Food portions on the main dishes were tiny. One chicken thigh for that price? Unacceptable. Servers weren't knowledgeable about the menu, which is a problem when most of the items in the dishes are unknown items. Our server needed to keep asking and coming back with answers. She was very nice, though. More than anything, the forced 20% gratuity is why we won't be returning to Tusk. Here are the reasons: 1. our server, though lovely and fun, didn't know the menu and, more than that, forgot drinks we ordered. Did we have any recourse? Nope - because whether she was the best waitress ever born or the worst ever born, she gets the same gratuity. There is no incentive for her to improve or for any server there to improve. So now diners are put in a position to talk to a manager on site and have that awkward interaction and with the server knowing? That'll never happen, of course. Or diners should write an email after the fact? Also an absurd expectation to have. 2. The servers already make bank, folks. In Oregon, they make minimum wage for every hour worked and then tips on top of that. Full-time servers at a busy restaurant make more than the median income for corporate jobs in Portland - they certainly have the wiggle room to live within a variable gratuity model. read more

Wow, loved this Mediterranean inspired menu! Beautiful cocktails (I LOVED the smoky flavor of the Time and Space Traveler), and a manageable size menu. Usually beef kafta is over spiced for me, but this was beautifully seasoned and paired with the s whipped feta was a dream. Next time I'll try the chef's sample meal, because there will definitely be a next time! read more

Tusk - Seared albacore - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Everything was great . Food, drinks, service. I must go back! Cute and gets crowded so reservations are a must.

My family and I visited this place on a recent trip to Portland. We went for brunch on our last morning in town. The restaurant is very cute with a welcoming ambience. Our waiter was super quick and helpful and immediately got us set up with cocktails. I ordered the What's Up Doc? cocktail which has mezcal and was very tasty. For a starter we got the hummus and it was a huge hit. It was devoured by everyone and I highly recommend. I ordered the baked eggs and it was tasty and spicy. I loved the heat in the dish as it was just the right amount of it. Everyone enjoyed their meals and it was a great experience for our last meal in Portland read more

Tusk, headed by Josh McFadden, author of my favorite cookbook Six Seasons, is a Portland restaurant serving Mediterranean style food with local produce. I came on a Sunday morning for brunch around 10AM. What stands out immediately once you enter the restaurant is the vast amounts of greenery encircling the restaurant. There are large windows that can fully open when warm outside. The friendly pink and green color palette make the restaurant feel fun and inviting, Came with two people and we shared the following: Baked Eggs (15), tomatillos, eggplant, hominy, cherry tomatoes, feta: The shakshuka at Tusk is quite spicy and delicious. The tomato sauce is really flavorful and goes well with the baked eggs. I wish they gave a piece of pita or bread for you to soak up the extra sauce! Smoked Salmon (18) served with garlic toast, radishes, pickled onion, capers, egg, labneh: A Mediterranean take on a new york classic, this reminds me of your typical smoked fish platters at Jewish delis, only with middle eastern ingredients. I really enjoyed the labneh, I felt like it was a great replacement for cream cheese, lighter and more refreshing. The smoked salmon was lightly smoked and topped with some herbs Hummus (10), paprika, parsley, flatbread: The small hummus is plenty for two people and the staff included an extra flatbread for us on the house! Tusk is a great casual spot for everyday dining, I would highly recommend people to check them out! read more

Tusk - Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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When I told AB that I was coming to Portland, she said this was a meal we had to have. So be it! She made reservations and OMG was it amazing. AB and I did the Magic Carpet Ride, veggie and our friends did the same but with meat. So many delicious delicious dishes. I LOVED all the veggies that came out and the food just kept coming and then I thought I might die and that was OK. Service was friendly and prompt and really I enjoyed ever dish that came our way. I only regret that I didn't make it for brunch. read more

Tusk - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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One of my least favorite things is being asked if I have a reservation, amidst an empty dining room in the middle of the day. But I'll let that slide, whatever.. My wife and I got the brunch sando, the marinated feta, and kale tahini tart. Marinated feta was not worth $15... in quality and quantity. Oddly enough they ended up charging us $17 despite the listed price. Brunch sandwich was great, so we're the fries - and worth the $14. Kale tahini tart is essentially a deconstructed spanakopita, for $16... silly price for essentially a vegetarian side. Wasn't told about an auto 20% gratuity charge until getting our bill. I would not have tipped that amount, our waitress was friendly but didn't refill our water nor check on cocktails once. Overall this place is charging entirely too much for the product and service was below par. I will spend $80 for brunch somewhere else. Edit: in response to the owner's reply. Your autograt doesn't change the poor service I received, or being overcharged for a menu item. If anything, it felt like our waitress was fine with forgetting our table (as she was covering the entire outside patio). You did not speak on any of the other points I made and instead focused on the fact that the gratuity was posted on menus - which is not true online, nor in any menu photos I can see online... unless you scroll to the bottom of your website and click a link. Regardless, the service was below par, but I suppose it's easier to deflect. read more

