Aura

3 Responses to “Aura”

1. # Lizon 24 Feb 2008 at 12:01 pm

   You know those nights when you’re just in the mood to spend an extra hour getting ready and put on way too few clothes only to wait outside on the sidewalks of W. Burnside for half a hour while traffic whizzes by???
   Neither do I really, but if you ever are in that exact mood, then Aura is the place for you.
   Creating the dance-club scene for Portland, Aura does a decent job of pulling out the fancy curtains and creating that meat-market feel that all should expect from a place touting alcohol and lots of bodies rubbing up against each other.
   I give Aura four stars because I had VIP when I went and paid no cover, had a table to escape to and was even served free champagne, but had these things not been a factor Aura would not have fared so well. The inside is done very well, nice decor and lighting. There’s a couple bars, but the lines were still pretty long. And the bathrooms… only two stalls for women, come on now people (but the sinks are super cool).

   Bottom line: If you like to dance and don’t mind drunken people looking for a booty call or standing outside, hit up Aura. You won’t be disappointed.

2. # Mashlandon 24 Feb 2008 at 12:01 pm

   We were looking for something “romantic” with great quality. Saw Aura on Citysearch and remembered walking past it thinking, “this is damn interesting…” We had the Beatles Tribute show to go to so got to the restaurant at 5:00. With Happy Hour prices, we enjoyed a couple cool ones and the funky, contemporary setting. Even with it light out, the candles combined with the creative window coverings/booth dividers to create a nice, cozy and–yes–romantic atmosphere. I ordered mom’s meatloaf with the caesar salad, she got the blackened chicken and the Aura House Green Salad. Judy gave both her salad and chicken with mash a 10–and she is THE food snob. I gave my salad a 10, but he meatloaf a 9–mostly because I’m not a big fan of soft tomato chunks in anything, let alone on top of meatloaf. Not beiing a food snob, I would prefer catsup. But is was all gorgeously plated on unusual dinnerware. Our waiter was attentive and helpful but not a bother. The place mus be hopping when it’s loaded later in the evening. There’s a fab dance floor and a second level for diners. We’ll have to come back to party. Some people have written that the music sucked. We found it enormously enjoyable and mark it as one more benefit to the Aura aura. We loved Aura and will return again. Recommend HIGHLY, especially if you’re an early diner.

3. # City Searchon 24 Feb 2008 at 12:03 pm

   U-shaped calfskin booths with fuzzy, rain-cloud gray seatbacks and wraparound curtains deck out the modern space. A sophisticated crowd stops in for dinner, but around 10pm, tattooed and pierced masses arrive for dancing. The dinner menu is full of meat and seafood dishes, including blackened chicken, Greek swordfish skewers and hazelnut-crusted halibut. Vegetarians will enjoy the wild mushroom ravioli and the Creole mac and cheese.

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