A wonderful mixture of fusion cuisine making use of local ingredients with traditional eastern Mediterranean food. Every dish was beautifully presented and stunningly delicious. The fluke was incredible. Definitely a repeat in Portland. read more

AMAZING!! We happened upon this place because it seemed it was attached to our hotel. We were hesitant to eat here because we thought it was owned by the hotel. NOT AT ALL. We went in and enjoyed a glass of wine for happy hour. When we perused the online reviews and the menu we realized that the chef's tasting menu was the way to go. We opted for the wine pairings as well. No regrets. Every dish that that we tasted was delivered to us personally with an explanation of the foods, presentation and ingredients. EVERY bite was beautiful as the medley of ingredients was intentional, perfect, and a delight. What is special about this place is the open kitchen by the bar. As a customer, you will see the preparation of your meals at the bar as well as have the opportunity to interact with the chefs who are so meticulous in their preparation and presentation. During the meal, the staff also solicit feedback and customize the menu for your likings. Bartenders also a love. Wish this place was closer to home. We would be regulars. read more

Ate at EVO for our second time tonight. First time was amazing. Tonight was the same. One of the salad dishes wasn't too great but I'm still giving five stars as everything else was incredible, including my cocktail. Definitely some of the best food in the city. read more

Patrick was the best, food far above average. Reasonable priced! Great atmosphere awesome vibe. Very unique dishes from apps through the main course to dessert. read more

Love love love this place. My 4th time visiting and each meal with group of friends has been exceptional. Everyone raves! Best restaurant in Portland. read more

Not thrilled with my first visit. The pita served with the hummus tasted like day old grocery store pita -- thick, dry, and not even warm. The steak tartare was forgettable. The octopus was very good, and the fluke crudo was also quite nice. Hopefully they will iron out the unevenness soon, as the staff was both knowledgeable and quite good. read more

Fantastic food. Cool layout. Loved the concept. Creative menu,!presented well and delicious. GREAT service! The staff worked incredibly hard and are obviously held to very high standards. We really appreciated the personal level of service and the focus on every detail. The seating arrangement gave us an up close view of the effort the kitchen staff puts in and the level of excellence they are held to. These guys work hard and focus on the details to make Evo a great experience. read more

Excellent food, but the kitchen literally vents into the 2nd floor dining room. Our eyes are burning, but the food is great....

If I was rating just the food and service I would give this restaurant 5 stars! We started out with the roasted cauliflower, then had the lamb loin which was some of the most tender lamb we have ever eaten. We followed with the lamb sausage and the potatoes with yogurt. Our server was attentive and very knowledgable. Our biggest complaint was the ventilation. The minute you walk through the door it hits you...awful. By the end of the night my eyes were burning! We would love to go back to experience the food again, but will think twice. Please get your ventilation fixed! read more

Incredible food. Innovative and thoughtful touches on Mediterranean dishes. Tried most things on the menu and everything was totally delicious. We were with a gluten free family member and they were easily able to accommodate her without sacrificing the dishes. For the couple of dishes that they felt may sacrifice taste, they let us know and helped us navigate the menu. They also had a good wine selection. I think the prices are reasonable for the quality of both the food and environment. Really enjoyed sitting upstairs because it's quieter and more intimate but downstairs seating has a view of the kitchen which I imagine is another unique experience. Definitely try this place if you are looking for a nice dinner in town. read more

We had an early dinner reservation on a Friday night and was promptly seated. We initially thought we wouldn't find enough things we both loved to share from the small menu. But boy were we wrong. Everything was amazing starting from the spread and mission fig salad. The pomegranate salmon was fantastic and we also regretted not getting the lamb loin in a bigger size. Our server was very helpful and pointed us in the right direction. The baklava ice cream was tasty without being heavy. Overall a great experience! read more

