WOW - just took a client here for lunch. Super friendly staff and the food is fantastic! The three of us shared: fried green tomatoes (very crispy cornmeal coating, tomatoes cooked to perfection with a lovely sauce on the side) Ahi Tuna with a sweet corn relish (seriously, the best I have ever had, and I order Ahi Tuna everytime I see it on a menu) Lobster Shashito (generous portion of tender lobster with sweet green asian peppers) gnocci with lamb (meltingly smooth gnocci with flavorful bits of lamb in a wonderful sauce). We were all totally wowed by our experience, and the bill wasn't bad at all for the quality of the food - about $30PP with tip. read more

This is the one place in Portland that you need to eat at now before it becomes impossible to get a reservation. And luckily they take reservations (unlike some places in town). My husband and I opted for the tasting menu. This is the most flexible tasting menu I've ever had and also one of the most inventive and delicious. Before I get to the food, let me say that the service here is impressive. It's the kind of service that is so easy and flawless and makes you feel like you are their top priority. Everyone, from the host, to the servers, bartender, manager, and kitchen team are on top of their game-it's truly seamless. The chef, Matt Ginn, is down to earth and really delivers. He is putting out some of the best food in Portland right now, and he's someone to watch. If you are a local, this should be your go-to spot. If you are visiting, move this to the top of your list. Now on to the food, because that's what you really want to know about. The menu is seasonal and we had the opportunity to taste a lot of it. Like I mentioned earlier, it's a flexible tasting menu. It's not the kind of tasting menu where you are going to get 3 courses or 5 courses or one from each section of the menu. You are going to tell them if you have any dietary restrictions or if there is anything you really want (or really don't want) and they are going to prepare you a delightful meal. We ended up tasting 16 different dishes. And that is probably not typical but we were sitting at the bar, watching everything coming out, and were asking about a lot of the dishes...so I think we probably got a few more than what they would normally have brought. Here's the very basic run-down of what we ate...but please note that there was nothing basic about this meal because it was pretty exceptional. -oysters -tuna -hummus -tabouleh -prawns -squid -scallops -lobster -hake -salmon (not on the menu) -potatoes -salt cod falafel -lamb (my husband ate this but I tried the chickpea fritter and fried artichoke) -apricot sherbet -baklava and baklava ice cream -chocolate torte It would probably take a while to describe each of these dishes. I can honestly say that it would be hard to choose a favorite because everything was a standout. I wouldn't have ordered the prawns, squid, or hake on my own but I'm so glad that we got to taste them. The squid was tender and buttery. The prawns came with the most amazing pumpkin sauce with homemade sriracha and yogurt, which went perfect with the soft and fluffy pita. And the hake was light and flaky. The one thing I would not order again, and this is just a preference that I forgot to mention at the beginning, is the chocolate torte. It was good, but I'm not a huge chocolate fan. The baklava and the baklava ice cream were amazing and I hope this stays on the menu forever. The baklava ice cream is like a take on ice cream with honeycomb-light and almost like ice milk with crunchy bits of honey rich baklava. Overall, this has been moved to the top of my list of favorites...which is hard to do in a city with so many great options. I can't wait to see how the menu changes next season, and I'm sure I'll post updates and more food pics along the way. read more

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Adorable & sleek. Fantastic drink and wine menu. Small, Mediterranean plates. My friend and I shared the hummus, accompanied by two medium pitas and the crab falafel balls. This was perfect for what we were looking for, but if you're looking for dinner, you'll need to order at least two plates. The dishes range from $9-$17 so it can get pricey. The service was decent, but we were asked the same questions by two separate servers, as if they each thought we were their table. Either way, we enjoyed our time and the food and look forward to returning! read more

Food was absolutely amazing. Their Mediterranean staples, like falafel, were made with funky twists that kicked them up to excellent. I almost didn't try the cauliflower hand made pasta and it would have been a tragedy if I hadn't! The flavor of every single dish was perfect. Can't wait to return! read more

