Very cozy atmosphere with such beautiful interior design and attention to detail in every way…read more Amazing and friendly service with delicious food. Can't wait to go back! الخدمة والأكل كانت لزيزة جدا

The place is beautiful inside unique and fun but still feels elegant too. They have a great…read moreselection of food and everything we tried we liked. They do a great job explaining their dishes. I had a specialty cocktail which I loved.

I'm visiting Portland for an event and decided to hit this place up since it's food I haven't had…read morebefore. Everything was amazing. Servers and staff were superb. Even just the scents coming from the kitchen were on point. The lamb I got was so flavorful and fell off the bone. It's always so nice to get my fav protein prepared so well.

In an out-of-the-way corner of downtown, this is a charming place with great service and good food…read more We had the cold mezza plate and lentil soup. The mezza plate includes terrific baba ganoush, hummus and tabbouleh, plus a couple of nice salads, very different from each other, and stuffed grape leaves. The lentil soup is thin, cuminy, served with a slice of lime. There is a nice housemade green hot sauce, but you are charged for it (seems like something that should be provided free, but it is very good). We didn't try any main courses or desserts. But we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The atmosphere and the friendly yet quiet service really make this a special place.

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

***Update - bad gastrointestinal very next morning / partner in equal distress - not going back -…read morelowered from 3 star to 2 star *** Ordered The Original. Was very 'soupy' and heavy on yogurt. Falafel was flavorful, but for $8 a little expensive for the portion. Two people running the restaurant, so the food came out at different times. Fries were soggy. One of the apps had a lot of olive oil in it, poured off a quarter cup. Wouldn't order the Original again, but other dishes looked interesting (half eaten before I could get a full picture). Mixed reviews around the table.

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.

4.4/5. 1st place - baked feta (delicious only complaint is…read morethat the feta stuck to the bottom of the pan) 2nd- lamb chops 3rd place - radicchio salad (crunchy bits were delicious) 4th - hamachi crudo (the sauce with this was amazing to dip the pita in) 5th - cauliflower (the fact that they brought this last should be illegal) Overall, really enjoyed but wish everything was brought out together so it could be eaten together.

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!

I've been coming to this place since they first opened and realized I've never done a review…read morebefore! This place is an absolute staple and GEM of a middle eastern restaurant out here in Oregon. I am super picky when it comes to this food as my uncle and family in general has spoiled me with the best of the best and I can honestly say Al Hawr is one of less than a handful of places that does it all right. The staff is super friendly and represents the absolute best of middle eastern hospitality. Everytime I go, it always feel like I'm back with family enjoying all the delicious foods they prepared. I would highly recommend the sampler for your first time so you can get a taste of everything for the appetizers. Also cannot recommend enough the battata harra. The absolute best crispy potatoes you'll ever have!!

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!

I need 1 more Halah type restaurant, the one I picked last week, did looked awful from the First…read moreImpression, and it adds up, as we got closer to the front door. My first impression as we entered here was: the AC was on, and I'm not ready for AC (yet), and the inside was too elegant, and empty. We waited awhile, when a staff appeared. We picked a seat outside, where the weather was pleasant and shady. I needed badly, to use the restroom, so I went back inside, only to be told it's outside. The mural on the walls, obscured the door to the restroom. But, there was no TP, no paper towel, and the trash was full. I had to use a toilet seat cover paper, for my TP, and went back to my seat, not happy with what I just did! I told my husband, who then told the staff, because HE need to use the restroom, too. (We've been gone all morning, this is now lunch hour). The staff gave water, menu and we ordered: The Lamb Shank. I love the eggplant stew! There's also a small salad with the Basmati rice. Also Chicken Kabob Mezza Platter with Pita bread. It was not until we're done eating, and ready to get up, did I notice there was cubed cucumber in the thaziki. But, it's got a very strong vinegar flavor, but I did like the hummus and the ghanoush. (When we eat at these places, we always pick the lamb shanks, btw). I had the other half, for my dinner tonight. The server was friendly, helpful and responsive. The atmosphere, was pleasant, and the photo taken of me, hubby thought I could pass as an Iraqi woman! LOL Thanks for the bag. We picked some crabapples, from down the street, there were 4-5 large trees ready for the pickin' from the sidewalk.

This place was fantastic. The flavors were amazing. We ordered the 1/2 lamb chops and the shalom…read moreplate. The hummus is so smooth and the labneh was lemony and delicious. They hand roll out the pitta bread in the open kitchen and it comes out warm and fresh from the oven. The service was lovely the staff was helpful and refilled our water consistently. 11 out of 10 stars. Would eat here again.

We always wanted to try this place and we're glad we did. We went on a Tuesday night after visiting…read moreOMSI and just walked to the restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but there's was room at the bar alongside the kitchen. That's always the best place to sit because it's like getting a show with dinner. Speaking of dinner, it was excellent. We started with a roasted eggplant dip served with a round, fluffy pita bread. So yummy. Next came falafel with tahina and green S'hug sauce, which gives it a spicy kick. The six falafel balls were light and airy, not dense and dry like lots of falafel we've had in the past. Finally, we ended with chicken shawarma, a wonderful confit chicken dish, nicely seasoned, sitting atop large pita pillow. We just folded it up and went from there. The service was fast, friendly and efficient. They suggest ordering two dishes per person, but you don't need to. Three dishes is plenty (even two) depending on what you get. We washed it down with a pilsner beer and homemade blackberry soda. The portions are generous. We'll definitely go back and sample several other dishes.