4. Restaurants

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro

155 S Bates St, Birmingham, MI, 48009
  • (248) 731-7066
  • Store is closed

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro Menu

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  • Erin K.

    Definitely recommend for a wine night out with the girls or for a romantic meal. I would suggest making a reservation since the restaurant is not that large and it can get crowded fast. The first thing I loved about the places was the atmosphere. It was quiet (early in the night, it got surprisingly loud later) and dark, lit with low lights and candles. Because of the low lighting, the tablet menus were a big help; especially since if you clicked on an item, you not only got a description, but a picture are well. The potato leek soup and roasted beet & goat cheese salad were amazing; I would definitely go back just for those items. I also ordered the meatball appetizer, which was good, but not as amazing as the soup or salad. My friend ordered the pear & burrata salad and steak frites and loved them as well. I have to admit that for a wine bar, I was not that impressed with the selection. They do not offer flights, the wine selection was the size of a non-wine bar restaurant, and I thought the wines I ordered were only okay. And considering I ordered a $16 glass of Newton chardonnay rated 93 points, I was expecting something stellar. However, even though I was not blow away with the wine, I still had a fantastic time and I cannot wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Chels N.

    It's loud. What? Right. It can be a tad on the noisy side, but for those energetic and loud-talkers, could be just fine. Very small and quaint, but unfortunately a lot of their tables are in bad locations (by the door, facing the kitchen or rubbing shoulders with the bar). I suggest asking for a specific table or you may get stuck with your elbow in the next table's dinner. Eating at the bar may be a better idea but that is super limited so don't expect to find a seat after 5pm. They have one vegetarian entree, which was a huge disappointment. The waiter even described it as 'the chicken dish, just without the chicken'. Wow, chef, way to be creative! I will note, one of their pasta dishes is vegetarian, but we all know that is easy to do on any menu. My date had the "Thursday special" which is wild boar, and was not impressed. I will return to Tallulah, but with the right company; table of girls, a fun date i'm not trying to impress, alone at the bar, or to sit on their outside patio.

    (3)

  • Kate V.

    Very nice place for dessert, coffee or drinks. Great date atmosphere. Coffee is spectacular!!!

    (5)

  • Ruby H.

    Great service, food & atmosphere! Been wanting to try this place for quiet sometime and I'm glad I did...I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something different in Birmingham other than a steak house!

    (5)

  • Susan Y.

    This was my second time at Tallulah's and i have to say that unlike my first visit, the second was less than stellar. I selected Tallulah to bring some out of town business associates for a group dinner - there were 6 of us, based on the fact that they, like me, appreciate a great restaurant. However, while the food, like before was fabulous, the service was so disappointing that i was embarrassed to have gone there in the first place. First off, our server just had a general tone of annoyance with us. She seemed fine when she took our drink order. Then she came back and asked us if we had any questions about the menu and if we were ready to order. We said, no, may we have a few minutes. She curtly said fine and walked away. She didn't return for another 15 minutes. She took orders from other tables, got herself a glass of water, walked by us, all the while avoiding eye contact as my colleague tried to get her attention. When she finally came by to take our orders, we told her we were interested in trying all the appetizers and if there was a way we could since our group was large. Much like a sampler of everything. She told us, she didn't think they would do that for us and that we should just order a couple of appetizers and just share. I think what got us here wasn't that the answer was no, was the way she said it, like, we were being such an inconvenience to her. So then the bread came out - they brought 3 long rolls for us which went quickly since there was 6 of us. after a few minutes, i asked for some more bread for the table and a very nice server said sure. Shortly after, the appetizers came out. Once they were all laid out, the server asked me if i still wanted the bread. well, of course we wanted the bread otherwise we wouldn't have asked, right? Now the appetizers, the food was amazing, but something happened that i've never seen and frankly, was unbelievable... The plate of grilled octopus was placed at the edge of the table right where someone could knock the plate off the table or inadvertently place an elbow, so my associate picked up the plate to move it to a more central location - especially since we were sharing our appetizers. Well, no one informed her that the plate was EXTREMELY hot so she ended up burning her fingers trying to move the plate. totally unacceptable and surprising. usually, restaurants are really good about telling a patron if a dish is hot! It's really a shame that these things happened. I'm not sure if someone was having a bad day or our group of 6 was too large, but the service my first time here was fantastic and absolutely wonderful - hence the reason i picked this restaurant in the first place.

    (3)

  • Patrice N.

    Ate here tonight and was pleased with the overall experience. They seemed a little over-staffed (there were four or five waiters chillin' by the bar) but that made for great service. Water glass was never empty, service was prompt and the waiter was willing to make suggestions and answer all of our questions. This little place would fit right in in NYC. Christmas decorations were very well done!

    (4)

  • Dawn S.

    I was recommended to go to here by several friends. I do not frequent Birmingham for reasons I care not to mention, but I was taking my mom to see a movie and to have a glass of wine before our showtime. I figured Tallulah was a good spot since it came highly recommended and it was close to the movie theater. It also has an outdoor patio during the summer months, so I thought it was perfect since the weather was gorgeous! When we walked up, out of the 20 or so tables on the patio, about 3 of them were sat with patrons. We went into the restaurant, that was completely empty, and asked if we could sit outside. The male host so very rudely said, with a sigh, "Are you going to eat?" I replied, "We would like to have a glass of wine and an appetizer." The host said, again with a sigh, "I guess I can seat you out there." Really guy? That's the attitude you're going to give me? Sorry to inconvenience you buddy. You're a real straight shooter. We sat down and our server finally came to our table about 10 minutes after we were sat. I would have understood had the place been busy, but it was not. Not at all and from my experience, I can see why. We ordered our wine and our cheese platter. The combination of wine with the cheeses was very good. I ordered a glass of the Pinot Grigio and my mom had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. There were 3 different cheeses that came with a couple kinds of crackers and some blueberries and raspberries throughout the plate. We were about to run late for our movie, so after the check sat there with the credit card in it for 15 minutes, I paid the bill and we left. As we were walking to the movie theater, I noticed they charged us $24 for the cheese platter. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but unless they actually went to Wisconsin to get the cheese and then magically waited for it to ferment or put some spell on it to make me win the lottery, that's the most expensive cheese I've ever paid for and eaten. I called there on Sunday, 2 days later, and spoke to the manager Kim. She said she wasn't there on Friday and that it was no excuse for how the maitre'd acted. She was apologetic and guaranteed that it would not happen again. She said we should not have been charged that much. Well, sorry Kim, but this chica won't be back to take that chance. Now if you want to refund my $12 for the most expensive cheese platter ever, then we'll talk.

    (1)

  • Kelly C.

    I've been to Tallulah's now a few times when I'm in town for work, and have in generally really enjoyed it. Pros: - Love the seasonal menu - keeping it small and fresh is awesome. However, a little hard to navigate since they have the specials in a separate section of the menu book, but that's a nit. - Great wine list, and very reasonably priced - particularly the reserve list - Food is simple and fresh, so a nice option particularly when eating out a lot - Really like the outdoor patio in the summer Cons: - Indoor can get a bit noisy, particularly as they get busy Jury is still out: - Service has been hit or miss. The first couple times it was really good, but the most recent time our meal took nearly 3 hours for 2 courses and we didn't receive bread until 40 minutes into the meal. Willing to try again, but definitely keeping an eye out. - Food is usually good, but a few items left me a bit flat (i.e. the trout) I agree that you'll generally want to have a reservation. I think they take reservations for all the indoor tables and then outdoor is first come first serve.

    (4)

  • Dea A.

    They completely fail to understand the concept of a reservation. I've been to Tallulah 3 times, used Open Table twice and sadly only had one meal here. The first time here was a few months after they opened. I waited over 40 minutes past my reservation time that I made on Open Table. Service was abysmal, the food was so-so, and a casual wine drinker like myself felt lost on their enormous wine list. Tables are so close to each other that you will get your server's butt on your table as they try to navigate the cramped seating arrangement. It doesn't matter where you sit, you will get bumped, brushed, or smacked with a coat while trying to eat your dinner. Conversation is impossible at these volumes. You have to practically shout at your dining partner across the table to be heard. Intimate, calm, cozy atmosphere this is not. This place is pure chaos. Think you will just have a drink at the bar while you wait for your table? Good luck! The bar is tiny, seating is minimal and you have to wade through diners to get to it. It was incredibly awkward to have people "at the bar" basically standing over you while you were eating. Stand up too fast and you might knock someone over. My second visit was about 6 months after the first. This time I waited over an hour past my Open Table reservation. While waiting, I enjoyed a bottle at Tallulah Too, which seems more like the Tallulah spillover room. The waitress asked me if I wanted to do some tasting while I waited? Sure! Unfortunately, that never happened. When she brought our bottle of Malbec, she felt compelled to say "Malbecs are such a good value." Wow. That really showcased her knowledge of the wine -- no tasting notes, no passion about the wines, no information about the vinter or the wine region. Just a generic response that we've all heard before. Having worked at a local mom and pop winery, I felt insulted at the lack of knowledge and enthusiasm she had about the wines she was serving. Back to waiting for that table... The host kept saying things like "Oh, just 10 more minutes.... Clearing off a table for you now..." After finishing off the bottle of wine with no table, I realized that they didn't want my patronage. When I got to my car, they called to tell my table was now ready, 1 hour past my reservation that I made on Open Table. Thanks, but no thanks. I've used Open Table to make reservations at some of the hottest restaurants in Chicago, DC and Napa Valley -- I've NEVER waited more than 5 minutes for my table. Twice Tallulah snubbed my Open Table reservation. A week later, I visited Tallulah for the third time for the Yelp Elite event. A really nice event overall. The tasting notes were on cards though it would've been nice to have been led through a tasting by the owner. I just wasn't getting the "slab of granite" flavor. The snacks were unimpressive and something about having a communal olive bowl just grossed me out. I felt a kick to the gut when the owner concluded her speech by saying Tallulah has "great service."

    (1)

  • Kristin G.

    Tallulah's mission statement really sums it up. They really love wine here and what goes best with wine? Food. They cover both categories pretty extraordinarily well. The atmosphere sets the tone. It's has a warmth to it, a cozy feeling as if you're dining with family. Not too big, not too small. The wine selection is very good. They definitely know their stuff. My husband and I have tried many varieties of reds and the bottle we ended up with was very well balanced and paired well with our hanger steaks. For appetizers, he got the mussels and I got the prawns. Take my advice, skip the prawns. They were over cooked and tortured with too many spices...but the mussels! OH! The mussels! Absolutely delicious and a humongous portion! The sauce has this very light bit of mustard flavor and complimented the rustic mussel flavor. For entrees, we both got the hanger steak with mashed potatoes & heirloom mushrooms. This dish is truly steak & potato perfection! They put some crispy shoe string potatoes on top of the mashed potatoes to add a nice crispy crunch. The light gravy surrounding the perfectly cooked hanger steak is just enough to push the flavor of the meat up a notch without over doing it. Needless to say, I highly recommend this dish! I forgot to mention, we were seated promptly and the hostess took our coats. I really appreciated the complimentary coat check service, this made up for the slightly tight quarters we were sat in. The service, the atmosphere, the food and the wine all were great and for that...I commend you, Tallulah.

