Evo was recommended to us, and we were not disappointed during our recent trip to Portland. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. We chose to sit at a table upstairs (mezzanine). There was also an option to sit at the counter downstairs. We started with the chickpea fries, which were spiced well with a crispy exterior and creamy texture inside. It was a unique way of serving chickpeas. I had the NY strip steak, which I enjoyed, but a tip if you're going. The medium rare was closer to rare in my opinion. If you like medium rare, I'd ask for medium. My wife had the mushroom shawarma, which she enjoyed thoroughly and raved about the unique spices. read more

Fantastic restaurant. Service and food all excellent. We all really enjoyed our visit here. It is tapas style. We ordered 12 dishes for a group of 5. Chickpea fries were the #1 highlight for everyone. I also really like the Halloumi and Moroccan carrots. Highly recommend. Gets busy, make a reservation. Food tips: Chickpea fries are a must Drink tips: Basil Martini read more

Evo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Upscale dining with a genuinely reasonable price tag - especially when it comes to the Evo experience/chef's tasting. Worth every penny, we left absolutely stuffed. The menu experience was smaller/limited options but offered "greatest hits" so that you didn't miss out on the overall experience. With seats right up at the counter and in perfect view of the kitchen, the team whipped out a coursed/well-timed menu. We enjoyed the chickpea fries, spread + breads, moroccan carrots, falafel, halloumi and to top it all off, the lamb ribs. It was so aggressive in the best way possible. The cocktail menu is fun, inventive and pairs well with most of the dishes. Their NA drinks were thankfully, not boring either. The only drawback for me here is the counter-top/high-top dining experience is the only available seating option unless you're participating in the upstairs private area. The restaurant is clearly very sleek and modern, but I felt like it took away from the experience of making this particularly special. Would recommend this restaurant for 2 people - hard to enjoy with a larger group! read more

Oh my god. I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing these dishes tasted! Our good friends brought us here for our first meal in Portland and it did not disappoint. Everything we ordered, which we got a bunch of, all tasted delicious, except the chicken skewer with rice. My favorite would have to be the chickpea fries, how do they do it?! Unfortunately the tables for the upstairs seating were already booked for the time we came in. So the seating wasn't as intimate. I'd still come back though read more

Evo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

We found it to be a quiet Tuesday night - ordered lots of plates to share. Good food, great service and a really cool vibe with a kitchen in the middle for everyone to see. read more

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My friends and I came here for a big group dinner. We had a reservation and got a nice table upstairs. The vibes at the restaurant were nice, pretty modern and clean. It's more of an upscale spot, especially to some of the casual restaurants in the area. I always love a group meal where you can get a bunch of tapas and share. As things started coming out, I was worried it wouldn't be enough food, but I ended up sufficiently full by the end. We liked just about every dish, besides the Tabbouleh, which was very small and lackluster. I'd honestly skip the mains because while they were good, they weren't anything original, so just go for the snacks and mezze! read more

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We ordered the mussels and potato dip. The mussels came with a fried pita bread and let me just say... this was the BEST mussel dish I've ever had. The mussels alone were plump and tender. The sauces and onions had so much flavor and were perfectly balanced between spicy and savory, without taking the flavor away from the mussels. The dip was also amazing, I forget the name but it was the potato base. Wish we got more pita bread but overall, amazing food. read more

Evo - Mussels - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Back again two years later and I'd say the place has gotten even better. I used to think the appetizers were great but the entrées only okay, but now the entrées are as good as the excellent appetizers. You have to order the chickpea fries and I'd also highly recommend the asparagus and the cod entrée. read more

Extremely frustrating experience with this restaurant. I booked with them a month in advance for a special occasion. The restaurant cancelled our reservation without ever contacting us an hour before the reservation time. When we called to ask for clarification, we were told "they could accommodate us 1.5 hours after the scheduled time" without any reasoning of why the reservation was canceled in the first place. We were in from out of town and were really looking forward to this reservation. My girlfriend and I were already starting to get ready to head over to the restaurant. With the short notice which was provided to us we were not able to find a reservation elsewhere. If I could give them ZERO stars I would! read more

This is our second time here - returning after two years from DC/Boston. We weren't as impressed as we were the first time, but most dishes were still very good. I'm a huge homemade pita fan; however, I think we were served either day old homemade or store bought pita with our spreads. They were certainly not as good as our prior visit. Additionally, the chickpea fries were over salted. Beyond those two things, the spreads (hummus and labneh) were delicious! We also had the beets, chicken and salmon kabobs, as well as shrimp warm mezze - all very tasty. In addition to the food, the service was good and our table (upper level, far corner overlooking Fore/Union streets) was the best in the house I think. read more

