The Wine Bar is a classy place to start a night on the town or peg as the main event. The atmosphere is excellent both in the lobby and at the bar. My friends and I spent an hour and a half sitting on the lobby couches listening to some local artists and sipping an excellent pino noir, thanks to a wait staff recommendation. This could be a new Friday tradition. Recommend the Champagne Fondue served w/ Bread & Pears. Adding the Bison & Beef is a must.
(5)
Jason L.
I love this place. Whether I'm feeling fancy and sitting in the actual restaurant or meeting friends for a casual drink in the wine bar, I'm always pleased by the quality of the food. The menu is constantly changing, extremely well-prepared, mostly local, and just plain delicious. The blend of styles is impressive, and I have yet to try something that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. In addition, they have one of the best beer selections in Missoula. They've got imported bottles that you just can't find anywhere else as well as a few decent drafts. I did have one really awful experience with a waiter there when trying to split a tab (he screwed it up three times and somehow managed to make ME feel like the idiot), but I can't bring myself to drop this review to a 4-star. Every other member of the staff has been outstanding, so that guy must have just been having a (really) bad night.
(5)
Ken B.
Missoula has a few very good restaurants. Red Bird, Caffe Dolce, Silk Road & Pearl. We have not been to Sapore yet, so no opinion. But, Red Bird has been consistently top-rate...both the Wine Bar and the Restaurant. We recommend it to anyone who likes fine food and wine.
(5)
Ben K.
I love the atmosphere and usually it's decent, but I have gotten sick twice eating seafood along with my wife. If you can avoid that and enjoy drinking wine, red bird is a great place to relax.
(3)
Monica P.
I've had meals ranging from 3 starts to five stars...the five stars have always been in the regular dining, not the wine bar. When you get the right thing here they really knock it out of the park. Definitely top 3 for my favorites in Missoula but couldn't give it the full five because of a couple sub-par experiences. Won't stop me from coming back though!
(4)
Jillian S.
My husband and I recently ate in the wine bar for the first time in 6 months or so. We had a really disappointing experience at red bird, which is a shame since we've had so many good experiences here. The wine list really leaves something to be desired -- nothing really stands out anymore. It just is. Isn't this a wine bar? We ordered a wine flight that wasn't as advertised (different vintages) and was really unpleasant. My husband ordered the pizza (normally excellent) and was underwhelmed. The crust was under baked, the cheese bland, and the toppings were uninspired and seemingly taken out of a package and slapped onto the pie. We're not fans of having to complain at restaurants. I feel like body language and an uneaten plate of food should be signal enough to the server to indicate something's not right. ours didn't inquire. I ordered a salad that I've ordered several times over the past few years (grilled halloumi cheese). It's a good salad, nothing great, but the non-lettuce components of said salad were lacking compared to previous times I've had it -- if it's called a grilled halloumi cheese salad, said cheese should occupy a little bit more of the plate. Maybe we went on an off night, but the menu could really use an update and a return to inspired dishes is much-needed. In the meantime, if I want a great glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, I'll head to caffe dolce.
(3)
Heather P.
I have visited several times, and all experiences have been mediocre. The food is good, and the wine selection is good too. On my last visit I was really disappointed with the knowledge my waitperson had of the wine list, they were unable to answer 2 questions I had
(3)
Chris L.
Another fantastic downtown option in Missoula. Can't miss here. I like the quieter aspect of the dining room, as well as the option for hanging out in the wine bar section. I've only been a couple times, but will be going back plenty. My loud-as-hell rock band played their Christmas party (in May) and these people also know how to have a good time. A blast, literally, all around!
(5)
Kelly M.
I searched hi and low for a great place to eat in Missoula. Being from Honolulu we are used to numerous 5 star restaurants, therefore I was apprehensive for what I might find in a town with the population 70,000. Red Bird is a pleasant surprise. It's understated and underrated making the entire experience incredible. Tonight I dined on the Bison and twice baked herb potatoes. To say it was anything less than fantastic is an understatement. Our server was none other than Americana band leader extraordinairre, Tom Catmull. We were greeted by people who were beyond friendly, extraordinarily helpful and knew the wine list and menu by heart. It is a small intimate setting, with a great wine bar perfect for happy hour, and a wonderfully cozy setting for a most extraordinary meal. The Bison is amazingly tender well seasoned and better than most rib eyes. The twice baked herbed potatoes need no introduction. Service was excellent, wine list quite good and the menu had something for everyone.
(5)
Casey P.
Best overall in Missoula! Have been here over a dozen times on the wine bar side and fine dining side. Compared to other restaurants in Missoula I would give this place the edge based on consistency and good service.
(5)
Sarah V.
Loved the ambiance, decor, and service, but the food needs some tweaks. My boyfriend and I visited Red Bird a few weeks ago and were definitely impressed with the restaurant's appearance and with the service we received. However, after we left, we both thought that the flavors needed some work. His bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, but the other items on his plate seemed somewhat bland. I had the "chicken and waffles" appetizer and, although I must say the meat was good, it needed to be seasoned more, and the preserves that came with the dish did not compliment it. That said, the actual pistachio waffles were very good. This place has serious potential if it improved on the flavors...
(3)
Amy K.
A great restaurant is a great restaurant, but it becomes something a little more special when you go to a small town and walk out blown away by the caliber of the service and the food. I had asked my shuttle driver for some restaurant recommendations and he asked what I was looking for, so I provided some basic criteria...NO chains, someplace I could grab a good glass of wine, local food, etc... He didn't even pause for a second before stating, "Red Bird." He even drove me past it so I knew where it was (since honestly, it isn't well marked from the exterior). The building's lobby is a bit ornate, reminiscent of it's days as a bank or whatever, but closer to the restaurant it is cozily set-up with some club chairs near a fireplace and the wine bar is dark and well appointed. Since I was traveling on business and by myself, I made myself comfortable at the bar. Their wine selection was impressive for a small town and they were even offering a tasting flight. I wasn't starving so opted for the "cheesecake" which is a savory, cheesy piece of heaven served with toast points. I also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day which was a local mushroom and roasted red pepper. Hands down the best bowl of soup I have had since I don't know when (and I love soup and eat quite a bit of it). I love the fact that they make a lot of their own things in house, including their bread. Red Bird, you've carved a place in my culinary heart. I will see you again when I am in Missoula. Until then....smooches!
(5)
Kim T.
Eclectic menu, happening bar, beer & wine only. Excellent meal. Would for sure go back. The waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine which was disappointing but at least it was less expensive than what we ordered.
(5)
Jennifer B.
The place started out as a solid 4 or 5, but went downhill.... The ambiance is great - dark little place - very cool light fixtures and decorations - LOVED it. It was a little hard to find - it is hidden inside an office building and you can miss it as there is no exterior signage. The appetizer - champagne cheese fondue - we thought we were going to die it was sooooo good....the waitress recommended getting the grilled bison in addition to the bread and pears to dip - and we were SOO GLAD we did - it was the best - we wished we would asked for double portions of the bison - it made us excited for the entree.... We ordered the mexican vegatable dish and the lamb kabob and sausage. the vegetable dish came with eggplant - which was not mentioned on the menu and would have been a deal breaker...it was not BAD - but just ok. The curry with the lamb kabob was delicious - the sausage was good, but the lamb was a little tough. I had the wine flight with some red blends and one of the wines was bad...but they replaced it no problem...just a hassle. The dessert was the real downer....not a good way to end our meal. We got the berry cobbler and it was like baked jelly with some sort of nutty frozen thing on top - that was supposed to be ice cream - but had the consistency of bleu cheese. very crumbly ... wish they would have put some crumbles on top of the cobbler....the taste was bizarre and the consistency almost made you gag.... When the server noticed that we did not barely touch our dessert - she just took it away without a word - thought she might ask why we dissected it without eating it - but she didnt. They were friendly enough and the food was good enough - but we wish we would have just gotten another of the fondue with bison and we would have left happier....
(3)
Deanne J.
I really wondered what I had gotten myself into as I walked in...a dated martini-type bar but no martinis...and country western music playing too loudly. OK, I thought, this IS Montana, so go with the flow... The food turned out to be really awesome (in the Wine Bar, never could locate the actual restaurant as it turned out to close pretty early). I had the pate plate that included cheese and fruit with the crusty bread, and I loved it. My husband opted for a burger, also awesome, with caramelized onion. Wine selection topped it off.
(4)
Mary H.
Quiet and pleasantly intimate dining room in remarkable old Art Deco building although one has to go through the dark wine bar to get there. Amazing lists of wines and beers and a couple of wines by the glass were excellent and went well with the food. Impeccable service, with waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, and right there when needed. Food was interesting and very well prepared. Halibut and lobster tail made a great combination although the spaetzle was a bit on the heavy, greasy side. Beet salad delicious with just right amount of gorgonzola, as was a cold corn soup of the day. And, yes, the tray that comes with coffee is almost a dessert in itself, with sweetener, coffee sugar, sugar swizzle, cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc. etc. Didn't think we had room for dessert, but shared peach/ginger sorbet was a perfect choice--light and delicious. Would we return? Absolutely!
(4)
Amy B.
Always a memorable dining experience. I rarely finish my meals elsewhere, but I can't stop myself when I come here. Gorgeous plate presentation. I loved the pork chop entree. The staff is excellent and friendly.
(5)
Yizhou E.
Had apps and drinks here with some girlfriends. Great place! Had live music that night too. The only thing keeping it from getting full marks is how noisy it can get. They have little insulation so it echoes quite a bit and conversation it difficult.
(4)
Linda J.
The restaurant is in a former hotel that was converted into offices and apartments, and it's fun just to enter the building and enjoy the old-time feeling and the stately lobby. The restaurant itself is a very artful use of a windowless space...it's decorated in red and black and has a romantic, cosy feeling (there are no birds, either). The food was very good. We ordered four small plates and a half bottle of wine. The duck pate with pears, toast points, bleu cheese and walnuts was the standout, and the crabcakes were quite good too. The sesame duck pancakes with salad were just okay. Definitely the best place we ate in Missoula.
(4)
Sam P.
Just amazing! Since moving away from Missoula 5 years ago, I can not get the Red Bird out of my mind and have found no other to fill the emptiness in my gut! By far, the best food experience in Missoula, great cozy atmosphere and personalized selections with excellent wine pairings. I dream of their Roasted Red Pepper soup, truffled sauces and herb infused creme brule. Jim and Laura, since taking over the Red Bird have done amazing seasonal changes to the menu and I am always delighted to experience something new and different. Oh Red Bird, I will see you this summer!
(5)
Margaux A.
Red Bird is a very elegant restaurant, I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. The food was excellent, it is a pricier restaurant, but it is worth it, a place to try at least one. It is a smaller restaurant, but still comfortable. Their red wine was really good (I cannot remember the name) and their service was great, very nice people with a great dinning environment. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Missoula and I recommend it to others.
(4)
Nathan C.
We visited Missoula during the 2010 marathon, and after reading reviews about Red Bird decided to make a point of going there. We made reservations (anticipating a crush of people downtown for the race) and arrived at 8:00. The restaurant was empty except for two other couples, however, the wine bar was quite full. That should've been our first sign that something was amiss. We were seated promptly. The decor in this establishment is borderline depressing. Most of the walls are simply empty, with just an off-white paint. On the wine bar side, the mood is dark, romantic, and mysterious. Our side? Bleak and way too bright. Our server looked bored and seemed uninterested in us. When we mentioned the race and how we'd expected the place to be packed, he rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, saying they'd called in extra help to manage to the crowds. But rather than really going out of his way to take extra great care of the two people he actually had in his section, he pretty much lolled around like he was waiting to go home. The food was just okay. I had a portobello pasta dish and my wife had the sirloin, which per their "we butcher our own mean" spiel was the only cut available. The pasta was very tasty but certainly not worth $30. The sirloin was simply disappointing - tough, with uninspired seasonings. The wines we were offered were mediocre and overpriced. Our total bill, with tip, came to nearly $200, and with the sub-par quality of the food and the less-than-friendly service, we will never go back. Ironically, we visited the Iron Horse the night before, paid around $30, and had wonderful meals and beer, with lightning-fast, friendly service. Our experience there was almost enough to make up for the disappointment we felt about Red Bird.
(2)
Lou G.
Of course I checked Yelp first but this recommendation guided us to the best dinner I've had in a long time. I had the pork dish and my wife had mushroom risotto - both were excellent. Also had a Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah - all very reasonably priced and the service was outstanding. I'd recommend it to anyone with good taste !!!!!
(5)
Hollie B.
The restaurant part of the Red Bird is my annual choice for my birthday meal and I absolutely love it. I've eaten there probably 5 times in the past 6 years, and am always so excited to see the menu as it changes seasonally. I also love the wine bar - the food is excellent, and even if you're not eating, it's a very nice place to enjoy live music on Monday nights and have a glass of wine. Great atmosphere.
(5)
John H.
This is Missoula's finest restaurant. The menu is divine with an option for anybody. Call ahead if you are a vegetarian and the chef will take care of you. Next time I'm in Missoula this will be the first place I go. Be sure to show up a little early and enjoy the nice atmosphere in the wine bar before you sit at your table for dinner.
(5)
Jenna B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant like this in Missoula. This place fits right in to a restaurant in LA. Other than the decor and location, it's on the first floor of an old bank and the setting was very dark, this place wasn't too bad at all. I had the pork chops and it was one of the best prepared pork chops I've ever had- moist and full of flavor. The appetizers were OK, the dessert was wonderful. If I'm ever back in Missoula (highly DOUBTFUL), I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Nils J.
Based on several recommendations I made reservations for last night for the restaurant. When we checked in they said our reservations were for the wine bar. After having to explain I specifically requested the dining room we were reluctantly seated. My wife ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the bison tenderloin. Mine was very good but my wife's was all fat. It took forever to get the servers attention so we could explain it was inedible. He darted off and we had to track him down to get the check. Won't be going back.....
(1)
Joseph T.
Fine food, good service. Definitely itching to be a fine dining establishment, and it comes oh so close, but some of the food pairings could use tweaking. I had halibut (standard menu item, not a special) which was perfectly cooked, but covered in a tomato goop. The dish also came with vanilla-roasted potatoes. Yuck. The more or less long menu centers around meat, meat, meat. Even vaguely vegetarian sounding dishes would have an infusion of duck, or some other animal. My vegetarian friend was left choosing a salad which even had an anchovy dressing (which they were able to swap out). There's one eggplant dish that was all vegetarian, but that was all. I'd go back, if invited by someone else who was paying, but I won't be going back under my own power alone.
(3)
Drew B.
This place is arguably the classiest dining establishment in Missoula, along with the Pearl. It serves quality food in a comfortable, tasteful environment. My two complaints are that the portions are quite small and the food is overpriced. If you are looking for a tasty meal and paying with a company credit card, I would highly recommend eating here because you will not be disappointed with the product.
(4)
Padre C.
