We ordered our own version on the tasting menu. The crispy lamb hummus was wonderful, best thing we had. I would suggest everyone order their own pita. We had the salmon tartare and crudo and that was okay, nothing to rave about. We also had the greek potatoes and those would have been much better with sauce. Because of how thick the potato was it was just dry. We also had the brick chicken and that was very bland and dry. I was surprised on the dry level because it was a thigh piece and those are hard to dry out. We also had the spiced carrots and rubbed shrimp and the seasonings on them were not great. We also had the octopus and that was very nicely cooked, very tender. The flavor was just ok though. Finally we had the hanger steak and the cook on that was cook, and flavor was decent. read more

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Place was hip and cool. Waiter was very well-versed with the menu. Service was excellent and the food was absolutely incredible. Best Mediterranean food I've ever had. read more

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Seriously, how this place has this kind of rating tells me they must be encouraging their friends and family to review it because it is absolutely the worst dining experience you will ever have. Let me start with the new restaurant copout strategy: "We serve family-style food, so it comes out as it's ready." This is indicative of a lazy kitchen that has no idea how to prepare food and serve it simultaneously to the same group of people--so the strategy becomes "Let's call it something different and trick our diners into thinking it's cool because we suck." Of course, we ordered, and everything came out of sequence. No one was comfortable eating their food before the others, so their food was cold by the time it trickled out of the kitchen. Then the server spilled hot oil from the French fries on my leg, didn't apologize, and actually tried to deny it happened until I showed him the large oil stain on my leg. And yes, my leg got burned. They did not offer to buy us a drink, clean my pants, or even offer us dessert. The next problem was that there were four of us, and we wanted an order of baklava. It comes with three pieces, so I asked our server for four and said I'd be happy to pay for the fourth piece, even after they burned my leg and ruined my pants. This request apparently blew their minds. How could they possibly pull an extra piece of baklava off the tray? Way too daunting for this circus--which is hysterical because they could've given me four pieces, charged me for two orders, and I would've been fine. They are absolutely clueless at this place. The food is mediocre at best, and there are way too many good restaurants in Portland to waste your time at this horrible concept restaurant called "laziness." Avoid this place at all costs! read more

We had been looking forward to trying Mediterranean Exploration Co. for a while now after hearing great things from friends, and we're throughly impressed with our experience! My boyfriend and I were able to get a same-day reservation for our anniversary and were surprised with complimentary champagne when we were seated, which was a lovely touch! All of the staff were so attentive and kind from start to finish. And the food! We enjoyed everything we ordered: Lamb chops, calamari, radicchio salad, and hummus with a hot, fluffy pita were all so flavorful and delicious. And the bacon wrapped dates were the star of the show for me! Just divine. For dessert we also indulged in the Tres Leches and Turkish coffee, which was the perfect end to our dining experience on a rainy Portland evening. I'd highly recommend MEC and can't wait to visit again soon! read more

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The food was very good. I sat at the bar on a Friday night and was waiting for my sister who was running late. The hostess said they had people waiting to sit at the bar and asked when I would be leaving. It made me feel very uncomfortable so I paid my bill and left. read more

Was pleasantly surprised to find out Mediterranean exploration company was well worth the hype. I'm not a huge meat eater so delayed visiting until I was drawn in to celebrate a recent friend's engagement. We ordered almost everything on the menu and nothing disappointed. The lamb chops were so good we ordered more. The hummus was some of the best of my life. We asked the server for recommendations and all options were delicious-- particularly the grilled peach and feta. We had cocktails from the main menu and dessert wine to finish with a small dessert. The ambiance is very modern. We sat at a high table and I'd prefer to sit at a larger table in the future to fit all of the dishes. read more

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Snippy unpleasant hostess. Staff seems miserable. Food has gone downhill. We had a reservation but left. read more

We sat on the patio and it was a lovely summer evening. The waiter talked through the menu and offered vegan options. The hummus and mushrooms were delicious. The pita was warm and amazing. It was our anniversary and gave us dessert. The chocolate ice cream was INCREDIBLE. read more