You can never go wrong with Tusk!!! Been here a few times now and it is always phenomenal

This used to be my favorite restaurant in the nation and now I can safely say I'll never return. Post pandemic it appears the new management has no idea what they are doing. In fact, the owner was heard screaming at his workers from the bathroom and he spoke to me extremely rudely at the bar. Oh, we had to order our drinks at the bar. Oh wait. That was a mistake, actually we had to order our entire dinner and drinks at the HOST STAND as the owner rudely told us. I will honestly never come back here and it's all thanks to the jerk in a flamingo shirt. Our $35 mezze platter had two pieces of old stale pita, and our bill for four people came to $108 for the platter and drinks. They used to give spices and herbs to add to your dish and that didn't happen. The menu is completely different. We put our name in at 6pm and at 8pm finally got our mezze platter. All in all, we wanted to leave the moment our water came. We stayed because we didn't want to be rude. All in all... you have some work to do, Tusk. read more

First off, the food was good, The falafel and hummus were on point. The service however was some of the worst I have ever experienced. We were seated and ordered drinks and apps. One or two apps appeared after 15-20 minutes, but no drinks. After a few more minutes, drinks appeared. We were still waiting on apps when entrees appeared. Server never checked back to see if we wanted more drinks, (we did). We had high hopes, but were severely disappointed. The manager gave some lame excuse about how food is staged. If staging is a priority, shouldn't drinks come out first? Shouldn't apps come out before entrees? The coup de gras was the 20% auto gratuity, no chance to tell you how we really felt about the service. read more

This place used to be amazing. Salad was bland, feta and humus apps were fine. Drinks were great, staff was great. Overall a good experience, but not for the prices and the alternatives in the area read more

Wow wow wow, come here right now. Cocktails are great and food was beyond expectations. We just came here for a quick bite and drink and we were blown away. Plus! Service: chefs kiss! Try the pardon peppers and baked cheese. read more

Even at late night, this place is killing the Portland scene! Walked in because we were hungry, Tusk was close, and I had heard they had amazing food. Sat at the bar and we got to experience Tony who was personable, fun and even gave me a list of his personal recommendations on PDX dining! We ordered the feta and a Chicken Turk - would have ordered more but it was late and we were tired from flying in. The feta was made with hibiscus flowers mashed into it - woah! The flax crackers were perfectly crispy and thin and didn't even taste as healthy as we knew they were. The chicken Turk - let's just say I didn't want to stick to my end of the bargain and share with my husband. It's probably the tastiest pita I've ever had. The chicken was so flavorful and the stuffing of the pita was a perfect match for that chicken. Highly recommend this place and will be back for brunch on Sunday. We've heard amazing things about brunch! Until then... Update for brunch: a must visit for brunch! You'll wait a bit but well worth it. We started with coffee and loved that had toasted almond creamer. The beet and labneh toast is the perfect start! The frittata and the avocado Breakfast sandwich were to die for. Amazing seasoning on both. Make your way here for any meal. You won't be sorry! read more

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Went for a work event and haven't shut up about it since! Fun cocktails, delicious food, and amazing service! Will be back so soon!

Ridiculously overpriced for veggies and quinoa. As I drove home I happened to pass Ruth Chris steakhouse and wished longingly I had eaten there instead. Dishes were just meh, hummus is hummus. The meat on skewers was underwhelming and dry. As a longtime Portland resident who loves the restaurant scene here, this place feels very much like an Emperor who has no clothes situation, and there are about 200 other spots more deserving of your attention that will cause your wallet considerably less pain. read more

My wife and I along with two of our friends when there for dinner. We had a reservation at 5 PM on a Friday. As soon as we got there, we were welcomed and seated. The inside, and outside seating areas are just beautiful with all the plants, decor, and good vibes. We are pregnant so we did not try any drinks. However, our friends, did and they loved it. We tried a couple of appetizers and a couple of their entrée dishes. All food was great and the service overall was five-star. We will definitely be going back there and we will be recommending it to friends that comes from out of state to visit. It's great place for a date night with friends and loved ones. read more

