The tasting menu at Mediterranean Exploration company was one of my favorite dining experiences in…read morePortland I've ever had. The atmosphere was lively and I loved the industrial, modern decor. I went on a busy Friday night and was sat right at my reservation time. Our server was personable and friendly. They had a small mocktail selection with creative options. I went with the "worth a chai", which was spicy, sweet, and tangy. The tasting menu was $75 each for two people and we got a total of 9 dishes and left full and with leftovers. Not one dish wasn't delicious and I enjoyed how each dish had an unexpected flavor or textural element to keep things interesting. All the ingredients felt fresh and the dishes were bright in color and taste. Despite the larger quantity of food, the meal overall felt well- balanced, healthy, and not too heavy or decadent. I keep thinking about the hamachi crudo that came with this amazing smoky eggplant that complemented the vinaigrette on the fish perfectly. The radicchio salad was addictingly good with the fruity burst of sweetness from the cherries. The hummus is insanely rich and pairs well with the thick, fluffy pita. I could keep going on about each dish, but these were my absolute standouts. I especially appreciated the timing of the dishes. New dishes came out right as we were finishing the last. I will be coming back here to try more of the menu.

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.

Having been to all of the other Sesame Collective restaurants, I was excited to finally cross this…read moreone off the list. Like their other concepts, Shalom Y'all did not disappoint. Each dish is thoughtfully created with unique ingredients that Keep you coming back for every bite. They recommend getting a number of different dishes and sharing with your party. It was a busy friday night and they were pretty full but we timed it perfectly and only had to wait 10 mins before sitting at the bar. We ordered the Melon salad, hummus, calamari, hangar steak, chard cabbage, corn and sesame / chocolate ice cream for dessert. Standout dishes were the hangar steak as it was cooked perfectly and the sauce with it was amazing. The corn was also super flavorful!! It felt a bit smaller than their other restaurants but it still had a very cool vibe to it. Kyle took great care of us throughout the evening - we will definitely be back!

First time trying out this place and enjoyed eating here. Service was relatively quick. Food keeps…read morecoming as you finish. Also heard the menu keeps changing. We tried their falafels, eggplant babaganush, lamb hummus; chicken kebabs; seasonal melon salad, salmon and chocolate pistachio icecream. the melon salad was refreshing. The pita's are very tasty. The chocolate pistachio seemed like chocolate icecream with pistachios which was okay, they could give a inhouse speciality there. Kebabs were soft, the salmon along with the plating and the sauce and veggies was good. The drinks were great too! The old aged whiskey was perfect. Ambiance is cozy, not too big.. great for groups or dates.

It's been a few weeks, and I'm finally getting around to saying I had the best meal of my life…read morethere! There was enough food left over to have a complete dinner the next night. My son treated me to flavors I've never experienced before. I didn't take pictures but it looks like there are plenty here already. We ate: Lamb Kabobs-tender meat delicious flavor. Something wrapped in Grape Leaves served with a dipping sauce-so mouth watering pleasant to every taste bud I wanted more, more, more! They serve a large, tortilla style, bread, the name escapes me, which I was able to use a variety of dips on, one a garlic mixture for dipping, I must have more! Each dip had its own flavor, cannot tell you what they were but lemon was used here and there, as well as other exotic spices. Every single thing I ate there opened with one completely satisfying flavor, and often changed to a secondary flavor that was equal too, or better than the first. Yum. The waitress was very informative and the service was efficient. The restaurant is decorated in a Middle Eastern style and it was lovely. I had their coffee. Now that was eye opening. The service they used was fancy and I truly developed an appreciation for that style-less is more, and perfect for the drive ahead. Oh! The Baklava- yes please. We had that later in the evening as there was no way to eat more at the end of the meal. Over all, I will say this: It is a restaurant I will go back too. My son treated me to a delicious meal with a man I love dearly.

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.

Scrumptious food, quick service and cozy bench or bar seating…read more I tried almost everything vegetarian from the menu. The entire ordered was fingerpicking good including those fries. We thought we ordered so much and then we went back for more. One may find portion sizes are little for their price but their flavors are top-notch. I would say it's a great spot to get flavorful Mediterranean food. Though I wish they had more seating area. However, the food is extremely good and is worth it. If you haven't already, head there to try them and you wouldn't be disappointed.

Having been to one of the sister restaurants, I knew what to expect! The food was good, although…read morethe place was TINY. I love their hummus, especially the one with burnt ends! The chicken kebab was delicious, although the rice wasn't my fave... But that was just personal preference because I didn't love the lentils mixed in. I'll definitely be back!

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

What a beautiful decorated place! Once you walk inside you transport into another realm with all…read morethe decorations and accessories everywhere! There were 5 of us so we got sat in the corner near the restrooms. We came in on a Saturday around lunch time and it was nearly empty with maybe another 1 or 2 tables. We opened the menu and realized it was kind of pricey for all the items so we decided to get two platters to share for an appetizer. Nonetheless the falafels and chicken kabobs were really good. The platters came with hummus,tzatziki, and baba ganoush. Each of them were really good and tasty. My favorite was probably the tzatziki because it was so fresh and had a good coolness to it. The chicken was were tender and the falafels had a good crunch and taste to them. So dipping them both into these sauces was really good. The order came with 2 pita breads to dip as well. The employee came to check on us a few times. We ordered another pita bread to finish off the rest of the dips. Really good food but really high in price point.

