• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • cooking classes
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Asian recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Dairy-free Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Entertaining Recipes
    • Filipino Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients
    • Kid-Friendly Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Oregon Wine Guide
    • Washington Wine
    • California Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
    • Wine Country
    • Wine Tips & Wine Pairings
  • Travel
    • Europe
      • Greece
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Liechtenstein
      • The Netherlands
      • Switzerland
      • The UK (United Kingdom)
    • Canada
    • USA travel
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • Oregon Travel Ideas
      • Utah
      • Washington
      • New Orleans
    • Travel Gear
    • Japan
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • Family Travel
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Urban Bliss Life
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Urban Bliss Life » Restaurant Reviews » Portland Oregon Restaurants » Brunch Bliss at Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant

    Published: February 16, 2017 / Updated: May 28, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Brunch Bliss at Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant

    0 shares

    A bright and airy haven for brunch and dinner, Tusk Middle Eastern restaurant and bar serves gorgeous, satisfying meals and colorful, creative cocktails.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    During the grey rainy days of our great Pacific Northwest, it's so refreshing to shake off the raindrops, de-layer, and cozy up to a bright and beautiful space, sip some colorful cocktails, and feast on a vibrant meal.

    Tusk is up to the task, my friends.

    It is so gorgeous here that it's impossible not to photograph. Luckily, the cocktails and food taste as delicious as they look.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Tusk Middle Eastern restaurant

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Tusk is located in the former Levant space, on Burnside Street. The interior is a stunning, light-filled, bright and airy space full of modern decor and quirky touches (note the large portrait of Keith Richards floating in a swimming pool above the bar).

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    From the furniture to the dishware, each piece in Tusk is thoughtful and cheery.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    In addition to the gorgeous, light-filled interior space, there's a lovely outdoor space which will be surely overflowing once the sun returns.

    I had the good fortune of enjoying a media brunch here recently, and wanted to stay there all day. It's such welcoming and happy place to be.

    Drinks

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    We started where all good brunches begin: the cocktails.

    Bar Manager Tyler Stevens has concocted a menu full of clever, creative cocktails that taste as lovely as they look.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The Eastern Maid ($12) is a truly interesting cocktail. Made with Beefeater gin, hazelnut, lemon, celery seed, rose water, yogurt, this is a stunning drink.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Black Gold ($10) - Lustau Fino sherry, Beefeater gin, lemon, honey, activated charcoal. This drink was so refreshing. It's the perfect drink to sip outside once the sun starts shining again - or to drink inside and help you recall those glorious sunshine days.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    And of course, there is always the brunch classic cocktail: the Mimosa ($10). Tusk's mimosa is made with St. Germain, sparkling wine, grapefruit, and the uber popular, healthy spice-of-the-moment: tumeric.

    Breads and pastries

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Ahh the food. Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant certainly delivers in this area. Whether you dine here for brunch or dinner, dishes are meant to be shared family style.

    I'll keep the chatter to a minimum and just give you the good stuff! Here's a look at what you can feast on for the ideal PDX Brunch!

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Put that Whole30 diet aside for the day and start with the Sesame Halvah Babkah ($5).

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Then consider never picking up that darn Whole30 diet ever again after having a bite of this amazing Pistachio Gooey Butter Cake ($5). Holy moly, this cake is insanely good: sweet but not too sweet, with a buttery crispy crunch to the top and bottom.

    Main plates

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The menu for brunch and dinner at Tusk consist mainly of vegetable-forward dishes. You can certainly order items with meat in them, but even the biggest meat-and-potatoes lover can order a complete vegetarian meal here and easily be more than satisfied.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    This is not like grabbing a carton of yogurt at the grocery store, folks. At Tusk, the yogurt ($10) is served in a huge bowl with fruit on the bottom, puffed grains, dates, and squash.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    I was told that Tusk made the best hummus, and it is definitely right up there. You can order a small or large order of Hummus ($9 for small or $15 for large) and add an egg for an additional $2. It's made with parika, parsley, with Tusk flatbread, and is absolutely delicious. I love the layers of the spices.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The Green Wheat Bowl ($14) consists of a variety of fresh local vegetables, avocado, pickles, dukka, egg, and argan oil.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The Koda Rice Porridge ($10) is the perfect dish to warm you up on a cold Portland day. Made with curry, chicken, ginger, and egg, it's filling and full of a beautiful medley of textures.

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    The Cypriot ($14) is one of the plates that includes meat, and is made with halloumi, beef skewer, fried eggs, pickled pepper, and herb salad.