2nd time here and still amazing! Highly recommend. One of the best restaurants I have eaten at in the U.S. Service was just as good as the food. Tried a few new foods tonight and loved them all! Staff was very knowledgeable. read more

Oh Evo, why do you have to be all the way in Maine and I'm not? This was an incredible dining experience - yes, experience - and I'd recommend it to anyone who only had 24 hours in the area like we did. We ordered the Chef's Tasting as well as the wine pairing (listen to the other reviews that say this is the wisest choice if you actually are having dinner and not just a snack). Each course was exquisite and thoughtfully prepared, yet was still somehow familiar and not too over the top. Above all else, it was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed ourselves immensely! Perfect place for a fun, intimate date night. read more

Went here for the first time to celebrate my birthday after reading good things about this place. Interesting set up, good use of space with the upstairs seating area. Happy hour was still going on and they had plenty of local brews and fun cocktails. Food was delicious. We got baba ghanouji, grape leaves, brussels sprouts, squid a la plancha, and kibbeh neyeh. All were delicious. We tried new things and the small plates work out great for trying new things. They recommend 2-3 plates per person. Great for sharing. The food comes out as they make it so it comes in waves. The only downfall was they didn't have much of a dessert selection. Friendly staff! Would go back again to try other plates. read more

We tried 4 dishes (fattoush, duck kebab, beef stew, and lamb sausage) and loved them all! Everything we tried was delicious. The flavors were perfectly balanced, some with unexpected spices. In all dishes, a few key ingredients shined through without any one flavor being overwhelming. The service was also wonderful. Everyone was attentive, very friendly, and professional. I would happily return. read more

What a wonderful, unique addition to the Portland restaurant scene!! My fiancé and I walked in at around 7 PM on a Friday and were able to be seated at the bar immediately. We sat at the area right where the sous chefs prep and plate all the dishes, which was quite a treat as you really feel like you are sitting at a chef's table! We started with some cocktails from their decently-sized list; I got a mildly fruity drink with Metaxa (a Greek liquer) that was refreshing and pleasantly strong :) We shared 3 plates between the two of us; the plates are by no means the typical "small" plate where you are constantly hungry after taking the 2 bites that clear the plate and are anxiously awaiting for the next plate to come out. We got the pork shawarma, the walnut muhammara (an Armenian spicy "paste" served with fancy crackers), and octopus a la plancha. The first thing to note is that the dishes are *beautiful*!!! It was clear from the plating by the sous chefs and meticulous instructions to them by the exec chef that they take the visual presentation seriously. The strategic arrangement on the plate, and the colorful garnishes (love the use of edible flower petals and cute sliced radishes!) really make each plate seem like a work of art. You should be ok with a little bit of spice when eating here, but that's the beauty of Mediterranean food. The only mildly negative comment is the pork shawarma, which is in a wrap, is a little more difficult to share compare to our other plates. The other plates are great for sharing. In summary: Friendly and prompt service, oh-so-cool ambience, gorgeous and artistic plating, and mouth-watering, savory flavors that transport you to a trendy restaurant in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.... We'll definitely be back soon! read more

Wow! One of the best meals I've had in Portland in the past few years! I have grown up in Portland and have always tried the new restaurants as they've popped up. Eve's ambiance is very modern with lots of class and a lofted dining area over the bar. You can sit enjoying the delectable small Mediterranean inspired plates while looking out on the hustle and bustle of fore street. It is intimate yet still very modern and chic. The service was outstanding. We started out our meal with hummus. I was perfectly smooth with whole chickpeas and a kick of paprika. It was accompanied by there home made pita! Next was enjoyed the spiced carrot salad, labneh with cucumber, shaksuka and complimentary grape leaves. The tomato sauce was delicious over the warm grape leaves, the spiced carrots were succulent, and the Shaksuka packed a punch of flavor! Next we nibbled on seared tuna, lamb loin, the turkey shawarma, Maine lobster, seared hake, prawns and two orders of the lobster! Their lobster is award winning and I understand why. It was tender and sweet. The sauces on all the seafood were outstanding! Especially the pumpkin seed harrisa. One of the favorites of the meal was the charred brussels sprouts. For dessert the tahini parfait was light and not too sweet. The candied pine nuts provided great texture! I would also recommend the house made lemonade and prosecco. We will definitely be back! In my top three restaurants in Portland! read more

