Mediterranean Exploration Company Reviews

We were told to come here for great vegan food. Not exclusively vegan - just that they had lots and were very accommodating and it was delicious. Arrived at 6:30 on a Friday night to find a 45 minute wait. We were starving so, after an agreement to wait we decided to not stay, telling the waiter we’d try again an tomorrow. We were three blocks away when we got a tap on the shoulder and it was the host from MEC Derek who had chased us down all that way as two spots had opened up at the bar! AMAZING! When does that happen when a restaurant is already slammed? We came back to an amazing tapas dinner. So delicious. The Pitriyot Hummus is to die for. As is the roasted kohlrabi. So happy Derek grabbed us. 10 service stars for him! And 10 for the restaurant.

very popular joint here in portland so do make a reservation. Dinner was very good, not excellent, but atop the middle eastern options in town-- on the West side of the city for sure. Shalosh brings 3 spreads (eggplant, pumpkin/carrot and beet/walnut) with peta bread. Beet was excellent. Other two were good. they brought more peta as needed. Octopus as nicely grilled and a small plate for sure. Lamb and Eggplant baked with feta was best thing we ate. Moroccan chicken was just ok- not something worth dining out on. service was pretty slow for a thursday. we'd still be there waiting to pay the tab if i didn't grab someone after waiting over 10 minutes. bad form. take public transit or walk or wait till after 7pm when parking on the street is easier... Big menu so we didn't explore most of it, so worth another trip.

The foods are amazing and the staff are accommodating. My family enjoyed the food and aside from it the ambiance is wonderful.

We just had small plates (like tapas) because I'm a vegetarian and my husband is a vegan. They were staples like hummus and grilled eggplant but prepared perfectly and some new dishes that were delicious. The place has a great atmosphere also.

The Mediterranean Exploration Company is small and even on a cold Wednesday evening was busy, so reservations are recommend (and were suggested when our party of 8 arrived!). The service was excellent as was the food, the wine list is good and the cocktails are fun and creative. We shared assorted plates between us and all were very, very good. The pita is possibly the best I’ve ever had.

The food was delicious and nicely presented. We had warm olives, hummus, Moroccan brick chicken and octopus. Nice selection of wines by the glass. The plates are small sharing plates but the price point is quite high for the size of the portions. I was served a sparkling rose that was completely flat. It was quickly replaced but should never have been served at all. Quite noisy and difficult to have a conversation. Service was attentive.

A variety of menu items, the waitress explained all of it very well. We ordered several dishes and shared all of them. The only thing I did not like, is I wish they would bring you a large dinner plate instead of the salad plate that you are given.

Time and again the Mediterranean Exploration Company delivers the best meal! We are regulars here. The menu never disappoints. Best octopus in town! Must have the Lamb chops every time we go. During the summer the roasted peaches are melt in your mouth amazing. This time we had the fried chicken - who knew it would be so delish?! The staff is always helpful too - even with the massive crowds this place attracts. Last time we went they even fit in a table for 10 on a Saturday night! And the server had the bartender make me a special drink no longer on the menu (Spanish Diplomate). Such 5-Star service and seriously stellar menu. This is our favorite restaurant in town for every celebration and visiting guest. Must go!!! (But make reservations or go right at 5pm, if you must wait and the bar is full, go have dessert before dinner ~ pie at Tilt next door ~ first!). :)

Stumbled into the restaurant without a reservation. The place was packed but the hostess was able to find a high top for the three of us. Ordered drinks and started to look over the menu. Everything looked amazing. Figured I would use the expertise of the waitress to recommend some dishes. Liked that it was tapas style so we could try a number of treats. She started us out with the hummus. It was good, but wanted something I don't eat often. Next came the beet and skordalia (garlic-potato spread). I love beets and I loved this dish. Such wonderful flavors. Up next "main" dishes. We ordered the octopus, lamb chops, fried chicken and hangar steak. Each dish was remarkable. Octopus cooked to flawlessness, not rubbery at all, Seasoning was fabulous. Lamb chops were huge. Again cooked perfectly with a perfect blend of Mediterranean spices. The hangar steak melted in your mouth. Last but not least the fried chicken. If there is one thing on the menu not to miss it is the fried chicken. I know it sounds crazy and I am not one to choose fried chicken, but the waitress recommended it and I am so happy she did. It was phenomenal. The pepper honey totally made the dish. So so good. I asked her to choose a good wine for the meal. She was very good at picking out a reasonably price wine, 06 Lopez Heredia. The atmosphere of the restaurant was lively and hip. I am so happy we found this place. Definitely would revisit.

The small plates at MEC are very tantalizing. It’s a lively spot which makes getting a reservation tough. Seems to be a theme at this family of restaurants. But once you are set the food is great.

More of a local spot. Eclectic menu with crazy good drinks. don't pass this one by. I eat here every time I'm in Portland

We went with friends for happy hour. Wonderful food, very accommodating with gluten free foods. We especially loved the freshly made pita bread and dates wrapped in bacon. Would definitely recommend!

Great experience, nicely plated food, good presentation for this type of meal. Octopus was great. Decent wine selection. Service was perfect.

Pacing of the meal and service overall was poor. We had two drinks and each one took 10-15 minutes to arrive. Meanwhile courses all came on top of each other. Dishes are family style and should be served consecutively or in appropriate groupings not all on the table at once - we felt rushed and the table over crowded. Food was good (across the board but the service issues took away from the experience.

Like a previous poster, "5 stars the second time around." We didn't have a reservation this time, but the web site site said it wasn't necessary, so we decided to chance it. We did have to wait 10 minutes or so, and weren't able to be seated at a table, but at a long shelf-type thing next to the bar. It wasn't as uncomfortable as I had feared when I accepted the seating. (Our option was 1 1/2 hour wait for a table.) The place was very, very crowded and a bit noisy, but it was early on a Friday evening and the restaurant was full of the after-work crowd starting their weekend. My companion and I shared three dishes: beef bacon wrapped dates, fennel salad, and house-made labneh with fried cauliflower and pita. All were totally excellent. The one drawback IMO was I thought there should have been more cauliflower. However, all the veggies were at the correct crispness, the labneh was super tasty, and the pita bread was nicely fresh. Even though the restaurant was crowded, our service was everything we could want. Will I return? Oh, yes!

We had a really lovely vacation in Portland, and Mediterranean Exploration Company, which had been recommended to us by a hotel concierge in Oregon wine country, emerged as our favorite meal during our Portland visit. We sat outside in a large tent—not much for atmosphere, but the reality of 2020, and we were both impressed by how the restaurant was managing an experience worthy of the price point during the pandemic. Our server was awesome: personable, fun, knowledgeable, and a good guide through the menu. Cocktails were great: fun, different, and delicious, elegantly served. And the food was spectacular! Admittedly, we love Mediterranean food, so we were perhaps easy to please. But the flavors were explosive and the meal memorable. The hummus was awesome, the pita was fresh and pillowy, and the dishes had interesting compositions and bright flavors that remained true to the ingredients. Just a really fun meal and a fun evening. Would highly recommend and definitely would return!

Holidayed in Portland last month and on our last night there my friend and I had a marvelous meal. We are only dining outside now and MEC offers excellent space between tables and perfect servers. The menu is unusual and everything we had was amazing. I can highly recommend the Adana Lamb Kebab and the Persian Chicken Meatballs.

