Tastebud

Four stars for good pizza, one star for ambiance and wait time, so my three-​star rating is actually rounded up from 2.5. My advice: don’t go when you’re hungry. Go an hour or two before you think you’ll be hungry b/​c you’ll wait an hour to be seated, then it’ll take another hour to order and get your pizza.
Best thing is the pizza crust, some of the best I’ve had: slightly charred, chewy, nice crisp outside, really good. Toppings were fresh and novel, though I confess I prefer a bit more traditional combos. Good beer and wine list, and lots of interesting cocktails that I saw many customers enjoying.
Gets loud when at full capacity, which, apparently, is most of the time.

We went on a Weds night at 4:45. We were expecting an unrealistic wait based on prior reviews and weren’t even sure we’d be willing to wait the ungodly times other Unilocalers have. However, on this night there were 2 sporting local events (timbers and trailblazers) so it was empty. We were pleasantly surprised!
The décor was lovely. The wood stove smelled awesome. We were seated promptly.
I had a lovely glass of Barbera. This was after a generous taste. They have a fabulous cocktail menu, too.
We shared a cheese plate. This is where they missed the 5^th star: no descriptions of the cheeses or accoutrements but we were able to decipher. Portion was very good. No explanation of sauce on plate -? Strawberry mustard. There were pickled green strawberries that tasted kind of weird but good at the same time. They were not pretty on the plate. Smoke toasted bread, roasted salted pistachios and crostini. Our server did not deliver the platter — some other dude so mAybe he didn’t feel the need to explain the dish. The menu did not say. There was blue (not sure what kind), manchego and some other white one. It was really good.
We then shared a mixed green salad w radishes and a decent dressing. Portion huge. Yummy greens. Something was missing tho, not sure what.
We shared a kimchi pizza with cheese, scallion, arugula I think and mama lils peppers. I liked it. Not too greasy, nice and spicy. Edges of pizza crispy and wood fired. Inner crust kind of soggy. My hubby did not particularly like the pizza: felt that kimchi had no business on a pizza. I liked it.
We would definitely go back but again only around time of opening at 4pm. We really lucked out tonight. By the time we left, it was packed. It’s pretty tiny. Our server was nice and gave us our dishes as courses so we didn’t feel rushed. I thought the prices were reasonable and portions were very large. Great place in the village and walking distance from home. Can’t beat it!

This was my second time at Tastebud and I call it a mixed bag so far. The good: big wine pours, better, more east-​side, ambiance that other area restaurants, decent pizza. The bad: long wait for drinks, long wait for appetizer, long wait for dinner. Pizza had the wrong toppings but we didn’t have the time or patience to re-​order. Our waiter was very kind and friendly, but seemed overwhelmed and forgetful. Maybe Tastebud hasn’t quite hit its stride but I hold out hope for it! Will return…

Ate here for a second time and, again, really enjoyed the meal. The food is high quality but the prices also seem a tad high for the Village. Our meal was also a bit salty but both our bruschetta and pizza were tasty. We will definitely be back but just won’t make a frequent habit of it.

Not a fan. The waiter was a bit pretentious. Got a table at 8 pm after an hour wait; they don’t take reservations. I ordered the fresh oysters, that day’s featured special. The waiter told me they were out of them since 5 pm. Seriously? We got the wood fired brick oven, lamb sausage pizza. It was good, except the crust was a little burned. It’s really just a pizza joint. Really no reason to go, except it’s the new kid on the block.

Wow. Don’t tell anyone about this place. It’s incredible and I want to keep it to myself but also review it-​such a predicament. The pizza is unmatched in presentation and deliciously unique. The service was attentive and instantly warm and familiar and eager to serve and answer any questions about the unique ingredients. The atmosphere is inviting and has amazing drinks at reasonable market value prices. I will definitely be coming back as soon as I am unstuffed. Thank you for a fantastic first experience.

This neighborhood gem is sooooo great! Went last night for a second time. The pizza is inventive and delicious, but the small plates stole the show for us. Roasted beets, the cheese plate, the bread with olive oil, the crostini w rhubarb, it was all top notch. Plus the drink selection is great and mixed drinks were well made! Can’t wait to return. There is no resos and it can get busy so plan your night accordingly. We got there early at 5:45p and had no prob getting in. If you do have to wait they will call you so go grab a drink at a nearby pub or walk around multnomah village!

