TarBoush Lebanese Bistro & Bar Reviews

Our group of 4 Canadians visiting Portland & this restaurant for the 1st time; we had the pleasure of being served by Colin, who gave us his excellent recommendations. We shared: the TarBoush Signature Mezza (kabob skewers of Kafta, aka ground beef, and chicken, served with Tabbouli, Hummus & Baba Ghannouj dips & rice); the Kryadis (grilled tiger prawns) in TarBoush signature sauce; and Makali (deep fried cauliflower & zucchini). Plus their delicious toum (creamy garlic sauce) & bread! The food was so flavourful, the service was attentive & fun, and the prices were very reasonable. Thank you to the chefs & to Colin for making our visit to this restaurant a really enjoyable experience! Highly recommend!!

We are HUGE fans of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, and we prepare much of it in our own kitchen at home, so we may have higher expectations than most when paying for a good meal out. We were visiting Portland for Labor Day weekend, and Tarboush was our first stop. It was nearly 2:00, i.e.: no more lunch rush, there were just a couple occupied tables, and yet the server wanted to set us at a tiny table for two. We asked if we could sit at a larger table, and I don't recall his exact words, but it was something along the lines of "well, OK, but only if you think you will be ordering more food than will fit on the small table". We didn't quite understand the attitude since the lunch rush was clearly over, but we assured him we intended to order at least a few dishes. After looking the menu over, we decided to start with their Signature Mezza ($20.50) and added an order of their Makanik sausages ($11). We later added an order of Samboussek ($10), described as "Medium size oven-baked dough filled with All-Natural beef, pine nuts and onion (deep- fried)". The mezza was pretty good, and we felt like the price was a bit high, but not too bad. The Makanik was also pretty good, I believe there were 5 or 6 slender sausages, but they were served in a bed of warm diced tomatoes with lemon and other flavors, which was good for sopping up with your pita. The biggest shock was the Samboussek. Far from "medium size", there were just 4 small pies about the size of pierogies sitting atop some shredded lettuce. They also looked to be oven baked rather than deep fried. The flavor was OK, but we expected much more for $10. Overall I don't think we would return, as there are so many other Lebanese / Middle Eastern restaurants in the area to choose from.

In a city filled with great restaurants, Tarboush is a find. From the moment you walk into the beautiful victorian where Tarboush is located, you are treated like family. The owner takes the time to personally talk to you and make sure you are satisfied. On our most recent visit, he chatted with us for several minutes about the history of the house, which was originally owned by Dr. Hawthorne, for whom Hawthorne street is named. The rest of the staff is also great - very friendly and helpful, even suggesting we move to a bigger table when our original table proved too small for all of the wonderful savory dishes flowing out of the kitchen to us. The food is WONDERFUL. Even if you have never had Lebanese or Middle eastern food, you will find something to like here. The staff will gladly take their time explaining the different dishes, and the quality of the food is very good. They have several "family style" meals, which for $65 dollars can easily feed a very hungry group of four adults, with plenty of leftovers to take home. This truly is a special place, and I hope that more people discover it and give it a try. You won't be disappointed. GREAT service, great value, great atmosphere, and great food. What more could you ask for? Go!

In a word - fantastic! We went for a late lunch on a Friday afternoon. The food was incredibly flavorable and the service was great. We had the hummus (so good), Falafel and the Tarboush Signature Mezza. Between the three of us it was plenty of food. The Baba Ghannouj was wonderful! For the Signature Mezza we had chicken and kafta. The chicken came with a garlic spread that was not overpowering and the kafta was cooked to perfection. The service was great! Plenty of street parking and outdoor seating. I so wish this restaurant was in Seattle. Highly recommend.

Delightful and delicious! Located in an old 1800's house on Hawthorne Blvd. Everything was so tasty! Ordered the Tarboush Salata! So great! Delicious kabobs!

Not overly decorated but who cares when the food is so good! We had Lamb shank and game hen, hummus and some of the grill bread, dessert of rice pudding and baklava. Everything was prepared well and so very tasty! Waitstaff was patient and attentive.

Nice old renovated Victorian on busy Hawthorne avenue. Service was cheerful and warm during our Wednesday lunch hour. Liked the wrap lunch options on an otherwise dinner-oriented menu. We were the only ones there. Food was fine, but maybe not worth the prices. Wide selection of food and drinks. My tea tasted odd, but was thankful the server offered refills a couple times. Won't be back anytime soon. Didn't stand out in any way.