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Most of the dishes had disparate ingredients. Lobster with shishito peppers and creamed corn. The oysters were a waste of a good oyster. Everything we had except the pasta and lamb sausage and the heirloom tomatoes was no better than a C. Also, we had to ask the waiter for new plates after each course so as to not mix the sauces and flavors. Service was also a C+. read more

Wonderful restaurant in Portland. My friend and I dined at Evo on a Tuesday night and everything was incredible. We got the labneh, sweet potatoes, and seared tuna, all of which I highly recommend. The chickpea fries were sent out free which were delicious and much appreciated! We had generous pours of the Ruhlman Pinot Noir with our meal as well. The service was great and I overall highly recommend Evo for dinner! read more

Blown away by my meal at Evo, can't believe I waited so long to try this new place! I highly recommend ordering a variety of plates-- each dish was impeccably well-crafted on its own, but the best part of the meal for me was mixing bites from multiple plates. I'm a hard-core carnivore, but the vegetarian plates I tried (walnut muhammara and the man'ousha flatbread) were some of my favorites. A couple of tasty cocktails rounded out the meal. It's a small space, with counter seating overlooking the sidewalk (this makes for amusing people-watching) or open kitchen (beware, you will want to order everything you see being prepared), plus table seating upstairs. Good spot for a date, probably not great for groups bigger than 6, and I'd leave the kids at home. read more

What a great new eatery in Portland - delicious, different, great service, serious but not pretentious cooking. While the restaurant says its plates are small plates, some portions were quite substantial - between appetizer and entrée size. Our party had samplings of vegetarian, fish and meat dishes, all of which were excellent. The restaurant still has mechanical challenges - getting the freezers and draft beer apparatus to work properly - that should be fixed soon. There are a lot of chairs at the bar. The crowd seemed to be content and not noisy - a pleasure. I'm looking forward to repeat visits to Evo. read more

Place is amazing! Everytime we go here we are so impressed by the level of creativity and flavors that are put into each dish. Definitely one of my go to spots in town!! read more

Wow. I have never had food that was so unpalatable. The portions were small, and almost thankfully so, because everything I ordered ended up being immensely disappointing. The problems with my food started with an incredibly limited menu, and despite including a glossary of terms, it was not enough to understand what was in the food, or how it was prepared. When my food was served to me, it looked fine. But when I actually ate it, it was a general let down. I couldn't manage more than two bites of anything, even the dessert. I hope people don't come here expecting to be wowed, because it will only lead to heartbreak, and search for a snack or even a full meal somewhere else. read more

Amazing food! A hidden gem...for now. The eggplant dish is one of the best dishes I've ever had. A must try.

Excellent service. Awesome wine pairings. Chef is very knowledgeable and creative. We enjoyed the cauliflower, steak, lamb and potatoes. read more

Evo - Amazing gin cocktail - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Excellent food and service. Sat at the bar and Mike made us delicious cocktails. Every time one of us went to the restroom, someone would fold our linen napkins. The details were impeccable. read more

Evo - Lamb and beet salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

Delicious, healthy, unpretentious fare at a reasonable price. Evo is low-key with a relatively quiet atmosphere and a great staff of attentive and well-mannered waiters. They offer very interesting choices like crab falafel. My favorite was the oysters. Also- the drinks are well crafted- try the bullet-bourbon-based mixed drink- it's tremendous. read more