    The people

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com
    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Tusk is born from an impressive pedigree of local restaurant industry pros. The product of Submarine Hospitality, the restaurant group that brought Ave Gene's to Portland, Tusk was founded by Joshua McFadden and Luke Dirks (pictured above, left). Executive Chef Sam Smith is also a partner in the restaurant, and is joined by Chef de Cuisine Wesley Johnson, Executive Sous Chef Joe Deibler (pictured above, far right), and Pastry Chef Nora Antene (pictured above, middle). Manager Jessica Baesler keeps the restaurant's daily operations running smoothly.

    Private dining

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Tusk Middle Eastern restaurant also has a gorgeous private dining room which seats up to 28 people. Perfect for special occasions or just a private brunch with 27 of your closest friends!

    Visit

    Tusk Middle Eastern Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    2448 East Burnside
    Portland, Oregon
    503.894.8082

    HOURS:
    Monday-Friday: 5pm–12am
    Saturday: 10am–2pm,  5pm–12am
    Sunday: 10am–2pm,  5pm–10pm
    https://www.tuskpdx.com

    Reservations accepted online for parties of 6 or more.

    What cocktail and/or disk above catches your eye the most?

    Many thanks to Tusk Middle Eastern restaurant for hosting our media brunch. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. 

    « Chocolate Mousse With Avocado - A Silky Decadent Dessert (Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Vegan)
    Homemade Breakfast Sandwiches: A Healthier Sausage and Egg Sandwich »
    0 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Aubrie Legault says

        February 23, 2017 at 6:07 pm

        Every time I hear/see about Tusk it intrigues me more and more. I definitely need to go to a brunch there.

        Reply
      2. karrie @ Tasty Ever After says

        February 18, 2017 at 1:52 pm

        This is my kind of restaurant! Too bad I live in New Hampshire :) Gorgeous photos too!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          February 23, 2017 at 11:25 am

          Ahh you'll have to come visit! :) Thanks, Karrie!

      3. Jennifer Quisenberry says

        February 17, 2017 at 12:19 am

        So much delicious looking food! I'm sure to add it to my list next time I visit.

        Reply
      4. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says

        February 16, 2017 at 8:15 pm

        Too bad I don't live near Portland. :( Tusk sounds awesome and the food looks yummy! I could definitely be happy with a cocktail and some of the bread.

        Reply
      5. Erin (Platings and Pairings) says

        February 16, 2017 at 5:30 pm

        I've not yet been to Tusk for brunch, but I have been there for dinner twice now and it's quickly become one of my favorites! I love their cocktails, and the shareable plates, but really my main reason I love it so much is the décor - Major house decorating goals right there! I can't wait to enjoy their patio when it gets warmer too!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          February 16, 2017 at 7:00 pm

          I have only been for brunch and keep meaning to go for dinner! House decorating goals there, for sure. Thanks, Erin!

      6. Lindsay says

        February 16, 2017 at 4:59 pm

        What a lovely brunch spot, and what exotic and interesting food! Great photographs! xo, Lindsay | Paris, Meet Boston | parismeetboston.com

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          February 16, 2017 at 7:01 pm

          Thanks so much, Lindsay!

      7. Monique Jacques says

        February 16, 2017 at 4:19 pm

        The food and drinks looked so pretty, IDK how you were able to eat it! I would just want to stare at it all day.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          February 16, 2017 at 7:02 pm

          I could stare at the beautiful food & drinks all day too, but trust me: it smells SO good that you can't help but dive in! After taking a few photos, of course ;) Thanks, Monique!

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Dads & Grads Recipes

      • BBQ bacon burger
        BBQ Bacon Burger
      • honey garlic chicken skewers
        Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
      • closeup photo of air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of one another with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro.
        Air Fryer Corn Ribs
      • closeup of Filipino BBQ pork skewers with cilantro leaves
        Filipino Pork BBQ

      New Recipes

      • white basmati rice in a blue bowl on green plate.
        Instant Pot Basmati Rice
      • Thai basil beef with red peppers, green onions, and white rice.
        Thai Basil Beef
      • plate of Instant Pot country style ribs and mashed potatoes with herbs.
        Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
      • glass of white wine next to a bowl of cajun shrimp pasta with title text that reads "Best wine and pasta pairings."
        Best Wine with Pasta

      New Travel Tips

      • photos of Depoe Bay, Cannon Beach, Tillamook Oregon with title text that reads "Best Oregon Coast Towns."
        Best Oregon Coast Towns
      • photos of waterfalls, vineyard grapes, haystack rock at cannon beach, and mount hood with title text that reads 35+ day trips from Portland, Oregon.
        35+ Day Trips from Portland
      • glass of red wine next to a bottle of Bells Up Winery pinot noir.
        Bells Up Winery
      • The Prayer Hall of Wat Chalong temple in Phuket, Thailand.
        Wat Chalong Temple
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2022 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.