Tusk Reviews

We had a delicious and delightful evening at Tusk just before leaving Portland. It was sad to say goodbye to our daughter, but eating here helped! The wait staff is excellent, and the ambience is wonderful. The wine and beer selection is terrific - but the food! Amazing! Best to get lots of dishes and share - each one is terrific!

Overall great atmosphere. Incredibly friendly staff. Delicious and fresh foods that are really fun to share like tapas. Really tasty cocktails that will cater to anyone's palate. The only downside to this place is the price. Expect to pay nearly, if not over $100 for two people to have a drink, meal, and dessert. The cocktails were fantastic but the average price is $12-$13 per cocktail which for Portland is a bit on the steep side. I would absolutely give this place 5 out of 5 based off of service, quality of food/drinks, atmosphere, cleanliness, decor. It's just priced a little high. Maybe I'm not as "middle class fancy" as I thought.

Wonderful dinner at a Middle Eastern restaurant. Ashley our server was extremely helpful in selecting the right amount of food and complimentary dishes for us to enjoy.We are vegetarian and this restaurant is great for that. Tusk hummus is superb, chickpea fries melt in your mouth beets and greens were perfect selections along with the grilled eggplant. We finished off the meal with 2 orders of chocolate baklava. Yum!

We had an early reservation, 5:30 on a Sunday, so we were seated immediately, and upon being seated at a comfortable window booth, a very warm and welcoming server came to take our drink order. The cocktails arrived exactly as we ordered them. We asked about portion size, and the server was helpful in recommending the smaller portion of hummus for the two of us, and she also recommended that, since this was our first time, we should have the classic hummus. The portion size was perfect, although it was so delicious that if we had the whole plate size, I'm sure we would have overeaten and finished it! it comes with a delicious, warm, freshly baked piece of pita bread. The hummus came sprinkled with cumin, paprika, and an an herb, and it had whole garbanzos. Yum. We also split a summer tomato salad that was so fresh and bright with ripe yellow heirloom tomatoes, ripe summer peaches, and peanuts. I got home the next day, and I copied it for company at dinner. We also split a cucumber and rhubarb salad, and two skewers of chicken and two of beef. I can see why this is such a popular Portland restaurant.

Something I noticed the first time was they are kind of snooty on service. If you have a reservation for 6 and 5 are at the door and 1 is parking they still won't seat you...Table service is pert, but kind of like "we are great aren't we". besides that the food is good and sometimes great. don't get the fish, it is under-seasoned compared to the rest of the dished and it gets lost amongst the bold strong flavors. Pita is whole wheat and kind of a little heavy. Mezze and hummus are excellent as are the meatballs when available. Generally, anything with lamb is a hit.

Made a reservation for a Sunday evening. My guest and I enjoy sitting at the bar so we can have a birds eye view of was is happening. Lots of things going on at this busy, convivial restaurant. Noticed another diner eating hummus by the spoonful on arrival. I now know why! It has to be the creamiest, silkiest hummus I have ever eaten. We ordered the small meze plate which consisted of dukka, tabouleh, pita,olives, harissa, feta and yam. All was delicious. Enjoyed with a local beer. I will revisit on my next trip to Portland.

Celebrating our combined anniversaries we friends set out to try Tusk. What we ended up with was one of the most delightful and utterly satisfying gastronomic event of this season. We tried a lot of options: Hummus and labneh, green tahini and brussel sprouts, falafel and cabbage skewers, side erudite, pita, baked feta all the desserts. It was a not-so-good day only for the cabbage. (And the staff were totally supportive about our feedback!) Everything else was simply fabulous. Brussel sprouts and Falafel.. ymmmm! The staff is excellent and very attentive. They helped us celebrate our anniversaries with the best desserts one could imagine. The novel presentation of baklava still stays in my mind. All in all a wonderful experience and I can't wait to go back and enjoy it all over again!

This restaurant was delicious. The service was fast and the staff was knowledgable about the menu. The recommendations provided by our waitress were spot on. It was busy but still enjoyable. Can't wait to go back for the patio when the weather is nice.

Lots of great vegetarian dishes! Amazing flavors and variety. Fun place to try lots of small plates with friends. Wish the wine list was better though...made up of "interesting" wines instead of delicious great wines.

Superb food and presentation, excellent service. I have an allergy to alliums (onion and garlic) and most restaurants offer me nothing but dry salad. Our waiter brought a menu that he had marked to show all the dishes that are allium-free, and there were so many that our whole table ordered allium-free. The Labneh, flatbread, skewers, crispy rice with pickled cherries, and desserts were all delicious. The eggplant was a bit bland, and the music was too loud, but otherwise a great experience.

We went and sat at the bar. The food was delicious and the drinks were tasty. The service was top notch. We had all our questions answered and great recommendations.

March is Dining Month in Portland where you get 3-courses for $30 at over 50 restaurants. We did not choose the dining month menu but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't. This place has the best Hummus on the west coast. Small plates. Excellent service. Always crowded. Lauren was great.

I've finally found it!!! The worst restaurant on the planet, Bar none. And I've lived in at least 5 cities in North America, Europe and Asia. We called ahead to make a reservation, the hostess said that they were booked for the night but if we avoid the 6:30-8:00 PM rush hour, they would seat us as walk ins, they were open till 11:00 PM in summer. So we arrived at 8:25 PM and were told that they had a 45 min wait. So I put my name on the list. No one suggested that there was any reason we would be later denied a table. At 9:15 when we were next up in line for a table, after waiting almost 40 minutes, we were told that they did not accept children in the restaurant after 10:00 PM, and that we should leave, Wow!!! Thats all I have to say about these guys. I understand that some restaurants are not kid friendly, but to ask a family to come later, make them wait 40 mins and then to say their policy doesn't permit them to seat children after 10:00 PM at 9:15??? When they still had 45 min !!! There is bad service and then there is Tusk. Fortunately, they are in a neighborhood with some exceptional restaurants, I see no reason to go there again.

The music was too loud. The food not authentic and very hit and miss. Hummus ok, olives good, artichokes bland, asparagus fine, potato side bland, chicken skewers bad, lamb skewer okay. Roast chicken covered in the wrong sorts of spices. Not great and would not return.

Atmosphere and menu were very impressive. The general staff attitude is a bit uppity (especially the host) but our server was gracious & professional. We made reservations 10 days in advance and only 5:15pm and later than 9pm were available (Saturday night) so plan ahead if you want to dine here. The beet salad and hummus were among my favorite items we tried. Lamb dishes were great. Nice wine selection.

We got a review for Tusk on a Wednesday evening. I wish the time had been earlier, because we were so hungry that pre-dinner appetizers were required. That was a mistake! Should have saved our appetites. The restaurant is stunning, and we got to sit out on the patio. We were near a very loud group, which was unfortunate, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend for folks hard of hearing. Beautiful cocktails and delicious food. Just be careful not to over order. Also, best smelling bathrooms every. Go to Maak Lab in the Pearl district for your own candles - they supply for Tusk. Would go back in a heartbeat!

A friend went to Tusk last night for dinner and loved it. I was then reminded why I have never, and will never, return to this restaurant, despite delicious hummus (and I LOVE hummus!!!). Last year, late March 2017, 4 of us were dining here. We ordered several plates and drinks (not a cheap bill) and had JUST paid our bill but were finishing the last sips of our drinks. Nonetheless, the host (male) came over to our table and asked us to leave because APPARENTLY they only block 2 hours for patrons and we had exceeded that and the next reservation was waiting for our table. I couldn't believe it. I have dined in many restaurants world-wide and I have NEVER EVER been asked to leave so the next reservation could be sat. Tusk, shame on you!

Did the "Magic Carpet Ride" and tasted a multitude of extremely tasty dishes and exotic spice applications. The service was friendly and prompt. Party of six shared the delightful starters, salads and entrees accompanied by some excellent wines. The restaurant is new and the crowd generated sound level is overwhelming. Feels like you are part of an event.

I had my reservations about eating at a Middle Eastern restaurant, but the other 3 in our party were really excited, so I went along. I must admit that I tried several of the tapas style dishes, and I liked most of them!!! Be sure and get a reservation, since even after being in business for over a year, the place is REALLY popular! We sat out on their heated patio, and were quite comfortable despite the mid-September evening breezes typical of Portland.

Tusk got a lot of hype and publicity after it's opening and during a recent visit to Portland I ate dinner with my family at the restaurant and came away with mixes feelings. We ordered about 10 of their dishes and thought all were good and interesting, but not exactly mind blowing. Prices were a little higher than average and especially their wine list was priced highly for what they were. Glad I went but probably wouldn't return.

