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    Chaval

    4.3 (294 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    CHAVAL ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Chaval

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    Cristina C.

    Amazing date night spot. We decided to follow the specials and enjoyed every bite. We also opted for the drink specials and were blown away! Service was impeccable.

    Beet
    David Z.

    Heard about this charming place and had to check it out. Easily made reservations within a few days of date and table was ready to roll upon arrival. Recommend incorporating in a little time for parking if going on a busy night as there is limited parking around this location. Staff quickly received us upon arrival and once seated explained the menu and recommended good pairings for meal. Warm olives were flavorful and always love a good beet salad as well. Both were delicious! The coq au vin was exquisite and had us craving for more. We were full by nights end and very thankful we decided to try Chaval for a quiet night out on the town!

    Mushroom Toast

    Outstanding service, and creative dishes. We sat at the bar and were able to watch them cook which was a nice added bonus. They have really good synergy in that kitchen and it's obvious by the food. The bartenders also put a lot of effort in and added up to a great experience. I ate myself right to the limit, if anything stood out if might be the mushroom toast with the frontage blanc, but every single bite was fantastic. Really great vibe too, you get the sense that a lot of people there are regulars.

    Jamon on iconic meat slicer
    Tina B.

    One of our favorite restaurants in Portland. Warm and welcoming, with dishes that are classic and well-prepared. Awesome bar program. We always get the amazing Jamon! And best kept secret in town: vermouth happy hour with flights of vermouth and sherry! Save room for dessert. You won't regret it.

    Dayo cocktail
    Jane G.

    What was great: - The radishes (with cashew dijon butter, dulse, and sea salt) - the radishes were soft (in a good way; the butter tastes vaguely of wasabi [in a good way]) - Pan con Tomate (garlic-rubbed sourdough, diced tomatoes) - The ceviche special - The Day-o (a sweet cocktail) - The Asparagus ice cream () with capers and lemon, paired with vermouth Small, inventive, tapas-style plates, a cozy and inviting atmosphere, and friendly staff!

    Churros Desserts
    Emily K.

    This felt like a really nice elevated dining experience! The menu was innovative and interesting. Our server Jud was very personable and had great recommendations. We tried the fingerlings with caviar (first time trying!) it came together nicely with the crema and the brininess of the caviar. We also tried the pan con tomate which was good but not outstanding, and the head on shrimp special which was delish! We tried three desserts - a kind of berry trifle with a honey/pine meringue (very good and botanical!), the churros (classic, good vanilla curd), and the white asparagus ice cream because what? The first bite was weird - it's definitely asparagus, but as you go on it kind of mellows out and becomes surprisingly delicious? There are crunchy fennel and caper toppings which again sounds weird, but added so much! Would definitely be back to try more as it seems the menu changes frequently. They also are hosting cocktail classes this summer that look super fun!

    Perfect g&t
    Alyssa N.

    I can't believe I haven't reviewed Chaval until now TL;DR - everything on the menu is good so definitely over-order, leave room for dessert, and enjoy excellent service!! Chaval is absolutely one of the best restaurants in Portland (Leeward and Regards would be the others I'd put in the same category). The menu changes quite a bit, but you really can't go wrong with anything. Portions aren't huge, but it's fine since you'll want to try a few things. Cocktails and wine list are also excellent. Desserts are top notch and if you remember one thing it is that you absolutely need to save room for something sweet!!!! Service is impeccable. You'll interact with multiple people - all of whom can answer questions (or just share a nice convo with). If you haven't been yet this is your sign to make a reservation asap!

    The D.

    Checked out Chaval for my first time! The staff were welcoming, funny and knowledgeable. We weren't too hungry so we picked the Potatoes and the Cheese plate, both 10/10. They threw in an off menu salad for us to share. How sweet! Can't wait to come back for more! Thanks Chaval xx

    Wild Local Mushroom stew w poached egg starter
    Alexander F.

