The Bird and The Bread Review

My summer got a whole lot more fun when I met my friends Katie and Kelly for dinner at The Bird and The Bread in Birmingham, Michigan late last month. They are awesome ladies, and a girls’ night out was just what all of us needed.

We talked and talked and talked the night away. We covered every topic on the planet, enjoyed the lovely evening, and laughed harder than I have in a very long time. I’m lucky to count them as my friends.

Unfortunately, the restaurant wasn’t a hit with any of us. It all began when the waitress didn’t approach our table for at least ten minutes upon our arrival. Then they were out of bottled water. I know you all think I’m crazy with my bottled water demands, but we’re all different and it’s important to me.

The manager sent a busboy to pick up bottled water, but then reported the drug store didn’t have Panna. I never requested a specific brand – I’m not terribly picky about that. After stating I’d just pick up a bottle on the way home, the manager himself went back to the store and bought Perrier, which said right on the front of the bottle it was sparkling water. He then said he’d tried enough and was giving up. Guess I’d just pick up that bottle on the way home after all.

The food didn’t fare much better. Kelly liked her spicy greens salad with goat cheese and roasted grapes. Katie wasn’t a fan of the brisket sliders, which tasted more like lackluster roast beef than brisket, nor the macaroni and cheese, which she felt needed a crispy topping. She did enjoy the green bean casserole and we all liked the roasted sweet potatoes.

I ordered the kale and fennel salad. It looked beautiful and was said to be dressed with a citrus-champagne vinaigrette. Imagine how that would taste in your mind right now. Light, bright, refreshing, a little tart. Instead it was heavily spiced with cumin, coriander, and cardamom – not at all as described and not at all pleasing to my palate. We did love the French fries I ordered.

Dessert may have been the biggest disappointment of all. We all have a sweet tooth and were looking forward to a treat. We ordered the peach galette. The galette itself may have been good, but we couldn’t tell since the pesto-tasting basil gelato and basically burnt Chianti sauce ruined it.

Luckily, Katie, Kelly, and I had an awesome time chatting three hours away. We can’t wait to meet up again . . . just at a different restaurant.