Terlingua — Restaurant in Portland

I've dined at this restaurant several times before and always had a great experience, which is why I was surprised by how my most recent visit unfolded.

I joined some friends for a night out while navigating a food elimination diet. I knew my options would be limited, so I politely asked the server if I could get something simple—just a plate of lettuce with avocado and a side of olive oil. I didn’t think it was a big ask, but the initial response was a bit discouraging. The server mentioned they don't usually make accommodations, which seemed a little rigid for such a basic request.

After checking with the kitchen, he returned and said they didn’t have olive oil, which I found surprising. Olive oil is a pretty standard ingredient, and it made me wonder what kind of oils are being used in the kitchen.

That said, they did agree to prepare the lettuce and avocado, which I appreciated. The dish that came out was simple, but honestly, it was tasty and I was grateful to have something I could eat while enjoying the evening with friends.

The disappointment came with the bill. I was charged $19 for my plate of lettuce and half an avocado—the same price my friends paid for fully loaded salads with protein, cheese, and other toppings. That part felt off. I was expecting a discount, maybe a more appropriate price for a minimal request. It just didn’t sit right being charged the same for something so vastly different.

I hope this feedback encourages a little more flexibility and attentiveness in the future. Two stars this time, but I might be open to giving it another chance after this...

The meal I had during my 12:30 reservation did not meet my expectations based on the positive feedback I had heard. Despite arriving early and receiving a warm welcome from the host, the food itself was disappointing.

While I appreciated the pleasant environment and attentive service, the quality of the food was lacking. The dishes were overpriced and served at an undesirable temperature, either room temperature or below. The meat was bland and dry, leading me to suspect that it may have been left over the previous day rather than freshly prepared.

The cornbread was also full of grease and not served warm, further contributing to my dissatisfaction. The salad, which included a corn and black bean combination, was mostly greens with a meager serving of topping.

The table of four next to me I overheard came here a lot and were very excited to have another meal, however when they saw the state of the queso, as some of it was not melted yet reported dissapoiment. They had also seen my meal and dissatisfaction and went with the weekend burger instead, which was a better experience, which is why I am rating this at a higher score then what it deserves currently.

Overall, I was underwhelmed by the meal I had. The bland meat required sauce to make it palatable, and the room temperature dishes, including the meat and cornbread, were unappetizing. Considering the price point of $25 per person, I would not recommend this...

Came here without any backstory so it was truly a surprise. A very happy surprise.

Ordered some beers and ceviche. Everything on the menu seems amazing. The ceviche arrived and looked like art. The taste was what blew me away. Perfectly blended and seasoned and the pomegranates would just pop in your mouth. Perfect! Serving size too. I'd say you absolutely have to get it.

For our main course we struggled trying to pick between a lot of great options. We went with the brisket and the habanero chicken. Presentation was a 10, and taking a bite told me I made the best choice. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, moist and most shockingly the taco stayed together. I could eat this everyday. Next I tried the brisket and as a former resident of Texas let me say.... This is brisket in its best form, total perfection. I told my Texan brother that this is better than what we've been getting in Texas and I stand by that 100%.

Service was good, parking was fine but it's probably a bit difficult for most. The place is small and I ended up in the line of a regularly opened door so kept getting hit with blasts of the cold air so I dropped the environment down a bit. It's not unexpected and this is a small venue so plan...