    For me the height of any meal is if after a bite having a moment of pause and mandatory "WTF!" aka "OMG" reflection. That was literally each of the 3 starters thru the 2 desserts.. Super friendly attentive service to boot. This s what I expect of a Michelin experience..

    Carrot tartare - delicious!
    Caroline L.

    I've eaten here on all three of my trips to Portland now. The food is creative and unique (although the flavors can be hit or miss). The standout is the pan con tomate (basically the most delicious bruschetta on house made bread you will ever have). Service is always amazing - friendly and personal with great recommendations. Worth a visit for sure.

    Menu designed for our special event

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    4 months ago

    Stellar food, great atmosphere, wonderful drinks. Service was amazing. A great meal with friends while visiting my old neighborhood.

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    10 months ago

    Don't accept reservations on a day you CLOSED your restaurant. Ridiculous lapse in customer service and communication.

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    Blyth & Burrows - Mussels small plate, unbelievable

    Blyth & Burrows

    (417 reviews)

    $$

    Old Port

    Another awesome Wednesday $1.00 oyster night at Blyth & Burrows. This time Emmaline & Olivia joined…read moreus. 48 oysters, 12 shrimp, 2 lobster rolls 2 jonah crab a mocktail, 2 wine & a regular cocktail. This time we had a table for 4 with cushions. I also brought in a cushion so my ass didn't get sore like it did last time sitting on a hard wooden stool. Our waitress today was not as engaging as our last waitperson from a few weeks ago. The hostess is awesome just as she was last time. The only thing that wasn't great were the Jonah crab; extremely small & not the best tasting. I have had great Jonah crabs in the past while living in Florida. See you next go around

    Did a New England trip from NYC and had this on our list as a primary spot to go because of Yelp…read more The original draw was their Wednesday Social where things like crab claws are on special, oysters are a buck a shuck and things like a punch cocktail are included too. We sat at the upper bar and our bartender was Taylor. You can tell she takes a lot of pride in every cocktail she makes. It seemed that she was working the service bar so making cocktails for the entire restaurant.. she took her time with those while also balancing making sure that the few people at the upstairs bar were all taken care of which is very hard to balance as a bartender myself, so well done! We ordered sooo many cocktails and so many apps. My FAVORITE was the Tom Yum cocktail, which was without a doubt the best cocktail I've had in my entire life.... and I don't give out that compliment easily. The Jonah crab clause were very tasty and fresh, oysters were super crisp and cold, but my favorite thing we ordered were the twin lobster rolls, which was an excellent price when this place isn't super cheap overall. The lobster roll was zippy, buttery, a perfectly toasted bun with the most light and refreshing lobster meat ever. The pretzel appetizer is actually huge. They came out super hot with a mustard dip and beer cheese sauce, which was lovely. The only thing that I would skip next time is the shrimp cocktail. I didn't really enjoy it because it seemed to be seasoned maybe with Cajun and placed on a grill quickly? I was just looking for more of a traditional shrimp cocktail that night but that's ok because they were still super fresh and high-quality. Ambiance couldn't have been more cute inside. Downstairs by the bathroom is another large room with lights and there's also a hidden speakeasy of their upstairs that we will pop into next time. Please go!

    The Independent Ice - BBQ Pulled Port Sliders
Two Per Serving , BBQ Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Fresh Baked Sliders Buns

    The Independent Ice

    (248 reviews)

    $$

    Old Port

    Great intimate bar that has an extensive bourbon collection that's on great display. There's long…read morebar area and some booths. We stopped in for drinks only. The food around us looked terrific. We ordered an espresso martini that was great - they ask if want dark or creamy. Also ordered a drink l that was pink - can't remember name and did t take pic of menu! It was good. Ended with an Irish coffee. Server super nice and attentive. Very nice place to stop for a drink or their food!

