Went here for brunch the other day and was impressed. The service was super friendly and they even gave us a couple free mocktails. So refreshing and needed. They have a wide open space with lots of tables, and a big bar. It would be a great space for a big party as they have lots of room and a lot of the Old Port spots don't have much seating. We got brunch food and it was great as well. The waitress, kitchen staff and service were amazing! I will be back. read more

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Picked up takeout from Tiqa a few nights ago and unfortunately it was just okay. Portions are tiny for the prices and the food itself was basically thrown into containers with no forethought. Maybe food is better if you eat in the restaurant...but I definitely don't recommend take out. read more

LOVED our Thanksgiving dinner at Tiqa! The food was fabulous, the staff were helpful, kind, and efficient. The music was subtle, in the background, encouraging conversation. It was so easily accessible for my relative in a wheel chair. This is our family's new Thanksgiving tradition. read more

Sure, finding a table for Sunday brunch is tough, and Saturday can be tougher. But TIQA has a larger space and 5 of us we walked in 11am Saturday and easily got a table. This is the first time we've been since their hiatus and we were all amazed at the service and food! The environment is a bit posh-sterile but don't let that put you off. It feels less like a hotel lobby than the similarly sized restaurant a block away. Our frittata, shakshouka, french toast and salmon dishes were all excellent. Glad it's back! read more

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We really enjoyed the ambience of this lovely spacious restaurant. It's upscale with great Mediterranean food good service and a good vibe. read more

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Portland Maines Mediterranean restaurant! We were visiting Maine and thought this could be great place for dinner! So we thought of take out instead of dine in because we had dog! Lady that took the order on the phone seemed nice! Here is the review of the food! We payed 60$ for the 3 items we received! Including tip! 1. Mezzo platter! Where shall I start? This is the world's worst mezzo platter I have tasted it bad in terms of portions and taste! We got 1 falafel that too uncooked! All olives with pits! and mediocre baba ganosh and hummus! 2. We ordered chicken thigh! They gave this! On the phone we mentioned no rice only the vegetables they said yes that's doable! Once we took order and went hotel we saw our entree is just rice! One piece of grilled zucchini and little portions of chicken! Just awful! 3. Lastly we ordered parmesan potato! And got this fixed potato with no parmesan! They not only got our order wrong! + awful portions and readymade pita! read more

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Nice that they have gluten free options on a lot of things but service was slow, background music was bad, and food was just good (not bad or great). Our waiter also wasn't super friendly. read more

Excellent food, coupled with great service and vibe in the restaurant made for an amazing dinner. Great option for any food allergies! The specialty cocktails definitely enhanced the experience. read more

Visiting Portland,ME and tried TIQA tonight and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant is awesome with excellent service. The menu is great and has tons of vegan and gluten free options. We ordered the lentil soup, falafel, and shishito peppers to start with. They were perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. For the main course we got the Halal Chicken Thigh, Seared Captains Cut Cod, and Red Pesto Cavatelli. Each dish was so beautifully prepared and tasted incredible. Go check out this place if you are in downtown Portland, Maine on Commercial Street. Highly Recommended! 10/10 read more

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*HAPPY HOUR REVIEW* We haven't had a proper meal yet at TIQA, so we are reviewing it based on our experience for happy hour. TIQA has happy hour daily, from 4pm to 6pm. During that time, they offer red and white wine for $5/glass and half off some mezzes, including their hummus, baba ganoush, and olives. Truly an amazing deal when you consider their prime location on Commercial St/Old Port area. We arrived shortly after 4pm and were quickly welcomed by the hostess. Our waitress was amazing -- she was friendly, checked on us often, and was very quick. We had the best conversations with her, and she truly made our happy hour even more special. t was also a bit cold, and she kept making sure the heaters were working properly. Oh, and they had heated cushions! We opted for the $5 glass of red; it was a delightful Malbec. Their pours were generous, too! The baba ganoush was a great pairing for our wine, and since it was half off it was also a little over $5. Six glasses of wine and the appetizer came out to $35 for two people! TIQA was also gorgeous inside, so we cannot wait to return soon for dinner. read more

TIQA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Missed this vegan/vegetarian/ gluten free friendly place when it closed. Now reopened with similar menu my husband and I went on a Saturday for "brunch". My husband enjoyed his frittata and potatoes very much. The soup was delicious. I have rarely had good baba ganoush so I very happy to say Tiqa's is wonderful. read more

All the food was fantastic, lots of things made in house (pita, hummus, etc.)! Great atmosphere and amazing service! Definitely recommend!