Expected much more after reading reviews. Lamb kebabs overcooked to dry, tough lumps; way too much rice & way too few veggies. House salad overdressed & very oily. A pumpkin vegetarian dish was uneatable. Chicken kebabs were good -- the only winner among our party of 10. We passed on dessert.

Wasn't my first time here, I knew it would be good but forgot how GREAT this place is. We LOVED it! The setting-a beautiful old house kept up immaculately with gorgeous wood molding and classy old world ambiance is the first thing you notice. Service is friendly and understated, there when you need it. We were there just early enough to get the seat in the bay window overlooking the street one level below, perfect spot to people watch below and have a view of the whole restaurant and gorgeous wood bar. The hummus with warm bread was wooooonderful and came with two tiny dishes of herbs/sesame seeds and olive oil on the the side. I ordered a TarBouch blood simple, a citrusy-herbal cocktail, sweet but not too sweet, loved it. Shared the mixed grill with a side of tabbouli. Chicken, steak and kafta grilled to succulent perfection! All three meats were so flavorful and juicy, probably the best done kababs I've ever had. Large portion of rice pilaf came with a side of red sauce we fell in love with, and a scoop of (toum?) creamy garlic paste/sauce I love so much. A small portion of chopped parsley and onion comes with it as well. Everything was so fresh and bursting with flavor but not salty, just right. They use premium quality meats, it was stated on the menu and you can definitely taste it. We'll be back. There are a few designated parking spots, but most is street parking. A large covered outdoor area provides additional seating for larger groups. Prices are what you would expect, not exactly cheap eats, but certainly not mid-range.

We had a few items. Some very good others not. The baba ganoush was very good as was the pita. I had their Lebanese black tea w mint iced. It was really good. However for my main meal I had the chicken shawarma. It was very dry n over cooked. The garlic side sauce was very good as well as was the rice. Service was good Other people had the lamb shawarma which they thought was just ok as well.

Bubbly waitress is certainly an asset. She gave great advise and suggestions. We ordered "the feast", it was fabulous. We also experimented with fun cocktails. It was a great experience.

For 3 of us, we ordered 4 dishes--which we thought would be meze size. The lentil rice, which was on the starter list, was a meal unto itself...and delicious with the small bits of fried onions. The red pepper and walnut spread was yummy. And the coriander potato dish was huge. The beef shawarma came with a salad and basmati rice. Of course, we had plenty to take home with us. Very good place with reasonable prices.

My husband and I decided to try TarBoush for lunch. We started with the baba ghannouj which we shared and I ordered the chicken pita wrap while he ordered the chicken swarma pita wrap. Our server (who was very pleasant) brought out a fresh hot homemade pita with olive oil and a spice mix (whose name and ingredients escape me) to munch on while we waited for our food. Soon after we got our baba ghannouj to share. It was the best I had in a few years. Our pita wraps arrived a little after we finished the starter. Mine was a little messy but delicious. My husband like his a lot too. We will be back and try TarBoush for dinner soon.

We had s great meal at TarBoush. Hot fresh pita for the excellent hummus, very tasty fatoush salads, and very good chicken shawarma. Portions are large- we should have shared the salad. Service was also excellent. We loved this place.

We shared a three meat kebab plate. Beef was marinated perfectly. Loved the tangy yoghurt garlic sauce. This restaurant has excellent service in a comfortable old Victorian with views to the street. Baklava was generous, flaky and delectable.

Interesting old building food well prepared, great lunch menu, service person friendly and helpful.

This restaurant is small and has lots of atmosphere. It is in an old house. What really stood out was the friendliness of the owner and the waitress. They were SO warm and welcoming...and accommodating. The waitress was so helpful in suggesting wine choice. The menu is very interesting, as I had never eaten in a Lebanese restaurant. We all enjoyed our food. I especially liked the cabbage roll appetizer and the fava bean appetizer. One person in our group had a combination plate with tabullah, hummus, and a few other things; I would have enjoyed that too. I had some bread stuffed with spinach because I love cooked spinach. I liked it but would have preferred it as an appetizer. It was more bread than spinach. I would gladly return to try other dishes. There were many that looked good to me and the flavors were pleasing.

