Tartuca — Restaurant in Portland

This is our second time at Tartuca. Radar (previous restaurant) was an old haunt of ours, so we finally came in to try the new spot a few months ago, which didn’t work (see below). This second time, we ate a meal and dessert.

The atmosphere is great, love that they added the patio, which is really beautiful and a great place to enjoy a glass of wine. Our red wines were wonderful.

As far as service, it was fine… we are just really spoiled by restaurants like Campana, Navarre, Tropicale, Dame, Eem and so many others where hospitality is epic and we feel like we are treated like family. The first time we came to Tartuca, we stood for five minutes waiting to be acknowledged before somebody told us we could sit at the bar. After ten more minutes with no acknowledgement at the bar we left. This second time, we made a reservation and two different folks asked us if we needed help, so that was nice.

The food was hit or miss. The sheep cheese with hot honey was delicious. The Caesar salad was as a Caesar should be and the boquerones were delicious. The mushroom pasta with corn was pretty good.

However - the focaccia bread was significantly burnt and not only sitting on the counter to see as we walked out back (and I thought to myself, “whoops! What a waste”) but also being served. Like, served to customers. When this happens in a kitchen, it’s a real bummer AND we don’t serve it. That needs to come off the menu for the night. Not sure what happened there.

The other thing was that we were excited to try the seasonal rhubarb gelato. It was broken. Not sure if it was an issue with storage or with emulsification, but again…whoops! It happens. And, it shouldn’t be served.

I want the restaurant to succeed, so we’ll give it one more try… of course, mistakes are made in the kitchen, but this is Portland and we’ve got a pretty incredible food scene because chefs here require the skill and quality that keeps...

I mean, what the hell guys. I'm ruined. I can't go and explore new restaurants or eat anywhere else now, what's the point!? I've peaked!

Jeff and David were absolutely awesome. Their hospitality, demeanor, and service were amazing. The wine pairings they offered with dinner and dessert we're on point, and I say that as a person who generally avoids wine. I also love the fact they talked about their chef and had an extremely positive attitude about their kitchen staff and the mission of the restaurant.

Onto the food... go here. Get food. Eat food. Enjoy food. We started with the focaccia bread with burrata. You can tell how much love goes into those loaves. Huge rise, chewy but delicate, absorbs the olive oil and the burrata on top sealed the deal.

For dinner, I had to ossu bucco, and it was, without a doubt, probably the best meal I've eaten in my 12 years in Portland. The pork was perfectly moist, fall-off-the-bone tender, on a bed of amazing risotto that matched it perfectly. My wife ate the radiatori pasta. There's a phrase for the perfect noodle in eastern cooking called 'QQ'. These noodles had the perfect amount of QQ, wonderful flavor, and the sauce provided a velvety texture with a pop of zest from the basil.

The cocktails were delicious as well, my wife said the Old Fashioned was one of the best she's had, and I have the Amber Waves of Agave which was delicate and smooth.

For dessert we had the tiramisu bread pudding which ended our fantastic night with warmth. Fantastic flavor, perfect texture, and paired with a wonderful wine recommended by Jeff that matched the warm and honeyed flavors.

I have already recommended this place to several friends after we got home last night, and now, to you Google review reader, make a...

Salads: The first salad was presented beautifully and had a tangy, nutty flavor. However, it was bitter. We returned it and opted for the smoked trout Caesar salad instead.

The Caesar salad was also a little bitter, but it was much more flavorful. The crispy capers were a standout addition, adding a delightful crunch and saltiness to the dish. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the smoked fish flavor—it was subtle yet impactful, elevating the salad.

Bucatini: The bucatini was the highlight of the meal. Each bite was packed with flavor. I could taste the garlic and onions. The tender meat melted in my mouth and paired beautifully with the broth-like sauce, which was so good my husband drank it after finishing the dish. It was phenomenal. Be sure to twist the noodles in the sauce to fully enjoy the layers of flavor. We would come back to Tartuca for this dish.

Steak: The steak was tender and cooked well, with a crispy exterior and soft interior. The accompanying sauce had a slight kick to it, which was enjoyable. The steak had delicate flavors that some might appreciate. I prefer a bolder punch in my steak, which this lacked. Surprisingly, the salad served with the steak had more depth. Given the price point, I would skip the steak in favor of other options on the menu.

Dessert - Budino: The chocolate budino was a delightful end to our meal. Its nutty caramel flavors balanced beautifully with the rich chocolate, creating a satisfying and indulgent dessert.

Conclusion: The bucatini was exceptional, and the steak was disappointing. The dessert rounded out the meal wonderfully. I’d return for the bucatini in...