Had a great brunch. Sat at the bar had get conversations with the bartender. He was helpful with the menu and discussed all the drink specials. Worth the visit and will be back again read more

TIQA - Mimosa - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

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What a wonderful lunch at TIQA today! Jackie was my server & of course Emil was manning the kitchen. I had Bacalla as my entree! Oh, my goodness! I lived in Northeast Italy for 23 years. The people from the Veneto & Venezia LOVE bacalla. Emil, yours was the most flavorful & excellent that I have ever eaten. Thank you, Emil, for bringing it to my table & thanking me for returning so soon. Jackie, thank you for all of your recommendations! I didn't even need a menu! The items that you recommended were beyond exceptional! I'll be back with friends on Saturday for lunch! read more

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I was super hesitant about coming here because it's outside of the box as far as my typical cuisine choice. My prior experience with Pan-Mediteranean dishes (or what I thought were?) was that the meats were under-seasoned- to my liking, the hummus was blan compared to what you get at the grocery store, and the primary spices they used in dishes just weren't for me. I got invited here for an event and I'm so glad I did. I sat back and let others do the ordering who had been before and was willing to try whatever they threw my way. We basically stuck to apps and drinks but I got to enjoy bites of: Hummus, feta, spanikopita, and beef kabob. I found everything to be absolutely delicious! Many of the ingredients were the same as I've tried before, but they were prepared and seasoned in a way that appealed WAY more to my tastebuds. Tiqa has changed my opinion and I'd be happy to return. In addition to the yummy food, the ambiance and decor is beautiful inside. Odd comment of the day... check out the bathroom! read more

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Weekend Dinner experience. Ambience is great, server and wait staff are polite and help recommend items from menu. Each menu has the original Mediterranean origin clearly stated. Coming to food, went with high expectations but didn't find much flavor and taste. The halal chicken kebab needed seasoning and salt and too much oil in the accompanying rice. The vegi kebab platter was better but not much flavor int he vegis, can be easily cooked at home by novice. The sangria was also more ice, watery than anything else. 3 stars mainly for location, ambience and staff there. They have separate kids menu - pasta, pizza and kebabs. Okay read more

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Beautiful ambience, very modern. All of the staff is very nice and helpful. My problem with the dishes is that they are very small and overpriced. And the flavor on the meat is very mild. read more

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Portland, Maine is a beautiful city which has so much to offer. As a special treat - so we thought - we decided to order from Tiqa. We liked their menu online and with Covid restrictions we decided to do take out. When we called, even before we said what we would order, we were told, "some items are not available." So we asked if the chicken kabab skewers with saffron wine marinade and spiced rice, chicken demi-glace is available. We were told "yes we can make that for you." And then after taking the order, we were asked if we wanted to leave a tip and we declined. At a whopping $27 we were shocked to see what we got! In the box (see picture - where are the 2 skewers?) there were a few puny pieces of chicken, and rice swimming in oil which we had to drain, a grilled slice of lemon and a few shreds of parsley. Both quantity and quality left us dismayed. Neither the chicken pieces nor rice tasted fresh. Tiqa is overpriced and the quality of food is much to be desired. I would recommend other local restaurants that offer a plethora of local food and good customer service that doesn't begin with what is not available and asking for tips even before an order is placed. This restaurant though mars what Portland has to offer. read more

TIQA - **Chicken Thigh |Morocco| GF Saffron wine marinade | spiced rice chicken demi glace | - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Definitely a nice place with lots of Mediterranean offerings and funky drinks. Waitresses and Bartender were pleasant...Hummus was terrible...soupy and they could have sprung for additional flatbread..Would definitely go again, but wouldn't get the Hummus! read more

Lovely service, strong drinks, grilled meats were delicious, but little missteps along the way: pita croutons so hard they could break a tooth, pita dry, baklava so dense, I wondered how long it had been waiting to be ordered . Could have been an off night. read more