Dropping a review even before our meal because I have had the BEST experience planning a 9-person bachelorette meal with Tusk and their staff. I've been working with Shelbey and she has been so kind, patient and understanding with my type A brain. Three weeks in advance, I found out that I booked the wrong night and my life flashed before my eyes. Shelbey helped adjust the reservation (and made me feel so much better so quickly) and I am so thankful for their help and understanding. See you all in a few weeks! Thanks again to the whole team. read more

Finally had a chance to try this place out! It's definitely an experience. I like their take on the Mediterranean style food here. The place is very well decorated and has a nice ambience feel to it. My friends and I ordered a good amount of food to share among us. Some of the stand out dishes include the crispy bread with chicken curry, the grilled skewers - both beef and chicken, the grilled mushrooms, the man'oushe (with an egg), the mezze plate. Everything we had here was pretty good. I would recommend coming in a small group (if you can get seating for it) so you can try multiple dishes! read more

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From the moment we entered, the aroma, service, and ambiance was on point. We are a family of five, and the staff was welcoming. The presentation and suggestions on how to order was marvelous. All servers were amazing! We will be back to celebrate birthdays and achievements. read more

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Best hummus of my life! And the roasted feta with strawberries was next level. Yummy cocktails too!

Had brunch here today and really enjoyed it. The restaurant is beautiful with a lot of windows and an outdoor glass seating area. We arrived around 1:30 and there was open seating but they take reservations as well. We ordered bloody Mary's (amazing- they make fresh tomato juice and it tastes like it was made from tomatoes you grew in your home garden and perfectly salted/black peppered) We also got the falafel pita wrap and the wild trout platter which includes Labneh (so fresh) and pickled cabbage and radish. Both amazing and delicious. Highly recommended. read more

Tusk - Bloody Mary's - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We had dinner for a party of 6 at Tusk this past week. On the plus side, we were seated promptly at our reservation time at a comfortable table for sharing dishes and hearing conversation. We ordered cocktails from the featured house cocktails list to start Unfortunately, we all found our cocktails too sweet even though we had tried 3 different ones. My drink was like drinking simple syrup with a bit of pink coloring added. We ordered a selection of kebabs, vegetables, humus, and flat bread. The kebabs were good, but the vegetables (broccoli and eggplant) were over-sauced to the point that the taste of the vegetables did not come through. The humus was very good. Overall, we were disappointed in the food and drink quality. Apart from our initial seating, service was not very attentive or responsive but it did seem that our waitstaff were very busy. At this time, we have no inclination to eat here again. read more

This was the place I was most looking forward to eating at during my trip to Portland. I went right as they opened, so I didn't need a reservation. They were having a Stumptown coffee themed brunch the morning I was there. The restaurant was bright and the waitstaff were friendly. I ended up getting the coffee braised brisket, which was fabulous. The vegetables in the dish made me feel healthy, and they perfectly complemented the rest of the dish. I didn't think the dish was spicy enough, but luckily they had a chili infused oil on the side. I still thought it could be spicier, and I don't have the biggest heat tolerance. The potatoes in the dish were cooked perfectly which I appreciated. They gave me a can of cold brew on my way out, which I thought was nice. read more

Tusk - Brisket - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Wow. This is a fantastic spot. They serve extremely fresh food, with LOTS of flavor. A few of the people in our group described this as the best meal that they had eaten in many years. It felt like ended up getting half of the menu - but some of the favorites from our visit: -Mezze plate (basically an appetizer sampler) -Chickpea fries - they legit melt in your mouth -Lamb skewers -Baklava (for dessert) I would definitely recommend sharing plates as you will want to try all the flavors and most things are designed to share. Our server was really helpful in directing us in how much to order so that we wouldn't have too much/too little. The other hidden gem of this spot is their cocktails. All of them are wonderfully crafted to be light, fresh and really compliment the meal. They are known for their "hazy jane" a vodka based drink that was so creamy and delicious. My personal favorite was the "The Seed" drink which was a bourbon based carrot cocktail. It's a shocking bright orange color - but absolutely delicious. They also have a handful of N/A drinks as well that all looked delicious. Definitely recommend stopping into this spot - this menu would satisfy anyone from vegan to carnivore! read more

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Lovely atmosphere. Sub-par service. I guess if they put a mandatory 20% tip on all bills, they don't feel the need to ever come back to your table once they drop off your food. We would have loved another drink. When we finally flagged someone down for the wine menu, we got one, and then our waiter never came back again till it was time to drop off the bill. We got the "deluxe" meal that was $55. Essentially, a tasting menu. It said, "let us cook for you." making it seem like they were offering something special. Do NOT get this menu. It is the same thing as the regular menu, but you get less food for more money. 4 of us ordered the deluxe. They brought out a number of side dishes to start, but when it came time for the main course, we got 1 main course. 1 main course for 4 people. A half a small chicken for 4 adults for $55 a person. That is a crazy waste of money. Not to mention the chicken was dry. Really had high hopes for this place. Shame. read more

