Excellent dinner with my wife on our 23rd anniversary. What an awesome spot with excellent food, wine selection and excellent service. We did more of a Tapas idea, sampling quite a few dishes. My favorite was the steak kabobs. read more

TIQA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Take out surprise. My spouse surprised me with a 3 course meal. So delicious wonderful flavors Apps were delicious gigabyte beans omg and muhunarra perfect Soup: lemon lentils soup with goat cheese creamy and light beautiful flavor Main dish: Polenta yum and falafels were light and fluffy. My mouth went on vacation. It all travels well. Enjoy read more

Great service from Xavier. He took great care of us at dinner so we went back. He poured an amazing drink for us and booked us at another restaurant we could not get in. Service like this is rare. Visit Tiqa and ask for Xavier. read more

The reason I was in Portland was because if work. I've wanted to go to Maine and I will return! My coworker and I decided to eat at TIQA was because it was next door to our hotel and not far to walk in the rain. The service was amazing and so was the food! We almost went back the following night. read more

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My boyfriend and I had dinner here tonight and it was delicious! Service was also excellent. I ordered the flank steak, which was seared on the outside, tender inside and came with fries--lots and lots of crunchy fries seasoned with cumin and paprika. There was a LOT of food on my plate and at first I thought I'd never be able to finish it. It was so good that I was a little embarrassed because I left a pretty near clean plate. My boyfriend ordered the chicken kabob which was also perfectly prepared--seared on the outside yet tender. He also enjoyed the pickles and said the rice had a nutty flavor which he really liked. We were too full to eat dessert but it looked so good that we took some home. Next time we come we'll order some appetizers, because they looked great! Oh, and I'm gluten-free so I couldn't enjoy the crusty bread and olive oil they brought out before our meal; it was more for my boyfriend so he had no complaints. read more

TIQA - Flank steak and fries. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Holy amazing! Everything about this place gets 5 stars! The food was cooked perfectly and the flavors were to die for. Must try the sampler. The atmosphere was incredible inside and out. And the service was spot on. They did everything to make us feel comfortable. I wish there were more locations. read more

TIQA - Can't spell any of it. Just get it all. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

I've only had delivery from this place, so my review is based solely on the food. Disregard that this place is connected to a hotel-I feel like that may throw some people off. My review is about to be passionate but it's because I feel super strongly about the food here: Forget everything you've learned about Mediterranean food in Maine. Forget all those years of yearning for delicious Mediterranean but settling for food that, through no fault of the business owners, has been watered down for the tastebuds of small-town (mostly) white Mainers. Do yourself a favor: if you love authentic, thoughtful and flavorful food, order from Tiqa. If you're a cook and you care about the heart that goes into the painstaking details of perfecting each ingredient for a dish, order from Tiqa. If you appreciate food at all, please order from Tiqa. Promise, you will not be disappointed. The culture and its flavors are so beautifully, deliciously represented while also incorporating fresh, local ingredients. The bakery's breads and desserts are also all worth trying. Gloriously executed, zero complaints. It is always a joy and a treat when I order from this place. read more

Went looking for a restaurant with vegetarian options since my daughter is vegan. Nice looking restaurant and good service but the food was just ok. Not good enough to ever go back. read more

Weekend breakfast/brunch for under $10 a plate? In the Old Port?? With no wait??? And you can typically find parking???? This place is across the street from Becky's and connected to a hotel so I think a lot of people look past it. I can't speak for dinner, but their morning menu is fantastic and authentic (my Teta's cooking will always be better though). read more

If you like Mediterranean food this is a good restaurant to go to. They have a lot of variety and our choices to pick from. My husband and I both had at skewers. I had the shrimp and he had the lamb and beef. We also started off with pita bread with whipped feta cheese. Delicious!! Our waitress Jackie was awesome. She was very friendly and attentive during our whole time at the restaurant. At one time, I ordered a Sangria and Jackie came back and asked me if it was sweet enough. When I told her that it wasn't she took my Sangria immediately and made sure to make it sweeter. They are kind of pricey but you should try it. read more

