Tasty ‘n’ perfect

In front of John Gorham’s new brunch spot is a sign mimicking a nametag. It reads, “Hello! My name is: Tasty.” The sign doesn’t lie. Within the gentrified yet gastronomically satisfying Mississippi neighborhood has popped up a new family-style brunch spot that seems to do it all right. Whether Tasty & Sons is owned by an actual family and not just Gorham is up in the air, but its soul-satisfying dishes make you feel right at home.

Tasty & Sons offers traditional breakfast dishes with inventive culinary twists. The Bambino (a biscuit with soft scrambled eggs and bacon) comes with a generous serving of honey butter to add some sweet to a salty concoction that you pile up yourself. Both croque madames and Monte Cristos appear on the menu with innovative changes (such as serving the Monte Cristo open-faced and slathered with spiced maple syrup) as well as Kyle’s homemade granola served with fresh Oregon strawberries.

For brunch options, Gorham brings forth dishes that feel more like stunning dinner fare that just happened to be paired with an egg than your expected brunch options. The cast-iron frittata highlights the produce of spring with nettles, asparagus, olives, caramelized onions and fromage blanc. The polenta finds the perfect middle ground between firm and soft and is topped with a meaty ragu sauce and a fried egg.

Your cheapest option is the grilled bacon-wrapped dates, which are swimming in real maple syrup and run for just $2 each. Luckily, the entire menu is wallet satisfying, with every dish being $10 or less. Another way to stay eating on the cheap is to order from the “smaller plates” section of the menu that features dishes like chocolate potato donuts with crème anglaise or the charcuterie-esque breakfast board. The smaller plate menu runs from around $4–7.

Classic brunch drinks are also available with bloody marys, coffee cocktails and three mimosa options (all made with Prosecco). Two standout drinks are the Flamingo, which consists of Prosecco, vodka, grapefruit and Campari and an Asian-style Mary called the Dim Summore with vodka, tomato, hoisin, lime, Sriracha and ginger.

High ceilings with rich red walls and cement floors create a mix of style and informality. Upon entering, diners see a huge painting of a bicycle, a sure tribute to the inhabitants of Portland and the neighborhood.

Servers are seriously spot-on. The professionalism executed here is not something you often can find at a brunch establishments. Dishes are coursed perfectly (all family-style) by servers who are friendly and helpful without being overbearing.

Vegetarians are not left out to dry. They have sweet options like Auntie Paula’s French Toast, which is served with strawberries, rhubarb, maple syrup and whipped cream, and vegetable-laced dishes like Shakshuka, a red pepper and tomato stew that houses baked eggs, a Radicchio salad with parmesan reggiano vinaigrette and more.

Tasty & Sons represents all that makes Portland’s culinary scene great: Well-priced dishes that can be classic or creative offered from a chef with superstar talent.