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Portland, Oregon Metro Restaurant Reviews

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Overall Ratings:  ***

Overall Review:  This was one of my favorite restaurants, but the last couple of times that my husband and I have dined there, the quality of the food and the service has declined. This is very disappointing to us!

Latest Review Date:  October 13, 2007

Cuisine: Spanish Cuisine

Alcohol:  Full service bar; beer & wine. They feature a large assortment of northwest wines.

Corkage:  $15.00

Attire:  Upscale casual

Location:  Located in the Oregon wine country in downtown McMinnville, Oregon.

Open Hours:
Monday - Friday:
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m..
Dinner served at 5:00 p.m. nightly.
Saturday and Sunday open all day.

Parking:  Parking on the street

Price Range:  Moderate
Main courses (Large Plates) $17 to $34
Tapas $5 to $14

Reservations: Not necessary, but recommended on weekends.


 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.
 

 


La Rambla

 

238 N.E. Third Street
McMinnville, Oregon 97128

 Map & Directions

Website:  http://www.laramblaonthird.com/index.html

Phone: 503-435-2126


 

 

The restaurant is located in downtown McMinnville in the 1890s vintage Schilling Building. The floors are all hardwood, the bar is very long and spectacular, and the tablecloths are crisp and white. The interior was a lot of woods which give an old-world charm. You can tell this is a great restaurant to order the local Oregon wines, as they always serve the proper wine glasses.

La Rambla features Spanish tapas with a northwest inspiration. The menu features cold and hot tapas, dinner entrees, and fabulous desserts (small plates that are perfect for dining alone or sharing with friends). Every tapa served was done with a wonderful presentation on the plate. We like to make a meal of tapas, and whenever possible, we usually let the chef make our selections.

Tapas:

Albondigas de Pavo - Turkey meatballs with smoky paprika-tomato sauce. $8

Pan con Tomate - Fresh tomatoes on garlic bread with anchovy or aged Manchego or Serrano ham. $8



Pincho de Solomillo - Natural Black Angus beef skewers with marinated red onion and parsley garlic oil. $10

 

 

 

Tortilla Espanola - Savory tart of potatoes, onions and Spanish cheese. $8

Chipirones a la Romana - Crispy fried calamari with lemon aioli. $10

Gambas al Ajillo - Jumbo prawns with spicy garlic oil and bread. $11

Queso de Cabra con Crotina - Baked goat cheese with smoky paprika-tomato sauce. $7



Peixinhos de Horts - Batter fried green beans with garlic aioli. $6

 

 

Piquillo Relleno Cangrejo - Dungeness crab and goat cheese stuffed piquillo peppers. $10

Tres Queso - Artisan cheese trio with chefs' accompaniments. $12
 

Desserts:

Crema Catalana - Caramelized vanilla bean custard with cookies. $6

Arroz Dulce - Rice pudding with hazelnuts, rum soaked currants and marscapone cheese. $6

Valencia Flan - Traditional custard with orange liquor. $7


Churros con Chocolate - Fried cinnamon doughnuts with warm chocolate sauce. $5

Chocolate at Tiede - Warm chocolate cake with raspberry puree, and bittersweet chocolate mousse. $8

Tarta de Pera - Baked Bartlett pear tart. $6

 

Review from other diners:

Customers at a local wine bar seem to think that this is the best place for us to try. The décor is sort of affected Spanish. The droopy glass lampshades have a Salvador Dali look to them. It’s dark, too! The wine list has no California wines, only Oregon, Washington, and Spain.  Apparently, people south of the border are suspect and North is fine. 

Batter coated green beans are very tasty.  Shrimp in garlic-pepper oil are way overpriced, and the empanada was a slice from a larger pie - not my idea of empanada.  And the Panther Creek (very local) Pinot Noir was fine, but at $43, cost way more than the food.  I think winos are the sole profit makers for restaurateurs. 

Joe Gazdak (9/5/07)