Went on the recommendations of the yelp reviewers. I was not disappointed. Great marks across the board. The wait staff was exceptional. Food was beautifully presented and tasted great. The restaurant takes great pride in using Montana meats and produce. Extensive wine list....great ones offered by the glass and and nice selection of beers....several on tap from the local breweries. If my daughter decides to attend UM, Red Bird will be a must stop on all of my trips to Missoula.
(5)
Melissa L.
This is one of the places we come for our special nights, birthdays, anniversarys, etc. They have a great menu, true, more to the meat side but delicious! Their bison steak is succulent and melts in your mouth. They have fab salads and quite a nice wine selection. One of our favorites!
(5)
oliver g.
Two word Love IT I mean It is Soho good. We'll I don't go there that much but when i do I love i love it!!! I really like the egg rolls there they're so good oh yeah and so are there burgers and the waiter service is great this is a great place and i highly recommend it this is the place to go.
(5)
Don C.
Amazing food and service. Get the steak, with the potatoes. And also like their salads. We were with a table of 7 and every plate was unbelievably good. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Mandie H.
Dissapointing compared to our last experience. Worth noting is that the dining room is gorgeous; a lovely presence. I could live in the dining room. When we first came a year ago, we were greeted with an amuse-bouche. This time: bread and a tomato, basil, olive oil spread that was good but not an amuse-bouche. We received bread last time as well. That was the first thing that tipped us off to things not flying so well at Red Bird. The second was that our waiter wiped the wine bottle with his finger after he poured!! Um....gross.....a cloth napkin perhaps? Isn't this dining 101? If you forgot your napkin, then just don't wipe, please. But he did it twice!! For a starter, the Pan Seared Scallops....which were slightly underdone. My husband chose a Carrot Bisque which he really liked (a special). I had the Farro Beef Salad which lacked depth and creativity. (Last time I had the Grilled Octopus Salad and it was superb......) The meal did get better from here. I chose Shrimp & Artichokes; intriguing, with Shrimp and Ricotta filled Cannelloni, a Fontina Cheese filled Artichoke (beautiful and well-prepared, but not that good), Pickeled Shrimp (so good, but more of a curried shrimp) sitting in a Shrimp-Artichoke Bisque with roasted Carrots (the carrots were amazing!). My husband had the Grilled New York; Rosemary Rubbed with Potato Pierogie, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Compound Butter, and Grilled Vegetables. He overall enjoyed his main course (despite the somewhat gristly steak), but we are still so upset about the wine bottle finger swipe, lack of amuse-bouche, and the dissapointing scallops and farro beef salad, that giving it any more than three stars for the $130 we paid would not be fair to those coming here after us. There are many more places to try in Missoula before we'll be back.
(3)
Katherine G.
Great dark ambiance, although I don't remember music playing. On this Friday night, the place was buzzing, but we walked right in for a late dinner near the bar. The duck pate app was very tasty. I had the scallops on gnocci, which looked to me like polenta...not gnocci, but still very tasty. Great wine selection by the glass. The place wasn't so busy that I couldn't speak with my table mate. I'll look forward to returning.
(4)
Chad R.
Absolutely the best food in town!!! Atmosphere was very good, the staff was awesome... The beer was great, you can't go wrong here, the price was outstanding for the food!!!!
(5)
Anthony L.
In short. Great wine selection, supper small food portion sized. In long. The atmosphere is very sleek, modern, private, and sophisticated. The beer and wine list is extensive enough to make even the pickiest censurers happy. They food is below average for what one might expect (taste, presentation, and serving size).
(3)
Bradley N.
"The Pi-onot Man" It's eight thirty-five on a Monday, An unusual crowd walks to the bar, We've come for some wine and a quick meal. We're hungry and don't want to drive far. He says, "Sir, can I offer you Pinot? For $12, we give quite the pour. They call it St Innocent and they make it in Oregon: Red berry, allspice, forest floor." Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Bring us more wine tonight. Well we're all in the mood for more Pinot The live music has us feeling alright. Casey on the stool is a friend of mine He orders a Crabbie's, not wine. And he's quick with that knife and the pulled pork cuts nice There's no place that he'd rather be. He says, "Brad, I believe this is filling me" As hush puppies disappear from his plate. Well, I'm sure that next week I'll come back here; For wine flights and fine food - I can't wait!" Chirp, chirp, tweet tweet tweetie tweet Tweet tweet, twitter, tweet tweet. Now Marty's a big man on campus Who also had time for a bite And he's talking about Nico who isn't in town, though But my, this St. Innocent drinks nice. And the bartender serves us all pork chops And lamb stew and other delights. Yes, we're sharing three stools at the wine bar! Better here than out in that cold night!! Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Fill up our glasses just right. Because we'll all in the mood for live music And outside, the snow gives us frights. (With apologies to Billy J. Then again, maybe he deserves it.)
(5)
Chris K.
Been back a few times since original review, good food, service is good, one of the better places in town
(4)
C Marie M.
Five-star service! Bartender had Great selections, and even offered me tastings of different lines before I selected which one I wanted a full glass of. Dessert was great, I had a vanilla tart. Personally, I would've added some lemon zest the dish but I'm not a pastry chef so what do I know?
(5)
Louis T.
We are from a suburb outside New York city traveling to Yellowstone and happened upon this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pastrami the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend.
(5)
Danny H.
The cheeseburger is tasteful and refined, with the most pleasing condiments you ever tasted! They made all the condiments in their kitchen right there at the restaurant. The decor is done as neatly as can be. The mood: chill and refined. The location is inside an historic hotel-turned-commercial building, a fine lobby and fireplace right outside the red Bird.
(5)
Mariah R.
The food was off the charts good and presented really beautifully. I liked the creative dishes on the menu. The ambiance is very classy. Loved the gold wall paper, very "Mad Men". The service was a bit slow and the servers seem to share tables, which seemed a bit strange. We started with one but then another took our dessert order and helped us throughout our dining.
(4)
Heather A.
We went here for our five year anniversary, and it was the best food and service I've ever had! Save this for special occasions, it is a bit out of normal price range! We had a quail appetizer, and I had the rabbit ragu for dinner, it was absolutely fantastic! My guy had the lamb, and it was perfect, cooked medium rare just like he asked! We finished off with a chocolate lava cake and beignets, both were excellent! The entire time, service was spectacular, and they really knew their wines, and which would go best with the meal. For two people, appetizer, two meals, and two desserts, it was $140, so not your everyday spot, but well worth it! The worst part is now I'm craving it! :)
(5)
Dawn C.
It's the best restaurant in Missoula, and difficult to add to the review after that. Don't get me wrong: Missoula is a foodie town. It's simply that Red Bird is so good, and so consistent, and so...gosh-dang special. You should really stop reading this review and just go there. But in case you need more convincing... I've been a fan of Red Bird since the days where you had to enter the restaurant off the alley, where the only clue as to its existence was a bird cage and a red lamp. Nowadays, I think most diners come in through the chic, art-deco hotel (what's its name again?). So now that I've belabored the ambiance, let's get to the real point of this review which is the FOOD. Did you know that the 'Bird uses all locally raised land-dwelling meats and vegetables? How about this: that the chefs butcher all cuts in-house and make most all of the restaurant's charcuterie? Good ingredients add up to a lot in my book, and the fact that the chefs know what to do with them pushes this place well in to my top 10 restaurants of all time. (Oh, speaking of that...I should make a new list!). The last bit of advice I have for you, Yelpers, is to sit in the restaurant side over the wine bar side. As much as I love the casual ambiance of the wine bar, I want access to the coffee tray, which is only available restaurant-side. If you've not been before, this tray is a dessert in and of itself. Chocolate chips, brown sugar, rock candy swizzle sticks, ... and they'll keep refilling your cup if you make a mistake! Go, mountain-westers. Go, visitors. Get thee to Red Bird.
(5)
Adam S.
A cool, chill atmosphere, with great food, and a stand-out beer selection (especially impressive list of sours). I had the lamb special, which had a lamb kebab, house-made lamb sausage, and some veggies. It was delicious, reasonably priced, and our server was fun and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Pierre V.
A great evening. Well thought out menu, with attention to local products. Interesting wine selection ... try the Montana wines.
(4)
Cara C.
The beet salad rules. Spring for dessert too...so worth it. They have redone the place and it's gone a totally different direction decor-wise. it's very funky, I miss the old style Bird though. The food...it was better than it was last time I was there. It used to be my favorite place to eat --anywhere--then it lost a bit of its food charm for me. Then it got it back! YAY! It is the perfect special dinner place. A gem in Missoula.
(5)
Andrea F.
Oh Red Bird....I used to love you so. First, let me preface this- this review is for the Wine Bar. The restaurant side is wonderful, and has never let us down. But, we used to eat at the wine bar all the time, and so this review is for the wine bar. The Wine Bar was kind of "our place." A nice glass of $5 red, a great pulled pork sandwich- what's not to love? We went there pretty much every week and always left full and happy! But, then some stuff changed. The first time things changed, we went on a Friday. We knew it would be busy and we'd have to wait. But, that is ok because they have a fireplace, and they will let you order wine while you wait out in the lobby area. We went to get on the waiting list, and the normally nice hostess gal was just rude to us. And before we went to wait in the lobby she said "I'm not bringing you wine while you wait, just so you know." Well....that was ok. She must have been busy. But, then, a few minutes later, she came out and was offering to get drinks for the party of two who had gotten on the list AFTER US! Soon, everyone waiting around us in the lobby was with wine and drinks, and we were not. When a party of two that had gotten on the list after us got seated before us, we decided to leave. We didn't come back for a matter of months (and we had usually gone there every single WEEK). So, we came back 4 months later. I guess the chef changed, and the menu changed a little. My favorite sandwich- the pulled pork sandwich, was now gone with another pork sandwich in its place. I was sad, but figured it would force me to try something new. The service was slightly better, but the waiter hardly came and checked on us and brought my husband the wrong beer. Nothing awful, but nothing great. But, let's get to this sandwich. It tasted like a flat, unsalted piece of pork fat. Seriously, it had no flavor. At all. I didn't even want to eat it. And I LOVE PORK. Love it! But unseasoned chunks of pork fat? No thank you. It is nothing comparable to the old pulled pork sandwich. It was flavorless, overpriced, and I could seriously make something better at home. The salad was overdressed....really, just rookie mistakes. Not Wine Bar quality. So, I decided to write a letter. I wrote and explained, in logical and even tones, why I think the Wine Bar experience had gone down a notch. I explained that I was simply taking the time to do this because, as a fellow business owner, I would want to know if something was not up to snuff. I liked their business, wanted to see it do well, and said that if I was noticing this stuff- most likely other folks were too. I received a snotty letter in response. Defensive, not appreciative at all that someone would take the time to tell them about a bad experience, basically just saying that they were happy with stuff so everyone else should be too. Really not a nice tone. I would have rather gotten no response, to be honest. Anyway, at that point, we decided to find a new place as "our place." Kinda sad. We went from spending $50 a week there to nothing at all. I even had my graduation party there. Now I don't want to ever go back. Hope they pick it up or they won't be around much longer!
(2)
Emily D.
I have loved the Red Bird since I first went there for a gourmet meal. The food is always good and the wine selection is on par. The wine bar provides diners with a more casual experience than the restaurant and the food comes from the same kitchen; furthermore, the wine bar has a more updated interior design and the atmosphere is sexy and romantic, yet comforting and unpretentious for all types of parties. I have never been disappointed with the food, wine, or experience at the Red Bird and it is a dining experience not to be missed.
(5)
Natalie H.
Great wine selection. Food is horrible. Unable to eat an appetizer and sent it back. We were still charged for it. Fondue is the only edible item.
(1)
Cookie M.
The Red Bird has excellent food; I am always craving the food. This place could possibly be my favorite restaurant in Missoula.
(5)
Chris F.
I have gone to the wine bar pretty regularly throughout the years. Despite having good spatial orientation skills, I have never seen nor am I entirely convinced that the restaurant side actually exists rather than being some mythical place of excellent cuisine. Not that I haven't tried thoroughly exploring the building, either--it's like trying to find Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda. Yep, 27 years later and I still haven't let that one go... Regardless, the wine bar side of the equation has always been my favorite dining location in Missoula for delivering a great atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food. The atmosphere is very intimate with the dark woods and fireplace. Definitely a place where you can impress a date, have a casual relaxing evening with friends, or treat your parents when they are in town (or hopefully have them treat you!). True to Missoula upscale, you can feel just as comfortable coming in your Carhartts as you do in your best suit/dress. The service, in my experience, has always been prompt and attentive regardless of which of these options has brought you in for good eats. The food is consistently impressive. Balanced, rich flavors. Good variety on the menu. Properly sized portions. And as a vegetarian with occasional locavore transgressions, I can appreciate that they source all their meats locally and do any butchering and curing in-house. The duck and pear pate is probably the best thing on the menu, and I'd drive back to Missoula just to satisfy the craving! They are happy to bring extra bread, and the appetizer can be somewhat filling for two or easily make a meal for one. The menu is rounded out by a more than acceptable beer and wine list. Price is definitely on the higher side for Missoula, but more than fair for the dining experience that you get.
(5)
Jake N.
Mediocre food and wine selection. Decent beer selection. The quality of the proteins is below average (especially for the price tag) and the dishes are uninspired and outright poorly executed (the pasta was undersauced and the steak was poor quality and overcooked). There are plenty of better places to eat in Missoula.
(2)
Lacey C.
Get the fondue and enjoy the wonderful ambiance. Our lovely waitress was also pouring us doubles all night instead of the customary half-glasses of wine. Would definitely go back to toss back some vino with my pals. Twin Peaks fans will feel like they're in the Black Lodge--but in a good way.
(4)
Nick H.
Going in, my wife and I were excited for a great night out and we had high expectations for our dinner from our previous experiences at the Red Bird ...unfortunately this time was different. Tell me, how do you eat less than a third of your meal and when the waiter takes it, he doesn't offer to wrap it up to go or even ask how the meal was? I have no idea, but nobody ever asked how our meals were throughout the meal. Maybe they just assumed everything was great because we didn't want to go to the fuss of complaining. If so, they would be wrong. My Seafood Pasta was simply mediocre; I have enjoyed higher quality meals at many restaurants far down the line from the fine dining experience that the Red Bird seems to aspire to. My wife's Mexican vegetarian dish was just plain not good, no getting around that fact (she ended up eating half of my less than stellar entree). The central pieces of the veggie dish were two blechy and sauceless quinoa cakes. Unfortunately the staff and management of the Red Bird wouldn't know this as the service was inattentive and nobody bothered to ask us how our meals were. The one bright spot of this meal was the Insalata Caprese, a very tasty precursor to my entree. Her beet salad was good, though not great. We have had excellent meals at the Red Bird in the past, but this is apparently what you get for $92 plus tip at the Red Bird these days. Weak sauce.
(2)
Paige J.