Mediterranean Exploration - Chocolate ice cream and vegan! The photo doesn't do it justice. Get. It. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We've dined here several times over the years. There's nothing really bad and the service was professional and attentive. However, on our most recent visit, the dishes seemed more like bar tapas and were overly salty and basic. The flavors didn't stand out or mesh together as well as they have on our previous visits. The overall flavor was either salt or blandness, not flavorful as it has been in the past. Our chicken meatballs were full of gristle way too salty. The pita, on the other hand, was light, fluffy, warm and delicious. We liked the flavor and combo of a salad of peaches and tomatoes (and strangely, potatoes?, I think...it was really dark and hard to see..anyway...something not peach and not tomato), but it presented as, giant chunks just kind of hanging out in a shallow sauce. Overall, we felt like this was a bar scene more than a restaurant scene, and this time, the food didn't seem to shine. I finished with a cookie and it was super basic. Didn't taste housemade or dessert-y. Supposedly tahini was involved, but it tasted like a prepackaged cookie you get at the corner store. The ambiance is very noisy, hard to have a conversation. Also, we got there around 8:30ish on a Saturday night and by nine, I felt like they were winding down. It didn't effect the service and they nicely checked in for last calls on entrees when the time came, but there was a lot of hustle and bustle with the kitchen staff that gave the impression that their energy and focus was on getting an early jump on cleaning up shutting down, and getting the heck outta there...a lot of hurried back and forth past our table was unsettling, along with the smashing and clanking of cleaned cutlery being tossed in the bins instead of placed quietly. In a nutshell, we just didn't feel the love on the plate this time. It felt like a conveyor belt and not food that was as carefully prepared and presented as we've felt in the past. Again, nothing really bad...but not remarkable, either. Basic. Noisy. The chairs in the bar are really uncomfortable. Nothing about the visit said, linger, enjoy. But again, the service was very attentive in spite of everything, and we appreciated that. read more

From the friendly smiles on entry to the heart warming goodbye, every moment I spent within this restaurant was nothing less than perfection. My reservation was placed for outside seating but once I noticed the kitchen-side bar style seating I knew I needed to get the full experience. The wait staff were very attentive while also providing an excellent wine recommendation which was wonderful. But the kitchen is what truly impressed me. A very clean and organized French brigade was on full display. I witnessed strong communication between front of house and very clear warnings to the team when it came to special events and/or food allergies. I was close enough to the action to be able to hear Sous chef Taylor's expo call outs to her team while working on the line and I once again must take a moment to appreciate this establishment. Very clear call outs to the team with all day stated if necessary, timers set for coursing, The whole 9 yards. Everything about my experience was nothing less than perfection and I cannot wait to visit again soon. Thank you. -Dru read more

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we came in as a party of 6, to celebrate two birthdays! all of the items sounded good to everyone, that it was hard not to over order. i feel like we pretty much ordered at least half of their menu or two items from each section! i didn't quite snap photos of every single dish - whats missing is the pita breads, the brussel sprout hummus, crispy lamb hummus, fried chicken, roasted carrots, and kebab. its typically done family style here, so its nice to get a mix of a little bit of everything! i would suggest coming with a group, to get the full experience and not end up with too many leftovers. service was pretty great! our server was super knowledgeable about the various items and recommended some highlights to us. this was probably a bit too much food for the six of us, especially because the potatoes and orza dish came out last when we were already full from all of the other yummy dishes. but we got some good leftovers! i would suggest not going overboard like we did, but definitely get a good array from each section on their menu! (my favorite out of all was the baba ganoush, radicchio salad, fried chicken, and the hamachi crudo!) read more

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Located in the Pearl District, this is a must try when in Portland. We tried 8 different dishes and my standout was the eggplant dip, rubbed shrimp, spiced mushrooms, and the sweet potatoes. I would skip the meatballs as they were extremely average. The beets and the fennel salad was also okay but nothing extraordinary. Service was amazing. Food came out quickly and we were seated without reservation but I wouldn't recommend that. read more

We went to MEC to celebrate our son's birthday. It was a place he had been wanting to try. We tried a variety of dishes and shared everything. The service was attentive, we called a three or four days ahead and got the last available reservation. Be forewarned. You really need a reservation. The pita was excellent, as was the cauliflower- which is just not to be missed. It was the best thing we tried. The Labne was also really good. We also tried the falafel which was really crispy and good. The chicken meatballs and humus were our least favorites. The lacked that MEC zing. All in all a lovely evening with family. read more

