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Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Visited Pambiche on a rainy Saturday evening in Fall. We had to wait for about ten minutes, as we expected, because the restaurant only has about ten tables or so.
There is not indoor waiting area, you have to wait outside under the heat lamps if its a cold evening.
Upon seating we were immediately greeted and put in a drink order. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and seemed genuinely passionate about the food at the restaurant.
We started with Sangria, as we were told that this was the house specialty. They were just the right amount of sweetness, it was an easy refreshing drink, but still had enough flavor to be distinguishable as a wine, and not a fruit drink.
Our starters were interesting, as we got a garlicky taro root croquette. It was deep fried, and the taro provided an excellent palette to serve the house banana hot sauce.
Our entrees were apparently Cuban staples. The Rojas Viejas was a little too dry, but the other dish which included Oxtail was perfect.
Service was prompt and the timing between dishes was good. Enough time to enjoy each part.
The ambiance is nice, it blends a fun casual eating environment with a bit of Portland flair. I feel like i discovered a spot that would be on the Travel Channel as a place where locals go to eat off the beaten path.
For four drinks, two starters, and two entrees I spent about $60.00.
I've had alot of great luck with my gastronomic adventures in the PDX with the help of Yelp. However, I was quite disappointed with my experience at Pambiche.
It looked really hip and happenin' on a nice summer day in the PDX. It had a nice vibe with an eclectic crowd. The wait was not too long. I loved the seating in the patio area where you can watch people meander.
The EPIC disappointment came when I tried to cut into the fried plantanes and I couldn't because they were hard as rocks. The rice and beans were a bit dry for my taste. My fish was really really bland even though it was cooked with coconut sauce. It was odd to see a bottle of lumpia sauce on the table at a Cuban place.
Maybe I've been spoiled by really good Cuban eateries in CA and NYC, but the flavors just didn't jive at Pambiche.
Bottomline, good sangria but bland, mediocre food.
I've never knowingly had "authentic" cuban food, so i can't vouch for pambiche as far as that goes. fortunately, my tastes buds only care about deliciousness anyway, and pambiche has won them over in this regard.
my experience is only with their happy hour menu, but i imagine if they get the happy hour food right, the rest of their food can only be equally, if not more delicious. i was really happy to see that they have fried green plantains, fried ripe plantains, and fried yuca on the menu (note: fried green plantains are not supposed to be sweet! they are savory, and if your only experience of plantains is sweet and banana-tasting, you will be disappointed). the plantains are very good, but i have yet to try the yuca.
they also have incredible croquetas and masitas (kind of like a cuban version of carnitas) that unbelievably tasty.
and cafe cubano! or if you like macchiatos, go for a cortadita. so, so tasty!
the service was also prompt (no experience during dinner though) and servers were very friendly.
the only reason they get 4 stars is because you can't take happy hour food home. so if you can't finish all of your food, presumably it gets throw away. this is ridiculous and i don't really understand why they do this. so be prepared; perhaps err on the side of ordering less than more (2 happy hour plates will most likely fill you up).
Ambiance was great but the food was just ok. The service was really good!!!!!
Expected a lot more in terms of taste and portion size. For a casual looking place I did not expect leaving hungry after ordering off the dinner menu.
In the mood to spice things up for the monthly dinner my husband and I share with two other couples, we chose to eat at Pambiche on a chilly Saturday night. Although we arrived at 8 thinking that the crowd will have thinned out by then, we were surprised to find there was a waiting list. This actually turned out to be a good thing because it gave the chance for our friends who haven't dined there to peruse the menu under the comforting heat lamps.
Although the wait was close to half an hour, the eclectic crowd and the interesting dishes we saw being served fueled the excitement for what was to come. And we were not disappointed! I started out with the pineapple sugar cane juice which was perfectly tart, sweet and refreshing. We ended up sharing the appetizers which included savory empanadas (spinach and cheese, Cuban beef), delicious croquetas (ham and chicken), and fabulous frituras (corn and taro). Although it seemed that most of these app's were fried (which went perfectly with the ketchup-like banana sauce), they were balanced by the fresh slaw and beet salad. They were actually so good that we almost ordered up another plate before being reminded by our server that the entrees were going to be large.
