The small plates food experience is nothing new in Portland. You’ve got tapas at Sur Lie, small plates at Lolita, and mezze style eating at Evo, as well as many others. Mezze style is interesting, because it’s more of a Middle Eastern concept. At Evo, sharing is encouraged, especially when you’re in a large group. After all, how many times have you gone out to dinner with friends and stared wistfully at their main entree while you ignore your own? I’m not a fan of sharing in many situations, but I love it with food. The more that I can try, the happier I will be. Needless to say, I was very happy sharing with my boyfriend when we went to Evo for dinner!
Brussels Sprouts:
I have to say, brussels sprouts are becoming a very big thing in Portland, and I’m loving it. If you’re looking for a new spot for your favorite vegetable, I really enjoyed Evo’s. They were slightly smoky, leaving pure flavor to blend seamlessly with the sauces on our plate. Not too soft, and just a little bit crunchy, these are a great way to start your meal at Evo.
Bluefin Tuna:
With some meals, it can be easy to pick a favorite dish or entree. I loved every dish I tried, but this sushi grade tuna was pretty damn intense. The texture is silky and smooth, while the flavor is clean and fresh. If I’d had the opportunity, I probably would have just had this as my whole meal, because I’ve always been a huge fan of tuna, especially when it’s prepared properly. Add the accoutrements of aleppo and an avocado toum, and this dish is truly a standout. If you love tuna, or you want smooth texture silkily dancing on your tongue, this is the dish to order.
Kibbeh Liban:
The Kibbeh Liban are essentially beef meatballs. These meatballs aren’t your typical Italian spaghetti and meatball variety, but I think that’s why I really enjoyed these. The yogurt sauce lent the perfect flavor, making them just a little bit tart, while also retaining the essence of the beef. Combine the Middle Eastern spices and this is unlike any dish I’ve found in Portland. 4 meatballs was just the right amount to savor the beef, while not becoming overwhelmed, considering we had lamb coming out next.
Lamb Loin:
This lamb loin just demonstrates, again and again, why lamb is one of my favorite kinds of meat. Though I do love duck, and every other kind of meat/protein, lamb has such a complex layer of flavors to unravel. This lamb was incredibly tender, and didn’t even require a knife to cut it. The sides on the plate stood out as well, especially the polenta cubes, which were cooked to perfection: slightly chewy, but a little velvety as well. The sauce that accompanied this dish was tangy, but not enough to overwhelm the lamb, which is a must. This lamb was juicy, succulent and truly a standout in my meal.
Mediterranean “Cookies”:
Since dessert is my favorite meal of the day, I’ll almost always try it wherever I go. After a filling meal of mezze style dishes, I didn’t want anything too heavy, which is where these “cookies” come into play. I mainly wanted to order the plate just to try the Persian Baklava. No matter what style of baklava you’re trying, it’s sure to be good! And it didn’t disappoint: it was flaky, sweet, and had just a little bit of a crunch to it. Out of all the cookies, it was my favorite. I’m not a big shortbread cookie fan, so they didn’t really do it for me, but I did enjoy the marshmallows as a light and fluffy ending to a great meal!
Bottom Line: Evo is a great restaurant that adds a layer of complexity to what some say is an oversaturated market. This style of eating is friendly to sharing, as well as large groups, who are easily accommodated on the mezzanine level. If you love Mediterranean flavors, Evo is a must!