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We did the tasting menu...... Food just kept coming. Everything was outstanding! Lamb - amazing Carrots - amazing Everything - amazing read more

Loved the food, flavors and ambience! Definitely a must visit if you're in Portland. Service was prompt and the serverexplained the dishes well. read more

Mediterranean Exploration - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Drinks: - Unfortunately I forgot my ID so I couldn't get drinks. I do know they have contact wines which I'm a huge fan of so I will be returning to try these Food: - The Albacore Crudo was great, don't sleep on the fried ginger it's really good and adds a nice texture to the dish - The Fennel Salad was also a good pick. I really enjoyed the pecans served on top, it added a nice sweetness and crunch. This was a very lite dish I can eat a bunch of this stuff - The Grilled Octopus is a solid pick, most of the people at my table enjoyed this dish the most. It's definitely worth getting even if you're a little screamish about a tentacle on your plate - Don't get the Baklava, it was kind of soggy and flat. The puff pastry didn't have the nice flakiness that I was expecting. It felt like they made this in the morning and kept it in a jar and served it if it got ordered throughout the day - The Roasted Eggplant Dip is a must get. The pita served with the dip is the star of the meal to me. Very fluffy and pillowy. The eggplant was so savory and was a great first impression for the dinner Ambience: - The place was dimly lit for dinner so good luck getting good pictures of the dishes if you're planning on taking them - The ceilings are low, but the choice of painting the pipes white and makes it feel a little taller than it actually is Overall: I liked the food here. The ambience was okay, it didn't blow my mind, but the food speaks for itself. Our server was also very nice and hospitable. Definitely will be going back for more. read more

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Mediterranean Exploration Company was our best meal in Portland and it's all thanks to the talented Chef Taylor! This restaurant bolsters creative and delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes that are jam packed with incredible flavors. We loved everything we ordered! Their team is so welcoming and the service is great. This beautiful restaurant is located in the Pearl District. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal restaurant! Went with two other people and we shared everything. One of our party was vegetarian so we got all veggie friendly options, which were phenomenal - would still give 5 stars though I can't comment on the meat/seafood dishes (the lamb and scallops sounded awesome). Highlights included the pita (worth getting the hummus just for that), the beet salad, the mushroom dish, and the roasted Feta and strawberry. Chef's kiss! Our server was also incredibly knowledgeable about the food and drinks and helped guide our decisions. For those wondering, we got 6 things for 3 people and were quite full after. read more

A very portland Restaurant (not a compliment). VERY small plate sizes and expensive BUT tasty as seems to be the main complaint here. The ambiance is like a clean fancy cafe with a lot of smaller tables along bench seating which I don't think is very comfortable. We tried a variety of plates, all were appetizer or smaller sized (but priced like expensive entrees). The lamb/beef kebab was good, but literally 1 smallish kebab and for more than $20. The Grilled Octopus was one longish tentacle, very tender with a little char to and a nice creamy sauce. That is $20 as well but I think worth it. The Crispy Lamb hummus was just hummus, the tiny bit of crispy lamb wasn't memorable and didn't add anything really to it, so just expensive hummus ($18), basically the price of an "entree." We also ordered the Hanger Steak ($32) which I thought wasn't a bad price for a steak entree until I saw it - it was literally like 3-4 slices (already sliced) on top of a couple potatoes with some fancy garnishings and sauces around the plate. I hate that. The Greek Lamb Chops ($24) were a joke also, 2 little chops with like a few nibbles of meat on each. And I couldn't even get all that meat since I was in public and couldn't caveman gnaw. The only dish I didn't feel like I got robbed on was the octopus. We all went out for Popeyes after cause that was an expensive appetizer for us. read more

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Note: I was pretty tipsy already during the meal - Amazing snap peas dish! Recommendation from the waiter who - Standout Lamb Chops - Fancy date night spot read more