TIQA - Lamb and beef skewers - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

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We had a delicious and unique brunch here on Mother's Day. The service, food, and atmosphere were all wonderful. Loved all the vegan options. We'll definitely be back for dinner in the future. read more

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Wow. First of all this is like my fifth review today so bear with me on this one, BUT i attended this lovely event (dinner) with the help of my momma (a non vegan with a serious cow and bean problem (some call this a dairy and soy allergy)) my father, who is just happy to be there, and me! (a hungry vegan athlete that had the nickname 'peanut' as a child but is now severely allergic to them.) Now that this sounds like a dating profile, let's begin. We started with the hummus, baba, pita, beans, and potato pancake. They were all just fantastic. The hummus was unanimously the best hummus we had ever had, and being a vegan I have had a LOT of hummus out. It was topped with crispy garlic, everything bagel seasoning, and chives, and dear lord was that a game changer. It was stunning and delicious. The baba was topped with balsamic and lemon oil reduction and was extremely smooth and amazing. The beans were surprisingly served cold, but were still very good. But the potato pancake, that crap was delicious. It was so-freaking-good and a big hit through the whole table. My mother ordered the salmon and rates it a 10/10 which surprises me as she has never rated salmon other than the one she cooks that high. So props. My father ordered the beef, he really enjoyed the sauce and rates the plate an 8/10. I got the vegan polenta, and WOWOWOWOW, that was the most stunning presentation of polenta I have ever seen. It was formed into triangles that were then crisped on all sides. It was stunning visually and just as delicious as it looked. They did have vegan dessert options but for once I did not explore. To summarize, this was a gorgeous dinner both in experience and food. I would go back to maine just for this, and I would have to drive ten hours. They were so accommodating with food allergies and dietary restrictions and I could not thank them enough. read more

I had such a great experience here as part of a college tour set up by Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin! The staff at TIQA handled all 80 of us with efficiency and politeness. The food was excellent and the warmth of the atmosphere was sincere. I tried all the apps and they were all amazing! My meal experience was a little different since we were with a private party so it was a buffet style meal, but the food was well seasoned and well cooked. I would highly recommend this Mediterranean spot in Portland! read more

TIQA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

The start of this review is for "happy hour" only. I walked in to find three hometown friends behind the bar.... whaaaat? Pretty cool though, because I was confident that no matter the price of whatever I ordered, it'd be more than worth the $. And that my friends, is the feeling you want walking to a bar! On a second note, I haven't been drinking lately, but when I have, I've been making myself ruby red martinis at my house. That was what I was hoping to order, but they don't have the grapefruit vodka. THANKFULLY, like I said, the bartender knew exactly what she was doing. I told her what I wanted and she said she'd come back with something I'd love. Boy, was she right. A homemade grapefruit martini, whipped up with fresh squeeze grapefruit juice and a twist of lemon. It was amazing and JUST what I was "craving." Because that drink wasn't on the menu, I was unsure of the price. $10. Perfect for a wonderful drink, atmosphere, service, and the hr it took me to drink it. My confidence in TIQA is higher than high, so until they disappoint, which I'm praying they won't, this is my new spot! read more

TIQA - My grapefruit martini... And wasnt I surprised to see that the bartender is from my hometown! - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Portland, if the dining experience here has any semblance to taste or attention we experienced during a sneak-peak, you're in luck. ...We're all in luck. We were invited here as part of the owners' New Years Eve mixer, though in the spirit of full transparency, this restaurant has not yet opened to the general public: not for about two weeks yet, and I'll reevaluate my review once it does. Even before opening, Tiqa (meaning 'kebob' I think) enters the competitive and growing Portland eatery scene as one of the largest and stylized venues in the area. Luckily for me and no doubt many others, being a t-shirt and jeans guy; it carries all the style while skipping on pretense. You'll be comfortable here, I promise. You'll feel right at home, whether you're donning the Armani you wore to that partners' meeting or just stepped off an island ferry in jeans and a plaid shirt (my own uniform of choice). The owners seem to be launching an all out assault on the senses while throwing-open wide arms, embracing everyone who walks in, like a warm Lebanese uncle or a welcoming Greek grandma would, or so I'd imagine. But it's the food.... If Tiqa is to serve-up anything close to the succulent, perfectly seasoned, grilled and cooked fare we tasted on our visit, it will be a must have many times over. The beef kebobs we had were out of this world, the lamb was the same and my partner is still going on about the chicken he had and wants to attempt to mimic at home. Not sure we'll be able to. The staff, though a skeleton crew when we visited, were all smiles, proud of the new surroundings and being a part of this long awaited kickoff. We've been curious about this place since first hearing of it and the invite for NYE was by complete chance. A new hands down a favorite of mine, even before the hard opening. It's going to be one of yours as well and I can't recommend it enough. Try one of the varieties of hummus, and definitely have the beef! ...Or lamb! read more

We ate at Tiqa for Valentine's Day and had a really lovely meal. One of the other reviews talks about the "perfectly balanced and deliciously rich" flavors of the food, and it is such a good assessment. Many "Mediterranean" don't appeal to me on a regular basis, but I look forward to returning to Tiqa again! We enjoyed a fixed price menu for the holiday: a beet (the vegetable) tartare amuse bouche, and small Tiqa salad (with sunflower seeds and marinated mustard seeds - very nice), the falafel appetizer is excellent, and my wife enjoyed the oyster special. She had the hake and I had the half chicken and both were very good, and the restaurant was very good about accommodating a very bad nut allergy. The dessert was a flourless chocolate cake that was rich and divine. We chose to order the wine pairings with the fixed price dinner, but look forward to trying the specialty cocktails the next time we dine there. And, having complimentary valet parking if you spend $40 or more, is very convenient. We sat at the chef's bar overlooking the kitchen. While this was very entertaining to watch, the seats are very high and not terribly comfortable. Next time, we'll skip the "show" and sit at a regular table. read more

We had a team dinner and surprise wedding shower at Tiqa and it was wonderful! The staff was great and the private room was perfect. The food was amazing. There were 3 tv's in the room so we could play a movie for the wedding couple to be. The staff went out of their way to make things perfect. A huge thanks to them! I highly recommend! read more

I went here for a birthday party where my friend rented the area with tables and chairs by the windows in the corner. (All the way to left when you walk in the front door) The service was great and the servers were super attentive. I ordered the Dawa-great smooth & refreshing mixed drink. I stuck with that drink & ordered the hummus plate with a friend (to split) with extra pita/chips because another friend had just ordered one and half the hummus was still on the plate. This hummus comes out warm and damn amazing-I've never had better (and I've tried a lot of hummus). Get both of these things and thank me later. I didn't give it a full 5 stars because they close so early because of their "location" that it is just weird. I think it was around 11 when they said it was last call/pack up kids. read more

TIQA - Yessss - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Eating at Tiqa felt like a mini vacation to New York in our own backyard of the Old Port. Our server Debbie was FANTASTIC. She was perfectly attentive, knew the menu thoroughly, and gave us excellent recommendations. Our cocktails were brought to us in very modest sized glasses. As soon as we starting drinking them we realized were STRONG. We definitely drank our money's worth of alcohol. We ordered the Sofregita and the Coda Brasto Del Libano. Both meals were, hands down, the best we've had yet in the Old Port. They were perfectly portioned, and we felt pleasantly full rather than 'I hate myself full.' My only complaint was the chicharron appetizer was $12 and only came with 3 small pieces of cured pork belly. Don't get me wrong, it was DELICIOUS, but $12 seemed a little over priced for an appetizer that was literally three bites. The venue was very modern and chic. The tables were comfortably far enough from one another which made us feel as though our conversations were still private. The owner was genuine, humble and down to earth, which gave me much more respect for the establishment. We will definitely being going here again! read more