We discovered this restaurant by accident since it is brand new. It is located in a renovated character home. The decor is very nice, the service was excellent. The food was delicious, this was a wonderful meal. It is worth the detour.

Food is very good and even better with lower prices during happy hour. On Mondays house wine is 50% off all night, an excellent value. Our only complaint was the noise level. It was difficult for four of us to converse.

We had an excellent meal here. Freshly baked pita, delicious falafel, ful moudamous (sp?) and lentil soup. Friendly, competent service, too.

If you compare this to all the restaurants in Portland and grade it on a bell curve, it gets a solid 4+. But it easily gets a 5 if you are looking for Lebanese or Mediterranian food, which you obviously are because you are reading this. It has better atmosphere than it's competition, and the food is equal to the best in its class. I'd love to ding it for being just a tad too expensive, but I won't. So yeah, Ava Gene's might get a higher rating, but tonight you are looking for Lebanese, so go to TarBoush.

We had reservations, friday 13th july, at 8;45 pm, we arrived after driving 25 minutes at 8:52, the person "greeting" us promptly told us in no uncertain terms " We close in 6 minutes". My friend ( who made the reservations) asked why our reservations were taken if the restaurant closed at 9 pm. There were about 8 or 10 people awaiting to be served on the patio. In stepped "Johnny" who smilingly told us that he would take good care of us and showed us a lovely table right next to the curved window. The restaurant is located in a splendid and elegant 1870's home. A real historical house. The food was authentic Lebanese and the portions were so large we all took some back with us. Soft Lebanese music played in the background. Johnny saved the day, on the back on the restaurant business card he wrote " Thanks for stopping in, I am always happy to serve you". And we knew he meant it. So, I am giving Tarboush a 4 stars for its cuisine and for Johnny.

I have eaten here several times. the food and service is always excellent. The staff and owner really seem to want you to have a good time. They also accommodate people with special dietary needs Lots of vegan choices. I have gone with large and small groups and had good service no matter the size of the group. The mousaka is one of the best I have had. The hummas is very good starter, but there are also excellent ones that I had never tried before. I really enjoyed the cheese plate and grape leaves. The lentil soup, Adas Bi’Hamod Soup, is a favorite of mine.

Very good and it's in a nice location with great staff. The menu has a wide range of choices. The bar is good too.

After a movie we went for dinner. A lovely real house building, done up as a peaceful, elegant restaurant. The food was probably the some of the best middle eastern cooking I have ever had. The hummus was perfect! the basmati rice, baba ganoush and kabob were PERFECT. The bartender/host (Guapo himself) was exceptionally friendly and interesting.

My friend and I were shopping on the SE Hawethorne street where there are a ton of vintage shops and cool restaurants and bars. Tarboush converted a house into a restaurant with a tiny bar but it's nice, dark wood, authentic decor and music, a little chilly in room temp but they just opened for dinner so it's fine. We know how to layer our clothes in the PNW. They offer HH. It's a limited menu but still offer great variety and the portions are full portions. Most places minimize their portions to match the discounted prices. Not here. They make fresh, fluffy warm pita per table so if that's the case you MUST get some hummus and Babaganoush. We also got the cheese platter with fresh feta, Halloum and Akkawi cheese, we also had the fried cauliflour and zuchinni. The dressing for the veggies was way too runny and w/o much flavor but that doesn't mean a thing. the flavors were already on point. They offer salads, GF options, kabobs and the price points range from $11-$30. The service is totally on point as well. I will go back again and again as long as I'm in the mood and I will recommend this place to everyone. The service, variety, portions and price points, atmosphere for me = an "EXCELLENT" review.

The top rate reviews this Hawthorne Street bistro receive are spot on. We loved the great service. My Lamb kebab and jasmine rice were perfectly done. The Moussaka dish was vegan and just plain delicious. What a find. Can't wait to return for lunch or dinner on the patio outdoors. Love the old hiuse atmosphere...it's just cool!

Maybe it's because i used to live on the Edgeware road in West London where they serve the best Lebanese food outside of Beirut that i am spoiled. The food was tasty but not nearly as good as I have had in other places. Staff were fantastic and the experience was pleasurable and if you have never been to Lebanon or the Lebanese district in London then you will thoroughly enjoy the food too. It's worth trying for a change of pace to the usual American diet.