The best thing about dining with a large group is that we get to try everyone else' plates and each and every one was delicious! I ordered the "Fried Cow" which was shredded beef served with ripe plantains and rice with bacon. I enjoyed the citrus sauce served on the side which I drizzled over my dish. My husband had the Arroz Con Pollo which came with a whole chicken thigh and leg served over saffron infused rice. Our friends had the Pescado Con Coco (fish with coconut sauce), Lenguas en Salsa (pork tongue), Pollo Criollo (tartly marinated chicken), and Plate Cubano (pork). The portions were all very large and even our most picky friend thoroughly enjoyed his meal.
For dessert, we had the flan, the Lime in the Coconut cake, and the pineapple tart that's similar to pineapple upside down cake served with ice cream. The desserts were delicious and we ended up staying at Pambiche for about three and a half hours! The service was helpful and friendly and although the dining room itself is pretty small, they do offer outdoor seating with heat lamps.
At one point during our meal, someone commented "I don't know if I'm hungry or if this place is really good?" the rest of us promptly answered (with our mouths full) "It's the good food!"
So good. I had the Arroz Con Pollo, it was fantastic. My husband got the Ajiaco (a stew of all sorts of goodness) We were both very satisfied with our choices. We also gad an appetizer the Frituras Malanga. So yum.
The place is really small so expect to wait a bit, but it's worth it. We didn't wait very long maybe 10 minutes.
Great atmosphere, check!
Wonderful lemonade with fresh sugar cane, check!
Yucca root, which they pronounce yooka, check!
I really really enjoyed myself at Pambiche. The colorful tones of the restaurant (there's no way you'll accidentally miss it!), the cute wooden tables, and some nice lighting really give this place nice atmosphere.
I tried the Lemonada de (something). It was wonderful. Although, now looking at other Yelp pictures, I'm wondering if I should have tried the banana shake?
For food, I had the sandwich cubano and upgraded the side to yucca root. Delicious sandwich! It's been a while since I've had yucca, so that was a very welcome flavor to re-experience.
I will definitely be back. Patio is heated, but the inside looks cute too, so weather won't keep me away (except a tornado, monsoon, or blizzard).
I've heard so many praises and raves about Pambiche. I've been wanting to go there for a while. Finally, got a chance to try this supposedly "best Cuban food" in Portland. My sister wanted to celebrate her birthday there.
So we've waited for seats for 9 people. It took almost more than one hour since their inside seats area is tiny and we couldn't sit outside just because they couldn't combine tables for nine people.
Finally, we got in and browse the menu. Price for dinner was so so. In the range between $11 - $17 for platters. They also have Cuban style sandiwches and tapas. I ordered the Fried Cow. It was delicious. Shredded beef was perfect, plantains were yummy, and the portion was just right.
However, the service was not good. It took forever to get everything. She seemed like she didn't want to be there. To make this place lose another star, after I ate here I got a pretty bad stomach problem. It might be the black beans since when it got to our table, the beans wasn't hot (in temperature). Those beans, they might be delicious, but they are pretty risky.
8 a.m. on a semi-dreary Saturday morning and Pambiche had plenty of indoor and outdoor tables available. Bottom line: Loved it, will be back many times. Here's the details:
Started out with a selection of delicious house made Cuban breakfast pastries ($5): Coconetes ~ Fresh grated coconut biscuit enhanced with fresh ginger, Lime Papaya Scones ~ Papaya Scone scented with fresh lime zest, Pastelitos de Piña ~ Mini Cuban pastries filled with fresh ripe pineapple, Pastelitos de Fruta Bomba ~ Mini Cuban pastries filled with papaya & cheese, Rum Raisin Cakes ~ Old fashioned buttery pound cake with rum soaked raisins, Toronja Pound Cakes ~ Pink grapefruit and coconut milk cakes, Banana Bran Muffins ~ Bran cakes sweetened with ripe bananas, & Chocolate Passion Muffins ~ Passion fruit muffin with bittersweet chocolate bits.