    (4)

  • Laura C.

    We called on the Sunday before Valentine's Day to get a reservation for the same day. "No can do, unless you want to fight someone at the bar for a seat," was the gist of the response. So we showed up at 630PM, and promptly were seated at a four top (for a party of two) right in front of the kitchen. Score! This farm to table wine bistro was a popular spot for the Hallmark holiday. We started with the prawns accompanied by a side of grilled radicchio, which in my opinion, is the red-headed step child of cabbages. The prawns were served on sugar cane sticks in a well seasoned coating. Next was the hanger steak, medium rare, heirloom mushrooms, and mashed red skins. Few places can get the hanger steak right, but Tallulah does. With just enough heat to create a nice char on the outside and melt in your mouth tenderness, the hanger steak shines. Much to my dismay, the sea scallops were 86'd on this particular night, but with the extensive wine selection, I was able to drink away my sorrows. For $5 each, Tallulah offers 2 oz wine tastings, so I was able to make my own flight. I tried a few Argentinean and French reds, to the recommendations of our server. His honesty and genuine interest in our dining experience made the night complete.

    (4)

  • Carlos T.

    Decent place with decent food. My waitress was a little short tempered. I asked her to describe a drink that had sherbert. I asked what sherbert was made from. She got testy and told me that absolutely, under no circumstances are there any animal products in sherbert. Clearly, I was wasting her time asking about the contents of a drink. So, I bit the bullet and ordered the mystery drink with sherbert in it. 25 minutes later, it arrived. Not very impressive. The food was decent, some very small portions, fit for a child only.

    (2)

  • Dustin T.

    Decided to try out this long bookmarked spot on a recent snowy Friday night. I don't know if it is always crowded or if the recent freep top ten best new restaurants of 2010 list had increased traffic, but despite the weather there were no tables available when we got to the restaurant at 7 pm. No opening until 930! I guess we are bad planners. Luckily however, two seats were open at the bar, which will serve you the full menu, when we arrived and we quickly took advantage. The food menu is fairly short but everything sounds so good that it is hard to make a decision. We opted for one of the special apps of the day, a potato crab cake with jalapeño cream sauce, and also a cup of the seafood chowder. The cakes were mostly potato but very tasty and the subtle jalapeño flavor went very well with them. The chowder was a tomato base, not thickened, and had many perfectly cooked mussels, probably the most tender mussels I have ever eaten. The wine list is much longer than the food list and I was happy to be sitting at the bar where I could easily ask for advice about what to choose. An added bonus of being at the bar is you can quickly get a little sip of the wine you are considering before ordering a glass, most of which start around $8. The 2009 Shaya Verdejo that I decided on went very nicely with the potato crab cakes and the chowder. For entrees my wife had pan seared scallops with a spinach salad, dressed with crisp bacon and fried onion. I debated between the sweet potato gnocchi and the pappardelle. The bartender tipped me towards the pappardelle and assured me that if I didn't like it he would take it back and give me the gnocchi instead. If you have not tried this dish yet then definitely go for it. The pasta is made fresh daily and is very light and fluffy. The bolognese has pork and lamb and the dollop of fresh ricotta on top adds a nice creaminess to everything. I had the 2007 Stratton Lummis Cabernet Sauvignon with the pasta which went very nicely. Even though we shared the app, soup, and both had our own entree, we couldn't resist dessert. Actually I was very happy with the portion sizes. A lot of other restaurants we visit provide enough food in one entree to feed both of us for days, but here we got the right amount to satisfy without stuffing us. We got the chocolate bavarian cake, which was one of the days specials, and it was fantastic. The cake had perfectly tiny air bubbles in it and the chocolate filling between layers was hiding several raspberries which added a nice sweet and tart accent to the dish. Overall our experience was excellent and we will return. The only dilemma is, do we make a reservation for a table or just try to get into a spot again at the bar for dinner?

    (5)

  • Haroun K.

    After a few extraordinary visits to Tallulah in the past months, I returned tonight. Simply put, the service was terrible. First, it took forever for someone to greet us. When we were greeted, no one was sure how to find us a table outside, because the host had disappeared. But we waited. Beware that you cannot get a table on the patio before 11 p.m. if you're just drinking wine, even if the patio is ENTIRELY empty besides 2 tables at 10:50 p.m. Upon being seated at 11:07 p.m., we ordered the "artisan" cheese plate. It was 5 slices of yellow cheese, a few crackers, and pear butter. I almost sent it back. And priced very reasonably at $12. This was kind of hilarious. And the wait staff, which had always been attentive and kind, was decidedly unfriendly and supercilious. If I am going to drop $12 on a depressing cheese plate, you must be at least a little solicitous. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I absolutely hate interacting with disrespectful young people. All in all, it was a surprisingly disappointing experience, which spoiled one of the few free nights I have, and I'm not inclined to return anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Shannon S.

    Dined here as part of a work event and was very pleased with my experience. I had the steak frites, american kobe bistro filet, duck fat fries, chicory salad. The food was prepared really well and presented very elegantly. The service was really attentive. I never had an empty glass in front of me, be it the water or wine. Now I don't know if this is the fault of the restuarant or for the fact that Bham is older than dirt, but everytime I went to the restroom, there were often really odd (sewer type) smells going on.... But this did not detract from my experience. Oh, I almost forgot!! I had a piece of their chocolate mousse cake.....it was so heavenly....and gorgeous...I will post a pic.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    Looking for a place for a nice late light dinner/snack and glass of wine after a work meeting. This was the best snack I've ever had! Really glad to have stopped at this great farm-to-table place. Most of the menu items have notes about which farm ingredients came from. The staff is well-versed in origins as well. We sat outside on a clear, crisp fall evening. They turned on the patio heater just for us. My friend and I had a pichet of Spanish rose that was just excellent (and turned into a second pichet). We split the burrata/tomato salad and it was heaven. Never had the opportunity to try burrata and I'll be looking for it everywhere now! We also ordered the meatball appetizer and the cheese plate. Cheeses were phenomenal, especially the aged gouda (love those calcium crystals!) and lovely grilled breads. We were really well taken care of...in fact, I thought we had 2 servers at first. The sommelier was charming and attentive as well. Get here!

    (4)

  • laura p.

    I recently visited Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro in downtown Birmingham and it was so lovely! There was a live band on the night that I was there. The band was very good. I had salmon and it was cooked very well, not raw inside but not crispy or burnt on the outside. Their wine list is wonderful, and I can say the same about the service. I was choosing between 2 wines and the waiter brought both out for me to try so that I could pick which one I liked best. The only two complaints I have are that the tables are very cramped and some of the portions can be small. If I did not get a salad before my meal, I still would have been hungry.

    (4)

  • Jo K.

    Hello deliciousness! I'm from Chicago but travel to Birmingham often for work. Coming from Chicago I didn't expect all that much from a small wine bar/bistro in this area...but I was quickly proven wrong. The food was incredible; the mussels were out of this world, I'm pretty sure I would have drank the sauce/broth if it wouldn't have been among a crowded restaurant. Then we had the burrata-- um, YES PLEASE. Next comes the bucatini...words can't describe how awesome this dish was. Not only is bucatini hard to find on a menu, but the fact that it was done right was all that much more amazing. Stacey, our server, was phenomenal and super helpful, friendly, yet professional. You can tell she has a passion for the food as she was able to describe each dish with detail and knowledge. Can't wait for my next monthly trip to the area to return!

    (5)

  • Tracy F.

    Tallulah is great, Mindy the owner is so sweet and attentive. The food was amazing, however it feels cramped at times. A very clean atmosphere, and i love the decor. Menu is extremely imaginative too.

    (5)

  • Hanna S.

    I was impressed. The service that the guy gave me was great! I never had such a wonderful service, and food was good too. I'll definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Rebecca B.

    Good wine list. Loud. Loud. REALLY REALLY LOUD. Tables on top of one another. Small portions. Pricey. My advice, stop in for a quick glass of wine, then move on.

    (3)

  • Janet C.

    We are currently at the restaurant for Restaurant Week - service was unbelievably slow however the food now that we have it is very good. Manager sincerely apologized and is adjusting our bill so based on the food, we recommend and will try again in the future

    (4)

  • Julie C.

    This place has an excellent selection of wine. Great ambiance with excellent food, the waitstaff here leaves its diner fully attended to.

    (5)

  • Jim C.

    This place has gone downhill. A year ago they were at the top of their game. I have been there three times in the past month and each time it has been lackluster. I had the hanger steak one evening and it was so over salted it was inedible. My date had the chicken, and quite frankly, a chain restaurant could have done better. The next evening I had the olive oil poached cod, which was a terrible recipe...cooked right, but awful flavor. Furthermore, they took the dollop of fried goat cheese off the house salad, which was the star of the dish. The daily specials used to be the best part. Now it is a repeating daily special....disappointing. It seems as if they are watching food costs and trimming back, which leaves this former loyal customer completely underwhelmed. I can only guess that all of their energy and talent is focused on the new Italian place on Townsend, which I am not now inclined to try.

    (2)

  • lex g.

    Really disappointing experience at Tallulah's this Thursday.... Service: Annoying. Our waitron kept referring the the sommolier as "the Som" and I was training as a "som" as well...well, for heavens sake, is it that hard to say "sommolier" ...too casual, but i digress. My date had wine spilled on him by our waitron (holes in the outdoor table mean spilling wine is a super NO NO)...waitress saw that she had spilled, but said nothing, just continued to pour.. That's some "som" training you've had. My date moved the wine to the furthest away spot to avoid being poured on again. Food: I had the trout from the regular menu, my date had the special barracuda...We shared the charcuterie plate: Charcuterie: Cappicola good, prosciutto sliced way too thick, and soppressata decent. Accompanying crackers were stale. ($12 for 3 slices of each meat + pickled onions and stale crackers) Trout: Accompanying mach salad was LOADED with sand...not just one grit on one leaf, but every single bite crunched with dirt...Really??? I'm paying $28 for dirty lettuce? Finally got ahold of my waitress, told her about the sand - plate was wisked away, to be replaced 5 minutes later by clean (yet completely undressed) salad and tasteless trout (salt, anyone???)...Would have loved if she would have asked "can i get you something different, seeing as how we totally screwed up that one"...no such queery. and no apology/inquiry from the management. Dirty lettuce is unforgivable. Date had Barracuda - tasty...served with sunchoke puree (very good) and another different salad. Best part of the our experience: the bus boys (ours was on top of things, much more so than our waitress) and wine. Would have stated for dessert but after the meal, we opted out of dessert. Total bill, sans tip: $133 Our Grade: C -

    (2)

  • Caroline C.

