Birdie's Bar & Grill in Peoria

Too expensive.We didn’t know it was a fixed menu.After waiting in line for an hour, we finally got to the front. There’s a single menu option, a whopping $65 per person, no substitutions.The food itself was good but not worth $65. We got some olives, a side salad, a plate of pasta, served with tiramisu.(Mind you the pasta was just noodles in red sauce, nope no protein, just noods.)Idk man as an original Austinite I feel like this place is too expensive for what you get.

Major disappointment. Extremely overrated. Poor and slow service. Food tastes like chef boy boyardee. One of the waiters hit my husband in the face with his shoulder. They definitely have the line out the door on purpose to make people think it’s good but it’s not at all.

Our family really enjoyed our meal at Birdies. By chance we went on an evening when they were doing a preset menu. It was fantastic!

Birdies is delicious and anyone who argues differently doesn’t get it. You’re signing up for a wait (potentially an hour), counter service, and regular (non-American massiveportion sizes. We went for the second time tonight during the Aiello’s special pop up and wow, just wow. From the olives (yes, olivesto the salads, vodka sauce rigatoni (Best pasta sauce hands down), and garlic bread, to the soft serve ice cream. Birdies feels like the dinner party I wish I could host in my backyard, and I think that’s the point. The service is impeccable and better than most non-counter/regular service in Austin. Every server and employee is approachable, helpful, and fun. I wish we lived closer and could support y’all more often. Great restaurant that deserves all the love!

Food & Beverage: Have been twice now and both times were incredible. The ingredients are world class, the freshness is unparalleled, the pasta is amazingly al dente with the perfect blend of sauce, and the wine list is affordable and delicious.Staff: What an amazing group all around, from the minute our drink order was taken while waiting in line, to the last bite and drop at the table. Seriously, one of the most attentive and courteous staffs that I have encountered in a long time.Ambience: Impeccable. Should we sit at the bar and watch the kitchen work? Should we sit indoors and experience the vibrancy of folks coming in and out? Should we sit on the patio and feel the energy of the music and the tables around us? We pondered all three and decided to sit on the patio, but can’t go wrong with any of the options.Just go. Why haven’t you been yet?

Awesome experience especially for some drinkers. Everything fresh and it shows. Staff was friendly and you wont be disappointed.

We will be back. We were in the neighborhood for a show and stumbled across this gem. The food menu is small but everything we had was excellent and I wish we had more time. We had 2 "snacks", okra and watermelon/cucumber, and they were so good we ordered a second round. For our meal we split the tartar and spaghetti. Im not usually a fan of tartar but it was good and the spaghetti was good fresh pasta. We also had a bottle of wine. Id almost say they cater more to the wine bar side, but the food was really a highlight. Many people were just enjoying drinks with a few sides. We only had about an hour which was really pushing it, because you really want to take your time and enjoy the atmosphere.The one drawback I would say was ordering at the front counter. We only had two tables in front of us, but that took about 10 minutes for them to order. While the menu is small, its hard deciding and the wine list is huge. We looked at the menu ahead of time and had well enough time in the line to decide what we wanted, but I dont think others had any idea until they got to the counter. Id almost prefer if they would just let us sit down and order from the QR code like some other modern restaurants have been doing.

Amazing atmosphere and the food was simple but so delicious. Our group of 5 enjoyed every bite. A special evening.

What a fun and hip place! Order at the host station, then find a seat. The menu is small because it changes daily. We really loved the Dijon potato salad and the green beans with anchovies. Save room for dessert. Their soft serve ice cream is amazing.

Coming in for dinner, we didn’t have any expectations and were blown away by the atmosphere and food quality. Really delicious and the staff is so knowledgeable and friendly. Also, I love how they adopt sustainable practices and serve drinks without straws, make portions the right size to avoid wasting food. Thank you for the most wonderful experience in a while ❤️

Amazing! Must experience when in Austin! The friendly greeting from the team when walked in started us on a great evening! Ordered at the counter with great recommendations. We sat on the patio and had a great time. Food was elevated and delicious, each plate a unique experience. Must order the steak tartar if on the menu. Highly recommend finishing with the ice cream drizzled with flavored olive oil! Highly Recommend!

Very small menu, pretty good food. Great service. Confusing ordering process for such an expensive restaurant. Patio is nice.