There are so many great things to say about this delicious place! Made reservations- when we arrived the table was still eating... So we grabbed a drink at the bar. The bar tender was easy on the eyes and is a great mixologist. My friend got the northern lights drink. It was refreshing and light! I would highly suggest it! The hostess was so attentive and apologetic as we had to wait! She was great. After getting the recommendation from the handsome bartender to do the chef tasting we were sold! 1. The chef tasting is worth every single penny however you need to have time. This is an enjoyable experience. I would suggest this if you were on a schedule. 2. If you have an allergy they will accommodate! Obviously and if you realllly don't like something they will note that 3.the meal... 1. Kale Tabbouleh Salad: light refreshing two bites 2. Labneh with cucumber and shallot salad and the most delicious pita 3. Seared Tuna was so delicious!!! (One of my favorites) 3. Fattoush Salad: very light. A good pause in the savory heavy flavors 4. Octopus: we were nervous about this one but it was delicious! The smoky flavors of the chorizo were so tasty! 5. Lobster: the Brussel sprouts were amazing! I wish I could replicate these! It was table favorite! The slaw salad and tahini combined were so delicious! 6. Local chicken: this chicken was so tender and tasty! This came with pumpkin fritters and a cider sauce. 7. Spiced Beef Stew: we were so full at this time but had a few bites. The curry flavors were so good! 8. Lamb Loin: we thought it was over but it wasn't. The lamb so tender you did not need a knife! 9. Dessert Time: baklava ice cream! My mouth is salivating as I think it this! It was beyond! 10. Another dessert!!! What?! Chocolate Mousse we were so full! Needless to say, every bite was magical. If you are a foodie or like a plethora of flavor this is the place to go!!! The music and lighting were enjoyable. We will be back! read more

The food was AMAZING. We got the chicken (with skin), which melted in your mouth, as well as the pork belly. The belly was so amazing! It was served over beans with a sauce that I would punch my own mother in the face to get more of it. Great selection of wine and cocktails. This was the only place we ate at in Portland that had that foodie feel. Price was a little high for the quantity of food, but the quality made up for it. We savored every bite. read more

We booked a table there for my birthday dinner, after I checked their menu online and it seemed interesting. Whether their food is worth the trouble of trying to find parking, I will never know. Since we had a senior citizen with us, when I called to make the reservation, I asked if there was a table downstairs where we could sit. She said there was one table downstairs, by the bar area, and it was true. However, this table was by the door, and the online barrier they had against the frigid night air was some sort of plastic contraption, which might as well be nothing at all. Since their dining area is actually upstairs and they have no elevator, we had to leave. It was disappointing at best, that they would not tell me on the phone, the day before, the conditions where such a table was placed. Is that how they accommodate those with disabilities? They allow them to freeze? Before taking customer's credit cards on the phone when they call them for reservations (oh, did I mention they would not reserve anything without it?), how about actually informing your customers of the conditions of your facility? read more

We agree - this is a great addition to the Portland dining scene. Disclosure: one of us is half-Armenian. We found it around 8:30 pm and sat at the window facing the Friday night Old Port scene. The food was really delicious (drinks too), staff friendly and upbeat, and cost reasonable. Favorites included the scallops (maybe best ever), and muhammara, a hummus-like dip with walnuts and tahini. As salad lovers, the corn fatttoush and tabouleh were light and delightfully seasoned, and the lamb sausage also hinted of the eastern Mediterranean. The food was presented beautifully with garnishes, unusual crackers and just the right amount of edible flair. We asked for pita bread at the end to sop up the remaining sauces, and even that was unusually good-maybe even homemade? We left nothing behind-Evo easily rises to our list of favorite local restaurants. read more

Evo was a complete delight! If you are a foodie, this is your place! It's small plates and great for sharing. I rarely write reviews, but this one was worth it! And chef Matt Ginn took the extra step to make sure we had a great experience. All of the staff were fantastic. The food though... sooo good! Everything was delicious! Definitely worth checking it out! read more

Very good food and service. Easy to make reservations which is a plus. We were quickly seated and drinks were served quickly. The chick pea fries were surprisingly good and a nice adventure outside of what I usually eat. The halibut and flank steak was cooked perfectly. Cocktail (the Paul Bunyan) was made well and tasted great. Definitely recommend for a night out with a significant other or close friends. read more