    I wanted to like Tallulah so much that it made the disappointment almost worse. The interior is simple, elegant, and the atmosphere cozy (I love the lit candles on every table!), but our general experience there left much to be desired. The small novellete that is the menu/wine list was difficult to navigate and filled with little blurbs (most likely from a very enthusiastic chef/sommelier), but even after 10 minutes of perusing, it was difficult to select dishes that interested us. The menu seemed on the uninspired side with steaks and salads dominating the offerings - I expected a "farm-to-table" restaurant like Tallulah to offer seasonal dishes showcasing early spring - baby greens, maybe soft shell crabs. Our waiter tried to help, but upon being asked how the salmon entrée was, he responded: "Uh, salmon is generally a good cut of meat." Seriously? Thanks! I ended up ordering the duck and morel soup (yay something seasonal!), and the wheat fettuccine. The soup, unfortunately, while having a nice, rich, creaminess, had a grate or two too much nutmeg that did not compliment the earthiness of morels and duck at all and left a really unpleasant aftertaste. Plopping whole morels into a creamy soup slightly puzzled me also, along with serving such a rich soup in a giant porcelain bowl. When the pasta finally came a good 20 minutes later, the noodles were really really overcooked and the chicken was bland and tasteless. Isn't cooking pasta al dente something most chefs learn in Chefery 101? The bf fared slightly better with the venison terrine and roasted chicken, but he was not impressed with his meal either. Dining at Tallulah was one of the few meals that have left us full but unsatisfied to the point where we felt we hadn't eaten anything at all... with so many other good restaurants in Bham, we won't be back anytime soon.

    (2)

  • James B.

    Tallulah... Tallulah... All I can say is that Tallulah is like a friend with benefits. She's great to hang with, the benefits are OK, but you both know that when someone comes along who really strikes a chord with you (or her), she will always play 2nd fiddle. They make very good food at Tallulah. I will go so far as to say the food is better than 95% of the restaurants in the area... but in my opinion, not in the top 5%. On my recent visit my friends and I ordered the following items: 1. Charcuterie - which, for the life of me, I can't remember what was on it. 2. Roasted artichoke with aioli 3. Gazpacho 4. White bean/chicken chili 5. Pappardelle Bolognese 6. Veal chop Of the above items I tasted 1, 2, 4, and 5. Charcuterie - again, I can't remember specifically what was on it. I know there was some type of seafood spread, some prosciutto (at least I think it was), and something that I vaguely remember as being made from duck. All of the components were tasty. Just not enough for 4. This of course would be easily remedied by ordering 2 plates. Roasted Artichoke - it's hard to screw up roasting an artichoke. Chili - this course was interesting in that is was very light, dare I say, refreshing. Two adjectives not normally associated with chili. This was actually my favorite course for the evening. Yes, there are purists out there that insist that if it's not beef and has beans in it, it ain't chili. To them I say, "Get over yourselves". Pappardelle Bolognese - while this dish was delicious and executed beautifully (sauce not overpowering, pasta perfectly cooked), it cannot hold a candle to the Bolognese at another B'ham establishment which is the best I have ever had... including the Bolognese I had in Italy. So, you may take this review with a huge lump of salt. You may ask, "If you liked Tallulah as much as you do, why only 3 stars?" Uncharacteristically, for me anyway, I am knocking off a star for atmosphere. I'm really not into places that crowd the tables so close together that you're practically in on everyone's conversations. Functionally, this also makes it difficult for the servers to get anything done, as evidenced by having a knife dropped on my head while they were clearing the table. Let me be clear, I do not fault the server - it happens... if he didn't have to reach over me because of the lack of workable space, it probably wouldn't have occurred. So, Tallulah will always be the equivalent of a friend with benefits to me. Great for a fling, not-so-much for a long term relationship.

    (3)

  • Lish D.

    Absolutely gorgeous restaurant. On the outskirts of downtown Birmingham, it has a great location that's away from the movie theaters and busier bars and restaurants. Stopping by Tallulah when it's still light out is the way to go. The decor inside is light and airy, so sun shining in is beautiful. The staff was incredibly nice and very knowledgeable when it came to selecting a wine (try the Felino). The wine was fantastic. By the time I left, the restaurant was already getting packed (around 5:30 p.m.). Make sure to check out their wine shop next door, too.

    (5)

  • Lizzy N.

    I met a friend up for drinks and apps here on a Thursday evening. When I first walked up, I had no clue where to enter and the host station was in a weird spot. I was notified there were no tables open at this time until 9pm which was fine, I saw at the bar to wait for a friend. After I ordered wine, I waited for about 20 minutes since my friend was running late. The host came up to me and asked if I would like a table now since there was a cancelation--- SCORE! The table was super small but so is the restaurant. Very cosy but the decor was simple and elegant. The menu was cool and interactive on a tablet. I've seen this before at a few restaurants and I like this idea, but we had our menus for a while chatting and catching up before order and the tablets never dimed and we couldn't figure out how to turn them down. Ended up turning them over because of the glare and they were huge so they took up much of our small table. We eventually ordered apps (chick pea frites and american beef tartar). The chick pea frites were different. Not sure on the texture but the house sriacha sauce was pretty tasty with a kick. Tartar I was not a fan of, the dish seemed disjointed.. We also ordered a few sliders. The pork was dry and not great at all. The Detroit wagyu slider was the stand out. The meat was perfectly cooked and flavorful. We also ordered the lobster roll but the waiter forgot and we ended up being full anyway. I'd love to come back and explore the menu more (entrees, desserts). I also love the menu is ever changing and seasonal using all sustainable products. Overall a good night with fine wine and food. Most likely will be back.

    (4)

  • Karl L.

    It's what Birmingham needed. Great service. Great food and drink. Sophisticated and slightly romantic...

    (4)

  • Pete D.

    I love coming to Tallulah I just don't love the price!! I had a chance to bring some of my friend to eat there, we had a couple of drinks and dinner, the bill was over $390.00 We didn't even get drunk. Wonderful room and the people are just as good.

    (4)

  • Nicola G.

    This is the type of place Birmingham needed! What a breath of fresh air! Tallulah is simple and promotes local farmers on its menu. They try to use simple flavors and spices and let the flavors of the food speak for themselves and they definitely do! The wine list is excellent as well- lots of more obscure wines and good pairings. The service was great too. They are very helpful. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it can be hard to get in. Definitely use opentable.com and set up a reservation. :)

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    What a beautiful restaurant! Tallulah's has decor and cuisine inspired by California wine country, good looking, well-to-do people, and fresh ingredients from local midwestern businesses and farms. The fresh berry martini topped with champagne is a perfect slow-sipper on a spring evening. The goat cheese salad was perfect. The sweet potato gnocchi was yummy and the hanger steak was very solid (definately a keeper on the menu!). Save room for dessert (the banana cream pie is to die for). If only metro Detroit had more restaurants like Tallulah's!

    (5)

  • Alicia K.

    From the start, Tallulah is more wine bar than bistro - which is not necessarily a bad thing. They have an outstanding wine collection as well as an attached wine store where you can parouse a large collection and also do wine tastings, which is great while you are waiting to be seated (the place is always packed - it totally fits the "Birmingham bill" and thus has a large following.) Also, they have fabulous cocktails and take pride on having an "chief bartender." If you're a wino or perhaps a spirit enthusiast, you'll appreciate Tallulah. As for the food, my eating experience has always been pleasant - nothing outstanding but definitely tasty. One thing I do love about Tallulah's menu is that they very much value farm-to-table food principles, serving organic, local, and seasonal items. The menu is limited, but I think that is a plus - they have chosen a few items to do right. Additionally, they have a great wine and food pairing menu where you can try 2 ounces of a suggested wine, paired with suggested menu items, for only 5 dollars a taste. This is something I have yet to try, but really want to - I think I'll do it next time. Yes, there will be a next time. Tallulah's atmosphere and wine are enough to keep me coming back. With great respect for the owner's commitment to good wines, local and organic fare, and small business, I will continue to go to Tallulah, even if the food is not Michelin. In summation, if you are looking for a good night of drinking and atmosphere, with some good food to make sure you can still walk straight at the end of the night, Tallulah is your gal.

    (4)

  • Ash M.

    We had reservations, over a month in advance, for a group of 9 of us. The food was good, and so was our server. However, they shoved 9 of us into a table for 6, in a corner. When we asked them to add the vacant table next to us, so that we weren't shoulder-to-shoulder, they refused. That empty table was empty the whole time. The manager was unaccommodating and unapologetic- pity, because our server was outstanding and the kitchen puts out decent food. The attitude that the manager showed us will keep me away as long as their doors remain open. I do hope, for their sake, that they fix their customer service. Lose the attitude people, it's Michigan.

    (2)

  • Jasmine B.

    The food is good but the service is very inexperienced. Our waiter was overwhelmed with 3 tables and barely gave us any attention until we complained to the manager. The boys bringing our food out barely spoke and acted like the were afraid of people. For the price and the atmosphere they are trying to create they need to step it up on the service.

    (2)

  • Per S.

    After eating at Tallulah's for the first time this evening, I can say that I will never return again. My experience was incredibly lackluster. The food was tasteless and underwhelming. Considering the cost, the food was definitely not worth what I paid for it. My entree ($30) featured scallops, pork belly and 'kimchi.' I was expecting a ~flavor explosion~ but instead I ended up with dry pork, boring imposter 'kimchi' and tasteless scallops. Scallops and pork are really easy to mess up and Tallulah's really did a number on this dish. I didn't even finish my meal. My friend ordered the pokeytoe crab salad (something like that) and it was just a hot mess of a plate. Random crab bits splattered around with lots of white cream drizzle. She sent it back as it was not to her liking and inedible. The waitress did not offer any other options. The salad was taken off the check at the end but there was not an apology or any hospitality in terms of making up for this sad excuse of a meal. The service was sloooooow. The music was LOUD! Even in the bathroom the music is booming. What I especially did not appreciate was our waitress blatantly gossiping about us to her coworkers near the "Bar" area. Really unprofessional. Get it together, do that in the back where guests cannot see you! I will mention that our meatball appetizer was tasty. I would suggest this place for a glass of wine (many to choose from) and cheese (or other appetizers) and then head to another location. I'd say that my favorite part of the Tallulah dining experience was the water to wash this sh*t food down or... leaving. What a disappointing experience.

    (1)

  • Rachel W.

    We came here during Restaurant Week in Birmingham. I've been wanting to come here since they opened and it was worth the wait. I had the three-course menu set-up for Restaurant Week. My first course was Tenderloin Tips which were fantastic and glazed in a red wine reduction with honey, I wanted to lick the plate. My main course was Chicken Scaloppini which was well prepared but not something I'd order again (personal taste issues, not the restaurant's fault). The dessert was so, so good! I got the Sweet and Tart Cherry pie and it was the best slice of pie I've ever had, seriously. Even better than Achatz's cherry pie. My husband had the special of the night, filet mignon. I tried a bit of it and the mashed potatoes with crispy onions on top and immediately had food envy! The steak was just as good if not better than any other steak I've tried at local chop houses. I had two pomegranate martinis and they were well made and strong. The wine list was extensive, too bad I don't enjoy the stuff. I think a wine lover would be in heaven here! The atmosphere is great, upscale without being pretentious. The decor is simple, yet beautiful. The room was a bit cramped. I would highly recommend making a reservation as even on a Monday night they had a mostly full restaurant! I am very much looking forward to going back in the summertime and sitting on their street-side patio, enjoying their delicious food and drinks.

    (5)

  • Eric P.

