City: Portland, OR

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (503) 232-2135

Address: 2135 Southeast Division St.

Description: This remarkable restaurant in Southeast Portland serves Mexican food at its finest—not greasy rice and beans, but complex and savory dishes from Mexico’s central regions. The service here is both expert and friendly, and the dining room is handsome, with mosaic tiles and accents of wood. But as pleasant as the service and dining room are, the food is what, rightly, should draw you. For one thing, the tortillas are heche a mano—made by hand using a tortilla press. The result is fragrant goodness that gets even better when you add a few drops of chipotle sauce. Salads and other appetizers are fresh and delicious. They offer a great Caesar salad (yes, it is a Mexican dish), ceviche, and savory little tacos made from shredded pork that are not just crowd pleasers but genuine haute cuisine. Entrees include succulent pork and lamb dishes, as well as truly excellent seafood dishes such as prawns cooked with garlic and spicy chiles, served with a perfectly complementary dish of black beans and plantains. Yum. For dessert, the cinnamon ice cream has no equal in town. One warning: The bar area is very, very small, so there are few options for waiting unless it’s a summer night and you can chat outside on the sidewalk. But it is worth waiting for a table here. If you do get a seat at the bar, you should try one of the excellent margaritas; they are delicious. Nuestra Cocina is closed Sun and Mon. However, they will serve you dinner Tues through Sat, from 5 to 10 p.m.