Fantastic place. Best dish I had was the Potatoes Harra - AMAZING! Get it - you won't regret it. My wife got the Maine lobster with the handmade Turkish pasta and I kept stealing bites. The sauce was unusual but pared well with the lobster. Pricy but worth it. read more

My husband & I went there for my birthday - a special treat. It was a phenomenal. We were seated upstairs in the corner, overlooking the street - a great place for people watching. Our waitress was very helpful, explaining the menu and the process. They serve small plates for sharing that come from the kitchen as they are prepared. We chose the kale tabbouleh, chickpea fries, halibut and swordfish. The tabbouleh had a wonderful, fresh flavor and the chickpeas were a nice surprise - crisp on the outside, creamy in the middle and served with a turmeric-ginger yogurt dip that was delicious. The fish in both dishes were cooked to perfection - lovely, buttery consistency. Each with a complementary sauce and vegetables. They were small works of art. Since we were celebrating we ordered 2 desserts; apple-date cake and baklava ice cream. The cake was light and tasty, but the ice cream was outstanding - sweet, nutty and crunchy in every bite. It was an exciting evening, with all of the combinations of flavors and the fun of discovering each dish. read more

Excellent! Tasteful space, professional and friendly staff. Deliciously prepared and presented food. I rarely splurge on 3 $$$ establishments, but this was a splurge I will repeat. read more

Not your average restaurant by any means, this was an experience! Food and service was beyond exceptional! Hubby and I Had the pescatarian tasting(not on menu but they are very accommodating) multiple small shared plates each tastier than the last (bet 8-10 we lost count).. started with the must experience chick pea fries and ended with 2 delicious desserts.. everything in between made us shake our heads in awe! Price tag just under $200 but We left filled as eggs! Bonus: they validated our parking ticket! read more

Definitely felt like a Portlandia sketch. Ordered the entree portion of a dish and it was about 2 ounces of food for $26. I mentioned this to our server and after a somewhat confusing explanation, they did end up charging us for a half portion (which I suspect was what we actually got). The oysters were described completely differently in the menu and then served with a sweet watermelon foam that completely overwhelmed the flavor of the oysters. Perfectly nice service, slightly sterile atmosphere, but the food seems all over the place. Very expensive for what you end up with. Maybe they need to work out the kinks because they could have a good place if they stop trying so hard to be unique. Butter popcorn in the lobster? Nope, try again. Writing this review over a post dinner slice of pizza. The extra star was for our nice server. read more

Amazing tapas lunch spread. Falafel to die for, chickpea fries...yes please, chicken shawarma which I could live on! Bruschetta with a deli full sausage and cheese, not your parents bruschetta. Then there was the duck with egg which was served in a skillet, while not a huge duck fan this was scrumptious. Great service and a beautiful space. A true Portland gem. read more

Nick is a very relaxed but professional host and manager. I enjoy his service and the friendliness of all the staff at evo. You guys rock! Thank you so much read more

First impression... staff was a little stuffy at first, but grew on me. Reminded of meeting shy friends that then open up. You must ask them where the bathrooms are as it is tucked in a corner with no labels on the wall or even the doors. Limited herbal tea options and no no alcohol beer. Local sour beer from Liquid Riot brew called The Killing was fruity, effervescent and moderately sweet. We ordered the lovely duck mousse served with cranberry jam and buttery soft white toast (when I want to figure out the recipe, thats my highest accolade and this fits) dilled perfectly seared scallops with zesty lemon cream , and cilantro, garlic and fresh jalapeño soft diced sweet potatoes and a rare lamb loin with yogurt foam and garlic with artichoke. The servings are moderately sized and tapas style . Hubby said Nice! on the Austin St. beer. Hoppy bitter and goes down unusually smoothly Overall a very enjoyable romantic post-modern treat. read more

Evo - Lamb Loin with mint sauce and cinnamon clove dusted artichoke - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Portland, Maine