My review echoes the existing reviews.. the price point is fairly high and the portions are extremely small. The dishes were definitely good, but I dont think it was anything "mindblowing" that would justify the price point. I also felt that as we were finishing the meal, we were being eyed up to vacate our spot so more people could sit down, which I didnt appreciate. The soft serve was the best part of the meal. It is also difficult to decide up front what you want to order and feel pressured with a line behind you. I dont believe the high prices warrants a return for me.

my friend was telling me about this place for months and i was starting to get really excited when my family planned to go. my hopes were high and the food somehow EXCEEDED my high expectations! amazing food. amazing service. love it all!!!!!! also best ice cream and pasta! how does this only have 4.4 stars????!!???

I really wanted to love here but after a friend asked me how I liked it I found myself pausing. The restaurant has a nice vibe but it is counter service so right when you walk in you have to make your decision of what you want to eat right then and there. Makes getting explanations for a dish awkward if people are waiting in line behind you. The menu is quite limited and upon advice it takes about 5 or 6 items to get a good serving. The gazpacho sounded amazing but is only 8oz. Splitting that? That’s silly. So $14 for a small bowl of soup. The cucumber starter was very underwhelming. The gazpacho was fantastic, followed by the steak only 5oz so we also got another main of the fish which was all delicious. Add in a 3% health tax and a 20% tip for barely any table service and you’re pushing $75 a person. I left content, not full, not hungry, but passed on the $8 cookie out of principle. If I’m coming to spend nearly $100 on a meal I’d enjoy the full experience, not a rushed order line like at a fast food restaurant. Completely takes away from what I think should have been closer to $40pp for what we got. Serve me at the table and I think 50-60$ all in could have worked. But I’d rather spend the money at a full service restaurant for the experience or be told that your prices include living wage plus health charge to bring in line with value/service provided.

Birdies is a quaint restaurant located on East side. Parking is not convenient and you will have to drive around the neighborhood to find street parking.Its first come, first served with no reservations allowed, they need the whole party to be present before ordering.You order at the counter and then choose your table, either inside (very few tablesor outside (cute patio).Every single plate we had was really tasty and perfectly balanced. I believe they change their menu seasonally so I would recommend going back once in a while to try other dishes.Overall, a good spot for date night or special occasions.

Good people, awesome atmosphere, food and presentation were great. Loved it.

Obsessed with this place. We have eaten here 4 or 5 times now and every meal has been delicious - the pasta in particular is some of the best I’ve had. Love that they switch up the menu regularly so you can always try something new!

We got there at exactly 4:30 pm and were the 3rd party in line, but had to wait for the people in front of us to order at the counter before we could even step inside the restaurant. Not the best system for being in the Texas heat.The radish toast had way too much butter. The panisse lacked crisp and flavor. And the snapper was overcooked.The good part was the dishes were actually coursed out (I did not expect this from a place with counter service). They waited for us to finish one dish before bringing out the next.

Not worth the effort to even write out my experience. Check back in the next 2-3 business months to see if I found the willpower. Everything from the vibe to the food is a 2/10. Don’t get me wrong, it’s solid French-ish food...but who cares at this price point? Not to mention the horrendous ordering process.There’s a certain restaurant up the road with a James Beard award winning chef/owner that has infinitely more culture, flavor, story, and value proposition than this disgrace to the Austin food scene.

Birdie’s is one of my favorite spots in Austin. If you go early or on an off day there’s hardly a wait. The food is simple yet amazingly delicious. The atmosphere is welcoming and hip. The staff are always kind and gracious. What more can you ask for?!

This place was super cute, and the food was delicious. Plan for shared plates and multiple courses. We like that the menu changes often. Even though you order at the counter, the service once you sit is still top notch, so I recommend tipping well from the start. It’s a pricey meal, but we enjoyed the quality of the food, service, and ambiance.

Big fan! Quite impressed with the food, line wasnt bad and I can drink $3 high lifes in line for as long as it takes.Food was delicious and different. Would have liked to add protein to the spaghetti but apparently we didnt ask so maybe I could have. The tartare was well balanced and one of the best Ive had.Fun place to go with friends. Staff was great too.

