Urdaneta

Last came here five years ago, and we loved it then. So when we knew we'd be driving by Portland, we decided to make a reservation for a return visit. And I gotta say... It seems like they've gotten even better!Urdaneta is a tapas restaurant that focuses on small dishes that are shareable. This is my favorite because I love getting to try a bunch of different dishes as opposed to picking just one or two.Everything we got was absolutely delicious!Love a good slice of bread, and the Pan Con Tomate was flavorful, crispy, and hearty topped high with the best tomatoes. Great start to the meal. The Secreto Iberico is perfectly cooked, juicy, flavorful little steak gems. If you like steak, there is no question if you will like this dish.Their Tarta de Queso is one of the best cheesecakes I've had in a long time. Perfect amount of caramelization with a creamy center.Other notable mentions include the Gilda 2.0, Croquetas de Jamon, and the Jamon Iberico de Bellota. All other winning choices.Wonderful alcohol selections. Their seasonal sangria is bomb - great fruitiness. We also did the sherry flight, and our server was incredible in helping with the pairings. We ordered the flight and our food, and he individually picked the perfect sherries to complement the food. Great job!Service is superb. Everyone was so friendly and fun to talk to.It's one open room and the tables are close together, so it does get a bit loud. Great for a date night, but if you're looking for a more intimate setting, there isn't much privacy. Definitely recommend reservations. The day we came, they were full and only accepting those with reservations.Definitely recommend coming for a fantastic dining experience.

This was a lovely Spanish tapas meal. We came very late in the evening and they were still so popular that we could only get patio seating. Nonetheless, the patio was well lit, comfortable and clean. Our server was quick to greet us and offer recommendations from the menu.The pulpo was tasty, but a fairly small portion. The pan was delicious but also kind of small for the price. The secreto iberico was our favorite dish of the night. You'll likely want to order several dishes as the portions were definitely on the smaller side. The sangria was very tasty and refreshing. All in all, enjoyed this meal and this place was also recommended to us as a must visit in Portland. I definitely recommend, but get a reservation if you can, they are super popular.

It was a chance "find" and we are so glad that we found this gem very appropriately after a Flamenco show we watched right across at Alberta Rose Theatre. Not May places offer well balanced and original Small Plates in Portland area nowadays.My wife and I loved the ambiance and were very moved by the spontaneous warm service we experienced here.... You gotta experience it - I am sure you will feel special!

The sangrias were sweet & well balanced. Didn't taste too much of a punch/ spice, more wine forward. The paella with quail was absolutely delicious. The quail was tender, juicy, and salty. It was so good!! The rice seemed a bit undercooked some parts were crunchy and some were ok. We got the o grilled octopus and this is the plate to get!!!!! It was creamy and fluffy with the base, Smokey and salty from the octopus, fatty and spicy from the chorizo. My favorite plate. The basque cheesecake was caramelized, creamy, and smooth. Our waitress, Maddie, was helpful and nice. I will definitely be coming again!

Everything was great. I can be particular about Spanish food and am often disappointed, but Urdaneta was great. The lamb dish and dessert were my favorites - don't skip the basque cheesecake! Croquetas and pan de tamate were also quite tasty - good starters!Our server was nice and good with recommendations. Lovely little wine selection.

This restaurant is not just food. It is an experience of food and flavor. Having dinner at Urdaneta was a fantastic. This restaurant was highly recommended and now I know why. I felt like every dish was the best. It seems that every dish has unique flavors that work together. The food came out perfectly timed I was able to enjoy each dish. If you are in Portland you must visit Utdaneta. The service and food were phenomenal.We went off our servers favorites and that consisted of grilled octopus, iberico pork steak, brussels sprouts, and ensaladilla rusa. All were delicious!!

Urdaneta is one of those restaurants that just has something special about it. Right when you walk through the doors you can tell that everyone working there has a deep care for their craft and the experience of the service. We had multiple servers constantly checking in on us, giving us friendly recommendations, and letting my husband and I take out time to savor every moment. I'd advise you to walk into Urdaneta with an open mind. You probably won't recognize some of the ingredients that they use, but everything is thoughtfully put together. I've yet to eat something there that I haven't liked.