Five of us went for dinner, having booked a couple of weeks before. The service was good, and the food was absolutely delicious. It is a sharing plates kind of place, and we ordered a real mix from the menu. Particular highlights included the hummus (crazily good!) and the cheesy flatbread (oh my woooord!). Definitely definitely recommended! (Small downsides for me were 1. Five of us snuggled into a table for four - luckily we are good friends ha and 2. Only one toilet was working ... for a large restaurant. Bit of a poor show on that front!). But the kitchen did an amazing job so had to go with five stars!

This restaurant is now on our must-go-to list! From the very beginning to the finishing desert we were EXTREMELY impressed by the exceptional customer service, ambiance and dynamite food. We went for the Magic Carpet Ride chef's sampling and would highly recommend that choice for first timers... Amazing flavor in every bite and very detailed descriptions by the chef's server wth each new plate. We initially had an issue in our misschedule of the reservation, and the way they handled our mistake was unrivaled. We later had issues with a dietary issue and a member of our party who wasn't feeling great and, once again, these were handled with expertise, in each case impressive. We will be spreading the word on this Avagene relative. We will be watching as Tusk rises to the top!!

As frequent travelers to Portland, we never miss enjoying a meal at Tusk. Be sure to make a reservation 3 weeks to in advance. We always do the half & half humus and flatbread (get a large order), and then do 3 of their veggie/fruits/grains combinations. Finish with a couple of meat skewers. I am always impressed by their wine list, which may be the best bargain in town. Great selection at very reasonable prices. The vibe is very LA/Palm Springs, but without any attitude. It's no wonder that people were still lined up for a seat at 9:30pm. A true treasure in Portland.

We enjoyed our dinner very much and here are the highlights: service: we were nicely greeted by the host and the service was very good. Our server noticed our table was not even (and we did not) and so he adjusted the legs. We were not rushed and he was very pleasant. Only one detraction is he was not able to come back and ask if everything was prepared to our taste. Ambiance: The restaurant is very open and the with the high ceilings it was pretty noisy. It almost has a cafeteria feel to it. So it is casual. Tables are also closer together..so all in all this might not be the place for a romantic dinner, but a very fun place for friends and groups. Food. Very very fresh. My selections were on the spicy side- I still liked them but they were too spicy for my taste. The winter squash was good but the cilantro, which I love, was completely overwhelmed by the spice. The ground lamb and pork skewer was also very spicy and reminded me of merguez. My wife had the halloumi in the tomato sauce and a shredded brussel sprout salad with puffed rice. It was delicious. We ordered cocktails and they were very good, and we enjoyed the chickpea fries. They were light and not greasy at all. VALUE: I think this restaurant is not over priced and the portions are on the larger side so I would recommend you start light and order more if you need. We had an overall enjoyable dinner and would come back again. Everything was solid but nothing jumped out and screamed "incredible", which is hard to do in this city where we are spoiled by restaurant excellence on a regular basis.

Tusk on Burnside is Med w/ a distinctive new twist. Using the freshest locally sourced produce from the greater Portland area, Tusk serves up a bit different menu every day. In fact, the menu describes their gastronomic approach as "aggressively seasonal". And the long list of local purveyor or suppliers is a testament to that. TUSK's proteins include meat, lamb, chicken, seafood, cheese and eggs. Best on the best availability and the chef's creativity, spices like Za'atar, sumac, paprika, allspice, aleppo and cumin can be found in the diverse dishes, along with fenugreek, basturma, matbucha, kohlrabi, hazelnuts and sunchokes. All of the dishes we ordered had truly unique tastes and fascinating flavors, and were seriously fresh. Impressive! One part of the changing menu offers up vegetables, fruits, grains and +++ so vegans and veggies should be most happy here. Tusk is open til midnight Mon-Sat and even has a late night happy hour menu. There's also brunch from 10am -2pm on weekends. Rez can be made on the website. Additionally, there's the full-on magic carpet ride -- chef's choice for $50.

If you love flavors and vegetables, this should be your destination. Fresh Eastern Med inspired, the dishes are small but quite shareable. Also had the fish and lamb dish of the night. Wine list is reasonable, we did mostly Beaujolais which were excellent with the dishes.

A perfect fusion of Middle Eastern dishes with a Portland to table mentality! Everything we ate was delicious. The Chef’s menu if the day, “The Deluxe”, is the way to go! Four courses selected by the chef daily...a sampling of many dishes. A bright and airy restaurant with an outside covered patio, and a full bar. Reservations are a good idea as it’s a fairly small place, and very popular. Wonderful for multiple couples, or date night.

We enjoyed everything we tried and loved the atmosphere. There were 4 of us and we all loved everything...from the cocktails to the bread. Delicious!

We wanted to come for dinner but unfortunately it just didn't happen. Instead we ended up coming for Brunch on New Years Day 2019 and I'm we made it! The service was great! They were incredibly accommodating to our groups dietary needs. The music was some great ol'skool hip hop, and the decor is super clean but creative. The hummus dish on its own is so delicious. I had plate with eggs sausage and greens. I dont remember what it was called and they have changed the menu since but it was very very good. Similar to the chicken sausage dish they have on the menu now. I really hope to get back for dinner as everything on the menu sounds amazing!!!

Came for dinner. Everything we ordered was righteous--got the half and half (humus and fava), the barley salad (a textural delight), the kibbe naya, the artichoke, the queso fundido, and the mezze platter. There were no low notes in the meal, with the possible exception that they ran out of some dishes and we didn't get to try everything we wanted. I was not into the baked cheese, I wouldn't have ordered it because I'm just not a tomato sauce person but everyone else at the table loved it so that is just a personal preference thing. The highlight for me was the dukka--something so seemingly simple they elevated to level of profound dipping glory with the bursty whole roasted coriander seeds. My goodness. Even the bread is fantastically flavourful. Stellar service, too.

We visited Tusk based on recommendations from friends. It was so good! Middle East fusion food to share. Such a good concept!

They have the best Mediterranean food I’ve ever had! Wonderful and unique salads and appetizers. Had the roasted chicken too which was cooked perfectly. Great wait staff as well. Only complaint - high level of ambient noise which made conversation across table not as easy.

I've been here several times and have never been disappointed. Dinner, lunch and most recently brunch to celebrate my daughter's college graduation. The service is always exceptional and the food is clearly made with passion and love. The flavors are diverse and interesting, the vegan options are endless (the meat eaters are satisfied as well) and the family style of serving makes for such an intimate meal! Best. Get here ASAP.

We shared many dishes between 5 adults. Our server was friendly and mostly helpful (more on that). We appreciated the fresh ingredients and unique flavors. We ordered a large mezza plate, and the little snacks that came with it were such small quantities. I would have rather had less items with more to them so all of us could actually sample them. My only real complaint that is that our server recommended waaaaay too much food. It was completely ridiculous.

Chose Tusk because our niece recommended it. Good vibes from the start. Brightly lit rooms and friendly staff. Seated immediately even though we were 15 minutes early. Good bar selection. Had a mezze sampler for the table plus kebabs. Interesting tastes and flavors. We have had a lot of Mediterranean food. This was unusual for us. Quick attentive service. Nice wine list.

My partner and I went to Tusk this past weekend. We had the chef's tasting menu, and the food was fantastic. The salads in particular were tasty and quite creative. Service was attentive and the servers were pleasant, available but not obtrusive in the least. The only complaint that we had was the very loud noise level, compounded by the background music at too high a level, interfered with our enjoyment of an otherwise outstanding experience.

So so food, small portions,large prices. I guess you have to pay for loud restaurant ambience. Better off going to local mom and pop gyro joint, or Greek restaurant. Won't be back.

Two of my sisters and I chose Tusk as a place to celebrate one of our birthdays. We chose the Chefs Table experience ahead of time. Amazing. Highly recommend! From the moment you enter the sights and sounds and smells sweep you into an aromatic evening. We sat inside, but they have outdoor seating, also. The decor is enveloping and sensual, as are the enticing Spivey aromas! Our first course was full of small serving bowls filled with tastes of the Middle East; Syrian pepper relish, hummus and delicious fat flatbread; various other colorful tastes to dip into...you spend the first course exploring each little bowl of goodness. Can’t forget to mention the delicious red bottle of wine that we asked our waiter to suggest. We chose the higher priced choice and were NOT sorry, even though we could’ve spent less. Still can remember it’s taste on my tongue. By now candles are flickering on the tables and our wine was taking effect. Safe to say I remember a chicken skewer with a tangy dressing and greens. Other flavors come and go in my memory...but after the last course, even though we were full...we chose a tiny exquisite dessert with coffee for our evenings end. Perfect finish. Our wait person was wonderful. Our cocktails upon arriving just have to be my standout fav however. It’s called The Seed. Buffalo Trace Biurbon, carrot turmeric juice, ginger and lemon. To die for! Everyone should experience Tusk at least once, but nobody’s keeping me from going back again and again!

