Andina’s - Portland, Oregon

Rating: 5!!!  (ratings are between 0 - 5)  

If I could take my very special Valentine anywhere in Portland for dinner tonight it would be Andina’s in the Pearl on 13^th and Glisan just before you go over 405.     

 Andina’s specializes in Peruvian Food, and they have a great happy hour, all set in a warm and festive atmosphere.  This is a family run restaurant and every time I have been there for dinner the owner Doris has come by the table to say hello and share a story of her homeland.  My favorite story is about how the bartender came up with the name of my favorite drink SACASYHUAMAN, it is habanero pepper infused vodka & passion fruit.  When the bartender was in Peru he fell in love with the people and the availability of fresh ingredients, he wanted to make a drink that showed the passion, heat and sweetness of what he had felt there.  When it came to naming it the Inca Empire walled complex on the outskirts of Cusco, Peru had the perfect name as it is pronounced “Sexy Human” will not literally but close enough for him.  So when you go just order the sexy human and you will get a great drink and a wink from the staff.

 The restaurant is not super big 30 tables’ maybe, so make reservations or go early.  The bar is small and intimate so if you are going for happy hour get there early to get one of the three nice booths along the back wall as they have the most room and privacy.  As far as being kid friendly, there is no reason that kids can’t go to early dinner or for lunch for sure, and bringing in your own food shouldn’t be a problem as long as you explain.  They have a great Tapas menu that has CHICHARRONES DE POLLO crispy golden chicken studded with quinoa, served with salsa agridulce, and ANTICUCHO DE POLLO marinated chicken kebobs, served with a spicy salsa de rocoto both are great and most kids like chicken.  They also have a Gluten Free Menu and a Vegetarian Menu.  My favorite dish is the QUINOTO DE HONGOS DE LA MONTANA, golden beet and local mushroom quinoa "risotto" laced with truffle oil with grilled market fresh vegetables, it is to die for and healthy to boot. 

 I have a couple of wait staff that I absolutely love here and I try to make sure I get one of their tables, but you will have to find your own because I don’t want to share mine, lol.  This is another place that if you tell them up front that you have allergies they will go to the end of the world for you.  They even have a substitute for bread for those of us that are Gluten Free, and that really says something.  They also serve several salsas with their bread, one has peanut in it and one has Gluten so make sure you tell them ahead of time if either are a problem and they will bring you a special bowl of your own with the one that you can have.  Oh and make sure you save room for dessert, if nothing else try a truffle, and there sorbets and/or ice cream are wonderful and in some really great flavors of the season.   The Sangria is dynamite too.  So Food-wise, Services-wise and Allergy Awareness-wise they rank 5 out of 5. 

Now the Details:

Value - price:

I have never left here hungry, I usually split a couple of tapas, dinner, drinks & dessert and it comes to about $60 a person.  That is if I have scallops it is a little less if I have the quinoa, lunch is about $20ish and I can easily have leftovers with lunch or dinner.  The food is always fresh and consistent so for me I always get more then my money’s worth here.    

Tipping:

Like I have said before I usually leave: 30% that is my max, I work down in 5% increments from there.  I think the least I have every left at Andina's is 20%, but that was a rarity.

Best hours to go:

Andina’s is great anytime, I love happy hour, but late lunch is great too.   

Tips:

Make reservations especially if you have a party bigger then 4

Allergy Extras or places that are close by:

There is a Whole Foods close by.  

Restaurant info:

Andina

1314 NW Glisan

Portland OR 97209

503.228.9535 

Hours:

Lunch:

11:30am – 2:30pm 7 days a week

Bar/Tapas:

Sun-Thu 4:00pm -11:00pm

Fri-Sat 4:00 –Midnight

Dinner:

Sun-Thu 5:00pm -9:30pm

Fri-Sat 5:00 –10:30pm

Happy Hour:

4:00pm-6:00pm 7 days a week