Foodies Favorite Finds: Nate Tilden of Clyde Common

Monday, July 20, 2015

GolocalPDX Lifestyle Team

Nate Tilden is the Principle Co-Owner of Clyde Common, the diversely influenced European-style tavern in the heart of bustling downtown Portland, Oregon. Photo Credit: David L. Reamer (Image Cropped)

Nate Tilden is the Principle Co-Owner of Clyde Common, the diversely influenced European-style tavern in the heart of bustling downtown Portland, Oregon. Tilden has been in the restaurant industry for over fifteen years, working every aspect of front and back of house from dishwasher to bartender to chef before opening the hugely successful Clyde Common in 2007.

A graduate of Portland State University’s business program, Tilden is the creator and co-owner of several of Portland’s most popular restaurants and bars, including Olympic Provisions Northwest and Southeast, Spirit of 77, The Richmond Bar, and Pepe Le Moko.

The menus, design, and atmosphere of Tilden’s restaurants are largely inspired by the two years he spent cooking in Prague where Eastern European dining halls are loud and boisterous with communal tables, string lights, high ceilings, and simple delicious food and drink – features that Tilden envisioned fitting perfectly into Portland’s booming restaurant scene.

The son of a contractor, Tilden built all of his properties by hand. His expert metal craftsmanship and woodworking can be seen in the beautiful handcrafted tables and welded bars and racks in his restaurants.

At Clyde Common, the energizing and open space features wooden community tables, bar seating, and large windows looking out onto Stark Street.

Executive Chef Carlo Lamagna and team carefully prepare comfort food that is simple yet exquisitely executed and leaves no culinary region unexplored.

The bar program is run by creative cocktail master, Jeffrey Morganthaler, who has made Clyde Common a destination bar for both travelers staying at the neighboring Ace Hotel and Portland natives.

Nate Tilden is driven by collaboration and teamwork and is very proud that three previous employees now have ownership in his properties, a credit to his impressive track record of hiring the most creative and hardworking industry professionals.

In Tilden’s free time, he creates art and builds furniture with wood and metals, gardens with his wife, and hikes in the surrounding area. Not surprisingly, Tilden’s other hobby is finding new spots to eat delicious food. Nate’s “favorite foodie find” is Radar.

"I really like the chef counter at Radar on Mississippi. If you haven't been it's a long narrow brick walled room dominated by a long bar / chef counter. The owners, Jonathan and Lily, are super nice people, and Jonathan's menu is approachable, focused and well executed. I think he does a great job with braised meats (I like the pork cheeks with kale and the brisket with horseradish cream). He also does a great smoked blue fish pate that's a perfect little taste of New England. Lily runs a great bar program that she assembled with help from Alex Day (childhood friends). Strong and focused cocktails, and nice and thoughtful wine list. It's a perfect date night for Jane and I - tasty food and drink, easy room to relax in, feels like a neighborhood cocktail bar with great food,” said Nate Tilden.

Visit Nate’s team at Clyde Common, 1014 SW Stark St. Open daily.

Homepage Photo Credit: David L. Reamer