My first time here. Everyone knows of the sleek modern minimalistic decor, which I like. Lack of normal, 4 and 6 top seating is a minus for me, but I'm not their hipster demographic. So the food is what I'd call Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean fusion. On my first night, way more middle eastern...sort of a sleek, higher skilled and delivered Baccarat style menu with rather expensive "mid sized " plates, as the server called them. We sat at the bar, which takes reservations, which is a nice plus for those bar sitting foodies like me. I had a dry no vermouth martini to start...tough to mess that up, nicely chilled with four large olives. My boys are with me, so the three of us ordered six plates. I'm not a huge Falafel guy, but the delivery had some heat with chopped jalapeño and some cooling with diced mango. Not my type of stuff, but it was flavorful and well executed. A veggie or vegan would like this for sure. The broccoli was more to my Mediterranean liking, a large poached egg, oozing in yoke over feta cheese and lightly pan grilled broccoli, very good...liked it a lot. The ultra rare tuna, was grilled off with turmeric and some other middle eastern spices, and was damn good...I could have eaten two or three of these bad boys...delicious, and I'm not a middle eastern spice guy at all, but this worked. The Italian Sausage plate was over priced in my eyes...$19 for something I could easily whip up in my kitchen...it had a salsa verde...but who can't do that...it was ok, but I'd steer away from it as a suggestion. The Chicken thighs, grilled off with a date and yogurt mixture were also very good...I could copy this recipe without question. The Beef Kibbeh was traditional meatballs, with some heat from green chilles, mixed with lots of mint and yogurt. Decent flavor profile, but I thought the balls were way over cooked...ie well done. Overall, this was a decent food experience. Sitting at the bar...you see everything going down food prep wise right in front of you...people are working hard, and it's a neat energy near the bar. The food execution was good...not great in my eyes....and they clearly maximize $$$$$ using the now more traditional small plate format. We each had a drink, and two beers, and split 6 small plates...and it was $270 including 20% tip. I'm a bit torn as the middle eastern food profile isn't my exact cup of tea...but I'll go a soft 4 Stars here and suggest that it's at least a try by those that haven't been here. read more

My husband and I enjoyed a great dinner at EVO. Every bite had us saying yum, yum - it was so good. We at at the bar and enjoyed conversation with the bar tenders and other guests but the food and drinks were the star of the show. We started with drinks. We gave our bartender our flavor profiles and she created delicious martinis. We shared everything. we started with a potato, garlic and almond spread (skadeliah, if think). It was served with soft pita (we needed extra) with pickled onion on top. we also shared the chickpea fries. Those should be mandatory on every order. Next course - entrees. Perfectly cooked halibut with pistachio crust and venison with barley "risotto". We should have stopped there but a bar mate told us the fig and date cake wasn't to be missed. As we were still finishing our cocktails, we decided to go for it. Another winner - the figs, dates, and warm spice was thanksgiving on a plate. Served with some caramel and crème anglais, it was a great ending. We didn't see the second floor but the street level dining area has two types of seating - both high top, bar seating. One with a view of the cooks in action, complete with tweezers to artistically plate the dish and the other facing the street so you can indulge in people watching. In a city full of great chefs, EVO is a great find read more

This place has been on my list to visit in a long time and finally got the chance. I must say for a Mediterranean restaurant, there is not a lot of options. There were more on the alcohol list than food. Service: Our waitress was great. Attentive and even when it got busy, she still made sure to check up on us. Happy Hour: $5 glass of wine and $4 appetizer plates (mostly the spreads) Food: For appetizers we had the labneh spread. It tasted like Greek yogurt with fresh cucumber and pita bread. Because the portion size are small here (almost like tapas) we had three meals. The pork belly, farfalle and spanokopita. The pork belly had date mollases, sesame seeds and chili peppers. it cut like butter and tasted very good. I have had a lot of pork belly's in my lifetime but I will have to say, this was different. The outside was was crispy and the fat to meat ratio was very disproportional. The farfalle was my favorite, bits of chicken sausage, shiitake mushrooms and asparagus three ways: shaved, pureed and cooked. The sauce was what made it. I was not a fan of the duck spanokopita. I would barely taste the duck or see the duck; it was extremely oily too. Overall: Evo is a place to visit at least once for the experience. It is always packed, be sure to be reservations before you go. read more