This trendy, crowded, noisy restaurant, offers a wide variety of small plates, "Tapas-like" to the happy crowd eating at the tables or those anxiously waiting for a table. Have a tasting mentor $50.00 and a corking fee of $25.00. Good wine list, many cocktails and beers. The food is quite good:the Lamb, the steak, calamari, octopus.....and many others. Service is good, not obtrusive. Reservations needed.

Every owner of every other restaurant was dining in this place so you know it's amazing and yes it was! It was the best I've eaten in my entire life! I loved it loved it! and I want one in Scottsdale please! Sad to leave Portland because of this amazing dining experience! Not one complaint here!

My friends and I stopped in to eat and were pleasantly surprised. The food was delicious and fairly priced. The staff was proficient and had a great attitude. I would recommend stopping in.

Stopped in at Happy Hour. Not big drinkers so we ordered the homemade ginger soda which was delicious. We got the hummus, creamy and smooth, and the bacon wrapped dates. Incredible! Packed for dinner.

You won't be disappointed by anything here. I ordered the eggplant, labneh, and cauliflower. All were amazing, my only complaint is that the portions were small and high priced.

The food here is wonderful - small portions make it a fun way to sample many different things. Every item we tried left us licking our lips. Levels of spices and flavors that danced on our tastebuds.

We sat at the bar opposite the kitchen and enjoyed the busy atmosphere of this restaurant but more importantly the excellent food served. The reception and serving team were very welcoming. Thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

Stopped in around 5:30 on a weeknight and were seated right away despite not having a reservation. Service was excellent - attentive but not hovering. We decided to order a la carte instead of doing the $50 pp tasting menu. Between two of us, we ordered the challah, falafel, mujadarra, lamb kebab and octopus. The falafel and lamb were out of this world. The mujaddara and challah were very good and the octopus I thought was just OK. We could have gotten away with ordering one fewer items. Baklava made with pistachios and hazelnuts for dessert was the perfect finish. Definitely a special occasion kind of place, but ultimately worth the $$$. However, on the check you are expected to tip both the server and the “kitchen staff.” Which is weird and at this price seems a bit nickel-and-dimey. Not the best way to end a fabulous meal.

The food is really awesome! Hummus, muhamarra, bread, lamb kebabs all were very good! Highly recommended !

Our family came to celebrate my son's birthday and had enjoyed so much all the dishes ordered ie mushroom humus, calamari, Lamb racks , fish ... Of course the service is also excellent. This restaurant will be on our list ... The wait is long which is the only thing you need to take into consideration.

Fabulous expensive good and wine. The food and wine were served nicely. But after 4 requests for bread, it arrived well after all the food was eaten and juicy dishes gone. Good bread though. Same situation with dessert. Small servings of coffee and tea were long gone by the time the dessert came. The second dessert took about 20 minutes. The huge check was handled expeditiously.

Our group of 6 had an amazing array of divine dishes from the Chickpea stew to Fennel salad. The plates were small for the price. The atmosphere was quite noisy for holding a conversation. Our waitress was always in a hurry, spent minimal time at the table. We had to constantly advocate and track her down for a question, a second drink. She was busy, so maybe management can add some staff so that tables can be taken better care of.

Everything was a celebration in my mouth. My only complaint was that I couldn't try everything on the menu.

Our Portland friends had raved about this “small plates” restaurant with a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean menu. It lived up to all our expectations—outstanding food, good choices for people with food limitations (vegan, GF), excellent service and a good atmosphere. We ate too much and loved all of it, especially the hummus, olives, fried anchovies and eggs. The only minor complaint I could add is that the noise level is high, but it’s worth it for the food.

We enjoyed dinner on a Monday night. The hummus with peppers was incredible with the fresh pita. We also enjoyed the beef kabob. But the chicken kabob was the highlight of our meal. We were seated at the bar at the kitchen and being able to witness the well oiled machine of the kitchen crew only added to our enjoyment of our dinner.

The food: was terrific! I love the idea of small mediterranean plates, which is a concept I'm less familiar with than larger mediterranean platters. We ordered 2-3 tapas per person and were totally stuffed. Highlights of our order were: grilled peaches (these were amazing! They're on the dinner menu, but I highly recommend them for dessert instead!), a fig salad, baked Moroccan eggs, and the shalom plate: a fresh-baked dense pita with three delicious dips. We also ordered fava beans which were just okay, as well as a date and olive oil cake which was more date-y than olive oil-y and also just okay. The location: is a very cute space, with lots of natural light and lots of room! There are several communal tables and counters. The service: was friendly and helpful! The tapas came out quickly but not so quick to be rushed, and at approximately the right pace and order. It was a nice relaxing meal where we could take our time enjoying many new dishes.

Tapas style place. Everything we ate was excellent and some unique dishes. Service was excellent as well.

My wife and I went to this restaurant early after a matinee play at Portland Center Stage. We had not been here for several years. We entered at 4:30 p.m. and stayed two hours. Our server was knowledgeable about the small plates and the wines. We started with a Tanqueray 10 martini along with a grilled beat salad -- it was very well done with a dairy sauce and greens. We then ordered grilled carrots and the Greek lamb chops, four of them totaling 5 ounces per person (two). The were divine. We also had baklava with Turkish coffee for dessert, and the server also advised on the appropriate wines to go with the small plates we had. A perfect match! We are an older couple (in our early 80's) so the noise levels rose as the evening progressed (after about 5:30 p.m.), but we could still converse across the table, but a larger group would have trouble hearing. The food is excellent and the menu is well-balanced with meat and vegetables.

I would have passed on the seasonal Watermelon & Feta Salad because I thought it was too late in the season. But, the waiter suggested it & it was wonderful. We also enjoyed bacon wrapped dates, Muhammara (roasted red pepper spread w/walnuts, pomegranates & molasses) with pita and Kafta (Moroccan meatballs). We sat at a window table & watched people while we enjoyed our small plates. Just wonderful.

I have been here a couple of times now and never disappointed. The food is delicious and portions are reasonable. My only issue is the limited bar seating. Getting a reservation for the dining area requires some planning.

Deep, rich, smoky and earthy flavors. Along with awesome food, servers are very nice too. We have dined here several times and they never disappoint.

The menu is innovative, the food beautifully prepared. If there is a down side, it is a bit noisy. But I really believe you will love it.

Wonderful Mezza plates. Good range of selections with good service. We liked the ability to mix and match dishes. Servers were available with suggestions and very pleasant. Noise level is high but there are quieter tables if you ask.

The place was crowded, and we were given seats at the bar. The service and the food were both good. Definitly it worth going.

My husband, son and I were vacationing in Portland and enjoyed our dining experience immensely! Each dish was prepared very well and there were numerous vegan foods to choose from. Our servers were pleasant and professional and we would like to extend our special thanks to Kyley Whitmore, the very talented sous chef, for all of her special attention to our table. Her efforts made our evening such a wonderful and memorable family occasion! We really appreciate her efforts and it was a pleasure meeting her. Thanks to all!!