As a local, I frequent the wine bar and the restaurant as well for the last 8 years. I have never had a bad meal. The restaurant is their fine dining and their wine bar is more economical fare and a more festive and bar like atmosphere. I always get the champagne fondue no matter what venue I choose. They do not serve hard liquor, but I really enjoy their wine recommendations and most often get the flight when I go as long as it's not chardonnay.... yeck! The Wine Bar is pretty loud but the restaurant is much more quiet. I can honestly recommend anything they have on the menu. They do a great job with it all.
We were in town for an art opening at the MAM and picked Red Bird on a whim. Best choice that we could have made. We ate in the main dining room and not the wine bar. The service was exemplary and the food was outstanding; a very flavorful and cooked and presented very well. Even though it was Nov. they tried to use as many local ingredients as possible, which added to both the taste and the "feel good quotient". the dining room was funky yet laid out in a manner that offered each table a sense of intimacy. All in all an excellent experience and we will be back next time we are in Missuoa
(4)
Toby V.
Great food. One of my top 5 places to eat in Missoula.
(5)
Craig M.
After trying and loving the pearl, my parents and I decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the red bird. I really could not believe this is the top ranked place to eat in Missoula. The service was poor, the wine list was very limited, and the food was not only disappointing, but borderline disgusting. Picked up fast food on the way home, horrible experience.
(1)
Leah Catherine B.
Since the remodel, we love going over to the restaurant side...it has a 1920's flair...all done in soothing colors of persimmon & sea foam/aqua...the low lighting sets the scene for a romantic or intimate evening with friends.
(4)
Alex C.
My review is for the main restaurant, where I had a very good dinner experience. All appetizers and entrees were excellently prepared. The wine list is fairly large, and has something for everyone in terms of price and variety. Service was friendly and competent. Obviously pricey, but not unreasonable for the quality of ingredients used. I look forward to trying the adjacent wine bar, which apparently serves a more causal menu at a lower price point. It was packed.
(4)
Philippe L.
Love the owners. Great food. Downtown. Fast service.
(5)
Madison B.
My fiance and I went to the Red Bird last night to celebrate our engagement at the wine bar. When we walked in we were instantly surprised by how dark the room was. It reminded me of a demon bar in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Our eyes adjusted and we found a seat at the bar. Our bartender wasn't overly friendly ( when we said we had just gotten engaged that day he just smiled and nodded at us. I know that's not major, but I would have expected a congratulations or something....haha), but very pleasant. We ordered the champagne fondue (comes with bread and pears) and opted for the offered inclusion of marinated bison and steak. So Good! I'm already pining for more of it. For dinner, I just ordered the cheeseburger with blue cheese. It was amazing. It was honestly the best burger I've had since I moved out of Chicago 5 years ago. It was big (I only could eat half), juicy, cooked exactly to order (which never happens), and smothered in generous amounts of cheese, caramelized onions, and the perfect amount of bacon. Even the damn bun was perfect. We've decided based on how good what simple food we had was and how delicious the meat that came with our fondue was, that we will definitely be coming back to dine in the dining room. Great meal!
(5)
Jess C.
Red Bird's great. I've only ever eaten in the wine bar and not the restaurant in back, but it's likely my favorite restaurant in Missoula. Never had a dish I didn't enjoy. Great food, great wine and beer selections, great drinks, and great atmosphere for a classy night out.
(5)
Socrates M.
Big difference between wine bar and restaurant, but both are equally deserving of high marks. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - really something would not expect to see in MT. The food matches the ambiance, making it worth the big city prices. The wine bar has a nice vibe and decor - accented, of course, by red. It can get a little loud at times. Beers from around the world and great selection of wine. Good small plates, including a great ahi salad and tuna tartare. I'd say the food quality is a toss-up with Pearl, but the service at Red Bird gives it the edge. Best restaurant in Missoula.
(5)
Alan P.
I have a new favorite dining spot in Missoula. The wife & I were looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal without our children. We picked a winner. Everything was simply excellent. I'll start with service. Carl, our server, was super attentive & friendly. He suggested a perfect bottle of wine to pair with our extremely varied entree selections. His presence certainly made the meal more enjoyable. The meal itself was superb. While the flavors were definitely unique, each course was more delicious than the last. I'm not a huge salad lover, but even the salad we chose was to die for. We ate in the restaurant, not the wine bar. I think it was a good choice for us. The wine bar seemed to be a lot of fun with a lively crowd. We sought out something a bit quieter and intimate. The restaurant is very sparsely decorated with well spaced tables that allowed for a very individualized experience. The setting was perfect, as we could focus on each other and our meals. Like I said, we truly loved the entire experience. The Red Bird would certainly be a great date spot or for anyone just looking for a terrific upscale dinner spot in Missoula. Gotta check it out.
(5)
Philippe L.
Love the owners. Great food. Downtown. Fast service.
(5)
Don C.
Amazing food and service. Get the steak, with the potatoes. And also like their salads. We were with a table of 7 and every plate was unbelievably good. We will definitely be back.
(5)
C Marie M.
Five-star service! Bartender had Great selections, and even offered me tastings of different lines before I selected which one I wanted a full glass of. Dessert was great, I had a vanilla tart. Personally, I would've added some lemon zest the dish but I'm not a pastry chef so what do I know?
(5)
Louis T.
We are from a suburb outside New York city traveling to Yellowstone and happened upon this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pastrami the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend.
(5)
Danny H.
The cheeseburger is tasteful and refined, with the most pleasing condiments you ever tasted! They made all the condiments in their kitchen right there at the restaurant. The decor is done as neatly as can be. The mood: chill and refined. The location is inside an historic hotel-turned-commercial building, a fine lobby and fireplace right outside the red Bird.
(5)
Mandie H.
Dissapointing compared to our last experience. Worth noting is that the dining room is gorgeous; a lovely presence. I could live in the dining room. When we first came a year ago, we were greeted with an amuse-bouche. This time: bread and a tomato, basil, olive oil spread that was good but not an amuse-bouche. We received bread last time as well. That was the first thing that tipped us off to things not flying so well at Red Bird. The second was that our waiter wiped the wine bottle with his finger after he poured!! Um....gross.....a cloth napkin perhaps? Isn't this dining 101? If you forgot your napkin, then just don't wipe, please. But he did it twice!! For a starter, the Pan Seared Scallops....which were slightly underdone. My husband chose a Carrot Bisque which he really liked (a special). I had the Farro Beef Salad which lacked depth and creativity. (Last time I had the Grilled Octopus Salad and it was superb......) The meal did get better from here. I chose Shrimp & Artichokes; intriguing, with Shrimp and Ricotta filled Cannelloni, a Fontina Cheese filled Artichoke (beautiful and well-prepared, but not that good), Pickeled Shrimp (so good, but more of a curried shrimp) sitting in a Shrimp-Artichoke Bisque with roasted Carrots (the carrots were amazing!). My husband had the Grilled New York; Rosemary Rubbed with Potato Pierogie, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Compound Butter, and Grilled Vegetables. He overall enjoyed his main course (despite the somewhat gristly steak), but we are still so upset about the wine bottle finger swipe, lack of amuse-bouche, and the dissapointing scallops and farro beef salad, that giving it any more than three stars for the $130 we paid would not be fair to those coming here after us. There are many more places to try in Missoula before we'll be back.
(3)
Bradley N.
"The Pi-onot Man" It's eight thirty-five on a Monday, An unusual crowd walks to the bar, We've come for some wine and a quick meal. We're hungry and don't want to drive far. He says, "Sir, can I offer you Pinot? For $12, we give quite the pour. They call it St Innocent and they make it in Oregon: Red berry, allspice, forest floor." Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Bring us more wine tonight. Well we're all in the mood for more Pinot The live music has us feeling alright. Casey on the stool is a friend of mine He orders a Crabbie's, not wine. And he's quick with that knife and the pulled pork cuts nice There's no place that he'd rather be. He says, "Brad, I believe this is filling me" As hush puppies disappear from his plate. Well, I'm sure that next week I'll come back here; For wine flights and fine food - I can't wait!" Chirp, chirp, tweet tweet tweetie tweet Tweet tweet, twitter, tweet tweet. Now Marty's a big man on campus Who also had time for a bite And he's talking about Nico who isn't in town, though But my, this St. Innocent drinks nice. And the bartender serves us all pork chops And lamb stew and other delights. Yes, we're sharing three stools at the wine bar! Better here than out in that cold night!! Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Fill up our glasses just right. Because we'll all in the mood for live music And outside, the snow gives us frights. (With apologies to Billy J. Then again, maybe he deserves it.)
(5)
Chris K.
Been back a few times since original review, good food, service is good, one of the better places in town
(4)
Mariah R.
The food was off the charts good and presented really beautifully. I liked the creative dishes on the menu. The ambiance is very classy. Loved the gold wall paper, very "Mad Men". The service was a bit slow and the servers seem to share tables, which seemed a bit strange. We started with one but then another took our dessert order and helped us throughout our dining.
(4)
Katherine G.
Great dark ambiance, although I don't remember music playing. On this Friday night, the place was buzzing, but we walked right in for a late dinner near the bar. The duck pate app was very tasty. I had the scallops on gnocci, which looked to me like polenta...not gnocci, but still very tasty. Great wine selection by the glass. The place wasn't so busy that I couldn't speak with my table mate. I'll look forward to returning.
(4)
Heather A.
We went here for our five year anniversary, and it was the best food and service I've ever had! Save this for special occasions, it is a bit out of normal price range! We had a quail appetizer, and I had the rabbit ragu for dinner, it was absolutely fantastic! My guy had the lamb, and it was perfect, cooked medium rare just like he asked! We finished off with a chocolate lava cake and beignets, both were excellent! The entire time, service was spectacular, and they really knew their wines, and which would go best with the meal. For two people, appetizer, two meals, and two desserts, it was $140, so not your everyday spot, but well worth it! The worst part is now I'm craving it! :)
(5)
Dawn C.
It's the best restaurant in Missoula, and difficult to add to the review after that. Don't get me wrong: Missoula is a foodie town. It's simply that Red Bird is so good, and so consistent, and so...gosh-dang special. You should really stop reading this review and just go there. But in case you need more convincing... I've been a fan of Red Bird since the days where you had to enter the restaurant off the alley, where the only clue as to its existence was a bird cage and a red lamp. Nowadays, I think most diners come in through the chic, art-deco hotel (what's its name again?). So now that I've belabored the ambiance, let's get to the real point of this review which is the FOOD. Did you know that the 'Bird uses all locally raised land-dwelling meats and vegetables? How about this: that the chefs butcher all cuts in-house and make most all of the restaurant's charcuterie? Good ingredients add up to a lot in my book, and the fact that the chefs know what to do with them pushes this place well in to my top 10 restaurants of all time. (Oh, speaking of that...I should make a new list!). The last bit of advice I have for you, Yelpers, is to sit in the restaurant side over the wine bar side. As much as I love the casual ambiance of the wine bar, I want access to the coffee tray, which is only available restaurant-side. If you've not been before, this tray is a dessert in and of itself. Chocolate chips, brown sugar, rock candy swizzle sticks, ... and they'll keep refilling your cup if you make a mistake! Go, mountain-westers. Go, visitors. Get thee to Red Bird.
(5)
Adam S.
A cool, chill atmosphere, with great food, and a stand-out beer selection (especially impressive list of sours). I had the lamb special, which had a lamb kebab, house-made lamb sausage, and some veggies. It was delicious, reasonably priced, and our server was fun and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Pierre V.
A great evening. Well thought out menu, with attention to local products. Interesting wine selection ... try the Montana wines.
(4)
Cara C.
The beet salad rules. Spring for dessert too...so worth it. They have redone the place and it's gone a totally different direction decor-wise. it's very funky, I miss the old style Bird though. The food...it was better than it was last time I was there. It used to be my favorite place to eat --anywhere--then it lost a bit of its food charm for me. Then it got it back! YAY! It is the perfect special dinner place. A gem in Missoula.
(5)
Chad R.
Absolutely the best food in town!!! Atmosphere was very good, the staff was awesome... The beer was great, you can't go wrong here, the price was outstanding for the food!!!!
(5)
Anthony L.
In short. Great wine selection, supper small food portion sized. In long. The atmosphere is very sleek, modern, private, and sophisticated. The beer and wine list is extensive enough to make even the pickiest censurers happy. They food is below average for what one might expect (taste, presentation, and serving size).
(3)
Natalie H.
Great wine selection. Food is horrible. Unable to eat an appetizer and sent it back. We were still charged for it. Fondue is the only edible item.
(1)
Cookie M.
The Red Bird has excellent food; I am always craving the food. This place could possibly be my favorite restaurant in Missoula.
Another fantastic downtown option in Missoula. Can't miss here. I like the quieter aspect of the dining room, as well as the option for hanging out in the wine bar section. I've only been a couple times, but will be going back plenty. My loud-as-hell rock band played their Christmas party (in May) and these people also know how to have a good time. A blast, literally, all around!
(5)
Chris F.
I have gone to the wine bar pretty regularly throughout the years. Despite having good spatial orientation skills, I have never seen nor am I entirely convinced that the restaurant side actually exists rather than being some mythical place of excellent cuisine. Not that I haven't tried thoroughly exploring the building, either--it's like trying to find Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda. Yep, 27 years later and I still haven't let that one go... Regardless, the wine bar side of the equation has always been my favorite dining location in Missoula for delivering a great atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food. The atmosphere is very intimate with the dark woods and fireplace. Definitely a place where you can impress a date, have a casual relaxing evening with friends, or treat your parents when they are in town (or hopefully have them treat you!). True to Missoula upscale, you can feel just as comfortable coming in your Carhartts as you do in your best suit/dress. The service, in my experience, has always been prompt and attentive regardless of which of these options has brought you in for good eats. The food is consistently impressive. Balanced, rich flavors. Good variety on the menu. Properly sized portions. And as a vegetarian with occasional locavore transgressions, I can appreciate that they source all their meats locally and do any butchering and curing in-house. The duck and pear pate is probably the best thing on the menu, and I'd drive back to Missoula just to satisfy the craving! They are happy to bring extra bread, and the appetizer can be somewhat filling for two or easily make a meal for one. The menu is rounded out by a more than acceptable beer and wine list. Price is definitely on the higher side for Missoula, but more than fair for the dining experience that you get.
(5)
Jake N.
Mediocre food and wine selection. Decent beer selection. The quality of the proteins is below average (especially for the price tag) and the dishes are uninspired and outright poorly executed (the pasta was undersauced and the steak was poor quality and overcooked). There are plenty of better places to eat in Missoula.
(2)
Lacey C.
Get the fondue and enjoy the wonderful ambiance. Our lovely waitress was also pouring us doubles all night instead of the customary half-glasses of wine. Would definitely go back to toss back some vino with my pals. Twin Peaks fans will feel like they're in the Black Lodge--but in a good way.
(4)
Paige J.