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I was excited to try Evo after hearing so much about it! We didn't have a reservation, but were fortunate enough to be seated immediately on a weekday evening. The service here is fantastic: the waiters were patient and attentive, and the food came out quickly. The interior of the restaurant is objectively nice, but I personally didn't love it -- it gave me hotel lobby vibes. There's plenty of seating around the kitchen, which I always love, though we were at stool seating by the window. My partner and I ordered two cocktails and shared the carrots, challah, chickpea fries, and monkfish. The cocktails were good but not great, and on the pricier side -- I'm not sure I'd order a drink next time. The carrots were absolutely delicious, especially with the toasted rice. The challah is good and HUGE, definitely too large for two people, and the dipping sauce was nice and zingy. But the standout for me were the chickpea fries. They have a crispy outside and hot, smooth inside, and were perfectly seasoned. The monkfish was the most disappointing dish for me: it was served lukewarm, and didn't have a ton of flavor. I didn't think the various elements really added to it, either. Overall, the flavors were great. Next time, I'll probably forgo the cocktails and the fish and opt for a seat with a kitchen view. But I'll be back, if only for the chickpea fries! read more

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Came here for Christmas eve dinner. It was a fixed menu and the rest of our party enjoyed the sliced lamb; I was able to try the chicken kabobs as an alternate. Server was friendly and various parts of the menu came in a timely manner. We sat upstairs where it was quiet. I would come back to try other items on the menu given how varied and delicious the flavors were. We were intrigued by the tasty chickpea fried sticks. Would like to make these at home. read more

Evo - First course Christmas eve menu.. delicious kale salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Another late review but better late than never, right? Had fancy dinner at this great restaurant with work friends. Everything was delicious. For appetizers, we had chickpea fries, beet salad, borani & fingerling potatoes. My entree of choice was the duck, while my friends had scallops and chicken shawarma. We were too full for dessert. We sat at the chef's table as recommended by a friend. The chef owner of this place had won Chopped a couple of times. Thanks for taking us here, Jennifer Brayall-Michaud. read more

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If any of you are looking for a new place to try, check this place out! Ended up in the OP looking for a quick bite to eat, walked by EVO and the smell had us walking in! Lol The chickpea fries were unexpectedly amazing, and I'm proud of myself for sticking mostly to my keto goals with the beef kibbeh and shared a bit of shrimp. Nick got lamb, far from the burger he thought he'd find, but no complaints from him after he tried it, haha. read more

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Wonderful place. My second time here (I live outside Boston or I'd be a regular. On this trip, me and three friends sat on the chef line for happy hour, we loved the strawberry special cocktail, a fantastic chalky Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire valley, a wonderful portuguese red! So great drink selections. And really delicious food! The oft raved about chickpea fries, lived up to their reputation! And we tried two of three spread offered (opted out of the baba ghanoush) and they were both to die for! Love the chefs line, wonderful service, and welcoming bartenders. read more

This is an odd review for me to write because while eating there, I said, 'This is the best _____ I've had,' yet I left not feeling overwhelmed by the experience. The prices may have scarred me, although we've eaten at more expensive places. Perhaps the basicness of the type of food, hummus and chickpea fries, spoiled it for me as there are a lot of places that do these items well (and for a lot less cost). Or maybe it was the atmosphere of pretentiousness and believing themselves to be the epitome of good eating in the area that didn't settle well with me. There are SO many good places to eat in Portland! The chef is talented and creative, but I felt just meh after the experience. read more

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We have eaten here many times, and usually the food was quite good. Unfortunately, the meal tonight was not only below their standard. It was below the standard for any restaurant I would want to eat at. The asparagus was overcooked and bland, the steak was tough and flavorless, the carrots were good, but not up to their usual standard, and the salad was small and disappointingly not nearly as good as the last time we ordered this salad a month ago. It will be quite a while before we returned to this restaurant, hopefully they can regain the food quality that they had previously read more