It seems that creative Middle Eastern restaurants are trending. When we travel we look for them, and have eaten in several excellent one. MEC shares top billing in my book. The portions here are large, even for share plates. We (3 vegetarians) ordered way more than we could finish but were happy we'd ordered everything. Shalosh is dips, all excellent: smoky eggplant, beet and tahini (all amazing, but this was our favorite) and carrot/pumpkin/cumin. Of course we had to have hummus. It was gorgeous with egg, za'atar, sumac, chick peas, among other garnishes. The fattoush salad was large, and very green and fresh and light. Falafel was also generous, with more tahini. The haloumi is not to be missed, with salad and lentils. Broccolini, again with tahini, was delicious. Mejadara (rice, lentils, fried onions) came out last. It is also delicious, a little heavier. The homemade pita keeps coming, fresh from the oven, steam escaping as you break it open. It's really hard not to eat too much. Sadly, we were too full for dessert. Would be better to come here with more people, so you can order lots of deliciousness.

I have spent a lot of time in kitchens over the last forty years. I have come to have high expectations in uppity things like texture, harmony amid contrasts, the element of surprise, the exotic amid the familiar, presentation, and quality of ingredients. Normally, my expectations are disappointed. We cook at home more often than we go out. From that background, I offer my unqualified praise to Chef Burgess and his staff. This place is a gem. Everything they put on the table illustrates their excellence as a team. Each dish has a truly unique character. Each delights with surprises that come from dedication to the craft and a certain genius, not chance. Each is sumptuous. Each offers the unexpected. You can taste the thoughtfulness, the imagination, the vision. What a joy to eat at a place like this. On top of that, the place is unpretentious and warm and the service is lovely. MEC reminds us of what a restaurant can be. Put it on your list of top restaurants in Portland. It is now on mine.

Can be difficult to get a reservation, but they keep seats (mainly at the counter) available for walk in and we were able be seated quickly. As the name implies, the menu is Mediterranean but the choices are varied and inventive. Fried Calamari was light and crispy and nicely paired with a Tzatziki sauce in addition to marinara. Lamb kabob was tasty, and accompanied by tangy and cooling sauces to make it even better. Would like to come back with a larger group, where we can do more sampling and sharing.

Mediterranean cuisine is my favorite, so tasty and so healthy at the same time. This restaurant took a lot of precautions that made us feel safe and in good hands, we sat in their new outdoor seated area and had a great lunch. The bill was under what we were expecting too, always such a good end to a meal. Service is top top notch.

This was my second trip in one month to this restaurant. The food was great, the service wonderful. I enjoy ordering lots of different Plates and then sharing. That way you get to try all of the wonderful dishes! The wine list was good as well. Great pairing with the food. I am looking forward to visiting again soon. I would recommend this place for date night, friends night out.

Great food, drinks and service. It was our first night in Portland and this place did not disappoint. Probably the best meal I have ever had.

Lively environment, fast service and excellent food. The tahini cauliflower is a must. I appreciated the server’s great wine suggestions.

Excellence food, knowledgeable waitstaff and prompt service. Gluten and dairy free options. Good energy, very enjoyable evening!

This is an instant favorite and will now be our choice for special occasions or when family and friends visit. The service is fantastic and décor inviting and romantic but the star is the food and drinks. The clever family style menu make it fun to try several small plates and share. Every dish recommended has been a huge hit. Thoughtful craft cocktails and wines by the glass with reasonable prices ensures you'll have a great time without breaking the bank. This is another gem where you can enjoy an evening of great conversation over outstanding food and drinks without feeling rushed.

I wanted to fully love the Mediterranean Exploration Company because the food was fantastic! We had the Mixed Greens, Nazareth Kebab, Asparagus and the Octopus. The Octopus was outstanding...once we got it. I don’t know what was going on in the kitchen that night, but we could hear the waiter apologizing to the tables around us and having to discount bills based on items being late. We didn’t get a discount, but noticed the BIG pauses between plates. We didn’t want to wait for dessert and got our check as soon as we could. So disappointing given the food is sooooo good.

Menu is excellent for both carnivores and vegans. Love to dine at the bar, but seating there is limited. This is a popular place, so you might have to wait. Lamb chops are the best in the known world. Highly recommend. P.S. If the wait is too long for you, try Blue Hour a block away. It's another restaurant gem. Have dined here many times.

This restaurant has a laid-back, casual vibe to it. But there is nothing casual about the cuisine, both in terms of its thoughtfulness and preparation. On that score the food is as high end as you can get. Dining solo did not give me the chance to range very far across the many smaller plates available but I saw enough good stuff on neighboring tables and had enough outstanding food on my own table to sense the restaurant's depth. A simple hummus dish was remarkable for a presentation that included a ring of hummus, a portion of tahini with fresh parsley, a pile of chickpeas, and a drizzle of olive oil which when mixed together and eaten with the soft, piping hot pita bread was outstanding. I ordered the Moroccan brick chicken--an airline chicken breast--and it was transportingly good. The chicken was moist and tender as butter with deep flavor and a nicely browned skin and even the small arugula salad served on the side was amazing with radish and onion and a simple mustard vinaigrette giving the whole plate perfect balance. All the flavors balanced out, including even the dessert of Turkish coffee chocolate mousse: a case study in balanced flavor as the unctuous and perfect mousse was given a crunchy element with cocoa nibs and then a contrasting sour element with a wonderful passion fruit sauce swirled onto the plate. This is high order cookery. Highly recommended!

Visiting Portland, and heard about this place from a couple of locals. Great bar, food was great, and drinks. A real find, don't miss out visit the Pearl District and go in here!!

Disappointing, minimum quantity Service to improve dishes are not served at the same time There are plenty of other places where you can eat as well

Visiting Portland and our local people took us here: Menu was interesting with some very intriguing cocktails. We recommend 2 small plates per person but we also had one big eater. Service was pleasant, quick and efficient. Dining was outside. We’d go back.

We had a great early dinner. The food is unusual and our waiter was the best. Try the hummas dishes.

The food at this Mediterranean restaurant was unbelievable. Fresh and well prepared, I would rate the meal as one of the best meals I have ever had in Portland.

We were a party of 6, half of whom were real "foodies." I was so happy they featured small plates because everything sounded delicious --- and it was! I wish I could remember the best, but that is too hard. Truly this is some of the best food we have ever tasted at any restaurants across the US. WOW

Wow, this place can get crazy busy but it's worth the wait. If you can get reservations, do so. The small plates to share area all divine and the beer/wine selection is outstanding. Also, have craft cocktails. You sit at communal tables or tables very close to each other. Small bar area. Very "current trend" food but well done!

The father and son had dinner on a friend's recommendation. The service was lovely, friendly, and helpful. Really, really beautiful food, lovely presentation, and great value! Thanks to all staff at Mediterranean Exploration Company.

We had excellent service during an early meal on a work trip. We opted for the tasting menu and enjoyed all of the dishes we were served. Among our favorites were the pitas, Lebanese Lamb Tartare (try it with the red cabbage... you will love it!), baked eggplant, Beef bacon wrapped date (the favorite of the night... swoon-worthy), a delicious salad (not sure which one), Chreime, some sort of amazing Kebab, chicken, and pistachios with chocolate and powdered sugar on them. We were too full to order dessert! I really enjoyed the Slovenian white wine I had with dinner.

Another one of John Gorham's great Portland restaurants (which include Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons, Tasty n Alder, Mediterranean Exploration Company, & Shalom Y'all. This is a hot food topic, with the London restaurant Ottolenghi being one of the leaders and ground-breakers. Perfect place for a light or a large meal, small-plates of wonderfulness and you won't find better hummus and pita or Israeli s'hug anywhere in town. Fine cocktails (you can always find a seat in the bar it seems if the restaurant is full) and a good wine list round out this busy and sometimes noisy place.