Then came the wide-eyed breakfast for two (ya know that look that comes over your face when you see the size of what is placed on your table):
Pisto Manchego ($11) ~ Cuban egg dish of Spanish origin. Chorizo sausage, smoked ham, Gulf shrimp, potatoes, asparagus, pimientos and petit pois in a peppered egg scramble with a Spanish
olive oil sofrito. Served with pan frito and arroz blanco with your choice of frituras (corn, taro root, yam or black-eyed pea).
Bistec de Palomilla (Cuban Steak & Eggs) ($12.50) ~ Cuban steak. Thin cut top sirloin steaks, tenderized and marinated in creole herbs and spices then pan fried with red onions. Served with eggs (over easy in my case), fufú de plátano and Moros & Cristianos.
The entire breakfast experience from the food to the atmosphere was stellar. The hot chocolate and mocha were also among the best I can remember having in my decaying memory. Plus, you gotta love the new bike corral outside of their front door!
I get the proletariat no reservations policy of restaurants but this place is so tiny it makes for very long waits on the sidewalk with nowhere to sit. and too much street life to deal with. Just not cool.
As for the food I was expecting a lot of flavor and did not get it. Not that it was bad but my Fried Cow beef tasted like grilled shredded brisket. With white rice and beans. very boring. Where's all the flavor everyone has been raving about? The fried sweet plaintains were nice but the cabbage salad was another blah.
The Pam Beach Cooler is a refreshing treat but I need more than a good drink to go back. For me PamBiche has more cons than pros.
It hurts me to do this, because a friend of mine was REALLY excited about me traveling to Portland last weekend and getting an opportunity to go here. But this place was no good. It was cute, had great decor and beautiful art hanging on the wall. The servers were nice and dessert showcase looked quite enticing, but the food was just no good. It tasted like nobody back in the kitchen was Cuban, nor did they have a Cuban relative or friend to speak of.
We ordered the red beans as they came highly recommended by our waitress. They were soupy and there seemed to be a lot of stuff in the beans but the flavor was lacking. The black beans and rice dish was my favorite -- I'd order it again. The coconut fish dish was hella fishy tasting (definitely not fresh) and the fried plantains were over battered, bland and non-sweet. I mean how do you ruin plantains? My BF commented that they tasted like they had been cooked the day before and fried the next day. Yuck. The empanadas filled with picadillo were also pretty lame, the batter was bland, and they had been fried too long.
To top it all off, after consuming half a bowl of red beans, I experienced the worst gas ever all night long. I won't elaborate more than that, but it definitely ensured I won't go back here again.
Side note: Best Cuban food I ever ate was at Versailles in Miami, FL. Restaurant owned and run by Cubans and my Cuban girlfriend took me there because that were her family likes to eat. It was fabulous. Pambiche was not.
4.5 stars in my book. Almost 5 stars... The reason I give them 4.5 stars is because I dunno... Have anyone have cuban food before? Is all their food that light in taste? Or maybe my personal perferrence.. I thought all the food we ordered need it little bit more salt.
But I gotta love the place. It's so pretty... The building is very colorful and get this very artistic vibe... Very much Cuban!
I went w the yelpers perferrence and ordered tostones, Plato cubano and two other dishes from the lunch menu...o and a milkshake. They gave us juran(the banana sauce that look like catsup) and this salsa looking sauce. Man... that salsa suace was great. That is what I added to my plato cubano to make it more favorful. Love it!!
It was my first time having a tostones... Very interesting...unlike the fried banana dessert Viet and filipino ppl have... Their is not sweet... I think it's because it's plantain. This is something I can skip... I am really a fired banana type of person. But I can tell y ppp like it so much... It's probably very authentic. Its condense and not greasy... So u make feel guilty keep eating it.