Pros: The ambiance is pleasant and the food is very good. The dishes we ordered (beef tartare, spaghetti with pesto, melon with ricotta, and beets with grapefruitwere simple and not particularly groundbreaking, but very well executed.Cons: Even for small, shared plates dining, this place is pricey and portions are on the smaller size.Whats most annoying is the "counter service" experience. Instead of being able to sit down, order drinks, chat over the menu with friends, strategize over what to order, and enjoy the place, here youre pushed to decide on the spot. Want to order more food after the fact? Theres a QR code at your table for that.The servers that brought our food out were mostly indifferent and borderline dismissive, barely bothering to name the plate before walking away. No real effort to make us feel welcome or to encourage us to stay for another drink or for dessert.There are a lot of great restaurants in Austin that dont make you wait in line or get your own silverware under the guise of "keeping it casual." Check those out first. Youll probably have a better time.

Came here for dinner on the east side of Austin and was pleasantly surprised. Service was good, and the pay-as-you-go attitude was great. The beef tartare and the cookie and soft serve 🍦 were my favorites.

Really enjoyed our evening here. Great vibe on the patio. One of these expensive farm to table new american deals but the food was actually excellent.

I think this is my new favorite restaurant for a multitude of reasons. The waiting in line is not such a bad thing since it allows you to have a glass or bottle of wine while waiting and puts you in a social setting with others around you. I also take the train to the MLK stop then walk to birdies which is very pleasant. The food menu changes daily which to me tells me they are focusing on quality ingredients and will actually run out of food when there is no more for the day. The location is quaint and tastefully designed with the back patio being very relaxing. Now the food is the best part and all I can say is it is incredible everytime I go. I think the cavatelli is the biggest highlight for me but it would be followed by the steak and salad. The desert is an ice cream covered in olive oil and blood orange bite. I wish I could stand in line and have the ice cream since its the best ice cream I have ever had. Cant wait to go back.

The atmosphere was great and the wait staff was friendly but the prices for the amount of food that you actually get is very off putting.One of the main dishes was more than subpar, aside from the portion size. The snapper was over cooked and tough.Food is an experience, but it’s also sustenance. I don’t think Birdies is a one bite establishment.

Torn on this one. Birdie’s is a sweet east Austin neighborhood spot and the food was good but not worth the tiny portions & high prices. Not sure what they plan to do when summer is here as there is a line to get in and then mostly outdoor seating.

Eh. Feels like a discount experience of what you get at natty wine bars in other major metro’s. For claiming to be a neighborhood restaurant it’s an entirely impersonal and aloof experience. You order everything at once at the counter, so you could be ordering a 300 or 200 dollar bottle of a natty wine selling at a few multiples and you’d do it at a counter lol with someone who has no knowledge of the wine. It’s a shame because They have an extensive off the list wine list of some decently hard to get natty allocations. Tho beware when they bring your lassaigne out in a iced goody bag it makes you feel like a basic Bae who should have ordered a California rose, personal problems I am sure. Everyone else couldn’t stop taking pics of their bags so prob just me. Also who can taste wine when it’s that cold? But list is good if not great for austin, second to bufalina so far in the city.Food though. Woah, pretty pretty pretty (in Larry David voicebad and very over priced. Toast felt like someone put a joke on me, radish cut too thin to cut the butter. I get the butter is good but how about a little Don bocarte anchovy or something. The panisse lacks texture and has no crisp, no point in deep frying. Pasta cooking was decent, though lean into one flavor too much and make for bad wine food which is ironic considering the restaurant. Cavatelli was good tho a bit salty wish it was bottarga on top and not breadcrumb but again an audience thing I am sure. The Campanella tomato pasta sauce was too sweet, tasted raw, and was an inappropriate shape for the sauce as it Is prone to overcooking. The snapper was very over cooked, turns to paste in the mouth. I saw the sous cook a very thin piece on both sides, Then transfer it to a 350 degree oven to rest, but why!!! The fish looked beautiful before being cooked, make some crudo with it!Overall probably won’t return here until I see the next seasons menu. This is not a place I would ever wait in line for, not worth the time. The format of the restaurant is bizzare and impersonal. It is as if an algorithm said this is the restaurant you should make in this location with this food for this palate less clientele. Very impersonal and distant. Not a neighborhood spot.

I’d like to reverb what Mittra said x100. I have had experiences where the other patrons are beyond rude and entitled (holding up everyone in line behind them because they have a large group that hasn’t arrived yet even tho the hostess asked if others could proceed, but this person rudely said no I live in the neighborhood my group is almost here and I don’t want a table to get taken from us. Mind you this was at opening and there were tons of tables available & no other large groups waiting at the time)!!! I love the location and concept but I don’t leave feeling like I got my money’s worth. Spend the same amount of money at any other upscale Austin restaurant if you want value for your $ - bonus you probably won’t have to wait in line with rude people if you go literally anywhere else.