This place is perfect for a family who loves to eat! Tapas dishes are small but tasty. We ordered main dishes and tapas dishes. Octopus was perfectly cooked. The pita bread, well, you have to keep it coming. It was a birthday dinner to remember!

You must get a reservation - it is a small inside with table distancing practiced. We had Hummus, Falafel, artichoke. All very tasty!

This place has fantastic food. The lamb tartare, hummus, salads are our favorites. The staff is welcoming and attentive without hovering. Unfortunately the noise level is extreme, except in the bar, which is why we go to Happy Hour. They have installed some sound boards on the ceiling, so the noise level has slightly improved.

Everything is amazing this restaurant, the food, the drinks, the staff, the atmosphere and the prices

A really popular and busy place for a midweek night. We chose seven mixed plates between the four of us, which was plenty. We went for shrimp and lots of veggie options - all very different, interesting recipes and nicely cooked. I had an Oakshire beer, which I think was the best US beer I've had. Great atmosphere, only slightly marred by the loud mouthed guy on the next table, who clearly thought he was the most important person in the universe - not the restaurant's fault!.

We tried to snag a same-day reservation, which already told me something. Luckily, the bar came through—two seats, full menu, and zero compromise. I’m still wondering how this flew under my radar. This is a standout. The Turkish Coffee Martini grabbed my attention immediately. It was exactly what I expected. The couple next to us had a stunning drink, so that was my next venture. The mixologist mentioned it’s their favorite cocktail to make and I understand why. The menu is designed for sharing, so we leaned in. Greek potatoes, Moroccan brick chicken, and the Adana lamb kebab made for a perfect trio. Portions were ideal for sharing, though next time I’d add a couple more plates to turn it into a full journey. This was date-night perfection. The ambiance is warm and intimate without feeling stuffy, and the service was a balance of attentive and relaxed. Every detail—from pacing to presentation—felt intentional. Service, food, cocktails, and atmosphere all checked every box. Mediterranean Exploration is the kind of place you immediately plan to return to, ideally with friends so you can order even more. A must-visit if you’re dining in Portland. Also check out their sister restaurants on their site.

Small plates to share. We ate and ate and ate. Everything was great. Many new dishes and flavors. Mint Ice Tea was super served in a little glass with crushed ice and mint. Great pita bread, Challah bread and grilled octopus. Wonderful spreads from a variety of things, great Labneh and broccoli rabe. Wonderful S'hug, Shalosh and Jewish fish stew. Really spicy. Good service. It took a while to get our second dessert so we took it and ran because parking is complicated. Only two hour parking and they do issue tickets. There is a paid lot down the street two blocks.

Pretty good meal! We got the king salmon, feta with pita, and the lamb pancetta. The king salmon and the feta with pita were both delicious! But, I was left wanting a little bit more from the lamb pancetta. The orzo and beef dish if it is on the menu is supposed to be scrumptious.

What a great place. We had the tasting menu. It was family style. Great selection of the menu. My favorite was the lamb tartare. Stuff that I normally might not order, but all great. Also had some Chocolate covered pistachios at the end. A great place to eat. Didn’t have reservations. Got in at 7pm and waited for about an hour to get table. Would recommend.

We ordered take out from MEC. I like Mediterranean food, but I find it does not always measure up to what I am hoping for. This restaurant met all my hopes/expectations! Great hummus, pita, falafel, and labneh. Absolutely worth it!

Literally everything on the menu here is fantastic. It's the perfect solution for pandemic challenges, as they offer take-out and delivery AND an outdoor tent for on-site dining. Highly recommend.

Had a great experience here while on vacation. I’ve been to many Mediterranean restaurants, and this was the best, far exceeding expectations. Food was great, and the atmosphere was sophisticated but not stuffy. Highly recommended.

We stopped here on a whim and had an amazing dinner Everyone was helpful and polite the food was great couldn’t ask for a nicer evening dinner for two

Excellent meal!!! I was there with my wife and daughter, and we started out with the crispy lamb hummus and the chicken meatballs for appetizers, both of which were great. My wife and daughter shared the chermoula rubbed shrimp and the hanger steak, with rave reviews from both, while I enjoyed the Adana lamb kebab. I had a cocktail--"When Doves Cry" -- which was spicy and perfect for me! Service was good but not over-attentive.

Invited two out of town business associates to a celebratory post-event dinner. From the inventive and delicious cocktails, to the extensive and exotic food menu, to the impeccable service, the experience was like running both a sprint and a marathon. We all asked our server, “Please, keep it coming!” Have also been to the wonderful happy hour!

So yummy! Our family loved it. Would definitely go again next time in Portland. Yummy pita, the asparagus hummus was delicious. Great options for vegetarians and meat lovers. The lamb was delicious. The falafel was delish too. Evan was very nice and helpful.

Great choice for staff dinner. The variety of foods and emphasis on sharing dishes made it fun for staff conversation. Service was great and guided is well. The only draw back is that it is a LOUD atmosphere.

Was referred to this place by three different people, so had high expectations. Busy on Memorial weekend, but they found me a seat at their high top tables at the back of the restaurant. Ordered the fennel & orange & almond salad to start, which was really overdressed (and drowning in liquid), which resulted in limp fennel, but the flavors were good. The crispy lamb atop their hummus was incredibly oversalted(!) and I really tried to get past that, but after three bites I asked to substitute their plain hummus dish, and I’m really glad that I did. Server was very pleasant, and even brought me a new warm pita to accompany my second hummus dish. The presentation of their hummus is really beautiful, and the flavor combinations of the tahini, olive oil, and spices work beautifully. The thick “Israeli style” pita is superb, and their portions are generous (though expensive). Given the many options for Mediterranean food in Portland, I don’t feel compelled to return.

We went here on a Thursday night just before they were seating for dinner. The hostess was very polite and offered to get us drinks while we waited. Once seated, we were promptly met by our server who was very knowledgeable and friendly. We couldn’t decide on what to have because frankly, it all looked good. Our server was extremely helpful and recommended three very good dishes; Yemenite Kubaneh with grated tomato, s’hug, and olive oil; house made labneh (cauliflower fried in olive oil), the octopus cooked with espelette pepper and dill, and the fried chicken with Aleppo pepper and honey. Everything was so good and came to the table quickly, warm and fresh!

From the piping hot homemade pita to the falafel to the kebabs, every bite was more delicious than the next and expertly prepared. Our waitress recommended their house rose, which was a wonderful compliment to the meal. The meatballs were out of this world good! Very authentic Israeli style dishes. Service was terrific.

This exquisite restaurant was recommended to us while having a beer at 10 Barrel Brewing. The lamb chops were fantastic, tender and cooked to perfection. The chreime was not your typical "fish stew", exploding with flavor. We could have licked the plates clean.

We had a Curry Favor drink, hummus, chicken kabobs, lamb, and were later given complimentary greens. All were great. The lamb is a contender for best lamb I've ever had.

We came to this restaurant with friends based on reviews. Pretentious and unimaginative pricey food. They couldn’t split the bill for some reason. There are other places with better ambiance and food in Portland.

We felt as though we were transported to the Mediterranean last night while savoring our mezze at Mediterranean Exploration Company. Our potpourri of mezze was a perfect blend of tomatoes with pine nuts, warm castelvetrano olives, padron peppers, meatballs, and pita bread topped off with an exquisite Lebanese eggplant with lamb and feta. Oh My!!! We can’t wait to return!!! Thank you!!!!