Maybe it’s just not for me? I feel that way about Pok Pok.
45 minute wait for a party of 4 on a Wednesday at 6pm, which, okay. We were with friends so we didn’t mind waiting. The weird part was, nobody else was waiting. Three parties of 2 arrived within a few minutes of each other and all we were seated with no wait time. We ordered drinks while waiting and they arrived 15 minutes later. That seemed long to me, but maybe it’s not.
After we got seated, we weren’t paid attention to for 10 minutes and contemplated leaving but we were already pretty deep into it. The water glasses are tiny, so small like a kid’s cup, and while other tables were immediately given pitchers, we were not. We ordered 3 appetizers and a pizza, which seemed to come out timely after ordering.
We got the veganator pizza, which was good, but it had a big kick to it and we couldn’t flag our server down for more water in our tiny baby cups. It actually appeared that she was actively avoiding eye contact with everyone at our table and helping out the other tables quickly. One of us eventually waved her down for more water when we were almost done with our meal, and that time she left a pitcher for us.
My favorite thing we ate was the potatoes, yum! The radishes with smoked jalapeño butter didn’t seem to go together at all. The butter wasn’t a hit for me but others liked it on the bread that came with that appetizer.
The food is maybe 3 to 4 stars but the service was odd and overall my husband and I were left unsatisfied.

The atmosphere was very nice. A small venue but the noise level was at a minimum. The staff was friendly and check on us the appropriate amount of times. A good selection of drinks with a small amount of brews on tap but it covered the spectrum. We were able to try a few samples to make out decision which was very nice.
We ordered the «big fat leek wedding» pizza. When it came out it was hot but not hot pocket lava hot. The crust was evenly toasted and cheese perfectly melted. It did lack that statement taste however.
Overall we enjoyed our time here and will come back to try the other pizza options, maybe ever build our own!

My Great Wet Anchovy Dinner
Usually when someone says, «it’s so wet!» you’re thinking, «this is going to be a great night.»
Usually when someone orders anchovies you think, «no thanks.» But a big old pizza covered in melty cheese and stinky, salty fish is just what I needed. The crust was chewy and wonderful.
Twice I’ve ordered anchovies and twice I’ve left happy. I also had a chopped kale salad with anchovies and bagel croutons. The salad was also wonderful.
My only critique would be to ask for much less salad dressing on the chopped kale salad. However, their method of finely chopping the kale into ribbons is amazing.
Service was good. Amazingly, I was seated promptly and served efficiently. Our waiter made sure the table had ample water at our table and the surrounding tables: a good sign.
Thank God Multnomah Village has a new hip place for dinner. Finally an excuse to go there.

This was an okay experience for us. The guy at the front door is great. He told us our seats would be ready in 45 minutes and it was maybe 25 before we were seated. I noticed he did this with several other people, and I feel that it is always good to over estimate the time, rather than under estimate. Good job! We were offered drinks and we sat in the teenie tiny entry while waiting for our table.
When we were seated the server came over and got our drink orders. She was probably one of the most disinterested and borderline rude servers I have had in a while. Very spotty service and almost seemed put out when I asked for more water. Mind you… the water glasses are very small, and other tables had carafes. I asked for a refill on my water for the third time (I was thirsty), and she finally said she would bring a carafe. She never brought a carafe.
I was looking around for someone to fill my water glass for the fourth time, and one of the other servers stopped and asked if I needed anything. She then filled my water glass and brought a carafe. She was lovely, and we all looked at each other and said we wished that she was our server.
The pizza was just okay, but I did have a really great winter lettuces salad. I would probably go back just for that salad! All in all it wasn’t a terrible experience, but definitely not a great one. There are other pizza places in the area that I prefer and I’m sure we will go there when we are back in Portland again.

Thanks Tastebud for an absolute beautiful perfect pizza! The Brussel sprouts were absolutely wonderful as well (hands down the best I’ve ever tasted) in that delicious anchovy, caper, butter and white wine reduction. Waitress was knowledgeable and very attentive, just an excellent dining experience we had in the Multnomah village.

I thought it was a bit gauche when we arrived, a party of two, and immediately we were confined to the bar. And they did not place us at the bar, we had to select our own seats. And twas quite tacky when they tried to squeeze in another party of 2 and asked us both to move down a couple of seats. And endless annoying questions from the staff. Plus the pizza has thick crust and I prefer thin crust. Problem solved we won’t come here again!

I understand that everyone has their specific preferences when it comes to pizza, but whether you like old-​world style, Chicago-​style, New York style or your own West Coast variety, this pizza just isn’t worth the price tag. For our first visit, we ordered the Yoder. The pizza had WAY too much cheese. Granted, I was able to take about half of it off, but it left the pizza so greasy that the crust wasn’t holding up and ended up soggy.
For our second visit, we ordered the Nausicaä. Same problem. The cheese level wasn’t quite as outrageous this time, but the pizza was so greasy that it completely ruined the crust. After the first slice the pizza was a soggy mess. What’s the point of delicious crust if you’re just going to ruin it with greasy toppings?
Pizza aside, their cocktails are top notch. I’d come back just for a salad and drink. Maybe a few months down the line I’ll try another pizza to see if they’ve improved.