We had a fantastic dinner here. All the food and cocktails we tried were fantastic, though a bit pricey for the ambiance of the place. Our servers were very friendly and happy to explain the menu or make recommendations. Our favorite thing was probably the bread itself - it's not really a pita, but it's much more delicious, in all its warm, chewy goodness. The vegetable platter was absolutely gorgeous and the kale salad was nicely done. The biggest reason why this wasn't a five star experience for me is probably the ambiance. It was way too loud (at least in the front dining room). It was like being in a bar or a cafeteria. That might be okay during brunch, but it was very off putting during dinner. It was quite difficult to hear each other and on top of that, the music didn't fit with the food and was loud, like in a bar - not a restaurant with food (and pricing) of this caliber. I would like to check out the back dining room since it seemed a little better, but be warned: while you'll have some absolutely delicious food, this might not be the best place for an involved dinner conversation. read more

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Food was amazing! Decor and ambiance were also fab. On the expensive side but a really great spot. Mezze was big and we probably could have just had that with another starter. Everything was delicious. read more

Simply amazing. I didn't go in a particular fan of Middle Eastern cuisine, but it was one of the top dining experiences I can remember. My vegetarian daughters were wild for the place. The Grand Mezze Platter was filled with wonderful stuff (who would have thought beets could be so good?). We ordered Rice Pilaf--ho hum, right? It blew my socks off, wonderful in ways to subtle to describe. Simply amazing. As another diner said, "OMG, just go!" read more

Went to Tusk on a Friday night at about 530. Not too busy. Loved the atmosphere and setup. Great patio, easy to get around. The servers, particularly Shannon, were friendly and knowledgeable. Food was incredible. So good we thought about going back the next day. Highly recommend. read more

Had such an incredible meal at Tusk. They truly get everything right- food, service, ambiance, concept. We had the mezze platter, falafel, miso cabbage, cauliflower salad, farro salad, and the Concord grape/shiso sorbet. Each dish was incredible: ingenious, well-balanced, flavorful, thoughtful, and sumptuous. I'd order each of them again. Tusk also really excels in the arena of their service and environment. It's beautifully designed, and everyone from the hostess to the waiters were knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommend. Absolutely will be back. read more

This review is based on a Pistachio Gooey Cake I got as takeout. When I picked up the box, I actually looked inside to see if anything was in there. It was the tiniest slice! The gooey part was tasty enough, but the cake itself was bland and tasted stale. Disappointing to pay so much for such a truly underwhelming dessert. The restaurant's atmosphere was bright and clean, but some insufferable 80s song was booming in both rooms - not sure how anyone was managing to have a conversation. Two stars to give Tusk the benefit of the doubt that takeout may not have given the full picture. Was planning to try their brunch, but based on this experience I'll take a pass. read more

What a fantastic meal I head here with 3 friends. We did a lot of shared plates and did not leave disappointed. Start with a cocktail! They know what is up behind the bar. And then try something different from the menu. The chick pea fries should be had no matter what. Amazing. read more

Tusk - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Came for brunch, and everything was perfect. The tahini caramel cream on the cold brew cocktail was *chefs kiss* I can't stop thinking about coming back. I need to try more items from the menu! read more

Been here a handful of times, they have awesome drinks! Be careful though, they may be tasty but really creep up on you. My go to place for drinks in Portland. Drinks are roughly $12, but worth it! You can come for happy hour and they have drink specials, roughly $6. The food here is great, super fresh. Came here for dinner once before and had the pre-set dinner. I would highly suggest this, you are able to try a variety of dishes they have. read more