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This place lived up to its hype. The industrial ambiance was not what i was expecting and the food was not very traditional but the flavors and textures compliment each other very well. The raddicio salad had an excellent crunch to each bite. The lamb hummus was exceptional. The greek potatoes were very flavorful and the hangar steak was a smaller portion but also very well done. Matthew was an excellent server very direct and helpful with his recommendations. Overall it was a wonderful experience. read more

We happens to get in with no wait and no reservation but I recommend having a reservation as we had to sit at the kitchen bar. Service was great. Very helpful with recommendations and explanations of each did we asked. The vibe is busy but not loud just lively. Every cocktail and did was a 10/10 and we would order again. Food (all amazing) but I noticed especially how fresh the herbs and seasoning were. Portions were great for sharing. Some dishes could be shared within 3 people. Crispy Lamb Hummus Bacon Wrapped Dates Moroccan Brick Chicken Mejadara Rice Fried Chicken Warm Chocolate Babka Drinks Turkish Delight Turkish Coffee Martini Monkey Island read more

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4/5: Curry Cocktail - Strong, decent, slightly citrusy, a little tart. 4/5: Broccoli & Labneh - Good combination, nice char on the broccoli, nice tartness and topping. Could've used an herb imo. 5/5: Crispy Lamb Hummus - Loved the flavor, great crispness & the tartness & herbs. All components worked together to elevate the dish. Hummus was nice & smooth. 4.5/5: Pita - Soft, fluffy, warm. I've had better. Would've been good with zaatar on it 4.5/5: Lamb Chops - Tender & juicy. Cooked exactly as asked. Great garlic & lemon flavor. 3/5: Beef & Lamb Kebab - Lets start by saying this is NOT a kebab. It was tasty & unique, but it was sweet and the kebab itself was dense. It was more like a sweet sausage dish. My husband & I were confused when we took a bite. 1/5: Chocolate Babka - Dry, not warm (but the cast iron skillet was?), not gooey at all. The babka itself was stale and tasted store bought 1/5: Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie - we've had this at Shallom Y'all and we were told it was the same. Unfortunately, again, it was stale as ever. It was superrrrr dry and hard. So unfortunate. Service was decent, the pace was nice, and I will definitely be back to try more :) read more

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First time visiting and we were repeatedly told the food was served 'family style.' Silly us, we assumed that meant enough food to actually share. The dishes were delicious, no doubt, but our group got really good at dividing tiny portions. If your idea of family style is everyone getting a bite or two, then this place nails it. read more

Came here on a friend's recommendation. It's one of her favorite restaurants in Portland and I can see why. I've always enjoyed Mediterranean food but I don't often seek it out. This place was a reminder of what I miss out on. We really enjoyed their preparation of shishito peppers and fried chicken. The potatoes with the hanger steak had a strong flavor that I thought was intense smoke but I think it was something else. It wasn't my favorite flavor but the steak was great and cooked perfectly. I had never had Baked Feta and Mejadara before but they were my favorite dishes of the night. The hostess was very friendly. Our server was really friendly as well but it was often difficult to track him down. We had to ask for our drink orders a couple times, but otherwise the food came out pretty quickly. If you love Mediterranean food this is definitely a place you want to check out. read more

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This was our first visit to Mediterranean Exploration, and it turned out to be one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious, and the service was top-notch. The wait staff went above and beyond--friendly, attentive, and full of great recommendations. I truly appreciated their hospitality. I'll definitely be returning! read more

Got to try MEC from a recommendation from a local friend and had a great dining experience here. To get out the obvious, this is definitely more of an upscale restaurant that elevates mediterranean cuisine. Dishes are pricey, smaller but the dining experience was worth the try. I would almost compare the dish sizes to tapas style (aka smollll) For a table of four, we ordered the flennel salad, pita + crispy lamb hummus dish, grilled octopus and greek potatoes. The crispy hummus was a table favorite and the pita was so fluffy! Our table in general under ordered as our server recommended 6-8 dishes for a party of 4. At the end of the meal, I wasn't fully but happily content. Could have added a heavier entree but I was ok. Definitely a good place for celebrations or a nicer evening with friends or family. read more