Overall everyone has enjoy their dishes. Very good=) for all that much food... It a very reason price. Awesome!!!
I am going to miss this cute little place.
Hmm....I really don't understand some segments of the Yelp community. Either it's them or it's me, and usually I tend to think it's me - but I just can't understand what is the big deal with this place!
I tried the Comunista - a not-so-lively dish of fried yams (tasteless), a small bit of white rice, and a modest cup of black beans (too watery). The meal was not near worth the ridiculous 1 hr wait. I advise going only as a couple if you wish to get any kind of timely seating.
The colors and vibe of the place said to me that it would be a good experience, but the results were not reflective of that feeling. Too bad, I say - it was not to be.
Authentic cuban? eh... Best food ever... YES indeed!
This place has some of the best food EVER. Cuban or whatever. It is some tasty delight seriously. You will wait awhile on a popular day, but its worth it totally. Kinda pricey, so it's not an everyday type of thing. I have ate here maybe three times and have never had a bad meal. Ever. the company I have went with have all went back with out me and have told me great things.
CLIFFNOTES: If you're in Portland and like Cuban GO HERE!
Enjoyed one of the best meals I've had in a while here. We split two dishes: one prawns in a tomato and wine sauce, the other red snapper in coconut. Awesome, both. Good black beans, tasty tres leches (I think there's a ceiling on how good tres leches can be). The waiter was a lovely man. No complaints means five stars for me.
Wow!! This place is sooo good. I love when I come to Portland to go to this place for lunch. I want to eat pretty much anything off the menu. I decided to order breakfast on this so I ordered the Pan con tortilla sandwich, which was a yummy egg with avocado, mixed with onions on a Cuban Bun. It was served with tostones and this mango chutney that will blow your mind.
The tostones weren't all that great since it lacked flavor and the sauces were not thick enough to stand on the sandwich with eggs, but overall this colorful place never disappoints me.
I cannot wait to come back and just try the desserts. Everytime I come here, I get filled up on the main course, my stomach cannot hold anything else!
This was my favorite meal of my latest visit to the Rose City. Went for brunch, the coffee wowed, the sampler of pastries was lovely and almost worth the breakout, and our breakfasts were delicious. My tortilla espana kept me full all day, but I still couldn't resist finishing it three hours later. The staff we encountered were totally sweet. And we didn't even have to wait for a table on a Sunday at noon! Based on other reviews, it appears we were somewhat lucky. I'm happy - I'll be back with more of my posse, sure enough.
I lived in Cuba AKA Miami for about a year, so I know really good AUTHENTIC cuban food. So when a restaurant such as Pambiche calls its self cuban I think hmmm......let me try it out because I really like cuban food. I went for dinner with a friend. We waited maybe 15minutes tops. Once seated I checked out the menu. I was really exited and so looked forward to the deliciousness that I know is cuban food. To my surprise, and dismay this place doesn't know the half of cuban food.
A staple cuban dish is a flattened chicken breast served with white/yellow rice black/red beans and plantains. THIS essential staple was NOT even on the menue.
Cuban, I think not!!! I say if you really want cuban, short of actually going to Cuba just hop on a plane and fly over to Miami. I promise you will NOT be disappointed, and you will not be for want of really good authentic Cuban cuisine.
I lived in Miami for 4 years. This is Cuban food.
The arroz con pollo is amazing, and the platanos are cooked correctly. That was enough to convince me. This place offers specialty dishes, and not basic Cuban menu items. However, I can assure you that someone has exceptional skills in that kitchen, and knows exactly what they're doing.
The staff is nice, there's a patio, the area has a lot going on, and the food is incredible. Cuban food is the type that just settles with you well, and is satisfying. They also have some badass desserts.
You've probably heard about it. If you haven't, don't be afraid...it's a true gem of Portland.
If you want festivity without the big presentations, lively music, and fresh healthy food, this is your place. Love everything about it, even the fast pace of the servers.
