What's Cooking America - Restaurant Reviews
Portland, Oregon Metro Restaurant Reviews

  Home  |  Recipes  |  Diet Recipes  |  Dinner Party Menus  |  Food History  |  Culinary Dictionary  |  Diet, Health & Beauty


Overall Ratings:  ****

Overall Review:  Wonderful! I really enjoyed my dining experience at Eleni's, and will definitely be going back.

Review Date:  November 27, 2007.

Cuisine: Cretian-style food with an abundance of olive oil, garlic, and fresh vegetables.

Alcohol:  Full bar which includes a selection of Greek and local wines.

Corkage:  $15 per bottle

Attire:  Casual to dressy casual

Location: Located in the Pearl District of northwest Portland  Located one block from the streetcar line.

Open Hours:

Tuesday - Thursday - 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.    
Friday & Saturday - 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  
Closed Sunday and Monday

Parking:  Street parking and parking lots nearby

Reservations:  Reservations recommended


 Rating Key Explanations:
* Bad (will never go back)

** Fair (below average - will not go back)

*** Good (would consider dining there again)

**** Very Good (will definitely go back)

***** Extraordinary (will be back as soon as possible)

I make every attempt to remain anonymous while reviewing each restaurant.  All meals are paid for by myself.  This way, I can report the most honest and trustworthy restaurant reviews possible. Other recognizable critics frequently get special food and service. I forgo any perks so that my restaurant experience will be similar to yours.

If you would like to add a review of this restaurant, email Linda Stradley. Also feel free to send me suggestions of restaurants for review.

Disclaimer:  None of the restaurants reviewed on this site have given any sort of financial incentive to Linda Stradley or her website, What's Cooking America. The restaurants had no foreknowledge that a review was going to be written.
 

 


Eleni's Philoxenia
Philoxenia = hospitality


112 N.W. 9th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

Phone: (503) 227-2158

Map & Directions
 

Web page: http://www.elenisrestaurant.com/index.html

 


 

Many friends and other diners have told me how wonderful Eleni's Philoxenia is. Because of this, I was eager to dine there. I was not disappointed, but delighted with the excellent tasting dishes. Every dish we ordered was well prepared and wonderful tasting! The restaurant features an open kitchen at one end and the bar located in the middle of the restaurant.

This is Owner/Chef Eleni Touhouliotis' second restaurant in Portland with her original one located in the Sellwood district. The menu offers many favorite Cretan dishes and preparations from the owner's successful Sellwood restaurant. Their menu states: "We believe that great food can only come from great ingredients. Whenever available, we serve fresh organic vegetables. All the meat we serve is raised respectfully without hormones: Oregon Painted Hills beef, Carlton pork, Draper Valley free range chickens and new Zealand lambs. The olive oil we use is a very fine, first pressing from the island of Crete."

My only complaint is not about any of the food, but the the lighting.  When we were first seated, we were put at a small table in the middle of the room. The only light to read the menu was from a very small candle. No overhead lighting! We absolutely could not read the menu and had to ask to be seated at a better lighted table. They moved us to a side table where they did have additional lighting, and we could read our menus. Atmosphere is great, but give us some light!

Appetizers:

 

Dolmathakia ($9.00)
Grape leaves stuffed with rice, dill, mint, scallions, pine nuts, and golden raisins; served with tzatziki.

 

 

 

Spankotyropita  ($9.00)
Spinach and Greek cheese baked in filo dough

 

Entrees:

We choose to have their two specials for the evening. My husband and I both love lamb, and these dishes were prepared perfectly!

 

Rack of Lamb - Five lamb chops with a mixture of vegetable (potatoes, peas in pods, greens with a sauce of olive oil, lemon, and a some spices.
This rack of lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned wonderfully!

 

 

 

 

 

Lamb Shank
The lamb shank was also cooked perfectly. The presentation wasn't up to par as the plate was very messy looking.

 

 

.

 

Dessert:

 

Mousse ($8.00)
The mousse for the evening was a combination dark and white chocolate mousse.