Irving Street Kitchen

Tapas here are quite international. We enjoyed our last trip to Spain so much that we decided to get tapas. To our surprise, without any reservations we were seated in no time near the bar on a Saturday night. Ranging from Japanese tempuras to your Indian Samosas, here has it all. The portion varies quite a lot depending on the dish. The soup was so good that we ordered a second one check my picture. The atmosphere was nice and quiet maybe because it wasn’t crowded but I enjoyed it. There was a birthday happening next to our table but the noise level was minimal. The price was a bit on the higher end we thought. The drinks were also pretty international as well. We were in the mood for some Brazilian caipirinhas

In a word: WOW!! We were missing Spain, so on a whim decided to go for tapas; and we found a real gem. The staff was amazing and the bar manager Robert is incredibly friendly and helpful, the drinks were wonderful, and the food was absolutely delicious. One of the things we really loved about it was the international twist on tapas. There were absolutely Spanish items Croquettes for example, but such wonderful additions as a Mediterranean platter that included lamb, couscous, and literally the best pita we've had anywhere- including in Greece. We also tried the Gyozas fabulous and Gambas al adillo shrimp in a wine/garlic/butter sauce. It was amazing. The drinks are also out of this world. I started with a flight of mules yes, a flight. It included a Gin Buck mule, Kentucky Mint mule, Pimms Cup mule, and a Spicy Reposado mule. With the exception of the spicy mule which was made with habanero tequila, they were all fabulous. Even the spicy one wasn't "bad", I just don't really do spicy food. It was good enough that I still drank it! My bride started the night with a Persephone- a gin base drink that was great; very refreshing. The prices were about average dining in the Pearl District of downtown Portland for two it was just less than $150 before tip, but well worth it you truly get what you pay for. We will undoubtedly be back- probably sooner than later because there were so many things we still want to try.

Absolutely loved this place! The food was great, the staff was super friendly and the food came out really fast. It's perfect if you want meat, vegetarian and vegan options. We will definitely be back. Vegetarian options: They can make most items vegan

Amazing food and drinks! The service industry as a whole is understaffed so if you are going out ANYWHERE expect to wait. Have some empathy and be patient. Our server I think Robert was so nice and there is one bar tender killing it! Try this place out. Great vibe and great everything!

My friends and I had a wonderful time here last night. Our drinks and food were all delicious. My Vegetarian friend was able to find several things she enjoyed. Our server, Hyacinth, was amazing and really made our experience over the top. She was funny, attentive and kind! I will absolutely be recommending this place to my family and friends Things tried: Steak Chimichurri Samosa Patatas bravas Wasco Fry Bread Chorizo Frito Chili garlic edamame

I don’t understand the other comments on here. This place is absolutely delicious, with a great menu and tasty dishes that have an original flair. Definitely coming back to eat here again. P.S. I didn’t think to photograph the food until after it was devoured so you’ll just have to settle for a photo of our empty plates.

I really enjoyed my dining experience here! The waitress was so friendly, had good banter, and great knowledge of the menu. My sister and I shared the cocktail flight which was GENIUS! The menu has great potential and a great variety. The stake was the best thing we had out of the 6 items ordered. The seasoning on everything was what came short. The ahi tuna was underwhelming until I used the lemon on my cocktail to brighten it up! Little things like balancing acid, needing salt and basic seasoning will surly make this a 5/5 for me! Excited to come back.

Second Visit - We visited Irving Street Tapas for the 2nd time yesterday and had a terrible experience. I had noted in my first review that they were short staffed. Looks like they haven't solved that problem and seem to have made it worse by taking on more customers than they can handle. Staff was trying hard but obviously overworked and swamped. One bartender making drinks for a private party of 50 people plus a restaurant full of people. So drinks took 30-40 minutes to make....even a glass of beer was taking that long to get. Took my wife for a birthday and she sat at the table for 45 minutes without her drink! Entire evening was a mess....food and drinks would arrive at random intervals. Food and drinks for other tables kept coming to our table and had to be sent back. Dishes like the bread would arrive cold. One dish was sent back twice because they got it wrong vegetarian even though we ordered meat When we sat down, we had requested 4 separate checks and were told that wouldn't be a problem. In the end we go one big bill and were told to mark who got what item with a pen. Ended up spending about $100 per couple for a terrible experience overall. A good restaurant is more than just a good ambiance.....you need to figure out service and staffing issues too. Don't seat people if you don't have the staff! And though this negative review is for the terrible service, it's not directed at the staff but at the owners. First Visit - Such a beautiful ambiance. Food was ok. Cocktails were pretty good. But the highlight of this place has to be the staff. Laura was our server for the evening and she was awesome! They were obviously short staffed but she had such a positive attitude and took really good care of us. Thank you Laura!!!

Love the concept of smaller plates, which allows us to try more menu options. We ordered the Burrata, Shrimp, Samosas, and Potatoes bravo. Burrata was very good and tasted fresh. Samosas we're very crispy and tasted authentic, but I would recommend replacing the brava sauce for a classic tamarind sauce. In my opinion, the brava sauce was kind of bland and didn't do very much for me. Overall, food was very good. Drinks were good as well. The accompanying sauces could use a little work. EDIT: There is an optional mint/tamarind sauce that you can ask for. I will try that next time!

Staff are lovely, food was hit and miss. Tuna and edamame were tasty. The fry bread was not great- dense and dry- nothing like real fry bread. Pork belly was meh. Patio is a nice spot to hang out.