Ok this little Mediterranean style restaurant is a pretty cool place to hang out at the bar with some friends or during the warmer months, grab a table outside facing the waterfront. The decor is pretty hip and fresh and clean with lots of windows to see the passer-by's walking down to the hustle and bustle in the center of town. Outside of those things, the food was just ok and the service was pretty good. The food was just so-so as I expected so much more from the falafel and hummus in a restaurant like this. The price point that you pay for the food here should reflect in the quality a little more. I had the seared tuna with a couple of side dishes that were ok. The real part that really helped here was the view, location and the service. read more

We had a graduation dinner at Tiqa Saturday night. It was the perfect choice for us, as we were all voracious, adventurous eaters. We had everything served for the table (including a soup for which they brought out ramekins and espresso spoons. We had, perhaps, every item of their mezzes (dips, olives, etc.) with a huge, fresh, fluffy pita per person. Then some of every kebab, and some sides. Some of us drank their cocktails, and both mocktails made a hot at the table. Desserts, by and large, were excellent. The two errors are what brought the stars down from a five: the baklava was overbaked. Almost burnt. For a pan Mediterranean restaurant to ruin this regionally ubiquitous treat was a stumble. Then, the person getting sorbet got a different flavor than promised (one of her three) and hated it. Luckily, a gelato eater liked it and was willing to make a scoop for scoop trade. Service was delightful and attentive. Prices do reflect what's happening with inflation, and "small plates" means you pay for each item, sans any included sides. So come prepared, if you can, to share, savor, and relax about the prices. read more

We came here to celebrate a friends 50tj birthday. We only had 1 waitress for a party of 20 and she handled it like a champ. This place has come a long way since they opened. We love everything we ordered, salmon, short ribs, mussels, scallops, lamb, beet salad, gnocchi, and the appetizer platter. Our favorite was the braised lamb. It was super tasty and fall off the bone tender. Atmosphere was perfection and they have awesome and clean bathroom which is a plus in my books. It's a tad pricey but your paying mostly for the location and ambiance. The portions are shareable so it's great if you want to try different dish. read more

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The restaurant had great service and ambience! The food however wasn't great! Didn't like the flavors or quantity. This establishment seems to have different types of Mediterranean food from different parts of the world. I only went here for the halal chicken options, there were only two dishes on the menu. Definitely would not go here again. Two stars are for amazing service and ambience. read more

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A+ service! We chose to eat on the patio, however underestimated how cool it would get as the sun was going down. The staff were so accommodating and lit the heaters (which might I say, are functional but also kind of aesthetic?) and even provided warmed seats, which made our meal very pleasant and enjoyable. I really felt like they cared about our comfort which made the whole experience super positive and wonderful. The menu isn't huge but it's well-curated and I found it difficult to decide on just one thing, it all looked amazing. What I did get were the lamb kofta and they were divine. Beautifully seasoned ground lamb, the mildest, creamiest feta, and a delicious, charred pita with tomato sauce and lots of parsley made for a satisfying and filling meal. read more

We loved Mediterranean food . This restaurant I had done research on and thought it would be a great place for birthday lunch today . We started off with Baba Ghanoush with 3 piece of pita that is made in house . Husband ordered the lobster roll which was priced very reasonable and the lobster tender and season very well. I had the grilled kofta sandwich which was moist on the inside and grilled to perfection on outside came with pickle onions . We split spiced fries that were piping hot and they had toum ( made from garlic,olive oil, ice cold water)for dipping fried . Niece had Falafel which had carrots and pickled cucumbers she also asked for a side of cucumbers which was nice combination. For a coffee husband had a Latte which we decided to take to go the flavor of coffee was strong and hot . Our waitress was really nice read more

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We went here to try the food, as we're having them cater for our wedding next year. We tried some drinks, the baba ghanouj, the cauliflower, the red pesto pasta, and the lemon lentil soup. All of the food was excellent and bursting with flavor. It really exceeded our expectations! We especially loved the flavor of the lentil soup. For dessert, we had the sorbet trio, which was fantastic. We especially loved the mango. The staff were incredibly sweet and welcoming- they made us feel super special and the service was excellent. Chef Emil came out to say hello and chat about our wedding and he was lovely as well. The whole experience affirmed that our wedding catering is in excellent hands with Tiqa and their lovely staff. read more