From the greeting upon entering to the interior setting this Lebanese style restaurant overwhelmed the senses. Great portions, reasonably priced, freshly made. If you are around Hawthorne, stop in

We loved this place couldn't fault the food and the service was top notch pleasant and extremely helpful. we can't say enough about this restaurant. We shared the platters which were fantastic and included lamb, chicken and beef along with Pita bread and dips and a a fresh salad. The waiter suggested a Lebanese beer which I'd never seen before, but was one of the best Pilsener style beers I've ever had. If your in the Hawthorne neighbourhood do not miss this place, you will be sorry if you do

The family of my granddaughter's best friend hosted a delicious college graduation dinner party here, and all of us loved the dinner. The restaurant is housed in an old Victorian home that reminds one of San Francisco's painted ladies. Our party included young adults, middle age parents, grandmothers, and even a few children. The dinner started with fresh naan and hummus and included typical delicious Mediterranean food complete with desserts. The food was served family style so each guest was able to enjoy a variety of tastes in individually preferred quantities. The adults predictably enjoyed the food more than the children.

As stated, this is in lovely old home that is spotless and inviting. The service was kind of slow and our waiter wore a baseball cap during the whole meal which seemed out of place in this nice setting. BUT - the - food - is - amazing!! I am still thinking about the hummus, Baba ganoush and fresh bread. There are so many vegetarian options that I couldn't decide what to have. I ended up having a veggie mezza so I got some of everything. My friend had lamb and raved also. It was delicious and I can't wait to go back!!

My husband and I had been looking at Tarboush for over a year, worried that -- like a number of places we have eaten -- they equated vegan with gluten-free (my husband, who is celiac, cannot eat gluten or dairy, but is fine with meat and often irritated when tofu is all he is offered). It turns out that (although their advertising copy is confusing), the menu and staff at Tarboush are not at all confusing or confused. Indeed, from being seated to being served, despite there being few servers and a fair number of patrons, we were treated very well. The waitress not only understood my husband's dietary restrictions, she offered him slices of cucumber to dip in the savory herbs and olive oil I was given to use with fresh pita. (Okay, she had not thought about the fact that my bread was going to contaminate the dip, but the thought was appreciated.) We ordered full entrees, kabobs, salad, rice, all of which which were tasty -- a nice vinegar based dressing on the salad, while my lamb was perfectly cooked, grilled but still tender. My glass of wine was also unexpectedly good (I went with the house red; next time I think I will be more adventurous and try one of the Lebanese wines). My husband said his martini was well made (stirred, not shaken, for one). The atmosphere may not be to everyone's taste (think comfortable living room, not high tech design), but we could hear one another, talk, and the tables are placed so that we did not have to listen to other people's conversations. Oh yes: it is also reasonably priced. There clearly are more intriguing things on the menu, which on our first visit we did not order, but I am looking forward to a return visit and sampling more widely. I am not sure this is where I would take out of town visitors; while tasty food in a comfortable friendly setting is what we look for, wanting places we can go to regularly, at least what we tried was very good but not out-of-this-world. Still, we will definitely go back.

Been coming here for 4 years now with my wife and in-laws. I was very skeptical of Mediterranean food my first time due to my lack of knowledge, but have since fallen in love with this place. Can't get enough of the filafel or baba.... their bread is incredibly fresh and amazing.

The TarBoush Restaurant is located on Hawthone in the trendy district of Portland by the same name. The restaurant is decorated with red fezzes and Middle Eastern clothing. The menu ranges from classic Arabic food to more Mediterranean dishes. I ordered the moussaka and was happy to see it interpreted in a lighter style with mostly veggies and a thinner tomato sauce than I find in most restaurants. My husband ordered pumpkin kibbeh which was very tasty too. Our cousin ordered the grilled vegetables which were delightful as well. The pita bread comes fresh and hot with a dipping sauce of olive oil and another small dish of herbs. A fun way to enjoy the bread. I tried a Lebanese beer, Almaza, which is a tasty pilsner. Service was thoughtful and attentive, but not intrusive. The waiter was very knowledgeable and able to explain the dishes and drinks without hesitation. If you enjoy Greek or Arabic or even Mediterranean dishes you'll probably enjoy this cuisine. Nice restaurant and worth a visit. When the weather is nice there is an outside patio to enjoy as well. Very near some fun shopping at boutiques and vintage stores on Hawthorne.