TIQA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Tiqa left me underwhelmed. I'll start with the negatives. The decor is really industrial. I felt like I was dining in an Ikea more than a Mediterranean restaurant. The food was kind of bland. I was expecting to be hit with a million flavors in my mouth, but it was just okay. The price for this bland food was kind of high. Also, we ordered more bread (the pita was amazing!), and it wasn't complimentary. Which is fine, but the waitress should have let us know, The positives: --the pita (and the rest of the bread plate, I guess). Really yummy. The order of pita comes with a house made cheese that was perfectly creamy and paired with the seasoning already on the pita. --The space. There is so much space for a possible event. I think it has potential to be a nice venue for a gathering of sorts. read more

TIQA - Cilantro chicken kabob - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Unbelievable experience here for my wife's birthday. It is not hyperbolic to say that it could not have been more perfect. Not only was the food outstanding, but the service and the super warm patio during a COVID December day made it even more delightful. We'll be back for sure! read more

Unbelievable food, vegan friendly, delicious cocktails! We can't wait to go back in the future!

What a GREAT lunch we had today. We choose from the Maine Restaurant Week menu, and everything was perfect. Generous portions, and all spiced just right. Hummas, TIQA salad , steak kebabs, and Shawawara, were all great. The server, Hunter, was professional, answered all questions, and we never felt hurried. Will return next week with out of town guests, for a dinner! read more

We chose this place specifically for their "Saturday bubbles" $5 prosecco special from 2-5 PM as advertised on their website. When we got there and asked about the special, the waitress and bar tender both had no idea what we were talking about and did not give us the deal. Since we were already there and wanted drinks, we ordered other drinks. They were fine, with the exception of one. My friend ordered two spicy cocktails. The first was fine, but the second had way more of a "hint of fire" to the point of being undrinkable. Not very consistent. Worst part was that when we left the restaurant, we saw the "Saturday bubbles " deal advertised on the front door. If they are going to advertise specials, let the staff know!!! False advertising. read more

Yessss Guuurrrrlllll!!!!! TIQA is a literal slice of heaven on earth! Each time I get a mezza plate to start which is an exquisite way to try several spreads, olives, and pickles they have to offer. Next I try the tomato and eggplant salad which is melt in your mouth perfection. I have topped this off with a falafel and have tried the pesto bucatini. The falafel was great (this was available at lunch), perfectly cooked and heavenly. Now the Pesto Bucatini is not something I could get again, it lacked flavored and had strange textures happening. But where this one plate is lacking the overall waitstaff, outdoor seating, chill vibe greatly makes up for it. Go hungry and be prepared to eat! Shout out to Jesse behind the bar! He's been making me drinks at different establishments around the greater Portland area from a few years and they are always on point, and made with a smile! read more

I had high hopes from the second I walked in and smelled a mix of fragrant spices. The service was friendly, the decor inviting and modern. I love that the menu identifies where each dish comes from, and I will say, the dishes are very well presented. I'd give this spot a 4.5 star if I could! The selection of breads with olive oil and a spice mix was a great teaser. The pita was unexceptional, though fine, but the olive bread was really delicious, lightly crispy, perfect with all the accompaniments. The michoteta salad was beautiful: long, fresh, thin slices of cucumber wrapped in a circle around a bed of what looked like a Greek salad: black olives, feta, tomatoes, topped with oregano vinaigrette, and I have to say, it was one of the most fresh, balanced, and mouth-watering salads I think I've ever had. There are a number of wines, both from the usual suspects (New Zealand, California, etc.), but also some Lebanese and other more exotic wines. I enjoyed the Lebanese Cabernet-Syrah from Lebanon, though it wasn't highly memorable. The harissa lamb kebabs with pickled saffron cauliflower, red onions, spiced yoghurt, and date vinaigrette was well-seasoned and again, well-balanced, though I found the lamb kebabs very slightly dry, thin, and impossible to get off the skewers (I opted to cut them off -- they would not slide off for anything). My dining companions enjoyed the whole fried fish (sole) with a parsley pesto and greens, and the sumac roasted chicken. All in all, a wonderful meal. read more