The place is very busy. Make reservations early. There were 4 adults and two young boys. We ordered a wide range of food from octopus, calamari, lamb, pita bread and hummus. Actually a lot more but can't remember. The food presentation is very nice. The service is very prompt. The bar request got mixed up once but not a big deal. Highly recommend for a date of a larger group. Is a little pricey, but worth it.

in great neighborhood of Portland; for locals or visitors, the "Pearl" always feels like it's "humming." Restaurant: vibrant ambience, upbeat service staff; creative delicious food!

What started as a sprinkle turned into a full-fledged rain. We were able to move from the picnic tables to the under-cover stand-up counter – which was quite pleasant enough. We started with eggplant dip which was outstanding – pitas were fluffy, really good. Light entrees of tuna and chicken meatballs. Both nicely presented and good mix of flavors.

M.E.C (Delivered through a local PDX service called "Caviar" - they are hands down the only service I use to order food). M.E.C = Mediterranean Exploration Company. A mouthful of a title but what is say is fill your MOUTH FULL of this food ASAP!!! With our current state of horrible affairs, we obviously don't have the freedom to just run out and grab whatever we want at any time (COVID has changed a lot for our typical freedoms) however, I do not use PostMates and I do not use Uber Eats because their services are inferior and they additional fees are astronomical, it's Caviar for any food delivery service). I'm perplexed how M.E.C has not only created perfect food, but their timing to where, even with bicycle delivery times, comes to you fresh and hot, not overcooked or runny. Beyond blows my mind. I'll tell you I'ms o impressed with the entirety, I don't care the dollar amount it equals to. If I want it, I get it, even at $10 per lamb chop. My last order with delivery and a healthy tip was $140.00 for 2ppl. I know, I know, seems pretty elaborate, but you know lamb chops are petite and depending on your appetite I would say 3 chops per person is appropriate ($60 right off the top). I love authentic, creamy hummus ($12) and I don't love eggplant in any preparation except babaganoush ($11). Creamy, garlicky and divine. M.E.C accompanies these items with warm, homemade pita. I also tend to order their dish called Lebneh ($12) which is house made yogurt cheese and fried cauliflower. All of this is plenty for more than 2 people and you will still have leftovers. Man, I love me some leftovers. Because everything is so savory, I love a sweet bite to balance it all out with the Tahina Choc Chip cookie ($5) Again, beyond impressed, I perpetually recommend this place and everything on the menu. They say there is no such thing as perfect, but guess what? I FOUND PERFECT!!

Very tasty food. Every dish we had was absolutely delicious. My favorites were the meatballs, cheese plate, and the salmon. The meatballs and cheese come with bread which was a welcome surprise. However, the service could have been better. Also, you need more than two co-ed bathrooms for a restaurant of this size in my opinion. Overall, great place though.

Food 5 stars - if it werent for the food this place would have just gotten a 3 star rating from me hummus with mushroom was unique and very delish shrimp dish was spectacular cod dish was ok ambiance 3 stars, way too loud service 3 stars. Server barely checks on you. i might just order to go next time, food is really good Reservation not accepted unless party of 6 or more,30 min wait on a Thursday night.

Very tasty, delicious food, very nice friendly staff without being overbearing upsellers, encountered too often in popular trendy places such as this. Nice low lighting, flattering to everyone. Busy but not a din of noise. The hummus with crispy mushrooms is out of this world, as is the carrots in herbs, and the drinks very good.

We made an early reservation and when we arrived they asked where would like to be seated. Some corner counter seats were available right by the grill which is our favorite place to sit when given the opportunity at a restaurant. We love watching the cooks! We sat next to 2 gentlemen who were regulars and their food looked great. We inquired into what they were eating (they were still on appetizers) and they said the Raddichio Salad and the Crispy Lamb Hummus. We ordered both and both were outstanding. Unlike our neighbors, those 2 dishes were enough food for the 2 of us, so we failed to order an entree. We had a nice bottle of Vermentino from Italy which was also great. Our server was Matthew and when my wife told him that she was allergic to bell peppers, he looked at all the items on the menu and made notes on what other ingredients, not listed, were in each dish. Outstanding and beyond the call of duty. Other members of the staff also visited with us and gave us recommendations. Overall, a delightful experience! Would highly recommend a visit. Should make a reservation as the place quickly filled up after we were seated.

This is Israeli restaurant familiarizing the public with Middle Eastern food. Great hummus, kebabs, baba ganoush and other dishes famous throughout the region. The place itself is modern and located in the middle of Pearl District. We sat outside and it was the best: people watching is the most fun! It just happened to be a day of Blues Festival so the crowd was especially vibrant. We ordered baked feta appetizer, chicken kebab, a Lebanese-style eggplant stuffed with diced lamb meat and feta, and ground-meat kebab. Everything was terrific, flavorful, fresh. Portions are not big, “European” size, but you are not hungry after you finish and not heavy either. The bill was about $81 (before tips) for 3 and included a glass of wine and a beer. Speaking of tips: prepare to tip not only your server but also kitchen staff. I am yet to get used to such tipping, though I understand that it would be fair.

Small plates that are to die for, a combo of Mediterranean specialties rushed out fresh from the kitchen. Amazing cocktails, friendly service, this is one of my favorite repeat dining experiences when visiting Portland.

Hubs and I were in Portland for a trade tasting for his work and since I was celebrating my BD - we looked for something close to the Castaway. The Mediterranean looked very interesting - we are adventurous foodies and the menu rang our chimes! And - yowza! It checked all the boxes for us - great music on the PA, friendly faces from the get-go, fast service (we were the very first in for a while),yummo beer on draft (my favorite pFriem and Great Notation Hazy for hubs - great $$ on those). OMG - the Crispy Lamb Hummus was rich - the lamb perfectly crispy as promised, the beef bacon wrapped dates were sweet and scrumptious, Greek Potatoes delightfully herbed and buttery in a huge portion, the Mejadara with Crispy Onions were a mouthful of savory flavors - AND - the VERY BEST I saved for the last! Don't you dare pass up the GRILLED OCTOPUS - nicely presented, a bit chewy as Octo can be, but so fresh and briny!! Then - we made absolute oink-oinks of ourselves (it was my BD) and ordered the Tahini ice cream in a chocolate shell. Nick and John were right on the money with service - but friendly - you can tell when servers like their jobs :). All in all - wonderful day in Portland for the Birthday Girl. Then we waddled on home back to Salem!

My husband and I read the reviews for this place an knew we wanted to try it. We didn’t have a great sense of when we would he ready for dinner so we went without reservations and the staff was accommodating and lead us to a bar where we were promptly served drinks and also quickly found seating for two at the bar. They also have lovely outdoor and restaurant seating if you make a reservation. We tried the chef’s tasting menu and it was amazing and such a great and holy cow filling experience. Try it!!!

We have eaten here several times and it is always busy. We like to arrive before the main restaurant opens and have a drink in the bar while we wait. We also like to sit at the chefs counter and watch the magic happen in the kitchen. We make a lot of choices by asking for something we see that looks good. The service is always great and we feel well taken care of but not rushed.

If you are looking for outstanding Mediterranean food in a really nice space, this is your place. Great food, attentive service and really good cocktails. I will go back anytime I am in Portland Oregon. Please make a reservation well in advance!