As a local, I frequent the wine bar and the restaurant as well for the last 8 years. I have never had a bad meal. The restaurant is their fine dining and their wine bar is more economical fare and a more festive and bar like atmosphere. I always get the champagne fondue no matter what venue I choose. They do not serve hard liquor, but I really enjoy their wine recommendations and most often get the flight when I go as long as it's not chardonnay.... yeck! The Wine Bar is pretty loud but the restaurant is much more quiet. I can honestly recommend anything they have on the menu. They do a great job with it all.
(5)
Andrea F.
Oh Red Bird....I used to love you so. First, let me preface this- this review is for the Wine Bar. The restaurant side is wonderful, and has never let us down. But, we used to eat at the wine bar all the time, and so this review is for the wine bar. The Wine Bar was kind of "our place." A nice glass of $5 red, a great pulled pork sandwich- what's not to love? We went there pretty much every week and always left full and happy! But, then some stuff changed. The first time things changed, we went on a Friday. We knew it would be busy and we'd have to wait. But, that is ok because they have a fireplace, and they will let you order wine while you wait out in the lobby area. We went to get on the waiting list, and the normally nice hostess gal was just rude to us. And before we went to wait in the lobby she said "I'm not bringing you wine while you wait, just so you know." Well....that was ok. She must have been busy. But, then, a few minutes later, she came out and was offering to get drinks for the party of two who had gotten on the list AFTER US! Soon, everyone waiting around us in the lobby was with wine and drinks, and we were not. When a party of two that had gotten on the list after us got seated before us, we decided to leave. We didn't come back for a matter of months (and we had usually gone there every single WEEK). So, we came back 4 months later. I guess the chef changed, and the menu changed a little. My favorite sandwich- the pulled pork sandwich, was now gone with another pork sandwich in its place. I was sad, but figured it would force me to try something new. The service was slightly better, but the waiter hardly came and checked on us and brought my husband the wrong beer. Nothing awful, but nothing great. But, let's get to this sandwich. It tasted like a flat, unsalted piece of pork fat. Seriously, it had no flavor. At all. I didn't even want to eat it. And I LOVE PORK. Love it! But unseasoned chunks of pork fat? No thank you. It is nothing comparable to the old pulled pork sandwich. It was flavorless, overpriced, and I could seriously make something better at home. The salad was overdressed....really, just rookie mistakes. Not Wine Bar quality. So, I decided to write a letter. I wrote and explained, in logical and even tones, why I think the Wine Bar experience had gone down a notch. I explained that I was simply taking the time to do this because, as a fellow business owner, I would want to know if something was not up to snuff. I liked their business, wanted to see it do well, and said that if I was noticing this stuff- most likely other folks were too. I received a snotty letter in response. Defensive, not appreciative at all that someone would take the time to tell them about a bad experience, basically just saying that they were happy with stuff so everyone else should be too. Really not a nice tone. I would have rather gotten no response, to be honest. Anyway, at that point, we decided to find a new place as "our place." Kinda sad. We went from spending $50 a week there to nothing at all. I even had my graduation party there. Now I don't want to ever go back. Hope they pick it up or they won't be around much longer!
(2)
Emily D.
I have loved the Red Bird since I first went there for a gourmet meal. The food is always good and the wine selection is on par. The wine bar provides diners with a more casual experience than the restaurant and the food comes from the same kitchen; furthermore, the wine bar has a more updated interior design and the atmosphere is sexy and romantic, yet comforting and unpretentious for all types of parties. I have never been disappointed with the food, wine, or experience at the Red Bird and it is a dining experience not to be missed.
(5)
Nick H.
Going in, my wife and I were excited for a great night out and we had high expectations for our dinner from our previous experiences at the Red Bird ...unfortunately this time was different. Tell me, how do you eat less than a third of your meal and when the waiter takes it, he doesn't offer to wrap it up to go or even ask how the meal was? I have no idea, but nobody ever asked how our meals were throughout the meal. Maybe they just assumed everything was great because we didn't want to go to the fuss of complaining. If so, they would be wrong. My Seafood Pasta was simply mediocre; I have enjoyed higher quality meals at many restaurants far down the line from the fine dining experience that the Red Bird seems to aspire to. My wife's Mexican vegetarian dish was just plain not good, no getting around that fact (she ended up eating half of my less than stellar entree). The central pieces of the veggie dish were two blechy and sauceless quinoa cakes. Unfortunately the staff and management of the Red Bird wouldn't know this as the service was inattentive and nobody bothered to ask us how our meals were. The one bright spot of this meal was the Insalata Caprese, a very tasty precursor to my entree. Her beet salad was good, though not great. We have had excellent meals at the Red Bird in the past, but this is apparently what you get for $92 plus tip at the Red Bird these days. Weak sauce.
(2)
Jillian S.
My husband and I recently ate in the wine bar for the first time in 6 months or so. We had a really disappointing experience at red bird, which is a shame since we've had so many good experiences here. The wine list really leaves something to be desired -- nothing really stands out anymore. It just is. Isn't this a wine bar? We ordered a wine flight that wasn't as advertised (different vintages) and was really unpleasant. My husband ordered the pizza (normally excellent) and was underwhelmed. The crust was under baked, the cheese bland, and the toppings were uninspired and seemingly taken out of a package and slapped onto the pie. We're not fans of having to complain at restaurants. I feel like body language and an uneaten plate of food should be signal enough to the server to indicate something's not right. ours didn't inquire. I ordered a salad that I've ordered several times over the past few years (grilled halloumi cheese). It's a good salad, nothing great, but the non-lettuce components of said salad were lacking compared to previous times I've had it -- if it's called a grilled halloumi cheese salad, said cheese should occupy a little bit more of the plate. Maybe we went on an off night, but the menu could really use an update and a return to inspired dishes is much-needed. In the meantime, if I want a great glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, I'll head to caffe dolce.
(3)
Heather P.
I have visited several times, and all experiences have been mediocre. The food is good, and the wine selection is good too. On my last visit I was really disappointed with the knowledge my waitperson had of the wine list, they were unable to answer 2 questions I had
(3)
Daniel F.
We were in town for an art opening at the MAM and picked Red Bird on a whim. Best choice that we could have made. We ate in the main dining room and not the wine bar. The service was exemplary and the food was outstanding; a very flavorful and cooked and presented very well. Even though it was Nov. they tried to use as many local ingredients as possible, which added to both the taste and the "feel good quotient". the dining room was funky yet laid out in a manner that offered each table a sense of intimacy. All in all an excellent experience and we will be back next time we are in Missuoa
(4)
Ben K.
I love the atmosphere and usually it's decent, but I have gotten sick twice eating seafood along with my wife. If you can avoid that and enjoy drinking wine, red bird is a great place to relax.
(3)
Monica P.
I've had meals ranging from 3 starts to five stars...the five stars have always been in the regular dining, not the wine bar. When you get the right thing here they really knock it out of the park. Definitely top 3 for my favorites in Missoula but couldn't give it the full five because of a couple sub-par experiences. Won't stop me from coming back though!
(4)
Kelly M.
I searched hi and low for a great place to eat in Missoula. Being from Honolulu we are used to numerous 5 star restaurants, therefore I was apprehensive for what I might find in a town with the population 70,000. Red Bird is a pleasant surprise. It's understated and underrated making the entire experience incredible. Tonight I dined on the Bison and twice baked herb potatoes. To say it was anything less than fantastic is an understatement. Our server was none other than Americana band leader extraordinairre, Tom Catmull. We were greeted by people who were beyond friendly, extraordinarily helpful and knew the wine list and menu by heart. It is a small intimate setting, with a great wine bar perfect for happy hour, and a wonderfully cozy setting for a most extraordinary meal. The Bison is amazingly tender well seasoned and better than most rib eyes. The twice baked herbed potatoes need no introduction. Service was excellent, wine list quite good and the menu had something for everyone.
(5)
Casey P.
Best overall in Missoula! Have been here over a dozen times on the wine bar side and fine dining side. Compared to other restaurants in Missoula I would give this place the edge based on consistency and good service.
(5)
Leah Catherine B.
Since the remodel, we love going over to the restaurant side...it has a 1920's flair...all done in soothing colors of persimmon & sea foam/aqua...the low lighting sets the scene for a romantic or intimate evening with friends.
(4)
Alex C.
My review is for the main restaurant, where I had a very good dinner experience. All appetizers and entrees were excellently prepared. The wine list is fairly large, and has something for everyone in terms of price and variety. Service was friendly and competent. Obviously pricey, but not unreasonable for the quality of ingredients used. I look forward to trying the adjacent wine bar, which apparently serves a more causal menu at a lower price point. It was packed.
(4)
Sarah V.
Loved the ambiance, decor, and service, but the food needs some tweaks. My boyfriend and I visited Red Bird a few weeks ago and were definitely impressed with the restaurant's appearance and with the service we received. However, after we left, we both thought that the flavors needed some work. His bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, but the other items on his plate seemed somewhat bland. I had the "chicken and waffles" appetizer and, although I must say the meat was good, it needed to be seasoned more, and the preserves that came with the dish did not compliment it. That said, the actual pistachio waffles were very good. This place has serious potential if it improved on the flavors...
(3)
Amy K.
A great restaurant is a great restaurant, but it becomes something a little more special when you go to a small town and walk out blown away by the caliber of the service and the food. I had asked my shuttle driver for some restaurant recommendations and he asked what I was looking for, so I provided some basic criteria...NO chains, someplace I could grab a good glass of wine, local food, etc... He didn't even pause for a second before stating, "Red Bird." He even drove me past it so I knew where it was (since honestly, it isn't well marked from the exterior). The building's lobby is a bit ornate, reminiscent of it's days as a bank or whatever, but closer to the restaurant it is cozily set-up with some club chairs near a fireplace and the wine bar is dark and well appointed. Since I was traveling on business and by myself, I made myself comfortable at the bar. Their wine selection was impressive for a small town and they were even offering a tasting flight. I wasn't starving so opted for the "cheesecake" which is a savory, cheesy piece of heaven served with toast points. I also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day which was a local mushroom and roasted red pepper. Hands down the best bowl of soup I have had since I don't know when (and I love soup and eat quite a bit of it). I love the fact that they make a lot of their own things in house, including their bread. Red Bird, you've carved a place in my culinary heart. I will see you again when I am in Missoula. Until then....smooches!
(5)
Kim T.
Eclectic menu, happening bar, beer & wine only. Excellent meal. Would for sure go back. The waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine which was disappointing but at least it was less expensive than what we ordered.
(5)
Shannon J.
The Wine Bar is a classy place to start a night on the town or peg as the main event. The atmosphere is excellent both in the lobby and at the bar. My friends and I spent an hour and a half sitting on the lobby couches listening to some local artists and sipping an excellent pino noir, thanks to a wait staff recommendation. This could be a new Friday tradition. Recommend the Champagne Fondue served w/ Bread & Pears. Adding the Bison & Beef is a must.
(5)
Jason L.
I love this place. Whether I'm feeling fancy and sitting in the actual restaurant or meeting friends for a casual drink in the wine bar, I'm always pleased by the quality of the food. The menu is constantly changing, extremely well-prepared, mostly local, and just plain delicious. The blend of styles is impressive, and I have yet to try something that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. In addition, they have one of the best beer selections in Missoula. They've got imported bottles that you just can't find anywhere else as well as a few decent drafts. I did have one really awful experience with a waiter there when trying to split a tab (he screwed it up three times and somehow managed to make ME feel like the idiot), but I can't bring myself to drop this review to a 4-star. Every other member of the staff has been outstanding, so that guy must have just been having a (really) bad night.
(5)
Jennifer B.
The place started out as a solid 4 or 5, but went downhill.... The ambiance is great - dark little place - very cool light fixtures and decorations - LOVED it. It was a little hard to find - it is hidden inside an office building and you can miss it as there is no exterior signage. The appetizer - champagne cheese fondue - we thought we were going to die it was sooooo good....the waitress recommended getting the grilled bison in addition to the bread and pears to dip - and we were SOO GLAD we did - it was the best - we wished we would asked for double portions of the bison - it made us excited for the entree.... We ordered the mexican vegatable dish and the lamb kabob and sausage. the vegetable dish came with eggplant - which was not mentioned on the menu and would have been a deal breaker...it was not BAD - but just ok. The curry with the lamb kabob was delicious - the sausage was good, but the lamb was a little tough. I had the wine flight with some red blends and one of the wines was bad...but they replaced it no problem...just a hassle. The dessert was the real downer....not a good way to end our meal. We got the berry cobbler and it was like baked jelly with some sort of nutty frozen thing on top - that was supposed to be ice cream - but had the consistency of bleu cheese. very crumbly ... wish they would have put some crumbles on top of the cobbler....the taste was bizarre and the consistency almost made you gag.... When the server noticed that we did not barely touch our dessert - she just took it away without a word - thought she might ask why we dissected it without eating it - but she didnt. They were friendly enough and the food was good enough - but we wish we would have just gotten another of the fondue with bison and we would have left happier....
(3)
Deanne J.
I really wondered what I had gotten myself into as I walked in...a dated martini-type bar but no martinis...and country western music playing too loudly. OK, I thought, this IS Montana, so go with the flow... The food turned out to be really awesome (in the Wine Bar, never could locate the actual restaurant as it turned out to close pretty early). I had the pate plate that included cheese and fruit with the crusty bread, and I loved it. My husband opted for a burger, also awesome, with caramelized onion. Wine selection topped it off.
(4)
Mary H.
Quiet and pleasantly intimate dining room in remarkable old Art Deco building although one has to go through the dark wine bar to get there. Amazing lists of wines and beers and a couple of wines by the glass were excellent and went well with the food. Impeccable service, with waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, and right there when needed. Food was interesting and very well prepared. Halibut and lobster tail made a great combination although the spaetzle was a bit on the heavy, greasy side. Beet salad delicious with just right amount of gorgonzola, as was a cold corn soup of the day. And, yes, the tray that comes with coffee is almost a dessert in itself, with sweetener, coffee sugar, sugar swizzle, cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc. etc. Didn't think we had room for dessert, but shared peach/ginger sorbet was a perfect choice--light and delicious. Would we return? Absolutely!
(4)
Ken B.
Missoula has a few very good restaurants. Red Bird, Caffe Dolce, Silk Road & Pearl. We have not been to Sapore yet, so no opinion. But, Red Bird has been consistently top-rate...both the Wine Bar and the Restaurant. We recommend it to anyone who likes fine food and wine.
(5)
Madison B.
