Mediterranean Exploration Company

“Amazing food, drinks and service. Pan seared Branzino might have been the best dish I have ever had. The handcrafted cocktails were unique yet familiar. Got lucky on Valentine’s day and got in without a reservation. I don’t advise to live on the edge as we did, make a reservation! This is the best restaurant in Portland.”

“Loved the food! The chicken meatballs was my favorite! I wanted to take an order home with me! So good! But really everything was delicious. The shrimp and (rice)?The brick chicken was done just right, tender, not under or over cooked. We ended with Turkish coffee and some dessert. And we were so full. I couldn't finish the baklava.”

“Amazing restaurant in Portland. It is not a very typical Mediterranean place, so don't go expecting that. However, that said, the food was very good, all portions that we got. I recommend getting several plates for the table and sharing, counting 2-3 plates for each person. With drinks and so we spent roughly $90 per person.”

“The atmosphere was terrific. We sat at the outside bar on a beautiful day and enjoyed the people watching and weather. The waiter was well trained and exceptional. The food was great, but left me wondering if it could have been way better. The bacon rapped dates were delicious. The lamb skewer was a mistake. The hamachi was good, but not amazing. The Moroccan brick chicken was good, but not amazing. I can’t remember the other items we had. I would go back and try ordering better.”

“I stopped by Mediterranean Exploration Company for happy hour and sat at the bar. Overall it was a good experience. The hummus was good, very creamy and smooth. Not the best hummus I’ve ever had, but still very enjoyable. The pita they serve with it was soft and delicious and great for dipping. That said, there definitely wasn’t enough pita for the amount of hummus they give, even when dipping pretty generously. I also found it a little surprising that extra pita costs $4. The lamb chops were definitely the highlight of the meal. They were delicious and absolutely worth ordering. The Greek potatoes were also very good. I also tried the radicchio salad, it had a nice crunch but leaned a bit bitter, which is probably expected for that type of green. One thing I appreciated was that some of the happy hour appetizers can be ordered as half portions, like the potatoes and the salad. The bartender pointed that out when I was ordering, which was helpful because if I had ordered everything as full plates I probably wouldn’t have been able to finish it all. One thing that stood out on the bill was a 3% “employee wellness” charge. I understand the intention, but I’d honestly prefer if restaurants just included an automatic gratuity instead. Seeing the extra charge and then still figuring out the tip felt a little awkward. That said, the bartender (Lauren) was extremely friendly and helpful and gave some great suggestions, which made the experience better. Overall it was a solid meal and a pleasant happy hour stop. While I enjoyed it, it wasn’t quite memorable enough for me to go out of my way to return.”