    I stopped by Tallulah for the first time this past week, and long story short, I will certainly be going back. First of all, the company of our fellow diners was very interesting, so that kind of set things up for a lively evening. Within one minute of sitting down (literally), one of the ladies at the next table over leans over and begins vehemently talking to us, going on and on about her "gorgeous gay seventeen year old son dating an inked-up twenty-five year old Jewish man in a band" (no joke, she talked about this specific subject for at least ten-fifteen minutes), how her husband is in "federal prison", and her burgeoning matchmaking business - at which point I leaned over to my dining companion during a lull in the conversation and mentioned my strong opinion that one day she was sitting on the couch with her wine and Vicodin and an episode of Patti Stanger's Millionaire Matchmaker came on, sparking a brilliant career change. Gerard Butler was also there, but I'm not really celebrity-obsessed, so I was kind of whatever about it. Moving on to the actual offerings... The ambiance of the dining room kind of outweighs the cramped quarters, which is good. Classy, white linen, but not over the top about it. The wine selection was VERY impressive - not huge, but a considerably eclectic variety. I got a glass of Lillet as an aperitif, and how many places can you cite that have Lillet at all? That alone impressed me quite a bit. Food wise, what we had was pretty good. We split an appetizer of the prawns (cooked perfectly, with a slight heat to them), a beet salad (not spectacular, but an above-average salad), and the sweet potato gnocchi (very good, if not a smidge salty at times). My congratulations to Mindy VanHellemont. Tallulah is a welcome addition to Birmingham, as opposed to the dearth of yuppie-hipster-dbag "lounges" opening up like gangbusters.

    (4)

  • Samantha R.

    Great little downtown spot! After some research online we decided to go to Tallulah. I made a reservation (6:30p on a Friday) because of previous reviews, but I did not need it. Plenty of tables were available but maybe because it was early. We were very impressed with the extensive wine list! I can see how the wine list could be overwhelming (it's half of the menu), but since we are wine lovers we thought it was great. My boyfriend had the crab bisque and I had the Tallulah house salad. I tasted the bisque and it was HEAVENLY! For our main course we got the broiled flounder and grilled blue marlin. I preferred the marlin, but both were very tasty. Our waiter was very pleasant and quick. He was very helpful in suggesting a wine. The other waitstaff were equally helpful as my glass of water was never more than half empty. I enjoyed the intimate feel of the restaurant. It's rather small with candles on the tables. It was a great spot for a date night dinner. There is also a wine tasting bar next door called 'Tallulah Too', which we hope to visit someday. I do think the food, service, atmosphere were all wonderful but it is pricey. I think the house salad was $10 and in my opinion it was not worth that much.

    (4)

  • Gabriel W.

    Atmosphere: Great! The location is convenient. Inside, it falls just shy of fine dining in a way that maintains a casual and inviting feel. There is also an attached wine shop in which we tasted some different vintages while waiting for our table. Wouldn't change a thing! Service: The host was professional and helpful and accommodated a short-notice change in our reservation, which resulted in only a very short wait. The proprietor, Mindy, was warm and genuine. Our server was knowledgeable, professional, and charming. Perfect. Food: The food was excellent. With six adults ordering three courses each, we loved 5/6 appetizers, 6/6 entrees, and 5/6 desserts - the two courses we didn't *love* were fine, just overshadowed by other dishes. Wine: We went with the server's recommendations and three different wines were each paired perfectly with our dishes. When we go back, I'm sure we'll order exactly the same way. Value: Any Birmingham restaurant will set you back a minimum of $25-50 per person for dinner, but price shouldn't be confused with value. At Tallulah, I felt that the quality, quantity, and variety of food (and drink!) was an excellent value. Overall: Highest recommendation and we will certainly be returning, as well.

    (5)

  • Rula S.

    I was visiting Michigan and stopped by here with a friend on Monday night. They had a live band playing Samba...good sign 1. Great wine selection and knowledgeable wait staff...good sign 2. Excellent grapes wrapped in goat cheese and coated with pistachios....really? That was fantastic! Cheese platter-you can't go wrong with cheese, this was great, with macaroon almonds, mmmm. I had the special trout for dinner-simple, yet just tasty enough. The place also has a great crowd, a great vibe and great service....I'll be back!

    (4)

  • damian a.

    The only thing we didn't like about this place is the tight quarters. But everyone seemed to be having a good time so it wasn't a big issue. The wine list is pretty awesome. There is a great variety, with some great bargains if you know what to look for. We had a bottle of vietti barbera d'asti, which is a great value wine. My favorite thing about the wine list is they had some great italian wines, which are usually overlooked. A lot of times there are a couple throwaway chiantis and that's about it. Tallulah had a valpolicella, the barbera, a barbaresco, a nebbiolo, a sangiovese, a barolo, a montepulciano, and a couple others. The only thing i noticed that was missing was a brunello. Wine prices looked decent too, with a great range. Some places in birmingham are loaded up with 70.00+ selections, with maybe one or two options for less than 50.00. Tallulah had a great distribution from 20 bucks up to 100+. We'd definitely go back just for the wine. They had a cheese plate option (that we kind of were allowed to assemble ourselves) that was good, but nothing amazing. They had a raclette, which isn't common, and it was good, and a good blue cheese. The bread, however, was awesome (a mini baguette style loaf from avalon, in detroit). My wife had a chicken seafood gumbo, which was excellent and just a bit spicy, and the house salad, which i didn't try but she liked (it's the salad in the photo). I had the roasted chicken, which was very tasty and tender. The exterior was awesome. The interior was flavorful but a bit less tender. They had quail on special and it was highly recommended, but i wasn't in the mood to try it. Also, they were absolutely packed on a thursday night. A good sign I guess. We were still seated immediately though, because a table had just left. Each table has a potted fresh herb on it. Ours had thyme. It is a great touch. At one point our server took ours away to make room, but later we grabbed the potted rosemary from the table next to us when they left. Service was cheerful and accommodating at every turn. We will definitely be working this place into our rotation, and i can see this being bumped to 5 stars in the future.

    (4)

  • A H.

    A couple friends of mine and I went last night, and from a prior review I have to agree it's a little bit like Napa. First of all, it's packed, which for a Wednesday night is nice to see. I liked the décor, it was simple and classic, almost a cape cod design. The waiters are attentive without hovering. Had a bottle of cabernet that was very pleasant, the wait staff was helpful in selecting something. I recommend the cheese platter, they had a nice array of different kinds of cheeses. I had the sweet potato gnocchi and my only complaint would be I assumed the sweet potato would be in the pasta, but rather was just mixed in with finished gnocchi. One of my friends had the sea bass, which was very good, well seasoned and finished nicely. Another had the whole trout which had a nice lemon sauce. They also have a good amount of vegetarian entrees, which changes often from what we were told. There was a chimichurri flank steak on the menu that sounded amazing as well. The owner was very attentive to the entire room, checking in at least once to make sure that everything was presented well. The chef didn't spend too much time in the kitchen, which I thought was a little odd, rather he was delivering the finished product to tables. The bar was packed when we got there around 8, and was consistently busy the entire time we were there. The waiter said that they will have outdoor seating, hopefully next week. It's has definitely gotten good word out, and will go back soon.

    (4)

  • David B.

    Initially skeptical about a small menu, we decided to try out this quaint little place and I'm glad we did. I ordered one of the specials, the stuffed sole in lemon sauce. I don't recall the exact name of the dish but I do remember the wonderful flavors. The sole was perfectly cooked, stuffed with a delicious mushroom filling. Accompanying the fish was a lobster risotto that was to die for. Perfect blend of rich, cheesy pasta with chunks of lobster, how could you go wrong. For dessert we shared a chocolate torte. Normally it would have rated high however just having the opera cake at Inn Season, this torte did not compare. If you're looking for moist, this is not the dessert to choose. The Malbec we ordered was a perfect match for our meals and dessert. If only I could recall the name of it.

    (4)

  • Cyndi J.

    Probably would have given it 5 stars if our server wasn't trying to jock on my boyfriends nuts. However, she was very knowledge about the wine that was out for tasting and allowed only my boyfriend to try some extra. ;) Tasting prices weren't bad. Its cute little wine-tasting room! We didn't get a chance to eat to the restaurant connected but I heard it was good.

    (4)

  • Hazen P.

    I keep hearing that Tallulah is sliding, but the place was at the top of its game when I visited last night. The service was excellent . . . helpful, professional, unobtrusive. I continue to think that it is one of the most attractive dining rooms in the area (and I'm more of an English country house type than a fan of minimalist modern). I had the lamb cassoulet, which was near perfect. Desserts (we had a sampling of several) were also very good. Always easy to find a reasonably priced wine at Tallulah. Is there anything they can do better? Yes of course, I think the "book" menu has to go, it's a pain. And most of the time, the kitchen takes a bit too long between courses, but I'd rather wait a little extra when the results are this good.

    (5)

  • S H.

    Cuisine was bland and unimaginative, portions were small, prices high, service was pretentious, salt is their spice of choice and very loud (I was hoarse when I got home from shouting to be heard). When you make reservations, make sure you schedule an angioplasty for the following day from all the cheese and butter and take a diuretic to prevent the edema you'll experience from all the salt! Not to mention they were out of Malbec!!

    (1)

  • amanda m.

    What a peculiar arrangement for a patio! We got the last table early on a Wednesday evening and it was a tight squeeze, all these tables packed on what felt like a raft floating post-apocalyptically above the empty sidewalk on Bates. The food was tasty, but I don't think anyone knows how to eat grilled artichoke, or maybe I don't, but you can't chew through all those tough outer leaves; you have to pick them apart and pull off the soft part with your teeth... Don't you? Anyway, onto the sweet potato gnocchi, delicately flavored and worth it. The portions are not too big, which is good, I think, and the wine list was as everyone else has commented extensive. Only problem was the service--our waitress spent most of her time in the doorway chatting up one of the waiters, so that we had to get the bus boy to intercede on our behalf. The patio was overcrowded, but the inside was almost empty. Don't know that I would come back here, though the food was good.

    (2)

  • Lara B.

    My favorite place to dine in Bham! Never had anything less than an amazing meal! Fantastic wine selection, well designed space, yummy food! The owner is friendly and always makes it a point to chat with everyone. Menu is farmhouse like-seasonal, fresh, local, not overly seasoned- natural tastes of the food come through. The hanger steak is my favorite thing on menu, pappardelle pasta dish is also very good-great flavors! Once I had a chocolate, carmel, sea salt something yummy for dessert, I think it was just a daily but it was the BEST dessert ever! One complaint- the hostess stopped by our table (not sure why, we were already eating) she could have skipped describing a wild boar as "hairy & unruly" um, thank you, I could have guessed that but I am trying not to think about it as I eat it. Other than her mishap AMAZING experiences at Tallulah's.

    (5)

  • alicia v.

    I'm from the napa area& visited Tallulah twice while I was in town! Wine list was great, food was good, Sunday supper was fun& yummy! Sat at the bar& loved the delish cheese course! The owner Mindy sat w us& visited, everyone was friendly& attentive. Can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    Hands down new favorite restaurant! Love, love this place! Excellent wines paired with great food and a knowlegdable, friendly staff. Very clean and beautiful decor. A bit pricey but totally worth it!!!!