Excellent food, drink, service and setting. Very comfy & Austin-y large backyard patio. Adorably decorated inside. Homemade pastas are delectable as were the appetizers and wine. Top notch service which isn’t always a given in Austin. Perfect place to come for a date or with friends for an drinks and small plates or dinner.

Vanilla Soft serve with blood orange Agumato was excellentCavatelli, Orecchiette and Anchovy toast were greatPanisse and Minute steak were goodStaff was amazing9/10

Get here when they open, as a line forms quickly. The staff actually will take drink orders out in line from what I saw though. The atmosphere is bright, open, and pleasant with a full view of the kitchen and set in a beautiful home. We sat outside in the back yard where trees, lighting, and even the tables contribute to the elegant feel. The wine list is exceptional and you can see they cater to Sommeliers in town. The menu was crazy fun--lots of small bites to share. The staff are friendly, and after you order at the counter, you can continue with more from your table. They really are "on their game" clearing empty plates to make room for the next. 5 stars for this exciting and trendy neighborhood concept.

While cute and lively, Birdies simply doesnt rise to the standard of Austin cuisine - tho it certainly charges as tho it does. $90 for four dishes - one an appetizer, and one a dessert - is baseline extortion. Everything was tasty, but nothing to write home about. If they halved their prices, Id feel differently about the experience. Instead, I feel robbed.

Stopped here for a small bite but got a huge bill. I was okay with the counter service style if the whole place was more approachable but the outside seating is uncomfortable and not really a laid back dine-in experience.Then there was the food. It was fine but definitely not amazing for the price point. We tried to get just 3 plates to share but the waiter said you at least wanted 5-6 for 2 people 😳. With a bill well over $100 , it doesnt feel like an Austin restaurant at all.Would only go back for a half portion of their soft serve to go. Added one star for friendly staff.

Birdies will always be my favorite neighborhood restaurant. I always recommend this place to anybody willing to listen. Solid service, great food, and a solid patio outdoor seating. If you like to see a restaurants kitchen hard at work, you can see the head chef / sous chef work their magic if you sit at the bar.I totally recommend their pastas. Cooked to perfection and their flavors always pleases.This place has it where you order up front when you enter but you can always order more at the table after you are seated. No reservations!Parking is mostly street side unless you can grab the few spots in front.

The whole concept of Birdies is conflicting...the restaurant wants to present fine dining food but offer diner service/experience...the restaurant appears to be a neighborhood establishment but theres not much neighborly about it...the owners desire a place where customers could visit/hang out regularly but then their wine/food is expensive (due to its small portion); not to mention, its not satisfying peoples appetite after their meal, so customers desire to return is low.All these reasons makes Birdies seem more like a pop-up and you wonder their long term plans to stay...Overall, the food is worth one visit...maybe somewhere people can take for a date night on a low key week night.Its understandable what they are trying to do to take care of their team; its actually very thoughtful for their employees. Still, as a hospitality business; a balance would be ideal...

This place is a well oiled profit machine. The food is decent, but the experience is a fast food burger joint. At this price you should have a nice leisurely sit down expertise. Instead, you have to wait in line to order, order your whole meal before you sit down, and you’ll be out the door in 45 min. Not great.