EVO in Portland Maine : A Treasure Chest of Turkish Gems in the Old Port Chef Matt Ginn must be sorely missed at 555 and the other notable kitchens he's come through. He's done a terrific job creating the unique Turkish-Mediterranean mezze menu here and as you peruse the many tempting dishes with new elements, you fortunately have a menu glossary -which is essential because of Americans' general unfamiliarity with this cuisine. Highlights: Lovely thoughtful presentation on every plate. Generous portions and fair pricing ; well-balanced flavors and food groups that are very easily combined in mix-n-match pairings. Spiced Quail stuffed with pickled teeny eggplant w/ a walnut and tomato stuffing Potatoes -- could NOT stop eating these toothsome tender taters swathed in a turmeric and mustard seed sauce and lapped with piquant labneh Spice coated Lamb Loin on tomatoey compote - tender, delicate, perfectly cooked to rosy Baba ganoosh and Fresh Puffed Pita w Mint and Shakshouka- delightful. Kataifi -wrapped Spiced Shrimp - 'head-on, eat shell and all' not for me, but liked the crunchy coating and the piquant plate sauce. Smoked Salmon Falafel- unusual coarse flavorful falafel mix but salmon not really noticeble. Tahini Parfait -- almost a sesame halvah semifreddo topped with a mild floral honey. Perfect ending. Minuses: Ugly space- the opposite of warm and inviting. Minimalist decor translates here as characterless, and quite the opposite of the wonderful food. The space screams out for welcoming color. Mezzanine dining room has uncomfortable wooden chairs and bare tables set off by a 'Dirty Grey' wall, with glaringly bad ventilation from the cooking below on the street level. I don't think I've ever had such good food in such an ugly restaurant. So just keep your eyes on your friends and the lovely plates! Service: Our server was relaxed, friendly and helpful, but inexperienced. Could use an intensive on the complex food she is serving- to better be able to advise. read more

Was pleasantly surprised by my excellent dinner at Evo Kitchen -- I'd mistakenly thought it was a hotel restaurant, but it turns out it's totally independent/unaffiliated with the hotel. The food was outstanding. We tried a lot of different plates, and it honestly felt like each dish was better than the last. My personal favorites were the squid a la plancha -- perhaps the best squid I've ever had -- the turkey shawarma, and the sweetbreads. I think the others in my group would each pick different plates as their favorites, which just speaks to how consistent and high-quality the food was. The service was just as good. Our server helped guide us through the menu and gave a few recommendations that were much appreciated. The atmosphere is also great -- we sat upstairs, which has an intimate, cozy feel, and gives really great views onto Fore St. through the big windows. read more

Ate here because everything else was mobbed. It was a lovely surprise. The service was exceptional!!! I am usually not a tapas person as I always feel hungry after but this place doesn't disappoint. The portions are good for a small plate restaurant and the food is AMAZING. Fresh and unique. read more

Stopped in for some drinks and light apps. This was our first visit to Evo and we were excited to try it. We were the only two patrons at the bar, ordered some drinks from the menu. They were tasty. Once our table was ready we headed up stairs. My friend ordered another of what she thought was her original drink. When they brought it up, it was actually the drink I was served the first time. The bartender gave us the wrong drinks. Again, we were the only two people at the bar. They did comp one of the drinks. We placed our order for the Tuna and the Lobster. They were out of lobster. How does one run out of lobster at a restaurant one block from the Portland, Maine waterfront? Anyway, I switched my order to the Squid. Both dishes were excellent. Our waitress was excellent as well. I'm giving Evo 2 stars mostly because of the ventilation system. If you sit on the second floor, be prepared. Your eyes will water from the smokiness. I made the mistake of wearing the scarf I wore on Saturday night to work today (2 days later) and can still smell the smoke. It seems this has been an issue since opening and it's a bit concerning that they've done nothing to fix this. read more

Excellent mixed drinks. Ordered the hummus plate and the Potatoes Harra, both were excellent. Service was great too!

I love Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food and Evo does not disappoint. Great location, cool atmosphere, friendly & knowledgeable staff. The food is always delicious and so are the drinks. read more