Mind blown X2! We travel the world and eat some pretty amazing food, EVO stands shoulder to shoulder with the best. We actually plan our trip from Florida around eating get here. The Lebneh is transcendent, the Brussel sprouts are something I will dream about and the the falafel set the new bar. Try the new gnocchi dish, it makes my Sicilan heart miss home. While this place could cop a heady vibe due to the otherworldly grub,, it is actually one of the most laid back and friendly places to enjoy a relaxing evening. Do yourself a favor and sit at the bar. Besides the top notch barkeeps (say hello to Nick), you get a front row seat to the serious culinary magic coming out of the open kitchen. High gourmet meets mad scientists meets neighborhood must hangout. read more

The drinks and food are creative, tasty, and besutiful! we had 10 small plates and they were al great...the squid and scallops were both great! read more

Came here for drinks, so can only review on that . Bartender has created his own specialty cocktail list. Knows his stuff. Personable but not intrusive. Come here for drinks or food. You won't be disappointed. Seating is small, so if this place heats up (here's hoping it does!) may get harder to get a seat. Get in now! read more

I've been wanting to try Evo forever so I was happy to be in the right place at the right time on a recent Friday night. I agree with the other reviewers that the food is impeccable. We'd already had appetizers and drinks before we arrived at Evo so we just tried a few of the small plates - all traditional dishes including stuffed grape leaves, falafal, and figs with almonds and feta. Everything was fabulous. We also tried the "cookie" platter which included some wonderful treats including homemade marshmallows and baklava. I also enjoyed a glass of lambrusco - another off-the-beaten-path red wine that complemented the snacks nicely. Service was excellent and the setting is really fun with windows looking out into the Old Port and a small loft seating area. All in all, a good experience except for what many other reviewers have mentioned - the lack of ventilation. The idea of an open kitchen right in the middle of the restaurant sounds great but when the ventilation is terrible, it's enough to ruin the whole experience. I thought Aurora Provisions was bad in the regard but Evo was almost unbearable. As delicious as the food is, I don't want to smell like it when I leave the restaurant. I hope they find a way to remedy the situation and make the overall experience as good as the food and service. read more

The chef tasting menu was beyond expectations. We loved the place so much we bought a gift certificate for a family member. Flavors, service, wine, decor, cocktails .....just cannot say enough. 5 star experience. read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about EVO. We went last night for our engagement dinner and everything was phenomenal: the service was fantastic, the food was delicious and beautifully presented (we got the vegetarian tasting menu), and the setting was a perfect balance of intimacy and visual drama (love the two story windows). Everyone made sure our special evening was perfect (they even wrote out cards congratulating us). We will definitely be coming back to Portland if for no other reason than to return to EVO and get more of that amazing labneh. Cannot recommend highly enough: all the stars! read more

I am constantly disappointed when I go out to eat. Not here---I will be back. The food was great, clean space, well trained and personable wait staff. We ate upstairs where the noise was tolerable and the view of the street entertaining. We had muhummarah, corn fattoush, lamb, and halibut. I won't repeat the language of the menu, but it was clean, fresh, extremely flavorful without being drowned in butter and salt, gorgeous to look at. And each dish was easily shared among three people. Total bill including one glass of very nice $7 wine: $61 plus tip. And we were full. This is food lovingly prepared, like home cooking, but just not something I could ever make at home. read more

The menu appears Mediterranean, but it is anything but - I'm not sure the restaurant/food has an identity the waiter advised us the dishes were meant to be shared - we found the menu detail sparse, but we've had Mediterranean before; we live in Manhattan. We were a party of two for dinner... First we ordered half dozen oysters that arrived covered in a foam (a sweet beer visually unappealing), foam lightly sprinkled in a red powder and a tiny lemon piece buried beneath the foam; this combo ruined the taste of the oysters which were priced at $3 each - not good at all - the menu did not explain this. We then ordered a $13 asparagus dish. I did not expect the asparagus to be served in a very small bowl inside looked to be a poached egg and hot melted runny feta with "a few thin small shavings of asparagus" topped by wisps of what appeared to be marjoram and a small piece of pita - this dish is absolutely horrible. Imagine: hot melted watery feta and a very, very soft boiled runny egg in a small bowl like SOUP! Again, the menu does not explain this. (I did not eat this dish my husband did.) Our last dish was lobster at $32; also arrived in small bowl in tomato sauce - without bread or pita; (when we ordered the the lobster the waiter told us it would be the equivalent of 1 1/2 lb lobster). NOT AT ALL! It was a few mixed pieces of cut up hard lobster parts cooked in a lightly seasoned tomato sauce which frankly I could and have made better. On a positive note the waiter was friendly, kind and professional and after the meal listened to my complaint quietly. On a positive note, the restaurant is clean and beautiful with a sleek modern edge, which is why we were drawn to it. Anyway, this meal was an absolute expensive disappointment!! read more