My husband and I have been to Evo before for the chefs tasting menu and decided to return and have some of the items we enjoyed with our family. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who brought us to our table upstairs with a lovely view looking outside. Upstairs is a bit quieter than downstairs. However you are able to see where all the magic happens as it is an open kitchen if you enjoy that. Our server came explained the menu choices and were very accommodating of my food allergies. Everything was delicious and the tuna and chickpea fries are amazing. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in the entire country! I wasn't expecting too much when I walked in, as the restaurant was pretty small with mostly bar seating. There weren't too many choices on the menu, but, all the dishes that we order were so good! The mussels were big and meaty, which was almost unseen in any American restaurant. I also love the beet salad, which was pared with raspberry sauce and ricotta cheese, giving it a bit sweet and sour balanced flavor. Though the price is more in the higher end, I would definitely recommend this place to whoever is visiting Portland! read more

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Food was impeccable. Enjoyed the mushroom schwarma, brocollini, and carrots. Flank steak was less-impressive. Great taste and innovation. Service was scattered and pretty hectic. Maybe under-staffed. The place is small, with two levels. Made a reservation for mescaline, and was told that nothing was available there when we arrived. Forced to sit at cramped window counter. Much less enjoyable. read more

Fantastic! We had such a stellar meal here... we could only get reservations for the bar seating but that was fine - we had a nice view of Fore St in the rain. Service was friendly and the four of us ordered an assortment of mezze to share - which meant we ordered about half the menu to try... and everything we had was amazing! My friend said it was the best tuna he had ever had. I loved both the hummus and labne and hubs downed his chicken schwarma. Even the salad was delicious! But by unanimous agreement, the carrots were our absolute favorite dish. Although it tasted great, the pita was a little thick and doughy and filled us up. I would love to come back and eat upstairs in the restaurant but highly recommend planning way in advance for a Rez. read more

Probably my favorite restaurant in the Old Port, I've been here a number of times - usually had the Evo Experience / chefs tasting & wine pairing. I've had so much off their menu that I can honestly say there's nothing but stellar options. The service is always friendly & prompt, I highly recommend reservations - especially on popular nights out. It's a really great modern aesthetic inside, you can either sit at the bar, which is my favorite because you get to watch your food being made & can order drinks a little faster, or sitting along the sides facing the Old Port watching the strip - I believe there's also a terrace upstairs but I've never gone up. Highly recommend experiencing this place at least once. read more

I really appreciate that the menu labels what is vegetarian and the kitchen took my allergies very seriously and told me what could be modified. Flavors were unique and inventive. I especially loved the babaganoush and pita which is sometimes too smokey for me. The not too sweet rice pudding with honeynut squash puree and orange zest was the best rice pudding I've ever had! I would definitely go back on a trip to Portland! read more

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Unfortunately this is not the EVO that we knew and loved. Have not visited for a couple of years and now the food is barely edible. Please bring back the old chefs who made great food. read more

I was looking for somewhere to eat in Portland, ME during my anniversary trip. Did some research on restaurants and this place was highly rated. It said the chef was a 3x chopped champion, so I made the reservation. This is the first place I ever booked that charged a fee if you didn't show up. So we went here for our anniversary and let me first discuss the food. Outstanding! I don't give a place 5 stars easily but if I could give it 10 stars I would. The food could possibly be the best food I've ever ate in my life. My wife had the cod and fingerling potatoes I had the duck and the cauliflower All were outstanding! Now the restaurant is a kitchen and bar, it's small. Lucky it was just two of us and we sat at window counter seats. Literally elbow to elbow with the people next to you. Not the private intimate environment you would want for your anniversary. My bad. I didn't win any points on that. For the quality of food, the price was definitely reasonable. Small to medium sized portions. My wife was unhappy because the food comes out when ready, separately. So we got our sides before our entrees. You pay for each item separately. We received a free dessert of Baklava ice cream due to it being our anniversary. Not a fan but I won't hold the dessert against them. If you're in Portland, ME I highly recommend you try this place. PS. Sorry but the fingerling potatoes photo. Once we started eating it, we couldn't stop. read more

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Dietary restrictions? This menu covers everything. Each item indicates if it's GF/Vegan, and the servers can accommodate almost other allergies as well! Clean, can sit at the counter and watch them cook. Been back here a few times since and have loved it every time. read more

Evo - Baba ganoush - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We hadn't been in about a year and were excited to return. The food was good but defiantly used to be better. We were disappointed that the TWO dips we ordered only came with two small pieces of pita bread and were forced to get more (for a $6 charge that we were not aware of). The chicken shawarma was ok, didn't have much flavor. The falafel was tasty but otherwise everything else was underwhelming. Probably won't return, so many other great restaurants in Portland. read more

What a delight! Such a cool spot - we ate at the counter looking into the kitchen. Our server was so great. But the food is where they shine! Oh my gosh, everything was delicious. read more

