We had a fantastic first experience with Moroccan cuisine and are already planning to come back…read more For $35 per person, the restaurant selected a wonderful assortment of traditional dishes for us to sample, making it a great choice for anyone new to Moroccan food. We were served an array of dishes including harira soup with fresh Moroccan bread, apricot chicken, honey chicken, grilled chicken kebab, incredibly tender roasted lamb in a rich sauce, couscous, rice, Moroccan salads, and the traditional bastilla with its unique combination of savory meat, warm spices, almonds, and powdered sugar. Every meat dish was exceptionally tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The roasted lamb practically melted in your mouth, and each dish showcased different spices and flavors without being overwhelming. We finished with a light, creamy milk pudding dusted with cinnamon that was the perfect ending to the meal. The evening was made even more memorable by the belly dancer created a fun, festive atmosphere and turned dinner into an experience rather than just a meal. If you've never had Moroccan food before, I highly recommend ordering the special that allows you to have the full flavor experience. We discovered dishes we never would have ordered on our own, and the generous portions made it easy to share and taste a little of everything. It was a lot of food. A delicious meal, warm hospitality, wonderful entertainment, and a memorable cultural experience. We'll definitely be back.

I made dinner reservation here thinking there will be dance performance but that wasn't a feature…read moreon weeknights. Still the restaurant had amazing Moroccan vibe, with artistic fabrics on the wall, couches, and cushions. The tables were low to dine like a Moroccan family, but it was difficult to maneuver around. We found out the dinner was a 5 course meal that included lentil soup, Marrakesh salad, B'Stilla Royale, a main dish and dessert. The soup and salad were decent. We really liked the B'Stilla, a dish made with sweet pita bread and very flavorful soft chicken. For entree I had the Tagine of Spicy Lamb. It was spicy as the name suggested, but it so delicious. The lamb was perfectly cooked, tender meat, all laying top of some vegetables and sauce made out of cumin, garlic and tomato. The Tagine of Chicken lemon and olive was also a similar dish that came with a big piece of chicken. The catch of the day came with 2 filet of fish, but the Sharmoula sauce was too strong, was our least favorite. At the end of our meal, we got the creamy dessert and Moroccan tea. The service was nice. Our server was wearing traditional Moroccan attire. She explained us the whole process and gave a nice brief on the history and tradition before starting each course. The dishes came out in short intervals, but being five courses, we were dining for over 1.5 hours. Paying the check was quick using the QR code. Overall it was a delightful first experience for me trying Moroccan cuisine.

My cousin used to live in Portland and highly recommended Kasbah, so I knew I had to check it out…read morewhen I was visiting the area. My husband and I ordered the merguez (lamb sausage) tagine and a shakshouka. Even before tasting the food, the smell of it was so mouthwatering. This was my first time ever having Moroccan food and I was very impressed--both of these dishes were so well flavored and amazing! While both dishes were great, my favorite was definitely the merguez tagine and I'd highly recommend ordering it. The ambiance here is so colorful and cozy with Moroccan music playing in the background. The service here is also friendly but it is not full service as you get your own utensils and water.

OMG, this place is amazing. The flavors are complex and savory. Every mouthful is a sensory…read moredelight. We had the roasted eggplant appetizer combined with a roasted red pepper/tomato appetizer and Moroccan bread. Wow! Smokey and delicious. Main dish was 7 vegetable and chickpea stew over couscous. We added roasted chicken. Again, explosions of flavor. All this overfed 2 people for $40, including a tip. I asked the owner/chef to adopt me, even though I am older than he is. He seemed amenable!

This is legitimately the best morrocan food I have ever eaten. The lentils are next level. I didn't…read morelove all the dips I tried but we ate family style for the mains and every single thing blew me out of the water. It's a family owned restaurant and they are so friendly.

My friend and I decided to eat here for lunch as it was convenient and a nice day outside. It had…read morebeen awhile since I've been back here. The interior is spacious. We started off work some Moroccan tea while we waited for our food. The tea was good (slightly sweet for me), but had a good aroma to it. I ordered the meat combo plate which included - lamb, chicken, and kaftan. The meat were properly seasoned and flavorful. We also preferred a pita bread and asked for some of their spicy sauce. The spicy sauce definitely had a kick and if you like spice, I would suggest getting it. Overall, we had a decent lunch.

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.

This place is only a few blocks from my home…read more I randomly came here on a date and didn't have a reservation, so we were told we could sit at the bar, so we grabbed the back corner. It ended up being a great spot. The ambiance is great and the bartender was pleasant. They have a seasonal menu, which assures me that we're going to get the freshest produce possible. We started with the Labneh & Confit Butternut Squash. It was fine, but not my favorite dish of the night. The labneh was more like Greek yogurt than cheese, which isn't a bad thing, but I would have liked a little more saltiness. The Harissa Spice Shrimp, on the other hand, was fantastic. Definitely the standout item we actually ordered. The Baked Eggplant was good too, although it didn't quite wow me. I think there was some mix up, as we were first served the Roasted Eggplant Dip. We flagged the server down to say it wasn't what we ordered, but they let us keep it. Boy were we happy about this! It was the best dish of the night (and a must reorder). The pita to go with the Labneh and the Dip was excellent too. Piping hot and just right.

tofu soup w fufu is my favorite veggie dish in a long time. great customer service, love taking my…read morefriends who are visiting here

My friend and I decided to work our way through the NYT list of Portland's top 25 restaurants…read more First up Akadi. Delicious! Big portions so come with an appetite and plan on taking some home. We had the plantains, the goat stew and chicken. If they say it is spicy they mean it so order accordingly! The seasoning was balanced and super yummy. The service was attentive and easy going. I thought the prices were good, especially for the amount of food we received. The only thing I didn't care for was the volume of the live music. The music itself was saxophone jazz and it was good, but Lordy it was extremely loud. I will be back! Maybe ask to be seated further back from the stage

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.

It's really cute and the people are super nice and helpful. Was my first time and got lamb for a…read moregreat price(:

Food is great. Staff are very friendly, professional & inviting.never get tired of their food. I…read morejust wished the parking situation was a little better. They do serve very large portions. My husband and I usually have enough food two days.