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Loved this place! It was an amazing surprise for our first night in Portland. The food, the service, the ambiance and the drinks were all superb! I was thrilled to find a spot that offers so many vegan options, plus they were able to make modifications to other dishes to make them vegan. We tried nearly every vegetable dish and were not disappointed. They were out of the carrots that we wanted and the chef whipped us up something special on the house instead! For Covid protocols they had indoor and outdoor seating - indoor seating was spread out and all staff were in masks. The service from the host, to the server to the chef were all great, highly recommend! read more

The food is outstanding. We had a spread with pita bread, beets, carrots, falafel, chicken shawarma, sirloin, and a malimbe dessert. The flavors were fantastic, reminiscent of Lebanese, Greek and to some extent Morracan dishes. The service was excellent, and the venue has a modern and clean decor. We highly recommend this restaurant for those enjoying mediteranean foods. read more

Ah-mazing food! I came here for Maine Restaurant Week, and I am sure glad I did! The special Evo was having offered a plate from each of their groupings (vegetable, fish, and meat) for $35. I went on a Friday night at 6pm (with no reservation) with my mom and was pleasantly surprised that we were able to get a seat without waiting. I ordered one of their signature cocktails to start which was very good. The three plates I chose were: (1) parsnips, (2) tuna, and (3) spanikopita. My mom had: (1) grape leaves, (2) seared scallops, and (3) chicken The best was the seared scallops but the tuna and spanikopita were a close second. Everything about each dish was so carefully prepared and absolutely perfect. Definitely recommend coming here and trying literally anything (I am not a huge grape leaves fan at all and I even liked those). Tips: - I would recommend 2-3 plates per person. - If you like seafood at all, definitely get a seafood plate. read more

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

5 word memoir: Best meal I ever had. Got a last minute 5pm reservation and had the vegetarian chef's testing menu. Can't recommend highly enough, and can't wait to return. Great service, great food, great cocktails. Go. You won't be disappointed. read more

We loved our Evo experience. The food was AMAZING! Teresa was a joy and so fun. We reserved a chalet and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a special night out. read more

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

This was one of the top restaurants in Portland, Maine, so we had to give it a try. Reservations were made online so it would be easier for us when we got there. This place is more of a date spot than a family spot. The waiter was super friendly and did a good job helping us out with what to order. This was a tapas kind of place so we ordered different things to share. For some orders, you can pick the regular size or the large size. Hummus- my best friend is not a fan of hummus, but she did enjoy this. I loved itt!! Salmon- The salmon was nice and crisp on the outside. The cherries in this dish was a cute touch. The salmon, however, was not fully cooked in the middle. Chicken- this was cooked perfectly and the sauce went sooo well with the chicken! Shrimp and Grits- my favorite dish of the night! The shrimp was so juicy and cooked so nice and their take on grits with quinoa was even better than actual grits! MUST GET!! Duck Spanakopoita- I did not like this at all. The cheese tasted weird and the duck was dry. Overall, would recommend this restaurant and come back again! read more

Enjoyed the Chef's Tasting - Pescatarian style. The dishes kept coming!! Everything was prepared to perfection and tasted like Heaven. The staff was attentive and an added bonus for the whole experience. Still dreaming about those carrots!! read more

5 star meal! We ate at EVO for our anniversary. They greeted us with a complimentary glass of Cava. Our waiter, Neal, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the food. We ordered four appetizers and shared a main. The carrots were tender but not mushy and beautifully seasoned. The broccoli was charred and served with a tangy sauce and feta. The bread was delight crispy and came with shawarma spiced butter and thin radishes. The Halibut was served on a bed of kale and was poached to perfection. We finished with the coconut Malabi ( a tangy pudding with a crispy topping ) and the strawberries and sour cream ice cream. Everything was perfectly seasoned, sand adequately portioned. I am so glad we chose EVO for our dinner read more

Fantastic food and service. Great date night. Make sure to get reservation so you get your spot.