Excellent food! Every dish was so tasty, falafel was superb. The baklava and chocolate French toast challah was delicious!

This was one of the best meals I have ever had. The experience was perfect from beginning to end. The outdoor seating was perfect! The menu choices were so inventive that I wanted to order one of everything. From the hummus to the labneh to the short ribs, each item exceeded the item before. The honey cake was the perfect ending to an outstanding meal. The service was amazing! I would recommend this place to anyone.

WE continue to gravitate to MEC when we have corporate guests. The tapa's provide a culinary experience and the atmosphere is friendly and fun.

I was here a year ago and gave this place 4 stars due to some service issues, nothing to do with the food. A week after I posted my previous review, I got contacted by Renee who wanted to get some feedback on my experience and also wanted me to give it a second chance to see if my experience would be better. I was very impressed with the owner's dedication to customer service which is far above the general Portland standards. After living here for more than a year, I find the customer service in general good but not outstanding. Not this place. I decided to come back last week to see how things shape up. I was quite impressed. The food has not changed, I still give it 5 stars. Forget about TUSK, this is the place to try. Our server was Elliot who was very engaging, helpful and really aims to please. I brought my mother in law who is the most finicky person i've ever met to the point of driving me crazy. She ordered the chicken kebab which had a bit spice and she really made it known to everyone that she didnt like it (BTW the chicken kebob was very good). Without us asking Elliot came back with the Moroccan brick chicken customized with what he thinks she would like. It was a winner. This is what sets good vs outstanding service. I always say that service is not defined by smiles and pleasantries, thats just part of it. True service is tested when faced with challenges like a crazy mother in law. This place passed it with flying colors. Portland needs more establishments like this and more owners like Renee who truly understand the impact of customer service. I recommend this place and I will be returning here over and over again even if the the noise level is pretty high :) The tuna tartare was the winner for that evening!

Another TripAdvisor recommendation that came thru very well. Very well thought menu with mix and match of traditional Mediterranean food elements like hummus with experimental flavors like mushrooms. Everything we ordered was really nice. Enjoyed the lamb kebab and warm freekah salad especially.

This is my second visit to this restaurant. We had a party of four - stopped in for a drink and light fare before exploring the area. The hummus and pita are really delicious and very fresh. The greek potatoes are amazing too. Try the stuffed dates. We’ll be back!!

Excellent food and good service. It can get noisy so its great for large group but I like to sit in the bar if I am just meeting one friend.

Great dinner here. They serve mostly small plates and recommend 2-3 different dishes per person at the table. I will say, some were very small and hard to share among 5 people. But everything was fresh, delicious and oh so flavorful. I did see another table order the calamari and that looked like a huge portion. They serve most of the plates with the most amazing fresh pita bread I’ve ever had. We did have to keep asking for them to bring more, which was slightly annoying ( they brought out 1 piece at a time). The radicchio salad was amazing. So was the fennel salad. The Israeli lamb carnitas dish was fabulous as was the hanger steak. The felafel balls were a bit salty. We only had 2 desserts- baklava ( yum) and the strawberries and cream choice ( really great). Service was very good, with multiple people waiting on us- but it seemed to work. Price is moderate, but you do feel that it is worth it given the freshness of the food, the flavor, the service, and the ambiance of this lovely place.

At first we were so impressed yet all of the dishes seemed the same and too rich. all were creamy with lots of oils. and the flavors did not stand out. shrimp dish was okay (not flavorful enough), the snap peas was too creamy. Interior is great, cocktails may have been the best part.

We ate at 4 restaurants on a recent business trip to Portland and this was clearly the best. Great decor and all of the food was delicious. Authentic mediterranean flavours and flawless execution. The hummus, octopus and chicken were all memorable. Fantastic dinner - could not recommend this place highly enough.

The food here was absolutely great. It was fun to pick and choose from a wide variety of small plates specials. We stuffed ourselves in a happy way. My son is a vegetarian and he was more than happy with the choices. I am not a vegetarian, and I loved everything he picked. After you have finished, it's great to just walk around The Pearl

Four of us arrived around 6:00PM on Friday, September 29, 2017, and told the wait was 1-1 1/2 hours. We placed our name on the list and walked around the area for about an hour until we received the message a table was ready for us. There are so many interesting choices to select from. The selections are made to share. We started with the fennel salad dressed with a lemon vinaigrette which was delicious. All our selections were well seasoned and very flavorful: oven roasted kohlrabi, oven roasted peaches(yummy!), hummus pitriyot, Mediterranean Sea bream, and Moroccan brick chicken. Great service and friendly staff.

We were together for a fun night and had such a great time! All our small dishes were so awesome!! We just kept ordering so many more! Best lamb chops ever!!

From the moment you walk into the restaurant, you know you are in for a treat. The atmosphere is lively and modern. The tables are inviting, and the smell is making you hungry. Amazing food, great selection, friendly staff. Wish I ate there more than once!

Very interesting menu, and we went on and explored different dishes. We started it with Octopus with pepper and dill. Well, the Octopus was so tiny and thin, it should not have been $ 16 for the dish. That was the low point of the dinner, but, fortunately, all the dishes gotten better from there. The Usul Hummus was delicious, we cleaned out the plate. The Beacon wrapped dates, the sweetness of the dates mixed very well with the saltiness of the beacon. But, it was a bit on the sweet side, I wish I had some bread to go with it. The raddichio salad was mixed well, and the dressing tasted similar to ranch flavor, the portion was generous enough to share. The lamb sandwich as well as the lamb chop were a good choice. The most memorable dish of the evening was the lamb chop. It was one of the best Lamb Chop we've ever had. Thumbs up to the Chef !

Excellent service, delicious food!!! We ordered the hummus to start. Then we had kebabs, octopus, cauliflower, asparagus and a kale salad, all to share amongst 5. Plus a bottle of a local Pinot Noir. Everything was delicious. For desert we had the apricot cheesecake and the pistachio bon bons. Try it! You will not be disappointed.,

Always enjoy the food here, well executed Mediterranean favorites and pleasant atmosphere. I can never pass up the octopus .... yum

Amazing food and cocktails. Its always busy so be prepared to wait but well worth the wait. We ordered kebabs, octopus and the hummus. All top notch

My boyfriend and I just went here for dinner and had a wonderful time. The menu was amazing, though we struggles to decide what to eat, as everything looked so good. Our wonderful waitress Jennica gave us the best suggestions and we couldn’t be happier. The food was delicious and well price! Thanks again Jennica!

The food was fresh and unbelievable. There was so much flavor with each dish. We had the artichoke hummus, beet salad, snap peas and chicken. Yummy yummy!

overall good food and service. good options if you are craving for mediterranean cuisine while in portland.

We dropped in without reservations. The hostess asked if we would take "kitchen" seating. From the door it looked being seated at a restaurant bar, except over the about 12 inch high counter was the kitchen. It was like being the camera in an episode of Jon Favreau's "The Chef Show." Orders came in, the chef called out dishes, the staff hustled to produce the food. Busy with a sense of order. Fascinating process to observe. But the people who didn't have the view still got great food. Food is served American style with shared plates, but the food is not typical meat and potatoes. We had a Fennel salad which combined taste with texture in a way you don't get with lettuce. The Kabobs on a cinnamon stick were the right size and flavor. Dessert was a good as the rest. Tables on the sidewalk available. The only negative for us was it is relatively noisy. If we went again we would ask for the kitchen seating!