Super small portions, super high price, super low quality food. Food is quite mediocre for the price. If you are looking to fill your stomach do not come here. I got the mixed kebab with chicken and steak. Literally came with one small chunk of chicken and one tiny chunk of steak and a small helping of tasteless yellow rice for $25. If your gonna charge $25 for two tiny pieces of meat the food better taste good. This food does not. I've had better tasting kebab at rundown mall stands and much more reasonably priced Mediterranean places. If you get any entree I would recommend the Zataar chicken thigh. Portions are decent though still tiny but a much better deal at $17. read more

TIQA is one of those places that I absolutely love for various reasons, but also dislike for other reasons. Starting with the positives: + They arguably have the best patio in Portland. Every time I come here in the Spring, Summer, or Fall, I always choose to sit on the patio! They have various patio seating, and they have heat lamps and tables that light up in the middle to keep you warm on colder evenings! + The staff is always friendly and always try to accommodate you in any way. + TIQA has an extensive wine list and they ensure that their employees are up to date and knowledgable about their selections! (Go for the Rose Cava!) Negatives: - Although the staff is nice, sometimes the service is INCREDIBLY slow. One evening, a group of friends and I came here to eat and get drinks and it would take at least 30 minutes to get our drinks and it took some of the people at our table 2 hours before they even saw their food. Super inconsistent. - Their food is just...ok. I have had their hummus and baba ganoush, and nothing was ever a standout. I feel like there are other places in Portland that serve better Mediterranean food. Overall, I truly appreciate the things that TIQA does well. When I go to TIQA, it's to sit at their patio space and have some really good wine. So if that is what you are looking for, check it out, however, if you are looking for a nice place to dine, I would look elsewhere. read more

TIQA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Coming here for our anniversary was a great idea. They are very accommodating I don't like onions and our waitress made sure that my food was onion free. Due to covid seating is limited but when we went our waitress was very attentive and constantly changing her gloves and sanitizing that was very comforting. The food was all amazing. I am very picky with my steak and this flat iron steak is the best I have had in a long time. The Burgess buttercup Squash I the most flavorful I've had. If you find yourself in downtown Portland Maine on Commercial street this is a must try restaurant. read more

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Tiqa is the new Mediterranean restaurant that opened recently adjacent to the Courtyard Marriott, just outside of the heart of the Old Port. I've been a few times now. The owner is the nicest guy you'll ever meet and really cares about his restaurant. He appreciates feedback and I expect Tiqa to improve as the months go on. After all, it is a very new restaurant. In my few visits the food has been up and down, the atmosphere is great (I like modern and hip) and service was right on. First, the space. This is perhaps the most stunning restaurant in the Old Port. It's a near-200 seat behemoth, and the interior decorating is perfect to suit all moods. There's chef table seating, bar seating, intimate 2 person tables, large party tables and even a roomy lounge with couches. Just to cover all bases, there's a banquet room that holds 85 as well. The colors are light and chic and the space feels modern and expensive. Despite the slightly out of the way location, this could (and should) become a very popular spot for weekend night drinks. The hours extend to 1 am on weekends. We sat at the bar on my first trip and the service was impeccable. Several bartenders tended to our every need and were attentive but not overbearing. During two subsequent visits in the lounge area, service was also perfect. Other reviews have mentioned slow dinner service, but I have not experienced this at all. Maybe it was a bad night? The food on my visits has been a bit uneven, but overall good. There's a dinner menu broken up into several sections and a small plate menu. The mezze plate ($16) was a fantastic sampler of hummus, ganoush, falafel, veggies and yogurt dill served on a giant pita. This vegetarian dish was huge and satisfying, leaving the two of us nearly full after. The calamari was served over what tasted like a fun twist on mashed potatoes (but was cod). The mussels were the only truly disappointing dish. I've had better in the city and the price point of $12 was high for the portion size. The hummus was good but came with pita chips when I was expecting (and would have preferred) pita bread. I thought the chicken kebob was excellent and a fair portion for the price. The drink menu has a handful of specialty mixed drinks, a solid selection of craft beers and 5-6 red and white wines by the glass. There is an extensive bottle list as well. The cocktail menu lags a little behind the competition, but the Dawa may be the best value around. For $6 you get absolut vodka (which is the house vodka!), lime, brown sugar and melted honey on a stick. It was sneakily strong and I wisely quit after 2 in order to drive. The price points are very reasonable on most drinks. Overall Tiqa is already a strong restaurant that will certainly get even better with time. read more

TIQA - Hummus with braised beef ($10) is fantastic and the hummus is much improved - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