My favorite place to eat in Portland. Coming from NYC we're not ones to go to places multiple times; however, it's at the point where I need to come to this restaurant every time I'm in town (which is about 5 times a year). The kitchen manages to consistently stay ahead of the curve using local Maine ingredients grounded in Eastern Mediterranean flavors - not easy to do in a town with so many high-quality and diverse dining options. Already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Amazing eclectic food. Not only delicious but such creative and colorful presentation! I can't stop taking pictures of everything I get and sending them to my dad (in hopes it will help convince him to come visit more often). Matt (head chef) and the rest of the team are always friendly and kind. Despite winning the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year 2015 award and Chopped 2016, he's a very nice, down-to-earth guy. (who also happens to make very tasty food) They have an upstairs, but I haven't checked it out yet. The inside is cool/chic. They have some good happy hour specials (definitely try the Muhammara), and hopefully will continue to make my favorite drink there: Lycanthrope. (They have a good selection of bourbon/whiskeys too.) The food will tantalize your taste buds but - depending on what your order - may be a bit on the smaller portion side, so just keep that in mind. read more

Great experience. It was long but the food was great. We ordered the chefs tastings. Received loads of different dishes. Probably more than 20 different kinds. It's fresh and nicely flavored. We loved the hummus. It had clean tasting and the different flavors were also nice. read more

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The falafel was good and worth trying if you have the craving. That is the only positive thing I can say about our experience. The spreads were fine. We had the labneh and the hummus. The cauliflower dish, while presented with creative flair, was a disappointment. It had both roasted cauliflower and cauliflower in a kind of "mashed potato" mound. It had tahini in it but had a taste similar to foie gras and texture similar to paste. It was unappetizing. The spanakopita was spanakopita in name only. The filo dough was not crispy but limp. The chef treated the dish more like a duck hot pocket than real spanakopita. Nothing but diced duck inside. No onions, no cheese, no spinach or chard. There was Swiss chard on the plate that came in a fat soaked lump. All that was bad but not memorably bad. What made it memorable was the piss pour service. From the front of house, to the table antics even with a reservation, to our waitress, nearly all interaction with the staff was just poor. Overhearing them snarking about people at the bar and towards patrons trying to come in without reservations just made the impression worse. Only one busser was nice. She must have been new. read more

Evo Kitchen + Bar is offering "modern fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines." It's one of many restaurants that have opened in the past year in town offering this style of cuisine in small plate format. The interior of the restaurant is sleek, modern, and sexy. Sitting at the bar made me feel more like an adult than I actually am. The food was delicious and beautifully prepared, the prices were awesome, the bar staff and servers were knowledgeable and patient, the cocktails hit the spot, and the location brings a bit of class to Fore Street which is usually associated with drunken bachelorette parties. ... But I wish there were more food options on the menu to keep me inspired and coming back again and again, or at least dishes that left me satisfied afterwards (I don't need to be bloated from how much I ate, but it would be nice to leave a place and not think "maybe I should munch on a snack when I get home"). Let me unpack that: My dinner partner and I had our server go through what each of the vegetarian options were (looked like, tasted like, etc). Our informative server, bless her heart, did so with grace and a smile. I don't know why, but it seemed that it was one dip or spreadable option after another. Where were the substantial, heartier options? If they're doing an $8 pork shoulder shawarma, you'd think they'd be able to offer something of equal price, portion, and heft in the form of a falafel shawarma. We ate: + Roasted Baby Beets ($10): beets, whipped chankleech, pickled shallots, and jallab. It was VERY good. I'm a sucker for beets and cheese and the addition of that sour flavor profile from the pickled shallots just elevated this. I wish there was a bigger "dinner" portion. + Crushed Walnut Muhammara ($10): garlic matzo, roasted peppers, armenian spices. I recently tried this at Trader Joe's and am HOOKED. It's so flavorful and combines tastes that I would never think to put together, but work so effortlessly and perfectly. -/+ Labneh bi Za'atar ($7): strained yogurt, Lebanese olives, mint. This was good, but unfulfilling because it was so small. There could have easily been more cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives on the dish. However it is comparable in price and portion size to menu items at other other Mediterranean restaurants in town, so they did something smart there. - Man'ousha bi Za'atar ($12): Mediterranean flatbread, pear, goat cheese, mint, EVOO. Absolutely unmemorable. It was the only thing that we didn't finish because it was just so underwhelming. Evo is definitely offering and executing dishes that other similar places aren't and that sets them apart, but they're also excluding dishes that could really help them be win across the board (like a drool-worthy falafel shawarma; there aren't many places that are doing this in Portland, actually I can really only think of one). read more