Tusk - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I went to Tusk on recommendation of a good friend for best restaurants to try in Portland. I am personally a big fan of Mediterranean food - especially hummus and I am happy to say that Tusk impressed me in all areas. I would highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area and craving some tasty Mediterranean fare in a beautiful restaurant. We made a reservation for 845pm on a Thursday since the reservation was made the day of. We arrived at around 830 and were promptly seated and given menus. The first thing I noticed was how pleasant the restaurant was to the senses. The noise level was audible but not loud enough to make conversation with my dinner partner difficult, the lighting was pleasantly dim and the decor was very aesthetic (with a plant wall right next to our table). We ordered the Tusk hummus and classic hummus which is notable because it contains the two types of hummus that Tusk makes. The classic hummus is your classic chickpea hummus that you would get at any Mediterranean restaurant which I found to be one of the best if not the best I've had. The hummus was rich and creamy and full of flavour which went perfectly with the flatbread. The Tusk hummus was very interesting as it is made of borlotti beans and Urfa pepper in addition to the classic hummus ingredients which adds an interesting note of flavour when compared to the classic hummus. My dining partner preferred the Tusk hummus while I preferred the classic but they're both delicious and must be ordered with the flatbread. The chicken skewer and pork and lamb skewers arrived next. They were both delicious, perfectly seasoned and cooked to the right texture. Some of the best skewers I've had thanks to the punch of flavour from the seasoning and the juicy texture. Lastly, we ordered the beef and lamb meatballs an the beet salad. The former is a generous helping of meatballs made in similar style to the pork and lamb skewer except heavier on the garlic and amount of meat. It also came with chickpeas which might have been a bit of overkill after the amount of hummus we had just eaten. There was also a dollop of sour cream with the meatballs which provided a nice contrast to then heavy savory taste of the meatballs themselves. The beet salad was the perfect pairing to the meatballs since it was sweet and refreshing in contrast with the savory and heavy beef and lamb meatballs. Overall, one of the best if not the best Mediterranean dining experience I've had the privilege to experience. Highly recommend! read more

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AMAZING. Just so good. So lovely. I do not have enough words to describe how wonderful Tusk is. We got to Tusk on a rainy Saturday night with a reservation at 7:30. We were hungry and ran out of things to do for the day, so we decided to head to Tusk an hour early. Though no tables were open, they let us sit at the bar. We each decided to get an Eastern Maid drink - a refreshing, yogurt drink made with rose water, lemon, celery seed, and more. SO good. SO fragrant. I was already in love. For dinner, we decided to share the Tusk Hummus, the Kibbe Naya, and the trout. Everything - flawless. So full of taste - but not in-your-face about it. Nothing was off. It was all delicious. I'll be back again, without a doubt. read more

Tusk - Trout and other amazing dishes at Tusk in Portland. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Wow, I'm so glad I put this on my itinerary of places to eat at while in Portland! My bf and I came here for brunch and decided to order a few little things to share family style. The waitress agreed that that was the way to go :) No lie, we were a little disappointed when certain items pictured on Yelp were no where to be found on the menu but that's the trade-off of going to a restaurant that cooks "aggressively seasonal" as advertised on the bottom of the menu. At least we know they use the freshest ingredients! We ended up ordering the Yogurt Bowl, Hummus w/ added egg (+$2), Tusk Flatbread, and Pistachio Gooey Butter Cake. Yogurt Bowl: SO good!! Sweet honey at the bottom, topped with rich and creamy yogurt, then crunchy grains, then fresh berries, and lastly edible flowers. This dish was so pretty! It inspired me to make yogurt bowls at home just like it! Hummus w/ Egg: Thick, smooth, and creamy hummus topped with chickpeas, olive oil, parsley, paprika, and a soft-boiled egg. So good! I loveee fresh hummus. The hummus I make at home never turns out like this :( Tusk Flatbread: A large fluffy, pillow-y pita pocket. $3 was kind of pricey for just one piece. But it was warm and went so well with the hummus and little saucer of not too spicy chili oil that our waitress brought out to us because she loves it so much. Pistachio Gooey Butter Cake: Dessert for breakfast? Heh, why not?? So, this cake wasn't very "gooey" it was definitely on the denser side but it was good. It had a nice light pistachio flavor and was sweet but not too sweet. I would say it's something you want to share with the other people in your party as it was a lot for just one person. Service: So friendly and did a great job at recommending popular items and affirming what we decided to order. She was also kind enough to fill up our water bottles since we were out all day and needed to fill up before continuing our tour around the city. I recommend Tusk and would love to come back the next time I visit Portland. I had a great experience! The atmosphere was so relaxing and pretty (ask to sit outside). read more

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Solid 4.5 stars. Came to Tusk for Saturday brunch and it was excellent. No wait, hip decor, really friendly staff who gave prompt service, healthy/seasonal/local menu and delicious food. Got the chocolate sesame babka (yum), grain bowl (wonderful), and the pork egg biscuit sanwich (awesome). Prices also were fair. We'll definitely be back again. read more

Tusk - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Amazing. Calm and sensual vibe. Creative flavors juxtapositions. My absolutne favorite was the eggplant. Smoked and marinated on the bed of miso - tahini. If vegetarians would want to battle carnivores this would be a prime contender for a plant dish that may be better than meat. read more

Tusk - Eggplant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food here is unreal so fresh and delicious and the service is amazing it's honestly a shame that the tipping is automatic because I'd love to tip more than 20% such a gracious staff and the food was unreal read more