My fiance and I went to the Red Bird last night to celebrate our engagement at the wine bar. When we walked in we were instantly surprised by how dark the room was. It reminded me of a demon bar in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Our eyes adjusted and we found a seat at the bar. Our bartender wasn't overly friendly ( when we said we had just gotten engaged that day he just smiled and nodded at us. I know that's not major, but I would have expected a congratulations or something....haha), but very pleasant. We ordered the champagne fondue (comes with bread and pears) and opted for the offered inclusion of marinated bison and steak. So Good! I'm already pining for more of it. For dinner, I just ordered the cheeseburger with blue cheese. It was amazing. It was honestly the best burger I've had since I moved out of Chicago 5 years ago. It was big (I only could eat half), juicy, cooked exactly to order (which never happens), and smothered in generous amounts of cheese, caramelized onions, and the perfect amount of bacon. Even the damn bun was perfect. We've decided based on how good what simple food we had was and how delicious the meat that came with our fondue was, that we will definitely be coming back to dine in the dining room. Great meal!
(5)
Jess C.
Red Bird's great. I've only ever eaten in the wine bar and not the restaurant in back, but it's likely my favorite restaurant in Missoula. Never had a dish I didn't enjoy. Great food, great wine and beer selections, great drinks, and great atmosphere for a classy night out.
(5)
Socrates M.
Big difference between wine bar and restaurant, but both are equally deserving of high marks. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - really something would not expect to see in MT. The food matches the ambiance, making it worth the big city prices. The wine bar has a nice vibe and decor - accented, of course, by red. It can get a little loud at times. Beers from around the world and great selection of wine. Good small plates, including a great ahi salad and tuna tartare. I'd say the food quality is a toss-up with Pearl, but the service at Red Bird gives it the edge. Best restaurant in Missoula.
(5)
Alan P.
I have a new favorite dining spot in Missoula. The wife & I were looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal without our children. We picked a winner. Everything was simply excellent. I'll start with service. Carl, our server, was super attentive & friendly. He suggested a perfect bottle of wine to pair with our extremely varied entree selections. His presence certainly made the meal more enjoyable. The meal itself was superb. While the flavors were definitely unique, each course was more delicious than the last. I'm not a huge salad lover, but even the salad we chose was to die for. We ate in the restaurant, not the wine bar. I think it was a good choice for us. The wine bar seemed to be a lot of fun with a lively crowd. We sought out something a bit quieter and intimate. The restaurant is very sparsely decorated with well spaced tables that allowed for a very individualized experience. The setting was perfect, as we could focus on each other and our meals. Like I said, we truly loved the entire experience. The Red Bird would certainly be a great date spot or for anyone just looking for a terrific upscale dinner spot in Missoula. Gotta check it out.
(5)
Toby V.
Great food. One of my top 5 places to eat in Missoula.
(5)
Amy B.
Always a memorable dining experience. I rarely finish my meals elsewhere, but I can't stop myself when I come here. Gorgeous plate presentation. I loved the pork chop entree. The staff is excellent and friendly.
(5)
Yizhou E.
Had apps and drinks here with some girlfriends. Great place! Had live music that night too. The only thing keeping it from getting full marks is how noisy it can get. They have little insulation so it echoes quite a bit and conversation it difficult.
(4)
Linda J.
The restaurant is in a former hotel that was converted into offices and apartments, and it's fun just to enter the building and enjoy the old-time feeling and the stately lobby. The restaurant itself is a very artful use of a windowless space...it's decorated in red and black and has a romantic, cosy feeling (there are no birds, either). The food was very good. We ordered four small plates and a half bottle of wine. The duck pate with pears, toast points, bleu cheese and walnuts was the standout, and the crabcakes were quite good too. The sesame duck pancakes with salad were just okay. Definitely the best place we ate in Missoula.
(4)
Sam P.
Just amazing! Since moving away from Missoula 5 years ago, I can not get the Red Bird out of my mind and have found no other to fill the emptiness in my gut! By far, the best food experience in Missoula, great cozy atmosphere and personalized selections with excellent wine pairings. I dream of their Roasted Red Pepper soup, truffled sauces and herb infused creme brule. Jim and Laura, since taking over the Red Bird have done amazing seasonal changes to the menu and I am always delighted to experience something new and different. Oh Red Bird, I will see you this summer!
(5)
Craig M.
After trying and loving the pearl, my parents and I decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the red bird. I really could not believe this is the top ranked place to eat in Missoula. The service was poor, the wine list was very limited, and the food was not only disappointing, but borderline disgusting. Picked up fast food on the way home, horrible experience.
(1)
Margaux A.
Red Bird is a very elegant restaurant, I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. The food was excellent, it is a pricier restaurant, but it is worth it, a place to try at least one. It is a smaller restaurant, but still comfortable. Their red wine was really good (I cannot remember the name) and their service was great, very nice people with a great dinning environment. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Missoula and I recommend it to others.
(4)
Nils J.
Based on several recommendations I made reservations for last night for the restaurant. When we checked in they said our reservations were for the wine bar. After having to explain I specifically requested the dining room we were reluctantly seated. My wife ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the bison tenderloin. Mine was very good but my wife's was all fat. It took forever to get the servers attention so we could explain it was inedible. He darted off and we had to track him down to get the check. Won't be going back.....
(1)
Jenna B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant like this in Missoula. This place fits right in to a restaurant in LA. Other than the decor and location, it's on the first floor of an old bank and the setting was very dark, this place wasn't too bad at all. I had the pork chops and it was one of the best prepared pork chops I've ever had- moist and full of flavor. The appetizers were OK, the dessert was wonderful. If I'm ever back in Missoula (highly DOUBTFUL), I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Nathan C.
We visited Missoula during the 2010 marathon, and after reading reviews about Red Bird decided to make a point of going there. We made reservations (anticipating a crush of people downtown for the race) and arrived at 8:00. The restaurant was empty except for two other couples, however, the wine bar was quite full. That should've been our first sign that something was amiss. We were seated promptly. The decor in this establishment is borderline depressing. Most of the walls are simply empty, with just an off-white paint. On the wine bar side, the mood is dark, romantic, and mysterious. Our side? Bleak and way too bright. Our server looked bored and seemed uninterested in us. When we mentioned the race and how we'd expected the place to be packed, he rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, saying they'd called in extra help to manage to the crowds. But rather than really going out of his way to take extra great care of the two people he actually had in his section, he pretty much lolled around like he was waiting to go home. The food was just okay. I had a portobello pasta dish and my wife had the sirloin, which per their "we butcher our own mean" spiel was the only cut available. The pasta was very tasty but certainly not worth $30. The sirloin was simply disappointing - tough, with uninspired seasonings. The wines we were offered were mediocre and overpriced. Our total bill, with tip, came to nearly $200, and with the sub-par quality of the food and the less-than-friendly service, we will never go back. Ironically, we visited the Iron Horse the night before, paid around $30, and had wonderful meals and beer, with lightning-fast, friendly service. Our experience there was almost enough to make up for the disappointment we felt about Red Bird.
(2)
Lou G.
Of course I checked Yelp first but this recommendation guided us to the best dinner I've had in a long time. I had the pork dish and my wife had mushroom risotto - both were excellent. Also had a Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah - all very reasonably priced and the service was outstanding. I'd recommend it to anyone with good taste !!!!!
(5)
Hollie B.
The restaurant part of the Red Bird is my annual choice for my birthday meal and I absolutely love it. I've eaten there probably 5 times in the past 6 years, and am always so excited to see the menu as it changes seasonally. I also love the wine bar - the food is excellent, and even if you're not eating, it's a very nice place to enjoy live music on Monday nights and have a glass of wine. Great atmosphere.
(5)
John H.
This is Missoula's finest restaurant. The menu is divine with an option for anybody. Call ahead if you are a vegetarian and the chef will take care of you. Next time I'm in Missoula this will be the first place I go. Be sure to show up a little early and enjoy the nice atmosphere in the wine bar before you sit at your table for dinner.
(5)
Joseph T.
Fine food, good service. Definitely itching to be a fine dining establishment, and it comes oh so close, but some of the food pairings could use tweaking. I had halibut (standard menu item, not a special) which was perfectly cooked, but covered in a tomato goop. The dish also came with vanilla-roasted potatoes. Yuck. The more or less long menu centers around meat, meat, meat. Even vaguely vegetarian sounding dishes would have an infusion of duck, or some other animal. My vegetarian friend was left choosing a salad which even had an anchovy dressing (which they were able to swap out). There's one eggplant dish that was all vegetarian, but that was all. I'd go back, if invited by someone else who was paying, but I won't be going back under my own power alone.
(3)
Drew B.
This place is arguably the classiest dining establishment in Missoula, along with the Pearl. It serves quality food in a comfortable, tasteful environment. My two complaints are that the portions are quite small and the food is overpriced. If you are looking for a tasty meal and paying with a company credit card, I would highly recommend eating here because you will not be disappointed with the product.
(4)
Padre C.
Went on the recommendations of the yelp reviewers. I was not disappointed. Great marks across the board. The wait staff was exceptional. Food was beautifully presented and tasted great. The restaurant takes great pride in using Montana meats and produce. Extensive wine list....great ones offered by the glass and and nice selection of beers....several on tap from the local breweries. If my daughter decides to attend UM, Red Bird will be a must stop on all of my trips to Missoula.
(5)
Melissa L.
This is one of the places we come for our special nights, birthdays, anniversarys, etc. They have a great menu, true, more to the meat side but delicious! Their bison steak is succulent and melts in your mouth. They have fab salads and quite a nice wine selection. One of our favorites!
(5)
oliver g.
Two word Love IT I mean It is Soho good. We'll I don't go there that much but when i do I love i love it!!! I really like the egg rolls there they're so good oh yeah and so are there burgers and the waiter service is great this is a great place and i highly recommend it this is the place to go.
(5)
Amy B.
Always a memorable dining experience. I rarely finish my meals elsewhere, but I can't stop myself when I come here. Gorgeous plate presentation. I loved the pork chop entree. The staff is excellent and friendly.
(5)
Don C.
Amazing food and service. Get the steak, with the potatoes. And also like their salads. We were with a table of 7 and every plate was unbelievably good. We will definitely be back.
(5)
C Marie M.
Five-star service! Bartender had Great selections, and even offered me tastings of different lines before I selected which one I wanted a full glass of. Dessert was great, I had a vanilla tart. Personally, I would've added some lemon zest the dish but I'm not a pastry chef so what do I know?
(5)
Louis T.
We are from a suburb outside New York city traveling to Yellowstone and happened upon this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pastrami the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend.
(5)
Danny H.
The cheeseburger is tasteful and refined, with the most pleasing condiments you ever tasted! They made all the condiments in their kitchen right there at the restaurant. The decor is done as neatly as can be. The mood: chill and refined. The location is inside an historic hotel-turned-commercial building, a fine lobby and fireplace right outside the red Bird.
(5)
Toby V.
Great food. One of my top 5 places to eat in Missoula.
(5)
Mariah R.
The food was off the charts good and presented really beautifully. I liked the creative dishes on the menu. The ambiance is very classy. Loved the gold wall paper, very "Mad Men". The service was a bit slow and the servers seem to share tables, which seemed a bit strange. We started with one but then another took our dessert order and helped us throughout our dining.
(4)
Katherine G.
Great dark ambiance, although I don't remember music playing. On this Friday night, the place was buzzing, but we walked right in for a late dinner near the bar. The duck pate app was very tasty. I had the scallops on gnocci, which looked to me like polenta...not gnocci, but still very tasty. Great wine selection by the glass. The place wasn't so busy that I couldn't speak with my table mate. I'll look forward to returning.
(4)
Mandie H.
Dissapointing compared to our last experience. Worth noting is that the dining room is gorgeous; a lovely presence. I could live in the dining room. When we first came a year ago, we were greeted with an amuse-bouche. This time: bread and a tomato, basil, olive oil spread that was good but not an amuse-bouche. We received bread last time as well. That was the first thing that tipped us off to things not flying so well at Red Bird. The second was that our waiter wiped the wine bottle with his finger after he poured!! Um....gross.....a cloth napkin perhaps? Isn't this dining 101? If you forgot your napkin, then just don't wipe, please. But he did it twice!! For a starter, the Pan Seared Scallops....which were slightly underdone. My husband chose a Carrot Bisque which he really liked (a special). I had the Farro Beef Salad which lacked depth and creativity. (Last time I had the Grilled Octopus Salad and it was superb......) The meal did get better from here. I chose Shrimp & Artichokes; intriguing, with Shrimp and Ricotta filled Cannelloni, a Fontina Cheese filled Artichoke (beautiful and well-prepared, but not that good), Pickeled Shrimp (so good, but more of a curried shrimp) sitting in a Shrimp-Artichoke Bisque with roasted Carrots (the carrots were amazing!). My husband had the Grilled New York; Rosemary Rubbed with Potato Pierogie, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Compound Butter, and Grilled Vegetables. He overall enjoyed his main course (despite the somewhat gristly steak), but we are still so upset about the wine bottle finger swipe, lack of amuse-bouche, and the dissapointing scallops and farro beef salad, that giving it any more than three stars for the $130 we paid would not be fair to those coming here after us. There are many more places to try in Missoula before we'll be back.
(3)
Bradley N.
"The Pi-onot Man" It's eight thirty-five on a Monday, An unusual crowd walks to the bar, We've come for some wine and a quick meal. We're hungry and don't want to drive far. He says, "Sir, can I offer you Pinot? For $12, we give quite the pour. They call it St Innocent and they make it in Oregon: Red berry, allspice, forest floor." Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Bring us more wine tonight. Well we're all in the mood for more Pinot The live music has us feeling alright. Casey on the stool is a friend of mine He orders a Crabbie's, not wine. And he's quick with that knife and the pulled pork cuts nice There's no place that he'd rather be. He says, "Brad, I believe this is filling me" As hush puppies disappear from his plate. Well, I'm sure that next week I'll come back here; For wine flights and fine food - I can't wait!" Chirp, chirp, tweet tweet tweetie tweet Tweet tweet, twitter, tweet tweet. Now Marty's a big man on campus Who also had time for a bite And he's talking about Nico who isn't in town, though But my, this St. Innocent drinks nice. And the bartender serves us all pork chops And lamb stew and other delights. Yes, we're sharing three stools at the wine bar! Better here than out in that cold night!! Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Fill up our glasses just right. Because we'll all in the mood for live music And outside, the snow gives us frights. (With apologies to Billy J. Then again, maybe he deserves it.)
(5)
Chris K.
Been back a few times since original review, good food, service is good, one of the better places in town
(4)
Heather A.
We went here for our five year anniversary, and it was the best food and service I've ever had! Save this for special occasions, it is a bit out of normal price range! We had a quail appetizer, and I had the rabbit ragu for dinner, it was absolutely fantastic! My guy had the lamb, and it was perfect, cooked medium rare just like he asked! We finished off with a chocolate lava cake and beignets, both were excellent! The entire time, service was spectacular, and they really knew their wines, and which would go best with the meal. For two people, appetizer, two meals, and two desserts, it was $140, so not your everyday spot, but well worth it! The worst part is now I'm craving it! :)
(5)
Dawn C.