So here’s the deal. Please don’t go to Tastebud… Please. I may be begging a bit here, but I have good reason. We finally have a neighborhood restaurant that is amazing! So again, please, don’t let the secret out.
The ambiance is modern, rustic Italian, with beautiful woodwork and beams. 80’s soft pop was playing (swoon, a favorite of mine).
The service was skilled and friendly.
The food, wow! Big wow.
We had the little ones with us, so we kept it fairly simple, only ordering drinks, bread with olive oil and pizza.
My other half had the Old Fashioned made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, it was absolutely perfect.
I had the Halliwell. The Halliwell is one of the very best drinks I’ve ever had. It’s made with aperol, lillet, hard cider, orange, ginger, and bitters. Refreshing, with oomph.
Our first course was the House made bread with sea salt and olive oil. The bread is hearty, with a gorgeous crust and wholesome, yet soft and chewy inside. The sea salt and olive oil were both high quality. All four of us really enjoyed this round.
Now for the Pizza. The pizza is in a class of it’s own. I believe we encountered a perfect pizza. Made in a wood fire pizza oven, in front of us, the pizza is so heavenly, attempting to explain it, would do no justice. You’ll just have to take my word for it.
We came with a $ 50 gift certificate we did not use, because our bill was only $ 42. A pity, because now we have to go back ;).
2016 #4

The pie is divine, the crust is like a reward at the end of your slice. Like the pizza, the salads options offer a thoughtful and pleasing combo of ingredients, if a teeny bit dressier than I’d generally like. Everything about the design of the place is super cool, and feels at once spacious and cozy in its small footprint. The staff, while definitely not the hovering type, seem to enjoy being there, which makes you happier to be there, too.
The pizza style happily fills the gap between that sorta upscale chain where the décor feels like Applebees, and the ridiculous line around the corner joints where you wanna dress up but have to cut your slice with scissors. It’s comfortable and filling and friendly and good, and its accessible prices won’t leave a bad taste in your mouth.
I have to thank WW’s Pie Hard event for introducing me to Tastebud. They were without a doubt the team having the most fun in the coolest cart, and serving up some of the best pies there.
I wanted more than just a sample of those great vibes and happy mouth feelings, and made a mental bookmark. When I saw they’d opened up in Multnomah Villlage, the cutest stretch of street in Portland, and close to my work, I knew St Paul wasn’t frontin’ when he said, «All things work together for good for those who love the Tastebud.»

Since it’s within stumbling distance of my house, we had to end up here sometime. Fortunately it didn’t disappoint — the Yoder was great, but the surprise star of the evening was the whole (very young) roasted chicken. I’d have mopped up that gravy with just about anything. The service was good, although they did seem a slight bit understaffed for the amount of customers. Oh — and I hope you’ve got some good games on your phone: if you come at the dinner hour, the wait can be over an hour. I recommend putting your name in and walking over to Journey’s for a glass of wine while you wait.
Multnomah Village needed a restaurant like this — we have to compete with the east side somehow.

Great cocktails! Not a great pizza. But I will say the dough was excellent texture and flavor!
The toppings on the Yoder pizza didn’t work together. We brought the pizza home thinking we could doctor it to fix it since the dough was good. A little homemade tomato sauce made it better.
I might go back to try something else but I hesitate because of the price tag. Maybe in the next couple months the menu will get ironed out.
The space is small so I imagine it will be busy and difficult to get a table once people find out it’s here. Overall it was comfortable and pleasant atmosphere.

I will start by saying that I’m a tough pizza critic. There are a lot of subtleties that go into making a good pie. I am happy to say that Tastebud ticked every box on the «excellent pizza» checklist. Crisp and chewy crust with perfect coloration and great flavor. Fresh, tasty toppings in good proportions. Just the right amount of cheese. And since we eat with our eyes first, it definitely passed the eyeball test!
We got the Simington pizza, which has goat cheese, crispy kale, delicata squash, and pickled peppers. Aside from being absolutely delicious, the texture was awesome, with the crispiness of the kale complimenting the creamy goat cheese and perfectly cooked squash.
Not only was the pizza excellent, everything else we got was on point as well. The field chicory salad with fresh apple slices was refreshing and generously portioned. The beets with spicy aioli and the maple squash were absolutely superb. Finally, The apple and ricotta gilette and coffee panna cotta desserts were the perfect ending to a great meal.
As if the delicious food wasn’t enough, the ambience was great. A cozy but modern space, great lighting, big windows looking out on the street. The service was attentive but unobtrusive.
Despite the somewhat long drive from my home to Multnomah Village, I will definitely be returning again and again. Good pizza is worth traveling for!

What’s not to love about this place? Great ambiance, fantastic music, solid beer selection, and crazy good pizza.
So happy that Tastebud came to the Village! We have dined in twice, and gotten a pizza to-go…All experiences have been worthy of 5 stars. I like the warm and cozy vibe inside too.
Music: Thank you chefs and staff! I appreciate the Dilla, the Wu-​Tang instrumentals, and the Tribe.