Dorio Cafe & Taverna

Well-cooked Greek food. I particularly liked the avgolemono soup (chicken broth with orzo pasta finished with egg and lemon) and the lamb. Reasonably priced (perhaps a little higher than expected, but not crazy high), with friendly service, and a nice buzz. A little more seasoning, and more generous use of herbs, spices, lemon, and feta would raise it to five stars.

Absolutely amazing food. I could eat here everyday and not get tired of it. The owner works the bar and his mom works the dining room. This is the definition of a family restaurant and it shows. Truly an inviting atmosphere. My son was asked where he wanted to have dinner on his birthday. No surprise he chose Dorio. 😀

Dorio has quickly become one of my favorite dining experiences in NW Portland. The food is fresh, vibrant, and delicious, and it is paired with service and an atmosphere that is friendly, warm, and welcoming. Prices are very reasonable, and it easy to walk away satisfied without regretting the amount of money spent. For the most part, the food itself isn't too complex or over-thought. What it is, however, is perfectly executed: well-cooked, deliciously-seasoned, and nicely-proportioned. One of the gyros with a side of Greek salad is a perfectly-sized meal, but I couldn't imagine not starting out with an order of the hummus and pita to share. And, if you brought your larger appetite and it's on the menu, the cinnamon custard dessert is sublime.

We were walking 21st and 23rd, looking for a place to have dinner. Dorio is near the "end" of the hip 23rd area, and it was less full than a few of the others and looked nice so we stopped. We ended up having very well made and tasty drinks, and the best chicken I have ever had. Utterly moist, seasoned to perfection, with a perfect matching of vegetables and sauce. One order fed 2 of us with leftovers. Swordfish in San Francisco. Martinis in New York. Pizza in Chicago. Roast(?) chicken at Dario in Portland. That good. Not only that, but the service was fantastic, and we could feel how excited they were about the food. Rare for a restaurant, so we asked a few questions. Our main server was an owner and prepares some of the meal that we ate. The bartender was her son. They've been at this for 2.5 years and last night had the unfettered enthusiasm and passion of a first time restauranteer who's been given a big break. Unbelievable. If the chicken was THAT good, I must assume that the other meals were great too. We will be back, and we will try to figure out which days they serve the chicken special. The drinks were surprisingly potent for the flavor. Value was off the charts. The special was $18 (served 2+), and the drinks were 7-8.