    Headed out to celebrate our wedding anniversary and had heard good things about Independent Ice so…read moreasked to go there. Parking for Wharf St is either on street, none available, or parking garage conveniently located across Union Street. Entrance is a little difficult to locate due to lack of lighting. It's close to Union St but on Wharf. Hostess with a smile greeted us and sat us in a corner booth as per our request as there were a few options of tour party of 3. We were seated in the corner booth, given menus and water poured into the glasses. With in 5 minutes our server came to take care of us. I had lots of questions since I like spirits, whiskey and am curious about what is out there. They have a HUGE selection of whiskeys and bourbons so easy to get lost. Sadly, the menu for these things is huge and does not give any description as to flavor or smoothness, just where they are made and how much a half and full pour is. The whiskey flight caught my eye as I am looking for a new whiskey in addition the my favorite Jamesons. When I asked the server he said the Maine flight sucks! OK, then asked about the two other flight menus and was given the names I can clearly see in the wall menu, no further information was given. We ordered our drinks, Espresso martini listed in their Happy Hour menu, a Prosecco, two Jamesons Black barrel, a light beer and a ginger ale chaser. Food menu was good with a few options for appetizers, salads/soup, entrees, and desserts. Having read reviews and previewing the menu ordered the Whipped Ricotta with honey and Wasabi peas. Smash burger, Tortellini with chicken, and when it was my turn to order I responded with the Southern Chicken. As I read the description saw a few red flags for spicy. When I said hold on, to see if I wanted the other chicken sandwich, this clearly was an inconvenience for him evidenced by the audible sigh and eye roll! OK I'll take the sandwich don't want to rock his boat. While waiting for our food, two of the three of us finished their drinks. Waiter was no where to be seen for 4 minutes, when he did surface at the back of the building, we had to wait while he had a texting conversation at the end of the bar. This took an additional 4 minutes then he attended his other tables, cleared our appetizer plates and walked off. Came back for our second round and again I am looking to try something new. I asked what has a smooth buttery finish, he rambled of a bunch of names and said "you are looking for something that was toasted in the barrel". Great! Oh wait not so much, the menu doesn't give you that information so again another opportunity for an up sell missed. I asked about the West Cork whiskey, he took out his phone and started scrolling and scrolling with no further information for me to try it. "It's not as good as Jameson". OK I'll stick with what I always get and have given up. A wall full of whiskeys and bourbons and the reason for our visit has been defeated. Food came out hot and was very good. French fries were exceptional. When we were done, our server took up a conversation with someone at the bar and stood with his back to us as our plates are being piled up. Hostess ended up clearing our plates and getting our to go container. After finishing his conversation at the bar, he was very happy to give our check for us to leave. Not sure why we were given this kind of service, but he missed an opportunity for up sells three times. Show interest in your customers. Sadly disappointed and will not be back. Service was terrible and made us feel like an inconvenience. Tipped well even though the service was lacking because the Food was very good. ***Please note that they state in their whiskey menu that their pours are NOT normal pours; one ounce pour here is only .75 and full pour is not a full 2 ounces but 1.5.

    Lucky Cheetah - Sichuan Cucumbers

    Lucky Cheetah

    (74 reviews)

    Old Port

    I'd like to start this by saying that I never write reviews...and I have zero connection to this…read morerestaurant I had no idea what I was in for when I walked in. All of my memories there are from the Old Port Tavern. they truly transformed the place into an amazing space. I honestly took a moment to look around and take it all in before I sat down. it's gorgeous and fun and really has a personality of its own. good music. top notch staff. and phenomenal food. the chef happened to hear us talking about the Old Port TaVern and made a point to come by and say hello. chef Charlie Eems totally took us by surprise. He was so friendly and courteous, but his food was better. The flavors textures and experience was honestly the most fun I've had at a restaurant in a long time. highlights (all of it) soup dumplings, brocolli rabe, and chocolate torte with black vinegar stawberry compote... go check it out!