I live in Portland, and I've been meaning to visit Tusk for a while now. I made a reservation for last night. First off, we were seated outside, in the enclosed patio. The heat lamps in there were so hot I felt like I was under a broiler. Our waiter was lackluster and really didn't sell the place at all. (When you ask what to order and he says "It's all good," that's not really helpful). We decided to order an appetizer and some drinks. The wine list is nice, with a good selection of Oregon wines by the glass. We decided to order the hummus but almost didn't after seeing the price. $19. For hummus. I can buy, hm, a case of chickpeas for $19? Anyhoo, we ordered the half and half. When it came out, it was on a small plate (probably an 8-inch plate), and there was no more than 1/3 cup or 1/4 of hummus on it, with some canned chickpeas thrown on top. It came with some nice hot bread, and while it was good (very smooth), it certainly wasn't worth $19. We got the check and left and ate dinner across the street at the Screen Door. My experience with both of McFadden's restaurants (this and Ave Gene's) are that these owners are certainly full of themselves. If you want Mediterranean food, try the Mediterranean Exploration Company. Much better food, and reasonable prices.

A little hesitant based on reviews here but pleasantly surprised. Food was fresh, flavorful and fun. Service was great, ambience relaxed and casual. My favorite dish was the snow peas but all them were very tasty. Would love to return.

Portland offers many exceptional food experiences. I want to love and return to Tusk because the food is exceptional. Unfortunately the staff don’t live up to the prices at this restaurant. The host did not make eye contact from us when we walked in for several minutes, just spoke to us while watching/looking at whatever was on his podium. I asked for a table for four and he asked if I had a reservation. I was confused because Tusk’s website says they don’t take reservations for parties of less than 8 people. I explained this and the host responded “oh yea, that. You should definitely call and make a reservation by phone”. As if I should’ve known better than to trust their website. We could not be seated until the other two in our party had arrived, but also couldn’t sit at the bar. Within 5 minutes the rest of our party was present and we were seated but waited about 10 minutes before our drink orders were taken. One drink never showed up. The food was exceptional. When we had finished, my brother gave up on trying to get his drink that never came and we were asked if we would like to see a dessert menu. I said yes. About 20 minutes later, no one checking in on us and our table completely empty other than water glasses, the dessert menus still never showed up. We tried to get our waitresses attention multiple times. When she finally came over she asked if we’d like to see dessert menus. It had been at least 45 minutes since she had checked in with us. We explained that we had been asked 20 minutes prior if we’d like dessert menus but they never came, and that my brother never got the drink he ordered. Our waitress did not seem especially apologetic and just let us know she’d make sure it wasn’t on the bill. Nothing was offered or taken off our bill. There was a plate of bite size truffles, one for each of us, put in front of us to share with our bill, but they weren’t very good and felt like something that probably comes with every check. Basically, the cuisine is fantastic but the staff made us feel like we were the ones fortunate enough to be allowed to eat in their restaurant. Not that we were customers.

Went with a group of 8 and thankful for it since we got to try many dishes from the menu family style. This is purely our opinion of the dishes. The appetizers were ok, starting with the feta and flax cracker along with the classic hummus plates. Then the home run salad dishes. Gosh what awesome combinations. Pears salad; apple salad; beets with avocado; and barley, yes 4 separate, awesome plates. Can't recall the other ingredients with each dish but these are must do again for us. Then on to the main dishes with an ok lamb/burger skewer and the home run pork shoulder and chicken skewers. At this point we were spiced out and stuffed. We settled on the sesame milk chocolate pudding which pushed the belt buckle another notch out! Service from greeting to leaving was on target as was the pace of the meal. Relaxed but not too slow. Good beer and wine selection too.

We decided to let the chef cook for us so we had no idea what was coming. It was a fabulous way to taste many different dishes and really see what they have to offer. The place is modern and airy and you have a choice of inside or outside dining. Staff are friendly and service is prompt and every space was very clean. They have some unique cocktails and a decent wine list - both by the bottle and the glass. Even though you are getting small tasting portions, by the end of the night we were struggling to eat another bite so you do not leave hungry! Very good spot.

First of all you need a reservation because this is currently a "hot" location. The restaurant itself is light and airy with inside and outside seating. The bar is small but with knowledgeable mixologists. Mediterranean style of food. Small plates for sharing. We started with a mezza platter and proceeded from there. Everything was delicious. The wait staff gave enough time between courses. The crowning glory was dessert. Oh my goodness, it was hard to share that. So all I can say is order your own. Parking in the area or maybe I should say all of Portland is difficult but there is road construction in the area which you should give yourself a bit more time with. So go, go go to Tusk.

Visited Rusk on a friends recommendation, and I'm glad we did! Sat on the patio which was very nice and tried a wide selection of their menu family style. The portions are a little on the small side, so I'd recommend ordering an extra dish or two from what the servers recommend. Making reservations in advance would also be advised, we waited an hour or so without one. Would visit again if we make it back to Portland.

Awesome Mediterranean place! Hummus is a must. Order it with the sesame crackers. The nan is great, but the I filled up on the nan. When we finished it we still had a lot of hummus left over so we asked for something and they brought out the crackers. I would have enjoyed them more bc I would have been bale to eat more hummus!! The greens salad is great too. It's a small place so I would recommend reservations. There is a bar area, but it was completely filled and no place to sit. It's a great place to go as a couple or as a larger group and order a bunch of small plates, that way you can try everything. The cocktail menu has some fun options too. there is a cocktail made from coconut milk and rum...so pretty and tasty! It was an inexpensive dinner too. We spent more on lunch at Prasad that afternoon.

Truly excellent meal. We opted for the "Magic Carpet Ride," which is the chef's choice fixed-price menu. Starters were all delicious, and we needed to order a second round of flatbread to scoop it all up. My advice: Don't order a second round of bread. Yes, it was good. But it quickly filled us up, and we needed to save room. The hummus was outstanding. The salad course provided a lot of variety, and while this is supposed to be Tusk's high point, they weren't outstanding. Good. But nothing that had us talking about them later. However, the Chicken Kabobs and Leg of Lamb were killer. Tender and tasty. And dessert was up the the rest of the meal, too. Expensive. Had to make reservations about two weeks in advance, and still didn't get exactly the dinner time I wanted -- but close enough. Definitely will return.

Third trip to Tusk over the years visiting PDX and excellent as always. Cuisine of the Levant is truly different than others and it is very tasty. All plates are small and for sharing. It is a great restaurant for two; in our experience it is also great for three or more sharing.

Mediterranean inspired food with an assortment of unique flavors. Extremely fresh ingredients with lots of herbs and a mezze style of dishes. service was excellent and atmosphere was joyful and light. great music selection, kinda loud. the food is just too good.

So some friends, 50 year residents of Portland tell us that "TUSK IS THE BEST RESTAURANT IN PORTLAND". Huh, Portland is a great food town. So we can't get a rez and my wife is flying out on Monday. "Not a problem" the phone responder tells me,"just be at the door before 5pm and you have a shot at getting seated". In a freshly minted hard boot and crutches, I am outside at 4:30. we get in. The menu has little stuff, middle stuff and big stuff but I can't figure out what any of it is. So the waitre explains it and we order couple of things (and a spectacular bottle of wine), then we order a few more things. we are damned near salivating over some of the things we see going by but we are sated so we have to stop. so now we have to go back. I can hardly wait

First, what I didn't like: a) Our server, when asked how big their servings were, suggested we order a ridiculous amount of food. We ignored her, and ordered a flatbread starter and two entrees. It was enough. She suggested we order a big ole mezza starter and three or four entrees?!? She was just trying to up her tip. b) They charge for extra flatbread which was ridiculous. What I loved: a) The decor b) Many of the people who worked there besides our main server c) The food and the mixed drinks! Everything we ordered was yummy. Food quality is excellent. Ingredients used ... unique and worked well together. d) There are three basic rooms to sit ... front room, the darker back room and the patio, which was covered this time of year. We sat in the back room which was cool. e) My dining partner loved the bathrooms! To sum up ... Our bill topped one hundred dollars, which was kind of expensive. So, this place isn't cheap. But, I thought it was worth it. I think the new Portland crowd drops that kind of money and doesn't think twice. Whatever.