Wow. This place was a pleasant surprise. My first time having Arak here, and they distill their own! We had a bunch of items, and everything was great. Not a single item ordered was disappointing in any way. The lamb and beef kefta kebab really stood out as ... and I'm not being hyperbolic when I say this... the best I've had in my life. The service was also great and attentive. The tapas style meals were brought out as they were ready. Cute place with nice lighting. We sat by the bar and as a special treat, we witnessed a patron as she was leaving tell another guest "it's not gonna work" about what she thought was a date, but I guess they were just friends. Absolutely wild. read more

FAMILY STYLE MY ASS! Portions would be small even for someone who was eating solo. If you're looking for a filling meal, this ain't it chief. If you're looking to pay a lot of money for a quality tasting, before going to another place to have a real meal, this could be your place. If that's not your goal, try somewhere else. Otherwise - Service was great and the "snacks" were awesome. read more

Great food and service and a nice atmosphere. A little pricey but reasonable for a nice dinner. Came in on a Friday evening for dinner without a reservation. We risked no reservation for a small party of two but I would make a resy if you plan to have more people. We were seated at the counter with large windows that open to the street. A good solution if you're still not comfortable eating fully indoors. There is outdoor seating but the atmosphere feels more like a picnic rather than patio seating. Both our cocktails were great. I tried something with cachaça, which brought me back to Brazil. We tried an assortment of small plates to share. Their menu is meant to be shared family style. We had a lentil with fried onion dish, the brussel sprouts and a cauliflower dish. We're both not vegetarian but our all veggie dinner was delicious. The brussel sprouts were seasoned well and nice and crisp, the cauliflower was huge and served with a tasty sauce and the lentils with crispy fried onions was great. All the food was fabulous. We even saved room to share a chocolate chip cookie - very yummy and baked perfectly. Our server was very attentive and answered all our questions about the menu. She even covered the cookie because we were unable to order the mint tea that we originally wanted to end our meal. Adding this to my list of Portland good eats. read more

My friends and I are visiting Portland and we were craving Mediterranean food, we unfortunately entered this restaurant and it was a BIG mistake. Food was decent yet overpriced, worst of all was the service. They sat us outside and pretty much forgot that we were there. I ordered the lamb and beef kebab and while everyone else in our group was served sporadically, they completely forgot about my order. Our waitress failed to communicate with us and it was very disappointing. About 45 minutes after everyone else in my group finished their entrees we had to go out of our way to find someone to see if my entree was coming out. They claimed they were working on it yet our waitress comes out and assumes we wanted it cancelled. I left hungry and felt ripped off. Terrible experience don't waste your time and money at this restaurant. UN-AC-CEPTABLE read more

It is interesting that the first time I went here was on a random weekday in December a few years ago, and my hubby rushed in and were able to get a cozy spot up by the bar. And, then during COVID19 times, I was able to order food online and pick up curbside. It has been amazing 10/10 both times, but I can't wait to come back here and have a table in the dining room for full-service. Considering, the Covid19 times, MEC was beyond professional communicating the whole process, and clear signs and easy, fast and convenient pick up. THe process was not overwhelming, and it was nice to get to come here for a special treat, and a special occasion! Additionally, the Toro Bravo, Inc restaurant management group, has offered opportunities for customers to chip in a few dollars to help with flex-spending and for families that are in a hardship, and they are currently offering foods, graciously weekly to families. Information on this can be found on there website. read more

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Excellent service, ambience and food - everything's was well timed, prepared and delivers with attention to detail in all aspects

First of all, we're heading to a YELP Elite event, and we're running out of time, since we spend a long time trying to find a parking space. We found the event area, now it's time to go search for food. Two of the restaurants Matt E recommend we go, for discounts were a bit too far and we've got so many minutes to nibble some food, and in front of us was this restaurant. It took us less than a minute to be seated, even though the restaurant was packed, they moved fast and we were ready to settle at the bar where we could see there's plenty of room of a couple. Instead the host gave us a seat by the window, already cleaned just for us! The first thing I told him, was that we've got to leave here for an event by 7pm! He showed us which menu items could be served quickly and which side of the menu takes longer. We picked Hummus Abu Hassan, he gave two flats. We also picked Persian Chicken Meatballs. Both are excellent! Although we ate fast, we still have 10 mins. to use the restroom and freshen up a bit before we crossed the street. We have bread & hummus left for another snacks. I thought the food were awesome, and specially love their meatballs. We took notes, to fix our meatballs, the same way. The spice? Just how I like it! The staff were very friendly and worked very hard to accommodate our speedy meal! The dining area was very nice! We will come back here where there's more time to order others from the menu. read more

