Ok, I'll be so for real. I haven't had the opportunity to go back here for a little over a year,…read morebut assuming things haven't changed drastically since, I still think about this place. I discovered it when I saw an influencer in Portland gushing about their brunch. Although my schedule didn't allow me to partake in the limited hours brunch, I still wanted to go try it. The decor was nice and gave the whole space a cozy and intimate feeling. My best friend and I shared a couple dishes which I can't fully recall but I know we had lamb and I believe a mezza type platter. Of all the places we ate out at during this trip, this was our favorite. The owner's son was our server and he was really friendly and we talked about how we wished they'd open a branch in Seattle! Still hoping! :p Finally, we got a biscoff cheesecake and I make a very good biscoff cheesecake myself, but my bestie said theirs was better. I will neither agree or disagree with said statement. Anyway, looking forward to the day I get to return for more delicious food!

BEST MEAL IN PORTLAND!!!!!…read more Saw this place randomly while looking for a place to eat after a long flight. It was late and not many places were open. This place was closed but a middle eastern place that serves cheesecake was soo intriguing that i knew i needed to come back. Came back Saturday night and they had no tables and was packed. However, they tried to accommodate us so much. However, the night was in our favor. As we started to order take out, a lady was kind enough to give up her table since she was eating alone. It was a small table for 3 people but the staff was sooo accommodating i have no words. They even gave free dessert to the lady who was kind. Then luck would have it, the table next to us never showed up for their reservation so they gave us that table. Finally, we ordered. Turned out, i also got the last shawarma too. Everything happens for a reason! We also got the Saudi chicken kabsa and cheesecakes. The biggest compliment i can give is when the food came, none of us talked for a good 5-7 mins and just sat there in heaven eating. The flavors were soo unique but yet so familiar. If this is Saudi food, i have been missing out. I need to explore more sub categories of middle eastern cuisine. Best bites in Portland for us and that's all i have to describe our experience. Finally, got the Nutella cheesecake and almond caramel cheesecake. I have to say, Nutella was good but easily a skip compared to almond and caramel. Just get 2 of those and you'll be happy. The cakes itself are light and not heavy. They were great end to a great meal. This is a family owned but family loved business. You can see the love as they serve their guests but you can taste the love too. The people are soo sweet and kind and just want to serve you. Please give your love here, because if i lived in Portland, this would my weekly spot.

this place has been on my radar for a while and i'm so glad i tried it! they serve rice bowls with…read moreplenty of toppings and the workers are very sweet. you order at the counter and there are menus next to it. my friend got the lamb rice bowl and i got a chicken bowl that had chickpeas at the bottom of the bowl (forgot what they were called ) my bowl had some tzatziki sauce on the left side and some broth on the right side. both were fantastic! i also had pita chips lining the edge of the bowl and they gave every bite such a satisfying crunch. the portions are perfect and i also love how there was a side of pickles. i hope to come back and try more of their menu! can't recommend this place enough

Food is fine. Some of the portions are ridiculously small for the price. Insultingly so. The…read moreservice wasn't great - two of my orders were missing parts of the meal. It was towards the end of the night. I get you want to go home but if you're going to fill orders do it correctly. Four falafel (see photos) for $8? Not remotely okay. I was missing the tahini sauce as well. The Fuul Shami was $8 as well for a small amount. I just felt like I didn't get what I paid for and the food wasn't good enough to make up for it. Bummer.

A cozy small restaurant in N Portland serving middle eastern food…read more Tried their combo plate as well as the lamb skewers plate. Lamb was flavorful the skewers had 3 pieces of lamb per skewer. Price/portion size was decent for lamb. Kabobs were all flavorful. Rice was also seasoned with something. Plates run in the $2x range Overall it is a nice meal

One of my two go-tos in Portland for Middle Eastern cuisine. The food is always good (their fresh…read morebaked pita bread is the best, the baba ganoush is delicious, I could go on). The service here is always lovely and we always feel welcome when we come here. And the in-house ambience is pleasant for when we want to eat in (more often we get food to-go). The only thing keeping me from giving them five stars: my partner can't eat raw onion. We usually get one of the combination mezza platters and always ask to substitute extra baba ganoush for the tabbouleh, since the tabbouleh has raw onions. Half the time they forget to change this and we don't realize until we get back home with our to-go order. Other than that, they're wonderful!

Tried Nicholas Restaurant in Portland and went with the gyro and babaganoush…read more The gyro was really solid--tender, well-seasoned meat with that classic savory flavor, wrapped up with fresh toppings and sauce that tied it all together. The babaganoush was smooth, smoky, and super flavorful without being too heavy. Portions were generous and everything came out fresh. It's one of those spots that feels consistently reliable when you're craving good Mediterranean food done right. Definitely a place I'd go back to for a casual but satisfying meal.