While we were waiting for our seats, they gave us menus; ordered our drinks, and by the time we were seated the waitress took our orders. They were committed to getting us served and it was much appreciated.
The three plates of appetizers came and I don't think any pieces or crumbs were left on the plates. Wait, we did leave a piece of yuma, which was quickly consumed before the plates were removed. The food was simply delicious. Seriously, you can't go wrong with any of the selections.
The Cuban music blaring in and outside the restaurant really gives it a Cuban feel. I highly recommend ,but do give yourself two to three hours to sit, enjoy, absorb the surround and the mouth-watering food.
Pambiche represents everything I love about food on the East side of town.
It's small, funky, cheap, and damn good.
I don't know shit about Cuban food. Which is a thing I now find sad. I seriously feel like I've been missing out. If Pambiche is a solid representation of Cuban food then I have stumbled on a mecca of mad goodness.
Their dessert list is expansive and the tropical spins on standard favorites like carrot cake are tasty. Oh, and they have coconut soda. I now love coconut soda.
Never really had Cuban food, but if people are loving this place then I really don't care for Cuban food. We had two items on the menu that the waitress recommended and they were okay. Take into consideration that we were wanting to go to Pok Pok, but they didn't open till 5pm. So we could have been wanting Thai, and had to settle.
I don't know if we would go back, we don't live in Portland so when we go we want to try new items.
The setting was cool, outside with cars racing by, vibrant colors, the desert section looked great but we didn't try any.
This will be a pass for me, the only reason that I gave it a 2 star is because I learned about Banana Ketchup, don't recall the name of it but it was great.
Enjoy if you like Cuban food.
Hubby and I decided to try this place since it got such good reviews on here. Glad we did! We split the Arroz con Pollo. Now I don't like to try new food, but this was delicious. The chicken just fell off the bone and the rice was very flavorful.
Though I have never had a real Cuban experience in Cuba before, but hey, Pambiche gave me a very good impression... I love going to Pambiche for any occasion. I have been their on Valentine's Day, Sunday brunch, weekday happy hour, dinner and lunch.
The people, the decoration, the food, the friendly staff, the music... I just love it there. I was never disappointed... They have indoor and outdoor seats... I LOVE their lemonade with sugar cane... yum yum yum... and their appetizers.. the food... oh oh oh and the dessert... flan, cake, and delicious baked goods!!!! I could go on and on about how much I love eating there =)
The only down-side about eating there is the wait for the seats sometime... The outdoor seating aren't bad at all, they have heaters (heat lamps?) on top of/ next to every table... This place is so beautiful and colorful... very Cuban? =)
I'm happy and satisfied every time I am here. I have brought friends who are visiting Portland to this restaurant, they all loved the experience! Thank you, Pambiche!
In Portland it's the best Cuban food you can get. The wait can get long if you go at prime times. Be sure to save room for dessert if you go. Only downside is some (NOT ALL) of the wait staff lacks customer service skills.
"What is a Cuban restaurant doing in the middle of Oregon?"
With it's brightly colorful facade on a Victorian building, Pambiche had mostly non-Hispanic clientele coming in and out, one after the other. Apparently a hip spot in Portland, I was about to get an authentic taste of home!
For starters, in my opinion, there is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than sangria. The sangria at Pambiche had the consistency of a smoothie with oranges, lemons and strawberries adding flavor and color to the dark wine.
If I didn't have a show, just hours later, I probably would have had two more!
The croquettas were excellent! They were longer and thinner than I'm used to and definitely creamier, with fresh herbs and ham pieces, giving them a deliciously rich smoothness and taste. I love that they make their own unlike most restaurants that serve frozen, mass produced croquettas that all taste the same. Now, don't get me wrong, there are some frozen brands like "Caserita." Those are so good, you don't even care that they're frozen! Just thinking of them makes me salivate....mmmm.....so good!
