Specializing in local craft beer and fresh pizza, new restaurant Tukes Taphouse opened on Dec. 9 in Battle Ground.
Restaurant owners and Battle Ground natives Nick and Lindsey Maze aim to pair family-friendly dining and excellent craft beer with a relaxed atmosphere. Inspired by their time living in central Oregon, the Mazes are excited to return to their hometown to pursue their restaurant dreams.
“It’s nice to be able to be a part of the community we were raised in. We have children in the community and are very involved with a lot of different programs,” Lindsey Maze said.
One of the reasons they chose Battle Ground for their restaurant is because they wanted to give back to their community. They also wished to share the outdoor-indoor dining experience they loved from their time in central Oregon.
Tukes Taphouse was named after Tukes Mountain, which overlooks Battle Ground from the east. The interior decorations are inspired by the area’s rich logging history, Lindsey Maze said. Warm wooden furnishings, metal signs and antique saw blades are prominent decorations on display.
The Mazes pride themselves on their craft beer offerings. Some beverages are seasonal, and Lindsey Maze said they plan to periodically rotate their offerings so customers can expect something fresh and exciting. Current on-tap local offerings include beers from Barrel Mountain Brewing in Battle Ground, Exit 16 Brewing in La Center, Fortside Brewing Company and Brothers Cascadia Brewing in Vancouver.
Maze mentioned the Fort George Vortex IPA and hazy IPAs on tap are very popular.
Fresh pizzas, charcuterie boards and hummus plates are available from the Tukes Taphouse kitchen. All eight signature pizzas are made with a sourdough crust. Their pizza menu includes the pepperoni and olive-covered “Prep-eroni,” the Canadian bacon and pineapple “Bomb Boy” and a vegetable-covered offering known as “The Gatherer.”
Maze said she and her husband look forward to Tukes Taphouse expanding and growing the menu. They plan to open two food trucks, which will allow a wider variety of offerings. The food trucks will be available on site.
“Hopefully we will have our two food trucks that will be a part of our establishment up and running in the next three to six months,” Maze said.
Tukes Taphouse is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. seven days a week at 113 E. Main St. It will be open on Christmas Eve from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, and to see the Tukes Taphouse full menu, visit tukestaphouse.com.