Creative, delicious food, great service in a fun, modern setting. We loved everything we tried, but the cauliflower plate was a particular favorite--the custard on the plate was unexpected and delectable! The baklava ice cream--with flakes of baklava mixed right in--and the cookie plate were the perfect way to cap off a fabulous meal. Had been wanting to try Evo for a while now and was not disappointed! read more

Another fabulous meal - Mother's Day brunch! Tried many items - coffee cake, Challah French Toast, Coddled Eggs with Asparagus and Feta (the favorite) and the burger with the fried halumi. Service was excellent and personnel is warm and friendly. Can't recommend more highly. read more

Neat restaurant. The menu requires a short dissertation. The waitstaff explains that the food comes out as soon as its ready. Which means it comes out in any order, even if your not ready for it. The small plates are priced like entrees. So at the end it's pretty pricey. read more

Incredible food and service! It's in the new Hyatt hotel so it has great amenities and is air conditioned. Can't praise the food enough, and everyone was so nice and attentive! Will be back! read more

I was really excited about visiting Evo, as the ratings are great and was a recommendation from a local. First off, we went on a Friday around 5:30 and were seated immediately (I'm sure in the summer it will a much different story). We decided to try the Chef's tasting. It started out really great...then we got a hair in our food. I'm not much for causing a stink, my father is a chef and I grew up in the industry, so I know... sh** happens. HOWEVER, when you're paying $55/person, you just have higher expectations. So, we let it go. The waiter felt really bad, and then told us that the chef (himself) will be preparing our food from now on. OK...so, who was preparing our food before? Fine. Then we received a couple of obviously filthy plates- like red crusty, all you had to do was look at the plates and see it. We got around 12 plates (others have mentioned getting around 15); I was full by the end of the tasting, and the food was delicious (that's why I'm giving it 3 stars). When we received our bill, I was hoping to maybe....just maybe get a comp of a drink, but nothing. So, a $140 bill...with hair in your food and dirty plates. Even though the food was good, I don't think I'll be going back. There are too many other good places to eat in that area. read more

Poor choice for vegetarians, due to the pervasive roasting meat smell. We made a reservation and went there to celebrate our anniversary. We walked through a veritable crematory atmosphere to our table upstairs, where we were greeted by a blasting A/C vent coming straight down at our table. My wife turned to me and said "I don't want to eat here. Let's go someplace fun instead." read more