A very popular spot in the Pearl District of Portland. They serve small plates to be shared, lots of yogurt dishes and of course Mediterranean style foods. We had a lot of them, but the one outstanding dish (for me) was the octopus, a long grilled tenacle brought on a platter! We also had the chicken meatballs, salt roasted beets, eggplant dip and other dishes. The most difficult part of visiting this restaurant is the parking in the Pearl. We found a lot a few blocks away and squeezed our car into one of their small sized but large priced spaces. Then walked in the rain to the restaurant. Oh, well that is the Pearl for you. But it was worth the effort.

Did take-out and ordered the MEC Feast as well as Greek Lamb Chops. The feast included hummus and Pita - the pita is so fresh, its chewy and so good and the hummus is so smooth and yummy. The greek potatoes and salad were good and the falafel was excellent The star of the show was the lamb chops - cooked perfectly and the light sauce on them was fantastic Got us a new favorite restaurant in Portland!

Adana lamb Kebab and Hummus Abu Hassan among the, if not THE best I had outside of Israel. Pricey but the best if you are keen on middle-eastern cusisine.

Lovely setting...great service...Fabulous food for whole family...vegan, vegetarian, omnivores. Loved every bite of creative dishes!

This restaurant offers small plate fare but at full price. We were not expecting the offerings to be a la carte at an average of $20-$27 per plate. The waitress kept suggesting we should order more food and that we would still be hungry with only 1 item each plus the bread service we ordered. High sales pressure to keep ordering more. However, the food was radians flavorful.

We put ourselves in the hands of the chef and shared a terrific selection of small plates. Solid service. Delicious food. The tasting menu is $50 per person which is pricey. The rating of 4 instead of 5 is because of the price, and also the ambient noise level is very high which makes conversation difficult. If this review is helpful then please indicate so below.

Wanted to get something light before a theatre performance. Went to MEC totry it out. Part ofthe restaurant group that operates Blue Hour and several others, this one has a mediterranean focus, which brings in middle eastern, Israeli, and others. Food was good, service was a little slow due to happyhour rush.

Great middle Eastern food in small plates. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Good atmosphere. Good liquor and wines.

We went to Portland City Grill for happy hour, then walked 10 mins up the hill to MEC for our reserved table at 5.45. First thing we were thankful of was the fact that we reserved a table. This place is busy - couples were waiting 1 to 1.5 hours for a table. Second thing we were thankful for was the fact that we selected this place over a “normal” steak, burger or salmon dinner for my sons dinner. We all loved it. We decided to select food a la carte instead of going for the fixed price menu. Everything was fantastic. The kebab, the octopus, the pita, the veggies, radicchio salad all wonderful. The star for me was the Youvetsi. All this accompanied by a nice Italian white wine, a pfriem Pilsner and a coffee stout which were excellent. We finished off with a Turkish coffee to share. All I can say is wow. Program flavors, lots of garlic, just a bit of spiciness. Original and well executed. Just remember to reserve a table.

Industrial chic atmosphere was surprisingly warm but fittingly the food stole the show. Tapas-style small dishes were fun for our group of four to share and savor. Everything we tried was so delicious. Attentive but inobstrusive service ensured the dishes kept coming and our glasses were always full.

Loved the atmosphere, service and food. Perfect plates for sharing. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgeable. Support staff was on top clearing plates as we dined. Really enjoyed the mezes and other options. Would recommend the yellowtail carpaccio, lamb tartare, baked eggplant, house made labneh and grilled octopus.

This was by far some of the best Mediterranean food we've ever had. The place was charming, but a little noisy. We ate at a bar like table facing the street which was fun and worked well for us. We had the beef bacon wrapped dates which were killer. They were drizzled in a sweet honey and cooked to perfection. The pit was removed and replaced with a nut so you could eat it without worry. The octopus was also delicious, but had too much dill on it. Once I scraped it off, it was great. My spouse ordered the lamb which was served on a cinnamon skewer. Nice presentation, but only two small kabab like skewers. Service was attentive and plentiful. The staff definitely works together to make the experience delightful.

Our group of four recently tried the Mediterranean Exploration Company for an early dinner It was a great experience. In addition to the elegant indoor space, there is a large outdoor patio extending into the street which is where we ate. Lots of shade from the actual building but entertaining to watch all the pedestrians go by. Our server was friendly and prompt. The food is actually a bunch of small plates. For our group of four, our waitress suggested we get 6-8 plates. Ours came out two dishes at a time. We got eight and all left feeling full. We started with the fried calamari. These were lightly breaded and served over a spicy tomato sauce. This was a big hit for all of us. I enjoyed the Labneh with Fried Artichokes. I'd never had fried artichokes, the texture was a bit dry and needed the yogurt-like labneh. This dish was the most disliked in our group. Next came the crispy lamb hummus. Creamy, smooth, luscious hummus with a smattering of crispy lamb on top. This was a huge hit with everyone. It only comes with a single pita, so be sure to order more. The Watermelon Salad which was chunks of seasoned watermelon with some tahini dressing. It had urfa pepper, similar to black pepper, which I had never had before. Our third round was the Blistered Shishito Peppers and the Baked Feta and Blackberries. Our table was split on the Shishito dish. I love shishitos and really enjoyed the thick pistachio puree it was served with. On the other hand, the baked feta was my least favorite dish. It was super sweet and should probably be considered a dessert. Our final two dishes with the Moroccan Brick Chicken and the Hangar Steak. The chicken was moist and flavorful served with an amazing arugula and pecorino salad that I highly recommend. The hangar steak was also delicious and was served with potatoes and fried capers. It was a really fun experience, and I had the opportunity to try a lot of spices and flavors I'm not that familiar with. It was somewhat pricey, but the food was great, and I'd happily return.

Delicious calamari and octopus, nice ambiance, they even have orange wines, walk in, quaint bar, hopping neighborhood, recommended.

We loved the small plates an labors at this place. Definitely check out the happy hour! I definitely recommend the Octopus and they were very accommodating for our Gluten allergy. We will be sure to come back here when return to visit our friends. I wish they had something like his in Florida.

All around fantastic experience. Coils only get a table reso on the bar which turned out to be perfect. Great energy. Attentive staff. Fantastic cocktails and small plates. Everything we had was delicious. Absolutely would go back!

convivial setting; above-average, pricey Middle Eastern fare; warm freekeh salad, hummus with summer peppers....

Our family came back last month after our last visit when the place first opened. We tried the grilles octopus, eggplant humus, salads for appertizer. Then, we got the lam rack, fish ... Every single dish were so ... tasty. This place will be added our favorite restaurant list ... The service was excellent too. Well done.

This was my first time in Portland and I have no idea where to go for dinner. So I asked Uber driver to drop her off at pro District. We just walked a couple of blocks and found this restaurant which looked like an exciting place to eat. Our expectations were not only met but exceeded. My friend and I sat at the very end of the bar and found it to be probably one of the nicest places to sit in the restaurant if you’re looking for an active and happening environment. The food is served in a tapas style, but the plates are larger than I typically experience in a tapas place. We had five dishes between two of us, and were completely stuffed. I would say, if you are not super hungry, two dishes per person is plenty. We did not have any room for dessert. I would say my favourite dishes were grilled salmon that came with delicious sauce and pickles onions and peppers that added brightness and excitement to the dish; grilled octopus was very unique and was probably the best grilled octopus I ever had, because it had crispy skin with very pleasant and tender texture inside. Another fish that was just outstanding was Greek potatoes - I am usually not a big fan of Greek potatoes because they are often too lemony, but these ones were absolutely delicious and were either fried or deep-fried a bit to create a crispy delicious skin. We also had hummus with spring vegetables and labneh.