    (5)

  • Lynn T.

    A friend of mine and I were meeting up for an early dinner a couple of days ago. She works in that area and wanted to meet in Birmingham. I am not from the area so I had no idea where to go. She suggested we meet at Tallulah. I have never heard of it before but she has been there and loved it so that is where we went. When I first walked in we were greeted by the most friendly host , he was very happy and polite and pretty much gave us our choice of seats since we were there early. As we sat down we both commented on how light and bright the décor was. The place has a kind of casual ,elegant, light atmosphere and I knew that I liked the place already. Once we sat down and got situated, our server, a cute,friendly young lady brought us our water and a menu which was a tablet. She asked if we wanted a drink and my friend ordered a glass of her favorite wine. I was uncertain on what I wanted to drink so the bartender actually came over and asked me a few questions. From there he then created a very refreshing citrusy cocktail . Our server asked if we were ready to order and as I asked a few questions about the menu, she showed me some things on the tablet so we asked for a few more minutes. I really enjoyed browsing through the menu with the descriptions of the different food and the pictures. We ordered mussels, that were cooked to perfection in a sauce that was light with a hint of citrus. We also had Friti Miso an appetizer of lightly breaded fried vegetables with a hint of smoked sea salt. this is what my friend had last time she was here and now craves it. For the entree's we decided to order different items and share them. I Love shrimp, I love bloody Mary's and so for my entrée I ordered a shrimp special that is a new offering, that was excellent, shrimp with these little squares of bloody mary gelee's , I am not sure how to describe it but it was delicious and I would order this again. My friend ordered the scallops and said they were the best she ever had. Since we did share, I got to taste the scallops and I must say that although scallops are not usually my first choice, they were excellent, the flavor was great and they were cooked perfectly. My experience at Tallulah was one that I will remember. My friend and I relaxed over a fabulous meal, great friendly service, in a very casual elegant atmosphere. I feel I have discovered a new place and I will be back.

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    Really merits 3 1/2 stars... Ate here last night after the B'ham Art fair. We found the host and waitstaff to be very friendly and helpful aside from some minor missteps. The food ranged from ok to excellent. The waiter brought piping hot bread (very tasty) and walked us through the menu format. We ordered a pinot (Chehalem $18 a glass - Yikes) while we looked at the menu. The waitress let us go at our relaxed pace without rushing. Appetizer was grilled artichoke with a rosemary aioli. This appeaed to have been steamed, cut in half with the choke removed and finished on the grill. The aioli was great but the artichoke was off. The inner leaves were too tough and cold. The heart was cooked right and slightly warm, however. We finished the aioli before the 'choke and the waitress noted that and offered to bring more. After that, a great duck and morel soup. Too bad the waitress brought me gazpacho. That was quickly rectified. No discernible duck in it (might have been a duck stock...) but it was very rich and earthy with a good portion of morels in the bottom, Great stuff. My pinot was now gone. The menu offers a 2 oz pour of various wines that are paired to the entree for $5. Inexpensive wines but a nice touch. Entrees were ordered and I asked for the wine pairing and a glass of prosecco for my wife. I had the hangar steak with salt baked potato and exotic mushrooms. My wife had roast salmon with (my memory is fuzzy here) wild rice or quinoa? and a watercress salad. Entrees arrived but no wine in sight. I asked again for the wines and that was promptly taken care of. (Chat d'Oupia Minervois and Prosecco who remains nameless at $12 a glass - double Yikes) Steak was a little tough but very flavorful (hey, it is hangar steak; not filet so I get it). The salt baked potato was undercooked by my standards being a bit firm and waxy and no salt flavor at all. I would have guessed a salty exterior but who knows. Mushrooms were very good. My wife thought the salmon was perfectly cooked and tasty but too expensive at $31. She did not like the crunchy rice side. We finished with a slice of dark chocolate caramel sea salt torte. On first bite, I am pretty sure I heard angels singing in the background. Rich dark chocolate with a fudgy texture and a layer of caramel between the chocolate and the crust. All topped with flaked sea salt. Seriously, it was that good. I loved the look and ambiance of the restaurant. The high points of the dinner were very high but so was the price tag for the whole meal. I'll try it again but I am a little on the fence.

    (3)

  • Tracy V.

    Crowded spot that serves a lovely array of food, wine and well-crafted cocktails. Dining outside is great, as long as it's not too hot. The mussels can't be beat! Live music was playing inside, which I felt made it a bit loud for conversation. Use of fresh ingredients made this place stand out when looking for a place to dine.

    (4)

  • R M.

    Overall great atmosphere. The ambience is pleasant and the food is good, but menu is somewhat limited. Definitely worth a try.

    (4)

  • Christophe D.

    Yesterday night the weather was so beautiful my wife and went looking for a dinner "al fresco." We'd never been to Tallulah's but the outdoor area seemed so inviting. Good stuff first: the bread was warm and good, my wife enjoyed her American Kobe filet, the bus boy was attentive. Pretty much all downhill from there. Our waitress was unfriendly and almost resentful (of what? I don't know). I ordered a corn and crab bisque. The presentation commenced with a large porcelain bowl with a TABLESPOON of crab meat in the bottom. Over that, the waiter poured a bright yellow thick corn broth, corn flavored but a bit salty. All In all not impressive for the price (at that rate, they could stretch one crab over 20 bowls). Next, I had clams over linguine. There were plenty of clams but the sauce and "herb infused crumb" topping was bland and disappointing. The house made pasta they were promoting was overcooked and mushy. Over all the service was slow and unfriendly, the food overpriced, pretentious and poorly prepared. I won't return and I wouldn't recommend. I have paid much more for meals without complaint because I was satisfied with the food. Not so in this case. If you're going to charge me that much, give me that much.

    (2)

  • Kit C.

    I really enjoyed this beautiful B'ham restaurant. On Bates, with lovely large windows, this is an attractive modern place. I made reservations via Open Table and was immediately seated by the friendly host. The menu comes in a binder with dividers. I thought this was a wee precious, but okay. They have a complete menu of appetizers, salads and entrees and a set daily special, which on Thursday is Boar. As an appetizer, we ordered an array of cheeses. It was made up of 3 cheeses and easily served 2. The array of cheese changes, but it was tasty with a strong blue cheese, a soft brie-like selection, and a mild harder cheese. For dinner I had the boar--how often do I get to order that? It was delicious. 4 small lamp-chop sized slices. Tasted very much like pork tenderloin. Very tender and tasty. Paired with a tasty risotto. My companion had the scallops and pork bellies and loved it. I tried one of the pork bellies and could have eaten a whole meal of them. I am sure they are very bad for you, but good lord they were good. I usually avoid desserts, but I had to try the Peanut Butter Crunch. This is a small round dessert made with chocolate ganache and PB. It was the best thing I have had for dessert in several years. Honest to god it was that good. Service was excellent and friendly. I liked this place because it had good food at reasonable prices. It was not in the least pretentious.

    (5)

  • shannon s.

    Update: Okay. I've now had a couple of bad experiences here -- both food and service wise. I gotta remove two stars. finally a restaurant that sings me back to san francisco! as a gal who has spent some time in the fields growing produce and selling at farmers markets, i can tell you that nothing makes me happier than feeling someone else's appreciation for the labor of love that goes into growing a vegetable, milking a cow or crafting a beautiful display of produce on a plate. sometimes i get the sense that not many people care about that yet in the detroit metro area... and then i eat at a restaurant like tallulah and am re-inspired and feel like everything is going to be okay again in the world. tallulah has filled the void that detroit has lacked in the farm to table movement and hopefully this is just the beginning of things to come for us detroiters... i've eaten here twice and both times the food was beautiful, well prepared and soooo satisfying. i will say it's a little loud in the restaurant and difficult to have deep conversation... and the pastry chef refuses to serve pie/crisps warm a la mode and in fact likes to serve them cold, but i'm gonna forgive because it's so pleasing to me to feel the pulse and artistry of this place!!!

    (3)

  • John W.

    Worst experience in town. I loved this place once for its elegance and impeccable service and this time was beyond uncomfortable. Under-dressed host seated us on the patio where we waited 10 - 15 minutes before anyone approached our wobbly table. Inquired about what kind of beef the flat iron steak was and server returned from asking the chef only to say it was "real juicy" and from the "arm" of the cow. Salads came and had to ask for bread. Server spilled glass of water on my mystery steak as she delivered my partner's entree. As the sun set, staff put candles on empty tables surrounding us and not ours. The host in jeans appeared to turn up the heat lamps, which were fine to a level so high we broke a sweat. Adding insult to injury, at the end of the meal the server said "oh you must be professional diners." I mean it really goes to show mediocrity survives in Michigan.

    (1)

  • Anne H.

    We went for a late dinner (around 9:30 pm) and the restaurant was packed. It had a really good vibe, and the crowd didn't seem to have that annoying poser/elective surgery feel to it. We had the salmon phyllo dish w/ broccolini and was delicious. We also had the cheesecake for dessert and it was fantastic. Our server was attentive, but not overly. You can tell, the owner, Mindy Vanhellemont (had to look that up because she made such an impression) really has a handle on how make the restaurant feel welcoming and sophisticated. She was tending to a table next to us and she noticed we were looking for a little more sauce to our dish and mentioned to us that our server was bringing more. I hope other restaurants look to Tallulah as an inspiration.

    (5)

  • Travis P.

    It's good--nice ambiance. Bar was out of a number of key ingredients/liquors. Food was good--not stellar. Need to try a few more times to see if I can figure out what all the fanfare is about.

    (4)

  • Jason R.

    I've had onglet at a couple of French type bistros lately, and the one at Tallulah is at or near the top of my list. See, I go through these phases of cuisines I will patron for an extended period of time, 2-4 months, and benchmark what I taste, and as of recently, it's been bistros. It's been enjoyable needless to say, because I admittedly have an Asian biased for meals, so expanding (although not my first) into the European domain is always refreshing. Anyway, the hanger steak perfectly medium rarely with a tender yet subtle comfort food flavor for the hungry palette served with extremely butter red skin (?) mashed topped with french friend potatoes made an excellent meal even better making the tummy smile for the next few days...

    (4)

  • George K.

    We were shopping in DT Birmingham on a Monday night and thought we would give Tallulah a try. No wait on a cold January Monday evening. All tables , no too close, a bar with seating for about 12 and a small private room for about 8 to 10. The menu is small but has a a wide variety of selections. The wine selections are very good with a extensive list from very reasonably priced to very high end. After taste testing several options we chose a very nice napa Pinot Noir. For appetizers a very good goat cheese served with an apricot spread and honey, we also split a lobster tail wrapped in philio, it came to the table in four pieces, it was very well prepared and tasty. The french bread for the table was warm and very fresh. For our entree I had a very good piece of Sea Bass roasted and served on a bed of saffron linguine and a corn/pepper garnish. My GF ordered the fillet special served with whipped potato's garnished with fried onions. She ordered the fillet medium well, the first time out it was rare, the second time it was barely medium. My dish was getting cold so she worked on the cooked portion and because it was a sizable piece of meat she had plenty to eat and half to bring home. This was plenty of food, so while the dessert menu looked good we did not indulge anymore. Despite the fillet under cooking, we will give this place another try in the future. The atmosphere was very nice, the service was excellent.