    The Lucky Cheetah is an absolutely amazing place! Think delicious dim sum with a twist combined…read morewith a fun tiki bar vibe combined with a sophisticated retro speakeasy décor and ambiance. What could be better than a dumpling lounge? We just went for the first time and were blown away. The ambiance of the place is unique. It feels like a chic timeless but retro speakeasy with the fun atmosphere of a tiki bar. Dark red and black colors, floral art, Art Deco chandeliers, lacquered tables, kitsch and fun cheetah lamps and statues. It immediately put a smile on our faces. The food is also unique. Dim sum for dinner but with more sophisticated twists and better quality than you'll find in most Chinatowns. You start by getting a dish with three different dipping sauces for the dumplings. The hot and sour soup was rich in peanut flavor, filled with tofu, mushrooms, and seaweed, with a cumulative little kick of spiciness. It was a great start and a major cut above anything we've ever had in a Chinese restaurant. The sichuan cucumber salad are Chinese cucumbers innovatively cut into a spiral like a slinky or coil spring. You pick them up with chopsticks and they spring up and down! Served in a horseradish and pepper coulis, they had a spicy kick. Don't miss the mojo baby corn. It's grilled, crispy, and addictive. You'll want a bucket of it when watching a movie. Steamed soup dumplings are filled with ham or prosciutto, a nicely salty and meaty twist on the standard ones. Steamed mushroom and truffle dumplings are probably the closest to traditional dim sum, rich, flavorful, and packed with shrooms. Crab and lobster lucky bags were deep fried wontons filled with a mix of ground lobster and crab, on a bed of crème fraiche with scallions. A great contrast with the crispy salty shell and soft filling! Our favorite was the sesame beef bao. They look like the traditional sesame balls in Chinese restaurants, crispy on the outside, pillowy soft inside but filled with brisket! They were mouth wateringly delicious! There was a selection of larger entrée plates that looked good (fried rice, lo mein, crispy chicken) that we didn't try but will next time. The drink menu was three pages long. Every kind of creative cocktail you can imagine, a long list of wines and sparking drinks, at prices from reasonable to 'special occasion.' For the atmosphere and ambiance, it seemed like cocktails or sparkling wine went best. All the staff and the manager couldn't have been nicer and more welcoming. They made us feel like old friends. Their warmth was genuine, we were sincerely touched by their friendliness. We were smiling and laughing the whole time, and amazed at how delicious the food was. It's unique. It's so much more than just a delicious meal. Going here is truly an experience, one that we'll remember for a long time and want to repeat often. It's an incredibly special place, and you feel special being here. You won't find a place like this outside of New York City, but here it is in Portland. We're going to go back often and regularly.

    Cuties - Bar

    Cuties

    (35 reviews)

    Old Port

    Awesome place to grab a drink anytime do the day and a snack. Super cool vibes and great staff…read more Very welcoming and friendly. All employees were attentive and helpful. Menu has tons to offer. There's coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages, various snacks and food, etc. Lots of talent and thought has gone into what they offer. We order a Bitchin Michelada and a spicy bloody! Both amazing!! Well done. For sure stop in this gem of a place regardless of the time of day as they have lots to offer.

    I gave Cuties a chance during its opening weekend and thought it wasn't for me. It was too crowded,…read moreobnoxiously loud, and I just felt like I didn't fit in. Fast-forward to now: I was walking around with a friend and we felt like having a drink, and Cuties was right nearby. I decided to give it another shot, and I'm glad I did because my experience was incredibly better. First of all, the place felt a lot more welcoming and less overwhelming. I finally had a chance to look at all the decor and details, and my eyes were FEASTING on the colorful touches and funky vibes. Our server was very nice, and even though we only ordered one drink and definitely stayed there for a good amount of time, he wasn't pushy in any way. My cocktail, the Wink n Nod, was soooo good. It had vodka, gin, manzanilla, olives, and pickled Fresno brine. The result was a yummy concoction with a punch, one that I could savor and not slurp in ten seconds. That said, I gotta say I was surprised by how busy the place was given how early we went. It wasn't even 4pm. I don't think I would come back in the summer or during peak hours because I could definitely see them getting busy, just like during their opening weekend, and having an entirely different experience. Note: Although I didn't try any, I was happily impressed by the food options and non-alcoholic options. A true all-day bar!

    Chaval - spanish - Updated May 2026

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