Alma: The King Neighborhood Welcomes Portland’s First Upscale Balkan Restaurant | Eater Portland

"Led by chef Vedran Jordan—a Sarajevo refugee who trained at Bamboo Sushi, Gado Gado, Oma’s Hideaway and with Gregory Gourdet—this new Balkan restaurant opens with a focus on elevated “Ottoman-era” dishes and a polished, community-minded vibe. Highlights include an imam bayildi (a half-roasted eggplant marinated overnight with Vegeta, its innards mixed with aromatics, chilies and tomatoes, and served with toum yogurt and green zhoug), a kanpachi crudo dressed in black Moroccan salt with housemade citrus kosho and ginger (sourced from Aji Fish Butchery), plus standout preparations of baba ghanoush and a substantial lamb shank. Beverage director Chris Mateja (formerly of Nightingale) has crafted bright, vibrant cocktails using liquors from South America and the Balkans, and the spirits program features three rakias (grape, plum and a secret third) with more planned; several spirits were custom-made for the restaurant by Andy Garrison of Tuff Talk Distilling. Housed in a pretty space in the King neighborhood, the operation emphasizes a hardworking, compassionate team—with Jeremy Fong as chef de cuisine, Mo Morales as sous chef and Emily Gilmer as general manager—and will donate 5% of opening-week sales to The Sameer Project. The restaurant opens Friday, June 13, and will be open Thursday through Monday from 4 to 9 p.m., by reservation only." - Paolo Bicchieri