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This is not your typical restaurant located in a hotel! To start, it has an attractive and comfortable interior. Seating is mostly bar style, and similar to other new area restaurants, runs along the open kitchen/bar area and the outside windows of the dining area. I really like this type of set up. It makes for great people-watching (both on Fore St. and in the open kitchen). One small quibble, my partner was disappointed not to find a hook under the bar to hang her purse. However, the restaurant is new and perhaps this convenience will be added later. Upstairs there are tables for larger parties. As we entered, we were welcomed with a friendly greeting, which always makes for a great start. Despite it being Saturday night, we were able to be seated right away. I am sure this will change once word gets out, so stop in now before the summer crowds arrive. We started with cocktails. They have a small, but well thought out selection of specialty drinks, as well as a full bar and nice selection of wine. I tried two of their whiskey drinks, one made with Four Roses Bourbon and honey lemon basil syrup and the other made with Bullet and a combination of digestifs. The lemon drink was refreshingly tart and the other pleasantly bitter. They have clearly put thought and attention to every aspect of this spot. Moving on to the menu, it is arranged into four sections:Vegetarian,Fish, and Meat, and Dessert. Plates are designed to be shared, and my wife and I left feeling pleasantly satiated after sampling five of them. My vegetarian friends should take note that the vegetable dishes are definitely not an after thought here. The first dish to arrive was the Roasted Baby Beets with Whipped Chankleech, Pickled Shallots,and Jallab. I love,love, loved this! The beets tasted fantastic, tender, and flavorful. The shallots added zing, and the Chankleech was a creamy/salty concoction that had a flavor similar to feta. Oh, did I mention the food is beautiful here. Each small plate is stunning! So attractive as to easily be considered works of art, and yet they taste sooooo good! Next up was Baba Gannouj-a combination of Eggplant, Tahini, Mint, and Olive Oil. Served with warm pita for dipping, this dish was creamy, but light and refreshing. Even the tomato garnish was full of flavor, and again, it looked as good as it tasted! Following this was the Octopus Harra Served with Shoshito Peppers, Heirloom Tomatoes, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Perfect presentation and taste. I can't recall the last time I had octopus that was cooked so well with a beautiful char/tender/meaty-eaty. Next up was probably my favorite dish of the night-the Peekytoe Crab Falafel! It was a combination of Crispy Crab Dumplings, Avocado Garlic Whip, Kabis, and Scallions. Call it whatever you want, but the falafel was the lightest,most delicate, I have ever had, and I loved it! Salt/sweet/fried goodness! We finished on a high note with the Scallops Molokhia served with Cauliflower Hommus, Golden Raisin Kabis, and Molokhia Chips. Once again, everything was a treat to the eyes and tummy. The scallops were large and perfectly cooked, and the accoutrements were unique and flavorful. It left me happy,happy! Service was prompt and pleasant, and the tab was in line with other area dining. I will definitely be back for more! A couple of notes. First, this restaurant has only been open about a week, so small bumps are bound to occur as they get up and running. Also, for those not familiar with this type of food, the menu includes a large section of helpful definitions, and the waitstaff are happy to explain a dish. Despite many dishes/ingredients sounding unfamiliar, this food was very approachable and should be tried even by less adventurous diners. read more

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Tl;Dr I'm no longer able to afford rent because I'm addicted to their tasting menu. I've been here twice. The first time I was an idiot and didn't do the tasting menu. I got four courses of the tapas style serving for $70. The food was great, but when I went back I did the tasting menu with a friend for $60. After an hour and a half and ~14 courses, I felt like I needed a second stomach. Every dish was great and was a unique fusion of local ingredients and Mediterranean inspiration. At one point my friend and I started talking but the dishes started to pile up! Once that kitchen gets moving, nothing stops it. It was amazing how quickly the dishes came out. Similar tasting menus I've done have taken twice as long. Only complaint is there was no menu for me to take a picture of. No way in the world I can recall past a couple dishes. But I know they were awesome read more