It's the best restaurant in Missoula, and difficult to add to the review after that. Don't get me wrong: Missoula is a foodie town. It's simply that Red Bird is so good, and so consistent, and so...gosh-dang special. You should really stop reading this review and just go there. But in case you need more convincing... I've been a fan of Red Bird since the days where you had to enter the restaurant off the alley, where the only clue as to its existence was a bird cage and a red lamp. Nowadays, I think most diners come in through the chic, art-deco hotel (what's its name again?). So now that I've belabored the ambiance, let's get to the real point of this review which is the FOOD. Did you know that the 'Bird uses all locally raised land-dwelling meats and vegetables? How about this: that the chefs butcher all cuts in-house and make most all of the restaurant's charcuterie? Good ingredients add up to a lot in my book, and the fact that the chefs know what to do with them pushes this place well in to my top 10 restaurants of all time. (Oh, speaking of that...I should make a new list!). The last bit of advice I have for you, Yelpers, is to sit in the restaurant side over the wine bar side. As much as I love the casual ambiance of the wine bar, I want access to the coffee tray, which is only available restaurant-side. If you've not been before, this tray is a dessert in and of itself. Chocolate chips, brown sugar, rock candy swizzle sticks, ... and they'll keep refilling your cup if you make a mistake! Go, mountain-westers. Go, visitors. Get thee to Red Bird.
(5)
Adam S.
A cool, chill atmosphere, with great food, and a stand-out beer selection (especially impressive list of sours). I had the lamb special, which had a lamb kebab, house-made lamb sausage, and some veggies. It was delicious, reasonably priced, and our server was fun and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Pierre V.
A great evening. Well thought out menu, with attention to local products. Interesting wine selection ... try the Montana wines.
(4)
Cara C.
The beet salad rules. Spring for dessert too...so worth it. They have redone the place and it's gone a totally different direction decor-wise. it's very funky, I miss the old style Bird though. The food...it was better than it was last time I was there. It used to be my favorite place to eat --anywhere--then it lost a bit of its food charm for me. Then it got it back! YAY! It is the perfect special dinner place. A gem in Missoula.
(5)
Chad R.
Absolutely the best food in town!!! Atmosphere was very good, the staff was awesome... The beer was great, you can't go wrong here, the price was outstanding for the food!!!!
(5)
Anthony L.
In short. Great wine selection, supper small food portion sized. In long. The atmosphere is very sleek, modern, private, and sophisticated. The beer and wine list is extensive enough to make even the pickiest censurers happy. They food is below average for what one might expect (taste, presentation, and serving size).
(3)
Natalie H.
Great wine selection. Food is horrible. Unable to eat an appetizer and sent it back. We were still charged for it. Fondue is the only edible item.
(1)
Cookie M.
The Red Bird has excellent food; I am always craving the food. This place could possibly be my favorite restaurant in Missoula.
I have gone to the wine bar pretty regularly throughout the years. Despite having good spatial orientation skills, I have never seen nor am I entirely convinced that the restaurant side actually exists rather than being some mythical place of excellent cuisine. Not that I haven't tried thoroughly exploring the building, either--it's like trying to find Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda. Yep, 27 years later and I still haven't let that one go... Regardless, the wine bar side of the equation has always been my favorite dining location in Missoula for delivering a great atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food. The atmosphere is very intimate with the dark woods and fireplace. Definitely a place where you can impress a date, have a casual relaxing evening with friends, or treat your parents when they are in town (or hopefully have them treat you!). True to Missoula upscale, you can feel just as comfortable coming in your Carhartts as you do in your best suit/dress. The service, in my experience, has always been prompt and attentive regardless of which of these options has brought you in for good eats. The food is consistently impressive. Balanced, rich flavors. Good variety on the menu. Properly sized portions. And as a vegetarian with occasional locavore transgressions, I can appreciate that they source all their meats locally and do any butchering and curing in-house. The duck and pear pate is probably the best thing on the menu, and I'd drive back to Missoula just to satisfy the craving! They are happy to bring extra bread, and the appetizer can be somewhat filling for two or easily make a meal for one. The menu is rounded out by a more than acceptable beer and wine list. Price is definitely on the higher side for Missoula, but more than fair for the dining experience that you get.
(5)
Jake N.
Mediocre food and wine selection. Decent beer selection. The quality of the proteins is below average (especially for the price tag) and the dishes are uninspired and outright poorly executed (the pasta was undersauced and the steak was poor quality and overcooked). There are plenty of better places to eat in Missoula.
(2)
Lacey C.
Get the fondue and enjoy the wonderful ambiance. Our lovely waitress was also pouring us doubles all night instead of the customary half-glasses of wine. Would definitely go back to toss back some vino with my pals. Twin Peaks fans will feel like they're in the Black Lodge--but in a good way.
(4)
Paige J.
As a local, I frequent the wine bar and the restaurant as well for the last 8 years. I have never had a bad meal. The restaurant is their fine dining and their wine bar is more economical fare and a more festive and bar like atmosphere. I always get the champagne fondue no matter what venue I choose. They do not serve hard liquor, but I really enjoy their wine recommendations and most often get the flight when I go as long as it's not chardonnay.... yeck! The Wine Bar is pretty loud but the restaurant is much more quiet. I can honestly recommend anything they have on the menu. They do a great job with it all.
(5)
Nick H.
Going in, my wife and I were excited for a great night out and we had high expectations for our dinner from our previous experiences at the Red Bird ...unfortunately this time was different. Tell me, how do you eat less than a third of your meal and when the waiter takes it, he doesn't offer to wrap it up to go or even ask how the meal was? I have no idea, but nobody ever asked how our meals were throughout the meal. Maybe they just assumed everything was great because we didn't want to go to the fuss of complaining. If so, they would be wrong. My Seafood Pasta was simply mediocre; I have enjoyed higher quality meals at many restaurants far down the line from the fine dining experience that the Red Bird seems to aspire to. My wife's Mexican vegetarian dish was just plain not good, no getting around that fact (she ended up eating half of my less than stellar entree). The central pieces of the veggie dish were two blechy and sauceless quinoa cakes. Unfortunately the staff and management of the Red Bird wouldn't know this as the service was inattentive and nobody bothered to ask us how our meals were. The one bright spot of this meal was the Insalata Caprese, a very tasty precursor to my entree. Her beet salad was good, though not great. We have had excellent meals at the Red Bird in the past, but this is apparently what you get for $92 plus tip at the Red Bird these days. Weak sauce.
(2)
Andrea F.
Oh Red Bird....I used to love you so. First, let me preface this- this review is for the Wine Bar. The restaurant side is wonderful, and has never let us down. But, we used to eat at the wine bar all the time, and so this review is for the wine bar. The Wine Bar was kind of "our place." A nice glass of $5 red, a great pulled pork sandwich- what's not to love? We went there pretty much every week and always left full and happy! But, then some stuff changed. The first time things changed, we went on a Friday. We knew it would be busy and we'd have to wait. But, that is ok because they have a fireplace, and they will let you order wine while you wait out in the lobby area. We went to get on the waiting list, and the normally nice hostess gal was just rude to us. And before we went to wait in the lobby she said "I'm not bringing you wine while you wait, just so you know." Well....that was ok. She must have been busy. But, then, a few minutes later, she came out and was offering to get drinks for the party of two who had gotten on the list AFTER US! Soon, everyone waiting around us in the lobby was with wine and drinks, and we were not. When a party of two that had gotten on the list after us got seated before us, we decided to leave. We didn't come back for a matter of months (and we had usually gone there every single WEEK). So, we came back 4 months later. I guess the chef changed, and the menu changed a little. My favorite sandwich- the pulled pork sandwich, was now gone with another pork sandwich in its place. I was sad, but figured it would force me to try something new. The service was slightly better, but the waiter hardly came and checked on us and brought my husband the wrong beer. Nothing awful, but nothing great. But, let's get to this sandwich. It tasted like a flat, unsalted piece of pork fat. Seriously, it had no flavor. At all. I didn't even want to eat it. And I LOVE PORK. Love it! But unseasoned chunks of pork fat? No thank you. It is nothing comparable to the old pulled pork sandwich. It was flavorless, overpriced, and I could seriously make something better at home. The salad was overdressed....really, just rookie mistakes. Not Wine Bar quality. So, I decided to write a letter. I wrote and explained, in logical and even tones, why I think the Wine Bar experience had gone down a notch. I explained that I was simply taking the time to do this because, as a fellow business owner, I would want to know if something was not up to snuff. I liked their business, wanted to see it do well, and said that if I was noticing this stuff- most likely other folks were too. I received a snotty letter in response. Defensive, not appreciative at all that someone would take the time to tell them about a bad experience, basically just saying that they were happy with stuff so everyone else should be too. Really not a nice tone. I would have rather gotten no response, to be honest. Anyway, at that point, we decided to find a new place as "our place." Kinda sad. We went from spending $50 a week there to nothing at all. I even had my graduation party there. Now I don't want to ever go back. Hope they pick it up or they won't be around much longer!
(2)
Emily D.
I have loved the Red Bird since I first went there for a gourmet meal. The food is always good and the wine selection is on par. The wine bar provides diners with a more casual experience than the restaurant and the food comes from the same kitchen; furthermore, the wine bar has a more updated interior design and the atmosphere is sexy and romantic, yet comforting and unpretentious for all types of parties. I have never been disappointed with the food, wine, or experience at the Red Bird and it is a dining experience not to be missed.
(5)
Jillian S.
My husband and I recently ate in the wine bar for the first time in 6 months or so. We had a really disappointing experience at red bird, which is a shame since we've had so many good experiences here. The wine list really leaves something to be desired -- nothing really stands out anymore. It just is. Isn't this a wine bar? We ordered a wine flight that wasn't as advertised (different vintages) and was really unpleasant. My husband ordered the pizza (normally excellent) and was underwhelmed. The crust was under baked, the cheese bland, and the toppings were uninspired and seemingly taken out of a package and slapped onto the pie. We're not fans of having to complain at restaurants. I feel like body language and an uneaten plate of food should be signal enough to the server to indicate something's not right. ours didn't inquire. I ordered a salad that I've ordered several times over the past few years (grilled halloumi cheese). It's a good salad, nothing great, but the non-lettuce components of said salad were lacking compared to previous times I've had it -- if it's called a grilled halloumi cheese salad, said cheese should occupy a little bit more of the plate. Maybe we went on an off night, but the menu could really use an update and a return to inspired dishes is much-needed. In the meantime, if I want a great glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, I'll head to caffe dolce.
(3)
Heather P.
I have visited several times, and all experiences have been mediocre. The food is good, and the wine selection is good too. On my last visit I was really disappointed with the knowledge my waitperson had of the wine list, they were unable to answer 2 questions I had
(3)
Chris L.
Another fantastic downtown option in Missoula. Can't miss here. I like the quieter aspect of the dining room, as well as the option for hanging out in the wine bar section. I've only been a couple times, but will be going back plenty. My loud-as-hell rock band played their Christmas party (in May) and these people also know how to have a good time. A blast, literally, all around!
(5)
Daniel F.
We were in town for an art opening at the MAM and picked Red Bird on a whim. Best choice that we could have made. We ate in the main dining room and not the wine bar. The service was exemplary and the food was outstanding; a very flavorful and cooked and presented very well. Even though it was Nov. they tried to use as many local ingredients as possible, which added to both the taste and the "feel good quotient". the dining room was funky yet laid out in a manner that offered each table a sense of intimacy. All in all an excellent experience and we will be back next time we are in Missuoa
(4)
Ben K.
I love the atmosphere and usually it's decent, but I have gotten sick twice eating seafood along with my wife. If you can avoid that and enjoy drinking wine, red bird is a great place to relax.
(3)
Monica P.
I've had meals ranging from 3 starts to five stars...the five stars have always been in the regular dining, not the wine bar. When you get the right thing here they really knock it out of the park. Definitely top 3 for my favorites in Missoula but couldn't give it the full five because of a couple sub-par experiences. Won't stop me from coming back though!
(4)
Kelly M.
I searched hi and low for a great place to eat in Missoula. Being from Honolulu we are used to numerous 5 star restaurants, therefore I was apprehensive for what I might find in a town with the population 70,000. Red Bird is a pleasant surprise. It's understated and underrated making the entire experience incredible. Tonight I dined on the Bison and twice baked herb potatoes. To say it was anything less than fantastic is an understatement. Our server was none other than Americana band leader extraordinairre, Tom Catmull. We were greeted by people who were beyond friendly, extraordinarily helpful and knew the wine list and menu by heart. It is a small intimate setting, with a great wine bar perfect for happy hour, and a wonderfully cozy setting for a most extraordinary meal. The Bison is amazingly tender well seasoned and better than most rib eyes. The twice baked herbed potatoes need no introduction. Service was excellent, wine list quite good and the menu had something for everyone.
(5)
Casey P.
Best overall in Missoula! Have been here over a dozen times on the wine bar side and fine dining side. Compared to other restaurants in Missoula I would give this place the edge based on consistency and good service.
(5)
Leah Catherine B.
Since the remodel, we love going over to the restaurant side...it has a 1920's flair...all done in soothing colors of persimmon & sea foam/aqua...the low lighting sets the scene for a romantic or intimate evening with friends.
(4)
Alex C.
My review is for the main restaurant, where I had a very good dinner experience. All appetizers and entrees were excellently prepared. The wine list is fairly large, and has something for everyone in terms of price and variety. Service was friendly and competent. Obviously pricey, but not unreasonable for the quality of ingredients used. I look forward to trying the adjacent wine bar, which apparently serves a more causal menu at a lower price point. It was packed.
(4)
Philippe L.
Love the owners. Great food. Downtown. Fast service.
(5)
Sarah V.
Loved the ambiance, decor, and service, but the food needs some tweaks. My boyfriend and I visited Red Bird a few weeks ago and were definitely impressed with the restaurant's appearance and with the service we received. However, after we left, we both thought that the flavors needed some work. His bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, but the other items on his plate seemed somewhat bland. I had the "chicken and waffles" appetizer and, although I must say the meat was good, it needed to be seasoned more, and the preserves that came with the dish did not compliment it. That said, the actual pistachio waffles were very good. This place has serious potential if it improved on the flavors...
(3)
Amy K.
A great restaurant is a great restaurant, but it becomes something a little more special when you go to a small town and walk out blown away by the caliber of the service and the food. I had asked my shuttle driver for some restaurant recommendations and he asked what I was looking for, so I provided some basic criteria...NO chains, someplace I could grab a good glass of wine, local food, etc... He didn't even pause for a second before stating, "Red Bird." He even drove me past it so I knew where it was (since honestly, it isn't well marked from the exterior). The building's lobby is a bit ornate, reminiscent of it's days as a bank or whatever, but closer to the restaurant it is cozily set-up with some club chairs near a fireplace and the wine bar is dark and well appointed. Since I was traveling on business and by myself, I made myself comfortable at the bar. Their wine selection was impressive for a small town and they were even offering a tasting flight. I wasn't starving so opted for the "cheesecake" which is a savory, cheesy piece of heaven served with toast points. I also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day which was a local mushroom and roasted red pepper. Hands down the best bowl of soup I have had since I don't know when (and I love soup and eat quite a bit of it). I love the fact that they make a lot of their own things in house, including their bread. Red Bird, you've carved a place in my culinary heart. I will see you again when I am in Missoula. Until then....smooches!
