Oregon is home to a lot of restaurants, bars, wineries, and breweries, but there are tons of hidden gems that some Portlanders aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's many food players to share their recommendations for a weekly feature dubbed Dining Confidential.
Hospitality runs in the family of Barry and Jared Brown, the father and son duo that took over the classic-Italian eatery Mama Mia Trattoria last July. Spanning over a century, the Brown family's deep roots in the kitchen all started back in 1903, when the family owned and operated a successful family style restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA. At Mama Mia, Barry handles all operations, while Jared is now the new face to this familiar eatery once owned by chef Lisa Schroeder. It's no wonder then that, when it come time to grab a bite, Barry likes to go to another family-owned and operated biz on SW Barbur Blvd.
New Delhi Indian Restaurant is a mom-and-pop gem that's been serving Southwest Portland for 12 years. Owner Jawaid Shaikit oversees the restaurant and is dedicated to his customers; he always has a sincere smile for everyone. Shagufta, his wife and head chef, is committed to the quality and consistency of her recipes. I always enjoy the many smells drifting from her kitchen. We've tried several dishes, which have all been wonderful but it's the qeema (lamb), samosas, aaloo (curried potato) naan, and chicken Makhani, which melt in my mouth and is my go-to meal almost every time I go. We also eat the naan stuffed with feta cheese. While a bit unique for an Indian restaurant, it is a must — as well as the lamb korma. My love for outstanding Indian food is the primary reason I keep going back but I like the fact, like Mama Mia, it's a family-owned establishment,
too.
· New Delhi Restaurant [Official site]
· All Previous Dining Confidentials [Eater PDX]
Image of New Delhi Restaurant courtesy Kevin M. via Yelp