    (4)

  • Karen G.

    Great house salad, great wine, and amazing sweet potato knocchi. If I'm ever in the area again, I will be back!

    (5)

  • Jake W.

    Great food. Hands down. Thumbs up. Foods is top notch cheese plate with Humbolt fog was killer. Wine was outstanding and Very Good service.

    (5)

  • Daroki K.

    Delicious food. Fancy yet fun atmosphere. Relatively small, tight physically, but not uptight. Nice wine selection.

    (4)

  • G R.

    Went for the first time on Thursday. The restaurant is small, but nicely done. The wine list is huge as one would expect. The food menu is a bit limited. Service is very attentive. Great place for a quick glass and nosh after work. The crowd is typical Birmingham.

    (5)

  • Rod R.

    We ate there recently. Nice atmosphere if you like tables butted up against one another. This is a place to be seen rather than a place to eat. OK, there are lots of wines to choose from. So what? The service was very nice (tallish blond lady - thank you and we left her a good tip). The food was decidedly mediocre (there were 6 of us in the "back room"). The appetizers were: a trout mush with crackers - bland; an artichoke cut in half and broiled (?) - bland and basically pointless; a hunk of warm cheese with bread (already was bread on the table) - bland and pointless. The entrees were likewise about what one would expect from Midwest/Detroit area dining. We all tried each other's food. I opted for the (very expensive special - $40) crab stuffed flounder. The stuffing seemed to be mushy Wonder bread. I have eaten all over New England and this was a stuffed flounder impostor - dry, over cooked, and bland. Notice the apparent overuse of the word bland. It is not being overused with respect to the food at this tony place. I assume the owners will milk the place as fast as possible, declare bankruptcy, and run with whatever money they have vacuumed out of tasteless Birmingham wannabees. Also, I had two Manhattans which were good (how do you mess up a Manhattan?) served in the smallest glasses in which I have ever been served a cocktail. Expensive drinks I can handle. Niggling drinks scream ownership by tightwads in for the short-term. The bill, not including tip, was $366 including the three bottles of wine and my two drinks. Avoid this place or have one drink and sip it.

    (1)

  • Stephen T.

    The service is great, they ask what you like then recommend and it worked out great. Food was pretty good too. Very relaxed and chill.

    (4)

  • Michael P.

    My wife and I as well as another couple ate dinner at Tallulah last Friday night. The first two times we ate there were terrific, and this time didn't disappoint either. Our 7:45 reservation was honored immediately and we received a table at the window as we requested. Three of us ordered salads - heirloom tomato, wild mushroom, and pear and goat cheese. Our entrees were two halibuts and lobster over fresh spinach, one trout, and one beef, and all the food was excellent. The halibut with bits of lobster was truly delicious, and the fish was prepared simply and moist. Our server, Elizabeth, was knowledgeable, professional, and very nice. We had two glasses of wine and two beers between us, and the bill was $209 for the four of us. While certainly not cheap, relative to other restaurants of this level in the area, it wasn't surprising and we felt we received a bang for our buck. The vibe in Tallulah is urban and fun with an eclectic crowd. We kept thinking New York and I mean that as a compliment. Keep in mind however, this isn't a place for a quiet conversation! We're lucky to have Tallulah in our neighborhood. A little over a month after our last visit my wife and I returned; just the two of us this time. Tallulah did not disappoint or slip a notch. Our 7:45 reservation was honored immediately, our server was friendly, knowledgeable and professional (as were all the staff we encountered, from the host to the busser), and the food was first-rate, presented nicely, cooked perfectly and delicious. This place is great and we're looking forward to dining at her new sister-restaurant Bellapiatti, a couple blocks away.

    (5)

  • Cindy L.

    I just finished dinner with family and would not return again. The best part was the olive appetizer. I found the beet salad tough and tasteless. Everything had an extra dose of salt includding the butter. I am not a person who adds salt to dishes so the excessive salt taste could have been a problem. However, I could feel my body swell from the salt content in all the dishes. I eat out several times a week and have tried many of the quad-county area's better restaurants; there is no comparison. The atmosphere was stuffy. If one wants real organic farm to table meals go to Zingermans's, which is listed as a source. Not only is the food better at Zingermann's but the service is outstanding and the price is more reasonable. For my main course I had the clams and linguine. This dish was also tasteless. I had to request pepper and cheese to help give some flavor. The meal did not settle with me at all. I do not recommend this restuarant to anyone! There are many more deserving places to visit.

    (1)

  • Jo G.

    Had one of the most pleasant evenings out. My husband and I wanted a little wine and snack late on a Thursday evening. We sat outdoors and enjoyed a beautiful night at Tallulah. We didn't order much but what we had was scrumptious! The server was very polite and very helpful; we tried the fried calamari that were so tender and very well seasoned. The lady next to us seemed to be satisfied when I said to my husband, "Mmmm these are great". I saw her smile and get a look of satisfaction usually reserved for chefs/cooks. The cheese cake is to die for...very interesting flavor. I thought it was a hint of Amarrato but when I asked the server, the lady sitting next to us chimed in and told us it is a hint of cardamon. I asked her if she is the pastry chef and she smiled and said, "No I am the owner". Now I know why the look of satisfaction on her face over the calamari comment. She was very friendly and seemed pleased that we were having such a nice dining experience. Overall, a very nice memory...we will go back for sure.

    (5)

  • C B.

    After being told that if we were prepared to wait an hour at the adjacent wine bar we would get a table without a reservation. 2.5 hours later we left without dinner and a shrug of the host's shoulders. On the second try (with reservation) after being seating 30 minutes later than our reservation we had a nice dinner in a restaurant with great atmosphere. However, service was incredibly slow. Food wise, it was very good but seemed to miss a few beats on excecution. For example, for the home made pate, the best they could offer was basic Carr's crackers, available at our local Krogers. For the prices, they could have done better...say Papa Joe's instead of Krogers for the crackers.

    (3)

  • Harleen K.

    This restaurant is consistently great, hence the 5 star rating. Came here last night for dinner and sat on the patio. Started off with mussels. I had the greek salad and the boyfriend had the tenderloin special. The tenderloin was cooked medium rare, very tender and flavorful and the presentation very pleasing. Ended with the caramel cremeux for dessert. I usually gravitate to anything chocolate, but this was a nice change that was light and very tasty. In the past I've had the duck breast and salmon- the duck breast is not to be missed, you must try this! On previous visits, we enjoyed sitting at the bar- the bartender is very knowledgable about wines and has always suggested great pairings for us. The venue is that of a small, intimate bistro. It is pretty pricey, but we've never had a bad experience here.

    (5)

  • Evie B.

    We got there as they opened on a Friday evening and sat in the outdoor patio. The hostess and waiter were excellent. We decided on a couple glasses of whisper hills - Sauvignon Blanc , which was soooooo yummy! Light crisp fresh - grapefruity... Mmmmm we then shared a charcuterie - which was fantastic -.see picture. My husband had the blue cheese salad- excellent, light , fresh but $10-$12 for a very small salad- wouldn't have made a good entree sized salad. Nice beginning to our evening

    (4)

  • Chuck N.

    Tallulah reminds me of an ex girlfriend. She had everything I needed and more! I have never ordered an entree just the appetizers. Artisan cheese is just what the doctor ordered for wine. Sit at the bar and Mike the bartender will take care of you. Start with a Pino and work your way up to the Cabernet. By that time you will be so happy you won't know what to do with yourself but order another appetizer. Relax and enjoy. Call über and rest assured you will be back again! Don't

    (5)

  • Angela G.

    This is my FAVORITE place to wine and dine! The atmosphere, hospitality, and food is exceptional! I highly recommend chef nick:)

    (5)

  • Tim G.

    My wife now has a new favorite. I was pleasantly surprised by this small bistro. The food was great and the service was top notch. The wine list was actually a little smaller than I expected, but it did have some good choices. We started with the charcuterie and the artisan cheese. With a picky wife and a close-to-veggie friend with me, there was something great for everyone. From a basic blue cheese to a pork head turrine, I got to enjoy it all. Also enjoyed some delicious carrot soup. I know, but it was really good. We loved our entrees, ravioli with hazelnuts, giant prawns, and the day scallops. It is amazing that all three of us loved our meals. That never happens. The scallops were the best my wife ever had. Obviously we'll be back.

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    I'm bordering on two stars here and I know that might be blasphemy but I call it how I see it, folks. I made a res and arrived on time. We walked into the little foyer area and waited while our hostess finished a phone call, with another interested patron I'm guessing. That was fine. What bothered me was the few other staff members, the manager included, that passed by without a hello or "why don't you step inside where it's warmer while you wait for our hostess to seat you." This is Birmingham isn't it...act accordingly. Rant over. We ordered some wine...it was nice. We ordered some apps they were nice. The pork belly bacon was easily the best thing we ate here. It was perfectly braised and seared with a hammy flavor and a nice pickled slaw bedding...delicious! The gnocchi were more like traditional potato dumplings...a little heavy and dense, and pan fried which I liked, but not very much flavor from the brown butter, herbs or cheese sprinkle, and kind of a let down. That said, I still enjoyed them. For the entrees, she had the scallops over sweet potato puree. The sear could've been better and they seemed just a little tough. I had the Lamb Belly Ragu with pappardelle. The pasta was less than al dente leaning toward chewy and the lamb offering was minimal as was the portion size of both entrees, in my humble opinion. For dessert, I had a double espresso which I'm betting wasn't actually made from an espresso machine, judging by the lack of crema in my cup, but it was OK. The strawberry shortcake was, again, OK. The biscuit was a little dry and overly dense while the strawberries and the ice cream were very nice. Service was good but a little interruptive and prices are presumably high for what we got. The tab minus wine was $100 for two medium/smallish entrees, two apps a dessert and a double espresso...I'd consider it fair had I been wowed but we were both underwhelmed, sorry to say. Lots more places to try, on to the next.

    (3)

  • Heather M.

    The star is for the food albeit small portions and high prices for less than perfection. The lack of stars is for the service. Rude. Everyone from the hostess to the person bringing us water to our waitress seemed bothered that we were there. To pay over $100 for two dishes and two glasses of wine and to be treated like we were a bother is disgusting. I live in this town and work in this town and I was treated like a second class citizen. I heard the rudeness caring on around me toward other other customers as well. Big mistake for business. I'm not rude so I did tip my waitress 20% but felt that she deserved zero. I've eaten here before and didn't feel quite as slighted but I won't be returning and I'll be sure to pass along the information to my friends and colleagues. There are a lot of choices in Birmingham. I suggest you choose someplace else.

    (1)

  • Robert M.

    Delicious. Wine selection is solid. Scallops and lamb belly ragu was excellent. My wife and I will definitely be back soon.

    (4)

  • Matthew R.

