Irving Street Tapas

Irving Street Tapas Wants to Become Portland’s Most Affordable Small Plates Spot | Eater Portland

"Drawing on decades of international experience—having cooked in Michelin-starred kitchens in France, hotels in the Caribbean, homes in Bangalore, and restaurants in Mumbai—Ajay Narayan and Paresh Warke opened a Pearl District small-plates spot to capture “the tapa for any culture.” I learned they spent the pandemic workshopping an eclectic menu of mostly $4–$8 items (all under $10) that mixes Spanish classics like tortilla española, gazpacho, and patatas bravas with dishes such as grilled ahi, calamari in harissa aioli, peri‑peri chicken, samosas, steak in chimichurri or wasabi butter, and Greek yemista. The menu also reflects their Indian background in varied ways: Narayan describes the Indian food as “really westernized” with “lots of cream,” even as many items reportedly stray from heavy dairy and lean on South Indian flavors—think peppery stir‑fried mushrooms and minty pudina chicken—and include playful crossovers like sambusas with brava sauce and panna cotta infused with Thai tea. They’ve been incorporating staff feedback, will serve beer, wine, sangria and a handful of signature cocktails from a full bar, and plan to introduce larger plates like paella; indoor and outdoor dining is slated to open July 1 in the former Irving Street Kitchen space." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden