The Third Bird
1612 Harmon Pl, Minneapolis, MN, 55403
The Third Bird Menu
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Address :
1612 Harmon Pl
Minneapolis, MN, 55403 - Phone (612) 767-9495
- Website https://www.thethirdbirdmpls.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Samantha E.
I'm going to write an update to my review after we recently visited for brunch. The brunch menu prices are much more reasonable compared with the portion sizes. We had great service and our food came out quickly. Will definitely go back for brunch--I just wish they would augment their dinner service to reflect how awesome the brunch was.
(4)Jenny R.
Lovely restaurant! Shared the salmon carpaccio (pretty small portion, beware), the Caesar, half chicken and roasted carrots. Service was wonderful - described the cocktails beautifully. Made great suggestions for sharing. Would definitely, definitely go back.
(5)Jessica S.
I am enamored by this space!! The European-esque stone alleyway behind the building leads to the main entrance, and kicks off The Third Bird experience on the right foot. The *space* itself is light and airy with high ceilings spanning two floors and top to bottom windows offering an unobstructed view of Loring Park. The decor is simple elegant yet quirky from the wall of mirrors (varied in size, shape, and color) to the floor to ceiling monocle-donning pink-hued hum-ird (a mythical yet sophisticated bird-human hybrid) graphic to the wood-topped arced bar that punctuates a small balconied upper floor private seating area. As much as I want to move into this space, we had come to chow. The *menu* was as whimsical as the space and its layout easy-to-follow with varying text sizes and boldness that elucidates the main dish in larger, bold type and details in a smaller size--kind of reminiscent of data visualization through word clouds. #marketresearchnerd Sidetracked by my mindless drivel once more. The crux of the matter... the *eats.* It was brunch time. I wanted something light and sweet.... *Yogurt, berries, and granola.* ~$6. Flavorful, fresh. A good balance of ingredients. My qualm - so insubstantial, hardly constituting even a snack. Cheap enough though. Nonetheless, it just seemed not even menu-worthy. My friends got more normal meals. *Shirred Eggs* in a mason jar with tomato gravy (apparently really yummy). And *Pork Belly* - didn't catch how this was as I've got no desire to ever ingest it However, I could see a lot of care and *high quality* ingredients went into the preparation of all the menu items. At the same time, portions here skew *small* and a *tad pricey.* I could foresee boosting this to a 5-star establishment, if I opt for a menu item other than yogurt, which was only good but not incredible (but can bacteria-fermented milk ever achieve this status?).
(4)Grace H.
A little hard to find. Maybe because the GPS was confused. If I had realized it was so close to cafe lurcat maybe we wouldn't have had to loop around as much. Also if it wasn't so cold out it would have been nice to take a stroll around Loring Park since metered parking lasted for 2 hours, more than enough time to finish lunch. The official restaurant entrance is in the alleyway but since it was our first time we walked past the back entrance. There was a sign that said please use the alley entrance but the hostess saw us and let us in since she didn't want to make us walk so much in the cold. Our server was attentive and was able to give detailed descriptions of the entrees when I asked her about them. We started with the French onion soup. There wasn't loads of cheese like the French onion at Meritage but I guess that was healthier. The portion for the pasta I ordered looked small initially since it was all bunched up in a ball, but the rabbit with it was good and it was actually pretty filling after unraveling the noodles. I tried a couple bites of my boyfriend's chicken fried sandwich. It was decent although admittedly I'm not too big of a fan of bacon and avocado. We both enjoyed the kettle cooked chips on the side though. The tres leches cake to finish it off was decent. I really liked the atmosphere. They had numark and Pioneer dj controllers on a table so I'd like to come back when they have live music. The bathrooms were clean and had real fresh flowers in them. It looks like there's a private dining area upstairs for special events. Overall I like birds so I'm a huge fan of the artwork here.
(4)Katie B.
I am giving Third Bird three stars for service & four for food. Service -- We arrived fifteen minutes early for a 9pm reservation & were seated right away. Great news! Except then our table sat for twenty minutes waiting for our server to come over to answer questions on the drink menu. This was a theme throughout the night -- sit & wait to be tended to. Normally I'd let this pass on a weekend night, but the place was only half full. It was pretty apparent they were understaffed. I think our server was covering half of the tables that night, or maybe he just made himself look really busy. Food & drink -- I had a rum drink that I'm now forgetting the name of. It was okay, but I've had better. The pear drink that my friend had was really freshing -- next time, I'll go with that! I agree with the other reviews on here that the portions are small for 4 or more guests. We ordered three appetizers: bacon & cheddar popcorn, grilled asparagus, & flatbread. Everything was awesome. These portions were the right size for four people! For dinner we ordered a half roasted chicken, the chorizo scallops & clams, & the pork belly. I was less impressed with these portions. I totally understand that these plates are meant to be shared, but we got two scallops for four people. Why should we have to order another $18 plate just so that each of us gets to try one scallop? The chicken was awesome. Very tender & juicy. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pork belly because my friends ate the whole dang thing while I was chatting...those sneaks! All three of them said it was some of the best pork belly that they had had. Wish I'd had some :) Bottom line -- Third Bird is still new, given that it opened only a couple of weeks ago. I'll give them a second chance for dinner, & definitely want to try them for brunch too. I just hope their service improves. Recommend this spot for a nicer date night & recommend you don't come starving given the portion sizes. Oh, & just want to give a shout out to the rustic / industrial vibe. I'm a sucker for that feeling in a restaurant!
(3)Sara J.
We noticed this place on our walk home from a brewery and made a mental note to come back in the morning, we are very glad we did. They ask that you enter via the alley door but there isn't a sign so we had a bit of trouble finding it, the hostess must have noticed our lost expressions because she peaked her head outside and invite us in. The restaurant is quite large inside, much bigger than it looks from the front, we had no trouble getting a seat right away. Now for what you came here for, the food, yes the food, yumm! We had the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and their version of a pork belly benedict. The biscuits and gravy were large, you get a lot of food and a ton of sausage in the gravy, overall its a very good meal. As good as the biscuits and gravy were the benedict (grilled pork belly,Poached eggs, Ploye, SMOKED MAPLE HOLLANDAISE ) was even better. I wasn't familiar with Ploye but it turns out to be a thin non-sweet pancake, different than a normal benedict because you don't have the large amount of bread, this is more focused on the thick and delicious pork belly. Not mentioned in the menu description is what I believe to be a version of collared greens, they are slightly spicy and go perfectly with the sweet and savory nature of the meal. I would recommend both of the dished we tried. My only asks for this place are: bottomless mimosas (doesn't everyone always want that?) and a patio for next summer. Overall I am very excited for this place, we will be back for lunch/dinner and will probably put this on our list of places to take out of town guests, it's a win for the Loring Park neighborhood.
(5)Lauren S.
We pulled up to the front of the restaurant let the valet take our car and as he was pulling away he said the entrance is around the corner in the alley. What's up with that? There is front door but they encourage you not to use it. Not sure why. Well on to the food. We started with the flatbread appetizer. It is a fancy name for toasted pita and tapenade. We ordered roasted carrots which were good and asparagus which was just fine. We had french fries for the table which were amazing. Crispy, almost burnt just the way I like them. I order the bison steak. It was very good but not OMG I can't wait to have it again. We ended with the brownie sundae. I was a little disappointed. The banana pudding was a bit runny and brownies were a bit tasteless. I do have to say our waiter was delightful. I would for sure go back- great atmosphere-decent menu- great vibe but not a memorable meal.
(3)Kinsey A.
I had the grilled pork belly with poached eggs, ploye and smoked maple hollandaise sauce. The combination of the ploye texture with the savory pork belly created a wonderful experience that was compounded by the perfectly poached eggs. In addition to the wonderful brunch food, I paired it with a cup of black as night coffee. The coffee was a very pleasant robust medium roast that was not made from your standard run of the mill pre-ground beans that you would find at a typical restaurant. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend this location to friends and families. I look forward to going back for supper and having one of their delicious looking cocktails.
(5)Anna A.
The food was delicious! My friends and I shared the burrata, flatbread and walnut dip, and buffalo fries. I enjoyed the bison and tarjarin pasta. And for dessert the coffee with the chocolate brownie, banana pudding, and toasted marshmallow sauce was amazing! The cream for my coffee came in a cute metal milk carton! Only 4 stars because the service was good in spurts and then confusing. Because the place is new, I suspect this will get better with time. Also, the entrance is found on the alley side and not the sidewalk. The restrooms are poorly marked; one doesn't have a sign, just a black door, and the other has WC on it. The restrooms aren't gender specific, which is nice for keeping the line to the ladies room shorter!
(4)Andrea B.
The environment makes this place. Lots of windows that allow for great light during the day. Music from the 60s was playing. There was a good vibe all around. The bar is such a great spot. I ordered a Nostalgia and paired it with the bison and eggs. Such a tasty meal all around. I wish there were an option for veggies instead of hash browns, but that's just me. It took a bit to get my drink together, but I was pleased once I tasted it. Nice for a solo or group brunch!
(4)Eater M.
Food/Drink: Came here for a Sunday bunch. Admittedly, my buddy and I had a rough weekend so this worked out perfect. Sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The Bloody Mary didn't disappoint and hit the spot, followed by a coffee that was pretty decent. I had the biscuits and gravy knock off which was off the wall good. Great meaty gravy followed by awesome biscuits, feel free to order those directly if needed. Next to me was the steak and eggs rendition, and the eggs looked perfectly scrambled. Kudos to the chef and kitchen staff. They looked soft, fluffy, not soggy, not dry; just right. The menu is short and sweet, but I'm guessing I'd be happy with most anything there and eager to get through it. Ambiance: Yep, I'm trying to channel my inner hipster and be much cooler then I actually am. It's hard, but this place absolutely helps. Pro Tip; The entrance is through the back alley and it's worth it just to set a little bit of design in motion. Once you walk in, you're all good. DJ...check, big windows....check, lots of black, white, and wood... check. You could spend a day instagramming pictures as you pretend to decorate your next place similarly. Service: On point, but a little hipsterish. It was smooth and easy going, but every once in a while I got a hipster vibe which I appreciated, but could definitely put off some people. Don't get me wrong, they were friendly enough and never seemed rushed. Rumor has it this place is also know as a staple for people in the service industry which just kind of made it feel like you're eating with the hip kids at the hip kids house. Overall: Brunch in MN is getting hot and this place serves it up properly. If you're looking for something not in your usual rotation or out of your normal area, this is the place to go. Especially if you want the full monte of being hip, eating hip and seeing hip things you won't go wrong coming here.
(4)Tim T.
What a cool place! I was seated at the bar by the manager, Jessie. They have a great Happy Hour from 4-6(i just missed it) 1/2 price beverages that come in a glass. I had a Sazerac, $13. It's such a complex cocktail and it was perfectly executed by our bartender, Heather. There was a DJ who was creating a great vibe! The music was great and not too loud to have a conversation It was Monday night and we did the buffet family dinner, ($18 general public and $10 restaurant industry folk). Fish and chips and a vegetable curry with rice were the offerings. First of all, the fish was great!! Lightly battered, cooked perfectly and it had a citrus tanginess that did not even require the excellent tartar sauce that was offered. The curry and rice were great too! For dessert I had a Michter's Bourbon, $8 it was delicious and I think it was a great price! I will be back!!
(4)Jocelyn G.
This is a terrifically cute place espcialy the alley entrance. We had a large party. Everyone loved their meals particularly the hamburger, omelette and Cesar salad. The pea soup however was pasty with too much mint. Also there were many flies in the restaurant that keep petering us while we ate which was unsettling. Otherwise the food and service was lovely~
(3)Natalie P.
This review is for brunch, which was delicious! We arrived early on a Sunday (so hungry) to an empty restaurant, giving us our pick of seats. I got their take on Eggs Benedict, which involved pork belly (so great), ploye, and maple hollandaise (somewhat overwhelming). I really like what they've done with the space post-Cafe Maude - the colors are much cleaner and brighter, and the alleyway main entrance (really not that intuitive from the street) has the effect of leaving the front of the restaurant airy and unobstructed. As a Loring Park resident I'm particularly pleased something new and accessible has opened in that block because we don't have a lot of good options! Yum!
(4)Matt K.
This place is super cute. Great atmosphere, nice drink options, and solid food. We shared a flatbread, and had fried chicken club sandwiches and grilled cheese with bacon and egg. Everything was yummy (how can you go wrong!?). Eli, our server, was friendly and nice.
(4)B P.
We were there during restaurant week and two of us ordered from the regular menu and the third one got the prix fix menu for $30. We ordered a $75 wine, that they were out of and instead they suggested another one for a similar price, and really tried to sell us the one for $145... We had the trout for a main dish but it was a very small- appetizer portion, the bison, also very small portion and the pork brisket. The trout was served lukewarm, it tasted ok, the bison and pork brisket were tasty but also very small. We also had two desserts, the donut hole was amazing, the pineapple cake just ok. After a $200 dinner before tip, we returned home and my son had a bowl of cereal as he was still hungry. I don't remember him doing such a thing, since he was a teenager. Bottom line, we all felt that the restaurant was very stingy, and we would all have been much happier if the portions were more reasonable. It wouldn't have cost that much more, and they would have happier and returning customers. Bad business model..
(3)Chris L.
Another success for Kim Bartmann. Went for Saturday brunch and the wife and I both had the bison burger. I;'ve had good and bad with bison burgers, but this was hands down the best I've ever had. In fact, one of the burgers of any type I've had in the Twin Cities. Thousand Island and crisp shredded iceburg lettuce with grilled onions and cheese. Yummy vinger dusted homemade potato chips to go with. We also ordered the buffalo fries and the were great. The space remains basically the same as Cafe Maude with some nice little touches. We'll be back for sure to continue our journey through the brunch menu.
(4)Lisa H.
Absolutely the worst dining experience I've ever had. Food wise. The food is mediocre at best for an exorbitant price point. The portions are minuscule. Hello, is this a small plate? The accoutrements non-existant. The menu is a mess, challenging to decipher. The saving grace, Marina. Awesome customer service. Very empathetic and understanding. Ambiance is nice. The Dj a personal plus. I would come here to drink but I won't be eating here again.
(1)Marie D.
3.5 stars on this visit but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt. Went for a noon lunch, there were about 3 other parties in the whole place and they were out of 3 of their entrees already. I know that happens with smaller menus and high demand, but there was hardly anyone there and lunch had just begun. Moving to a second (or third, or fourth?) choice, I decided on the cold fried chicken club sandwich. Harissa mayo, roasted tomatoes, and excellent cornmeal fried chicken made for some awesome flavor. Unfortunately, the bread it was served on was super soggy the second it arrived. I think they fried it in a pan with butter (delicious idea, don't get met wrong) when the should have maybe toasted it or just used more substantial bread. It came with house-made chips that were perfectly done, so I ended up turning the soggy, deconstructed remains of my sandwich into nachos with them, so you know, nachos=win. The menu was great, the location is charming (note: alley entrance), the service was good, so I'll definitely be back, I'm an optimist.
(4)WestCoastYelper W.
Had brunch here on a recent Sunday morning. I am a huge fan of most of Barman's restaurants. I love her food politics, the design, the thoughtful menus, etc. In fact, I think Kim Bartman's restaurants, in many ways, embody the essence of the Minneapolis food scene. That being said, we had brunch at Third Bird and were very disappointed. The service was EXTREMELY slow, the food was underwhelming, and they were totally inflexible about changes to the menu (despite the note at the bottom inviting customers to share dietary needs). For example, I wanted an alternative to meat and was not given any option. Really, you can't sub a small side salad for sausage? I really hope this place works out--it's such a nice location and the menu is great--in theory.
(2)Adam M.
Happy to report better experiences than our first attempt. We've now been twice for brunch. The food was excellent both times. The service felt a little too cool for school the first time, but today our server (Krista) was outstanding. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. She is what any staff should be shooting for. We'll have to come back for dinner. Here's hoping that the reception is like today and not our first attempt to visit.
(4)Franesco M.
Two stars to be nice.... Disappointing overall when you consider all the factors. Read some reviews that seemed harsh but I now agree with them. Let's see how long it lasts. Table of 4. Bloody Mary's, nothing special at all. Bison burger the best choice, cooked well and a good size. Bison steak - good flavor well cooked, rest of dish was mediocre. Breakfast breakfast, pass. Pork belly, not good, 3 tiny bits of thick bacon broiled with a touch of paprika is what I though when I ate it.... Really disappointing. I would have given 3 stars but, they are trying to be trendy and foods and completely missing the point, open in the burbs and you might get away with it. Will not return.m
(2)John M.
I went here last night and I thought it was good. It is the kind of place that charges you more than what they should but I don't know if a lot of people in that area care about that. The service was great. We had a waiter that was very personable, attentive and friendly. I got the pork brisket and was expecting a big plate of meat but got a fancy little dish with a portion size smaller than most appetizers. I guess that's their style. It was good, nothing to cry home about though. I saw they were on a list of best burgers in the Twin Cities and my friend tried the burger. He's had a lot of burgers in the Twin Cities and said this one was just okay. It's a great hangout spot though. The food isn't amazing, but it's good and it's a really cool place to hang out.
(4)Anne R.
I was really excited about this place but left feeling unsatisfied. We walked in at 5:30pm with a reservation and the place wasn't quite half full. Super cute ambience, and such a fun spot with the alleyway entrance. The service was lovely, nothing over the top in either direction, during our entire experience. We ordered some cocktails, the Perplexed Pear, which was perfectly tart and refreshing. About what I expected for $10. The menu is complex and interesting, though not always easy to tell exactly what you're ordering. The wait staff was obliging with questions. I ordered the scallops and my friend ordered the chicken thigh. Both were absolutely scrumptious, but extremely small portions for the price. The scallops, with corn pudding and clams and chorizo, ran $18 and was an appetizer portion. Two scallops, 4 tiny clams, a tablespoon of corn pudding and bits of chorizo. Absolutely delicious. But, we left hungry. Perhaps if you have the cash to throw down for salads, appetizers, and additional plates to share this will work for you. However, for my money, it was a little disappointing.
(3)Katie N.
I wanted to like this place so much but was bummed out by the food. Service was great, good drink selection, really nice bar, but the food was just so-so. I'd be totally willing to give this place another shot though, I'm rooting for something to succeed in that location. I'd still recommend checking it out, it's super cute and maybe I just hit on an off night.
(3)Abigail C.
Loved the soup of the moment - a velvety carrot! The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. The place is a little noisy with that high, tin ceiling, so not a great place for intimate conversations... But a great place to enjoy friends and family. Did I mention they have a dj curating the mood music?
(4)Barry R.
I was forced to go to the Third Bird because the restaurant that I was going to next door was booked for a private party. I think that may have been the case with a lot of the customers that were at this restaurant the same night. The restaurant could not come close to handling the crowd---even though a Friday night before the holidays. We sat at the bar, the service was at best spotty, the food was B and expensive. The worst part of the experience was the obvious frustration on the part of the staff who took their frustration out on the customer. They were very curt and seemed mad at how busy they were. It took 15 minutes to get the check and another 10 minutes until they picked the check up to charge the sale. And they appeared mad at me. If you are in Loring Park and look for the Third Bird, you won't find it. All signs say "The Bird" kinda confusing and silly if you ask me. Not going back being treated so poorly.
(2)James L.
Attentive service, crazy reasonable prices, crazy delicious food. You have never had chicken like this. Dinner for two with wine under 80.
(5)Megan D.
I love the changes they made to the space. The bar is beautiful and the bison burger was cooked perfectly, just a little salty (and I love salt). I will return to this place for dinner and will add it to the list of places to pop in for a beverage!
(4)Tina C.
The ambiance was really fun and trendy, but the food was just OK. Don't come hungry because the service is extremely slow and the portions are tiny. I ordered the caesar salad and it was literally three pieces of romaine with some dressing and super hard croutons. I also had the salmon-all three bites of it. The flavors were excellent, but it wasn't worth the price. My husband had the burger and loved it. The fries were way too greasy. I wouldn't go back, but I'm glad I experienced it once.
(3)Mike W.
Wow...we took my family and were very pleased! Between all of us (7), we ordered and shared more than half of the menu! Bison Burger... Tartare... Polenta... Pork... Caesar Salad... Roasted Carrots... Braunschweiger... Buffalo Fries... Creme Brûlée... Brownie... Pavlova... etc.!!! I am an old fashion meat and potatoes guy, but I loved it! Flavors galore and done to perfection! Except the American Fries... Burnt! Coffee was excellent as well! A little Spendy, but worth it! It made for an enjoyable adult family gathering! Not for young ones!
(4)Jan K.
Too loud, too salty, too hard to find the entrance! I liked the beet salad and the carrots but the Bison, french fries and flat breads were much too salty. We could hardly carry on a conversation once the place filled up- nothing to absorb ANY noise on the floor or the walls. Food was tasty and the service solicitous.If I lived a block away and loved salt licks I might stop back but with all the other new places to try I'll look for someplace with less salt and less noise.
(3)AspiringFoodie P.
We headed to Third Bird after a show at the Walker. With its recent profile in Mpls/St. Paul magazine we had high hopes. Based on reviews and the pedigree of the restaurateur....I was expecting more from Third Bird. Overall, the menu didn't seem very cohesive. The descriptions were far more interesting than what was actually presented. We had the poutine, bacon/parmesan popcorn, brussel sprouts, caesar salad, cod, bison burger and roasted chicken. Our favorite dish was the poutine. Fries/gravy/cheese curds...what's not to love. The caesar salad was standard...nothing to write home about. Same with the entrees. For $32...expected more than a cut up roast chicken and side of cubed stuffing. Server told us it was the most popular dish on the menu and couldn't figure out why. The cod and bison burger were both overcooked. The brussel sprouts were swimming in oil. Overall, meal was disappointing and not a place I'd go back.
(2)Bridget P.
Modern restaurant with a hipster feel. Very modern and quaint feel without many tables. I would recommend a reservation. It was nice to see a menu that was a little different but I would not recommend this restaurant if you're going out with a picky eater. The service was great. Parking can be difficult. Overall, good food and service.
(4)Fiona H.
Went for dinner on a Sunday evening with a few friends. They had plenty of tables, but couldn't seat us at a table because they were short staffed. Kind of weird, but no problem- we sat at the bar which had plenty of space ad pleasant. Between the four of us, we got the bison burger (didn't try it but supposed to be good), half a roasted chicken, burrata salad, buffalo fries, and flatbread with some type of pesto. The chicken was delectable- very moist and tender with a crispy skin. It came wiith stuffing in rectangular form which was pretty tasty. Flatbread was delicious as well (naan like in texture). The buffalo fries were a surprising hit with very intense flavor and chunks of blue cheese and celery. The burrata salad was a bit tame. Overall, the menu looks interesting (they had run out of burrata and bison) and I would go back there to try some more stuff!
(4)Nancy M.
Went for the first time for brunch. Beautiful fall morning and not packed. Had checked out the menu on line, so knew what I was going to order. We both had the leek and mushroom omelet which comes with a big side of green salad, little cheddar buttermilk biscuits with apple butter, hash browns, juice, and I had a bacon side and hubby had sausage. The service was a little slow, and food came out unevenly. We first got biscuits and the meat and hash browns. My bacon was burned black and returned for a do-over. Then hubby got his omelet and mine arrived ten minutes later. The omelets were very light and fluffy and savory. No salt or pepper on the table, but the dishes were perfectly prepared and seasoned. Cheddar biscuits were tender, but dry and would not get them again. Our server was smart and pleasant and a small overcharge on the biscuits resulted in them voiding the charge for them altogether. Very nice space, beautiful windows across from Loring Park makes for a great view. Beverage menu had witty little comments under each selection. I would very much go back to try the bison burger, which I understand is fabulous, as well as the roasted chicken. a little spendy, but worth it.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Lunched here yesterday to celebrate a special occasion. The only other people there lunching on a Monday at 1pm were a few retired people. But it looked like we were having more fun because we were ordering fairly heavily off the drink menu. Sat inside due to the heat, but the a/c didn't seem to be working. Our waiter was very pleasant and filled our waters repeatedly (thank you). Loved my cocktail. At the waiters recommendation, I ordered the smoked trout salad. Good flavor. Not overly smoked. Perfect amount of vinaigrette. My only (big) complaint is that it looked like a side salad. My second or third bite was a fairly large leaf of lettuce I had to kind of shove in (hey we've all been there) and when I looked down: there went half my salad. Big sad face! I was still hungry afterwards. That is my biggest beef with entree salads: make them big enough to fill me! Argh. Stole a few fries from a friend which were delicious (and very long like witch's fingers) Would I go back? Maybe. I think there are places that serve the same food for less money or better food for the same money. I guess what I'm saying is the value isn't quite there (I think Eli's down the street is a better value). But it has a great location. And our waiter couldn't have been better.
(3)Wendy H.
Saturday morning, 11am. I couldn't find the entrance to this cute looking Bistro. A passer-by on the street saw my befuddlement and directed me down a side alley. Brunch as prompt and delicious. Most of the clientele looked wealthy, well healed, groups of women. Hushed conversations. I sat at the substantial breakfast bar. The couple next to me discussed photography. They frequently said "you know" and prefaced many statements with the word "Like". I hope these tics never emigrate to my speech. On the other side of the breakfast bar people were dressed like wedding guests, mingling in gender defined roles. They looked uncomfortable and fabulous. The bar staff smiled naturally when I spoke but refrained from the more common exultant reaction of "I love your accent". A very comfortable, pleasant place for a single lady to hang out. I'll be back on another weekend
(4)D B.
I love the big windows at this space looking out over the park. That's worth 4 stars for having a seat from which to stare out. But...I might as well have stood in the park and let the wind blow a $100 bill out of my hand ~it would have been more satisfying. Nothing we had here was very good or well executed. Most of it was luke warm. All of it added up to overpriced and unsatisfying. So disappointed, really had hoped for more. The decor is an odd mish mash that doesn't really add up to anything other than mish mashy. This space, and this restaurant, could both be so much more.
(2)Jen K.
Party of 4. About 1/2 of what we order we loved, the other 1/2 was average at best. The prices are out of line for salads and sides and the main courses are an odd mix of options like pick a chicken part or a tiny order of bland pasta or 25oz of steak for $49. Apparently the trout was awesome as was the $12 side Ceasar salad. Sad to say we did not love The Third Bird.
(2)Jason T.
Had dinner at Third Bird a few weeks ago. Loved the ambience. The chocolate tort was absolutely the most perfect I've had. Our server was great. I think we ended up lucky with the "down to earth", attentive gal. Some of the people that worked there had an air about them that suggested that working in a restaurant was beneath them. The hostess at the door acted as though we were imposing when we said "a table for two, please". Not always down with the heavy attitude of places like this.. Thank goodness the food was decent. If that changes I'll just go to Eli's and pay less for approximately the same artisanal attention to food.
(4)Kari W.
At the suggestion of friends, we dined at The Third Bird last night. First time for all of us - and we were not disappointed. When I checked the menu out online before making our reservation, I thought it seemed pretty weak. Obviously I was wrong. It seems to me that by limiting their menu, they are able to perfect each item. We started the evening with drinks - expertly made- delicious. Then we moved on to our first course. For me that was baby lettuces. They were just as tasty as they were pretty (see picture). My husband, Erick, and my friend Anne had chilled pea soup. I wish I had taken a picture because it was so lovely. It came out with an edible violet in the center. Unfortunately, both felt it lacked complexity and basically tasted like puréed peas-ala Gerber. My friend, Russ, ordered chicken wings -you can order chicken by the cut; wing, leg, thigh or breast...which is pretty cool. Russ said the sauce was tasty but the chicken was unremarkable. Our main courses were a home run. Russ and I ordered trout. The seasoning was salty and tasty. The skin was crispy but the flesh was tender and flaky. I devoured it and only found one bone. A+ in my book...can't stand to find those sharp little bones in my food! Erick ordered the bison and he loved it. I had a taste and it was incredible. The only negative is that the serving was small. He could have easily eaten twice as much (5 oz). Anne ordered the cheeseburger. Normally she is a little more selective but you know when the mood strikes for a burger you just gotta do it! We passed on desert. Not because they didn't have good options, but it was 10pm, we were seated on the sidewalk and we were getting cold. I was able to check out the dining room when I went in to use the facilities. Very nice, comfortable and chic. The last time I was there it was Nick and Eddie's and it was pretty much the same. They are located across from Loring Park- I love this area. Parking was easy in a nearby lot (maybe 50 feet away) and cost $5. They also have valet if the lot is full. Last but not least, we had a fantastic server. She was attentive but not obnoxious, and she was able to answer every question we fired at her. Wish I could recall her name to give her a proper shout out - hipster waitress girl...you rock!
(5)Amee K.
I had the opportunity to spend HH here and I can say that it took me days to recover after drinking a couple cocktails made by the bartenders. The atmosphere to this place is very dark and mysterious but it most definitely has its sultry appeal. I would most definitely come back for their food but maybe a few less drinks this time, I do want to remember my night ;D.
(4)Becca G.
I had high expectations going into this since it's a restaurant owned by Kim Bartmann. I came here with a friend to check it out since it was on my list of restaurants to check out. Since it was a beautiful day, we opted for the outdoor seating and I brought my dog along. Overall, the lunch menu has a decent selection and I love that they source from local & organic farmers, BUT there were a couple of reasonable requests I made that didn't seem to fit based on the following sentence written at the bottom of the menu: "Please alert your server to any dietary needs or desire you might have." 1. Okay, there are plenty of sandwiches to choose from, but no gluten-free bread available (this surprised me considering how many people don't eat gluten). And again, this is a Kim Bartmann restaurant...I love everything she has produced up until this recent experience. 2. When I opted for the omelette, it said that there was only parmesan added. I asked if I could have vegetables added to it and the server said that this was something they didn't do. The omelette does come with a small side salad though. In either of these cases, I was surprised. Both requests are easy fixes. The food we ate was good enough, regardless. And interestingly, even though my friend ordered a BUN-LESS bacon cheeseburger, they still served it with that durn gluten-filled bun. I wouldn't be opposed to eating here again, but it's definitely not on my favorites list and I wouldn't recommend it based on their current options.
(3)Matt E.
@FancyDinnerClub is on a roll The drinks were delicious. Making drinks that are boozy without being overpowering is a subtle art, and the Third Bird's bar staff nailed it. The favorite of the bunch was a wacky gin/citrus/basil/pepper drink, which had a ge
(4)Justin B.
I went here for a business lunch and my expectations were certainly exceeded. The ambiance is really fun when you arrive, with fun furniture. I enjoyed their Cuban sandwich with what tasted like home made potato chips (with just the right amount of salt). It was delicious. The service was attentive, friendly, and they didn't even push the check on us until we asked. I really want to go back and get another Cuban!
(4)Ariel L.
Good for a quick lunch and a very casual atmosphere. They're not too busy at lunch but dinner is a different story. It's a good short walk to Loring Park if there's still light out. Try to be seated by the window if you want to people watch. Entrance is by the alley.
(3)Steve D.
Tried the bird with a group of 6. We had 7:00 reservations on a sat night and were seated right away. Our waitress was moderatley attentive, I found my glass empty at least twice. The salad was my starter, the baby greens and was tasty but small and overpriced at $9.00. The $22 steak was pretty good and the asparagus was nicely done. The one thing that was odd was the DJ spinning tunes during the dinner hour. It was hard to hear with the music going at prime time. We would return but likely call to inquire if a DJ would be spinning the brass monkey as we were seeing old friends we hadn't seen in some years. Cool location and trendy vibe in the Bird.
(4)Nicole T.
We live in Saint Paul but spent the weekend at a hotel in Minneapolis. "Pretending" to be tourists we went in to The Third Bird on a whim. The place looked hipper than the pregnant lady and her mom jeans wearing husband but we didn't let that stop us. And I'm so glad we didn't. I had the oyster mushroom omelette. Outside of France this was the best omelette I have ever had. Soft eggs, amazing flavor. I ordered hash browns with it and they were perfect. My husband had the cheddar biscuits and gravy. He didn't even offer me a bite before they were gone which tells me how great they were. Yum! This place was fantastic.
(5)Kristine C.
Our last night in Minneapolis before we had to catch a late Sunday flight home and wanted to try one last restaurant. The menu sounded amazing; we had to give it a try. I was so pleasantly surprised at the warmth and service of the staff. Everyone smiled and was happy to talk with us and answer our foodie questions. (We have a lot of questions). Overall, I loved the hip-eclectic style of the restaurant. The old building gives it a historic vibe but with some modern twists such as curtains draped in the waiting area and a DJ/turn table set up in the other corner. The menu is set up to build upon each course as you move down the list. My boyfriend does not eat meat and they could accommodate some of the dishes. Long story short, you cannot go wrong with whatever you chose. Here is what we enjoyed: Boy it was hard to reign in my eyes and chose what I wanted; I wanted to try it all! After some questions and lengthy discussion with our awesome waiter, we started with the Roasted Carrots. This is their signature dish and highly recommended. The carrots are cooked for hours so they come out tender and browned. You get several pieces, as if they were from a stew, drizzled with the sauce and hazelnuts as a garnish. For our second appetizer we moved further down the menu then we should, but we wanted to try the Polenta. This could be a main dish, but we were trying to maximize our menu experience and absolutely could not pass up any dish with black truffle. We had to wait a bit for this dish. The Chef had to make a few alterations given the ingredients of the day and his first dish did not come out to his liking. It was nice of our waiter to explain this to us (I am hoping this was the true story). Once the dish arrived, I could smell the truffle and my mouth watered. When you mix the egg into the creamy polenta and take a bite with the truffle, all three flavors complement each other so well. We cleaned the plate in minutes. For our mains we went with the Parsnip Tortellini and the Arctic Char. These choices suited our food needs perfectly. I love pasta and a really cold night. The tortellini was more filling and a larger portion that I expected. A great surprise! The pasta was almost like gnocchi; so soft and tender and melted in my mouth. The mushrooms garnishing the plate were a great contrast and the grapefruit added a completely different taste, not bitter at all. Oddly, a great fit. My boyfriend ordered the Char and loved it. He cleaned his plate so fast while I was enjoying mine I hardly had a chance to think about trying his dish. The dill sauce that comes with the char is scrumptious. I know when we are back in Minneapolis next year we will be stopping by again!
(4)Christina G.
Loved it. The polenta was very rich, so I would recommend it for splitting with four people. Bison was really tasty as well. And the carrots had a lot more complex taste than I would have imagined. I am not too much into sweets. But, I would recommend cheating your diet a little here.
(4)Scott M.
Enjoyed a late birthday dinner with two great friends here last night and had a wonderful time. The tap and wine lists were varied enough to please all but the most obscure requests and the were some interesting cocktails. We had a delicious cream of mushroom soup, which is not always available, a forgettable beef tartar and a fantastic poutine to start . I would come back for the poutine alone. Our entrees included bison, polenta with a poached egg and half of a roasted chicken that came with some stuffing and gravy. The bison was meaty and tender, my favorite of the three. All of these I would recommend, but don't expect too much from the stuffing. The dessert options were few but I'm craving the doughnut hole that we tried, tres leche being okay. We never had to wait for refills on water or alcoholic beverages and the server was very knowledgeable. This may be a tough rating, but I can't justify a five star mark. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a meal that is delicious and aesthetically pleasing.
(4)Thomas H.
Not impressed. They weren't even busy and took forever to be seated. We ordered wine and soup. Took over 15 mins to get a cup of soup so we canceled our order and left.
(1)Erin F.
A beautiful space with average food. My sister managed to get us a reservation here even though the website said they didn't have any openings. Parking wasn't an issue and there are two entrances- one on the alley and another facing Loring Park. The space is beautiful but it's also not well insulated so it's quite hard to hear each other even at a fairy small table. For the appetizers, we ordered a fair number to share. We got the caesar salad, the beef tartare, fries, asparagus and the spring onions. The flax and spring onions was the surprisingly good dish. The flax tasted a lot like quinoa and had good flavors. The caesar salad was fine, although it was dominated by the lettuce. My husband was a fan of the asparagus, but I didn't particularly prefer it. I heard the fries were good as was the tartare. The main course was an issue. We ordered the two person ribeye as well as two orders of the bison. It took about 40 minutes after our appetizers came out to get the ribeye. To be fair, they did offer us a complementary appetizer while we waited, but they did not make us aware that the ribeye would take so long when we ordered it. Once we got the ribeye, my dad really enjoyed it, but we had to wait a very long time to enjoy it. Also, the beef was not cooked as I would prefer it, but it was a nice piece of bison and the accompanying veggies were good, but nothing amazing. Overall, it's a trendy place with many hipsters that has inventive and sometimes tasty food.
(3)Gretchen B.
At first I was like, "Why the hell would they not put their front door facing Loring Park?" And then I was like, "This is the dankest alley ever, in a good way." At first I was like, "Oh my god, it's 10am on a Sunday, why the hell is there a DJ?" And then I was like, "This guy is flipping fantastically brunch-y records." Man, this place is cute. Modern, trendy, lounge-like, industrial-esque, with lots of natural light and pop art. The biscuits and gravy and the bison and eggs were really tasty, although the eggs looked like that made-from-powder type stuff you find at buffets. But tasty. The french toast was on the dry side but the crème fraiche + tart berries helped make up for it. My bloody was good, and apparently each bartender uses their own recipe. Upon inquiry, ours wrote down his recipe for us! I'll be back for cocktails for sure.
(4)Eve L.
Very chill, after-work place with great happy hour, good beer and creative small menu. Nice view of the Loring park and nice crowd.
(4)Autumn V.
Shared the burrata (house made mozzarella) salad with pickled peaches and fresh strawberries. I could live off this salad alone. I loooooooooove cheese (who cares if I am lactose intolerant?!). This was amazing. It could have come without all the greens and fruits and I would have happily eaten the roasted burrata alone. I would not have shared it with ANYONE if I had known it was so good!!!! Don't judge me. Haha. We also had the buffalo fries with bleu cheese, roasted half chicken with truffle gravy and liver & bread stuffing, and I had the rabbit pasta with chicken liver. It was ALL good. We also had four or maybe ten of the special cocktails..... So delicious. Perhaps we have found our new favorite lazy night dinner spot!!!! And I may live off the burrata salad alone now. Cheese, fruits, and greens (and booze!). What more could a girl ask for??? Well, I'm going to go die happy now.
(5)Alyssa K.
Came here for Sunday brunch and was not impressed. The restaurant had a very hip atmosphere, with food that is bland and overpriced. The menu was hard to read and tacky. I had ordered the Original Breakfast and my aunt had the Lox and Fried Green Beans. We both ordered orange juices (not listed on menu) than turned out to be almost $4/ea for a small glass. When our food came out, my poached eggs were not strained properly and resulting in soggy toast and hash browns. My aunts lox dish had a thin spread of lox and a few pieces of bread. I do give them credit for the fried green beans. They were delicious and served with a great aioli sauce. But with a bill nearing $50, it was not worth it. Will not come here again.
(2)Danah P.
Went here mid afternoon on a Tuesday with a few girlfriends. Admittedly we were there "between" hours - not lunch but not yet dinner - but didn't have a great experience. Walked in from the alley and were not greeted by staff - we had to ask where we could sit and if we could be outside. Sat outside even though next door neighbor, 4 Bells, was (noisily) putting up a sign or something which required drilling through the brick. Not third birds fault at all, but killed the ambiance a bit. Ordered a few drinks (only had one rose by the glass that day although others were listed), had to ask for water refills. Asked About the menu, server confirmed it was the "between" menu and when asked for recommendations he basically listed off everything is being good "if you like that sort of thing" but gushed over the tartare. So a friend ordered it. Minutes later he came back to inform us that he was just told "that is no longer on the menu." Ok, well then give us an updated menu or politely inform us in advance it isn't available, and certainly don't recommend it. We were guessing that our server was actually the host, as mid-visit he boarded his bicycle right next to our table and pedaled off, without so much of a thank you or transfer to new server. New server was fine, didn't have to ask for water refills anymore as she dropped off a small carafe. Rest of food was so so. Chilled soup had a bit too much spice (cardamom if I remember correctly) to be refreshing or let the vegetable stand out. Cheeseburger was fine, best dish was probably the baby lettuce with citrus. But not good enough to warrant a return trip to re-try the service.
(2)Chele D.
2.17.15 Admittedly this experience was a while ago, and while the company was memorable, the food certainly wasn't. I remember LOVING the cream of mushroom soup, HATING the beef tartare, and being fairly "meh" about the poutine, polenta, bison, desserts, drinks, and service ... As one of my friends commented "the food is yummy ... But none of it is particularly ... hot ..." Don't get me wrong -- I'll be coming back to try it again, but probably for brunch or lunch. Monday night just wasn't where the A-team was at.
(3)Jacky W.
I am pleased not only that there is a new restaurant to take the place of Joe's Garage, but also that said new restaurant is, in fact, quite delicious. I came to the Bird for Sunday brunch with my family. The first item of note is the Bloody Mary. It is a low-fuss drink with absolutely no frills (this alone is usually enough for me to write-off any Bloody Mary). However, the flavor and consistency of this drink was perfect. As a Wisconsin-born gal, I feel that I have an authority to speak on matters of beer, cheese and Bloody Marys, so trust me when I say that this is a perfectly-flavored drink. That being said, please throw in a pickle or a chunk of cheese or at least a celery stick! The food was delicious. I tried everyone's breakfasts and each one was delicious and flavored in a unique and mouth-watering fashion. I will DEFINITELY return to try more of the dishes.
(4)Susan P.
I ate again today at Third Bird off Loring Park. The restaurant was off their game. They didn't have a hostess. Guests sat anywhere. They were out of their soup, their kettle chips. We ordered and waited and waited for our food today. They were polite but one of my guests missed her 1:00 meeting because of the delay. The food when it arrived was good--we had a salad with trout, a bacon and cheese and egg sandwich and an omelette. The staff was nice about compensating for the delay. that said, we had a business lunch and my guest missed their early afternoon meeting because of lunch. This is really unacceptable. I will probably go back but won't be inclined to do so on a tight schedule with busy people.
(3)Josh H.
This place used to be called Cafe Maude and I was bummed they were no longer around. It's a great location to the Loring Park area and a 2 minute walk from my office. I appreciate having several options around the area for food and drink. You can enter the establishment via the alley or through the Harmon Street entrance. Food looks absolutely tasty. I have only been there for happy hours so far. The drink specials are wonderful. I have a couple of Nitro Milk Stouts and they were $2/each. Speaking of which, they have a really nice beer and wine selection. I will update once I have eaten there, but I can say that the food sounds appetizing and the service has been great. Went for lunch the other week. I was quite happy with the portions. I had a grilled cold chicken club and I could only eat half of the sandwich. I thought service was good. However, it was at lunch at there were not too many people. The server and other staff were attentive and not intrusive.
(4)Elizabeth R.
When I was here, I had just had a crown put on one of my molars, so much of the menu was off limits. That said, there was enough squishy food to give me some choice. I wound up with the cod, which was both delicious and perfect for a painful jaw. My friend had the bison burger, which he declared delicious. Apart from the quality of the main courses, the service was a bit on the slow side, and the cocktails are nothing to write home about. Nothing was particularly stand out about this restaurant, but it's got a good, relaxed atmosphere that made for an enjoyable experience.
(3)Carolyn B.
I had higher hopes for this place, but left pretty disappointed. We checked the menu online and thought there would be enough vegetarian stuff to get by. The actual menu we received was a bit different, which I don't necessarily fault them for, but we ended up with less of what we thought we would enjoy. While they were somewhat accommodating, we were generally limited to the small plates, which were a little underwhelming and add up in cost when you start layering them on. Particularly if you are trying to make a meal of them for a grown man. To get around this issue, I decided to try the fish dish. Granted, I only eat fish a couple of times a year and am no expert, but the waitress should have been more informed. Being unfamiliar myself with arctic char, she described it as a mild white fish. As I learned, it is not white, nor mild. From a technical perspective, the fish was nicely cooked and I thought I could handle it, but I threw up when I got home. It was just not at all what I wanted. Not sure I will try this place again. Some of the small plates sounded interesting, but were a bit of a let down. I ended up basically apologizing to my husband for insisting we try it.
(3)Whitney F.
4.5 for sure. Surprised by some of the less than fantastic reviews. Reading a handful of lukewarm words, I was skeptical. I loved Nick and Eddies and adored Cafe Maude - excited to check out this new place after having a soft spot for some of Kim Bartmann's other locations (Gigis, sigh.). The one oddity was that the door that looks into Loring Park isn't really the entrance. I walked in, looked around, and finally someone pointed me to the hostess desk at the "other" front door in the alley. I do love that alley though! Our service and food was nothing less than ideal. Our server, Melissa, was super attentive and knowledgable about the menu. There is a pretty sizable wine list (by the bottle). We had a few of the wine's by the glass, and a nicely done old fashioned. For the table we shared the roasted carrots and fries w/ aioli. Super start. Not sure if I've been to a dinner where all of us have truly LOVED our dishes. This was the case! I had the cod wrapped in proscuitto and set in a potato and balsamic puree. The rest of the group had the pasta with rabbit sugo, the bison steak, and the polenta. I think we all loved the food so much that no one actually asked how the others meals were, let alone offering bites. Cheers Third Bird, great addition to Loring Park!
(4)Rachael M.
The BLT sandwich was probably the most dry, UN-flavorful sad sandwich I have had in my lifetime. Probably time to mix up the menu a bit, yea?
(2)Lee D.
We don't need another high-end, high priced, trying to be 'new' bar/restaurant. I think $14 for a bison burger with nearly no toppings is ridiculous. Wine/beer is expensive and nothing new. The waitperson was polite. Yet when I asked for extra mayo, she returned with a small bowl that might have had a tablespoon in it. The 'greens' on my Berger were simple lettuce. I suspect the landlords around Loring Park have gotten too greedy, so restaurant tenants need to charge more. I hope to see a place (even some) where a couple can go out for a light dinner, with a few beers/wine, and not spend over $75. We need value and quality !
(1)Anne R.
I was really excited about this place but left feeling unsatisfied. We walked in at 5:30pm with a reservation and the place wasn't quite half full. Super cute ambience, and such a fun spot with the alleyway entrance. The service was lovely, nothing over the top in either direction, during our entire experience. We ordered some cocktails, the Perplexed Pear, which was perfectly tart and refreshing. About what I expected for $10. The menu is complex and interesting, though not always easy to tell exactly what you're ordering. The wait staff was obliging with questions. I ordered the scallops and my friend ordered the chicken thigh. Both were absolutely scrumptious, but extremely small portions for the price. The scallops, with corn pudding and clams and chorizo, ran $18 and was an appetizer portion. Two scallops, 4 tiny clams, a tablespoon of corn pudding and bits of chorizo. Absolutely delicious. But, we left hungry. Perhaps if you have the cash to throw down for salads, appetizers, and additional plates to share this will work for you. However, for my money, it was a little disappointing.
(3)Katie N.
I wanted to like this place so much but was bummed out by the food. Service was great, good drink selection, really nice bar, but the food was just so-so. I'd be totally willing to give this place another shot though, I'm rooting for something to succeed in that location. I'd still recommend checking it out, it's super cute and maybe I just hit on an off night.
(3)Abigail C.
Loved the soup of the moment - a velvety carrot! The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. The place is a little noisy with that high, tin ceiling, so not a great place for intimate conversations... But a great place to enjoy friends and family. Did I mention they have a dj curating the mood music?
(4)Lauren S.
We pulled up to the front of the restaurant let the valet take our car and as he was pulling away he said the entrance is around the corner in the alley. What's up with that? There is front door but they encourage you not to use it. Not sure why. Well on to the food. We started with the flatbread appetizer. It is a fancy name for toasted pita and tapenade. We ordered roasted carrots which were good and asparagus which was just fine. We had french fries for the table which were amazing. Crispy, almost burnt just the way I like them. I order the bison steak. It was very good but not OMG I can't wait to have it again. We ended with the brownie sundae. I was a little disappointed. The banana pudding was a bit runny and brownies were a bit tasteless. I do have to say our waiter was delightful. I would for sure go back- great atmosphere-decent menu- great vibe but not a memorable meal.
(3)Kinsey A.
I had the grilled pork belly with poached eggs, ploye and smoked maple hollandaise sauce. The combination of the ploye texture with the savory pork belly created a wonderful experience that was compounded by the perfectly poached eggs. In addition to the wonderful brunch food, I paired it with a cup of black as night coffee. The coffee was a very pleasant robust medium roast that was not made from your standard run of the mill pre-ground beans that you would find at a typical restaurant. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend this location to friends and families. I look forward to going back for supper and having one of their delicious looking cocktails.
(5)Anna A.
The food was delicious! My friends and I shared the burrata, flatbread and walnut dip, and buffalo fries. I enjoyed the bison and tarjarin pasta. And for dessert the coffee with the chocolate brownie, banana pudding, and toasted marshmallow sauce was amazing! The cream for my coffee came in a cute metal milk carton! Only 4 stars because the service was good in spurts and then confusing. Because the place is new, I suspect this will get better with time. Also, the entrance is found on the alley side and not the sidewalk. The restrooms are poorly marked; one doesn't have a sign, just a black door, and the other has WC on it. The restrooms aren't gender specific, which is nice for keeping the line to the ladies room shorter!
(4)Andrea B.
The environment makes this place. Lots of windows that allow for great light during the day. Music from the 60s was playing. There was a good vibe all around. The bar is such a great spot. I ordered a Nostalgia and paired it with the bison and eggs. Such a tasty meal all around. I wish there were an option for veggies instead of hash browns, but that's just me. It took a bit to get my drink together, but I was pleased once I tasted it. Nice for a solo or group brunch!
(4)Nicole T.
We live in Saint Paul but spent the weekend at a hotel in Minneapolis. "Pretending" to be tourists we went in to The Third Bird on a whim. The place looked hipper than the pregnant lady and her mom jeans wearing husband but we didn't let that stop us. And I'm so glad we didn't. I had the oyster mushroom omelette. Outside of France this was the best omelette I have ever had. Soft eggs, amazing flavor. I ordered hash browns with it and they were perfect. My husband had the cheddar biscuits and gravy. He didn't even offer me a bite before they were gone which tells me how great they were. Yum! This place was fantastic.
(5)Jason T.
Had dinner at Third Bird a few weeks ago. Loved the ambience. The chocolate tort was absolutely the most perfect I've had. Our server was great. I think we ended up lucky with the "down to earth", attentive gal. Some of the people that worked there had an air about them that suggested that working in a restaurant was beneath them. The hostess at the door acted as though we were imposing when we said "a table for two, please". Not always down with the heavy attitude of places like this.. Thank goodness the food was decent. If that changes I'll just go to Eli's and pay less for approximately the same artisanal attention to food.
(4)Kari W.
At the suggestion of friends, we dined at The Third Bird last night. First time for all of us - and we were not disappointed. When I checked the menu out online before making our reservation, I thought it seemed pretty weak. Obviously I was wrong. It seems to me that by limiting their menu, they are able to perfect each item. We started the evening with drinks - expertly made- delicious. Then we moved on to our first course. For me that was baby lettuces. They were just as tasty as they were pretty (see picture). My husband, Erick, and my friend Anne had chilled pea soup. I wish I had taken a picture because it was so lovely. It came out with an edible violet in the center. Unfortunately, both felt it lacked complexity and basically tasted like puréed peas-ala Gerber. My friend, Russ, ordered chicken wings -you can order chicken by the cut; wing, leg, thigh or breast...which is pretty cool. Russ said the sauce was tasty but the chicken was unremarkable. Our main courses were a home run. Russ and I ordered trout. The seasoning was salty and tasty. The skin was crispy but the flesh was tender and flaky. I devoured it and only found one bone. A+ in my book...can't stand to find those sharp little bones in my food! Erick ordered the bison and he loved it. I had a taste and it was incredible. The only negative is that the serving was small. He could have easily eaten twice as much (5 oz). Anne ordered the cheeseburger. Normally she is a little more selective but you know when the mood strikes for a burger you just gotta do it! We passed on desert. Not because they didn't have good options, but it was 10pm, we were seated on the sidewalk and we were getting cold. I was able to check out the dining room when I went in to use the facilities. Very nice, comfortable and chic. The last time I was there it was Nick and Eddie's and it was pretty much the same. They are located across from Loring Park- I love this area. Parking was easy in a nearby lot (maybe 50 feet away) and cost $5. They also have valet if the lot is full. Last but not least, we had a fantastic server. She was attentive but not obnoxious, and she was able to answer every question we fired at her. Wish I could recall her name to give her a proper shout out - hipster waitress girl...you rock!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Lunched here yesterday to celebrate a special occasion. The only other people there lunching on a Monday at 1pm were a few retired people. But it looked like we were having more fun because we were ordering fairly heavily off the drink menu. Sat inside due to the heat, but the a/c didn't seem to be working. Our waiter was very pleasant and filled our waters repeatedly (thank you). Loved my cocktail. At the waiters recommendation, I ordered the smoked trout salad. Good flavor. Not overly smoked. Perfect amount of vinaigrette. My only (big) complaint is that it looked like a side salad. My second or third bite was a fairly large leaf of lettuce I had to kind of shove in (hey we've all been there) and when I looked down: there went half my salad. Big sad face! I was still hungry afterwards. That is my biggest beef with entree salads: make them big enough to fill me! Argh. Stole a few fries from a friend which were delicious (and very long like witch's fingers) Would I go back? Maybe. I think there are places that serve the same food for less money or better food for the same money. I guess what I'm saying is the value isn't quite there (I think Eli's down the street is a better value). But it has a great location. And our waiter couldn't have been better.
(3)Wendy H.
Saturday morning, 11am. I couldn't find the entrance to this cute looking Bistro. A passer-by on the street saw my befuddlement and directed me down a side alley. Brunch as prompt and delicious. Most of the clientele looked wealthy, well healed, groups of women. Hushed conversations. I sat at the substantial breakfast bar. The couple next to me discussed photography. They frequently said "you know" and prefaced many statements with the word "Like". I hope these tics never emigrate to my speech. On the other side of the breakfast bar people were dressed like wedding guests, mingling in gender defined roles. They looked uncomfortable and fabulous. The bar staff smiled naturally when I spoke but refrained from the more common exultant reaction of "I love your accent". A very comfortable, pleasant place for a single lady to hang out. I'll be back on another weekend
(4)Steve D.
Tried the bird with a group of 6. We had 7:00 reservations on a sat night and were seated right away. Our waitress was moderatley attentive, I found my glass empty at least twice. The salad was my starter, the baby greens and was tasty but small and overpriced at $9.00. The $22 steak was pretty good and the asparagus was nicely done. The one thing that was odd was the DJ spinning tunes during the dinner hour. It was hard to hear with the music going at prime time. We would return but likely call to inquire if a DJ would be spinning the brass monkey as we were seeing old friends we hadn't seen in some years. Cool location and trendy vibe in the Bird.
(4)Amee K.
I had the opportunity to spend HH here and I can say that it took me days to recover after drinking a couple cocktails made by the bartenders. The atmosphere to this place is very dark and mysterious but it most definitely has its sultry appeal. I would most definitely come back for their food but maybe a few less drinks this time, I do want to remember my night ;D.
(4)Becca G.
I had high expectations going into this since it's a restaurant owned by Kim Bartmann. I came here with a friend to check it out since it was on my list of restaurants to check out. Since it was a beautiful day, we opted for the outdoor seating and I brought my dog along. Overall, the lunch menu has a decent selection and I love that they source from local & organic farmers, BUT there were a couple of reasonable requests I made that didn't seem to fit based on the following sentence written at the bottom of the menu: "Please alert your server to any dietary needs or desire you might have." 1. Okay, there are plenty of sandwiches to choose from, but no gluten-free bread available (this surprised me considering how many people don't eat gluten). And again, this is a Kim Bartmann restaurant...I love everything she has produced up until this recent experience. 2. When I opted for the omelette, it said that there was only parmesan added. I asked if I could have vegetables added to it and the server said that this was something they didn't do. The omelette does come with a small side salad though. In either of these cases, I was surprised. Both requests are easy fixes. The food we ate was good enough, regardless. And interestingly, even though my friend ordered a BUN-LESS bacon cheeseburger, they still served it with that durn gluten-filled bun. I wouldn't be opposed to eating here again, but it's definitely not on my favorites list and I wouldn't recommend it based on their current options.
(3)Matt E.
@FancyDinnerClub is on a roll The drinks were delicious. Making drinks that are boozy without being overpowering is a subtle art, and the Third Bird's bar staff nailed it. The favorite of the bunch was a wacky gin/citrus/basil/pepper drink, which had a ge
(4)Danah P.
Went here mid afternoon on a Tuesday with a few girlfriends. Admittedly we were there "between" hours - not lunch but not yet dinner - but didn't have a great experience. Walked in from the alley and were not greeted by staff - we had to ask where we could sit and if we could be outside. Sat outside even though next door neighbor, 4 Bells, was (noisily) putting up a sign or something which required drilling through the brick. Not third birds fault at all, but killed the ambiance a bit. Ordered a few drinks (only had one rose by the glass that day although others were listed), had to ask for water refills. Asked About the menu, server confirmed it was the "between" menu and when asked for recommendations he basically listed off everything is being good "if you like that sort of thing" but gushed over the tartare. So a friend ordered it. Minutes later he came back to inform us that he was just told "that is no longer on the menu." Ok, well then give us an updated menu or politely inform us in advance it isn't available, and certainly don't recommend it. We were guessing that our server was actually the host, as mid-visit he boarded his bicycle right next to our table and pedaled off, without so much of a thank you or transfer to new server. New server was fine, didn't have to ask for water refills anymore as she dropped off a small carafe. Rest of food was so so. Chilled soup had a bit too much spice (cardamom if I remember correctly) to be refreshing or let the vegetable stand out. Cheeseburger was fine, best dish was probably the baby lettuce with citrus. But not good enough to warrant a return trip to re-try the service.
(2)Chele D.
2.17.15 Admittedly this experience was a while ago, and while the company was memorable, the food certainly wasn't. I remember LOVING the cream of mushroom soup, HATING the beef tartare, and being fairly "meh" about the poutine, polenta, bison, desserts, drinks, and service ... As one of my friends commented "the food is yummy ... But none of it is particularly ... hot ..." Don't get me wrong -- I'll be coming back to try it again, but probably for brunch or lunch. Monday night just wasn't where the A-team was at.
(3)Jessica S.
I am enamored by this space!! The European-esque stone alleyway behind the building leads to the main entrance, and kicks off The Third Bird experience on the right foot. The *space* itself is light and airy with high ceilings spanning two floors and top to bottom windows offering an unobstructed view of Loring Park. The decor is simple elegant yet quirky from the wall of mirrors (varied in size, shape, and color) to the floor to ceiling monocle-donning pink-hued hum-ird (a mythical yet sophisticated bird-human hybrid) graphic to the wood-topped arced bar that punctuates a small balconied upper floor private seating area. As much as I want to move into this space, we had come to chow. The *menu* was as whimsical as the space and its layout easy-to-follow with varying text sizes and boldness that elucidates the main dish in larger, bold type and details in a smaller size--kind of reminiscent of data visualization through word clouds. #marketresearchnerd Sidetracked by my mindless drivel once more. The crux of the matter... the *eats.* It was brunch time. I wanted something light and sweet.... *Yogurt, berries, and granola.* ~$6. Flavorful, fresh. A good balance of ingredients. My qualm - so insubstantial, hardly constituting even a snack. Cheap enough though. Nonetheless, it just seemed not even menu-worthy. My friends got more normal meals. *Shirred Eggs* in a mason jar with tomato gravy (apparently really yummy). And *Pork Belly* - didn't catch how this was as I've got no desire to ever ingest it However, I could see a lot of care and *high quality* ingredients went into the preparation of all the menu items. At the same time, portions here skew *small* and a *tad pricey.* I could foresee boosting this to a 5-star establishment, if I opt for a menu item other than yogurt, which was only good but not incredible (but can bacteria-fermented milk ever achieve this status?).
(4)Grace H.
A little hard to find. Maybe because the GPS was confused. If I had realized it was so close to cafe lurcat maybe we wouldn't have had to loop around as much. Also if it wasn't so cold out it would have been nice to take a stroll around Loring Park since metered parking lasted for 2 hours, more than enough time to finish lunch. The official restaurant entrance is in the alleyway but since it was our first time we walked past the back entrance. There was a sign that said please use the alley entrance but the hostess saw us and let us in since she didn't want to make us walk so much in the cold. Our server was attentive and was able to give detailed descriptions of the entrees when I asked her about them. We started with the French onion soup. There wasn't loads of cheese like the French onion at Meritage but I guess that was healthier. The portion for the pasta I ordered looked small initially since it was all bunched up in a ball, but the rabbit with it was good and it was actually pretty filling after unraveling the noodles. I tried a couple bites of my boyfriend's chicken fried sandwich. It was decent although admittedly I'm not too big of a fan of bacon and avocado. We both enjoyed the kettle cooked chips on the side though. The tres leches cake to finish it off was decent. I really liked the atmosphere. They had numark and Pioneer dj controllers on a table so I'd like to come back when they have live music. The bathrooms were clean and had real fresh flowers in them. It looks like there's a private dining area upstairs for special events. Overall I like birds so I'm a huge fan of the artwork here.
(4)Gretchen B.
At first I was like, "Why the hell would they not put their front door facing Loring Park?" And then I was like, "This is the dankest alley ever, in a good way." At first I was like, "Oh my god, it's 10am on a Sunday, why the hell is there a DJ?" And then I was like, "This guy is flipping fantastically brunch-y records." Man, this place is cute. Modern, trendy, lounge-like, industrial-esque, with lots of natural light and pop art. The biscuits and gravy and the bison and eggs were really tasty, although the eggs looked like that made-from-powder type stuff you find at buffets. But tasty. The french toast was on the dry side but the crème fraiche + tart berries helped make up for it. My bloody was good, and apparently each bartender uses their own recipe. Upon inquiry, ours wrote down his recipe for us! I'll be back for cocktails for sure.
(4)Eve L.
Very chill, after-work place with great happy hour, good beer and creative small menu. Nice view of the Loring park and nice crowd.
(4)Autumn V.
Shared the burrata (house made mozzarella) salad with pickled peaches and fresh strawberries. I could live off this salad alone. I loooooooooove cheese (who cares if I am lactose intolerant?!). This was amazing. It could have come without all the greens and fruits and I would have happily eaten the roasted burrata alone. I would not have shared it with ANYONE if I had known it was so good!!!! Don't judge me. Haha. We also had the buffalo fries with bleu cheese, roasted half chicken with truffle gravy and liver & bread stuffing, and I had the rabbit pasta with chicken liver. It was ALL good. We also had four or maybe ten of the special cocktails..... So delicious. Perhaps we have found our new favorite lazy night dinner spot!!!! And I may live off the burrata salad alone now. Cheese, fruits, and greens (and booze!). What more could a girl ask for??? Well, I'm going to go die happy now.
(5)Alyssa K.
Came here for Sunday brunch and was not impressed. The restaurant had a very hip atmosphere, with food that is bland and overpriced. The menu was hard to read and tacky. I had ordered the Original Breakfast and my aunt had the Lox and Fried Green Beans. We both ordered orange juices (not listed on menu) than turned out to be almost $4/ea for a small glass. When our food came out, my poached eggs were not strained properly and resulting in soggy toast and hash browns. My aunts lox dish had a thin spread of lox and a few pieces of bread. I do give them credit for the fried green beans. They were delicious and served with a great aioli sauce. But with a bill nearing $50, it was not worth it. Will not come here again.
(2)Jacky W.
I am pleased not only that there is a new restaurant to take the place of Joe's Garage, but also that said new restaurant is, in fact, quite delicious. I came to the Bird for Sunday brunch with my family. The first item of note is the Bloody Mary. It is a low-fuss drink with absolutely no frills (this alone is usually enough for me to write-off any Bloody Mary). However, the flavor and consistency of this drink was perfect. As a Wisconsin-born gal, I feel that I have an authority to speak on matters of beer, cheese and Bloody Marys, so trust me when I say that this is a perfectly-flavored drink. That being said, please throw in a pickle or a chunk of cheese or at least a celery stick! The food was delicious. I tried everyone's breakfasts and each one was delicious and flavored in a unique and mouth-watering fashion. I will DEFINITELY return to try more of the dishes.
(4)Susan P.
I ate again today at Third Bird off Loring Park. The restaurant was off their game. They didn't have a hostess. Guests sat anywhere. They were out of their soup, their kettle chips. We ordered and waited and waited for our food today. They were polite but one of my guests missed her 1:00 meeting because of the delay. The food when it arrived was good--we had a salad with trout, a bacon and cheese and egg sandwich and an omelette. The staff was nice about compensating for the delay. that said, we had a business lunch and my guest missed their early afternoon meeting because of lunch. This is really unacceptable. I will probably go back but won't be inclined to do so on a tight schedule with busy people.
(3)Josh H.
This place used to be called Cafe Maude and I was bummed they were no longer around. It's a great location to the Loring Park area and a 2 minute walk from my office. I appreciate having several options around the area for food and drink. You can enter the establishment via the alley or through the Harmon Street entrance. Food looks absolutely tasty. I have only been there for happy hours so far. The drink specials are wonderful. I have a couple of Nitro Milk Stouts and they were $2/each. Speaking of which, they have a really nice beer and wine selection. I will update once I have eaten there, but I can say that the food sounds appetizing and the service has been great. Went for lunch the other week. I was quite happy with the portions. I had a grilled cold chicken club and I could only eat half of the sandwich. I thought service was good. However, it was at lunch at there were not too many people. The server and other staff were attentive and not intrusive.
(4)Elizabeth R.
When I was here, I had just had a crown put on one of my molars, so much of the menu was off limits. That said, there was enough squishy food to give me some choice. I wound up with the cod, which was both delicious and perfect for a painful jaw. My friend had the bison burger, which he declared delicious. Apart from the quality of the main courses, the service was a bit on the slow side, and the cocktails are nothing to write home about. Nothing was particularly stand out about this restaurant, but it's got a good, relaxed atmosphere that made for an enjoyable experience.
(3)Jen K.
Party of 4. About 1/2 of what we order we loved, the other 1/2 was average at best. The prices are out of line for salads and sides and the main courses are an odd mix of options like pick a chicken part or a tiny order of bland pasta or 25oz of steak for $49. Apparently the trout was awesome as was the $12 side Ceasar salad. Sad to say we did not love The Third Bird.
(2)Carolyn B.
I had higher hopes for this place, but left pretty disappointed. We checked the menu online and thought there would be enough vegetarian stuff to get by. The actual menu we received was a bit different, which I don't necessarily fault them for, but we ended up with less of what we thought we would enjoy. While they were somewhat accommodating, we were generally limited to the small plates, which were a little underwhelming and add up in cost when you start layering them on. Particularly if you are trying to make a meal of them for a grown man. To get around this issue, I decided to try the fish dish. Granted, I only eat fish a couple of times a year and am no expert, but the waitress should have been more informed. Being unfamiliar myself with arctic char, she described it as a mild white fish. As I learned, it is not white, nor mild. From a technical perspective, the fish was nicely cooked and I thought I could handle it, but I threw up when I got home. It was just not at all what I wanted. Not sure I will try this place again. Some of the small plates sounded interesting, but were a bit of a let down. I ended up basically apologizing to my husband for insisting we try it.
(3)Whitney F.
4.5 for sure. Surprised by some of the less than fantastic reviews. Reading a handful of lukewarm words, I was skeptical. I loved Nick and Eddies and adored Cafe Maude - excited to check out this new place after having a soft spot for some of Kim Bartmann's other locations (Gigis, sigh.). The one oddity was that the door that looks into Loring Park isn't really the entrance. I walked in, looked around, and finally someone pointed me to the hostess desk at the "other" front door in the alley. I do love that alley though! Our service and food was nothing less than ideal. Our server, Melissa, was super attentive and knowledgable about the menu. There is a pretty sizable wine list (by the bottle). We had a few of the wine's by the glass, and a nicely done old fashioned. For the table we shared the roasted carrots and fries w/ aioli. Super start. Not sure if I've been to a dinner where all of us have truly LOVED our dishes. This was the case! I had the cod wrapped in proscuitto and set in a potato and balsamic puree. The rest of the group had the pasta with rabbit sugo, the bison steak, and the polenta. I think we all loved the food so much that no one actually asked how the others meals were, let alone offering bites. Cheers Third Bird, great addition to Loring Park!
(4)Rachael M.
The BLT sandwich was probably the most dry, UN-flavorful sad sandwich I have had in my lifetime. Probably time to mix up the menu a bit, yea?
(2)Kristine C.
Our last night in Minneapolis before we had to catch a late Sunday flight home and wanted to try one last restaurant. The menu sounded amazing; we had to give it a try. I was so pleasantly surprised at the warmth and service of the staff. Everyone smiled and was happy to talk with us and answer our foodie questions. (We have a lot of questions). Overall, I loved the hip-eclectic style of the restaurant. The old building gives it a historic vibe but with some modern twists such as curtains draped in the waiting area and a DJ/turn table set up in the other corner. The menu is set up to build upon each course as you move down the list. My boyfriend does not eat meat and they could accommodate some of the dishes. Long story short, you cannot go wrong with whatever you chose. Here is what we enjoyed: Boy it was hard to reign in my eyes and chose what I wanted; I wanted to try it all! After some questions and lengthy discussion with our awesome waiter, we started with the Roasted Carrots. This is their signature dish and highly recommended. The carrots are cooked for hours so they come out tender and browned. You get several pieces, as if they were from a stew, drizzled with the sauce and hazelnuts as a garnish. For our second appetizer we moved further down the menu then we should, but we wanted to try the Polenta. This could be a main dish, but we were trying to maximize our menu experience and absolutely could not pass up any dish with black truffle. We had to wait a bit for this dish. The Chef had to make a few alterations given the ingredients of the day and his first dish did not come out to his liking. It was nice of our waiter to explain this to us (I am hoping this was the true story). Once the dish arrived, I could smell the truffle and my mouth watered. When you mix the egg into the creamy polenta and take a bite with the truffle, all three flavors complement each other so well. We cleaned the plate in minutes. For our mains we went with the Parsnip Tortellini and the Arctic Char. These choices suited our food needs perfectly. I love pasta and a really cold night. The tortellini was more filling and a larger portion that I expected. A great surprise! The pasta was almost like gnocchi; so soft and tender and melted in my mouth. The mushrooms garnishing the plate were a great contrast and the grapefruit added a completely different taste, not bitter at all. Oddly, a great fit. My boyfriend ordered the Char and loved it. He cleaned his plate so fast while I was enjoying mine I hardly had a chance to think about trying his dish. The dill sauce that comes with the char is scrumptious. I know when we are back in Minneapolis next year we will be stopping by again!
(4)Christina G.
Loved it. The polenta was very rich, so I would recommend it for splitting with four people. Bison was really tasty as well. And the carrots had a lot more complex taste than I would have imagined. I am not too much into sweets. But, I would recommend cheating your diet a little here.
(4)Nicole T.
We live in Saint Paul but spent the weekend at a hotel in Minneapolis. "Pretending" to be tourists we went in to The Third Bird on a whim. The place looked hipper than the pregnant lady and her mom jeans wearing husband but we didn't let that stop us. And I'm so glad we didn't. I had the oyster mushroom omelette. Outside of France this was the best omelette I have ever had. Soft eggs, amazing flavor. I ordered hash browns with it and they were perfect. My husband had the cheddar biscuits and gravy. He didn't even offer me a bite before they were gone which tells me how great they were. Yum! This place was fantastic.
(5)Lauren S.
We pulled up to the front of the restaurant let the valet take our car and as he was pulling away he said the entrance is around the corner in the alley. What's up with that? There is front door but they encourage you not to use it. Not sure why. Well on to the food. We started with the flatbread appetizer. It is a fancy name for toasted pita and tapenade. We ordered roasted carrots which were good and asparagus which was just fine. We had french fries for the table which were amazing. Crispy, almost burnt just the way I like them. I order the bison steak. It was very good but not OMG I can't wait to have it again. We ended with the brownie sundae. I was a little disappointed. The banana pudding was a bit runny and brownies were a bit tasteless. I do have to say our waiter was delightful. I would for sure go back- great atmosphere-decent menu- great vibe but not a memorable meal.
(3)Kinsey A.
I had the grilled pork belly with poached eggs, ploye and smoked maple hollandaise sauce. The combination of the ploye texture with the savory pork belly created a wonderful experience that was compounded by the perfectly poached eggs. In addition to the wonderful brunch food, I paired it with a cup of black as night coffee. The coffee was a very pleasant robust medium roast that was not made from your standard run of the mill pre-ground beans that you would find at a typical restaurant. Overall it was a great experience and I would recommend this location to friends and families. I look forward to going back for supper and having one of their delicious looking cocktails.
(5)Anna A.
The food was delicious! My friends and I shared the burrata, flatbread and walnut dip, and buffalo fries. I enjoyed the bison and tarjarin pasta. And for dessert the coffee with the chocolate brownie, banana pudding, and toasted marshmallow sauce was amazing! The cream for my coffee came in a cute metal milk carton! Only 4 stars because the service was good in spurts and then confusing. Because the place is new, I suspect this will get better with time. Also, the entrance is found on the alley side and not the sidewalk. The restrooms are poorly marked; one doesn't have a sign, just a black door, and the other has WC on it. The restrooms aren't gender specific, which is nice for keeping the line to the ladies room shorter!
(4)Andrea B.
The environment makes this place. Lots of windows that allow for great light during the day. Music from the 60s was playing. There was a good vibe all around. The bar is such a great spot. I ordered a Nostalgia and paired it with the bison and eggs. Such a tasty meal all around. I wish there were an option for veggies instead of hash browns, but that's just me. It took a bit to get my drink together, but I was pleased once I tasted it. Nice for a solo or group brunch!
(4)Natalie P.
This review is for brunch, which was delicious! We arrived early on a Sunday (so hungry) to an empty restaurant, giving us our pick of seats. I got their take on Eggs Benedict, which involved pork belly (so great), ploye, and maple hollandaise (somewhat overwhelming). I really like what they've done with the space post-Cafe Maude - the colors are much cleaner and brighter, and the alleyway main entrance (really not that intuitive from the street) has the effect of leaving the front of the restaurant airy and unobstructed. As a Loring Park resident I'm particularly pleased something new and accessible has opened in that block because we don't have a lot of good options! Yum!
(4)Matt K.
This place is super cute. Great atmosphere, nice drink options, and solid food. We shared a flatbread, and had fried chicken club sandwiches and grilled cheese with bacon and egg. Everything was yummy (how can you go wrong!?). Eli, our server, was friendly and nice.
(4)B P.
We were there during restaurant week and two of us ordered from the regular menu and the third one got the prix fix menu for $30. We ordered a $75 wine, that they were out of and instead they suggested another one for a similar price, and really tried to sell us the one for $145... We had the trout for a main dish but it was a very small- appetizer portion, the bison, also very small portion and the pork brisket. The trout was served lukewarm, it tasted ok, the bison and pork brisket were tasty but also very small. We also had two desserts, the donut hole was amazing, the pineapple cake just ok. After a $200 dinner before tip, we returned home and my son had a bowl of cereal as he was still hungry. I don't remember him doing such a thing, since he was a teenager. Bottom line, we all felt that the restaurant was very stingy, and we would all have been much happier if the portions were more reasonable. It wouldn't have cost that much more, and they would have happier and returning customers. Bad business model..
(3)Chris L.
Another success for Kim Bartmann. Went for Saturday brunch and the wife and I both had the bison burger. I;'ve had good and bad with bison burgers, but this was hands down the best I've ever had. In fact, one of the burgers of any type I've had in the Twin Cities. Thousand Island and crisp shredded iceburg lettuce with grilled onions and cheese. Yummy vinger dusted homemade potato chips to go with. We also ordered the buffalo fries and the were great. The space remains basically the same as Cafe Maude with some nice little touches. We'll be back for sure to continue our journey through the brunch menu.
(4)D B.
I love the big windows at this space looking out over the park. That's worth 4 stars for having a seat from which to stare out. But...I might as well have stood in the park and let the wind blow a $100 bill out of my hand ~it would have been more satisfying. Nothing we had here was very good or well executed. Most of it was luke warm. All of it added up to overpriced and unsatisfying. So disappointed, really had hoped for more. The decor is an odd mish mash that doesn't really add up to anything other than mish mashy. This space, and this restaurant, could both be so much more.
(2)Justin B.
I went here for a business lunch and my expectations were certainly exceeded. The ambiance is really fun when you arrive, with fun furniture. I enjoyed their Cuban sandwich with what tasted like home made potato chips (with just the right amount of salt). It was delicious. The service was attentive, friendly, and they didn't even push the check on us until we asked. I really want to go back and get another Cuban!
(4)Ariel L.
Good for a quick lunch and a very casual atmosphere. They're not too busy at lunch but dinner is a different story. It's a good short walk to Loring Park if there's still light out. Try to be seated by the window if you want to people watch. Entrance is by the alley.
(3)Erin F.
A beautiful space with average food. My sister managed to get us a reservation here even though the website said they didn't have any openings. Parking wasn't an issue and there are two entrances- one on the alley and another facing Loring Park. The space is beautiful but it's also not well insulated so it's quite hard to hear each other even at a fairy small table. For the appetizers, we ordered a fair number to share. We got the caesar salad, the beef tartare, fries, asparagus and the spring onions. The flax and spring onions was the surprisingly good dish. The flax tasted a lot like quinoa and had good flavors. The caesar salad was fine, although it was dominated by the lettuce. My husband was a fan of the asparagus, but I didn't particularly prefer it. I heard the fries were good as was the tartare. The main course was an issue. We ordered the two person ribeye as well as two orders of the bison. It took about 40 minutes after our appetizers came out to get the ribeye. To be fair, they did offer us a complementary appetizer while we waited, but they did not make us aware that the ribeye would take so long when we ordered it. Once we got the ribeye, my dad really enjoyed it, but we had to wait a very long time to enjoy it. Also, the beef was not cooked as I would prefer it, but it was a nice piece of bison and the accompanying veggies were good, but nothing amazing. Overall, it's a trendy place with many hipsters that has inventive and sometimes tasty food.
(3)Katie B.
I am giving Third Bird three stars for service & four for food. Service -- We arrived fifteen minutes early for a 9pm reservation & were seated right away. Great news! Except then our table sat for twenty minutes waiting for our server to come over to answer questions on the drink menu. This was a theme throughout the night -- sit & wait to be tended to. Normally I'd let this pass on a weekend night, but the place was only half full. It was pretty apparent they were understaffed. I think our server was covering half of the tables that night, or maybe he just made himself look really busy. Food & drink -- I had a rum drink that I'm now forgetting the name of. It was okay, but I've had better. The pear drink that my friend had was really freshing -- next time, I'll go with that! I agree with the other reviews on here that the portions are small for 4 or more guests. We ordered three appetizers: bacon & cheddar popcorn, grilled asparagus, & flatbread. Everything was awesome. These portions were the right size for four people! For dinner we ordered a half roasted chicken, the chorizo scallops & clams, & the pork belly. I was less impressed with these portions. I totally understand that these plates are meant to be shared, but we got two scallops for four people. Why should we have to order another $18 plate just so that each of us gets to try one scallop? The chicken was awesome. Very tender & juicy. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pork belly because my friends ate the whole dang thing while I was chatting...those sneaks! All three of them said it was some of the best pork belly that they had had. Wish I'd had some :) Bottom line -- Third Bird is still new, given that it opened only a couple of weeks ago. I'll give them a second chance for dinner, & definitely want to try them for brunch too. I just hope their service improves. Recommend this spot for a nicer date night & recommend you don't come starving given the portion sizes. Oh, & just want to give a shout out to the rustic / industrial vibe. I'm a sucker for that feeling in a restaurant!
(3)Sara J.
We noticed this place on our walk home from a brewery and made a mental note to come back in the morning, we are very glad we did. They ask that you enter via the alley door but there isn't a sign so we had a bit of trouble finding it, the hostess must have noticed our lost expressions because she peaked her head outside and invite us in. The restaurant is quite large inside, much bigger than it looks from the front, we had no trouble getting a seat right away. Now for what you came here for, the food, yes the food, yumm! We had the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and their version of a pork belly benedict. The biscuits and gravy were large, you get a lot of food and a ton of sausage in the gravy, overall its a very good meal. As good as the biscuits and gravy were the benedict (grilled pork belly,Poached eggs, Ploye, SMOKED MAPLE HOLLANDAISE ) was even better. I wasn't familiar with Ploye but it turns out to be a thin non-sweet pancake, different than a normal benedict because you don't have the large amount of bread, this is more focused on the thick and delicious pork belly. Not mentioned in the menu description is what I believe to be a version of collared greens, they are slightly spicy and go perfectly with the sweet and savory nature of the meal. I would recommend both of the dished we tried. My only asks for this place are: bottomless mimosas (doesn't everyone always want that?) and a patio for next summer. Overall I am very excited for this place, we will be back for lunch/dinner and will probably put this on our list of places to take out of town guests, it's a win for the Loring Park neighborhood.
(5)Eater M.
Food/Drink: Came here for a Sunday bunch. Admittedly, my buddy and I had a rough weekend so this worked out perfect. Sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The Bloody Mary didn't disappoint and hit the spot, followed by a coffee that was pretty decent. I had the biscuits and gravy knock off which was off the wall good. Great meaty gravy followed by awesome biscuits, feel free to order those directly if needed. Next to me was the steak and eggs rendition, and the eggs looked perfectly scrambled. Kudos to the chef and kitchen staff. They looked soft, fluffy, not soggy, not dry; just right. The menu is short and sweet, but I'm guessing I'd be happy with most anything there and eager to get through it. Ambiance: Yep, I'm trying to channel my inner hipster and be much cooler then I actually am. It's hard, but this place absolutely helps. Pro Tip; The entrance is through the back alley and it's worth it just to set a little bit of design in motion. Once you walk in, you're all good. DJ...check, big windows....check, lots of black, white, and wood... check. You could spend a day instagramming pictures as you pretend to decorate your next place similarly. Service: On point, but a little hipsterish. It was smooth and easy going, but every once in a while I got a hipster vibe which I appreciated, but could definitely put off some people. Don't get me wrong, they were friendly enough and never seemed rushed. Rumor has it this place is also know as a staple for people in the service industry which just kind of made it feel like you're eating with the hip kids at the hip kids house. Overall: Brunch in MN is getting hot and this place serves it up properly. If you're looking for something not in your usual rotation or out of your normal area, this is the place to go. Especially if you want the full monte of being hip, eating hip and seeing hip things you won't go wrong coming here.
(4)Tim T.
What a cool place! I was seated at the bar by the manager, Jessie. They have a great Happy Hour from 4-6(i just missed it) 1/2 price beverages that come in a glass. I had a Sazerac, $13. It's such a complex cocktail and it was perfectly executed by our bartender, Heather. There was a DJ who was creating a great vibe! The music was great and not too loud to have a conversation It was Monday night and we did the buffet family dinner, ($18 general public and $10 restaurant industry folk). Fish and chips and a vegetable curry with rice were the offerings. First of all, the fish was great!! Lightly battered, cooked perfectly and it had a citrus tanginess that did not even require the excellent tartar sauce that was offered. The curry and rice were great too! For dessert I had a Michter's Bourbon, $8 it was delicious and I think it was a great price! I will be back!!
(4)Jocelyn G.
This is a terrifically cute place espcialy the alley entrance. We had a large party. Everyone loved their meals particularly the hamburger, omelette and Cesar salad. The pea soup however was pasty with too much mint. Also there were many flies in the restaurant that keep petering us while we ate which was unsettling. Otherwise the food and service was lovely~
(3)Nancy M.
Went for the first time for brunch. Beautiful fall morning and not packed. Had checked out the menu on line, so knew what I was going to order. We both had the leek and mushroom omelet which comes with a big side of green salad, little cheddar buttermilk biscuits with apple butter, hash browns, juice, and I had a bacon side and hubby had sausage. The service was a little slow, and food came out unevenly. We first got biscuits and the meat and hash browns. My bacon was burned black and returned for a do-over. Then hubby got his omelet and mine arrived ten minutes later. The omelets were very light and fluffy and savory. No salt or pepper on the table, but the dishes were perfectly prepared and seasoned. Cheddar biscuits were tender, but dry and would not get them again. Our server was smart and pleasant and a small overcharge on the biscuits resulted in them voiding the charge for them altogether. Very nice space, beautiful windows across from Loring Park makes for a great view. Beverage menu had witty little comments under each selection. I would very much go back to try the bison burger, which I understand is fabulous, as well as the roasted chicken. a little spendy, but worth it.
(4)Jason T.
Had dinner at Third Bird a few weeks ago. Loved the ambience. The chocolate tort was absolutely the most perfect I've had. Our server was great. I think we ended up lucky with the "down to earth", attentive gal. Some of the people that worked there had an air about them that suggested that working in a restaurant was beneath them. The hostess at the door acted as though we were imposing when we said "a table for two, please". Not always down with the heavy attitude of places like this.. Thank goodness the food was decent. If that changes I'll just go to Eli's and pay less for approximately the same artisanal attention to food.
(4)Lisa H.
Absolutely the worst dining experience I've ever had. Food wise. The food is mediocre at best for an exorbitant price point. The portions are minuscule. Hello, is this a small plate? The accoutrements non-existant. The menu is a mess, challenging to decipher. The saving grace, Marina. Awesome customer service. Very empathetic and understanding. Ambiance is nice. The Dj a personal plus. I would come here to drink but I won't be eating here again.
(1)Lee D.
We don't need another high-end, high priced, trying to be 'new' bar/restaurant. I think $14 for a bison burger with nearly no toppings is ridiculous. Wine/beer is expensive and nothing new. The waitperson was polite. Yet when I asked for extra mayo, she returned with a small bowl that might have had a tablespoon in it. The 'greens' on my Berger were simple lettuce. I suspect the landlords around Loring Park have gotten too greedy, so restaurant tenants need to charge more. I hope to see a place (even some) where a couple can go out for a light dinner, with a few beers/wine, and not spend over $75. We need value and quality !
(1)Samantha E.
I'm going to write an update to my review after we recently visited for brunch. The brunch menu prices are much more reasonable compared with the portion sizes. We had great service and our food came out quickly. Will definitely go back for brunch--I just wish they would augment their dinner service to reflect how awesome the brunch was.
(4)Jenny R.
Lovely restaurant! Shared the salmon carpaccio (pretty small portion, beware), the Caesar, half chicken and roasted carrots. Service was wonderful - described the cocktails beautifully. Made great suggestions for sharing. Would definitely, definitely go back.
(5)Marie D.
3.5 stars on this visit but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt. Went for a noon lunch, there were about 3 other parties in the whole place and they were out of 3 of their entrees already. I know that happens with smaller menus and high demand, but there was hardly anyone there and lunch had just begun. Moving to a second (or third, or fourth?) choice, I decided on the cold fried chicken club sandwich. Harissa mayo, roasted tomatoes, and excellent cornmeal fried chicken made for some awesome flavor. Unfortunately, the bread it was served on was super soggy the second it arrived. I think they fried it in a pan with butter (delicious idea, don't get met wrong) when the should have maybe toasted it or just used more substantial bread. It came with house-made chips that were perfectly done, so I ended up turning the soggy, deconstructed remains of my sandwich into nachos with them, so you know, nachos=win. The menu was great, the location is charming (note: alley entrance), the service was good, so I'll definitely be back, I'm an optimist.
(4)WestCoastYelper W.
Had brunch here on a recent Sunday morning. I am a huge fan of most of Barman's restaurants. I love her food politics, the design, the thoughtful menus, etc. In fact, I think Kim Bartman's restaurants, in many ways, embody the essence of the Minneapolis food scene. That being said, we had brunch at Third Bird and were very disappointed. The service was EXTREMELY slow, the food was underwhelming, and they were totally inflexible about changes to the menu (despite the note at the bottom inviting customers to share dietary needs). For example, I wanted an alternative to meat and was not given any option. Really, you can't sub a small side salad for sausage? I really hope this place works out--it's such a nice location and the menu is great--in theory.
(2)Adam M.
Happy to report better experiences than our first attempt. We've now been twice for brunch. The food was excellent both times. The service felt a little too cool for school the first time, but today our server (Krista) was outstanding. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. She is what any staff should be shooting for. We'll have to come back for dinner. Here's hoping that the reception is like today and not our first attempt to visit.
(4)Franesco M.
Two stars to be nice.... Disappointing overall when you consider all the factors. Read some reviews that seemed harsh but I now agree with them. Let's see how long it lasts. Table of 4. Bloody Mary's, nothing special at all. Bison burger the best choice, cooked well and a good size. Bison steak - good flavor well cooked, rest of dish was mediocre. Breakfast breakfast, pass. Pork belly, not good, 3 tiny bits of thick bacon broiled with a touch of paprika is what I though when I ate it.... Really disappointing. I would have given 3 stars but, they are trying to be trendy and foods and completely missing the point, open in the burbs and you might get away with it. Will not return.m
(2)John M.
I went here last night and I thought it was good. It is the kind of place that charges you more than what they should but I don't know if a lot of people in that area care about that. The service was great. We had a waiter that was very personable, attentive and friendly. I got the pork brisket and was expecting a big plate of meat but got a fancy little dish with a portion size smaller than most appetizers. I guess that's their style. It was good, nothing to cry home about though. I saw they were on a list of best burgers in the Twin Cities and my friend tried the burger. He's had a lot of burgers in the Twin Cities and said this one was just okay. It's a great hangout spot though. The food isn't amazing, but it's good and it's a really cool place to hang out.
(4)Tina C.
The ambiance was really fun and trendy, but the food was just OK. Don't come hungry because the service is extremely slow and the portions are tiny. I ordered the caesar salad and it was literally three pieces of romaine with some dressing and super hard croutons. I also had the salmon-all three bites of it. The flavors were excellent, but it wasn't worth the price. My husband had the burger and loved it. The fries were way too greasy. I wouldn't go back, but I'm glad I experienced it once.
(3)D B.
I love the big windows at this space looking out over the park. That's worth 4 stars for having a seat from which to stare out. But...I might as well have stood in the park and let the wind blow a $100 bill out of my hand ~it would have been more satisfying. Nothing we had here was very good or well executed. Most of it was luke warm. All of it added up to overpriced and unsatisfying. So disappointed, really had hoped for more. The decor is an odd mish mash that doesn't really add up to anything other than mish mashy. This space, and this restaurant, could both be so much more.
(2)Kari W.
At the suggestion of friends, we dined at The Third Bird last night. First time for all of us - and we were not disappointed. When I checked the menu out online before making our reservation, I thought it seemed pretty weak. Obviously I was wrong. It seems to me that by limiting their menu, they are able to perfect each item. We started the evening with drinks - expertly made- delicious. Then we moved on to our first course. For me that was baby lettuces. They were just as tasty as they were pretty (see picture). My husband, Erick, and my friend Anne had chilled pea soup. I wish I had taken a picture because it was so lovely. It came out with an edible violet in the center. Unfortunately, both felt it lacked complexity and basically tasted like puréed peas-ala Gerber. My friend, Russ, ordered chicken wings -you can order chicken by the cut; wing, leg, thigh or breast...which is pretty cool. Russ said the sauce was tasty but the chicken was unremarkable. Our main courses were a home run. Russ and I ordered trout. The seasoning was salty and tasty. The skin was crispy but the flesh was tender and flaky. I devoured it and only found one bone. A+ in my book...can't stand to find those sharp little bones in my food! Erick ordered the bison and he loved it. I had a taste and it was incredible. The only negative is that the serving was small. He could have easily eaten twice as much (5 oz). Anne ordered the cheeseburger. Normally she is a little more selective but you know when the mood strikes for a burger you just gotta do it! We passed on desert. Not because they didn't have good options, but it was 10pm, we were seated on the sidewalk and we were getting cold. I was able to check out the dining room when I went in to use the facilities. Very nice, comfortable and chic. The last time I was there it was Nick and Eddie's and it was pretty much the same. They are located across from Loring Park- I love this area. Parking was easy in a nearby lot (maybe 50 feet away) and cost $5. They also have valet if the lot is full. Last but not least, we had a fantastic server. She was attentive but not obnoxious, and she was able to answer every question we fired at her. Wish I could recall her name to give her a proper shout out - hipster waitress girl...you rock!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Lunched here yesterday to celebrate a special occasion. The only other people there lunching on a Monday at 1pm were a few retired people. But it looked like we were having more fun because we were ordering fairly heavily off the drink menu. Sat inside due to the heat, but the a/c didn't seem to be working. Our waiter was very pleasant and filled our waters repeatedly (thank you). Loved my cocktail. At the waiters recommendation, I ordered the smoked trout salad. Good flavor. Not overly smoked. Perfect amount of vinaigrette. My only (big) complaint is that it looked like a side salad. My second or third bite was a fairly large leaf of lettuce I had to kind of shove in (hey we've all been there) and when I looked down: there went half my salad. Big sad face! I was still hungry afterwards. That is my biggest beef with entree salads: make them big enough to fill me! Argh. Stole a few fries from a friend which were delicious (and very long like witch's fingers) Would I go back? Maybe. I think there are places that serve the same food for less money or better food for the same money. I guess what I'm saying is the value isn't quite there (I think Eli's down the street is a better value). But it has a great location. And our waiter couldn't have been better.
(3)Wendy H.
Saturday morning, 11am. I couldn't find the entrance to this cute looking Bistro. A passer-by on the street saw my befuddlement and directed me down a side alley. Brunch as prompt and delicious. Most of the clientele looked wealthy, well healed, groups of women. Hushed conversations. I sat at the substantial breakfast bar. The couple next to me discussed photography. They frequently said "you know" and prefaced many statements with the word "Like". I hope these tics never emigrate to my speech. On the other side of the breakfast bar people were dressed like wedding guests, mingling in gender defined roles. They looked uncomfortable and fabulous. The bar staff smiled naturally when I spoke but refrained from the more common exultant reaction of "I love your accent". A very comfortable, pleasant place for a single lady to hang out. I'll be back on another weekend
(4)Becca G.
I had high expectations going into this since it's a restaurant owned by Kim Bartmann. I came here with a friend to check it out since it was on my list of restaurants to check out. Since it was a beautiful day, we opted for the outdoor seating and I brought my dog along. Overall, the lunch menu has a decent selection and I love that they source from local & organic farmers, BUT there were a couple of reasonable requests I made that didn't seem to fit based on the following sentence written at the bottom of the menu: "Please alert your server to any dietary needs or desire you might have." 1. Okay, there are plenty of sandwiches to choose from, but no gluten-free bread available (this surprised me considering how many people don't eat gluten). And again, this is a Kim Bartmann restaurant...I love everything she has produced up until this recent experience. 2. When I opted for the omelette, it said that there was only parmesan added. I asked if I could have vegetables added to it and the server said that this was something they didn't do. The omelette does come with a small side salad though. In either of these cases, I was surprised. Both requests are easy fixes. The food we ate was good enough, regardless. And interestingly, even though my friend ordered a BUN-LESS bacon cheeseburger, they still served it with that durn gluten-filled bun. I wouldn't be opposed to eating here again, but it's definitely not on my favorites list and I wouldn't recommend it based on their current options.
(3)Matt E.
@FancyDinnerClub is on a roll The drinks were delicious. Making drinks that are boozy without being overpowering is a subtle art, and the Third Bird's bar staff nailed it. The favorite of the bunch was a wacky gin/citrus/basil/pepper drink, which had a ge
(4)Justin B.
I went here for a business lunch and my expectations were certainly exceeded. The ambiance is really fun when you arrive, with fun furniture. I enjoyed their Cuban sandwich with what tasted like home made potato chips (with just the right amount of salt). It was delicious. The service was attentive, friendly, and they didn't even push the check on us until we asked. I really want to go back and get another Cuban!
(4)Ariel L.
Good for a quick lunch and a very casual atmosphere. They're not too busy at lunch but dinner is a different story. It's a good short walk to Loring Park if there's still light out. Try to be seated by the window if you want to people watch. Entrance is by the alley.
(3)Erin F.
A beautiful space with average food. My sister managed to get us a reservation here even though the website said they didn't have any openings. Parking wasn't an issue and there are two entrances- one on the alley and another facing Loring Park. The space is beautiful but it's also not well insulated so it's quite hard to hear each other even at a fairy small table. For the appetizers, we ordered a fair number to share. We got the caesar salad, the beef tartare, fries, asparagus and the spring onions. The flax and spring onions was the surprisingly good dish. The flax tasted a lot like quinoa and had good flavors. The caesar salad was fine, although it was dominated by the lettuce. My husband was a fan of the asparagus, but I didn't particularly prefer it. I heard the fries were good as was the tartare. The main course was an issue. We ordered the two person ribeye as well as two orders of the bison. It took about 40 minutes after our appetizers came out to get the ribeye. To be fair, they did offer us a complementary appetizer while we waited, but they did not make us aware that the ribeye would take so long when we ordered it. Once we got the ribeye, my dad really enjoyed it, but we had to wait a very long time to enjoy it. Also, the beef was not cooked as I would prefer it, but it was a nice piece of bison and the accompanying veggies were good, but nothing amazing. Overall, it's a trendy place with many hipsters that has inventive and sometimes tasty food.
(3)Gretchen B.
At first I was like, "Why the hell would they not put their front door facing Loring Park?" And then I was like, "This is the dankest alley ever, in a good way." At first I was like, "Oh my god, it's 10am on a Sunday, why the hell is there a DJ?" And then I was like, "This guy is flipping fantastically brunch-y records." Man, this place is cute. Modern, trendy, lounge-like, industrial-esque, with lots of natural light and pop art. The biscuits and gravy and the bison and eggs were really tasty, although the eggs looked like that made-from-powder type stuff you find at buffets. But tasty. The french toast was on the dry side but the crème fraiche + tart berries helped make up for it. My bloody was good, and apparently each bartender uses their own recipe. Upon inquiry, ours wrote down his recipe for us! I'll be back for cocktails for sure.
(4)Eve L.
Very chill, after-work place with great happy hour, good beer and creative small menu. Nice view of the Loring park and nice crowd.
(4)Autumn V.
Shared the burrata (house made mozzarella) salad with pickled peaches and fresh strawberries. I could live off this salad alone. I loooooooooove cheese (who cares if I am lactose intolerant?!). This was amazing. It could have come without all the greens and fruits and I would have happily eaten the roasted burrata alone. I would not have shared it with ANYONE if I had known it was so good!!!! Don't judge me. Haha. We also had the buffalo fries with bleu cheese, roasted half chicken with truffle gravy and liver & bread stuffing, and I had the rabbit pasta with chicken liver. It was ALL good. We also had four or maybe ten of the special cocktails..... So delicious. Perhaps we have found our new favorite lazy night dinner spot!!!! And I may live off the burrata salad alone now. Cheese, fruits, and greens (and booze!). What more could a girl ask for??? Well, I'm going to go die happy now.
(5)Alyssa K.
Came here for Sunday brunch and was not impressed. The restaurant had a very hip atmosphere, with food that is bland and overpriced. The menu was hard to read and tacky. I had ordered the Original Breakfast and my aunt had the Lox and Fried Green Beans. We both ordered orange juices (not listed on menu) than turned out to be almost $4/ea for a small glass. When our food came out, my poached eggs were not strained properly and resulting in soggy toast and hash browns. My aunts lox dish had a thin spread of lox and a few pieces of bread. I do give them credit for the fried green beans. They were delicious and served with a great aioli sauce. But with a bill nearing $50, it was not worth it. Will not come here again.
(2)Danah P.
Went here mid afternoon on a Tuesday with a few girlfriends. Admittedly we were there "between" hours - not lunch but not yet dinner - but didn't have a great experience. Walked in from the alley and were not greeted by staff - we had to ask where we could sit and if we could be outside. Sat outside even though next door neighbor, 4 Bells, was (noisily) putting up a sign or something which required drilling through the brick. Not third birds fault at all, but killed the ambiance a bit. Ordered a few drinks (only had one rose by the glass that day although others were listed), had to ask for water refills. Asked About the menu, server confirmed it was the "between" menu and when asked for recommendations he basically listed off everything is being good "if you like that sort of thing" but gushed over the tartare. So a friend ordered it. Minutes later he came back to inform us that he was just told "that is no longer on the menu." Ok, well then give us an updated menu or politely inform us in advance it isn't available, and certainly don't recommend it. We were guessing that our server was actually the host, as mid-visit he boarded his bicycle right next to our table and pedaled off, without so much of a thank you or transfer to new server. New server was fine, didn't have to ask for water refills anymore as she dropped off a small carafe. Rest of food was so so. Chilled soup had a bit too much spice (cardamom if I remember correctly) to be refreshing or let the vegetable stand out. Cheeseburger was fine, best dish was probably the baby lettuce with citrus. But not good enough to warrant a return trip to re-try the service.
(2)Chele D.
2.17.15 Admittedly this experience was a while ago, and while the company was memorable, the food certainly wasn't. I remember LOVING the cream of mushroom soup, HATING the beef tartare, and being fairly "meh" about the poutine, polenta, bison, desserts, drinks, and service ... As one of my friends commented "the food is yummy ... But none of it is particularly ... hot ..." Don't get me wrong -- I'll be coming back to try it again, but probably for brunch or lunch. Monday night just wasn't where the A-team was at.
(3)Jacky W.
I am pleased not only that there is a new restaurant to take the place of Joe's Garage, but also that said new restaurant is, in fact, quite delicious. I came to the Bird for Sunday brunch with my family. The first item of note is the Bloody Mary. It is a low-fuss drink with absolutely no frills (this alone is usually enough for me to write-off any Bloody Mary). However, the flavor and consistency of this drink was perfect. As a Wisconsin-born gal, I feel that I have an authority to speak on matters of beer, cheese and Bloody Marys, so trust me when I say that this is a perfectly-flavored drink. That being said, please throw in a pickle or a chunk of cheese or at least a celery stick! The food was delicious. I tried everyone's breakfasts and each one was delicious and flavored in a unique and mouth-watering fashion. I will DEFINITELY return to try more of the dishes.
(4)Susan P.
I ate again today at Third Bird off Loring Park. The restaurant was off their game. They didn't have a hostess. Guests sat anywhere. They were out of their soup, their kettle chips. We ordered and waited and waited for our food today. They were polite but one of my guests missed her 1:00 meeting because of the delay. The food when it arrived was good--we had a salad with trout, a bacon and cheese and egg sandwich and an omelette. The staff was nice about compensating for the delay. that said, we had a business lunch and my guest missed their early afternoon meeting because of lunch. This is really unacceptable. I will probably go back but won't be inclined to do so on a tight schedule with busy people.
(3)Josh H.
This place used to be called Cafe Maude and I was bummed they were no longer around. It's a great location to the Loring Park area and a 2 minute walk from my office. I appreciate having several options around the area for food and drink. You can enter the establishment via the alley or through the Harmon Street entrance. Food looks absolutely tasty. I have only been there for happy hours so far. The drink specials are wonderful. I have a couple of Nitro Milk Stouts and they were $2/each. Speaking of which, they have a really nice beer and wine selection. I will update once I have eaten there, but I can say that the food sounds appetizing and the service has been great. Went for lunch the other week. I was quite happy with the portions. I had a grilled cold chicken club and I could only eat half of the sandwich. I thought service was good. However, it was at lunch at there were not too many people. The server and other staff were attentive and not intrusive.
(4)Elizabeth R.
When I was here, I had just had a crown put on one of my molars, so much of the menu was off limits. That said, there was enough squishy food to give me some choice. I wound up with the cod, which was both delicious and perfect for a painful jaw. My friend had the bison burger, which he declared delicious. Apart from the quality of the main courses, the service was a bit on the slow side, and the cocktails are nothing to write home about. Nothing was particularly stand out about this restaurant, but it's got a good, relaxed atmosphere that made for an enjoyable experience.
(3)Carolyn B.
I had higher hopes for this place, but left pretty disappointed. We checked the menu online and thought there would be enough vegetarian stuff to get by. The actual menu we received was a bit different, which I don't necessarily fault them for, but we ended up with less of what we thought we would enjoy. While they were somewhat accommodating, we were generally limited to the small plates, which were a little underwhelming and add up in cost when you start layering them on. Particularly if you are trying to make a meal of them for a grown man. To get around this issue, I decided to try the fish dish. Granted, I only eat fish a couple of times a year and am no expert, but the waitress should have been more informed. Being unfamiliar myself with arctic char, she described it as a mild white fish. As I learned, it is not white, nor mild. From a technical perspective, the fish was nicely cooked and I thought I could handle it, but I threw up when I got home. It was just not at all what I wanted. Not sure I will try this place again. Some of the small plates sounded interesting, but were a bit of a let down. I ended up basically apologizing to my husband for insisting we try it.
(3)Whitney F.
4.5 for sure. Surprised by some of the less than fantastic reviews. Reading a handful of lukewarm words, I was skeptical. I loved Nick and Eddies and adored Cafe Maude - excited to check out this new place after having a soft spot for some of Kim Bartmann's other locations (Gigis, sigh.). The one oddity was that the door that looks into Loring Park isn't really the entrance. I walked in, looked around, and finally someone pointed me to the hostess desk at the "other" front door in the alley. I do love that alley though! Our service and food was nothing less than ideal. Our server, Melissa, was super attentive and knowledgable about the menu. There is a pretty sizable wine list (by the bottle). We had a few of the wine's by the glass, and a nicely done old fashioned. For the table we shared the roasted carrots and fries w/ aioli. Super start. Not sure if I've been to a dinner where all of us have truly LOVED our dishes. This was the case! I had the cod wrapped in proscuitto and set in a potato and balsamic puree. The rest of the group had the pasta with rabbit sugo, the bison steak, and the polenta. I think we all loved the food so much that no one actually asked how the others meals were, let alone offering bites. Cheers Third Bird, great addition to Loring Park!
(4)Rachael M.
The BLT sandwich was probably the most dry, UN-flavorful sad sandwich I have had in my lifetime. Probably time to mix up the menu a bit, yea?
(2)Amee K.
I had the opportunity to spend HH here and I can say that it took me days to recover after drinking a couple cocktails made by the bartenders. The atmosphere to this place is very dark and mysterious but it most definitely has its sultry appeal. I would most definitely come back for their food but maybe a few less drinks this time, I do want to remember my night ;D.
(4)Christina G.
Loved it. The polenta was very rich, so I would recommend it for splitting with four people. Bison was really tasty as well. And the carrots had a lot more complex taste than I would have imagined. I am not too much into sweets. But, I would recommend cheating your diet a little here.
(4)Kristine C.
Our last night in Minneapolis before we had to catch a late Sunday flight home and wanted to try one last restaurant. The menu sounded amazing; we had to give it a try. I was so pleasantly surprised at the warmth and service of the staff. Everyone smiled and was happy to talk with us and answer our foodie questions. (We have a lot of questions). Overall, I loved the hip-eclectic style of the restaurant. The old building gives it a historic vibe but with some modern twists such as curtains draped in the waiting area and a DJ/turn table set up in the other corner. The menu is set up to build upon each course as you move down the list. My boyfriend does not eat meat and they could accommodate some of the dishes. Long story short, you cannot go wrong with whatever you chose. Here is what we enjoyed: Boy it was hard to reign in my eyes and chose what I wanted; I wanted to try it all! After some questions and lengthy discussion with our awesome waiter, we started with the Roasted Carrots. This is their signature dish and highly recommended. The carrots are cooked for hours so they come out tender and browned. You get several pieces, as if they were from a stew, drizzled with the sauce and hazelnuts as a garnish. For our second appetizer we moved further down the menu then we should, but we wanted to try the Polenta. This could be a main dish, but we were trying to maximize our menu experience and absolutely could not pass up any dish with black truffle. We had to wait a bit for this dish. The Chef had to make a few alterations given the ingredients of the day and his first dish did not come out to his liking. It was nice of our waiter to explain this to us (I am hoping this was the true story). Once the dish arrived, I could smell the truffle and my mouth watered. When you mix the egg into the creamy polenta and take a bite with the truffle, all three flavors complement each other so well. We cleaned the plate in minutes. For our mains we went with the Parsnip Tortellini and the Arctic Char. These choices suited our food needs perfectly. I love pasta and a really cold night. The tortellini was more filling and a larger portion that I expected. A great surprise! The pasta was almost like gnocchi; so soft and tender and melted in my mouth. The mushrooms garnishing the plate were a great contrast and the grapefruit added a completely different taste, not bitter at all. Oddly, a great fit. My boyfriend ordered the Char and loved it. He cleaned his plate so fast while I was enjoying mine I hardly had a chance to think about trying his dish. The dill sauce that comes with the char is scrumptious. I know when we are back in Minneapolis next year we will be stopping by again!
(4)Steve D.
Tried the bird with a group of 6. We had 7:00 reservations on a sat night and were seated right away. Our waitress was moderatley attentive, I found my glass empty at least twice. The salad was my starter, the baby greens and was tasty but small and overpriced at $9.00. The $22 steak was pretty good and the asparagus was nicely done. The one thing that was odd was the DJ spinning tunes during the dinner hour. It was hard to hear with the music going at prime time. We would return but likely call to inquire if a DJ would be spinning the brass monkey as we were seeing old friends we hadn't seen in some years. Cool location and trendy vibe in the Bird.
(4)Jessica S.
I am enamored by this space!! The European-esque stone alleyway behind the building leads to the main entrance, and kicks off The Third Bird experience on the right foot. The *space* itself is light and airy with high ceilings spanning two floors and top to bottom windows offering an unobstructed view of Loring Park. The decor is simple elegant yet quirky from the wall of mirrors (varied in size, shape, and color) to the floor to ceiling monocle-donning pink-hued hum-ird (a mythical yet sophisticated bird-human hybrid) graphic to the wood-topped arced bar that punctuates a small balconied upper floor private seating area. As much as I want to move into this space, we had come to chow. The *menu* was as whimsical as the space and its layout easy-to-follow with varying text sizes and boldness that elucidates the main dish in larger, bold type and details in a smaller size--kind of reminiscent of data visualization through word clouds. #marketresearchnerd Sidetracked by my mindless drivel once more. The crux of the matter... the *eats.* It was brunch time. I wanted something light and sweet.... *Yogurt, berries, and granola.* ~$6. Flavorful, fresh. A good balance of ingredients. My qualm - so insubstantial, hardly constituting even a snack. Cheap enough though. Nonetheless, it just seemed not even menu-worthy. My friends got more normal meals. *Shirred Eggs* in a mason jar with tomato gravy (apparently really yummy). And *Pork Belly* - didn't catch how this was as I've got no desire to ever ingest it However, I could see a lot of care and *high quality* ingredients went into the preparation of all the menu items. At the same time, portions here skew *small* and a *tad pricey.* I could foresee boosting this to a 5-star establishment, if I opt for a menu item other than yogurt, which was only good but not incredible (but can bacteria-fermented milk ever achieve this status?).
(4)Grace H.
A little hard to find. Maybe because the GPS was confused. If I had realized it was so close to cafe lurcat maybe we wouldn't have had to loop around as much. Also if it wasn't so cold out it would have been nice to take a stroll around Loring Park since metered parking lasted for 2 hours, more than enough time to finish lunch. The official restaurant entrance is in the alleyway but since it was our first time we walked past the back entrance. There was a sign that said please use the alley entrance but the hostess saw us and let us in since she didn't want to make us walk so much in the cold. Our server was attentive and was able to give detailed descriptions of the entrees when I asked her about them. We started with the French onion soup. There wasn't loads of cheese like the French onion at Meritage but I guess that was healthier. The portion for the pasta I ordered looked small initially since it was all bunched up in a ball, but the rabbit with it was good and it was actually pretty filling after unraveling the noodles. I tried a couple bites of my boyfriend's chicken fried sandwich. It was decent although admittedly I'm not too big of a fan of bacon and avocado. We both enjoyed the kettle cooked chips on the side though. The tres leches cake to finish it off was decent. I really liked the atmosphere. They had numark and Pioneer dj controllers on a table so I'd like to come back when they have live music. The bathrooms were clean and had real fresh flowers in them. It looks like there's a private dining area upstairs for special events. Overall I like birds so I'm a huge fan of the artwork here.
(4)Katie B.
I am giving Third Bird three stars for service & four for food. Service -- We arrived fifteen minutes early for a 9pm reservation & were seated right away. Great news! Except then our table sat for twenty minutes waiting for our server to come over to answer questions on the drink menu. This was a theme throughout the night -- sit & wait to be tended to. Normally I'd let this pass on a weekend night, but the place was only half full. It was pretty apparent they were understaffed. I think our server was covering half of the tables that night, or maybe he just made himself look really busy. Food & drink -- I had a rum drink that I'm now forgetting the name of. It was okay, but I've had better. The pear drink that my friend had was really freshing -- next time, I'll go with that! I agree with the other reviews on here that the portions are small for 4 or more guests. We ordered three appetizers: bacon & cheddar popcorn, grilled asparagus, & flatbread. Everything was awesome. These portions were the right size for four people! For dinner we ordered a half roasted chicken, the chorizo scallops & clams, & the pork belly. I was less impressed with these portions. I totally understand that these plates are meant to be shared, but we got two scallops for four people. Why should we have to order another $18 plate just so that each of us gets to try one scallop? The chicken was awesome. Very tender & juicy. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pork belly because my friends ate the whole dang thing while I was chatting...those sneaks! All three of them said it was some of the best pork belly that they had had. Wish I'd had some :) Bottom line -- Third Bird is still new, given that it opened only a couple of weeks ago. I'll give them a second chance for dinner, & definitely want to try them for brunch too. I just hope their service improves. Recommend this spot for a nicer date night & recommend you don't come starving given the portion sizes. Oh, & just want to give a shout out to the rustic / industrial vibe. I'm a sucker for that feeling in a restaurant!
(3)Sara J.
We noticed this place on our walk home from a brewery and made a mental note to come back in the morning, we are very glad we did. They ask that you enter via the alley door but there isn't a sign so we had a bit of trouble finding it, the hostess must have noticed our lost expressions because she peaked her head outside and invite us in. The restaurant is quite large inside, much bigger than it looks from the front, we had no trouble getting a seat right away. Now for what you came here for, the food, yes the food, yumm! We had the cheddar biscuits with sausage gravy and their version of a pork belly benedict. The biscuits and gravy were large, you get a lot of food and a ton of sausage in the gravy, overall its a very good meal. As good as the biscuits and gravy were the benedict (grilled pork belly,Poached eggs, Ploye, SMOKED MAPLE HOLLANDAISE ) was even better. I wasn't familiar with Ploye but it turns out to be a thin non-sweet pancake, different than a normal benedict because you don't have the large amount of bread, this is more focused on the thick and delicious pork belly. Not mentioned in the menu description is what I believe to be a version of collared greens, they are slightly spicy and go perfectly with the sweet and savory nature of the meal. I would recommend both of the dished we tried. My only asks for this place are: bottomless mimosas (doesn't everyone always want that?) and a patio for next summer. Overall I am very excited for this place, we will be back for lunch/dinner and will probably put this on our list of places to take out of town guests, it's a win for the Loring Park neighborhood.
(5)Eater M.
Food/Drink: Came here for a Sunday bunch. Admittedly, my buddy and I had a rough weekend so this worked out perfect. Sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The Bloody Mary didn't disappoint and hit the spot, followed by a coffee that was pretty decent. I had the biscuits and gravy knock off which was off the wall good. Great meaty gravy followed by awesome biscuits, feel free to order those directly if needed. Next to me was the steak and eggs rendition, and the eggs looked perfectly scrambled. Kudos to the chef and kitchen staff. They looked soft, fluffy, not soggy, not dry; just right. The menu is short and sweet, but I'm guessing I'd be happy with most anything there and eager to get through it. Ambiance: Yep, I'm trying to channel my inner hipster and be much cooler then I actually am. It's hard, but this place absolutely helps. Pro Tip; The entrance is through the back alley and it's worth it just to set a little bit of design in motion. Once you walk in, you're all good. DJ...check, big windows....check, lots of black, white, and wood... check. You could spend a day instagramming pictures as you pretend to decorate your next place similarly. Service: On point, but a little hipsterish. It was smooth and easy going, but every once in a while I got a hipster vibe which I appreciated, but could definitely put off some people. Don't get me wrong, they were friendly enough and never seemed rushed. Rumor has it this place is also know as a staple for people in the service industry which just kind of made it feel like you're eating with the hip kids at the hip kids house. Overall: Brunch in MN is getting hot and this place serves it up properly. If you're looking for something not in your usual rotation or out of your normal area, this is the place to go. Especially if you want the full monte of being hip, eating hip and seeing hip things you won't go wrong coming here.
(4)Tim T.
What a cool place! I was seated at the bar by the manager, Jessie. They have a great Happy Hour from 4-6(i just missed it) 1/2 price beverages that come in a glass. I had a Sazerac, $13. It's such a complex cocktail and it was perfectly executed by our bartender, Heather. There was a DJ who was creating a great vibe! The music was great and not too loud to have a conversation It was Monday night and we did the buffet family dinner, ($18 general public and $10 restaurant industry folk). Fish and chips and a vegetable curry with rice were the offerings. First of all, the fish was great!! Lightly battered, cooked perfectly and it had a citrus tanginess that did not even require the excellent tartar sauce that was offered. The curry and rice were great too! For dessert I had a Michter's Bourbon, $8 it was delicious and I think it was a great price! I will be back!!
(4)Jocelyn G.
This is a terrifically cute place espcialy the alley entrance. We had a large party. Everyone loved their meals particularly the hamburger, omelette and Cesar salad. The pea soup however was pasty with too much mint. Also there were many flies in the restaurant that keep petering us while we ate which was unsettling. Otherwise the food and service was lovely~
(3)Jen K.
Party of 4. About 1/2 of what we order we loved, the other 1/2 was average at best. The prices are out of line for salads and sides and the main courses are an odd mix of options like pick a chicken part or a tiny order of bland pasta or 25oz of steak for $49. Apparently the trout was awesome as was the $12 side Ceasar salad. Sad to say we did not love The Third Bird.
(2)Natalie P.
This review is for brunch, which was delicious! We arrived early on a Sunday (so hungry) to an empty restaurant, giving us our pick of seats. I got their take on Eggs Benedict, which involved pork belly (so great), ploye, and maple hollandaise (somewhat overwhelming). I really like what they've done with the space post-Cafe Maude - the colors are much cleaner and brighter, and the alleyway main entrance (really not that intuitive from the street) has the effect of leaving the front of the restaurant airy and unobstructed. As a Loring Park resident I'm particularly pleased something new and accessible has opened in that block because we don't have a lot of good options! Yum!
(4)Matt K.
This place is super cute. Great atmosphere, nice drink options, and solid food. We shared a flatbread, and had fried chicken club sandwiches and grilled cheese with bacon and egg. Everything was yummy (how can you go wrong!?). Eli, our server, was friendly and nice.
(4)B P.
We were there during restaurant week and two of us ordered from the regular menu and the third one got the prix fix menu for $30. We ordered a $75 wine, that they were out of and instead they suggested another one for a similar price, and really tried to sell us the one for $145... We had the trout for a main dish but it was a very small- appetizer portion, the bison, also very small portion and the pork brisket. The trout was served lukewarm, it tasted ok, the bison and pork brisket were tasty but also very small. We also had two desserts, the donut hole was amazing, the pineapple cake just ok. After a $200 dinner before tip, we returned home and my son had a bowl of cereal as he was still hungry. I don't remember him doing such a thing, since he was a teenager. Bottom line, we all felt that the restaurant was very stingy, and we would all have been much happier if the portions were more reasonable. It wouldn't have cost that much more, and they would have happier and returning customers. Bad business model..
(3)Chris L.
Another success for Kim Bartmann. Went for Saturday brunch and the wife and I both had the bison burger. I;'ve had good and bad with bison burgers, but this was hands down the best I've ever had. In fact, one of the burgers of any type I've had in the Twin Cities. Thousand Island and crisp shredded iceburg lettuce with grilled onions and cheese. Yummy vinger dusted homemade potato chips to go with. We also ordered the buffalo fries and the were great. The space remains basically the same as Cafe Maude with some nice little touches. We'll be back for sure to continue our journey through the brunch menu.
(4)Lisa H.
Absolutely the worst dining experience I've ever had. Food wise. The food is mediocre at best for an exorbitant price point. The portions are minuscule. Hello, is this a small plate? The accoutrements non-existant. The menu is a mess, challenging to decipher. The saving grace, Marina. Awesome customer service. Very empathetic and understanding. Ambiance is nice. The Dj a personal plus. I would come here to drink but I won't be eating here again.
(1)Lee D.
We don't need another high-end, high priced, trying to be 'new' bar/restaurant. I think $14 for a bison burger with nearly no toppings is ridiculous. Wine/beer is expensive and nothing new. The waitperson was polite. Yet when I asked for extra mayo, she returned with a small bowl that might have had a tablespoon in it. The 'greens' on my Berger were simple lettuce. I suspect the landlords around Loring Park have gotten too greedy, so restaurant tenants need to charge more. I hope to see a place (even some) where a couple can go out for a light dinner, with a few beers/wine, and not spend over $75. We need value and quality !
(1)Samantha E.
I'm going to write an update to my review after we recently visited for brunch. The brunch menu prices are much more reasonable compared with the portion sizes. We had great service and our food came out quickly. Will definitely go back for brunch--I just wish they would augment their dinner service to reflect how awesome the brunch was.
(4)Jenny R.
Lovely restaurant! Shared the salmon carpaccio (pretty small portion, beware), the Caesar, half chicken and roasted carrots. Service was wonderful - described the cocktails beautifully. Made great suggestions for sharing. Would definitely, definitely go back.
(5)Marie D.
3.5 stars on this visit but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt. Went for a noon lunch, there were about 3 other parties in the whole place and they were out of 3 of their entrees already. I know that happens with smaller menus and high demand, but there was hardly anyone there and lunch had just begun. Moving to a second (or third, or fourth?) choice, I decided on the cold fried chicken club sandwich. Harissa mayo, roasted tomatoes, and excellent cornmeal fried chicken made for some awesome flavor. Unfortunately, the bread it was served on was super soggy the second it arrived. I think they fried it in a pan with butter (delicious idea, don't get met wrong) when the should have maybe toasted it or just used more substantial bread. It came with house-made chips that were perfectly done, so I ended up turning the soggy, deconstructed remains of my sandwich into nachos with them, so you know, nachos=win. The menu was great, the location is charming (note: alley entrance), the service was good, so I'll definitely be back, I'm an optimist.
(4)WestCoastYelper W.
Had brunch here on a recent Sunday morning. I am a huge fan of most of Barman's restaurants. I love her food politics, the design, the thoughtful menus, etc. In fact, I think Kim Bartman's restaurants, in many ways, embody the essence of the Minneapolis food scene. That being said, we had brunch at Third Bird and were very disappointed. The service was EXTREMELY slow, the food was underwhelming, and they were totally inflexible about changes to the menu (despite the note at the bottom inviting customers to share dietary needs). For example, I wanted an alternative to meat and was not given any option. Really, you can't sub a small side salad for sausage? I really hope this place works out--it's such a nice location and the menu is great--in theory.
(2)Adam M.
Happy to report better experiences than our first attempt. We've now been twice for brunch. The food was excellent both times. The service felt a little too cool for school the first time, but today our server (Krista) was outstanding. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. She is what any staff should be shooting for. We'll have to come back for dinner. Here's hoping that the reception is like today and not our first attempt to visit.
(4)Franesco M.
Two stars to be nice.... Disappointing overall when you consider all the factors. Read some reviews that seemed harsh but I now agree with them. Let's see how long it lasts. Table of 4. Bloody Mary's, nothing special at all. Bison burger the best choice, cooked well and a good size. Bison steak - good flavor well cooked, rest of dish was mediocre. Breakfast breakfast, pass. Pork belly, not good, 3 tiny bits of thick bacon broiled with a touch of paprika is what I though when I ate it.... Really disappointing. I would have given 3 stars but, they are trying to be trendy and foods and completely missing the point, open in the burbs and you might get away with it. Will not return.m
(2)John M.
I went here last night and I thought it was good. It is the kind of place that charges you more than what they should but I don't know if a lot of people in that area care about that. The service was great. We had a waiter that was very personable, attentive and friendly. I got the pork brisket and was expecting a big plate of meat but got a fancy little dish with a portion size smaller than most appetizers. I guess that's their style. It was good, nothing to cry home about though. I saw they were on a list of best burgers in the Twin Cities and my friend tried the burger. He's had a lot of burgers in the Twin Cities and said this one was just okay. It's a great hangout spot though. The food isn't amazing, but it's good and it's a really cool place to hang out.
(4)Tina C.
The ambiance was really fun and trendy, but the food was just OK. Don't come hungry because the service is extremely slow and the portions are tiny. I ordered the caesar salad and it was literally three pieces of romaine with some dressing and super hard croutons. I also had the salmon-all three bites of it. The flavors were excellent, but it wasn't worth the price. My husband had the burger and loved it. The fries were way too greasy. I wouldn't go back, but I'm glad I experienced it once.
(3)Anne R.
I was really excited about this place but left feeling unsatisfied. We walked in at 5:30pm with a reservation and the place wasn't quite half full. Super cute ambience, and such a fun spot with the alleyway entrance. The service was lovely, nothing over the top in either direction, during our entire experience. We ordered some cocktails, the Perplexed Pear, which was perfectly tart and refreshing. About what I expected for $10. The menu is complex and interesting, though not always easy to tell exactly what you're ordering. The wait staff was obliging with questions. I ordered the scallops and my friend ordered the chicken thigh. Both were absolutely scrumptious, but extremely small portions for the price. The scallops, with corn pudding and clams and chorizo, ran $18 and was an appetizer portion. Two scallops, 4 tiny clams, a tablespoon of corn pudding and bits of chorizo. Absolutely delicious. But, we left hungry. Perhaps if you have the cash to throw down for salads, appetizers, and additional plates to share this will work for you. However, for my money, it was a little disappointing.
(3)Katie N.
I wanted to like this place so much but was bummed out by the food. Service was great, good drink selection, really nice bar, but the food was just so-so. I'd be totally willing to give this place another shot though, I'm rooting for something to succeed in that location. I'd still recommend checking it out, it's super cute and maybe I just hit on an off night.
(3)Abigail C.
Loved the soup of the moment - a velvety carrot! The waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. The place is a little noisy with that high, tin ceiling, so not a great place for intimate conversations... But a great place to enjoy friends and family. Did I mention they have a dj curating the mood music?
(4)Barry R.
I was forced to go to the Third Bird because the restaurant that I was going to next door was booked for a private party. I think that may have been the case with a lot of the customers that were at this restaurant the same night. The restaurant could not come close to handling the crowd---even though a Friday night before the holidays. We sat at the bar, the service was at best spotty, the food was B and expensive. The worst part of the experience was the obvious frustration on the part of the staff who took their frustration out on the customer. They were very curt and seemed mad at how busy they were. It took 15 minutes to get the check and another 10 minutes until they picked the check up to charge the sale. And they appeared mad at me. If you are in Loring Park and look for the Third Bird, you won't find it. All signs say "The Bird" kinda confusing and silly if you ask me. Not going back being treated so poorly.
(2)James L.
Attentive service, crazy reasonable prices, crazy delicious food. You have never had chicken like this. Dinner for two with wine under 80.
(5)Megan D.
I love the changes they made to the space. The bar is beautiful and the bison burger was cooked perfectly, just a little salty (and I love salt). I will return to this place for dinner and will add it to the list of places to pop in for a beverage!
(4)Mike W.
Wow...we took my family and were very pleased! Between all of us (7), we ordered and shared more than half of the menu! Bison Burger... Tartare... Polenta... Pork... Caesar Salad... Roasted Carrots... Braunschweiger... Buffalo Fries... Creme Brûlée... Brownie... Pavlova... etc.!!! I am an old fashion meat and potatoes guy, but I loved it! Flavors galore and done to perfection! Except the American Fries... Burnt! Coffee was excellent as well! A little Spendy, but worth it! It made for an enjoyable adult family gathering! Not for young ones!
(4)Scott M.
Enjoyed a late birthday dinner with two great friends here last night and had a wonderful time. The tap and wine lists were varied enough to please all but the most obscure requests and the were some interesting cocktails. We had a delicious cream of mushroom soup, which is not always available, a forgettable beef tartar and a fantastic poutine to start . I would come back for the poutine alone. Our entrees included bison, polenta with a poached egg and half of a roasted chicken that came with some stuffing and gravy. The bison was meaty and tender, my favorite of the three. All of these I would recommend, but don't expect too much from the stuffing. The dessert options were few but I'm craving the doughnut hole that we tried, tres leche being okay. We never had to wait for refills on water or alcoholic beverages and the server was very knowledgeable. This may be a tough rating, but I can't justify a five star mark. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a meal that is delicious and aesthetically pleasing.
(4)Thomas H.
Not impressed. They weren't even busy and took forever to be seated. We ordered wine and soup. Took over 15 mins to get a cup of soup so we canceled our order and left.
(1)Jan K.
Too loud, too salty, too hard to find the entrance! I liked the beet salad and the carrots but the Bison, french fries and flat breads were much too salty. We could hardly carry on a conversation once the place filled up- nothing to absorb ANY noise on the floor or the walls. Food was tasty and the service solicitous.If I lived a block away and loved salt licks I might stop back but with all the other new places to try I'll look for someplace with less salt and less noise.
(3)AspiringFoodie P.
We headed to Third Bird after a show at the Walker. With its recent profile in Mpls/St. Paul magazine we had high hopes. Based on reviews and the pedigree of the restaurateur....I was expecting more from Third Bird. Overall, the menu didn't seem very cohesive. The descriptions were far more interesting than what was actually presented. We had the poutine, bacon/parmesan popcorn, brussel sprouts, caesar salad, cod, bison burger and roasted chicken. Our favorite dish was the poutine. Fries/gravy/cheese curds...what's not to love. The caesar salad was standard...nothing to write home about. Same with the entrees. For $32...expected more than a cut up roast chicken and side of cubed stuffing. Server told us it was the most popular dish on the menu and couldn't figure out why. The cod and bison burger were both overcooked. The brussel sprouts were swimming in oil. Overall, meal was disappointing and not a place I'd go back.
(2)Bridget P.
Modern restaurant with a hipster feel. Very modern and quaint feel without many tables. I would recommend a reservation. It was nice to see a menu that was a little different but I would not recommend this restaurant if you're going out with a picky eater. The service was great. Parking can be difficult. Overall, good food and service.
(4)Fiona H.
Went for dinner on a Sunday evening with a few friends. They had plenty of tables, but couldn't seat us at a table because they were short staffed. Kind of weird, but no problem- we sat at the bar which had plenty of space ad pleasant. Between the four of us, we got the bison burger (didn't try it but supposed to be good), half a roasted chicken, burrata salad, buffalo fries, and flatbread with some type of pesto. The chicken was delectable- very moist and tender with a crispy skin. It came wiith stuffing in rectangular form which was pretty tasty. Flatbread was delicious as well (naan like in texture). The buffalo fries were a surprising hit with very intense flavor and chunks of blue cheese and celery. The burrata salad was a bit tame. Overall, the menu looks interesting (they had run out of burrata and bison) and I would go back there to try some more stuff!
(4)Nancy M.
Went for the first time for brunch. Beautiful fall morning and not packed. Had checked out the menu on line, so knew what I was going to order. We both had the leek and mushroom omelet which comes with a big side of green salad, little cheddar buttermilk biscuits with apple butter, hash browns, juice, and I had a bacon side and hubby had sausage. The service was a little slow, and food came out unevenly. We first got biscuits and the meat and hash browns. My bacon was burned black and returned for a do-over. Then hubby got his omelet and mine arrived ten minutes later. The omelets were very light and fluffy and savory. No salt or pepper on the table, but the dishes were perfectly prepared and seasoned. Cheddar biscuits were tender, but dry and would not get them again. Our server was smart and pleasant and a small overcharge on the biscuits resulted in them voiding the charge for them altogether. Very nice space, beautiful windows across from Loring Park makes for a great view. Beverage menu had witty little comments under each selection. I would very much go back to try the bison burger, which I understand is fabulous, as well as the roasted chicken. a little spendy, but worth it.
(4)Barry R.
I was forced to go to the Third Bird because the restaurant that I was going to next door was booked for a private party. I think that may have been the case with a lot of the customers that were at this restaurant the same night. The restaurant could not come close to handling the crowd---even though a Friday night before the holidays. We sat at the bar, the service was at best spotty, the food was B and expensive. The worst part of the experience was the obvious frustration on the part of the staff who took their frustration out on the customer. They were very curt and seemed mad at how busy they were. It took 15 minutes to get the check and another 10 minutes until they picked the check up to charge the sale. And they appeared mad at me. If you are in Loring Park and look for the Third Bird, you won't find it. All signs say "The Bird" kinda confusing and silly if you ask me. Not going back being treated so poorly.
(2)James L.
Attentive service, crazy reasonable prices, crazy delicious food. You have never had chicken like this. Dinner for two with wine under 80.
(5)Megan D.
I love the changes they made to the space. The bar is beautiful and the bison burger was cooked perfectly, just a little salty (and I love salt). I will return to this place for dinner and will add it to the list of places to pop in for a beverage!
(4)Mike W.
Wow...we took my family and were very pleased! Between all of us (7), we ordered and shared more than half of the menu! Bison Burger... Tartare... Polenta... Pork... Caesar Salad... Roasted Carrots... Braunschweiger... Buffalo Fries... Creme Brûlée... Brownie... Pavlova... etc.!!! I am an old fashion meat and potatoes guy, but I loved it! Flavors galore and done to perfection! Except the American Fries... Burnt! Coffee was excellent as well! A little Spendy, but worth it! It made for an enjoyable adult family gathering! Not for young ones!
(4)Scott M.
Enjoyed a late birthday dinner with two great friends here last night and had a wonderful time. The tap and wine lists were varied enough to please all but the most obscure requests and the were some interesting cocktails. We had a delicious cream of mushroom soup, which is not always available, a forgettable beef tartar and a fantastic poutine to start . I would come back for the poutine alone. Our entrees included bison, polenta with a poached egg and half of a roasted chicken that came with some stuffing and gravy. The bison was meaty and tender, my favorite of the three. All of these I would recommend, but don't expect too much from the stuffing. The dessert options were few but I'm craving the doughnut hole that we tried, tres leche being okay. We never had to wait for refills on water or alcoholic beverages and the server was very knowledgeable. This may be a tough rating, but I can't justify a five star mark. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a meal that is delicious and aesthetically pleasing.
(4)Thomas H.
Not impressed. They weren't even busy and took forever to be seated. We ordered wine and soup. Took over 15 mins to get a cup of soup so we canceled our order and left.
(1)Jan K.
Too loud, too salty, too hard to find the entrance! I liked the beet salad and the carrots but the Bison, french fries and flat breads were much too salty. We could hardly carry on a conversation once the place filled up- nothing to absorb ANY noise on the floor or the walls. Food was tasty and the service solicitous.If I lived a block away and loved salt licks I might stop back but with all the other new places to try I'll look for someplace with less salt and less noise.
(3)AspiringFoodie P.
We headed to Third Bird after a show at the Walker. With its recent profile in Mpls/St. Paul magazine we had high hopes. Based on reviews and the pedigree of the restaurateur....I was expecting more from Third Bird. Overall, the menu didn't seem very cohesive. The descriptions were far more interesting than what was actually presented. We had the poutine, bacon/parmesan popcorn, brussel sprouts, caesar salad, cod, bison burger and roasted chicken. Our favorite dish was the poutine. Fries/gravy/cheese curds...what's not to love. The caesar salad was standard...nothing to write home about. Same with the entrees. For $32...expected more than a cut up roast chicken and side of cubed stuffing. Server told us it was the most popular dish on the menu and couldn't figure out why. The cod and bison burger were both overcooked. The brussel sprouts were swimming in oil. Overall, meal was disappointing and not a place I'd go back.
(2)Bridget P.
Modern restaurant with a hipster feel. Very modern and quaint feel without many tables. I would recommend a reservation. It was nice to see a menu that was a little different but I would not recommend this restaurant if you're going out with a picky eater. The service was great. Parking can be difficult. Overall, good food and service.
(4)Fiona H.
Went for dinner on a Sunday evening with a few friends. They had plenty of tables, but couldn't seat us at a table because they were short staffed. Kind of weird, but no problem- we sat at the bar which had plenty of space ad pleasant. Between the four of us, we got the bison burger (didn't try it but supposed to be good), half a roasted chicken, burrata salad, buffalo fries, and flatbread with some type of pesto. The chicken was delectable- very moist and tender with a crispy skin. It came wiith stuffing in rectangular form which was pretty tasty. Flatbread was delicious as well (naan like in texture). The buffalo fries were a surprising hit with very intense flavor and chunks of blue cheese and celery. The burrata salad was a bit tame. Overall, the menu looks interesting (they had run out of burrata and bison) and I would go back there to try some more stuff!
(4)