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.

While visiting family in Portland, we came here for dinner and I can immediately see why my family…read morelove it! Nicholas Restaurant has a really cute, welcoming vibe, with outdoor tables and plenty of seating inside. They have a great selection of drinks, and I decided to try the house Arnold Palmer--made with fresh lemonade and cinnamon mint iced tea. It was unique and really refreshing. We started with a few appetizers for the table: hummus, tzatziki, and falafel balls. Everything came out quickly and was a hit. The hummus tasted incredibly fresh, the tzatziki had a nice tangy kick, and the falafel balls were perfectly crispy and flavorful. For my main, I ordered the chicken breast kabob plate, which came with two skewers, rice, tzatziki, and garlic sauce. The chicken was incredibly tender and cooked just right. Overall, a great meal with fresh, flavorful food and a relaxed atmosphere. I can definitely see why my family keeps coming back--this spot is well worth a visit.

Got the chicken schwarma special 2 for 1 ($20) - good price. I would not be happy at $20 each. FYI…read morethose are inflated DoorDash prices as they mark up everything. Very flavorful, we both enjoyed. Curly fries were good, little greasy flavor but spices nice. Teen said "it was gas". We'll be back,

Best shawarma in Portland, very juicy and authentic halal Mediterranean cuisine owned by an iraqi…read morebrother.

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!

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!

I guess I've been sleeping on Iraqi food because this place blew me away! Just a delicious meal…read morefrom start to finish. From the soup to the baklava to the Arabic coffee, this place is just flavor heaven. Bonus points for the great service complete with "boss" and "queen" honorifics, and you have a perfect meal!

Already want to go back!! Food was excellent, service was fast, and a beautiful space within a…read morehistorical industrial building. We sat right at the "chef's area" and ate while watching them prep; that was so fun! There was literally someone whose job was to pluck seeds out of lemon slices with a tweezer; that is the level of attention each dish is receiving! Let the photos do the talking. I don't think you can go wrong with any dish here! There is free street parking nearby.

We went for lunch. When we walked in there was no one at the host stand. That's fine. The drinks…read morewere - pretty average. Fairly okiesh hummus seemed to be on every plate. Service was...very slow. I later discovered our waitress was new, so slack is given there. However: The pita was fresh and warm, the lamb was very good (high recommend). I wouldn't give it a five but for comfort food I would rank it very high. Go with friends. It's that type of place. Like a hug.

Got the PDX Mac delivered to my hotel late and was so happy with it. It was delicious and the…read moresausage was amazing. My only gripe was that the serving was small and I got probably one link, if that, of sausage total. $25 dollars, before adding tax and tip, is steep for what I received.

to be very clear: this place is take out ONLY! there are covered picnic tables where you can eat. i…read morewould go ahead and call the order in ahead of time or place it online, there's no counter to order from - you'll need to call in your order anyways when you get there so might as well call/online order ahead even if you plan to eat at the picnic tables! OK onto the service and food. Food: awesome! I haven't been to Egypt in 20 years where I experienced the great and original Koshari in Cairo. I remember it being cheap good and greasy. This was not cheap (but it is a good value!!), it was very good, and not as greasy as I remember. But that's probably a good thing! Putting the extra lime vinegar sauce on it really helps and helps me dig into that flavor that I miss- of and the crispy friend onion!!. i've only had Koshari one other time in the United States and it was in NYC, so I really love being able to have this here. I brought a large group and our food took a little while because I didn't understand the ordering or I would've ordered in advance. once our long wait was over ( we had nine people) we devoured the food! Everybody loved it whether they had Koshari or the Mac. I will also note that the impossible Koshari was an especially good deal - only$2 to add a vegan burger to the top of the koshari! they ran out of some of the drinks that we ordered and replaced them with nicer drinks. The folks were excellent, kind, and really took care of us! glad i'm not too far away- i'll be back! also, i'm not a night owl but if you are ... this is your spot!

From the moment we walked in, the service was absolutely exceptional. Ali the owner was warm,…read moreattentive, and genuinely cared about making sure we had a great dining experience and every recommendation was spot on. The food was even better than the service. The chicken kabob was incredibly juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, while the lamb kabob was flavorful, cooked to perfection, and melted in your mouth. Every bite was fresh and delicious. It's not often you find a restaurant that excels in both outstanding hospitality and amazing food, but this place absolutely does. If you're looking for delicious kabobs and top-notch customer service, I can't recommend this restaurant enough. We'll definitely be coming back. I'll miss you Ali but we'll be back!

This is a great restaurant. Subtle decorations....very nice service from a small staff. Food is…read moreexcellent....i loved my lamb....the rice was great. My wife loved her kofta dish. They include a service charge which eliminates the need to do math.

I went to ya hala after a two day backpacking trip because I was craving fresh and healthy food and…read moreya hala did not disappoint! We ordered the mezza plate and the kabob plate (lamb and kafta aka beef skewers) and both were very satisfying. My only wish is that the hummus and the baba ghanouj were a little less acidic but that may just be due to the fact that I may have heart burn . I am not all too familiar with Lebanese cuisine so it was a delight to experience it. I was surprised by the thin pita! Tips for next time, both plates come with hummus so unless you love hummus, maybe skip on the mezza and order things à la carte. Would love to come back to try the lemon chicken meals! Also got the pistachio and walnut baklava which were both sweet and delicious. I wish I took a pic before shoving them in my mouth

The food is delicious. I strongly dislike that they changed from table service to counter service…read moreafter the pandemic but never switched back.The restaurant went from being a warm Mediterranean restaurant that I would bring family to, to someplace to grab a quick bite. It lost ambience. The food is still very good, but it feels like a cafeteria now. :(