(5)
Kim T.
Eclectic menu, happening bar, beer & wine only. Excellent meal. Would for sure go back. The waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine which was disappointing but at least it was less expensive than what we ordered.
(5)
Shannon J.
The Wine Bar is a classy place to start a night on the town or peg as the main event. The atmosphere is excellent both in the lobby and at the bar. My friends and I spent an hour and a half sitting on the lobby couches listening to some local artists and sipping an excellent pino noir, thanks to a wait staff recommendation. This could be a new Friday tradition. Recommend the Champagne Fondue served w/ Bread & Pears. Adding the Bison & Beef is a must.
(5)
Jason L.
I love this place. Whether I'm feeling fancy and sitting in the actual restaurant or meeting friends for a casual drink in the wine bar, I'm always pleased by the quality of the food. The menu is constantly changing, extremely well-prepared, mostly local, and just plain delicious. The blend of styles is impressive, and I have yet to try something that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. In addition, they have one of the best beer selections in Missoula. They've got imported bottles that you just can't find anywhere else as well as a few decent drafts. I did have one really awful experience with a waiter there when trying to split a tab (he screwed it up three times and somehow managed to make ME feel like the idiot), but I can't bring myself to drop this review to a 4-star. Every other member of the staff has been outstanding, so that guy must have just been having a (really) bad night.
(5)
Ken B.
Missoula has a few very good restaurants. Red Bird, Caffe Dolce, Silk Road & Pearl. We have not been to Sapore yet, so no opinion. But, Red Bird has been consistently top-rate...both the Wine Bar and the Restaurant. We recommend it to anyone who likes fine food and wine.
(5)
Yizhou E.
Had apps and drinks here with some girlfriends. Great place! Had live music that night too. The only thing keeping it from getting full marks is how noisy it can get. They have little insulation so it echoes quite a bit and conversation it difficult.
(4)
Jennifer B.
The place started out as a solid 4 or 5, but went downhill.... The ambiance is great - dark little place - very cool light fixtures and decorations - LOVED it. It was a little hard to find - it is hidden inside an office building and you can miss it as there is no exterior signage. The appetizer - champagne cheese fondue - we thought we were going to die it was sooooo good....the waitress recommended getting the grilled bison in addition to the bread and pears to dip - and we were SOO GLAD we did - it was the best - we wished we would asked for double portions of the bison - it made us excited for the entree.... We ordered the mexican vegatable dish and the lamb kabob and sausage. the vegetable dish came with eggplant - which was not mentioned on the menu and would have been a deal breaker...it was not BAD - but just ok. The curry with the lamb kabob was delicious - the sausage was good, but the lamb was a little tough. I had the wine flight with some red blends and one of the wines was bad...but they replaced it no problem...just a hassle. The dessert was the real downer....not a good way to end our meal. We got the berry cobbler and it was like baked jelly with some sort of nutty frozen thing on top - that was supposed to be ice cream - but had the consistency of bleu cheese. very crumbly ... wish they would have put some crumbles on top of the cobbler....the taste was bizarre and the consistency almost made you gag.... When the server noticed that we did not barely touch our dessert - she just took it away without a word - thought she might ask why we dissected it without eating it - but she didnt. They were friendly enough and the food was good enough - but we wish we would have just gotten another of the fondue with bison and we would have left happier....
(3)
Deanne J.
I really wondered what I had gotten myself into as I walked in...a dated martini-type bar but no martinis...and country western music playing too loudly. OK, I thought, this IS Montana, so go with the flow... The food turned out to be really awesome (in the Wine Bar, never could locate the actual restaurant as it turned out to close pretty early). I had the pate plate that included cheese and fruit with the crusty bread, and I loved it. My husband opted for a burger, also awesome, with caramelized onion. Wine selection topped it off.
(4)
Mary H.
Quiet and pleasantly intimate dining room in remarkable old Art Deco building although one has to go through the dark wine bar to get there. Amazing lists of wines and beers and a couple of wines by the glass were excellent and went well with the food. Impeccable service, with waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, and right there when needed. Food was interesting and very well prepared. Halibut and lobster tail made a great combination although the spaetzle was a bit on the heavy, greasy side. Beet salad delicious with just right amount of gorgonzola, as was a cold corn soup of the day. And, yes, the tray that comes with coffee is almost a dessert in itself, with sweetener, coffee sugar, sugar swizzle, cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc. etc. Didn't think we had room for dessert, but shared peach/ginger sorbet was a perfect choice--light and delicious. Would we return? Absolutely!
(4)
Madison B.
My fiance and I went to the Red Bird last night to celebrate our engagement at the wine bar. When we walked in we were instantly surprised by how dark the room was. It reminded me of a demon bar in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Our eyes adjusted and we found a seat at the bar. Our bartender wasn't overly friendly ( when we said we had just gotten engaged that day he just smiled and nodded at us. I know that's not major, but I would have expected a congratulations or something....haha), but very pleasant. We ordered the champagne fondue (comes with bread and pears) and opted for the offered inclusion of marinated bison and steak. So Good! I'm already pining for more of it. For dinner, I just ordered the cheeseburger with blue cheese. It was amazing. It was honestly the best burger I've had since I moved out of Chicago 5 years ago. It was big (I only could eat half), juicy, cooked exactly to order (which never happens), and smothered in generous amounts of cheese, caramelized onions, and the perfect amount of bacon. Even the damn bun was perfect. We've decided based on how good what simple food we had was and how delicious the meat that came with our fondue was, that we will definitely be coming back to dine in the dining room. Great meal!
(5)
Jess C.
Red Bird's great. I've only ever eaten in the wine bar and not the restaurant in back, but it's likely my favorite restaurant in Missoula. Never had a dish I didn't enjoy. Great food, great wine and beer selections, great drinks, and great atmosphere for a classy night out.
(5)
Socrates M.
Big difference between wine bar and restaurant, but both are equally deserving of high marks. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - really something would not expect to see in MT. The food matches the ambiance, making it worth the big city prices. The wine bar has a nice vibe and decor - accented, of course, by red. It can get a little loud at times. Beers from around the world and great selection of wine. Good small plates, including a great ahi salad and tuna tartare. I'd say the food quality is a toss-up with Pearl, but the service at Red Bird gives it the edge. Best restaurant in Missoula.
(5)
Alan P.
I have a new favorite dining spot in Missoula. The wife & I were looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal without our children. We picked a winner. Everything was simply excellent. I'll start with service. Carl, our server, was super attentive & friendly. He suggested a perfect bottle of wine to pair with our extremely varied entree selections. His presence certainly made the meal more enjoyable. The meal itself was superb. While the flavors were definitely unique, each course was more delicious than the last. I'm not a huge salad lover, but even the salad we chose was to die for. We ate in the restaurant, not the wine bar. I think it was a good choice for us. The wine bar seemed to be a lot of fun with a lively crowd. We sought out something a bit quieter and intimate. The restaurant is very sparsely decorated with well spaced tables that allowed for a very individualized experience. The setting was perfect, as we could focus on each other and our meals. Like I said, we truly loved the entire experience. The Red Bird would certainly be a great date spot or for anyone just looking for a terrific upscale dinner spot in Missoula. Gotta check it out.
(5)
Linda J.
The restaurant is in a former hotel that was converted into offices and apartments, and it's fun just to enter the building and enjoy the old-time feeling and the stately lobby. The restaurant itself is a very artful use of a windowless space...it's decorated in red and black and has a romantic, cosy feeling (there are no birds, either). The food was very good. We ordered four small plates and a half bottle of wine. The duck pate with pears, toast points, bleu cheese and walnuts was the standout, and the crabcakes were quite good too. The sesame duck pancakes with salad were just okay. Definitely the best place we ate in Missoula.
(4)
Sam P.
Just amazing! Since moving away from Missoula 5 years ago, I can not get the Red Bird out of my mind and have found no other to fill the emptiness in my gut! By far, the best food experience in Missoula, great cozy atmosphere and personalized selections with excellent wine pairings. I dream of their Roasted Red Pepper soup, truffled sauces and herb infused creme brule. Jim and Laura, since taking over the Red Bird have done amazing seasonal changes to the menu and I am always delighted to experience something new and different. Oh Red Bird, I will see you this summer!
(5)
Craig M.
After trying and loving the pearl, my parents and I decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the red bird. I really could not believe this is the top ranked place to eat in Missoula. The service was poor, the wine list was very limited, and the food was not only disappointing, but borderline disgusting. Picked up fast food on the way home, horrible experience.
(1)
Margaux A.
Red Bird is a very elegant restaurant, I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. The food was excellent, it is a pricier restaurant, but it is worth it, a place to try at least one. It is a smaller restaurant, but still comfortable. Their red wine was really good (I cannot remember the name) and their service was great, very nice people with a great dinning environment. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Missoula and I recommend it to others.
(4)
Nils J.
Based on several recommendations I made reservations for last night for the restaurant. When we checked in they said our reservations were for the wine bar. After having to explain I specifically requested the dining room we were reluctantly seated. My wife ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the bison tenderloin. Mine was very good but my wife's was all fat. It took forever to get the servers attention so we could explain it was inedible. He darted off and we had to track him down to get the check. Won't be going back.....
(1)
Nathan C.
We visited Missoula during the 2010 marathon, and after reading reviews about Red Bird decided to make a point of going there. We made reservations (anticipating a crush of people downtown for the race) and arrived at 8:00. The restaurant was empty except for two other couples, however, the wine bar was quite full. That should've been our first sign that something was amiss. We were seated promptly. The decor in this establishment is borderline depressing. Most of the walls are simply empty, with just an off-white paint. On the wine bar side, the mood is dark, romantic, and mysterious. Our side? Bleak and way too bright. Our server looked bored and seemed uninterested in us. When we mentioned the race and how we'd expected the place to be packed, he rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, saying they'd called in extra help to manage to the crowds. But rather than really going out of his way to take extra great care of the two people he actually had in his section, he pretty much lolled around like he was waiting to go home. The food was just okay. I had a portobello pasta dish and my wife had the sirloin, which per their "we butcher our own mean" spiel was the only cut available. The pasta was very tasty but certainly not worth $30. The sirloin was simply disappointing - tough, with uninspired seasonings. The wines we were offered were mediocre and overpriced. Our total bill, with tip, came to nearly $200, and with the sub-par quality of the food and the less-than-friendly service, we will never go back. Ironically, we visited the Iron Horse the night before, paid around $30, and had wonderful meals and beer, with lightning-fast, friendly service. Our experience there was almost enough to make up for the disappointment we felt about Red Bird.
(2)
Lou G.
Of course I checked Yelp first but this recommendation guided us to the best dinner I've had in a long time. I had the pork dish and my wife had mushroom risotto - both were excellent. Also had a Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah - all very reasonably priced and the service was outstanding. I'd recommend it to anyone with good taste !!!!!
(5)
Hollie B.
The restaurant part of the Red Bird is my annual choice for my birthday meal and I absolutely love it. I've eaten there probably 5 times in the past 6 years, and am always so excited to see the menu as it changes seasonally. I also love the wine bar - the food is excellent, and even if you're not eating, it's a very nice place to enjoy live music on Monday nights and have a glass of wine. Great atmosphere.
(5)
John H.
This is Missoula's finest restaurant. The menu is divine with an option for anybody. Call ahead if you are a vegetarian and the chef will take care of you. Next time I'm in Missoula this will be the first place I go. Be sure to show up a little early and enjoy the nice atmosphere in the wine bar before you sit at your table for dinner.
(5)
Jenna B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant like this in Missoula. This place fits right in to a restaurant in LA. Other than the decor and location, it's on the first floor of an old bank and the setting was very dark, this place wasn't too bad at all. I had the pork chops and it was one of the best prepared pork chops I've ever had- moist and full of flavor. The appetizers were OK, the dessert was wonderful. If I'm ever back in Missoula (highly DOUBTFUL), I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Joseph T.
Fine food, good service. Definitely itching to be a fine dining establishment, and it comes oh so close, but some of the food pairings could use tweaking. I had halibut (standard menu item, not a special) which was perfectly cooked, but covered in a tomato goop. The dish also came with vanilla-roasted potatoes. Yuck. The more or less long menu centers around meat, meat, meat. Even vaguely vegetarian sounding dishes would have an infusion of duck, or some other animal. My vegetarian friend was left choosing a salad which even had an anchovy dressing (which they were able to swap out). There's one eggplant dish that was all vegetarian, but that was all. I'd go back, if invited by someone else who was paying, but I won't be going back under my own power alone.
(3)
Drew B.
This place is arguably the classiest dining establishment in Missoula, along with the Pearl. It serves quality food in a comfortable, tasteful environment. My two complaints are that the portions are quite small and the food is overpriced. If you are looking for a tasty meal and paying with a company credit card, I would highly recommend eating here because you will not be disappointed with the product.
(4)
Padre C.
Went on the recommendations of the yelp reviewers. I was not disappointed. Great marks across the board. The wait staff was exceptional. Food was beautifully presented and tasted great. The restaurant takes great pride in using Montana meats and produce. Extensive wine list....great ones offered by the glass and and nice selection of beers....several on tap from the local breweries. If my daughter decides to attend UM, Red Bird will be a must stop on all of my trips to Missoula.
(5)
Melissa L.
This is one of the places we come for our special nights, birthdays, anniversarys, etc. They have a great menu, true, more to the meat side but delicious! Their bison steak is succulent and melts in your mouth. They have fab salads and quite a nice wine selection. One of our favorites!
(5)
oliver g.
Two word Love IT I mean It is Soho good. We'll I don't go there that much but when i do I love i love it!!! I really like the egg rolls there they're so good oh yeah and so are there burgers and the waiter service is great this is a great place and i highly recommend it this is the place to go.
(5)
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Address :111 N Higgins,Ste 100
Missoula, MT, 59802
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Shannon J.
The Wine Bar is a classy place to start a night on the town or peg as the main event. The atmosphere is excellent both in the lobby and at the bar. My friends and I spent an hour and a half sitting on the lobby couches listening to some local artists and sipping an excellent pino noir, thanks to a wait staff recommendation. This could be a new Friday tradition. Recommend the Champagne Fondue served w/ Bread & Pears. Adding the Bison & Beef is a must.
(5)Jason L.
