City: Portland, OR

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (503) 239-7000

Address: 3377 Southeast Division St.

Description: It took almost no time for Lauro to gain a regional reputation when the neighborhood restaurant opened in 2004. Chef Dave Machado, the creative spirit behind Southpark for a number of years, brings his pan-Mediterranean sensibility to this stylish, friendly spot in Southeast Portland. He looks for the right combination of flavor and texture to update classics of bistro cooking, as well as regional specialties. Standout dishes include wonderfully sweet and savory stuffed plums, a fragrant chicken tagine, short ribs, and an amazing custard cooked with port. Wood-fired pizzas and outstanding burgers allow parents to bring children and eat in peace. Lauro also has an excellent selection of reasonably priced wines by the bottle and glass. Lauro’s atmosphere is industrial chic—handsome combinations of wood, concrete, and glass—which pays homage to the building’s former life as a warehouse yet sacrifices nothing in comfort. Lauro serves dinner seven nights a week from 5 to 10 p.m. and lunches on weekdays.