After toiling at pastry stations for the likes of Guy Savoy and Charlie Trotter, Krista Kern wanted to add having a child to her list of achievements. She settled in Portland and opened this intimate 16-seat dining room, where her Italian fare often features dishes rarely seen on these shores, like the Friulian Toc (sautéed endive topped with smoked mozzarella and lardo in a pool of creamy polenta) and a sea urchin pasta so rich and delicious one reviewer called it "among the most hedonistic pasta dishes I ever ate." One could also argue that Bresca is worth visiting just for the luscious desserts, like a vanilla panna cotta with orange-flower water and white pepper sorbet. An intelligent and well-chosen wine list caps off the experience.