Mediterranean Exploration - Mediterranean: Persian Chicken Meatballs. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This place is so good! Make a reservation in advance if you are going on a weekend. Was very impressed when I went here for the first time, I brought a large group and they handled it great! Definitely on the nicer side! A go to date spot! read more

Mediterranean Exploration - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I'm a huge fan of Mediterranean food. This is one of my favorite spots to take out of town guests to or celebrate a special occasion at! We ordered the following dishes. - Crispy Lamb Hummus: I love the added twist of the crispy lamb. I'm usually not big on hummus but the crispy component elevated the dish. Would totally recommend and get again! - Shawarma Spiced Cauliflower: nicely spiced! Almost tasted like I was eating a curried meat. - Falafel: yummy but pretty standard and on par with falafel I could get elsewhere. - Greek Potatoes: perfect, warm, and crispy potatoes!! I always order this dish when I come here. Portion size was solid. - Sweet Potatoes: easily my least favorite dish of the night. It tasted like an Asian influenced dish due to the sticky glaze. I didn't come here for Asian fusion. - Spicy Chicken Meatballs: yummy but pretty standard. I wouldn't get it again. It's definitely on the pricier side but can't wait to come back and try other dishes on their menu. read more

Mediterranean Exploration - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great food, service and atmosphere. Lamb chops were fire and hummus lamb was delish! Would go back for sure

Some of the best food I've had . Word of advice get a few things and share them that way you can try everything . We had the fasolakia hummus , the falafel, and the mejadara . I had the ginger beer and my friend had the chair drink both non alcoholic and both extremely delicious . The hummus and pita was BRILLIANT. Like the best thing I've ever tasted . It hits so many notes on your tongue and it's just yummmm . The falafel was sinful and so fresh . The drinks were so yummmm . The rice was good but a little greasy BUT it was really delicious . I enjoyed the ambiance and everything about this place . I'll be back when I visit Portland again ! Keep doing your thang ! read more

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It felt like I walked into one of the Cali casual like but upscale restaurants. Since I was traveling alone, I sat at the bar and ate early dinner. I started with the sparkling wine and what a good choice. Dry and crisp. A perfect drink for 91 degrees weather. Then, I started with an appetizer Hamachi Crudo. It felt like Japanese and Mediterranean twist with soy vinegar dressing over smoked eggplant. Who knew Hamachi sashimi went so well with the eggplant mix. Then I could not decide on the main dish. Grilled octopus or brick oven chicken. The bartender recommended brick oven chicken, and it was absolutely a perfect choice. Nice moist tender chicken leg with fresh salad on the side. I have never had such a perfectly baked crisp skin on the chicken with no fat. I usually peel the skin off, but I could not resist this one. The only disappointment was that part of the chicken was not well cooked.....Though, hlw the skin was cooled reminded me of this Michelin star restaurant in Japan who used to cook the steak fatty part and made it crispy tender. The honey Lebneh cheesecake paired with fresh mint tea almost killed me. I am now going to have a craving for this forever in my life. Everyone was friendly, but nothing really stood out as a superb service. Oh I do appreciate the fact they charge 3 percent for the restaurant employees health and welfare. It is written clearly on the receipt. I will definitely be back again! read more

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This place is really fantastic. Took my girlfriend here for her birthday dinner. Everything we ordered was scrumptious, down to the super fresh off the grill pita bread (pro-tip: order an extra piece). Their baba ganoush (they call it smokey eggplant dip I think) is sublime. Salt roasted beets, ridiculously good. Rather than large Mezz plates, they offer dishes sort of in the tapas fashion, with just enough for two people to share. It's great to order four or five things and share it. The space is cozy and inviting as well. We'll certain go back for more. read more

Mediterranean Exploration - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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