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It was a cold and snowy night when my wife and I stumbled (sober. We had our 4 month old with us) into this this restaurant to get out of the weather. There was us and a large table in another part of the room. Pretty quiet and lights were dimmed so the kid fell asleep right away. Waitress was really nice and chatted with us for a while. She poured a mean hot toddy. Wife and I had the lamb, chef did a great job. If staying at the courtyard, definitely check this place out if you are looking for some fine dining experience. read more

My wife and I visited the newly-reopened Tiqa for lunch on 8/31/2024. We live in the area, but had never been to Tiqa. It is a really beautiful space, with tons of seating at tables and the bar, and even has a small outside space with tables. On that Saturday they had a Brunch menu, but which seemingly just added some more traditional breakfast items onto their lunch menu. We both had a main course salad, featuring greens, walnuts, roasted beets, and gorgonzola cheese, that was topped with a skewer of pieces of grilled, marinated hanger steak. It was really delicious! I'm not usually a person who orders a salad for their meal, but I would have that salad again in a minute. Our server was excellent, knowledgeable and attentive. But there was only one other couple in the restaurant at 12:30 on a Saturday when Portland's Old Port a few blocks away was packed with tourists. For business purposes, Tiqa may be a couple blocks further away than is ideal from the heart of the Old Port, but it is well worth walking a few blocks, escaping the packed places on Exchange and Fore Streets, and heading further down Commercial Street for a really lovely place to have lunch. read more

This restaurant is excellent - the food is amazing and the atmosphere is elegant. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. I am from out of town and ate here 2x in 3 days. The ingredients in the food are fresh and the menu items are unique. You will be pleased if you try it. Bonus is outdoor seating with heaters or inside seating with open kitchen so you can see chefs. read more

TIQA - Mezza sampler - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Amazing experience. Unique blend of flavors and ingredients. On point service and presentation.

I went there last night with a friend to catch up and break some bread. I ordered the Chicken Kabob. Amazing! I also got a drink called Pompeii. It had bourbon, orange and fire water. It sounds weird but was also amazing! It went in fruity but was warming. The atmosphere is pretty nice and they did an amazing job with social distancing read more

I love the small plates - each dining experience becomes a buffet of delights. Every time I come to Portland this is one of my favorite stops. The cooking gets better with each visit. The wait staff couldn't be more helpful. They always want to make sure I have a good time. Don't miss this one! read more

This review is entirely for Tiqa's Happy Hour, which appears to take place only in January and February, Tuesday-Friday, from 4-6. With this information under our belt, my daughter and I headed to Tiqa on a snowy Tuesday evening. Parking is a little tricky in this part of town, but we got lucky and were able to find something pretty easily. Happy Hour takes place in the bar, BUT the "bar" at Tiqa is a BIG space and includes tables and several cozy and comfortable couch clusters, in addition to traditional bar side seating. All beers and wine are half off from 4-6, so I ordered a glass of rose and my daughter went with a craft cocktail called the Pompeii, which she reported as strong and delicious. The big surprise of the evening though, was the free mezze out for the HH crowd. There were warm pitas, hummus, falafel, pickles, a fava bean dip and olives. The two dips and the falafel were exceptionally great, the pickles were house made; sweet and spicy in exactly the right ways, and the pita was plentiful. The mezze was so good in fact, that we were motivated to order another app off the menu and tried the spareribs, which were fantastic! Tender and perfectly cooked, on a bed of pureed cauliflower. Yum! The overall atmosphere of Tiqa is quite lovely and restful. Low lighting with blue accents, plenty of space, big windows and comfortable seating. If you find yourself with some time looking for a place to catch up with co workers/friends, definitely check out Tiqa's winter Happy Hour! read more

Thank goodness for a high quality food place with quick, attentive, and friendly staff. We came in for lunch yesterday and told the server/host we were on a timeline and after our order, we got our food within 5 minutes. It was so good, that we came back for dinner that night! Thanks for a great experience TIQA. We lead busy lives and it's such a let down when our few free hours in the day are usurped by a lackluster dining experience. TIQA did not disappoint!! read more

Very professional and friendly, all precautions taken for outdoor seating. We felt safe and comfortable and the food was absolutely delicious. I combined three side dishes to make my own custom meal and the waitress and cook were knowledgeable and flexible and everything came out perfect! Nice condensed wine list too that wasn't overwhelming or pretentious. read more