Super torn.Our first visit was pretty spectacular. There were not a lot of people there, certainly no line down the street. Service was a bit new but super friendly and helpful, with apologies for any mix ups. Food was yummy and the experience new so we barely looked at the prices. It was a 4 experience with a 5 for effort and newness.Now, covid numbers are down and options for dining out increasing again and Im just not sure this still makes my list....again a 4 overall but no curve for being new or exceptionally thoughtful with effort.My latest visit was last weekend.Food is still good. Really good. But portions are still small and prices are high. (and before you do any jumping to conclusions, you might want to look at my other reviews. I do dine at and enjoy expensive restaurants with small tasting portions. But those restaurants have ordering at the table, reservations in advance, and when you buy a highly marked up bottle of wine, it is poured for you.)I think why I am torn, is they try to keep the casual vibe of Austin, which I LOVE. This is not a snotty place and you can wear whatever you LIKE and just be you. But, the prices are like New York. And a couple (not even close to the majorityof the staff are a bit like the ones one sometimes encounters in stuck up restaurants. And the waiting in line is kind of ridiculous but not fun. Like, perhaps bring out a few samples of food, or bring out a few bottles of local favorite wines. The ordering process outside is inefficient and painful. If your going to have long lines, make it easy. Red, rose, and white wine option. No menus or waiting for people to make decisions. Just bring out the bottles and whoever wants them, buys them.Guy at register is almost always the same and he is great. Clear and helpful.Natalie rocks.There is one server that was helping in the lot that was awful, flustered and somewhat rude to our group. But it might have just been a bad night for her.Total bill, including wine purchased in line and at the table, was about $1000 for 8 people. Which is about what we would have paid during down and having full and better service at Odd Duck or Suerte.And yet, to be clear, I completely recommend you try this place.

I woke up still thinking about that fresh pasta! Also the beet dish, I could eat 7 days a week. Superb service, fun music, and great wine.

I’ve lived in Austin since 2012 and I’ve been around the food scene, old and new. And I wanted to love Birdie’ but unfortunately I’m not there. :( and it just doesn’t feel like Austin.Long story short: food is good, but portions were tiny and the prices a bit much.Long story: my friend and I visited while they had their Italian food pop up - so maybe portions are better normally, but my biggest issue was that portions were stupid small. The carrots and hummus had 6 tiny half carrots on the plate, so 3 carrots (I really wish I took a picture of this, it was laughable). The garlic bread was measly, and so was everything else. And I don’t normally have a huge appetite, I tend to always have leftovers, but that was not the case here. My friend and I got: 2 apps, 1 salad, and 2 pastas, spent over $100 just on food, and we didn’t even leave very full. I’m just shook :( it feels like NYC price gauging and I’m not here for it. And it’s not even sit down. We got here early enough, so we didn’t have to wait too long, but I’m waiting in line, ordering at the counter, and paying more than I would at other exceptional restaurants in Austin (there are many).Birdie’s goes against Austin’s grain of hospitality and generously. 💔

Its been a couple weeks since I dined at Birdies and I cant stop thinking about it... but not in a good way. I remain genuinely baffled by the decision to provide counter service and am leaving this review as a warning to others who are looking for an enjoyable service experience. We arrived at opening, were the 6th party in line, and waited 50 minutes while drinking wine on the sidewalk. After we finally placed our order, we went outside to discover a dozen empty tables. I gather that the counter service is meant to space out orders in a way that allows the small kitchen to handle them, but for me, the service experience was a non-starter. (Limited, reserved seating combined with table service would result in higher sales and gratuity for all, not to mention a better work environment for the harried staff. Our party of three, for example, chose to add on to our hefty $280 tab at a different restaurant directly after dining at Birdies.I hope that with post-pandemic staffing, Birdies may be able to better consider the guest experience.

Wonderful service, wine list and dishes in a relaxed setting.Can’t wait to come back.

Great food but I think the portion sizes should be a little bigger.

The mafaldine was delicious. I also really enjoyed the swordfish and soft serve dessert! Both were much more interesting than I expected. I wish I could have had some wine with the meal, too, but wed just gotten our vaccines and didnt want to risk getting hungover. Great to have some amazing Italian food in Austin!

Phenomenal for so many reasons. Get here early if you don’t want to wait in line. My wife and I came on a whim before the doors opened and got a good spot in line. Worth the wait though. Service was great and the food was even better. Some of the best food and best patio in ATX. I was blown away. Get the arugula salad and mafaldine if it is still on the menu👌🏻. Glad to have this place in the neighborhood. I will definitely be back.

The best meal I’ve had in Austin this year. I didn’t have a single thing that was mediocre or bad. All of the staff was so pleasant and willing to help. The atmosphere was great and we had an orange wine that made the hot Texas weather bearable. For the all the small-plate, family-style meals in Austin, this one takes the cake for me. Will be back. Also - I don’t even like dessert and I ate the dessert so fast that I forgot to take a picture.

Id give them 10 stars if I could. This place is phenomenal, every plate was better than the last. The only disappointment was I didnt order more. This may be our new favorite restaurant in Austin.

Great service and the food was excellent! Zucchini blossoms were the perfect savory combination of saltiness and butter due to the cheese, anchovies & batter.