Evo - 9 of the courses that lasted long enough to get a picture - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Wooow this place was delicious! I love everything. The drinks were so good. The chickpea fries!! I'm still dreaming about those fries. The fish was cooked perfectly and the whipped fetaaa yum! It's a small spot so make sure to make a reservation but it was very nice in there, modern feel. The host was super friendly and even got us our drinks while we waited for our table to be ready. I want to go back to Portland just to eat here again. read more

We went this time for the lobster 5 ways dinner and it did not disappoint! Wonderful food and wine pairings. Delicious and inviting. You could not ask for a better meal. We sat upstairs this time and the view is great for people watching down on the streets. Great service and food; still one of our favorites! read more

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I'm staying at the Hyatt right next-door to Evo. I was walking back to head to the hotel and and noticed this little restaurant. I decided I was going to have a nightcap and thank goodness I did. Everyone there was so welcoming friendly and professional. I decided to try some of their specialty cocktails. Wow amazing drinks! I have been a bartender for 23 years and know the business. Some of the best drinks I've ever had can't wait to have dinner next. Thanks again to the staff! read more

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

Just outstanding. They offer an amazing tasting menu with vegetarian and vegan options as well. I don't know any other restaurant in Portland that does this and that alone is so impressive. They aren't afraid to let the vegetables shine and that, in my opinion, is the sign of a great chef. Chef Matt is a very talented chef (and Chopped Champion!) and is present in the open kitchen. While sitting at the bar you get full view of the open kitchen that works like a well-oiled machine. Opposite to the bar are floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto Fore street. Either direction, you get a great show with dinner. The two people working together to seat customers looked kind of miserable, but I didn't care anymore once we sat down at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and professional but I wasn't overly impressed with either cocktail I had. Both were unmemorable and overly sweet. Only factors of the evening that weren't amazing. My husband and I had the vegan tasting menu. (They do offer non-vegan tasting menus as well.) Ordering vegan and not vegetarian or with meat/fish did not put us at a disadvantage. We had fourteen complete dishes and not lackluster versions of dishes that are otherwise made with meat and/or dairy. Yes I said fourteen! Any carnivore could order the vegan tasting menu and would not miss out on a thing. The dishes were large enough for two to share and came out of the kitchen perfectly spaced. In order: Beets Green salad Baba Ganoush Some kind of amazing dip that was like a super creamy hummus but I don't think it was hummus House-made Pita Shishito peppers Melon with cucumbers and chili Chickpea fries (OMG!) Peaches and tomatoes Falafel (with more pita!) Stuffed grape leaves Fried eggplant bits Chocolate sorbet Peach semifreddo Coconut milk panna cotta with rose water We were sooooo stuffed. After the 11th savory course we were checked in on to see how full we were because The Chef "did not want anyone to leave hungry." I wish I had a bottomless pit of a stomach so I could eat his food forever but I was about to burst. Of course I had to make room for dessert.... all 3! One of the best dinners of my life. With a limited set of ingredients to cook with (no animal products at all), they were able to come up with a complete, diverse, delicious tasting menu. I bet that would be quite a challenge for the majority of restaurants in Portland. Hats off to Chef Matt for having the talent and creativity to do this. Can't wait to go back! read more

