Lauro Kitchen

At Lauro, you almost feel like you’re eating at your Greek aunt’s house, except her house is kind of modern–with vaulted ceilings, huge windows, exposed wood beams and Ann Sachs tiles, and it overlooks SE Division Street instead of the Aegean Sea, and she brings you as many Bulleit Old-Fashioned’s as you want before your roasted shrimp with feta and ouzo and grilled lamb is served. 

You almost feel like you’re eating at your Greek aunt’s house, except her house is kind of modern, and it overlooks SE Division Street instead of the Aegean Sea, and she brings you as many Bulleit Old-Fashioned’s as you want before your roasted shrimp with feta and ouzo and grilled lamb is served.

The quintessential neighborhood bistro, pretty and popular Lauro nourishes the steady stream of contented regulars that fill the restaurant nightly with rustic Mediterranean fare like roasted Manila clams with aleppo peppers and almonds, a savory seafood paella with shrimp, clams, mussels and chorizo, and a rich moussaka with grilled eggplant, spiced lentils and pistachio cous cous. Those eating light on a hot summer night will find crisp, flavorful salads and thin crust pizzas baked in the cobalt-blue tiled open-hearth oven.

Cap off your evening with one of Lauro’s delicious desserts, like the Rhubarb Cobbler with Ginger Ice Cream and Strawberry Coulis or Brown Sugar Ice Cream Sundae with Warm Bourbon Chocolate Sauce, and a glass of Sauternes or port, or if something a little stronger is in order, perhaps a glass of Glenlivet or Clear Creek Pear Brandy. 

Lauro has a thorough, well-researched and reasonably priced Euro-centric wine list, and a full bar. They are known for their specialty cocktails, try the refreshing Garden Delight–Hendricks Gin, Basil, Fresh Cucumber, or my favorite, the Spicy Ginger–Hot Pepper Infused Vodka, Ginger Syrup and Fresh Lemon, which has a personality as strong as my pretend Greek aunt’s.

Details

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Executive Chef: David Machado

Chef de Cuisine: Jennifer Buehler

Pastry Chef: Nancy Forrest

Atmosphere: Open, airy and upbeat neighborhood bistro

Outdoor seating: Yes, sidewalk tables are put out in nice weather

Best Seat: They are all rather nice, just get there in time to avoid getting the table right in the doorway

Noise Level: Enthusiastic, but not overwhelming

Dress Code: Casual is fine, but patrons often dress up

Bathrooms: Down the hall between the bar and the kitchen

Parking: Free parking is available in the restaurant’s private lot just west of the building, and is also fairly easy to find on surrounding side streets

Cocktails: A short but powerful list of scrumptious house cocktails ($8), and a full bar

Beer: Yes

Wine: Yes, a very nice wine list including sparklies, roses, whites, and reds with international origins that range from Chile to Greece. Wines are meted out by glass ($7-$10), half pitcher ($18-$27), and pitcher ($24-$59). There are about a dozen dessert wines as wel, $6-$9.

Corkage: $15 per 750 mL

Coffee: Stumptown

Tea: Mighty Leaf

Ideal Meal: Roasted clams, calamari with piri piri sauce, Lauro burger

Vegetarian Friendly: Yes

Vegan Friendly: Yes

Good for the following occasions: Out with Friends, Family Meal, Casual Date

Group/Private Party Details: Groups of up to 8 can be accommodated in the dining room.

Reservations: Call 503.239.7000 between 1:00 to 5:00 pm to make a reservation, or use Lauro’s online registration system to reserve a table. Parties of up to 8 people are accepted.

Take-Out: Yes

Delivery: No