Cuban corn fritters...we had them every so often growing up, usually on special occasions. I would be so excited that I'd wait right by the pappy fryer so I could I watch my grandfather make them. If I was lucky he would let me sprinkle the sugar on top of them when they were done. These were crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. In every bite you'd find sweet nibbles of plump corn scattered throughout with hints of anis seed. Absolutely satisfying!
Arroz con Pollo! Ropa Vieja! What am I to order? Both? Yes, maybe... to share. I felt like I had to take advantage of this opportunity! So much food for such a great price!
Even though the arroz con pollo was a bit intimidating in its presentation, it resembled a Cuban "comparza" or street festival with all the color and unnecessary garnishes it came with, it was still quite good. However, I am very critical of other people's arroz con pollo...see, no one has ever been able to out do my mom's, and that is the recipe I live by!
On the other hand, the ropa vieja was excellent...shredded to perfection with the best of company, white rice and black beans. I almost forget that I'm on the other side of the US in the middle of the mountains! If I close my eyes, I'm home....but to make it really authentic I'd have to hear the blaring sound of over exaggerated drama from my mom's telenovela coming from the living room.
And finally, really bringing it home, moist and creamy Tres Leches! My favorite, when it's done right, which it was! Oh, my homesickness, was cured. Mission accomplished!
Let's be honest. I feel cool going to Pambiche. It's a street cred thing. I know NOTHING about Cuban food so I leave it up to the wait staff for direction.
I would NEVER order anything remotely sounding like Ox tail. However, upon a blind recommendation from my server (I did say, "surprise me"), I must confess - it was GREAT! I have always enjoyed my meals there and need to get by for a brunch..
This month President Obama took steps (long overdue in my book) to relax US relations with Cuba, the most notable of which is to allow Cuban-Americans easier and more frequent travel to their homeland.
That's great, but considering I'm NOT Cuban a visit to Pambiche is about as close as I'm gonna get until the ridiculous travel embargo is finally ended.
Well, considering how awesome Pambiche is, I guess that's not so bad. The place has a bright, lively atmosphere - I can't imagine not being in good spirits after dining here! Well, maybe if we visited when the tiny little spot is crowded (during typical dinner hours, almost every night of the week) and had to wait ages for a table our happy mood might have some dampers on it.
But we've always managed to visit before or after the biggest crowds - and their kitchen is open 'til midnight Friday & Saturday, so it's a good spot for a late-ish dinner or just cafe con leche and dessert!
It's a little tough to eat "cheap" here - the Cuban Pressed Sandwiches (avg price $8-10) only save you a few bucks from the price of the dinner plates. As far as the entrees go (most seem to run $10-15), I've thoroughly enjoyed each one I've tried! The Pollo Criollo is basically a quarter of a chicken, in tasty spices. The Vaca Frita is like a Cuban beef version of pulled pork - all juicy and shreddy with lots of salty-garlicky good flavor.
They have a variety of sides that are all pretty tasty - my favorite is the borderline un-PC Moros y Christianos (black beans & white rice - with chunks of bacon). The cabbage slaw is fresh and compliments most dishes well - and it's the non-creamy kind, which makes me and My Lady very happy! The tostones (fried plantains) are nice, but they seem to be fried a little too hard and almost always turn out crunchier than I'd prefer.
On the other hand, the Maduros (sweet, sticky fried plantains) were tender and tasty, but more of a desert. If they could prepare the tostones to the same texture as the Maduros I'd be in heaven! Pambiche is also a great place for dessert - lots of delicious pastries and cakes, oh so tempting!
I've only been here a handful of times, and have never tried the empanadas, but they're on my list! It's also a worthy breakfast destination (7-days a week), and from 7-8am it's 2-for-1 breakfast entrees!
All in all a fun, lively spot! If you're passing by and you see a table open grab it. If it's crowded it's worth the wait - just put your name on the list, sprint down to the Laurelthirst (or the divey Lucky Bar across the street) for a drink while you wait!