Tusk was perfect in every way. Vibe was hip, fun, best music playlist at ideal volume, local fun, great service, excellent tasting menus. Unique, fresh flavor combinations. Totally go! Reservations a good idea.

This is the best restaurant if you are vegetarian and enjoy small plates. Ingredients are fresh. Lives up to its reputation for the best humus. Many choices. Good wine, beer and cocktail selections. Meat options are good but rather spendy. Over $20 for two small skewers of lamb. The chocolate zucchini cake was spectacular. Chickpea "fries" were overcooked. Seating is open, so if there is an empty chair at your table, anyone can be seated there. We had a table of 8 and there were six of us. One fella sat down and then said he felt awkward and left. Another couple sat down and they ignored us and we ignored them. Just a new vibe I'm no used to. Our reservation was for 5:30 pm on a Tuesday. Traffic and parking was a nightmare.

The mezze was good, the hummus was not as good as I have had in the Mediterranean or Middle East. Salad was too acid. Wine list too limited and expensive in comparison to other places, Service was iffy. One of our party loved the beef and lamb but the other thought it was not good enough for the portion size and price. Best bit, the washrooms with candles, dim light and clean! Will not return as flavour to value ratio poor. Place is pretentious.

Went on a Saturday night and the place was pretty packed, seems to attract a ton of bachelorette parties. The menu is full of fresh / local food and you can really taste it in the salads. Tomatoes were standout excellent. 4 stars because the cocktail list is interesting but a bit lacking in execution and the service was good not great.

This place is so good, and unique! Multiple people recommended it once we got to Portland and it’s definitely for good reason! Great atmosphere, friendly staff, good food & drinks! Don’t skip the hummus. The hazy Jane drink with yogurt was really unique and good. I went with a small group of friends which was perfect so we could all share several dishes!

I had read about this place in Bon Appetit and really wanted to eat there while passing through Portland. Their reservation system through Resy worked very well, but when I called for more information, the staff were very friendly and helpful. I was a solo diner, and much older than most of the patrons, but I didn't feel that I was treated negatively in any way. I ordered a flatbread and "Vegetables" as a main dish. It was a plate of assorted raw vegetables with two dips and a nearly-hard-boiled egg. Every item was as delicious and distinct as possible. I don't know where they got such wonderful produce, but it was a great dining experience.

An incredible brunch experience. Decor & environment impressive and inviting. The service further added to our morning with staff response pleasant & immediate - food and drink delivered quickly and professionally with explanations & suggestions for further enjoyment of our meal. We shared 7 different items and sides and were unable to pick a favorite as each was equally fresh & deliciously prepared. You won't go wrong with any of the brunch plates, or try the cous cous or yogurt bowls for a lighter side - almost too beautiful to eat! Tusk is a 'don't miss' culinary experience when in Portland.

2.5 hours for a group of 25 to be served dinner- there was a ton of lag time between dishes and the staff seemed put out to help us. They were slow with the bar and ran out of Rose. Also- the air conditioning doesn’t work in the the back room- something to consider when renting that space- That being said- the food was amazing and I dare say, worth the wait. We had a sampling of everything on the menu- the salads were unique, fresh and all had very distinct flavors- the menu they provided didn’t match what they brought- so I can’t share the names, but you can’t go wrong- Stay away from the eggplant - super charred and it absorbed a burned taste- We started with an ahi salad wrap- that was the best item of the night! Loud & fun atmosphere- not sure I would spend the menu for the back room with the service and lack of a/c-

We chose Tusk as a special occasion place to have dinner. We had reservations and got right in at the time scheduled. We were surprised how small the inside of the restaurant really was. We ordered a LOT of food between us and everything we had was simply amazing! Each bite was better than the next and enjoyed sharing all of the variety at our table. The negative feedback I have is the service was very lacking. No one explained the concept, or gave much information as we asked about different items on the menu. It was a very much dont give a care attitude from the server. It was also difficult to get water refills or another glass of wine. I would go back just because of the food and hope next time I would not have the nonchalant, not attentive attitude from the servers.

We went to Tusk a few nights ago. We really enjoyed the food. The hummus plate was fantastic and all the vegetarian sides (and I’m not a vegetarian) were exceptional. They had a salad with apples that was unique and tasty. We also ordered the lamb shank. I am a big fan of lamb but I have to say that the lamb tasted a bit too much like sheep. If you know what I mean. Anyway, the seasoning was good and the greens too. My husband enjoyed the lamb. So, maybe this dish was just not the right meal for me. We also ordered the lamb & beef meatballs. Those I definitely recommend. The service at Tusk was not so great. We waited a long time for our drinks. We waited all the time for the waitress to serve us. One more thing: don’t forget to make a reservation if you want to dine here.

We loved this place. Two rooms, with the back room a bit bit quieter (but not by much) than the front. Simple decor, but very delicious food. Some meat on the menu, but vegetarians will love this place. Not too expensive (by PDX standards), and dinner for two with wine was $75. Might be hard to get a reservation with their recent national recognition, but it's worth it.

A wonderful restaurant for fresh food and creative plates. Reservations are strongly recommended. This crisp clean indoor outdoor restaurant was pleasant to be in. We were seated quickly. Water, still or sparkling was provided. Liquors, wines, beers are available. They have some wonderful mixed drink concoctions. They serve small plates to share but make them for each table. So their special hummus with flatbread is smaller for a table of two than one for a table of four. We had the chick pea fries which are very popular. We also had hummus with flatbread and I had split olives. Spicy! We had a cherry and asparagus salad which was fresh and crunchy. We shared the lamb and pork skewers. Delicious. We finished off with soft serve date dessert. OMG, so good. Coffee was also great. Service was knowledgeable and spot on. We’ll be back!

heard this restaurant was difficult to get into so I was thrilled when we scored a table. Our party of 5 loved the selection of dishes - our waitress was super helpful to find great vegan options for us too. Atmosphere is on the loud side and the bar seems very popular. Parking can be a challenge but don't let this stop you! I highly recommend Tusk.

This was a pleasant experience. Food Lebanese cuisine if I am not wrong was at its best and it was fun to taste quite an amazing mix of flavours. Drinks (non alcoholic) were good compliment to the food. It was great to have the chefs option where you will get to taste little bit of everything. Special mention of the desert. Interesting fact is the 20% gratuity comes added with the bill. For me it makes life easier but I still feel that it should be left to the guest to decide. Just so that you know Tusk is not the only place to do this but many other restaurants does the same for bigger group (we were three). Coming to the vibe - it’s definitely has a cool vibe. The place has two area one in the restaurant and the other one is an extension a covered patio. Some tables in the extension particularly the corner one just by the entrance is quite squeezed (we got that inspite of booking like a month in advance). Finally the service which I would say was good (the host and the waitress who attended our table) but still leaves some space to be even better. A smile can do wonders. Price for the chefs menu was quite decent

We were really looking forward to checking out Tusk after seeing the menu and reading rave reviews about it. Let me start with the space, which is beautifully done and the back patio a great spot to sit back and enjoy a meal with friends. The service was also top not. Unfortunately, either we hit the restaurant on an off day or had hyped it up too much in our minds as the food was good but nothing special. None of the dishes stand out as items I would go back to try again.

We heard good things about this hot new restaurant and were anxious to give it a try. The chef is formerly from Zahav in Philadelphia, which is where we experienced one of the best meals ever, so we were excited to see what he brought to the Portland restaurant scene. The reviews suggested the "Magic Carpet Ride", which is Chef's Choice. This turned out to be a good option for us. The servers brought flat bread and hummus, followed by several salads, one after another. Followed by some tastes of entrees and then desserts. So many choices, we couldn't keep track. And just enough for two of us to share, then another would appear. Most of the meal was composed of varieties of salads: offering a variety of textures, vegetables, fruits, cheeses and flavorings. Sooooo yummy! All together, there were at least 15 different plates of food presented to us. Some more outstanding than others, but we agreed that this tasting menu was the best way to get a good representation of the menu. And we both agreed we couldn't have eaten another bite. My daughter had the Eastern Maid cocktail, which was good. She was a skeptical about a cocktail with yogurt in it, but was glad she tried it. The server was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu. They were very accommodating to work with our food allergies. Throughout the evening the wait staff was very attentive. Many reviews mentioned the loud noise level, and this did prove to be accurate. But in spite of it, we were able to converse. The meal was over $112 for the two of us, including one drink. But we left satisfied that we'd had a great culinary experience.