Hard to beat the grilled octopus, the Greek potatoes, the lamb skewer and the hummus. I’d eat here every day if I could!!

Super-interesting menu spanning the entire Mediterranean. We shared a spring vegetable hummus that was the best I ever tasted---super creamy and flavorful. The combination of the hummus, veggies, and delicious fresh warm pita was amazing. My wife had a mushroom, tomato, and puff pastry medley and it was divine. I had salmon which was exquisite. The portions are modest but we were stuffed and sated. The wine list tended toward eastern Europe and should have more local Oregon choices, but that was our only complaint. The setting is comfortable, the service is excellent, and the neighborhood is fun---you can enjoy walking off a wonderful dinner.

This is a great place to go with more than 2 people. That way you can order more food and share. I love getting to try new dishes and not have to "commit" to ordering just one.

Had an incredible dining experience at MEC - the servers were amazing, very attentive and personable - they shared some of their recommendations which turned out to be very good. We had the hummus which was so creamy and delicious. We also had the grilled carrots with feta and pistachio sauce which is amazingly good. The lamb chops are a must have - fork tender and the marinade was really good and the spices were just spot on! I don't know who the chef is at MEC but he and his crew do an amazing job - it was crazy busy (Monday night) and we got our food timely and the servers gave us all the attention we desired. Going back soon - thanks MEC!

Being a party of four was perfect for trying out several menu items and being able to share around the table. The lamb meatballs were excellent as were the shrimp and the squash dishes we tried. The Turkish Delight Cocktail, served in a tea pot and easily shared among three of us was truly delightful. The Challah Bread Pudding made me a fan of bread pudding where I wasn't before.

I reserve five stars for but a few establishments and this place qualifies! Excellent flavors and spicing took things to a higher level. In Chicago we have lots of great Mediterranean cuisine and MEC would fare very well there. Wrapped dates, lamb humus, falafel and meatballs…. Some a bit hot for a couple but fine for me! The lamb kabobs and lamb chops were very good although the kabobs were more like a kefta kabob than chunks of lamb. We needed more warm pitas and were surprised they didn’t come with the falafel and the humus….. we also enjoyed the rice dish as another side. It was a bit much to finish but the flavors were excellent. My only complaint was my gin and tonic with lime came with ‘tonic flavored with rosemary and hibiscus’ which is definitely NOT the same thing but our server promptly offered to replace it. His service was also top tier. Definitely worthy of its high ratings, I’m glad we came here!

The food at the Mediterranean Exploration Company was phenomenal. My friend and I arrived on a Friday night at the suggestion of a local bartender and were pleased to be seated quickly. We started with the maitake mushroom hummus. The earthy combination of the mushrooms with the creamy hummus was delightful. The bartender even brought us sliced cucumber to dip as well as the traditional pita. We also enjoyed the olives, zucchini fritters, and the fennel salad.

The olives are amazing. The falafel was incredible, soft, moist, and crisp all at once. Doused with a beautiful dollop of olive oil, it felt like I was selling Saloniki.

Came with a group of six friends / family and tasted a lot of MEC plates. Started out with the warm olives - what a great way to start a meal, warm firm olives sitting in good quality evoo. Next we had the Octopus and grilled half artichoke with feta pistachio puree - OMG the octopus was super tender and really good. The feta pistachio puree I could eat my the spoonful so smooth and flavorful. We also had the hanger steak, Tuna, salmon in filo dough, and hummus with pita . Everything was so good it was hard to select the best of the best. Love MEC!

Mediterranean basin inspired cuisine with trendy crowd all around. Few seats outside along the quiet street

Great food, great service, comfortable surroundings. Seems like a well known local restaurant, families with kids and couples meeting other friends. Shareable dishes, all very tasty.

Some exciting food here including vegetarian And healthy fare. Service is pleasant and prices are reasonable. Very diverse. Clientele who seem to love this place. It feels right in here

First time here. Food is served family style. We asked the server for recommendations on how many dishes to get for two people; he suggested 3-4, which worked out well. We got a hummus, rice, octopus and lamb kebab. The lamb ended up being minced, which we didn't love - should have got the lamb chops. Also, the food comes out as it is ready, and the kebabs came out long after the other food, which was a bit disappointing as we wanted to have it with the rice. Cool space in an old warehouse, and good service.

All-round Fantastic - food, atmosphere and service! Ate here twice in the four days we were in Portland (and have been several times on previous visits!)

I have had the pleasure of eating here three times, all of them a special occasion or holiday. The food is excellent and very diversified from warn pita style with olive oil and fried cauliflower to a delicious piece of fried chicken. Their desserts are some things you’ve never heard, like Feta cake or familiar ones like bread pudding. No matter what you choose, you won’t be disappointed. They don’t normally take reservations except for larger parties, but the wait will be worth it. You can check out their menu online to understand the treat you're in for.

I write is after my second trip to Mediterranean Exploration the first one being some time in 2016. This restaurant is off the charts. On this trip we managed to sneak by the hour wait as two seats opened up at the bar (yes, I was prepared to wait that long after my first experience here). On this trip we had the Grilled Octopus ($18) – which I recalled from my first trip; Calamari ($16), Falafels ($12), Lamb Kibbe ($16), Meatballs ($14), although we could not fit them, ordered the Grilled Peaches ($10) and took them home. The service was fantastic as was the food – again. Now one of my top two favorite restaurants in Portland.

Was in Portland on work and went here for a solo dinner. Had Radicchio salad and a Kabab. Both were excellent. Service was wonderful as well. Want to go back and try their other dishes.

We went as a family group of 6 and must have tried 1/2 the menu. We loved everything from the initial Chai Mocktail. Do not miss the asparagus, the radicchio salad, the chicken meatballs, the lamb chops, the hanger steak... Maybe just order one of everything! Our service was friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. I'll be back on my next trip to PDX.

Great food experience. We tried the chefs menu which included various small plates shared by 2. Our favorites: lamb, hummus, fresh home made pita, chicken meatballs, pistachio cake. YUM!

A range of Mediterranean foods, from Israeli to Persian to Greek to Moroccan. Hummus Abu Hassan is extremely good. As were the kofta meatballs and green salad.

Ate here on a Monday night. Came a bit early for our reservation but they were able to squeeze us in after a drink at the bar. Selection of beers is great and their eclectic mixed drink options were divine (get the Turkish delight- it was so good, I got two!). Both our bar tender and server, Elliot, were friendly, helpful and fast. Once seated, we ordered a bunch of tapas that came out as they were done. My stand out was the Moroccan baked eggs, the scallops and beets are recommended as well. In short, everything we ordered was great, especially their bread. . I don't think you could go wrong with anything in this restaurant. Just go!

Our dinner was amazing! Every dish was delicious, interesting and beautifully presented. The cocktail and wine list is fantastic. And the service is attentive, charming, but not invasive. We loved it. A particular favourite was the fried cauliflower with labne - so delicious. We couldn't get a reservation but their website says they always have tables set aside for walk-ins - and it was true! We were seated within minutes on a busy evening. Now I can't imagine visiting Portland without including a trip to MEC.