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Was impressed by their great reviews. Tried to check out their website. It asked join mailing list - ok sure here's my junk email address. Want $30 off ok here's my Google phone #. But now download our app. And then overrun by ads. Forget it. I was just trying to check out the menu and not that exciting. Bye read more

Portland, Maine is this thriving New England sea town that is scenic, quaint and happening! I've been to Maine several times on business; Bangor, Augusta and Kennebunkport but my first time in Portland. This city is about two things - Tourism and food. EVO was our first stop here in Portland. We were lucky enough to get a seat at there bar overlooking the kitchen. It was like watching an episode of The Bear, without the chaos. This kitchen reminded me of the Bolshoi ballet troupe; in other words, in sync and perfect! This "packed" kitchen glided like they were dancing. It was a joy to watch. The food these young maestro's put out was exceptional: * Carrots with yogurt, jalapeños, dates and wild rice * Beets with pistachios, strawberries and talleggio cheese * Blue Fin Tuna with avocado, ginger and Fresno pepper * Babette Steak with farro, black garlic and cherry * Baba Ghanoush with eggplant, chickpeas and cherry tomatoes This family style dinner was Mediterranean food with a novel twist. We loved it. Of course this restaurant was jam-packed and the kitchen was on overdrive. But they didn't miss a beat. So, the food was great, the scene was robust and the staff was friendly and ultra professional. You couldn't have asked for a better "first dinner" on our vacation through Maine. read more

If you want to go to a restaurant where you feel rushed out the door and they clean around you pre plated food while they talk shit about you. We paid for the coursed out menu. ( you literally can see the kitchen) than this is your place. Never felt so unwelcomed in my life. Emailed to see what happened and never heard back after the first response. Place looked amazing. Bartender was great. Kitchen staff and chef particularly awful. This dinner was done in July and we still talk about how bad it was read more

This was the best high end Mediterranean Tapas we've had. You could tell the food was fresh and made from high quality ingredients. The depth of flavor in each dish, presentation and variety of textures made for a delicious meal. We sat at the chef's table and had the baba ghanosh , skordalia, falafel, steak and lamb kebab. 10/10 would have again! read more

Evo - Left: baba ghanosh + right: skordalia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Would give 10 stars if I could! Just had the tastiest dinner at Evo tonight!! The plating was immaculate and the food was cooked so beautifully. Will be going again!!! read more

Ah-mazing vegan fare! The service is top notch in a very cool vibe spot! You will not be disappointed!

Meh. Though the ambiance was great, the food was just so-so. There was an innate blandness to the food which was disappointing, especially at the price that they charge. The service wasn't anything to glimmer at either. The waiter was at best, impatient and at worse impudent. At least things were edible and it felt fancy. However, this restaurant loses my respect for the kitchen wellness fee. Manage the business better and stop passing it down to the consumer read more

The food was amazing and so was the service. Henry and Camille were top notch. Sitting at the chefs counter was a great experience. The various chefs explained the courses that we were being served. Make sure you order the carrots. read more

Evo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Reservations require credit card and late cancels are $25/person. With this in mind, you would think this expensive restaurant would be amazing. The menu changed from when I booked the reservation to when we ate. We weren't pleased by this. It was not worth the price by any means. The food was way over seasoned, portions small for the price and the wine menu didn't match the food. We all left a little hungry with a stomach ache due to the over seasoning and a large bill. It was also very loud! read more

This restaurant was good but not great. One thing is like others that have posted we felt rushed. We had a reservation so they weren't squeezing us in. We were done in 45 minutes. Food was also good, best tapas we have found so far in Portland, but doesn't compare to some of the tapas restaurants in Boston. read more

We had an amazing meal, drinks and a great time at Evo celebrating my husband's birthday! Every item we tried on the menu was excellent from the chickpea fries, whipped feta, carrots, steak, carrot cake etc. The host was very friendly and nice as were the entire staff. A particular standout was Karina, the bartender extraordinaire! Her cocktails were really superb and very creative. I had her " Dealer's Choice" wherein she used a special raspberry purée made by her family. Karina had a great personality and was incredibly helpful with good suggestions for both food and drink. You can't really go wrong with anything on the menu... just a really fantastic place!! read more

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The food here is excellent, but the vibe could use a little help. The waiter kept trying to upsell us on the 88 dollar per person meal, where they would bring out "waves of food" , I ended up getting three small plates that were about 60 bucks in total and it was still way too much. Still, worth checking out for the flavorful and well prepared food. I had a cuppa good cocktails as well. read more