We came here for a most amazing brunch experience. Don't arrive expecting your usual brunch fare. Come for a creative menu, a delightful mix of delicious flavors and unusual ingredients with a Mediterranean flair. And of course, an egg on top. The hummus is the best ever.

We enjoyed a pleasant Sunday dinner at Tusk. The reviews were accurate, and we appreciate their cuisine. We sat outside and appreciated the cool evening breeze. The bartender was friendly and recommended delicious drinks. The food was excellent and fresh. The service was attentive and courteous. Our only minor issue was that our server mentioned the kitchen preferred all food orders upfront. He had to get permission to allow us to order our main courses after our appetizers. As out-of-towners unfamiliar with portion sizes, this 'limitation' seemed like a unreasonable request. It would be better if a fine establishment didn't have such annoying kitchen rules. Overall, it was a memorable evening at Tusk.

Four of us ordered about 6 small plates plus a main to share. The rosé was excellent, the beers were very good, and the after-dinner coffee was quite good. As we ordered our food, the server asked if anyone had foods they don't each. I cannot eat lemon, so when each dish was brought to the table, the server indicated whether or not it had lemon in it. Favorites included the pork shoulder skewer, chicken skewer, and meat casserole (lamb and beef). Nothing was left, everyone was full, and we are ready for another visit. Now, if they could just put some baffling on the ceiling to reduce the noise level....

We had dinner here with my daughter and son-in-law while visiting them in Portland. We're very familiar with Middle Eastern food, and Tusk creatively veers from standard preparations. We tried a variety of appetizers and main dishes, and while not all of them worked, those that did, were incredibly tasty. Emily was our delightful waitress, and we were seated in a quiet anteroom of the restaurant.

Tusk is different. Maybe not for those who have dined in Lebanon or Israel, but not a menu I have experienced elsewhere. The mezzes are ever-changing and offer variety. The humus is better than I have had anywhere else. The flatbread is just the right stiffness to make it work as the perfect utensil. The salads are the heart of the menu. Notable was the fresh squash, kohlrabi, pears, and dates with pistachio butter. Who knew squash could be prepared this way? (I know, middle easterners.) The spicy apple and crispy rice salad was also excellent - and it is a bit on the hot side which pleased me. If you need lots of food, there are dishes like lamb shanks and whole trout. We made do with a few lamb era pork skewers. Altogether the meal of several dishes filled and left room for a dessert to be shared by three. We are so happy we returned to Tis and expect to keep doing so. Tusk also has a happy hour and that must be great!

I read about Tusk in a NY Times review which coincided with a trip to Portland. I was not disappointed, food was really good and staff were friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was congenial and relaxed, no stuffiness at all. A couple of mistakes with the order were dealt with professionally and I would not hesitate to go back again. The Hummus and Dukka , pork casserole were excellent and I can recommend the Tusk old fashioned. I also enjoyed the fact that they were playing vinyl on a record deck! Just perhaps could have done with changing the Michael Jackson record after the first play! I hope to return one day, really enjoyable evening.

Great food that is a blend of American and Middle-Eastern. Yes, flatbread stuffed with french fries might sound a little unusual but when there's hummus, beets, lettuce and local Albacore in there as well, it's a perfect brunch. Salads are imaginative and tasty, as are the meat and fish skewers, Wines are limited but good and not overpriced. Cocktails looked great - but I am not a drinker of them so cannot comment beyond that. We went for brunch but are already planning to go back for dinner. It's a small place and good food coupled with a lot of buzz means crowds, so make a reservation for dinner or get there early for weekend brunch. You won't be disappointed.

Tusk has a difficult time with consistency. This is the third time within the past few months that the food was average to below. The only items that are consistent are hummus and bread. I'm not going to eat here again for 9 to 12 months. If it's bad again after that then I'm done.

A friend recommended this restaurant and it was amazing. We had truly one of the best dinners we've had in years in Portland here. The flavors were magnificent. We had a lovely mix of things. One of the standouts was a seasonal squash dish that was amazing. One of the squash that they used we thought was actually meat. It was not and gave me hope that maybe one day I could be a vegan (not). Excellent wine list and cocktails. Cannot wait to return.

Best spot in Portland with great food and friendliest staff! ORDER.THE.HUMMUS. The food is seasonal and they do amazing things with veggies ! And just everything. Order it all :)

A lot of dishes served with various seasoned sources, especially entrees and salads were very impressive. it was difficult for me to point our one place of food but some south amereican, meditterian and some Asian inspired food. Really creative.

This restaurant has it all! Great food, great service, relaxed outdoor seating. One time I am disappointed to be a tourist, I could come back over and over if I lived here. Starting with the classic hummus, creamy rich and served with the best pitas ever. Then we moved on to the chicken skewers, along with the radish salad and artichoke. I recommend it all and there were plenty of things on the menu I still wanted. The waitress was great! Since we were new to the restaurant, she spent time explaining and then making suggestions, most of which we took.

We were able to sit at the bar and enjoy our dinner together. They do an excellent mushroom dish; made a special order of brocolli for us and, as before, we enjoyed the chicken kebab. The highlight, however, was a Walter Scott Sojourner 2017. Just delicious.

Fantastic small space for middle eastern inspired cuisine. Went here on my birthday with my mom and was incredibly pleased with the servers. The food was good and the ambience was nice. Would definitely reccomend! The beets for a small plate was amazing.

Tusk was perfect in every way. Vibe was hip, fun, best music playlist at ideal volume, local fun, great service, excellent tasting menus. Unique, fresh flavor combinations. Totally go! Reservations a good idea.

The food at Tusk is impossible for me to adequately describe. Sure, look at their sample menu online. That will get you ready, but they change the menu to use the freshest local ingredients. And then, of course, there are specials. There were four of us, and we all shared everything. The wine list is great, the service was exceptionally good, and the food was simply amazing. It looks beautiful on the plate; the tastes were wonderful and unique. I have never had such an unusual combination of ingredients, but I will make sure we go back to have some more.

Great hummus, Monday meatball dish and everything is so flavorful. Share, share, share. Good serviceable wine and beer selection.

Where do I even begin in extolling the virtues of Tusk?! The food was A-MAZ-ING!!! The service was perfect! They handled my more unusual food allergies as if it were the easiest thing in the world - which is always SO appreciated! Our group of four enjoyed "the best cocktail I have ever had", "I had no idea cauliflower could be SO good!", "the hummus to die for", and corn on the cob that required adult topic language to fully verbalize how fantastic it was! The corn on the cob was so good that the next morning our group was still talking about it! This is a popular place for VERY good reasons, so definitely make a reservation in advance and then be prepared to LOVE your food selections! It is pricey ($240 for our group of 4 including appetizers, dinner, drinks, desserts, and tip), but it was a wonderful dinner and evening! SO worth it!!!

A lovely restaurant, great food excellent service. Great waiter also a transplant from Northeast.He takes service seriously. When we go the check he told us a 20% service charge was added, I guess its thier policy. We added additional tip on he was that good.

This restaurant has very good food. The chef is well versed in creating some excellent dishes. The service was also very good. I do recommend, at time, that you make reservations.

A friend chose this place knowing I am veggie and a fan of tapas style food. It really was the perfect restaurant for me. We started with delicious cocktails and moved onto wine and bees with the food. We shared a variety of dishes - starting with a hummus and flatbread. We also had a couple of salads, baked cheese, meat skewers for the non vegetarians. Enjoyed every mouthful. For desert the date soft serve is delicious but don’t miss the phylo pastry one either. It’s informal service and food just comes when it’s ready. Great for relaxed chatty dining with friends.

Being local in a town full of good food it sometimes takes us a while to eat at the new "hot spot" of season food-wise. Tusk was SO good and so flavorful and I'm really glad we finally were able to try it. We decided on whim to try Tusk before seeing a movie. They were booked for reservations a week out so we just showed up just in case there was a table or bar seating available...and hooray!...seats at the bar opened up as we arrived. We were immediately made welcome by the bar tender with menus and drink order and an given overview of the menu. She took our orders and we enjoyed our drinks. Food arrived as it was ready, in sharable portions. Not fast but not slow either, the time felt appropriate for the number of people eating and the care put into the food. Oh my the food! Each plate was delicious and wonderfully flavorful. We ordered one lamb skewer (juicy, delicious perfection on a stick) but we let full and satisfied by the many vegetable heavy plates we ordered. The broccoli/cauliflower and carrot plates were really great. The house hummus was so smooth and good and the pita to die for. I think it would be really fun next time we visit (and we both decided it would be a place to return to) to order the magic carpet ride here (their prix fix) and then get to taste all of the wonderful, herb-y, surprising flavors they deem for us to partake in.

