After owners Billy Schumaker and Stephen Speiser toured Mexico to come up with some menu inspirations, they opened Taqueria Nueve in 2000 between a row of other restaurants on N.E. 28th Avenue. And what a menu. Nueve serves refined Mexican dishes and specializes in seafood and seasonal vegetables, without the smothering cheese sauces and tortilla chips typifying most Mexican and Tex-Mex eateries. That means no chips and salsa to start the meal here. Instead, try the specialty spicy octopus cocktail. Move on to a number of signature tacos, among them: pork roasted in banana leaves; crispy wild boar; grilled, all natural beef; roasted beef tongue; grilled chicken; and the fresh fish of the day with chiles and cabbage. Other specialties include mole duck confit, ceviche and chiles rellenos. Also try the authentic enchiladas stuffed with goat cheese, as well as mussels steamed in Mexican beer. All menu items are listed à la carte, which means the excellent rice and beans need to be ordered. You’ll be served both red and green sauce with dinner. Dessert features orange flan and coconut ice cream. From the full bar, try the margarita made with fresh squeezed juices, or an amorcita made with strawberry tequila. Expect a wait at peak dinner hours. Voted Best Mexican Restaurant in the 2007 Willamette Week readers poll. Reservations suggested for groups of six or more. Full bar. Serving dinner nightly.