest
Caralucy
Points +271
An experience beyond expectations! - Edit
This is an upscale restaurant that hosts two seating per night. We arrived for our 5PM reservation and were greeted promptly as promised. From the moment we arrived we were treated with deference and care. Every staff member, as well as Chef Adams, was thoughtful of our needs and anticipated them before we could ask.
Read moreThe restaurant itself is charming and eclectic.
Framed art, potted plants, serve ware and an abundance of cookbooks are arranged neatly creating an atmosphere of warmth and welcome.
We were fortunate enough to be seated at the Chef's counter and enjoyed engaging, knowledgeable and informative conversation throughout our visit.
Our reservation was for the seven course spring menu and as soon as the first appetizer arrived we knew we were in for an outstanding experience.
Each course was thoughtfully and meticulously prepared. Each dish was an explosion of flavor and always a delight! The creative combinations of flavors and textures left us in awe of Chef Aaron's skill and creativity. The attention to each detail, recipes, hospitality, plating and ambiance was impeccable. We could not have been more impressed.
We hope to return again and again!
Pros: Food, Staff, Ambiance
Guest
michivegangirl
Points +130
Exquisite dining experience - Edit
The restaurant ASTERA was a magical plant based dining experience! The dishes were so well balanced and dynamic! The atmosphere was inviting and Chef Aaron shared many stories and details of his journey as a chef and the processes used to create the dishes we tasted. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience, ASTERA is the place! 🌿
Read moreGuest
burnsria
Points +1528
Amazing Experience - Edit
Okay, this review is LATE, I went to the Astera & Timothy Dearing Collab in May of 2024 and I am finally getting around to writing this. I first want to say that the staff was lovely, I was going between two of the kombucha options and our server let me try a bit of them both before I made my decision. I appreciated how Timothy explained what each course contained and the inspiration behind it. There were so many lovely dishes, and I was beyond full by the end of our service. Highly recommend!
Read morePros: Educated and Thoughtful Staff, Beautiful Space, Great Experience
Cons: Parking can be hard to find
Guest
EmdotAlice
Points +5939
Peak experience - Edit
We’re huge fans of Chef Adams— he sold us our first fermentation book and gave us our first jar, and really changed our lives when it comes to what we eat. This place has special sentimental value for us, but aside them that, the food is amazing. There is a special focus on fermentation and experimentation. This place is worth traveling for! #Veganuary
Read moreTurnipForPlants
I don’t even know what I’m looking at, but I want it!
Read moreGuest
hydr0jen
Points +631
Top 5 meals of my life - Edit
I went here with my partner for our christmas gifts to each other. I cannot recommend them enough. All the food was imaginative, exciting, and so so yummy. This was a splurge for us, so we will need to think up another reason to take ourselves. Until then, I'll be dreaming about seaweed caviar, sunchoke dumplings, and pumpkin seed ice cream (best vegan ice cream I've ever had).
Read moreGuest
-Raymond-
Points +292
Phenomenal experience - Edit
Really unique experience, exceptional service, creative dishes and excellent wine pairings. Everything was inventive and delicious, very pricey but worth it because it is an experience not just a meal. Would highly recommend.
Read moreGuest
1AP1
Points +1729
Undeniably great - Edit
Awesome place to visit during different seasons to see how the menu evolves.
Read moreOnly negative is I might miss their old restaurants more than I love Astera--Portobello, Fermenter, and the short lived but incredible Il Paffuto :(
Guest
aaronbcwilliams
Points +39
Delicious Vegan Tasting Menu - Edit
Chef Aaron did it again! From the fermenter to Astera, he consistently delivers mouthwateringly delicious and unique creations with ingredients from locally sourced farmers.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-08-12
Pros: Food, Atmosphere , Beverages
Guest
sglcklch
Points +3547
Wonderful experience as always - Edit
I'm a big fan of all of chef Aaron's culinary endeavors. From Farm Spirit to Fermenter to Workshop, the food was always phenomenal. Astera is no exception. Everything was so clean tasting yet full of depth and umami. Service was warm and friendly. I do wish there was one more savory course before moving on to the dessert courses. But that's just me and I'm sure by the time you read this the menu will have changed. The price is a bit on the high side but worth it for a special occasion. I'd recommend the non-alcoholic beverage pairing as well. The drinks were delish and refreshing especially on a scorching summer day!
Read moreGuest
wuski
Points +411
Incredible - Edit
Chef Aaron Adams has an infectious, inspiring energy. We had such a nice evening and the food was delicious. The overall vibe was amazing and I highly recommend a visit
Read moreGuest
PDXTom
Points +63
Wonderful plant-based fine dining in PDX - Edit
We had an exceptional dinner on the second night of Astera's opening (note, this new iteration has been developed and tested as Workshop A+D during 2023). Astera offers a plant based tasting menu led by Chef Aaron Adams of Fermenter, Farm Spirit and Portobello fame. Adams describes Astera as love poem to Oregon’s vinified, farmed and foraged and it extensively features items grown of harvested locally and sustainably. Even the dishware is produced by local artisans. Adams offers a single seating concept. with a lovely, slowly paced multi-course meal (see menu photo), with each course introduced by Adams, who though busy preparing the next course, engages in conversations with his customers from behind the counter or as he circulates. The food is delicious and uniquely Adam's as he uses all the modern methods he has learned over 30 years with an emphasis on fermentation methods he has developed. Will absolutely be back.
Read morePros: Delicious, creative, beautifully presented food, Great service, Wonderful, warm atmosphere
Cons: Nothing
Guest
finding_taradise
Points +1896
What an Experience - Edit
I had the 7-course meal here without a drink pairing and let me tell you… it’s the perfect celebration vegan dinner! The chef greets you on your way in, along with everyone else that reserved that seating. There are only about 20 people seated and everyone is served at the same time. Chef Aaron speaks about each dish as it’s served and it was ALL delicious! Great service, exceptional food, and a core memory unlocked. 🙏
Read morePros: Unique, Fully vegan , Inspiring
Guest
microwavenby
Points +211
The experience you've been waiting for - Edit
Classy vibes and fantastically good plating. Vegetables are forward; no mock meats, completely made in house
Read morePros: Vegan classy tapas, Good atmosphere, Lovely staff
Cons: Drinks might be polarizing, they're very unique, A tad spendy for Portland
kindlizard
I'm curious as to why it's so fancy on one hand, but then they serve it on MSG crackers. Seems unfortunate, I know the arguments as to why some folks want to use MSG, but it seems like a red flag and is it also used in their other dishes as well? Idk if you have insight, but I saw the picture of the MSG crackers and figured I would mention my thought.
Read morekindlizard
Also a concern is on their FAQ; they state they don't want children there, which will always be ageist and unethical in my book.
Read moreGuest
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