On the heels of a successful first year of their quarterly Vegetarian Dinner Series, Aviary is introducing a daily vegetarian tasting menu, starting tonight. Every night, the restaurant will offer a four-course menu of chef-selected vegetarian dishes for $40 per person. Each item will also be available on the regular dinner menu á la carte.
Aviary’s dinner menu has always featured numerous creatively composed vegetarian options, something personally important to Chef/Owner Sarah Pliner. Pliner, who was once herself vegetarian, recalls the incredibly limited options in many restaurants and has intentionally dedicated a substantial amount of Aviary’s dinner menu to vegetable-focused dishes.
The quarterly Vegetarian Dinner Series, which began in January and will continue into 2016 (the next dinner is on Jan. 21st), was created to showcase Aviary’s vegetable dishes in a grand seven course tasting menu, and it’s popularity has encouraged Aviary to offer a vegetarian tasting menu to diners every night. Aviary also recently added chef’s counter seating to the dining room, quickly becoming the most popular seats in the house.
The nightly vegetarian tasting menu will be comprised of four dishes for the $40, and will change regularly. Sample menu for December 1st, 2015:
Chestnut Soup, brussels sprouts, crème fraiche, salted duck egg, maple syrup
Chanterelle & Quince Terrine, pickled chanterelles, celery, brioche
Warm Vegetable Salad, romanesco, pumpkin, brussels sprouts, lime pickle vinaigrette, black garlic
Slow Roasted Onion Flan, winter squash, quinoa, asian pear tapenade, parsley olive jus
Aviary’s Chilled Beet and Lemongrass Soup (photo by Carly Diaz)
ABOUT AVIARY
Located in the Alberta Arts District of Northeast Portland, Aviary presents an inventive and eclectic menu of small and large plates, boasting cuisine that applies classic French technique to exotic Eastern flavors and the freshest ingredients of the season. Chef/Owner Sarah Pliner’s dedication to clean flavors and disciplined methods is inspired by decades of cooking experience in New York and Portland in restaurants such as Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, Aquavit, Aldea, Socialista, and The Heathman Restaurant and Bar in Portland.
Aviary’s new Pastry Chef Matthew Zack brings decades of experience in fine pastry to Aviary’s dessert menu, presenting refined dishes to finish the meal with surprising flavors that compliment Pliner’s savory dinner menu. The cocktail list, designed by Bar Manager Kaysie Condron, puts creative, culinary-inspired twists on classic favorites, drawing inspiration from the kitchen. The restaurant setting combines urban industrial design with local art, reclaimed wood and locally crafted lighting and features a chef’s counter, 18-seat private dining area, and a seasonal patio beside their vegetable garden. The Oregonian recently ranked Aviary #5 on a list of Portland’s Best Restaurants.
Aviary’s Crispy Pig Ear was named one of Portland’s 25 Most Iconic Dishes by Eater PDX and OpenTable recently named Aviary as one of the 100 Top Restaurants for Foodies in the U.S. as rated by verified OpenTable diners. Chef Sarah Pliner was a nominee for Food & Wine’s The People’s Best New Chef in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Northwest in 2015. Follow Aviary on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @aviarypdx. Aviary is located at 1733 NE Alberta St., Portland, Ore., 97211. www.aviarypdx.com