Press

Southeast - Lauro Mediterranean Kitchen

The Portland Tribune
April 25, 2008

This Mediterranean restaurant was an instant hit when it opened in 2003. Loads of people were willing to wait in long lines leading out the door for a table in the no-reservations restaurant.

But recently Lauro started accepting dinner reservations so a visit to the restaurant no longer means risking being ticketed for loitering on Division.

And in January, Lauro got a mini-face-lift (a new paint job, remodeled bathrooms, etc.), so the place looks shiny and new.

But looks don't matter if the food isn't good. It is.

The focus of Lauro's Mediterranean menu has expanded to include cuisine from Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Greece. Don't worry - there are still plenty of Portuguese-style dishes on the menu, too, like pork and clams with red peppers and potatoes or mussels with Portuguese chouri�o.

There's also a fine wine list and tasty cocktails like the Ginger Rogers with gin, mint, lime and ginger ale.

The service at Lauro is better than ever under the watchful (and busy) eye of general manager Julie Chambers who previously managed Lupa, one of Mario Batali's restaurants, in New York City

Another change arrives in June when, for the first time, Lauro will be open for lunch.

When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday (lunch service begins June 3, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday)

Where: 3377 S.E. Division St.

Contact: 503-239-7000

Entree prices: $12-$21