Our daughter invited us to eat Lebanese food with her at Tarboush. She has enjoyed it and wanted her meat eating father to give it a try. Now its not that he is not adventureous, he is, but he likes his MEAT! We agreed to go and we do not regret it one bit! Had a wonderful lunch there and would highly recommend all of you try it. Everything is carefully prepared, fresh, hot and well presented. Flavors explode all over the plate, no two things taste alike. And YES! father enjoyed his meat. The lamb was perfectly prepared so guess what? It will be one of our stops for eats every visit we make to Portland. The owners work so hard and it shows in every plate that leaves the kitchen. DO save room for the baklava! BEST! BEST! BEST!

I chose TarBoush as my last meal in Portland before I headed back to Japan on my vacation. I love this place because of the Labne (Homemade Kefir yogurt cheese garnished with dry mint and olive oil) and fresh bread. I have been here a couple of times and each time it has been filled with family, love, laughter and wonderful food. One of the things I have to mention is the restaurant has been created in a converter home. It is not uncommon to see older homes in Portland to be turned into a commercial space but the owners have restored this house beautifully. I feel it enhances the experience. Pictures have been posted.

The food here is very good except for the pita bread. It is served piping hot, which is fantastic, but it is flavorless - not the taste or texture you expect with great pita bread. Other than that, no complaints on the food. The falafel and hummus are especially good. Both the setting (lovely house) and service are excellent.

I’m feeling bad as I realize I have made tons of reviews but I seem to neglect the places we visit very frequently! We spread our Arabic dining experiences (1/week about) across a few places. Each place offers a unique experience and most have some similar (or same) plates. We love tarboush’s mezza plate, lamb dishes and especially (for me), the kafta Bi'Sayniyeh . You can go and do a bunch of appetizers as your meal and it is an excellent experience or you can order an entree. You cannot go wrong with this menu! We have ordered many different things and if you are a vegetarian or vegan this is a great place for you! Come with friends and share or take your sweetie for a romantic dinner in this well decorated historic house. Order an arak (like ouzo) for an authentic drink experience.

Fatoush salad good. Vegie dolmades wete gummy. Chicken kabobs did not seem to be marinated at all - would not recommend. Nice setting and staff but all and all, mediocre experience in Portland.

we came yesterday for the hawthorne st fair, and wanted to try tarboush. we sat outside, engaged in some people watching and began with a Almaza (From Lebanon) and a stella artois. next we shared the falfel with tahini and pita bread. everything was delicious and fresh. the parsley added a lovely flavor. the server was so friendly, informative, and efficient. it made our day! thx!

I think this place is great....some of the best Middle Eastern food I've had. I love their Signature Mezza, and try and eat here whenever I'm in Portland.

We came here for lunch on President's Day, and we sampled several items from the menu. The lentil soup was OK, not as thick and robustly flavourful as some I have had. The pita bread was hot from the oven, puffy and delicious, as was the flatbread baked with zataar. The babaganouch and hummus were good, as were all three kebab we tried (beef, beef kofta, and chicken). The garlic sauce complemented the kebabs beautifully, and the rive and vermicelli pilaf was delicately spiced. The food was flavorful but not piquant. There was a good variety of beers and reasonably-priced Lebanese wines (!) for drinking with the meal, and stout Turkish coffee for afterwards. The pita sandwiches are normally available for lunch Monday - Friday, but not on holidays; they would be a bargain. The atmosphere was cozy, in a beautiful Victorian era house.

Driving Hawthorne Blvd to find a place to eat. Just after Sunday 1PM, still some places with lines out the doors. Never had Lebanese food before so can't comment on the authenticity of being Lebanese but the flavors were outstanding and just what we had been looking for. Rock star parking just around the corner...if it's extremely windy like today, don't park next to the canopy/tent. Greeted by friendly and very accommodating - very accommodating staff. Table overlooked the street. Ordered the "Banquet" so that we could taste most everything and we did. Cost a bit more to do this, but well worth it. Can't tell you what we ate, but it was very good, fresh and hot/warm. Waiter asked if we'd see him again - you BET!

We enjoyed our Valentine's Day dinner at Tarboush. Food was authentic and quite good. Service was a bit overwhelmed due to the Valentine's Day crowd.