My husband and I are visiting Portland, and by chance, we came across this Lebanese restaurant. We…read moreare so glad we did! I honestly can't say enough about this place. The food was delicious, the people were so welcoming, and the service was wonderful. From our waitress, Celina, to Louie, everyone made us feel so comfortable and welcome. Everything was just great, and we truly enjoyed ourselves. It's always nice when you stumble upon a place unexpectedly and end up having such a great experience. We will definitely remember this restaurant and hope to come back again! We highly recommend everyone to experience this amazing restaurant and it's family atmosphere.

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!

Such delicious food! Their takes on Greek and Mediterranean foods are nuanced and innovative while…read morestill having that comforting effect that traditional preparations provide. Special props for their amazing pita bread!

Came here with a friend visiting from out of town after having a great experience at Shalom Y'all a…read morefew months ago and unfortunately was pretty disappointed. It's a nice location and was quite busy on a Tuesday night. We were sat right on time for our reservation. The server recommended 5-7 plates for our party of 3 and let us know that plates come out as they are made (pretty standard). Despite this, there seemed to be no pacing to how dishes came out. All of our dishes came out rapid fire one after another to the point where we didn't have time to finish the small plates and didn't have room on the table. The food itself was largely okay, but nothing to write home about. The two biggest plates we got were the pastrami and the short rib. The pastrami was somewhat dry, though the mustard it was served with was delicious. The short rib was tough and in the rub had one slice that was way too strong and overpowered all the other flavors. The hummus with burnt ends was good from a hummus perspective but the ends were super salty. The cornbread was delicious and probably the favorite plate of the table and the cauliflower was a close second. All in all, a pretty disappointing experience. Maybe it was just a tough night there and we'll give it another try.

Great food! They will even customize it for you! I return…read morealmost every week! They also support all delivery options

My boyfriend and I stopped in for a bite to eat on a Sunday night. I had the gyro salad with lamb…read moreand my boyfriend got the gyro platter. The place was busy and a little understaffed. Our meals were okay but nothing spectacular. The staff was helpful and it was overall easy to order. I think it could have been better on a less busy night.

One of the best meals I've had in a long time! Every dish was absolutely delicious, beautifully…read moreprepared and presented. From start to finish, the food and service were top-notch....I'll never forget it! Here's what I had the pleasure of enjoying: Chilled Watermelon - Green chili, basil, pepitas, and white balsamic Dolly Focaccia - Roasted garlic, herbs, and olive oil. Baked Semolina Gnocchi - Spinach, Grana cream, marinated fennel, and gremolata. Tagliatelle al Burro - Parmigiano extra vecchio, French butter, and cracked pepper. Grilled Prawns - Cucumber salad and yogurt dressing. Charred Cabbage - Fresno chile, Castelvetrano olives, and verjus. Crispy Chicken Confit - Grilled summer vegetables, heirloom tomato, and Manchego. Also enjoyed a fantastic cocktail and some delicious gelato, although I can't recall their names.

Brunch: They are not your average brunch spot so if you walk in with no standard brunch…read moreexpectations, you'll be delighted by their unique menu. No whipped cream but they have vanilla mascarpone whip or ice cream. No Bailey's but they have a nice espresso martini. No hollandaise sauce but just pivot and try something new (get Beans on Toast: it's not what you think; it's fresh, flavorful, and creamy toppings on exceptional bread is so good). I also liked the breakfast sandwich (an herbed biscuit is yum yum) and their fried potatoes. They may not have mayo, but they sure have a mean garlic aioli for those spuds.

Our favorite meal of our weekend! We stopped in for a late afternoon lunch so we didn't wait long…read moreat all. You order at the counter and then they bring out your food as it's ready. We ordered a chicken skewer, a spicy lamb skewer, the grilled bread (must have), Greek fries, and tzatziki. Oh my word. Every bite was delicious I would have loved to try the hummus - and honestly everything else in the menu - including the amazing soft serve - but we were keeping it lighter and had to run. Even the picked veggies on the side were fab! The restaurant had plenty of seating, and you could see the open fire where everything is grilled from the dining area. We grabbed the last outdoor table since it was a really pleasant afternoon. Highly recommend, and we'll definitely go back next time we're in PDX (we almost went back again the next day!).

Bluto's delivers on every level! bold flavors, incredible textures, and top-tier execution across…read morethe entire menu. ​Hummus (10/10): Easily the best hummus I've ever had. Ultra-creamy, perfectly seasoned, and the absolute star of the spread. ​Lamb Kabob (9.5/10): Tender, juicy, and expertly spiced. A standout savory dish that hits all the right notes with fresh herbs and smoke. ​Pistachio Tahini Soft Serve (10/10): The ideal finish to the meal. Rich, nutty, and subtly sweet with that signature sesame depth that makes it completely unique. ​Every single dish felt thoughtful, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. If you're anywhere nearby, do not skip this spot.