We went to Evo last night for our anniversary and could not have been more happy with the experience. The decor is light, airy and uncluttered with ceiling to floor windows to people-watch and enjoy the long summer day. We sat on the first floor where all the seats are either looking out or in at a bar around the kitchen (upstairs has more traditional seating for larger groups). We chose to watch the kitchen and it was great because we got to interact with the kitchen staff. I ordered the Duke of Raoul Cold River gin cocktail (apparently the cocktail chef is a Hunter Thompson fan) which was perfectly balanced, served in a martini glass and included Aperol, fresh lemon juice and cranberry bitters. The price for such a high-end drink was nice, too--no more than a craft beer would set you back at a chain restaurant. The wine list was not huge but looked to be excellent without being especially pricey. We chose the chef's tasting menu and that was, for us, absolutely the way to go. We got a chance to sample a little ot the full range of Chef Matt's abilities with fish (3 types served different ways), meat, and vegetarian dishes--all of which we loved and all of which were creative. Each dish was packed with flavor, often surprising, subtle combinations--but never overwhelming and never clashing. The cuisine is Mediterranean and it runs the full gamut from Spanish, Italian right through Middle Eastern--the latter of which was especially fun because it was so unlike the heavy dishes that we've had in the past (admittedly, we don't have as much experience in this area). We are however, extremely familiar and picky about Italian food and the Agnolotti here was mind-blowing. I resolved to return soon for a whole meal of just that. The meats were all extremely tender and flavorful and the flank steak was bar far the best I've ever had. My "reason for living" companion swooned over the lobster dish and I'm sure she's thinking that the lobster tasting dinner is going to be next on her list. As the caption of this review says, everything was wonderful right down to the the vegetables and the warm, fresh Middle Eastern bread. OK, OK, so what didn't we like? The most I can say in that regard is that the gazpacho, served in the smooth Spanish style, was merely very, very good. In our experience, restaurants that serve gourmet tasting menus are often stiff and give overly precious and lengthy descriptions of the dishes. Not here, the food is exquisite but the experience is casual. I loved that sometimes we would be served a new dish before the last one was gone. The service was perfect --not fawning but always quickly available and very knowledgeable. Oh, and the presentation of each dish was absolutely lovely--typically a work of art. Watching the kitchen staff was fun--they are the well oiled machine that another reviewer described. No wasted motion, no idle chit-chat but this was not the kitchen of monomaniacal drill sergeant. The staff, all young, were clearly enjoying themselves and took great pride in their work. If you love food, you must check this place out--especially if you are a little adventurous. As another reviewer said, come quickly before getting a reservation is impossible. read more

This review is based on restaurant week back in March, but I still remember it like it was yesterday! Everything started smoothly enough for our table of five, and I have to say I really liked the atmosphere of this restaurant. Slick, a little dark, with a good vibe but not too noisy. We were seated upstairs, which gave us a view of people below as well as the outside. They have a nice range of cocktails, and as I got to get a taste of other people's as well as mine I can say they were expertly prepared. But then things kind of started to go south. First of all, the server explained that food would come out from the kitchen as it was ready. This sounds like it would be OK, but from her tone it came across as, "our kitchen doesn't have the first clue as to how to coordinate tables, so we'll send your food out whenever we damn well please." Sure enough, things were coming out unevenly, so some people were eating while other people were twiddling their thumbs or having additional sips of water. It also meant that one of our courses got lost in the mix, which our server tried to save but it was clear that the order hadn't been conveyed to the kitchen properly. The food in general is very good, save an octopus - that was strangely overcooked but cold at the same time. When we mentioned it to the server we didn't get much in the way of sympathy. (As you might be able to tell by now, a clueless /uncaring staff was kind of a theme throughout the evening.) But what capped off the night was as we were sitting around engaging in some last chatting before we got up to head out on a cold March evening, the hostess appeared from behind us and drew a line across her neck as if mimicking someone getting their throat cut. This was her not so subtle nonverbal cue for us to get the hell out of the restaurant. I suspect this could've been handled better, but maybe the "Evo heave-ho" is something the restaurant is trying to cultivate. Needless to say, given that there are so many fabulous restaurants in Portland that stress good food and good service, It is highly unlikely we will ever return. read more

I just had to add my voice to the growing chorus singing the praises of this restaurant. My spouse and I were given a gift certificate for our wedding. Thank goodness because I'm not sure this would have been on our radar otherwise! What a revelation this restaurant is to the Portland food scene (which is already pretty spectacular, obviously). I've now been there twice and have been blown away both times. Why is this restaurant so special in a city filled with special restaurants? From my perspective it's because you can't find vegetarian cooking like this in the city. I'm from San Francisco and I've eaten some amazing veg food (including The Greens in SF and Dirt Candy in Manhattan) and dare I say that this place beats them with a stick. Matt is a genius with veggies. We've gotten the tasting menu both times and couldn't be happier. And this isn't one of those precious restaurants where you walk away pleased with the flavors and creativity, but otherwise hungry. The plates just kept coming. I'm not sure how they came up with so many ways to rock a vegetable! I almost hate to write this review because I know once the word is out it's going to be hard to get a reservation, but I owed it to this amazing staff (including front of house). read more