Get out your calendar and make a reservation. May be a few weeks out but do it. Order $55 per person service. Tell them what you can’t or don’t eat ( they ask ). Sit back & everything will be brought to you. More than you can eat. Dessert too. We had probably 60% of the menu items this way. Some small some larger. All delicious. Hype is right. Nice drinks. Big wine list too. A bit noisy but not too.

Enjoyed the innovative dinner at Tusk last week. Innovative dishes were enjoyable, but none truly outstanding. Room was disturbingly noisy. Not being seated until all members of our party arrived seemed snooty, although the maitre d’ was diplomatic and patient. Glad we went, but not in a huge hurry to return.

Took my brother out to dinner here last Sunday at his request. This restaurant is "newer" to the scene serving middle Eastern food the likes of which I had never tasted let alone identify. Great lively ambiance but not so noisy we couldn't talk: seemed to be a good bar scene as well. Not unusual for Portland, they also have a fantastic hand crafted cocktail menu. The plates are on the smallish side but easy to share. Unique flavor profiles and spices; use of flowers are encouraged as are seeds. Spendy but worth the money; these are tastes I had not experienced before. Great wait staff as well, very informative and attentive.

Our party of four enjoyed a very nice dinner--made of Mediterranean small plates--everything was delicious and freshly prepared. This is a lovely restaurant with outdoor seating.

Most amazing Mediterranean food I’ve had in a very long time and the best meal I’ve had while visiting Portland. The place has a great vibe and the staff is welcoming and friendly. I can only recommend people trying this place as you won’t regret it!

If you can't get organized to make a dinner reservation, then the weekend brunch menu is your ticket to a fun, trendy, excellent restaurant. They have recently received numerous local and national awards, and they deserve the recognition. The Mediterranean menu is filled with all types of surprises including perfect eggs and delicious lebneh. You can see the handiwork of detail that makes Tusk an excellent choice.

Tusk is not like it used to be pre-pandemic and seriously not really worth a visit. The menu is very limited and the food itself is rather dull, under seasoned, and just does not look appetizing. Service was fine but then again there were only a few people in the restaurant. On previous visits the restaurant was crowded and lively; not so much this time with few people in attendance. The vibe was just off and the lackluster food makes this a place to put low on Portland's restaurant list.

We loved every single dish. This place is amazing and I will be back. Definitely get the hummus, and the pistachio cake is a great sweet.

I was skeptical about the small plate aspect and the idea of sharing small dishes. But each plate is like a work of art and each bite of salad was an experience. I think they grow their own produce and everything we ordered was amazing. We are going to Ava Genes (sister restaurant) next week and we have really high expectations after eating here.

The other couple we were going with suggested tusk as one we have not tried. There were no on-line reservations, but I gave them a call. they called back, and had one available. How fortunate we were. Food is excellent. Well thoughout menu, well trainined and informed waiter. Really enjoyed our meal, now this can be one of the same old rotation. Bravo.

The four of us ordered the chef’s special assortment of dishes that we shared and enjoyed all the new flavors and spices from the Mediterranean with local vegetables and loved this new eating experience! The atmosphere is great and the staff is fantastic. We will keep going and thanks to the chefs that make this happen! 👏👏

The food here is fresh and great! Everything was quite tasty, however, I really enjoyed the skewers. There was a nice a atmosphere and the service was decent. I would go for the food anytime.

Fantastic lunch here with such wonderful flavors. We enjoyed everything we ordered and will come here again on our next trip ty Portland

Tusk has become my absolute favorite PDX restaurant. Every bite of every dish is fresh and bursting with flavor. The dishes have both the traditional middle eastern flavors you expect and others completely unexpected. The veggie/grain dishes are the best and the albacore tartare is like an amazing middle eastern ceviche.

We stopped in for a few sips. First, they head a gruener Veltliner, a summer favorite. The nosh was unusual, light and VERY tasty. The best thing was the STAFF! Friendliest, fun, interesting! Just go there and ENJOY!

I enjoyed the many vegetarian tapas style dishes, and the hummus was especially amazing. It was a lovely place to go with a few friends and try out several dishes. No vegetarian main course but the flavors of the tapas were delightful.

The food in this new restaurant is basically middle eastern, but elevated to a fine dining level due to beautifully combined flavors and interesting ingredients. The Tusk hummus was so good we ordered it twice. We also enjoyed the lamb tartare, the apple salad, the curried chicken and the skewers. The wine list was very varied and fairly priced. Unfortunately, the meal was nearly spoiled by a noise level in the back room that prevented us from hearing our friends across the table and caused us all to be bellowing at each other to try and communicate. As good as the food was, we will not be back unless the sound situation is addressed.

We decided to try Tusk out for a date night and were not disappointed! Our reservation was for 6:30 and we were seated promptly upon arrival by a friendly host. Everything we ordered was outstanding (classic hummus, lamb and pork kebabs, cheese bread, squash salad). I would definitely recommend anyone in the mood for great Middle Eastern cuisine in an enjoyable atmosphere to try this restaurant.

The staff were friendly, helpful and accommodating. We were three sitting at the bar and were able to have a conversation with each other and an entertaining chat with the "mixologist" behind the bar. House cocktails were elaborate concoctions that were tasty but a tad pricey. Dishes were good, but not anything to knock me off my feet. All in all, a nice local place for a good meal.

After a short wait we were seated on the porch for a relaxing, leisurely savored brunch. The food was expertly prepared, seasoned, and presented as we shared and enjoyed everything delivered to the table. Our orders included Brunch Olives, Baked Eggs & Meatballs, Asparagus and Poached Eggs, Smoked Trout & Egg and a side of Sausage. Combined with great conversation and our brunch drinks (Tusk Bloody Mary, Come Up Roses, and What’s Up Doc), it made for an excellent dining experience!

We were visiting Portland and had dinner at Tusk recently and felt compelled to write a review The food (middle eastern meets Californian) was delicious and served with great style The service was well paced not rushed in anyway We had hummus to start and then a few salad appetizers followed by a shared entree The theme is sharing all dishes and we did well with everything we ordered. The decor is modern with lots of glass giving natural light Thanks Tusk for a great evening!!

I booked a table for 10 a month in advance like they wanted me. They said we would have a fixed menu. One couple could not make it so I called back 3 weeks in advance. They told me we could order from the menu. We arrived on time, but waited 1/2 hour for our table. Once we sat down we had a fixed menu. Which offered 1 meat, lamb. Some in our party do not eat lamb. They changed out the menu to the full menu. We all ordered and then they come back to inform us there is no lamb. So how would we eat under the fixed menu. Very confusing. The food was ok, some dish good, others ok. Sometimes when you travel, even with good research you can still have a bad experience, which happened to us. The poor waitress could not even explain the dishes correctly. And no manager to come over and help. Do not come with a large group!!

One of the few placers in the US that serves good quality, tasty Middle Eastern food in a high class setting. Usually, one can get only one of the three mentioned variables. This place has a fresh approach to the concept of the their cuisine with a good level of innovation while maintaining the authentic taste of the dishes. The menu changes daily with a special that would be served for a day or two. It is a great place to go with a group or on a date but I enjoyed it on my solo visit as well.

Very busy and popular restaurant. A nice selection of wines, cocktails and drinks. The food is served family style and on small plates. We ordered the mezze platter, hummus and dukka and cheesy bread. The flat bread appeared to be homemade and was good. The cheesy bread was the most tasty of our selections, the others were rather ordinary fare. The squash was wonderful (with pears), the chicken and lamb skewers were OK, with the lamb being tasty but a bit tough. We avoided the kibbe (raw lamb did not sound appealing). Our waitress was very professional, and well informed. The service was efficient. We were seated at a rectangular table that would have accommodated 4 well, but with our party of 5 (3 on one side) it was a bit tight.