I keep ending up at Pambiche with friends. After each I get mad and promise myself that next time I'll just stay home. The food I've tasted (and I have tried, I really have) has been over-fried and/or bland. The cocktails are either super strong or super weak - I'm talking about the same drink on two different visits. My suggestion is to save your money, or spend it somewhere that deserves your business.
I don't need to say anything because you already know. This place is amazing. I'd eat here everyday if I could.
I love a place that makes me feel like I'm on vacation and Pambiche does just that from the uniquely-colored builiding, decor, and music. Fast, friendly service made the experience even better.
I had Vaca Frita--fried beef (not-deepfried) with flavorful black beans and rice. The beef came with a wonderful citrus sauce on the side that went perfectly with the meal. I also tried the ripe fried plantains--pretty good, but a few were approaching charred black.
This will be the 140th review of Pambiche, so why bother? Only because with every visit to this garish mecca of cusina Cubano something new delights me. Last night it was Camarones Enchilados, perfectly sauteed prawns, served in a rich red creole sauce, with a refreshing sangria or two to wash it down.
Beyond the food and beverages, there is a sense here that something special is going down. Ms A. and the stepdude and I had a fun meal out in the warm air and everything we tasted was phenomenal.
Sure, a warm evening in May is special in Portland anyway, and we waited a little longer for a table so we could dine al fresco, but the smiles on the faces of the servers and customers alike and the festive Caña Son music floating through the evening air made it seem like a fiesta was underway on this little corner in NE Pdx.
Recently i had an amazing and generous breakfast of Tortiilla la Romana, a vast disc of fluffy eggs, filled with, among other things, bacon and shrimp, topped with fresh sliced avocado. Are you listening? I said bacon AND shrimp AND avocado... and as good as that sounds - it was better than that. And provided two full meals, to boot!
On a chilly February night some years ago, Ms A. and I had our very first date at Pambiche, sitting at an outside table, the gas brazier rippling with blue flames overhead. And like the woman herself, I think Pambiche has only improved.
Well, my boyfriend and I came here on a weekend afternoon hoping to try a plato or two. I was hoping to see how it measured up to my family cooking. See, my father's side of the family is Cuban and I've been lucky enough to grow up and have my abuela and mother (who was taught all the tricks by my abuela) cooking all sorts of yumminess for me. My sister and I also do a bit of Cuban cooking, but we're more Vegan/Veggie friendly when we do it! No ham hocks here!
Now, I didn't come here with the expectations to be blown away. My dad had been here before and told me it's not exactly really "authentic" Cuban. I've also heard it from other Cuban friends that live up here; it's more a mix of different Caribbean style and Cuban food . And I'll agree, there are lots of things on the menu that you would never find in a Cuban kitchen or restaurant in Miami. But aside from the tostones being a bit dry and lacking in salt, everything was ok.
I was disappointed we were limited to ordering either breakfast or sandwiches at the time we dined. They only serve from those menus on weekends until 2pm. Meaning no platos for me. I wound up ordering the Elena Ruz sandwich and a papas con queso empanada to split with my boyfriend. I would give them another star alone for having Ironbeer on the Menu, but it's kind of spendy being $2 for a 12 oz can. It looks like they've got a pretty good Happy Hour menu, and the brightly colored building would be enough to cheer up anyone suffering from SAD. It might not be what I've known growing up, but I think it's worth a trip when I've got a craving and not necessarily in the mood to stretch my tiny kitchen beyond it's limits for some garbanzo frito or arroz amarillo.
I love this place..and I've been here over 20x. But I don't like the favorite dish the plato cubano. I think that the pork and the sauce it's stewed in just isn't flavorful enough. But it's good. I find the Oxtail in spicy red wine sauce to be excellent. The empanadas are very tasty and spiced perfectly. The corn fritters...get them. They blow hushpuppies out of the water. Sangria is excellent. Deserts are to die for, but honestly you can't save room for it because the food is so good.
