At M. E. C. , Executive Chef Kasey Mills and Chef de Cuisine Stephanie Arnet bring the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean to Portland’s Pearl District. Informed by extensive travel and research, their menu showcases diverse yet harmonious shared plates that honor the culinary traditions found throughout the Mediterranean. The restaurant is set in an open, energetic space where industrial design meets refined detail, M. E. C. encourages family-style dining and features a spirited beverage program inspired by the region’s iconic flavors.
Upscale Mediterranean-Middle Eastern fare & cocktails served in an industrial-chic setting.
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: mecpdx.com
mediterraneanexplorationcompany.com
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Reviews
Debika Dutt
One of our friends hosted a party here and this was a tasting menu. The food was good and fresh. Plenty of options to try if you love meat. Our dishes were served really quick and service was great. We were able to share the plates amongst us and was ample left over. We loved the falafel and hummus plate and the lamb tasted good as well with a touch of sweetness added. Recommend if you’re looking to explore this place.
… moreCyriac Edappully
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.
… moreThe 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.
Wave Hog
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.
… moreJ N
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.
… moreAndre Lucas Ribeiro
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.
… moreAndrea
1000/10 recommend! We also got the fried chicken, lamb kebab, and potatoes wedges. The pear sorbet and fried chicken were to die for! 6 dishes was a lot for our group of three, but we ate every bite.
… moreMerry “Merrycyclist”
After at least half a dozen visits, the food and service continue to delight and surprise. We have found our very favorites ( radicchio salad, hummus with crispy lamb, and extra pita) which we order every time. And this time we ordered grilled lamb chops with a deliciously bright lemon-oregano sauce and also creamy baked eggplant with lentils and tahini. All the dishes are visually beautiful, well balanced, and intriguing. We shared two beautiful, delectable desserts- Coffee Buttermilk Cake and Pistachio Almond Cake. This dinner and dessert was enough food for two of us with a little to take home.
Do make a reservation and be aware that one can reserve “counter” which includes the kitchen counter and a counter in the dining room that faces onto a quiet street scene. The sound level can be very loud on busy nights.
… moreDo make a reservation and be aware that one can reserve “counter” which includes the kitchen counter and a counter in the dining room that faces onto a quiet street scene. The sound level can be very loud on busy nights.
Linli Pao
On the spendier side in comparison to the Shalom family of restaurants. Great, social ambience. Serving staff is attentive and on point. The lighting is darker than most restaurants, creating an intimate atmosphere.
… moreJulian
Some of the best food I’ve ever had! We did the tasting menu for my best friends birthday and what an experience!!! I definitely recommend coming here! The corn was absolutely jaw dropping
… moreKaelen Olson
I have been wanting to try lamb chops for sometime now. After doing some Google research, Mediterranean Exploration Company was at the top of the list. I don’t have anything to compare it to but I have a feeling if I did I would be in complete agreement in rating this as the best lamb chop in Portland. I ordered a half order medium rare. It took a little while for the order to arrive but I expected it to take slightly longer. Also, I had plenty of other delights to occupy my tastebuds. I even snuck a bite from my friends salad that came with their kabob. I think it was barely but I’m not certain. I am certain it was tastey with a nice chew, herbaceous and nutty flavor, with a pleasantly suprising spice that snuck up and warmed the pallet at the end. I’ll have to order the kabob next time. As for my lamb chops, they were well worth the wait. The meat was tender and seasoned to perfection. I loved the herbs and garlic oil poured over the chops. All together I couldn’t have asked for a better bite. This was by far my favorite dish and could have easily ate a full plate to myself. Luckily I restrained myself and was able to enjoy the bacon wrapped dates with almonds. A perfect blend of sticky sweat, crunchy, and salty. I also had the hummus with crispy lamb which I could have eaten up with a spoon. The fresh bread made the perfect vessel for the savory hummus. I usually avoid onions but what ever spices and oils they used had me scooping up the tender purple slivers along with the crispy lamb and velvety hummus with delight! Truly tasty and I would highly recommend. To drink, I had turkish coffee martini which managed to capture the perfect balance of coffee and cardamom flavors with a smooth finish. It was neither too sweet nor too bitter. I could have easily gotten myself into trouble if I had more than one. You almost didn’t need desert but then I would have missed out on the delicious white chocolate pana cola with crumble and a pear jam. It had a slight zinginess from the yogurt base and was complimented by the sweetness of the pear. My friend had the pistachio cake with apple and a scoop of ginger ice cream. I had to steal a bite. It was also deliciously well balanced. Especially when you took each component in one perfect bite. I got a beautiful chocolate chunck cookie with a candle for my birthday, which was such a pleasant surprise. The staff was all wonderful and attentive without being pushy. Overall, I can’t say enough good about my experience at Mediterranean Exploration Company!! Thank you for making my 50th a truly special occasion and a birthday I’ll always cherish. ❤️
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