Our recent visit to EVO Kitchen and Bar I would describe as mixed. I'll start with the parking. Your website stated parking across the street would be validated. Instead when I got there the host stated he was having an email war with the parking garage and could not validate. It cost me $21.00 to park for dinner and street parking was free. Needless to say I started the evening feeling ripped off. The appetizers: Check pea Fries, Skordalia and Cavatelli were all excellent, good flavor and a pleasure to eat. The Entrees: The chicken was very good, the strip loin was not bad but the dish was nothing memorable, not something I would look forward to ordering again, the pork tasted great but was served cold, very disappointing. Dessert: Chocolate dessert, excellent, the Carrot cake was outstanding, the Coconut Malabi was disappointing, the red jell substance was like tasteless plastic and detracted from the entire dessert. Finally, the Turkish coffee was very good, no sugar or cream needed. Service: Francesca was our server, absolutely loved her she did a great job and was very pleasant. Disappointed in the "service fee" was tempted to take it off the tip but did not want to penalize Francesca. Just raise your prices 3%, if feels like a sneaky back door way to get more money from your patrons. Overall, we had a very nice time despite the disappointments. My wife and I drove 3 hours round trip to have dinner with our daughter in Portland and selected your restaurant with high expectations. The evening with parking and tip cost me over $300.00 and we expected better. read more

Amazing food and service with a well tailored wine list to match. We had an 8 course vegan tasting menu for $45, an amazing value. Summer produce was well-selected and each course highlighted the best of the season, from heirloom tomato and watermelon salad to a cucumber rose dessert sorbet. Well worth a visit. They had a good selection of vegetarian and some vegan options also, and staff was very knowledgeable about special diets and extremely friendly about accommodating. (Though the vegan tasting menu is a listed option.) Great view also of an eclectic mix of pedestrians strolling down Fore St. past the Portland Harbor Hotel. People watching at its best. Highly recommend. read more

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My second visit, was perfect. The bartender was super attentive, and I'm glad I gave it another try. Drinks were served right away, and my boyfriend and I shared oysters. I don't know what I can say about the oysters other than 1) Yum 2) They worked . read more

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

The menu was not my style, not sure if it would be interesting to New Englanders. There was a local brewery tap takeover, Banded Horn from Biddeford, ME and their beer is great! The beers were $5 each but they were not full pints, a smaller size? I'm not sure what that's about because this is Portland, Maine, land of the Gritty's $10.00 pitcher and $4.00 happy hour FULL SIZED PINTS! Ok. So for Evo. It's a nice place with super nice staff. Good date place but the wine is, on the low end, $9 a glass. It's just not my place and I'm a microbrew drinking woman from New England and I'd like a FULL SIZED PINT PLEASE! Don't drop your price and then make the beer smaller. Not going to go over well in an awesome brew city. read more

Evo - The bar at Evo. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

The meal was absolutely fantastic. It is essentially small plates but if you order four items like we did you will not walk out hungry. The restaurant is very small and we sat at the counter overlooking the busy kitchen, interacting with the chefs and the whole team. It was lots of fun. Everything was done to perfection. We especially enjoyed the blue fin tuna, The sweet potatoes, the lamb, but after watching the staff produce all the other dishes on the menu we can't wait to go back to try the other dishes. read more

Excellent service and food. Our server was very knowledgeable. The food is tasty and not spicy. A must go if you are in Portland

Everything about our evening was close to perfect. From the greeting when we walked in the front door to our last course and even the check. It was one of the more enjoyable eating experiences we've had in a long time. We did the vegetarian testing paired with a wine for each course. We enjoyed every course and tried a few things for the first time. The wait staff is excellent, the hostess was attentive and accommodated a special seating request from my wife without batting an eye. The space is a little on the small side, and it is cozy and comfortable. We highly recommend Evo. You are missing something pretty special if you're in Portland and don't visit. We look forward to our next culinary adventure there. read more

Brought my wife to Evo for Dinner on our 20th wedding anniversary. Had the chef's tasting menu to get a little bit of everything and try "the best of the best." Chef Matt and his crew did not disappoint! Unique cocktails and amazing food! To say "Maine meets the Mediterranean" is a really spot on description of the menu. Fantastic use of local, seasonal ingredients fused with Mediterranean flavors, techniques, and spices. We were showered with ten courses of small plates, each one very unique from each other. Winter in Maine, and there isn't a vast diversity of seasonal ingredients available so some got repeated in a few dishes, but the preparations and presentations were different so you don't really notice. Whether you visit for just a couple of tapas style plates or go all-in with the chef's tasting menu, do yourself a favor and go experience Evo. You will not regret it. Our server was an absolute sweetheart and bent over backwards to make sure we were happy. We even got a table side visit from Chef Matt during our dessert course to say "hi." Thanks for making our 20th anniversary dinner something truly special! read more