Really tasty spot! First time having more than an appetizer, and it was all so good. I love that…read morethey give each table a nice warm pita to start. The food is fresh, and the service is excellent. My chicken shawarma wrap was very flavorful. I would totally get it again but maybe get the sauce on the side since the pita can get soggy. Note: They do have some free parking spots right in front.

We celebrated a birthday at Mediterranean Exploration Company with their set menu, and it was one…read moreof the best dining experiences we've had in Portland. We were able to try a wide variety of dishes, and every single one was exceptional. I have dietary restrictions (no onions or garlic), and the kitchen and staff were incredibly accommodating. They prepared separate versions of several dishes for me without hesitation, and I never felt like I was getting a lesser experience. It's rare to find a restaurant that can accommodate food sensitivities so thoughtfully while still delivering incredible flavor. The food was absolutely delicious from start to finish, and the service was impeccable. The staff was warm, attentive, and made our birthday celebration feel special without ever being overbearing. Everyone in our group left talking about how amazing the food was. We couldn't have asked for a better meal or a better overall experience. Mediterranean Exploration Company has definitely earned a spot on our list of favorite Portland restaurants, and we can't wait to come back.

Stopped by for an early dinner bite around 5p on a weekday without reservation and were seated…read moreimmediately. We weren't too hungry and ordered 3 dishes to share - the hamachi crudo, baked feta with Blackberries, and braised Greek greens. The service was pretty fast, we received our food within 15 mins. The hamachi crudo was tasty with fresh fish that balanced well with the yummy smoked eggplant, tamarind soy, black harissa mayo, and crispy ginger. The baked feta was the heartiest dish, it came out with piping hot pitas to dip into the creamy savory/sweet feta and Blackberries. The braised Greek greens felt like the most basic dish out of the 3, collard greens cooked with a lemon/olive oil finish, which tasted as described but not exciting enough to order again. Just as the name implies, this restaurant is a nice way to try Mediterranean dishes for those who don't eat it often. Admittedly, the cuisine isn't in our top favorites, but all the dishes were executed well, true to their description, and made for some fun bites.

Al-Hwar quickly became a favorite after moving to Portland. This business is run by a family and…read moretheir passion for sharing their cuisine shows in everything they do. We do not miss a chance to dine there when we have a special occasion or out of town friends visiting because it's a treat for everyone. The location is perfect for strolling along the waterfront after eating one of their generously-portioned meals. The food is always fresh and bursting with flavor. I swear I must have been Lebanese in a previous lifetime because the food tastes like all the goodness of home to me.

Absolutely incredible ambience from the moment I walked in; the space feels just like home. TALK…read moreabout quality the food is amazing. The design is upscale and the service is impeccable. They really know how to treat you like Family. What an incredible restaurant; would highly recommend for everybody. Tell Louai AyCe sent you. Enjoy the incredible service!

Delicious authentic Lebanese food. Amazing food, ambiance & service. I was here on a Friday night…read moreand they even had a belly dancer. Their lamb and rice dish was unbelievable. Can't wait to return and try more things on their menu. The owners really take pride in their restaurant which has been a staple here in Portland for over 20 years.

Al-Amir Restaurant has been in Portland forever and is the classic spot…read more We had a big group gathering and the restaurant were quite easy to work with, great service, ambience and a big back area with multiple table. They also had a special dinner buffet with selective vegetarian & non-vegetarian options for a fixed price. We also had the option to order off the main menu. There is also a bar area up front with smaller tables. The staff were very friends and kudos to them to handling a bigger group without any issues. We were also surprised by the belly dancing artist, which definitely made for a memorable night. To sum it up - Delicious Lebanese food, fun music, lively conversations, and an unforgettable belly dancing performance that brought such fun energy to the night!

What a sweet quaint little restaurant. My daughter and I went there yesterday for Mother's Day. It…read morewas a beautiful day and while they have outdoor seating we elected to eat inside. Reviewing the menu, there were lots of yummy things to choose from but ultimately we both could not resist the Lamb shank. I'm sad I didn't take a picture of it. It was so tender and delicious. It came with perfect Basmati rice and a side of eggplant stew that was exquisite! I've never had eggplant stew and it was luscious. I dream to about it all night long. It was quiet, comfortable, music was great; songs we all know but with native instruments and flare. We had house red wine - not a big selection of alcohol, which is fine the food is and should be the star. Our sever (Sorry my old lady brain forgot his name) but the good looking bald guy(LOL) was nice and personable. It was such a great low key dining experience that just made the day even better. I highly recommend this cute place and we will be back- there are a lot more wonderful food to try!

Great food! Delightful ambience and thoughtful service. I go often to eat at this fine restaurant.read more