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Portland, Oregon Metro Restaurant Reviews

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Overall Ratings: ***1/2

Overall Review:  Excellent food preparation by the chef. Because of the bad service on my second visit, I had to reduce their rating slightly. Restaurant can be noisy at times.

Review Date:  June 1, 2007 and September 8, 2007

Cuisine: Italian food using northwest food.

Alcohol:  A good selection of wines from Oregon and Italy.

Corkage:  $15.00

Attire:  Casual

Location:  Located on the MAX line in central Beaverton.

Open Hours: 
Lunch:
Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Happy Hour:
Monday-Friday, 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Dinner: Sunday & Monday, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday, 5:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Parking:  Yes - parking lots available

Handcap Assible:  Yes

Price Range:  Moderately priced.

Reservations: Not required during the week, but reservations suggested 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.
 

 


Mingo


12600 S.W. Crescent Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97005

Map & Directions
 

Phone: 503-646-6464

Website:  http://www.mingowest.com/index.php

 

 

 

Mingo, the suburban branch of the Italian eatery, Cafe Mingo, in Northwest Portland, is one of the cornerstones of the Round in Beaverton, and one of the suburb's "best kept secrets." For Portlander's that think you can not get great food outside of downtown Portland, well here it is! This is a very casual cafe where jeans and shorts are also welcome.

The front of this restaurant features modern, window-laden, rolling garage doors that look like a feature in a glossy architectural magazine that stretch the length of the dining room. The interior of the restaurant has a loft-like appearance that is very upscale, simple, but elegant. The restaurant offers seasonal outdoor seating in the Round's central piazza, offering a friendly neighborhood feel. When the restaurant is full, the noise level, along with the background music, can get rather loud.

The menu offers a variety of the same dishes as its predecessor Cafe Mingo. The menu also changes with the seasons offering beautifully prepared, simple Italian food. The food is fantastic. Everything from the bread to the dessert was wonderful.  This has become one of my favorite restaurants!


June 1, 2007

Friends of ours dined with us today. There were four in our party. It is a good thing we had reservations, as the restaurant was packed with people.  People were also waiting in line.

Service:  Service was excellent.

Wine:  We brought in our own wine.

Food:  Food was outstanding and well presented.

 

 


September 8, 2007

As my husband was off bow hunting, my long-time friend (Fran) dined with me.  We didn't have reservations so we decided to arrive early in the evening when they would have lots of open tables.

Service:  Two women at a restaurant seem to make a difference in how the wait staff responds.  We were immediately put in the back corner of the bar area when the restaurant was not even full. We had to ask for another table.


Wine: Ordered wine by the glass.  Both of us were served less that a regular wine pour. We were both surprised by this.

 

 

Food:  Food was still excellent and well presented. The razor clams were perfectly cooked!

 

Dinner:

Insalata:

Insalata Mista - Seasonal greens tossed with a house vinaigrette. $6.00

Insalata Caprese - Local, organic tomatoes with mozzarella and basil. $10.00

Insalata Mingo - Romaine lettuce tossed with lemon-grlic dressing, romano cheese and toasted breadcrumbs. $8.00

Insalatone - Chef's creation of the week. $12.00
 

Primo:

 

Vonigole - Quinault Bay razor clams with a lemon-fennel jam. $12.00

 

 

 

Frutta di Mare - Seared sea scallops, grilled calamari steaks and seared, pepper-crusted ahi tuna. $13.00

 


 

 

Spiedini di Gamberi - Shrimp and croutons threaded on skewers seasoned with chili flakes and fennel seed. $9.00

 

Spuntini di Carne e Formaggi - Selection of Italian cheeses, fra'Mani saslumi and San Danielle Prosciutto. $12.00

 

 

 

Bruschetta Primavera - Fresh micro arugula with a roasted vegetable mostarda. $10.00

Asparagi - Fresh local asparagus topped with an organic fried egg. $12.00


Pizza:

Gambero - Prawns, red bell peppers, capers and tomato sauce. $14.00

Salsiccia - Housemade sausage, peppers, onions, tomato sauce, mozzarella. $14.00

Margherita - Local organic tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. $12.00

Formaggi - Three cheese. $10 - with Italian meats. $14.00

Biance - Prosciutto, ricotta, roasted cherry tomato. $12.00


Secondo:

Risotto del Giorno - This evening's risotto priced daily.

Ravioli - Housemade ravioli of the day. $19.00


Rigatoni al forno con Salsiccia - Baked rigatoni pasta in a house-made sausage ragu. $18.00


Penne al Sugo di Carne - Organic beef braised in Chianti and espresso tossed with penne pasta. $18.00

Gnocchette con Pomodoro - Gnocchette pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, lemon zest, mint, greens and extra virgin olive oil. $17.00


Pesce - Fresh seared pacific halibut served with tomato compote and fingerling potato salad. $22.00


Bistecca - Grilled Strawberry Mountain ribeye with house-made pappardelle and salsa cruda. $28.00


Pollo alla Griglia - Free-range chicken breast grilled and dressed with a lemon-dill sauce, roasted asparagus, mushrooms and onions. $20.00

Our friends both had one of the specials for the evening, Escolar Fish served on a bed of tomatoes with a white wine sauce. They both raved that it buttery, succulent ,and totally delicious.