Republica

This isn't just good food -- this is an experience. Tasty and well - executed dishes is only one aspect of this dinner. They teach history through ingredients and techniques brought from different cultures. The entire staff is knowledgeable, helpful, and approachable. Ask them questions about anything on the drink menu or the plate and they'll give you a surprising amount of depth that highlights how much thought has gone into sourcing and preparing each item that hits your table.Pacing is great, so the meal doesn't go overly long. Because we were afraid of the 10 course being a long, drawn out affair with too much food, we opted for the 7. Having seen the pacing and portions, I'd 100% choose the 10 course next time.

Absolutely delicious and that's coming from the vegetarian in the party too! My husband and I decided to check out this place for our wedding anniversary and didn't regret it even one bit. We were able to note dietary preferences during the reservation and the staff reached out to confirm that as well as whether we wanted the 7 course or 10 course tasting menu. Opted for the 10 because why not~ Now the restaurant itself is so cozy and quiet inside; I love that it is more of an open kitchen so you can peek a bit at what's being prepared. The staff and their level of service is seamless and honestly every single person was so kind. My husband grabbed a non-alcoholic drink while I decided to the wine pairing -- we both enjoyed our choices and would do it again. Foodwise, gosh where do I begin? I am always so cautious with tasting menus because the vegetarian version will either stand up to the meat or be a complete afterthought. I honestly say that my omnivore husband and my leaf eating self both loved our food to death. Every dish was delicious and I have 0 complaints. Every single ingredient was treated with care and it was honestly humbling to learn about the origin and history of the food and the wine. Yes the portions are on the smaller side but with the 10 course menu, we both left full and didn't feel like things were too pricey for the sheer quality of the food. I will say that this spot made our anniversary feel special and memorable and we would recommend it to any of our friends in a heartbeat.

Its funny how I thought República was so popular before I dined with them ,and now that I have visited them, I feel that they are not popular enough because they need more hype than a cat video on the internet!Everyone needs to go and experience the gastronomical delight that this place is . I made reservations a couple months in advance for the 10-course menu and so glad for that since I got the exact time and date I wanted. Sitting down to a tasting menu at República, each course is introduced with a story: An explanation of an ingredient's origin, a history of a dish and its influences. The restaurant is big and spacious but it does look a little barren .. like lots of open space which kind of takes away from the place being a little more intimate . They started us off with some drinks and proceeded to introduce one course after the other. Every dish comes with a story and the way the staff narrates it adds to the whole experience. What we truly loved was that the restaurant is based on a collaborative model where no single chef is the star, and dishes from various regions of Mexico make an appearance.I wouldn't go into the details of each course because honestly you can't pick and choose anyways and secondly because almost everything we had was fantastic . The Desserts sealed the deal and knocked our socks off. Hell, they even sent us back with a small take-home dessert . It was so fun to unwrap and have it the next day. We didn't get the wine pairing but ordered a few high end Mezcals to taste as well as wines. The drinks went very well with the food.The waitstaff are incredibly attentive and kind. The food was wonderfully inventive while also hitting a niche that doesn't get hit a lot in Portland: fine dining Mexican.

Alright here we go.I have waited many months to write this review as I knew it was going to be a long winded one and needed to be in the right moment to put it all down. Allow me to begin at the point of reservations. Reservations were seamless and they were willing to accommodate the dietary needs of those in our party so we were off on a great start! We came in for dinner on a weekday and nearly had the place to ourselves so it was a very peaceful vibe throughout.The dishes served to us were great. Flavors were excellent and the story behind each dish enhanced the experience that much more. Service was incredibly attentive as they joked around with us and ensured every need we had was met, just as any fine dining restaurant would.Now we get to the ugly part. Our service took a hard dip once we complained about a dish in our meal. The duck, which was set to be the main course, was so insanely dry that it could basically be categorized as jerky. All 5 of us at the table couldn't finish it because of how dry it was. It was slathered in sauce so we couldn't see the color but we were fairly confident it was burnt. Since it was just one course of the 10, we didn't pay too much attention to it assuming that the quality was intentional and that we just weren't fans of the preparation.The table beside us was one dish behind us in the tasting menu and when they got their duck, the meat was practically glistening and a different color than ours. The sauce wasn't dumped over the meat but rather beside it. This prompted us to think that the duck they served us was actually overcooked and not intended to be how it was served. We brought this to the attention of the waitress and all of a sudden, service completely went downhill. No more back story on the coming dishes, no jokes, no smile when coming to our table. This is an expensive meal and we didn't even get to eat the main course so we were hoping they would rectify the situation. Instead, they brought us shots as an apology... main course is ruined soooo how does shots of alcohol rectify? Also, 2 people in our party were not drinking alcohol so how thoughtless.We left the restaurant hungry since the dish with the most amount of sustenance was inedible. I wanted to give the management the benefit of the doubt so I emailed them directly that I wanted to speak with someone over the phone. I'm in the hospitality industry so I understand oversights and just wanted to give them the opportunity to correct it. I was told that the manager would reach out to me directly the next day. No contact. A week later, I reached out again and was met with no response.So yes the other dishes of the night were good but not nearly enough to justify the high price point. Service is excellent until you have anything to say that's not a glowing review. They also don't care about your feedback. Not only will I never come here again, but I'll also be spreading the word about the lack of professionalism here. Such a shame.

Having a dinner experience at Republica is unlike any other. You experience the food of Chef Jose Camerena through storytelling, with each dish curated and inspired by Mexican history. Given that it is tasting menu, each dish builds on the last dish, and the intention of flavors is deeply routed in Mexican ingredients.On a recent trip to Portland, I surprised my partner with a birthday dinner to Republica. Given that we had reservations, we were seated at a table, and we were quick to notice that all of the tables and chairs faced the kitchen, giving the feel that you were experiencing your own chef's table. Watching the kitchen, it was clear that all of the chefs were working in tandem, and it was a beautiful thing to see. The restaurant offers a wide range of unique cocktails and wine selections. On the night that we were dining, they had an option to participate in a wine pairing with dinner that featured Mexican vineyards that also were women-owned. Given that we wanted to try some of the cocktails, we opted out of the wine pairing, but it was amazing to hear that they were featuring women-owned vineyards. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and were able to guide us to cocktail selections that we would like, and they were amazing! As for the food, I don't think my partner and I have experienced anything like it. Everything was elevated, intentional, and again, rooted in Mexican history storytelling. As our server brought out a dish, they would indicate the inspiration behind it through Mexican history, and they delivered each dish with such passion and excitement. Some of my highlights were the stuffed quail with a tomatillo and leek salsa, a cured salmon with hibiscus water, and the puffed blue corn tortilla with vegetables and goat cheese. There was also a salsa verde to begin the dinner that I wish they sold because I would have purchased 10 cans of it. Overall, this was an incredible experience with a unique flair to it. If you are in the Portland area, I highly suggest you try it out!

What a great experience. Not just the meal. The staff is engaging and fun. If you're lucky to catch them on a slow night you'll learn a lot more about what you're eating.The tasting menu is a commitment. It's worth your while if you have the time. We literally licked sauce off plates and kept leftover macha for the next course. These are beautiful, time consuming dishes to make, and they are delicious. Having the bartender recommend cocktails was the right choice for me. Friends had the wine pairing and felt they'd been "on a journey". Anyway, if you drink, the Mexican wines & spirits are a wonderful compliment to the meal.It's obvious that passions run deep here. For food, wine, spirits, conversation, and the mission (see their home page).I'd gladly return to spend another three or four hours with these people and their unique food.Food: *****Staff: *****Level of chill: *****Music selection: *****

The best tasting menu I've had in Portland... and I've had all of them. Honestly, some of the bites and dishes were perfect. Definitely the best food I've eaten this year. I would say some of the descriptions were extremely depressing and I think I heard the phrase "colonizer" more times in this dinner than I have ever heard prior but it's their story to tell, not mine. 10 courses took 3 hours so make sure you are prepared for that.

The scam of the century. They took my cloths and car on the way out. What a rip off. We had the seven-course meal that consisted of 7 tablespoons of food. The 7 tablespoons tasted ok, but you will leave still hungry and wondering if you need to get another job to cover the bill. We left the restaurant and my wife said, "let's go somewhere else to eat, I'm starving." I said, we can make something at home because we just got robbed. Almost stopped by the police station on the way home.2 of us with 4 total drinks cost $442. Remember, it was 7 tablespoons of food or about 6 ounces. Would never recommend!!

First time here, Anniversary dinner. We selected the 7 course option. Every course was beautiful and all of the tastes were so unique. The staff was great and experience was amazing. Every course portion size was just right, delicious and you would eat more but they save you from yourself.We will return

Our experience at Republica was magical, one of the best meals we've ever had. I felt like we were in NYC or Mexico City. The decor was tasteful, music was excellent, service was friendly, expert, attentive and wonderful. And that's all before the food, which was exceptionally crafted and presented. I was dining with two Mexican women (my wife and mother-in-law) and both remarked that they'd never experienced many of these flavors before. A wonderful time and wonderful memory. And yes it's expensive, but for special occasions, it was worth it 10/10.