Tusk is a vegetable-forward Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant and bar at 2448 E Burnside St on Portland’s inner east side, where the Kerns neighborhood meets Laurelhurst. It comes from Submarine Hospitality, the team behind Ava Gene’s, and diners book it for bright, seasonal small plates and polished cocktails in a room that rarely feels quiet (source: [Travel Portland](https://www.travelportland.com/meetings/hotel-venue-finder/tusk/)).
The menu draws on Israeli and Moroccan cooking and builds dishes around Pacific Northwest produce and whole grains (sources: [Tusk](https://tuskpdx.com/), [Travel Portland](https://www.travelportland.com/meetings/hotel-venue-finder/tusk/)). Expect warm house-baked flatbread, silky dips, and spiced vegetable plates that change with the seasons, so ordering several plates for the table works best. The airy, white-walled dining room fills with natural light early in the evening, and by the later seatings the noise and energy pick up. The bar mixes inventive cocktails and pours a thoughtful wine list that suits the food’s herbs, citrus, and spice.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Tusk serves dinner from 5pm to 9pm, Wednesday through Sunday (source: [Tusk](https://tuskpdx.com/)). Reserve ahead for Friday and Saturday, especially for groups. If you want a calmer meal, book a 5pm table or go midweek. TriMet bus lines run along East Burnside, and street parking gets tight on weekends. Before dinner, walk through nearby Laurelhurst Park. Afterward, catch a film at the Laurelhurst Theater, a few blocks east on Burnside.
