The All-Worldy Charm of Tuska: A Journey of Preservation and Revitalization

As I walked into Tuska for the first time, I was taken aback by its unique charm. The atmosphere felt all-worldly in a way, something that's rare to see these days with everything being so sterile and clean. This sense of comfort was not lost on me as I took in the wear and tear that seemed to infuse every aspect of the space.

Tuska's owner had approached this project with a very specific vision – to preserve the essence of an old, worldy establishment rather than create something new and modern from scratch. They didn't set out to make anything look old; instead, they took a place that was already old and kept it looking that way. This approach meant that everything remained in its original state, including the juke box and Opera 45s, which added to the nostalgic feel of the space.

Upon entering, one notices the drink rail on the left side of the room, carefully matched with the bar on the right side. These two elements create a sense of symmetry, while also setting the tone for the rest of the experience. The seven amazing murals that were restored and lit up add another layer of depth to the space, drawing visitors in with their vibrant colors.

For those who venture into the private back room, they'll find a glimpse into Tuska's rich history. This area is designed to be intimate and inviting, providing a comfortable space for patrons to relax and unwind. Even the men's bathroom gets its own unique touch – Marilyn Monroe's iconic poster adorns the walls, creating an unforgettable experience that sets this space apart.

When it comes to the kitchen, Tuska had originally been lacking in this department, with the old facility not meeting expectations. However, the owner saw an opportunity to create a more inviting and open space by upgrading the equipment and giving patrons a view of the culinary process. The new setup allows guests to witness the chefs at work while enjoying their meals, adding to the overall ambiance.

Italian food is an integral part of Tuska's identity, with Italian opera being woven seamlessly into the culture. When it came time to update the menu and drink options, the team took this heritage as a guiding principle. The capuccino machine, for instance, was revamped to ensure that its signature Taska cappuccino remained intact – an iconic drink developed during prohibition days.

For many visitors, sitting at Tuska's bar becomes an experience in itself. The opportunity to sit back and observe the lively atmosphere while enjoying a couple of drinks is truly unique. Whether dining with friends or simply enjoying some solo time, this bar offers the perfect setting for relaxation and socializing. The overall vibe of Tuska is that of a home away from home – comforting, yet full of character, it's not uncommon to see patrons feeling as though they're part of something special.

One of the most striking aspects of Tuska's journey is its commitment to preserving the original essence of the space. Despite being open to new ideas and improvements, the team never considered changing the name or altering the decor in any fundamental way. Their dedication to maintaining this worldy charm has only added to the allure of Tuska, making it a place that stands out from the crowd. With each visit, it becomes clear why Tuska holds such a special place in the hearts of those who've had the pleasure of experiencing it.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe first time I came to tuska I was quite taken back because it's quite all worldy in a way and you don't see a lot of that anymore everything's so sterile and clean now it's kind of comforting in a way TK is kind of like familiar and comforting I just loved all the wear and tear you know we didn't sort of set up to make anything look old we just took a place that was old and kept it looking old we didn't really get rid of anything we kept the juke box and kept all the Opera 45s in it when you walk in from the front door we built a drink rail on the left side of the room and match the bar on the right side of the room exactly there these seven amazing murals that we restored and then we lit them up the private back room we kept everything back there the men's bathroom was famous for this Marilyn Monroe poster so we just kind of made it all the wallpaper in the men's bathroom is Maryland Monroe everywhere there wasn't really a kitchen here there was a tiny one and it wasn't up to standards I knew I wanted to have an open kitchen what I didn't want was this sterile environment where it was a lot of stainless steel Tusa had food but they hadn't had food since 1965 you know tusa's in Italian opera so Italian food seem to fit tasa Cafe we had to just upgrade the capuccino machine and it's working like a dream it's so nice cuz that's like very iconic of tasa Cafe tasa always had the Taska cappuccino developed during prohibition so there's no coffee in it it was always a whole bunch of branding and a little bit of hot chocolate on top so we kept that when we first took over tuska it was amazing to see the bar just rejuvenate it's a bar so it's great to sit there with a drink and just observe it's a great people watching Place sit here with your friends eat roast chicken have a couple of drinks it's like a home really you know kind of like familiar and comforting we never consider change the name or change the decore or changing anything really we promis we keep it the same and we didthe first time I came to tuska I was quite taken back because it's quite all worldy in a way and you don't see a lot of that anymore everything's so sterile and clean now it's kind of comforting in a way TK is kind of like familiar and comforting I just loved all the wear and tear you know we didn't sort of set up to make anything look old we just took a place that was old and kept it looking old we didn't really get rid of anything we kept the juke box and kept all the Opera 45s in it when you walk in from the front door we built a drink rail on the left side of the room and match the bar on the right side of the room exactly there these seven amazing murals that we restored and then we lit them up the private back room we kept everything back there the men's bathroom was famous for this Marilyn Monroe poster so we just kind of made it all the wallpaper in the men's bathroom is Maryland Monroe everywhere there wasn't really a kitchen here there was a tiny one and it wasn't up to standards I knew I wanted to have an open kitchen what I didn't want was this sterile environment where it was a lot of stainless steel Tusa had food but they hadn't had food since 1965 you know tusa's in Italian opera so Italian food seem to fit tasa Cafe we had to just upgrade the capuccino machine and it's working like a dream it's so nice cuz that's like very iconic of tasa Cafe tasa always had the Taska cappuccino developed during prohibition so there's no coffee in it it was always a whole bunch of branding and a little bit of hot chocolate on top so we kept that when we first took over tuska it was amazing to see the bar just rejuvenate it's a bar so it's great to sit there with a drink and just observe it's a great people watching Place sit here with your friends eat roast chicken have a couple of drinks it's like a home really you know kind of like familiar and comforting we never consider change the name or change the decore or changing anything really we promis we keep it the same and we did\n"