    Visited Tallulah's for a work function where we had a set menu and the entire restaurant booked out. Upon arrival I was pleasantly greeted by the hostess who checked my jacket and was promptly offered a glass of delicious wine. Our menu consisted of two salads; a pretty standard mixed greens and spinach with a medley of vegetables and a very unique frisée & crispy pork belly salad. We had a great choice of three protein options; salmon, eye of rib loin, chicken. Also on the menu was a vegetarian pasta dish. We had family style sides of asparagus, Brussels sprouts and frites. Our desert was a delicious spin on strawberry shortcake. I can say this venue knows how to treat their guests. We had a personal introduction from the manager on duty and then a great explanation of the menu by the head chef. Waitstaff was on point, always refilling water and adult beverages and clearing dishes as they were completed. The food was well prepared and came out promptly and accurate. The bartender was excellent and made delicious cocktails without any hesitation. I think the best part was the intimate setting that prompted conversations and mingling amongst peers. All in all my experience was fantastic and I will definitely visit again. This would make for a fantastic date night before going to a show.

    (4)

  • Richard R.

    Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro in Birmingham Michigan. I continue to congratulate this extraordinary restaurant for being totally on top of its game. I have never found a restaurant that makes you feel so at home as Tallulah. The food is outstanding. The service is great. Such a beautiful and soft restaurant in style and design. I have recently tried out some of the new City restaurants popping up around the City and after I have finished my dinner at these other restaurants who try so hard and fail so fast, I wonder why I just didn't go to Tallulah, who does it all right every time. Birmingham is so fortunate to have such a wonderful intimate restaurant. Richard C. Rollins

    (5)

  • Sara N.

    Not only is it a very charming environment with delicious food and amazing wine, but the service is exemplary. I went with a girlfriend last night for the 50% off bottle night, and from the moment I was greeted at the door and seated, we were treated like we were the most important people in the restaurant, which was completely full of seemingly happy customers. Our waiter and servers were all very friendly and knowledgable. They helped us choose a very interesting bottle of wine, explaining the varietal at length. Our water glasses were never empty, and neither were our wine glasses. They checked on us throughout the meal, which they were also very knowledgeable about, explaining all of the components and answering all of our questions about the menu. The meal itself (Lamb Belly Ragu) was beyond description. The plating was gorgeous, the portion size was perfect, and every last bite was the most amazing thing I'd ever eaten. We plan on making this a monthly trip, because it's just a great place to sit and catch up over an incredible meal with a great bottle of wine. We can't wait to go back next month and try something new.

    (5)

  • sun k.

    OMG!!! This place was horrible. I went with my girl friends for GNO on last week. The restaurant was very busy. They have a nice decoration however the table was very tiny space with other customer table. The salad was extremely horrible. They are extremely over charged. Only a few green for 12 dollars. And pork chop was not even cook without any question. I requested water for three times. They have a lot of servers but not for us.

    (1)

  • B R.

    Always a great choice in Birmingham. Mario is the consummate manager. He is very attentive and pays attention to detail. The food is light and fresh and creative. Mike is a great bartender - just what you need to ease into the weekend. A very adult restaurant!

    (5)

  • Libby T.

    Sometimes an argument can ruin a perfectly good restaurant. I had been to Tallulah once prior with some girlfriends for wine only. It was crowded, which was to be expected on a Saturday night, the wine was good, but otherwise unremarkable. The time in mention was a late, weeknight dinner with my husband, and both of us had reached the point of hangry. We begrudgingly settled on Tallulah, made up by the time we reached a table, but were underwhelmed by the food (JV steak frites, bland pasta and with butter and pepper) and wines. Maybe this is because we were the last/only table there, maybe we had reached the point of hungry that nothing was going to be good, maybe the food is just not great? For a pricy meal, we would rather go elsewhere and be wowed. It's been nearly 6 months and we haven't been back since to give it another try. It often seems empty, so maybe we're not the only ones.

    (3)

  • Matthew S.

    I love this restaurant. Every time I go they are featuring new appetizers and entrees that are always spectacular. Ask for Andrew as your server, he knows what he's talking about.

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Can't poach an egg. Ordered the Lamb Belly Ragu and the "poached" egg on top was solid. Also there wasn't lamb to be found. Only a few very very small chewy pieces of something that was probably supposed to be the lamb. I'm still picking it out of my teeth hours later. It's disappointing because the shrimp appetizer and cocktail were so good. It just reminds me of small restaurants with too many entrees where you know a few of them will be fails, guess I picked one.

    (2)

  • Sean C.

    Did not make it clear that you don't accept online reservations for Valentine's Day or disable online system. On top of that they didn't even accommodate us when it's their mistake. They need to get it together.

    (1)

  • Adam O.

    Came back in here again recently for a celebratory dinner. Beautifully lit for the holidays, service was very good as before. Had some nice wine. Ordered a few small plates to share. Got the special butternut squash soup with pork belly and pepitas. Really good. Probably better than really good. Followed that up with the asparagus side. Roasted with a truly amazing lemon tarragon sauce. Probably the tastiest asparagus I've ever had which is a good thing since it cost 7 bucks and there were only 7 asparagus on the plate. Ordered the chilled shrimp app as well. Loved the avocado mousse, pickled veggies. Reminded me of a couple amazing shrimp dishes I just had down in Charleston. Problem is that the actual shrimp here were barely edible. Must have been frozen and then thawed, but had an all together unpleasant texture. Shame since the rest of the dish was awesome. Understanding metro Detroit restaurants can't walk outside, drive 15 minutes to the coast and pluck some fresh ones out of the water but I guess I expect better for a place like this. All told, still a really nice place to grab a bite in Birmingham but with the constant influx of great new places (i.e.The Stand) need to step their game up just a notch.

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    We came here for drinks one evening. This place is gorgeous in a clean and elegant way. We sat at the bar and were greeted by a very nice bartender. He helped us choose our handcrafted cocktails. All were delicious. I had "the Maple". So good! We then decided to get the cheese platter. Soooo delicious! Each cheese was paired with a fruit or fruit relish. It was not only delicious but the presentation was top notch. This is such a beautiful little fancy place for a date. Can't wait to come back and try out the full menu.

    (5)

  • Kathy P.

    I came here last week with one of my best friends for dinner. We started with calamari as we caught up over drinks. They provide you with an iPad-like device that gives you a thorough inventory list of all the wines they have on hand. Based on the preferance of your palate or the type of dish you are ordering, there's an abundance to choose from! For dinner, I asked for the sea bass filet. The dish was fantastic! Not disappointing at all! Sea bass is one of my favorite dishes and Tallulah nailed it! I had a glass of moscato d'asti for dessert which was delish as well! Great lighting, central Bham location, delicious food, and friendly service! Overall, a great find!

    (5)

  • James G.

    Talullah! What else is there to say? Fantastic menu, fantastic wine, knowledgable wait staff, and romantic jazz playing. What's not to like. A true gem in Birmingham, MI!

    (5)

  • Johnny V.

    Very nice spot in Bham, Really enjoyed the ambiance which was dim and soft, generally quiet. More relaxed than the madness of some restaurants. Did not try the food but will go back for that aspect, this was more of a wine over meeting thing. Hostess was very nice but left us hanging too long during a time that not much was going on. We ordered a couple glasses of pinot noir which were great but service was slower than would have liked. Server recommended a nice merlot. Wine list is extensive and if you love your vino this is a must try. Looking forward to dinner there soon.

    (4)

  • Jennifer S.

    My husband and I came to Tallulah for a date night this past Saturday night. We rarely get out alone so I was specifically looking for an upscale, trendy, classy restaurant that is not at all kid friendly. Tallulah certainly served up what we were looking for. We didn't have a reservation (we arrived around 7 pm) so had to sit at the bar, which was fine with us, and we were able to be seated right away so that was pretty impressive. Next time I would certainly make a reservation. The bartender who served us was super nice, talked just enough but not too much to be bothersome. Service was maybe a teensy bit slower since we were being served by the bartender versus a waiter at a table but we were there for a leisurely dinner so didn't mind at all. As for the food, maybe it's just that we haven't been out in a long time but oh man was it good. We started with the mussels appetizer which were divine. The sauce was sooooooo good, not too overly butterly like it can so often be. And they brought us big fresh rolls to dip in the excess sauce, yum! For dinner my husband got the filet and I got the duck. My husband's filet was mouth wateringly tender and delicious. I think even better than Chop House in Ann Arbor...but then again it's been a very long time since I've been to Chop House! My duck was also excellent. It's served medium rare-medium which normally would be fine for me, but being 14 weeks pregnant I should have asked for it to be closer to medium. I ended up giving my husband the rarest piece and eating the rest. It came with some greenery, and sweet potato mash. We opted to skip dessert (I had some self serve tart yogurt on the brain for later), and had some decaf cappuccinos instead. Also very delicious. All in all, if we're ever blessed with a babysitter again I'm sure we'll be back!

    (5)

  • Eric T.

    Food was awful. Plain and simple. Had a number of apps and we had 7 different entrees at our table.. Service was great, but the food was god awful.

    (2)

  • Eric T.

    Except for the two hairs found in separate dishes, then the final 3rd hair on a dinner napkin and then getting the Chablis when we ordered the Chardonnay. All that aside it was fine. We were not comped anything so there is some service and cleanliness issues to be worked on. Food was good tho and yes I feel weird saying that.

    (2)

  • E R.

    Had the chestnut bisque with duck confiet soup. Best soup I've ever had. And the hen was enormous and delicious with polenta and a side of Brussels sprouts Great friendly and knowledgeable staff

    (5)

  • Alyssa M.

    Came here for my sisters birthday for drinks at the bar. The ambiance is fabulous--sophisticated, yet non-pretentious, and welcoming. We ordered a round of champs--it was a Michigan variety that was slightly sweet--absolutely loved it! The restaurant manager and bar tender were very friendly as well. I cannot wait to come back to try their scrumptious looking menu. It's also pretty cool that they served a lot of locally produced food.

    (4)

  • Sean P.

    My wife and I had a delicious meal here and we would definitely go back again (if funds allow). Here is my short recap. Ambience: we were seated next to a big table of typical Birmingham types - they were just fine but plenty loud and drunk which made for interesting people watching for us. In no way was that offensive. Our waiter was great, we were greeted nicely, and the decor was interesting and romantic. Drinks: I had a cocktail to start which was very nice, and they have a good selection of cocktails on a menu. My wife is pregnant so they made her a virgin mojito (we just asked for an interesting virgin drink) which she enjoyed. I had a half bottle of a tremendous white Burgundy which seemed to be at a reasonable prize. Appetizers: the salad we had featured mozzarella and tomatoes and was probably the highest note of the meal. We also ordered the cheese plate which was about the best cheese plate I've ever had and not terribly expensive. Main courses: I had a game bird and it was cooked nicely and the wife had noodle pasta with a ragu. The main courses were just fine - not bad but definitely not the high point. Dessert - I didn't even look at the menu, we just asked if they had sorbet which they had and it hit the spot. A very nice way to round out a meal. I have seen a lot of negative reviews and I could see there being issues with service, ambience, or even mediocre meals, but my experience was very good and I'd recommend giving it a try for the excellent wine, fun atmosphere, and interesting cuisine.

    (4)

  • Patricia D.