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We were on vacation in Portland and ended our trip with the pescatarian tasting menu at Evo. We sat at the chef's counter where we got to watch all the food being prepared. At first it was a little overwhelming and loud and I was regretting the choice but after a while we got in the swing of it and enjoyed figuring out each item they were preparing. The tasting menu was amazing - 10 different dishes and we were stuffed!! They let us take the pasta home in a box because we couldn't finish it. They were very accommodating and made sure my dessert didn't have raspberries since I'm not a fan. Favorite dishes - tuna, octopus and cavetelli. It's not cheap but I highly recommend as a fun spot to try some amazing food and drink. read more

Unreal how good the food is. The wait staff is professional and attentive. The menu is interesting and I love sharing plates with company. Do yourself a favor and go there ASAP! read more

Amazing! We had a recommendation to come here from our airplane seat mate and he was spot on. We did the chefs tasting menu and had 9 share plates +dessert. It is a great value and highly recommended. Every dish used Maine local ingredients with an incredible Mediterranean twist of flavors. If you're in Portland don't miss this place! read more

We had our anniversary dinner Thursday night. Our table was on the top deck overlooking the bar and street views. Our server was top notch. The tapas menu, inspiring. We loved our food. The flavors were brilliant. It was perfect in all regards. read more

BEST restaurant in Portland. I had one of the best dinners / experiences I've ever had. Highly recommend!!!! P.S. try the chickpea fritters and ask for Tom / Mike's "special sauce". read more

We had a great meal here a few weeks ago. We decided it was too hard to try and pick just a few things and went for the tasting menu and the wine pairing. The service and food was excellent and I would definitely recommend it. The tasting menu was excellent value and there was a ton of food. Pace yourself unless you are starving! We started off with 4 starter courses: Tuna, Yogurt and Cucumber Salad, Fried eggplant on some chick peas and Tabouleh They were all very tasty and delicious. The tabouleh was especially good with a lot of parsley and lighter on the bulgur wheat. The yogurt was also a highlight Then we moved into the seafood courses: Char (I think; it couldve been salmon), Lobster and brussel sprouts, Squid and Clams The fish was excellent and probably my favorite course here. The clams were pretty tasty as well even though I dont normally eat them. My wife took down most of the squid and lobster which she liked Next up was the meat: duck breast, a meatball of some kind and Lamb We were definitely losing steam by this point in the meal. I have to confess I dont remember as many of these courses as well but the meatball with fig was tasty Lastly, we had the dessert courses: Baklava ice cream, Baklava and chocolate cake The baklava was excellent but I wish the ice cream had had a little less vanilla flavoring in it--It didnt let the baklava bits sing as much as they could have. Overall, we had a very nice meal and the wine pairings were eclectic (Lebanese wines for example) and delicious. read more

We did the vegetarian tasting menu and had an absolutely fantastic meal. Each course was creative and exciting. The dips were heavenly, and we even ordered an extra round of skordalia despite being absolutely stuffed. The two dessert dishes were flawless. I honestly would have bought them by the pound. Next time we'll get the wine pairings as well. read more

From Lio we went to Evo. It also did not disappoint. I like sitting at the lower bar and watching the kitchen. There were 3 of now and one of the guys knows the chef. We got a couples of freebie. Ordered more food and drinks, and enjoyed. The hummus was great. As were the meatballs. I was not as big a fan of there wine list. Fairly limited. We managed. Haha. I'd also say it's best for a small group 2-4. There are no table downstairs so larger groups get spread out. Check it out! read more

Always have such good food at Evo - it is definitely one of our favorites in Portland. We had the always good chickpea fries, amazing delicata squash with burrara and crushed pistachios - delicious. Whipped feta and falafel with their homemade pita bread rounded out the meal. My husband had his usual cocktail, an old fashioned. He's had so many he is quite the connoisseur these days. He did find it a touch sweet. I wasn't taken by any of the cocktails on the menu so the bartender created a drink for me using gin, watermelon, orange bitters and some bubbly - and it was very good. A++ for Chef Matt and his staff. read more