I had a great experience here. The food and service were both really great. I enjoyed eating hummus…read moreand pita, which was delicious. I totally recommend coming here.

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.

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 vibes and flavors found here! The beet margarita had a vibrant color with an earthy tone that…read moremixed well with a salted rim. The shredded lamb is rich and flavorful and the chicken and beef were deliciously moist and so good with the tzatziki sauce! The staff were helpful with suggestions for dessert which was a sweetened crispy dish with what seemed like melted cheese underneath. I cannot recall the name of it but if you like something not too sweet this is it! Enjoy!

If you're traveling with dietary restrictions, Shalom Y'all is the kind of place that makes you…read morefeel instantly taken care of. I came in with friends who are vegan and gluten-free, and before we even had to ask, the staff marked up our menus with everything they could eat. Not just a couple sad options either. A ton of them. This kind of consideration is something I've noticed across Portland, and it's a big part of why I love visiting. Food-wise, we had some real standouts. The roasted carrots were deeply flavorful, the curried black lentil salad had that perfect balance of hearty and bright, and the tahini ice cream was one of those desserts you keep thinking about after the trip ends. Also, do not skip the beer with a slushy float. It sounds chaotic, but somehow it works. Fun, refreshing, a little unexpected. Come hungry, especially if you're dining with mixed dietary needs. Everyone will leave happy

Shalom y'all in SE Portland. This might be my favorite tapas-style Mediterranean spot in the city…read more Went for the first time and got lucky snagging a seat at the bar, always the best way to experience a place like this. The vibe is warm and lively without being overwhelming, and the staff were genuinely helpful and welcoming. Every plate we tried delivered. The pita alone deserves a shoutout, fresh, warm, and dangerously easy to keep eating. Standout dishes: Hummus & Spicy Lamb Merguez Gravlax Lamb Carnitas Street parking wasn't too bad, which is always a win in SE. Honestly, I'd come back for the atmosphere as much as the food. Couldn't recommend it more. Go. No need to thank me later.

Had such a great experience at this Turkish restaurant! The food was absolutely…read moredelicious--everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The kebabs were juicy, the appetizers were rich and authentic, and the presentation was beautiful. The cocktails were also a highlight--well-balanced, creative, and really complemented the food. What made the experience even better was the customer service. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and made sure everything was just right without being overwhelming. Definitely a place I'd come back to and highly recommend!

I was checking out friends' reviews on Yelp, and came across a review of Chef Agir Restaurant Bar…read more My friend gave a glowing review and I zoomed in on a couple of pictures. On a picture of the menu, I saw that there were quite a few items that were vegan. The description of the food sounded delicious! I instantly wanted to check this Turkish restaurant out! I also immediately thought of friends that lived in the neighborhood! I messaged my friends telling them I wanted to try this place out. Now, most of my friends have busy schedules, so it takes quite a while to coordinate. As luck would have it, 3 of us were available this very day! We arranged to meet at 1:15ish. While waiting for my friends, I got some complimentary Turkish tea, it was quite good. Then I put in an order for the appetizer sampler plate. The order arrived just as my friends did. They actually walked to the restaurant. The appetizer sampler consisted of Ezme, Tarator, Muhammara and Eggplant salad. Three of the four items were vegan the Tarator contained yogurt. My favorite was the Muhammara. My friends enjoyed the shared appetizer. It came with pita bread, and when the basket was emptied, we were asked if we wanted more. For my entree, I ordered the vegan Tantuni wrap with oyster mushrooms. The flavor was outstanding! My friends were both loving what they ordered. A friend also got the turnip juice. Said it was an interesting flavor, was not expecting that. The ambiance was casual but inviting. The service was quick and friendly. Food was delicious! I definitely plan on coming back again!

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.

Kabob - Portland, OR Nice little Lebanese place on Hawthorne…read moreStreet. nice booths, tables, lamps, and paintings on the wall. Little flower arrangements on every table. First off, they bring you a nice carafe of water which you drink out of a nice wine glass. I ordered the hummus which came with nice warm pita and was delicious. The hot pita was done just right. I also ordered the chicken kebab which comes on this interesting hanging skewer. Below the skewer is a bowl of saffron rice with tomato, cucumber and basil with a lemon slice and a garlic white sauce. Also, the skewer has in addition to the chicken, grilled onion and zucchini perfectly cooked. The owner was very friendly- he gave me some of his in-house made baklava- delicious! They do charge a 15% service charge instead of you giving a tip.