I've had lunch here twice in the past month and continue to be excited about coming here. Situated in a beautiful Victorian, it is both cozy and elegant. Service is very professional and sweet and helpful. Ordered the vegetarian mezza twice. Perhaps the best and freshest tabouli I've had anywhere -- much more parsley and mint than bulgar, lemony, just fantastic. The baba ganoush and hummus are on par with another great Portland restaurant, Ya Hala. Rich, deep flavored and smoky. The pita is fresh from the oven, the zaatar spice mix complex and intriguing. Though not a cheap ($14) lunch, or particularly speedy, TarBoush stands out on Hawthorne for its quality and atmosphere.

(Note: This is actually about their new location at 5663 NE Glisan, but it's the same people and I want to write about this before I forget.) Our server was charming and efficient, and very considerate about answering questions. The menu was full of interesting items, and indicated items that were Vegetarian, Vegan, and/or Gluten-Free. Very considerate if you're dining with people who have allergies or need special menus. The food was divine, the prices were reasonable, and we left full and happy. (and if you CAN do gluten, you will love the pita bread. I don't think I have ever had just-baked pita fresh from the oven before. It was so very good!)

Takeout meals from here are as consistently wonderful as their dine-in meals ever were. Lamb dishes can’t be beat and the sauces are masterful.

I need to rave about the pita!!! It’s amazing!! Fresh out of the oven! They serve it with zahter- you mix the zahter with the olive oil and dip the pita in it or curl the bread and squeeze to grab bits of zahter. Yum!!! We shared the vegetarian mezza platter and the warag einab or stuffed grape leaves are very authentic! Delicious! One taste took me back to the Middle East. My daughter enjoyed the rest of the platter. The foul mouddamas was very delicious too. I really enjoyed the rice that came with my chicken kabob. Very authentic too! The chicken was cooked perfectly. The vegetables that came with it were fine. If I visit Portland again, I definitely will be back!

I was very disappointed. My husband and I used to love to go here before the pandemic. Now it seems the menu is very limited, the food and drinks are way overpriced, and they no longer have our favorite bread. Unfortunately we will not be returning.

Went here for dinner and ordered Shawarma (lamb and beef) and my daughter and her friend ordered chicken. Before that we ordered hummus and fried cauliflower and zucchini. Everything was very good but if you are afraid of spiced and spicy food then this place is not for you. I assume that also has to do with your selection off the menu. We all loved our dinner and with the "different" tastes it made it more than just that...it made it an experience. We sat inside and loved the atmosphere. The waiters were both informative and attentive.We are looking forward to go there again to try more on the exotic menu to excite the taste senses.

Restaurant has very good reputation for Lebanese food. They know how to make Hummus and Tehina. No Question. But when the waiter is dismissive, curt, and looks/acts impatient and indifferent when asked questions about the menu, it just makes it not fun, not enjoyable, and a guarantee that we won't go back.

dinner here was with a friend who was born and raised in Beirut, so a well qualified judge of Lebanese food. we had salad, a selection of meats, and bread. the bread was awesome and baked on site. all the other traditional foods were excellent. it's not a big restaurant, its a converted home, and no parking other than on the street, but the food was excellent and the service OK.

We stopped by here as it was getting late and we needed to eat. We sat outside and food and service were average. Food was dropped with no cutlery and we had to go in to drop check and say we were leaving. There are much better eating establishments around this area as well as a couple blocks over.

One server in the whole place on a Sunday evening, that leads to a long wait. Luckily we were visiting some good friends so we had a lot to talk about. Four of us shared the deluxe banquet, it was plenty of food and a great way to try lots of different dishes. Everything was so good, not as flavorful as I expected, but great. The server apologized for the wait, but I think he should have given us a free dessert or something.

The food was delicious. We had an okra stew that was an experience I would like to repeat. The person waiting on us was friendly and helpful. All in all a wonderful evening.

This place was a pleasant surprise. We found ourselves walking in the Hawthorn district, hungry and tired from a long day of travel. What a gem we found! I have not witnessed such pride in an establishment in many, many years. The owner greeted us and welcomed us into this beautifully decorated dining area. The waitress was very attentive, and could not have done a better job! She was so helpful and fun, I almost wanted to get up from the dining table, don an apron and ask if I could work there too! The food was awesome - from starters to desert. I recommend the grilled veggies on basmati rice with one of the nice chewy red wines. The olive platter is not to be missed, and the deserts were devine. Definately worth a visit! Had we more time this visit we would have gone again.