My family took my fantastic boyfriend to Pambiche for his B-Day dinner because he was craving the red snapper sandwhich (a favorite of both of ours to be honest) and because we hadn't been there since the summer time. I wanted to badly to come back and yelp them 5 stars but in all honesty, we just didn't get the Pambiche that we were used to.
Now I've had bad service here before (I won't get into the previous instances, but they've been bad), but our server kept forgetting things because she chose to not write them down. We ordered our first round of drinks which came promptly and then when they were gone she asked if we wanted another (which was great), but then they never came. Our food came our but no second round of drinks. I asked again for them when she came back out, and still no second round of drinks. The Sangria is what gives them two of the three stars I gave them, and with mom buying, I wanted more, but I just couldn't seem to get it. When a different server came by to clear our plates, we asked her and she had them to us in a jiffy, but at that point we were getting angry glares from people waiting for our table. No fun...
The happy hour food for wonderful, but it was pretty chilly out (we had an outside table) and had to ask for the heat lamps to be turned on as our food was basically cold 60 seconds after it hit the table. It didn't effect the avacodo salad (which was spectacular), but my cold beef just didn't taste as good cold as it would of hot.
We also were not able to get change for our cash, so we had to pay with a card, not a big deal, but who doesn't have change?
I'll go back for sure, most likely in the summer as it is great to sit outside in the Portland summer evenings, but I just left feeling so lackluster about the whole experience.
Oh. My. Definitely one of my new favorites! I took my roommate here for her birthday because she is already a fan and wanted me to try it! Everything I tried (mine and hers, of course) was awesome.
I had the Plato Cubano... everything was perfect, very flavorful and a great combination of textures on the plate. I could not have asked for anything more (except for cheaper prices, but when quality goes up so does the price). The atmosphere was great... and the place was packed. I always take that as a good sign. I think that if you are up for something a little different, something perhaps intriguing, but not over-the-top with ingredients you have never even heard of, try Pambiche. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
An all time favorite. I discovered that the best time of day to go here is between three and four in the afternoon, if you are looking for less of a wait. Of course, this is a place where the wait is worth every minute. Things I love:
Ajiaco: a Taino indian dish with large hunks of everything
Ropa Vieja: shredded meat twisted to look like old clothes
Plato Cubano: lots of standards, with pork
Tostones: sweet fried plantains
Yuca con Mojo: Yuca root with sauce
Empanadas: with great sauce
Ensalada Aguacate: avocado salad with deliciousness
Breakfast
Dessert
Cuban coffee
Sangria, Palm Beach Cooler
Outdoor heating lamps over the tables
Awesome service with (always?) bilingual servers
Neighborhood atmosphere
Pambiche was my first Cuban food experience, so take it for what it's worth when I tell you that it is incredible. Sunday morning my party of 2 stepped into Pambiche at around 10am and were seated within 10 minutes. That is impressive considering the size (I'd say it can seat a couple dozen or less) and the popularity of Pambiche.
Despite the hectic atmosphere, service was very attentive and I never felt rushed. We started with a sampler of Cuban baked goods, which was a basket of about 10 different mini treats ($5). What a great way to get an idea of Cuban cuisine!
The menu is loaded with a ton of great looking dishes. It is your favorite breakfast ingredients- eggs, potatoes, beans, etc.- with a Cuban twist! It's a must-try for anyone who likes Creole or Mexican food.
My Huevo Cuba Veg plate ($8.50) came with two scambled eggs, mashed plantains with carmelized onions, three corn fritters, rice and black beans. Everything was delicious! Boyfriend tried the Cua Cua dish ($9) was also excellent- a mixture of meat, eggs, plantains, rice, beans and fresh avocado. Both plates included a small side of fresh fruit.
Everything about Pambiche is welcoming. The food is comforting and well-prepared, the service is friendly and helpful, and the dining room is full of color and interesting paintings.
I can't wait to return for dinner! :)
If you don't know what to order, get the Plato Cubano. You just can't go wrong with Pambiche's roasted pork.
JONASAPPROVED!
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: French
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Southern
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Pizza
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