Brace yourself, this is going to be a long post because this was a special meal. True to the nature of tapas, we tried SO many things on their menu and they're all unique and delicious, representing the cuisine in the Basque region. Really opened up our palate and culinary worldview.Open kitchen, cozy space, and lively energy. The ambience at Urdaneta made for a fun dining experience. We started off with some delicious and refreshing house Sangria. We were also given some complimentary marinated olives which were BOMB. And, I'm not even an olive person. These had great a texture and well-balanced flavors. Next came the assortment of pinxtos: Mejillones En Escabeche, Bikini, and Morcilla. These were small biters that were somewhat shareable but we totally wished we just got one each of everything...The Escabache had a crispy paella base topped with slightly brined mussel, playing with the contrast in textures. The Bikini was a twist on the classic ham and cheese sandwich with super crisy toasty and the gooeiest cheese. The saltiness from the jamon serrano paired amazingly with the touch of truffle honey. So good! Last but not least of the pinxtos, the Morcilla was some of the best, if not the best, blood sausage served on a tasty toast. Now we might make this sounds average but it's so tasty we wished they sold the blood sausage in bulk.The primeros were equally impressive. We tried the Pan with whipped olive oil topped with sherry brown butter. Need I say more. Loved the airy texture of the olive oil, didn't know that this is a thing! The Nuestra Ensaladilla Rusa was an albacore paradise with the fish prepared in multiple ways on the dish. It sorta reminds me of tuna salad but with more umami. The thin and crispy waffle potato chips were a great company to the dish. Then there's the Croquetas De Jamon which were the croquetas to beat all corquetas. The outside crispy and thin while the inside was soooo creamy. I don't know how they do it but it's amazing.Hope you're still with us cause we got segundos. The Piquillos Rellenos were wild boar stuffed peppers stewed in a rich yet bright sauce. The gaminess of the board worked surprisingly well. Not to mention it's very tender and juicy. Meanwhile the lamb loin in the Cordero was equally delicious and so preciously presented we didn't want to touch it. But we did and it's great.After all of these delectable dishes, we're satisfied but, you know what they say, go big or go home so we got not one but two desserts and a decaf espresso to round of our food adventure. We got the Arroz con Leche with bruleéd top which to our surprise was served cold but it worked! The rice was very creamy and not too sweet. The crunchy sugar top added a nice contrasting texture and it's fun to break into. The lavender was present but in the most perfect way, not at all overwhelming. The star of the desserts though was the Tarte de Queso or Burnt Basque Cheesecake. So creamy and smooth and the membrillo was so damn good.This was a spendy meal but we couldn't be happier with it. The restaurant and the team put in thoughts and efforts to create such a unique experience. They regularly travel to Spain to refine their menu and techniques so you can be sure to have a great time whenever you go.

Living up to the hype as a former Eater PDX editor's favorite, Urdaneta delivered an exceptional dining experience.The service was impeccable from start to finish, with a friendly and attentive staff.The food was truly outstanding. Every dish was a flavor-packed delight, showcasing both Spanish or Basque cuisine and inventive PDX twists. The complimentary marinated olives were a welcome appetizer, and I highly recommend trusting your server's recommendations.Don't miss out on the Basque cheesecake for a perfect ending to your meal.While the menu is seasonally driven, the consistent quality of the food and service makes Urdaneta a must-visit for any food lover visiting Portland.

Food at Urdaneta was the highlight. The jamon iberico was my favorite offering of the night. A half serving ($18) nets you 6 paper thin slices of the prized ham. I would pay for it again! Service was great -- we had Nathan. Nathan was very knowledgeable of the menu and the restaurant's history and how they curate the menu.Ambiance was fine -- nothing to write home about, but comfy enough.Urdaneta loses 1 star because an employee (not Nathan) asked me if I wanted some bread to finish off my clam broth. There was an extra charge at the end of the dining experience, and this charge was not disclosed beforehand. It's a small piece of bread, you'd think a restaurant that nets an average of $100 per person could just toss you the bread.