TIQA was an excellant choice for our anniversary dinner. Cocktails were wonderful. Service was beyond excellant. I had lentil soup with rice, very authentic. My wife had lamb kambob with the freshest cumcumbers and tahni I have had in awhile. A small carafe of wine and hummus and the most freshest pita to go. Dined in comfortable chairs along the street to see all the going ons. Not a traditonal setting but very contemperary. Would definetley visit again on a special occassion. Prices were reasonable. read more

Wonderful Mediterranean meal. Our group of 30 had a private room and a buffet. The falafel was tender and moist inside and crispy outside - amazing! We had 3 kinds is meat skewers, tenderloin, chicken and the house sausage. All were tender and delicious. The owner came in to chat with us and he was very nice and engaging. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant! read more

We went Tiqa on 8/27/2021. First of all I want to say the waitress and bartender service was great. We ordered the combo skewers of shrimp/lamb with other ingredients in it. The shrimp skewer contained 2 medium size shrimp, the lamb skewer contained a 2 inch burnt sausage. The skewers combo came with 2 leaves of grilled romain leaves and 3/4 cup of spicy rice (not spicy). The price for this was $31. RIP OFF!!! It was awful. Not a good value read more

I absolutely loved this place. The drinks. So good. I suggest the Apollo. The mezza board was pretty yummy. I got the duck and my wife got the steak. Both had great flavor and cooked perfectly. The steak needed a little salt but thats not a big deal. The only bad thing, the baklava was very very over cooked. Which at a Mediterranean restaurant it should be the best dessert! All in all pretty great experience. Our server was also super great! You will spend that money here though so just be prepared! read more

This restaurant was awesome! Great atmosphere, great drinks, and even better food! Hunter was our waiter he was awesome, perfectly attentive and accommodating. This restaurant is great for gluten free and vegan folks! The Brussels sprouts were my favorite dish read more

I reserved a birthday dinner at Tiqa last night for a fairly large group and they accommodated us perfectly. The food and service was amazing. Our server Tijana was great! She handled our table like a pro, recommended great dishes, and made sure everyone's food was how they expected it. She continued to check in at our table to make sure we had what we needed. I brought in a cake which she happily served to the group as well. I got the steak in this picture with a side of rice and it was a 10/10. Thank you Tiqa & Tijana, I'll definitely be back!! read more

TIQA - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

Was excited to try this spot because of the good reviews and a recommendation from a friend. Based on the menu and prices, we expected an upscale dining experience with good ambiance. We were met with an exceptionally unprofessional server and a disappointing experience. Our server repeatedly sat down at the table with us, used expletives, complained about the restaurant staff to us, and told us how much the menu and pricing "sucks." The food was good, but not for the price. Our server's attitude coupled with the plastic silverware we were given and an incorrect bill at the end of the night makes it safe to say I will never be back. read more

Service was great, but the food was mediocre and way over-priced. The dishes we ordered, kebabs and pasta, were half the size of what we were expecting and did not live up to the menu descriptions. read more

My wife and I live locally and had been thinking about trying TIQA for a while. I wasn't sure because of the mixed reviews about the food with many saying "it was just OK." First off the atmosphere is nice, as it is more new, clean and stylish than some other establishments. The server and hostess were very friendly. We were there for lunch on a weekday and aside from one or two other tables we were the only ones there. All three of us had the falafel wrap which was served with fries (kind of an odd side choice considering we expected something more like a couscous salad side at this type of restaurant). The pita was large and homemade, very fresh and good flavor and the falafel was a little different than expected with heavy seasoning, a bit salty and had more of a yellow curry sauce. I missed the flavor balancing tzatziki yogurt sauce I've come to expect from other falafel wraps. My wife's gimlet cocktail was a too sour for her. All in all it's kind of what we expected-The description of the food sounds better and more complex than what you get. read more