Another spectacular restaurant in Portland OR - You trip over them on the way to anywhere here. Amazing food and service. Bring lots of friends so you can order lots of things off the small plates menu. Cocktail list not too shabby either

The matcha drink was delicious and I was digging the chickpea fries. Our bartender mentioned a touch of the chili oil was great with the fries and you sir, were correct. Thank you! So many flavors happened with our meal & they were all wonderfully harmonious. We ordered a lot of food But that chicken skewer was the business. Damn that was good. Highly recommend the beets too. Those were off the chain. Portions are perfect for sharing and we left feeling good, not a hot mess. It was also nice seeing families and friends feasting. People were chatting, minding their own and the mood lighting was great. I enjoyed this restaurant very much and the husband and I for sure we will be back. Thank you for a lovely meal!

IMO, Tusk has the potential to become a consistent go-to, top 5 restaurant in Portland. The cuisine is often surprising (in a good way) and delicious. Unexpected flavors and pleasant presentation. Portions on the small plates are small--for example, the $6 skewers of either lamb or chicken consist of one small skewer. The lamb skewer portion is about half the size of a normal sized Italian meatball in other restaurants. But, if you are a fan of small plates, this shouldn't pose much of a problem. Also, after we had a full complement of a good-sized mezze appetizer, and 5 other small plates, and a small portion entree, a shared dessert (the Halva soft serve, delicious!), and three drinks between us, the bill was just around $100. If I'd forgone the cocktail, the intriguingly spicy Delmonico, it would have been less than $90. My only complaint is that the service was uneven. At one point, while waiting for our last two plates (dishes come out as they are finished, not all at once), we waited for a good 10 minutes before our food arrived. We were also abandoned by out waiter at the end of the meal. Granted the place was busy, but we'd arrived at 5:30, so it wasn't really the height of the rush, as far as I could tell, though it was busier than most restaurants at that time of day. I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt--perhaps they were short-staffed, or had an unexpected surge. But, when you have to make reservations at least a month in advance, you generally expect a notch better service. Still, any lapse did not diminish our enjoyment of the food and the experience.

First visit to Tusk. 4 of us decided on the Magic Carpet tasting menu. It is chef's choice so it changes often. Everything was delicious. It would have been nice to get something with the items written down since there are so many small plates that none of us could reconstruct the names of the dishes by the end. The food is as advertised - lots of seasonally local items with a strong middle eastern influence. We shared a nice Greek white wine to start and then shifted to a Pinot later per the recommendation of our waiter. The amounts were enough for us to feel full but not overstuffed by the end. All that said, the price for the tasting menu seemed high by the end of the meal. Not normally a comment I would make. I'll go back and select items off the menu next time.

We ordered many different food to try them and every single of them was really delicious. Hummus was my favorite! Not only taste but also presentation of food was just amazing. The best place I've tried in Portland so far, great ambience. I'll definitely come back when I am back in US!

The food was fantastic! - The portions are small and it is a pricey but the atmosphere was great. They also have a very nice outdoors space. Next time, I'm making a reservation as it was packed

I went to Tusk last WE for brunch and was very disappointed by the bad service from the beginning to the end . Food was OK, but not very much for a high price.

Food is great nice place and will recommend to people. We had the preset menu which included various small tapas plates which was nice didn't had to think but they bring food very fast so it gets overwhelmed really fast. Wine was good as well.

With all tables packed, i got seated at the bar, which was just fine. The bartender was great - attentive, helpful, and friendly, but not overbearing. I appreciated her genuine interest in answering questions. What a change from so many servers who seem put out by questions (but then expect a generous tip). I ordered what was basically a flatbread pizza, and loved it. The wine was excellent as well (thanks for having a nice off-dry German riesling instead of the sweet rieslings most places have!). Still hungry, I ordered the chickpea fries and was disappointed. They weren't bad, just... completely uninteresting. I would happily go back. Note that this is probably not a great date night restaurant - it's crowded and loud. If you want hip and social with good food, it's a great option.

Reasonably priced. Unusual dishes. Some of the best Lebanese (which I love) that I've had anywhere. Atmosphere was easy and nice. Service and staff were excellent.

We had a fantastic meal, but oh my god it was noisy. Annoying music: all we heard was the thimp thimp. The staff made me feel old: very nice but a bit schlpy and not super attentive, overall fine. But the food! Really delicious. Mediterranean with little surprises, creative and fantastic. Totally worth it.

Since the hubby and I have birthdays less than a week apart, it's become customary for the whole fam to gather at some fabulous restaurant to make great memories and eat wonderful food. This year was exceptional. Tusk was this year's choice (we have an emotional attachment to "Tusk" because of association with USC....ask Mr. Google if you don't know about this), and boy howdy was it a good one. Middle eastern-based, but not restricted. I thought there was a strong Portland influence, and they proudly locally source as much of their food as possible. Phenomenal food. Do not miss the hummus and flatbread. I loved the sesame/flax/nigella crackers with the feta more than others did. The salad of pears and sunchokes with peanuts and puffed wild rice made the hubby forget his detestation of the sunchoke. Chicken curry was probably the weakest dish...skip it in favor of the kibbe naya (lamb tatare with green wheat....just trust me, OK?). Skewers (chicken, pork, ground lamb/beef) were delicious, but stick to veggies and you won't be sorry. Fried haloumi was good, tomato sauce with it was superb. Grilled delicata squash with asian pear, pecans, chiles and brown butter was transcendent. On each table are containers of aleppo pepper oil (I could drink this), za'atar, and cumin salt. ALL yummy but they elevated the hummus to haute cuisine. Desserts were terrific. The black lime pie. YUM. Apple fritters a la mode. YUM. Milk chocolate custard (very moussey) with aleppo pepper. YUM. The space is inviting and clean and attractive, albeit very very very loud. (That's the only reason I say it's not "family friendly." Might be better at brunch.) Even given that, we'll be back.

After reviewing many restaurants we chose to go to Tusk. We were a party of 6 and a 3 month old baby . Two of our group were vegetarians. After checking the menu our waiter suggested a tasting menu "magic carpet ride". It was a wonderful tasting experience. Every dish had unique flavours . We would definitely return and highly recommend this restaurant.

With all the reviews we read.........we left not terribly impressed. Service was a mixed bag. We were originally seated next to the steps that entered the second dining room, avoid this table. Maybe the servers know you are going to move and that is why they do not approach you after being seated for over ten minutes. We moved over one table because either our table or my chair would be hit by servers trying to rush back and forth from kitchen. Moved over one table and wow drink orders were taken and we had a great male server who was friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. Three quarters through our meal our server informed us that the weather was beautiful and he was heading home to enjoy it. Service went down since we were left with one person running the whole dining room. Atmosphere depends on where you are seated. The initial dining room you see when you enter the restaurant is cozy chic with the candlelight and white palette furniture. Move on your the next dining room and you are in the "enclosed porch area" which is ok. Restaurant is loud. Food was hit and miss. We ordered a classic hummus and man'oushe which we both enjoyed. Chickpea fries were a let down, our server talked them up so when we received the mushy over salted we were sad. Vegetables with whipped feta also left us sad, we enjoy vegetables but many of the root ones were so undercooked they were difficult to cut with the cutlery that is provided at the table. Beef casuela and flounder were great! We loved the peanuts in the beef dish. Pass on the tomato saffron rice, super dry and strange flavor that left an aftertaste in our mouths. Cocktails in Portland drive me crazy. Bitters is so overrated.

