Paella Seafood — Restaurant in Portland

I just don't understand all the good reviews, did we catch this place on a (very) off night? Full disclosure, we didn't complain, everyone in the party had the same issues so we didn't think they could be remedied. The first issue was that we had to wait ages to be served, 25 mins just to get water, though it wasn't that busy. (Then later they gave us our starters and our mains at the same time which I really don't like as it makes you feel rushed not to mention the fact that there wasn't much room on the table.) The Paella was awful, I had chicken and olive, and it really was just olive singular, I had a total of ONLY TWO OLIVES, the photos on here of a whole load of olives must have been taken a long time ago. The chicken was dry and the rice was so burnt we had to chisel it off the bottom, at least it gave the dish some much needed texture. The rice actually tastes as if it had come out of a packet and was an instant mix. The seafood paella wasn't much better with less than generous portions of the fish (photos show 7 mussels and we got 4 for example) and tasteless rice. Where's the pride here? It's the name of the restaurant, paella should be vibrant and you should be able to taste the saffron and paprika, as I say, it was tasteless. It was extremely expensive for what you got (small and stingy portions) and the quality, when we went to get the bill, they tried to charge us for another table at twice the price (spotted because we didn't have alcohol. ) We had indigestion before we even left the parking lot. I hope that if you ignore this review that you have a fabulous meal and experience and that we were just (extremely) unlucky, but we wouldn't eat there again and left utterly...

Simply exceptional food! I have never had seafood that was cooked so perfectly and so well-seasoned! We were on a short vacation and the first day after a long day at the beach we were a bit late for dinner and most restaurants were closing at 8. So my son found this place on our way to our hotel that way we would save some time. The menu looked healthy with a lot of great seafood dishes and since I eat mainly paleo, l was very interested! We reached around 7.20 and were greeted so warmly by the lady who was taking the orders. It's a small place and is more like a takeout place with a few seats inside but two large picnic tables outdoors. We got one of the tables outside and our orders arrived pretty fast in less than 15 minutes! The food was as good as we had hoped for and more! I had ordered the seafood kebabs(the scallops, shrimp, haddock and salmon were cooked perfectly), my husband ordered the paella, my son got the lobster roll and my daughter the lobster mac and cheese. We all loved our dishes and also loved the special paprika seasoned french fries which comes with the kebabs and the lobster rolls. I also loved the housemade garlic mayo which I was told was dairy, egg free and nut free! That was perfect for me since I am on an AIP diet mostly and I had not had mayo in a long time! As we made our payment, we ended u chatting with the chef/owner and his wife(not sure?). They were really warm and wonderful and passionate about what they do! I highly recommend this place! One of the best seafood places in the New...

Don't sleep on this gem! As virtually everyone has said already, the food is outstanding. The portions are generous, and the flavors are off. the. charts. The two of us shared an octopus skewer, avocado and shrimp ceviche, and seafood paella and while we were stuffed by the end, we were still fighting over the last bites.

The ceviche had a citrus and herbaceous tang that wasn't overpowering. The octopus was tender (easily cut with a fork) and had the most delicious grilled umami flavor. The paella is what they do best - the seafood is juicy and not over cooked, and the crispy, caramelized layer of rice that forms at the bottom of the pan is to die for.

The owner is wonderfully easygoing and very attentive. Food came out quickly and everything had a simple yet discernible authenticity.

I suppose if I was pressed for critical feedback, I might take a star off for atmosphere. The dining area is a bit cavernous and probably couldn't be described as "romantic" per se. But on the flip side, we went at 6:30 on a Friday night and had absolutely no problem getting a table.

Some people are turned off by the slightly unpolished nature of Forest Ave. But don't let that deter you. Paella seafood is a treasure! (And while you are in the area, be sure to visit Norimoto bakery. They just won a James Beard award and the pastries will...