The atmosphere was really nice. I love the open yet intimate feel of the space. The food was delicious and very flavorful. My only complaint would be that the portions were a bit on the small side. We (my boyfriend and I) had the kebab platter for two and I wish there was a bit more rice. They have a great drink menu and each table gets pita with oil and spices. We were a party of 8 and our server was great. We really enjoyed it! read more

My family came by on a northeast trip during summer. I have to say, this place has plenty of nice seating--especially outdoors. The waitstaff were very friendly even though we did not have a reservation. The appetizer was a nice, simple hummus and pita. My entree was a braised lamb gyro, I figured it was a little different, so I tried it. The "lamb" actually tasted like pork because of the sheer amount of fat and the fact that it was not shaved. The pita also seemed like it was store-bought. I sent the gyro back and watched as the cooks seemed unconcerned. I wish I could say something nice, but it was the worst gyro I have ever had by far. read more

We had a really nice experience at Tiqa. The atmosphere is relaxing and spacious. The bar area has nice ambient light w/ plenty of small tables, bar stool and couches to sit on. The dining area and tables were nicely appointed, but not over the edge. Again, plenty of space between tables. All of the staff were very attentive, which always helps make for a pleasant dining experience. We had hummus and roasted vegetable appetizers. The hummus in particular was great. The portion is large, it comes w/ roasted garbanzo beans and home made pitas. Plenty to share and delicious. Then we moved on to roasted beet salad and lentil / rice salad. The presentation was very nice and the flavors were perfect. No extra seasonings needed at all. Main course was chicken kabobs. 3 perfectly cooked marinated kabobs, with rice and their pickled veggies. Great presentation ,nice portion size ,served at a perfect temperature. Again, it is clear that the chefs and all of the staff take pride in what they do, which is particularly refreshing to see these days. Finally, we thought it was really reasonably priced. We are in Portland regularly. We will definitely recommend Tiqa to friends and will be back. read more

So many great places to eat in Portland. We thoroughly enjoyed TIQA. The food is described as "Mediterranean" and the menu features the country of origin for each recipe. We started by sharing KOFTA B'SINIYAH, Spiced Ground Lamb & Beef, Tehina Sauce, House-made Pickles. Delicious. Next time I won't share. Then I had the TOMATO & EGGPLANT SALAD of Heirloom Tomatoes, Crispy Eggplant, Marinated Feta, Buttermilk Aioli. Also delicious. Loved the crispy eggplant. My wife had the SUMMER GAZPACHO Chilled Soup of Heirloom Tomatoes, Harissa, Sumac Yogurt which was quite spicy but she enjoyed it. She followed that with SCALLOPS Pan-seared, Chilled Corn Cream, Smoked Potatoes, North Country Bacon. She scarfed that. I had wanted the whole Branzino but it was not available so I chose the PESTO BUCATINI Hazelnut Pesto, Egg Yolk Puree, Roasted Mushrooms, Sweet Peas. I enjoyed it but it's enormous. Also, it's quite "saucy" not a delicate dish. Mushrooms in the dish were fantastic. The service was a bit lax, but not terrible. The restaurant is quite large and beautiful. My favorite part of the experience was watching the baker making dozens of fresh pita and stacking them all evening. He looked content. read more

TIQA - PESTO BUCATINI | ITALY * Hazelnut Pesto, Egg Yolk Puree, Roasted Mushrooms, Sweet Peas * 19 * - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I've been to Tiqa 4 times. Twice for lunch and twice for dinner. Tonight I had dinner and was very impressed. We sat in the lounge which was soooo cozy! What a wonderful place to wind down after a busy week at work. I am a local who grew up here in Portland...I get out a lot and think Tiqa is a gem in the City. I love the atmosphere and The staff is wonderful. The food was delish! I highly recommend the beet salad! Yum! And the lamb was falling off the bone delish! I don't hesitate to recommend Tiqa. Just go. read more