I've been looking forward to checking out this place because Ive heard so much praise from different people and I love love Middle Eastern food having traveled to Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and really enjoyed this type of cuisine. I have to say that the food did not disappoint at all other than the baked cheese which really tasted like cheese with marinara sauce, nothing special, I would totally skip it The rest of the dishes were pretty spectacular and gets 4 to 5 stars in my book. If it weren't for the high stars on the food, this business would have gotten 2 stars from me. Why the 3 stars? It started with a 25 min wait past our reservation time because it was a very busy evening but I can understand that and can let that go but the actual service from Marla B (our server) was very sad and disappointing. If you look at my reviews anywhere, I always applaud those who go above and beyond and are outstanding at their job or call out those who needs improvement. I was sad because I don't see her treating the adjacent tables with the short and cold approach that she gave us. I think she overheard me comment on the service as she was checking on other tables and that is the only time she checked on us with a brief everything ok? Be professional and leave your personal preferences outside the restaurant. It doesn't matter if your customer is picky with the ingredients and asking you things like is there refined sugar, etc etc. Especially if they are asking you in a nice polite way. If they ask you what are the popular dishes in the menu, don't tell them that it's a small menu and everything is good and popular. Engage them, ask them questions etc. That's part of your job. Unless a customer is berating or asking you unreasonable questions or requests, put on your server hat - smile, be pleasant and engaging and just treat them as if they were a guest in your home because they are expecting to be treated like so especially if they are spending their hard earned money and their valuable free time to have a wonderful experience in your restaurant. I have a feeling that this restaurant really would not care for these types of feedback because they already have a loyal following. I hope they do because PDX is growing and you will always need new customers especially from different backgrounds and orientation. Im new to the area and am looking for inventive and innovative place that serve really good food and I mean really good not just PDX standards but national, even international standards to bring in guests and business clients. My husband who is the most laid back and nonchalant person who may not agree with me at all times with service levels totally agreed with me on this one. And yes my tip clearly reflects my experience with Marla B. The timing of the food was also a bit disappointing. Does it really take 30 mins to bring out the bread and hummus? We are already starving from waiting almost half an hour to be seated and then another 15 mins for Marla B to show up, the least thing you can do is put out the hummus which is one of the appetizers we ordered sooner instead of waiting for the rest of the appetizers to get completed no? How long does it really take to scoop that out of the container coz im sure they already made a batch of that for the day. The bread was disappointing too, it was not warm and a bit chewy. That bread is your intro to the evening and sets the pace for the rest of the meal. I was expecting to be wowed by the bread. A lot of Middle Eastern restaurants pride themselves with this simple staple. The place is also way too loud to have a nice relaxing conversation, the Music was too loud and it is hard to have a conversation coz everyone tries to raise their voice so you end up with a LOUD atmosphere which is not a good recipe for a nice dinner. In a city where there are so many good restaurants, service is what can set you apart so don't take that for granted. A restaurant gets away sometimes with mediocre food because they have outstanding service. Ive been to the most causal even dive restaurants as well as the most extravagant and expensive ones around the world and those with amazing food and outstanding service eventually are the ones that stands the test of time. I love the food so unless I do take out... my search for my go to Middle Eastern Restaurant continues.

This restaurant lived up to our lofty expectations, which were based on the plethora of outstanding reviews. In fact, our experience was even better than we anticipated. This is magnificent food. Exploding with unique flavors. The hummus was as good as we've ever had, and the pita was absolutely the best we've ever tasted. The grilled eggplant was delicious beyond my ability to describe it. The za'atar fries were very, very good, as was the Hominy. Cocktails are delicious, beautifully presented, and a generous pour. Prices are extremely reasonable for this quality of food and the size of the portions. Service was friendly and attentive. Perhaps a bit slow, but the place was packed. It's a loud space so don't expect a romantic evening or quiet conversations. I wish we lived here, we'd be here every other week.

The service was great. In fact, they had a lot of employees with very little to do during their happy hour. The dinner and happy hour menus were small but everything was delicious. I doubt there is anything on their menu that is mediocre. The only disappointment is the required 20% gratuity. Not that I didn’t think the service was great. It’s that I think the business is responsible for paying its employees a living wage rather than passing that expense onto the clientele. Did I mention there were a lot of employees standing around with nothing to do but huddle and chat and block walkways?

We’ve visited Tusk a number of times, occasionally just for a cocktail, but also for dinner. It is busy, so recommend reservations (I think they take them...) or being patient. I look forward to going again.

Amazing food. My first home purchase was blocks from this restaurant. Unfortunately, that was back in 1994 when this restaurant wasn’t even a dream. An Iranian friend of mine introduced me to task last evening. She ordered for us, so I’m not sure exactly what we had. But it was all good! Lamb, chicken skewers and pear salad. The seasonings and spices used were so amazing. I would highly recommend Tusk!

We had to try one of the top new restaurants in the US in 2017! It didn't disappoint. The food was delicious and we tried alot of dishes! You can't go wrong with anything here and I completely recommend this restaurant without hesitation.

Our cousin recommended Tusk for dinner and it was absolutely delicious! It’s Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine, and EVERYTHING was flavorful and amazing! Our waitress, Jean, was nice, attentive, and gave us a few menu suggestions. We enjoyed everything: Mezze, Hummus, Chicken Skewers, and Saffron Rice. We would definitely recommend a visit if you ever find yourself in the Portland area. Thanks for a wonderful dining experience!

Problem is they are both over the top wonderful :-) Once again locally sourced and aggressively seasonal. Ava Gene's nailed Roman. Tusk nails Middle Eastern with homage to tradition while foraging out to be new and unique. Super service. Wonderful small plate sharing tastes.

I had dinner there with 5 long time friends for our bi-annual catch up. The conversation was easy - I didn't find it too loud, and the food was delicious - try the chicken skewers - and you could tell the meals had a lot of thought put into them to be presentable, complementary and tasty. A bit expensive though, so be prepared to spend a lot, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality (but not quantity).

Excellent food that you won’t find everywhere. Unique take on food. Will not disappoint. Try the hummus and a cocktail.

Seated outside, beautiful surroundings. Family get together-we all met in Porland for the weekend. Tusk was the perfect restaurant for us. We love to eat different things and this enabled us to order small plates and share. Our waitress Caresse helped us select the perfect amount of items. We shared Half and half hummus, cheesy bread, mezze, snap pease, baked cheese and flatbread, chicken skewer, lam skewer and halibut. No room for dessert. A first for us

The hummus and hot flatbread was the star. The service amazing! A little noisy when the restaurant filled up but wasn't terrible.

I love going to Tusk. Their food is incredible, and the variety on the menu is awesome. It's nice to order a bunch of small plates, so you can try many items without completely gorging yourself. My only downfall with Tusk is sometimes the dining experience feels rushed. So, you never really get the sense of calm during the meal. It's not completely in your face, but there's definitely a subtle- "we'd like that table now," vibe. The food is so wonderful that we will continue to go back though.

Loved the food and atmosphere! Everything was delicious. Wait staff was great explaining the items on the menu and making suggestions.

This is a hot new restaurant in Portland! I went with girlfriends to try it out. We made reservations which was wise as there was a crowd waiting for tables both inside and out. The service staff are super friendly and helpful and there's a lot of good energy there for helping make the new restaurant a success. We ordered our items a la carte off the menu and shared - some salads, hummus, chicken skewers and more. It was all divine. I ran into a friend there who did the special where they bring you various items all for one price - that sounded like a pretty good value so something to inquire about before you order. Parking is a bit of a challenge here so get there early and probably best to make reservations!

You can tell that the chefs really care about making the food special. They set the bar so high that they make the case for an exclusive 6 star rating. They don't need any more help from me because they are always super busy, for good reason.

Dinner at Tusk was definitely one of my most amazing meals recently. The variety of tapas style middle eastern plates are very creative and make for a great meal. The use of ingredients with a new twist on how to cook them is their most interesting thing. Great combination of fruits and vegetables in their menu items. Wonderful flat bread. Their grilled corn with cheese is awesome. Everyone in our party was happy with their meal. We’ll definitely be back.

Lined up for dinner on a Saturday evening. We got there at 4:30 and were the 2nd group in line. We were able to secure a table without reservations. We probably liked the appetizers best of all. Hummus and the feta are a must. Lots of fun salads - wish we had been hungry enough to try the trout.clam dish. But after skewers, apple salad, and another tomato cheese dish (our least favorite) we were full. Skip the house drinks and order your own. Wine by the glass is $$$$ but ok for a celebration, which it was for us.

After reading the Food & Wine review, we had very high expectations of Tusk, which met some expectations and fell short in other ways. First, do what you can to get seated in the bright open, front dining room you’ve read about. Less desirable is a charmless secondary room where we were seated, which is reminiscent of a windowless basement that’s been upgraded, But you don’t eat ambience . . . The craft cocktails were distinctive, several of the appetizers were very good -- particlularly the Tusk Hummus --, and salads were exceptional. Service staff was helpful and efficient without being overly present. We weren’t equally impressed with the meat and fish dishes – the Beef & Lamb Casuela was undistinguished, with a mash of pureed meat tasting neither of beef or lamb. Our Ahi was served in a beautifully crafted sauce, but the cut of fish was dominated by dark bloodline meat, which our server rationalized as a delicacy in Japan. We’ve trimmed and cooked enough salmon and tuna to think differently about fishy-flavored and chewy bloodline meat. Dinner for four with one cocktail each, a variety of dishes, the most affordable white wine on the menu, one dessert and tip was $260. An interesting, but uneven dining experience. We don’t expect we’ll be returning.

Great Mediterranean food. The hummus, lamb, salads are all fantastic. A little loud because it's always crowded, and that's because it's so good.