    Always dependable, always great. The owner Mario is always in house and always friendly, Chef Nick is one of the best young chefs in the state, all the bartenders are great, the customers at the bar are great, Nick who helps manage is great, wine list is great, food is great. -enough said?

    (5)

  • Mel Z.

    Amazing is the only way to explain. The service was just perfect. The Barbara wine was incredible for only $40 / bottle. I am not sure what I enjoyed more : the jumbo shrimp & salad combo appetizer or the grilled carrots and cheesy grits that accompanied the perfectly cooked filet mignon. Can't wait to go back. Make sure you check out the reinvented Tallulah.

    (5)

  • Maggie H.

    I love Wine. I Love Cheese. Which automatically caused me to gravitate to Tellulah. My husband and I have been to Tellulah multiple times for a quick date night and each time we have been impressed. We tend to sit bar-side rather than at a table, however that has never hindered our experience. First off their wine selection is one of the better we have seen. In addition, the staff is very knowledgeable about wine and my husband and I have had long discussions with their bartender about different regions and wineries we have been to. Onto the cheese/meat board. They vary the selection based on what is available and everything we have tried has been exceptional along with the jam/pickled pairings. When we have had dinner at Tellulah it has also been exceptional lighter fare. Their chef has a great eye for picking quality ingredients and pairing them together well. As I said we have been to Tellulah many times and will return.

    (4)

  • Amy M.

    My husband and I went here last weekend for a special meal. For the price of our dinners I wasn't impressed. On a positive note, the wine steward was very knowledgable and helped us select a wonderful bottle to accompany our opposite meals( he had fish, I had red meat). My husbands bouillabaisse was very, very good, with large tender shrimp and great flavor. My filet on the other hand was over cooked (very well done instead of medium), although the accompanying vegetables were delicious. The atmosphere is bland- I guess you could call it west coast if you were stretching. The tables are closely spaced and the lighting is very bright near the windows and very dim towards the kitchen making it hard to read the menu (and yes I have young eyes!). The kitchen is loud and very close to all tables, which makes me think of a Bill Knapps. The part that really brings this review down to a 2 stars is the maitre d's lousy service. Although we arrived before the two couples before us, the maitre d seated both of the others first- one without a reservation, the other who was an hour early for a reservation. This left my husband and I with a lousy table near the kitchen, while the other couples sat window side and only had drinks. For a $300 dinner I expect much better service. Needless to say, Talulah is off our restaurant list.

    (2)

  • Jenai D.

    Third time at Tallulah this week and each time the food has gotten progressively worse. Our server was awesome (per usual) - very helpful and accommodating and nice. The oysters were great, the wine was good. Everything else we had was way too salty. We had the duck (over-salted and way too much balsamic). Same thing with the asparagus and the flat bread. The dessert was completely underwhelming (and it was $12). Dear Tallulah, you are cute and have an air of romance. Your service is great but your food is lame especially for the price. I don't think we'll meet again.

    (3)

  • David M.

    Such great food here. Great wine list also. Ate here last night with our extended family of eight. Service, food, wine, it was all wonderful. I Loved the duck and the cheese course. I can,t wait to return, and I will. My favorite restaurant in the area?

    (5)

  • Caleb Y.

    I had a nice time here with my wife. Let this be prefaced by saying this review is not based on a full meal. We only went for some wine and some appetizers. With that being said, we very much enjoyed the restaurant. Our waiter was well informed and nice. The wine was good - they had a nice list - and it was not TOO overpriced. The Caprese Salad app was good and tasted very fresh. The scallop app was, simply, delicious! Very enjoyable experience.

    (3)

  • Lisa T.

    I have seen some negative reviews on Yelp, and quite honestly, am shocked. My husband and I have visited in excess of 5 times and not once have had a negative comment about the food, the service, or the ambiance. Yes, seating is a bit tight if you are in the middle of the restaurant, versus the perimeter. But, overall it is all first class, here. We drive almost an hour to get here, and it is worth every second. Yes, it is expensive. But the food is of the highest quality, with the restaurant trying to source locally. Some of the items are even organic. But the quality is there. We dined (and I say dined as this restaurant is an experience, not a quick bite), there last night as a late Valentines dinner for my husband and I. While I would describe it as French influenced, I would say that many of the items also had warm spiced back notes. Their food is not masked by heavy sauces, but rather complimented with spices which enhance the underlying food. I did treat myself last night and got the special, a rib cap. Yes, it was pricey ($45) ...but, boy was it worth it! No, it wasn't like the old 96-er in John Candy's movie The Great outdoors, but you know what- it was the most tender piece of steak I have EVER had. It was served with red wine reduction shallots, Gouda grits, roasted organic carrots, and duchess potatoes. I tasted the potatoes, and would say those were not bad, but the least memorable of the meal. My husband had the DOUBLE lamb chops with kale and a cucumber compliment. We did have the special appetizers, the sausage with house made mustard, and the foie gras (which was a made as a pate). Both were excellent as well. For dessert, the raspberry tart with vanilla house made gelato. Dessert was shared (well, I had a bite, hubby had the rest). Dessert was not overly sweet, which was PERFECT. Both of us are NOT light eaters, and we leave there stuffed every time. We typically request Stacey as a server, and she is wonderful! Very knowledgeable about the menu and the wines. Makes for a great evening. The wine list is not only extensive, but it is a GREAT wine list. Some places have wine lists which are BIG, but not GOOD. Makes a difference. If price is a consideration, I would suggest sharing a salad, appetizer, and or dessert. You will have more than enough along with an entrée. Or, join them early for their wine and appetizer specials, and sit at the bar. Trust me; I do not know how others have been disappointed!

    (5)

  • Mari T.

    LOVE this place! They use local produce and everything taste so fresh and great. My favourite is whole trout with ruby grapefruit and watercress and I know I'm going to have this same dish every time we go back! You can ask your server for wine pairing and we really enjoyed it. They are normally fully booked for Friday / Saturday evenings. Outside seating is first come first served, so if you are not in hurry, it's an option to wait at the bar, too. (I also have to mention bar area gets crowded too...) I also like the atmosphere and how the kitchen is open to the dining area.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Service was impeccable. Staff was as refreshing as were each of the courses. They were fresh and brilliant! I came with friend that lives in the area and she definitely hit a home run by suggesting this place to have dinner! We sat outside in beautiful Birmingham to watch the people and cars roll by:)

    (4)

  • Chelsea A.

    Tallulah is on my short list of best restaurants in Michigan. The atmosphere inside of Tallulah is my idea of perfect. Creamy walls with the spicy notes of wood, sensual snow white marble, the warm flicker of candle light, glittering table settings... I have fallen helplessly in love with the decadent embrace that is walking into Tallulah. Seriously, it's that magical in there. The service, for me, has been wonderful. I think some people may not realize how the service industry works at this level. For some, food service is a step forward into the larger world of the hospitality field, a learning process on the journey to chef, bartender or sommelier. If you have experienced service that seems new or inexperienced, please just ask to have a more knowledgeable staff member assist. Don't assume the restaurant is hiring dingbats like some reviewers. The more likely conclusion is that the waiter is extremely passionate about food, wine and service, but is just new at it. Are you too good to be part of someones journey? As far as the food at Tallulah, it is in my opinion, the best of the best. The charcuterie is my obsession. Meats cured in house, accompanied by crisp and fresh walnut bread as well as these delightful soft mini English muffins.The star of the accoutrement are the house made pickles. Order extra, they are incredible. I must also have the cheese trio to pair with the charcuterie. Sinful. Daily variations insure that you will be consistently non-bored. I suggest an order of their olives and marcona almonds to complete a topnotch charcuterie and cheese feast. If you are a glutton like me, go for the mind blowing walleye sliders. Even if your favorite fish sandwich is from Wendy's, you will be a fan. The walleye seems to be dusted and pan fried, served on a bed of pickled carrot and daikon (white radish), spicy aioli, nestled into a soft, warm mini bun. All the sliders are superb, but the walleye and pork are the standouts. Okay, so are the Wagyu sliders. They are all quite delish. In the event that you don't care for an array of small plates and want to go with entrees, my favorites have been the ricotta stuffed anglonotti, which is fresh pasta served with a somewhat sweet squash puree and perfectly cooked kale; Otto's farms chicken with quinoa, cucumber, yogurt and mint; and the braised lamb ragu which is fresh saffron cavatelli, kale and roasted veg. There are so many options on this menu that are amazing, it's hard not to list them all, but I will stop here. I insist that you try Tallulah! The owner is a sommelier, so have no doubts that the wine parings and selection will be on point.

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    Service was great!!! The good was ok. Nothing too special. Limited menu, but enough for everyone to enjoy and not get we had a party of 7. Very happy about the service - but I may have mentioned that earlier.

    (3)

  • Kelly O.

    This is an excellent place for a date night. We had reservations, so were seated promptly when we arrived. This was my first time here. The restaurant had great ambiance. The lighting was soft, and there were many windows in the front. Tallulah had a very interesting menu and a great wine selection. Our server was great! She was not pushy at all and allowed us to really enjoy our dining experience. The food presentation was classy and really highlighted the food. Overall, I would definitely recommend this restaurant and look forward to going back again.

    (5)

  • Charles B.

    I'm not sure I would go with A-OK for a place I will not rush back to, but I will stick with the three stars -- downgrading to two seems too harsh. The food was pretty good, if a little spotty (the dessert we ordered was simply ill-conceived, brussel sprouts were unacceptably drowning in grease), drinks were fine, and the service was good enough. But big caveat there -- our waiter was definitely under the influence of something, and kind of hovered oddly. Plus he undercharged us, which I guess isn't a complaint (we did point it out, and were profusely thanked) but it highlighted the odd level of competence. But the big thing is that this place is waaay too expensive. Absolutely do not order wine here; the markup is at least 3 times retail -- I know not many places follow the ols 2x rule of thumb, but there were bottles here that, good as they are, I would choke on at $60 or $80. And the food was not cheap. My wife had the scallops, which we good, but it was something like $36 for three scallops. So bottom line is that this place is fine, and perhaps more than anything just reinforces my prejudice against dining in the 'Ham. But there are better (and better-valued) experiences to be had.

    (3)

  • Christie M.

    Service: excellent He was nice and had great advice on wine choices. Wine: yummy! I tried both recommendations. ^_^ happy camper. Food: agree with some reviews... Stick to wine and cheese here. They were the highlights. Also had tasting of charcuterie and it was good too. I'll post my pix. I was too full but ordered the charred octopus for my entree. Hubby had the steak. It was ok. A little over cooked for Medium. Not as impressed. Dessert, had the hot chocolate cake...lava cake. Good but the butter ice cream with it was an excellent combo. Next time we'll be back for the cheese and wine and the charcuterie. Parked at meter across from this place. Sucked that it had an hour limit. Dinner was slow so hubby had to go feed it halfway through.

    (4)

  • Caitlin S.

    Love the food and service at Tallulah. We've been here a number of times, just us sitting at the bar, with friends...the service is always spot on. The wine selection is very nice and the decor--mostly white with subtle lighting and metal accents--is really very warm and inviting, even in a winter blizzard.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : No
    Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : Yes
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro

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