We went to this restaurant to eat kibe but there was no "raw kibe". We then tried the deluxe banquet for 4 - what a good surprise. Good food and good portions.

It was very difficult to chose from such a varied menu. I was happy I settled on the Kafta Kabob-two char-grilled skewers of Organic ground beef, parsley & onions, over a bed of basmati rice w/ a side of red sauce). It was simply scrumptious. The service was also excellent. Having had a long day on the road, I was extremely pleased to be served so efficiently. I will definitely make it a point to return whenever I'm back in the Portland area.

Our favorite Lebanese restaurant used to be Nicholas – before we found Tarboush. We go to the Tarboush on Glisan (they also have a restaurant on Hawthorne). The menu is extensive and everything is excellent! Tarboush serves the tastiest lamb we have had anywhere! They have an extensive selection of Vegan and Vegetarian dishes (which we love even though we are neither of those). We had Tarboush cater our Christmas dinner for 14. The restaurant came through, but we were let down by their delivery service – Delivery Dudes. The food was ready to pick up on time, but Delivery Dudes was an hour late. We got the food but it wasn’t in the best of shape and not too warm. Again – it was not the fault of the restaurant, but of the delivery service they use. We will never use Delivery Dudes again – but will continue to visit Tarboush on a regular basis.

Very pleasant atmosphere...restaurant is in an old house. There was a nice variety of offerings and the food was good. I thought it was a little pricey...I have had good Lebanese for a lot less, but, granted, in a more casual setting. The service was fine, but not stellar.

Being of Lebanese heritage I grew up eating Lebanese cuisine cooked by my grandmother (Situ), mother, restaurants, and later by my own hand. In addition, I lived in Lebanon for 6 months plus returned on a vacation. Wherever I go I search out Lebanese restaurants but generally none have been as good as those in Beirut or my Situ's kitchen....until now. Tarboush Lebanese Bistro & Bar serves by far the best Lebanese cuisine. The prepare meals traditionally as well as more contemporary. As a non-meat eater I blown away by their vegan kibbee made with pumpkin, and stuffed grape leaves, as well as the bread dips. Speaking of bread....their Arabic bread is incredible. It earned my 5 stars....bet you will have the same response.

This restaurant is served up in a beautiful historical house. We found it by accident while exploring the neighborhood. It looks fancy from the outside, but is casual. Waiters wear basic jeans. Our only disappointment was that our water was served room temperature. Now we ask in advance for ice. They will also bring you extra pitas if you ask :)

I have eaten here 3 or 4 times now. I keep trying new things, and enjoy it all. Especially the eggplant dish!!

Been there twice. On every level it’s a wonderful restaurant! We are looking into planning a larger family gathering soon. Something for everyone on the menu. Both times service was great. Food and drinks are fresh and fabulous!! Our favorite new place!

A family visit inspired by the distinctive promise of great eastern mediterranean food in a beautiful building. Warm welcome and helpful staff pushed us toward a wonderful banquet menu with main and side dishes chosen by the management. Focus on grilled skewers (with explosive flavors not reproducible in my home), falafel, stuffed grape leaves, and aromatic rice. Intimate seating, great pacing, sound level is definitely conversation-friendly. And I saved on the $1700 ticket to Beiruit. Do yourself a favor and order one each of every Lebanese dessert on the menu (there are four); what you don't eat you can use to elicit envy and jealousy among family that failed to join you.

My husband and I visited on our wedding anniversary, which was a Saturday. Nervous that a Saturday night would be crowded with a long wait we went early, about 5 p.m. We sat outside because inside seems rather cramped. We ordered and our appetizer came out promptly. We ordered the hummus and lentil soup, they sat the pita bread down on the table and it was fresh out of the oven or off the grill. It was still poofy with steam and it was soft and chewy with a slight crunch on the bottom. I would have gladly just ate that pita all night, I've never had anything like it. The rest of our meal was great and they were extremely accommodation to our food allergy. How wonderful to be able to enjoy a meal without worrying about getting sick later, you know all about this if you have an allergy as it can be stressful going out to eat. We went back to get to go the next day for our road trip back home. I highly recommend this place. Be sure to get some of the amazing pita bread!