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. :(

UPDATE: I did brought my luncheon group here, 2023, there were 10 of us, and I forgot to do a…read morereview or post photos of that day. Everyone was quite satisfied, they love Lebanese Food! I believe, they also shopped their little store for some take home treats! We will be having a food-to go, again, so we can compare the difference in how they fixed lamb. During Easter, that's what I was craving, and I didn't get that. UPDATE #2: Because it's Easter, I craved for lamb shanks. Instead of traveling to Vancouver or SW PDX, for two of our favorite restaurants, that have also lamb, I DECIDED to have to-go from Ya Hala, another of our favorite restaurant, because they're only 7 mins. from home. After searching for their menu, I ordered: Spring Lamb Pomegranate-glazed leg of lamb served with spinach-pomegranate sauce, basmati rice, and fresh peas -- $28. (See photo, why I am deducting a star). THIS is not worth $28, and it is something you'd find at a Food Cart for $14. It was also tough! I was so disappointed, and I'm not sure I'll be going back!

Phenomenal…read more Fantastic, flavorful, and beautifully prepared food. A stellar space and ambiance. The service was kind, prompt and thorough. I absolutely recommend and cannot wait to come back!

We only ordered the Mezze plate which is shown on the menu for 19 dollars but they charged me 20…read more The veggies were a joke and the hummus was Trader Joe's quality. Nicholas restaurant is the place to go for a true mezza plate that is worth every cent and is truly delicious.

Tusk was 2nd on our schedule of PDX Dining and it was EXCEPTIONAL…read more The ambiance is casual and lovely - our waiter was really fantastic and friendly. We were there to try the PDX Dining set menu, but my friend wanted to add the flatbread with hummus and some olives. Both were so delicious - the bread came out piping hot. The falafel came out sitting in Tahini with a side of pickled onions. That was some of the best falafel I've had - beautifully crispy outside, and not greasy. Very flavorful - especially with the Zoug sauce that was set on the table. Then they brought out the crudité with green tahini...WOW. I'm not usually excited about crudité but this was really delicious and it was lovely to have it after the falafel. Fennel and radishes were probably my favorites but I loved the cauliflower and broccoli and the red peppers as well - which almost the whole thing. The entree came and it was harissa chicken on a skewer with a farro salad - all of it was so tasty. I got to try the mushroom skewer as well which was rich with flavor. The dessert was a semolina cake with a kumquat marmalade and coconut whipped cream. I managed to eat a few bites of it before I had to call it quits. We took quite a bit of food home because it was so much and we couldn't let any of it go to waste. I'm so impressed with Tusk.

Walking in after dark, Tusk had a warm, welcoming, luxe ambiance. We did the Portland Dining Month…read morespecial. It was $50 per person. First served was a simple plate of vegetables with dip. Fresh but pretty standard. Then came the falafel. Nice and crunchy on the outside, not super flavorful on the inside. It was pretty salty overall. I noticed they sprinkled them with salt, and it was a bit too much. Next up, the hummus and flatbread, probably the only thing I enjoyed this evening. The green dip served with the flatbread was delicious, the yellow one... not my favorite. The flatbread itself was good and tasted freshly made. For the entrée, if you will, it was underwhelming. A chicken skewer on a bed of rice, it was really flavorful but didn't quite hit the mark. I was expecting something more substantial after a simple plate of vegetables and a piece of bread. The sweet pickles really threw off the balance of the dish for me. I don't have a picture, but we were also served a dessert that we were pretty excited for, since dinner did not meet our expectations. It came out stale, old, and partially burnt. I honestly don't know why they served it to us. This was my first time trying Middle Eastern food, which is one of the reasons we chose to do the special. I assumed it would showcase some of their (Tusk's) popular dishes, something that would bring me back. I can't imagine it did. There was also a mandatory 20% service charge added to the bill, which stood out to me given the overall experience. I would love to give Middle Eastern food another go, but it will not be at Tusk.

I see some other commentary here that is negative, but our experience for lunch was near perfect!…read more The owner is wonderful, and the food and its flavors were perfect. I have spent years of my life in and around several middle eastern countries and along the Mediterranean. This was a trip back for me on plate. We will be back many times.

The falafels were really soft! One of the best falafels I've ever had to be honest. I feel like…read moreI've had falafels that were dry or too salty or too much batter, but I felt like the falafels here were just perfect! I really enjoyed the hummus plate. The lady was very nice! Make sure to also try the hot sauce. It's definitely a hole in the wall.

Have been here maybe 20 more times. way better than Nicholas and other Lebanese places IMHO. The…read moreingredients are not your batch made stuff. Prices are reasonable, portions are great, owner is very funny. Love it.

My favorite thing about Hoda's is the non-stop bread that gets brought out to the table. It is…read morelight, fluffy, and puffed up with air from being fresh out the oven. And of course it goes well with the dips and meze they serve, which are quite tasty. Their menu is decently large and has all the Lebanese hits: falafel, gyros, shawarma, kebabs, etc. They can get quite busy with large groups, as they're a great fit for families. On the night we recently dined, things were a little slow to come out from the kitchen but there was a 10+ person birthday party going on.