I love this place. Whether I'm feeling fancy and sitting in the actual restaurant or meeting friends for a casual drink in the wine bar, I'm always pleased by the quality of the food. The menu is constantly changing, extremely well-prepared, mostly local, and just plain delicious. The blend of styles is impressive, and I have yet to try something that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. In addition, they have one of the best beer selections in Missoula. They've got imported bottles that you just can't find anywhere else as well as a few decent drafts. I did have one really awful experience with a waiter there when trying to split a tab (he screwed it up three times and somehow managed to make ME feel like the idiot), but I can't bring myself to drop this review to a 4-star. Every other member of the staff has been outstanding, so that guy must have just been having a (really) bad night.
(5)Ken B.
Missoula has a few very good restaurants. Red Bird, Caffe Dolce, Silk Road & Pearl. We have not been to Sapore yet, so no opinion. But, Red Bird has been consistently top-rate...both the Wine Bar and the Restaurant. We recommend it to anyone who likes fine food and wine.
(5)Ben K.
I love the atmosphere and usually it's decent, but I have gotten sick twice eating seafood along with my wife. If you can avoid that and enjoy drinking wine, red bird is a great place to relax.
(3)Monica P.
I've had meals ranging from 3 starts to five stars...the five stars have always been in the regular dining, not the wine bar. When you get the right thing here they really knock it out of the park. Definitely top 3 for my favorites in Missoula but couldn't give it the full five because of a couple sub-par experiences. Won't stop me from coming back though!
(4)Jillian S.
My husband and I recently ate in the wine bar for the first time in 6 months or so. We had a really disappointing experience at red bird, which is a shame since we've had so many good experiences here. The wine list really leaves something to be desired -- nothing really stands out anymore. It just is. Isn't this a wine bar? We ordered a wine flight that wasn't as advertised (different vintages) and was really unpleasant. My husband ordered the pizza (normally excellent) and was underwhelmed. The crust was under baked, the cheese bland, and the toppings were uninspired and seemingly taken out of a package and slapped onto the pie. We're not fans of having to complain at restaurants. I feel like body language and an uneaten plate of food should be signal enough to the server to indicate something's not right. ours didn't inquire. I ordered a salad that I've ordered several times over the past few years (grilled halloumi cheese). It's a good salad, nothing great, but the non-lettuce components of said salad were lacking compared to previous times I've had it -- if it's called a grilled halloumi cheese salad, said cheese should occupy a little bit more of the plate. Maybe we went on an off night, but the menu could really use an update and a return to inspired dishes is much-needed. In the meantime, if I want a great glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, I'll head to caffe dolce.
(3)Heather P.
I have visited several times, and all experiences have been mediocre. The food is good, and the wine selection is good too. On my last visit I was really disappointed with the knowledge my waitperson had of the wine list, they were unable to answer 2 questions I had
(3)Chris L.
Another fantastic downtown option in Missoula. Can't miss here. I like the quieter aspect of the dining room, as well as the option for hanging out in the wine bar section. I've only been a couple times, but will be going back plenty. My loud-as-hell rock band played their Christmas party (in May) and these people also know how to have a good time. A blast, literally, all around!
(5)Kelly M.
I searched hi and low for a great place to eat in Missoula. Being from Honolulu we are used to numerous 5 star restaurants, therefore I was apprehensive for what I might find in a town with the population 70,000. Red Bird is a pleasant surprise. It's understated and underrated making the entire experience incredible. Tonight I dined on the Bison and twice baked herb potatoes. To say it was anything less than fantastic is an understatement. Our server was none other than Americana band leader extraordinairre, Tom Catmull. We were greeted by people who were beyond friendly, extraordinarily helpful and knew the wine list and menu by heart. It is a small intimate setting, with a great wine bar perfect for happy hour, and a wonderfully cozy setting for a most extraordinary meal. The Bison is amazingly tender well seasoned and better than most rib eyes. The twice baked herbed potatoes need no introduction. Service was excellent, wine list quite good and the menu had something for everyone.
(5)Casey P.
Best overall in Missoula! Have been here over a dozen times on the wine bar side and fine dining side. Compared to other restaurants in Missoula I would give this place the edge based on consistency and good service.
(5)Sarah V.
Loved the ambiance, decor, and service, but the food needs some tweaks. My boyfriend and I visited Red Bird a few weeks ago and were definitely impressed with the restaurant's appearance and with the service we received. However, after we left, we both thought that the flavors needed some work. His bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, but the other items on his plate seemed somewhat bland. I had the "chicken and waffles" appetizer and, although I must say the meat was good, it needed to be seasoned more, and the preserves that came with the dish did not compliment it. That said, the actual pistachio waffles were very good. This place has serious potential if it improved on the flavors...
(3)Amy K.
A great restaurant is a great restaurant, but it becomes something a little more special when you go to a small town and walk out blown away by the caliber of the service and the food. I had asked my shuttle driver for some restaurant recommendations and he asked what I was looking for, so I provided some basic criteria...NO chains, someplace I could grab a good glass of wine, local food, etc... He didn't even pause for a second before stating, "Red Bird." He even drove me past it so I knew where it was (since honestly, it isn't well marked from the exterior). The building's lobby is a bit ornate, reminiscent of it's days as a bank or whatever, but closer to the restaurant it is cozily set-up with some club chairs near a fireplace and the wine bar is dark and well appointed. Since I was traveling on business and by myself, I made myself comfortable at the bar. Their wine selection was impressive for a small town and they were even offering a tasting flight. I wasn't starving so opted for the "cheesecake" which is a savory, cheesy piece of heaven served with toast points. I also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day which was a local mushroom and roasted red pepper. Hands down the best bowl of soup I have had since I don't know when (and I love soup and eat quite a bit of it). I love the fact that they make a lot of their own things in house, including their bread. Red Bird, you've carved a place in my culinary heart. I will see you again when I am in Missoula. Until then....smooches!
(5)Kim T.
Eclectic menu, happening bar, beer & wine only. Excellent meal. Would for sure go back. The waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine which was disappointing but at least it was less expensive than what we ordered.
(5)Jennifer B.
The place started out as a solid 4 or 5, but went downhill.... The ambiance is great - dark little place - very cool light fixtures and decorations - LOVED it. It was a little hard to find - it is hidden inside an office building and you can miss it as there is no exterior signage. The appetizer - champagne cheese fondue - we thought we were going to die it was sooooo good....the waitress recommended getting the grilled bison in addition to the bread and pears to dip - and we were SOO GLAD we did - it was the best - we wished we would asked for double portions of the bison - it made us excited for the entree.... We ordered the mexican vegatable dish and the lamb kabob and sausage. the vegetable dish came with eggplant - which was not mentioned on the menu and would have been a deal breaker...it was not BAD - but just ok. The curry with the lamb kabob was delicious - the sausage was good, but the lamb was a little tough. I had the wine flight with some red blends and one of the wines was bad...but they replaced it no problem...just a hassle. The dessert was the real downer....not a good way to end our meal. We got the berry cobbler and it was like baked jelly with some sort of nutty frozen thing on top - that was supposed to be ice cream - but had the consistency of bleu cheese. very crumbly ... wish they would have put some crumbles on top of the cobbler....the taste was bizarre and the consistency almost made you gag.... When the server noticed that we did not barely touch our dessert - she just took it away without a word - thought she might ask why we dissected it without eating it - but she didnt. They were friendly enough and the food was good enough - but we wish we would have just gotten another of the fondue with bison and we would have left happier....
(3)Deanne J.
I really wondered what I had gotten myself into as I walked in...a dated martini-type bar but no martinis...and country western music playing too loudly. OK, I thought, this IS Montana, so go with the flow... The food turned out to be really awesome (in the Wine Bar, never could locate the actual restaurant as it turned out to close pretty early). I had the pate plate that included cheese and fruit with the crusty bread, and I loved it. My husband opted for a burger, also awesome, with caramelized onion. Wine selection topped it off.
(4)Mary H.
Quiet and pleasantly intimate dining room in remarkable old Art Deco building although one has to go through the dark wine bar to get there. Amazing lists of wines and beers and a couple of wines by the glass were excellent and went well with the food. Impeccable service, with waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, and right there when needed. Food was interesting and very well prepared. Halibut and lobster tail made a great combination although the spaetzle was a bit on the heavy, greasy side. Beet salad delicious with just right amount of gorgonzola, as was a cold corn soup of the day. And, yes, the tray that comes with coffee is almost a dessert in itself, with sweetener, coffee sugar, sugar swizzle, cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc. etc. Didn't think we had room for dessert, but shared peach/ginger sorbet was a perfect choice--light and delicious. Would we return? Absolutely!
(4)Amy B.
Always a memorable dining experience. I rarely finish my meals elsewhere, but I can't stop myself when I come here. Gorgeous plate presentation. I loved the pork chop entree. The staff is excellent and friendly.
(5)Yizhou E.
Had apps and drinks here with some girlfriends. Great place! Had live music that night too. The only thing keeping it from getting full marks is how noisy it can get. They have little insulation so it echoes quite a bit and conversation it difficult.
(4)Linda J.
The restaurant is in a former hotel that was converted into offices and apartments, and it's fun just to enter the building and enjoy the old-time feeling and the stately lobby. The restaurant itself is a very artful use of a windowless space...it's decorated in red and black and has a romantic, cosy feeling (there are no birds, either). The food was very good. We ordered four small plates and a half bottle of wine. The duck pate with pears, toast points, bleu cheese and walnuts was the standout, and the crabcakes were quite good too. The sesame duck pancakes with salad were just okay. Definitely the best place we ate in Missoula.
(4)Sam P.
Just amazing! Since moving away from Missoula 5 years ago, I can not get the Red Bird out of my mind and have found no other to fill the emptiness in my gut! By far, the best food experience in Missoula, great cozy atmosphere and personalized selections with excellent wine pairings. I dream of their Roasted Red Pepper soup, truffled sauces and herb infused creme brule. Jim and Laura, since taking over the Red Bird have done amazing seasonal changes to the menu and I am always delighted to experience something new and different. Oh Red Bird, I will see you this summer!
(5)Margaux A.
Red Bird is a very elegant restaurant, I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. The food was excellent, it is a pricier restaurant, but it is worth it, a place to try at least one. It is a smaller restaurant, but still comfortable. Their red wine was really good (I cannot remember the name) and their service was great, very nice people with a great dinning environment. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Missoula and I recommend it to others.
(4)Nathan C.
We visited Missoula during the 2010 marathon, and after reading reviews about Red Bird decided to make a point of going there. We made reservations (anticipating a crush of people downtown for the race) and arrived at 8:00. The restaurant was empty except for two other couples, however, the wine bar was quite full. That should've been our first sign that something was amiss. We were seated promptly. The decor in this establishment is borderline depressing. Most of the walls are simply empty, with just an off-white paint. On the wine bar side, the mood is dark, romantic, and mysterious. Our side? Bleak and way too bright. Our server looked bored and seemed uninterested in us. When we mentioned the race and how we'd expected the place to be packed, he rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, saying they'd called in extra help to manage to the crowds. But rather than really going out of his way to take extra great care of the two people he actually had in his section, he pretty much lolled around like he was waiting to go home. The food was just okay. I had a portobello pasta dish and my wife had the sirloin, which per their "we butcher our own mean" spiel was the only cut available. The pasta was very tasty but certainly not worth $30. The sirloin was simply disappointing - tough, with uninspired seasonings. The wines we were offered were mediocre and overpriced. Our total bill, with tip, came to nearly $200, and with the sub-par quality of the food and the less-than-friendly service, we will never go back. Ironically, we visited the Iron Horse the night before, paid around $30, and had wonderful meals and beer, with lightning-fast, friendly service. Our experience there was almost enough to make up for the disappointment we felt about Red Bird.
(2)Lou G.
Of course I checked Yelp first but this recommendation guided us to the best dinner I've had in a long time. I had the pork dish and my wife had mushroom risotto - both were excellent. Also had a Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah - all very reasonably priced and the service was outstanding. I'd recommend it to anyone with good taste !!!!!
(5)Hollie B.
The restaurant part of the Red Bird is my annual choice for my birthday meal and I absolutely love it. I've eaten there probably 5 times in the past 6 years, and am always so excited to see the menu as it changes seasonally. I also love the wine bar - the food is excellent, and even if you're not eating, it's a very nice place to enjoy live music on Monday nights and have a glass of wine. Great atmosphere.
(5)John H.
This is Missoula's finest restaurant. The menu is divine with an option for anybody. Call ahead if you are a vegetarian and the chef will take care of you. Next time I'm in Missoula this will be the first place I go. Be sure to show up a little early and enjoy the nice atmosphere in the wine bar before you sit at your table for dinner.
(5)Jenna B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant like this in Missoula. This place fits right in to a restaurant in LA. Other than the decor and location, it's on the first floor of an old bank and the setting was very dark, this place wasn't too bad at all. I had the pork chops and it was one of the best prepared pork chops I've ever had- moist and full of flavor. The appetizers were OK, the dessert was wonderful. If I'm ever back in Missoula (highly DOUBTFUL), I'm definitely going back.
(4)Nils J.
Based on several recommendations I made reservations for last night for the restaurant. When we checked in they said our reservations were for the wine bar. After having to explain I specifically requested the dining room we were reluctantly seated. My wife ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the bison tenderloin. Mine was very good but my wife's was all fat. It took forever to get the servers attention so we could explain it was inedible. He darted off and we had to track him down to get the check. Won't be going back.....
(1)Joseph T.
Fine food, good service. Definitely itching to be a fine dining establishment, and it comes oh so close, but some of the food pairings could use tweaking. I had halibut (standard menu item, not a special) which was perfectly cooked, but covered in a tomato goop. The dish also came with vanilla-roasted potatoes. Yuck. The more or less long menu centers around meat, meat, meat. Even vaguely vegetarian sounding dishes would have an infusion of duck, or some other animal. My vegetarian friend was left choosing a salad which even had an anchovy dressing (which they were able to swap out). There's one eggplant dish that was all vegetarian, but that was all. I'd go back, if invited by someone else who was paying, but I won't be going back under my own power alone.
(3)Drew B.
This place is arguably the classiest dining establishment in Missoula, along with the Pearl. It serves quality food in a comfortable, tasteful environment. My two complaints are that the portions are quite small and the food is overpriced. If you are looking for a tasty meal and paying with a company credit card, I would highly recommend eating here because you will not be disappointed with the product.
(4)Padre C.
Went on the recommendations of the yelp reviewers. I was not disappointed. Great marks across the board. The wait staff was exceptional. Food was beautifully presented and tasted great. The restaurant takes great pride in using Montana meats and produce. Extensive wine list....great ones offered by the glass and and nice selection of beers....several on tap from the local breweries. If my daughter decides to attend UM, Red Bird will be a must stop on all of my trips to Missoula.
(5)Melissa L.
This is one of the places we come for our special nights, birthdays, anniversarys, etc. They have a great menu, true, more to the meat side but delicious! Their bison steak is succulent and melts in your mouth. They have fab salads and quite a nice wine selection. One of our favorites!
(5)oliver g.
Two word Love IT I mean It is Soho good. We'll I don't go there that much but when i do I love i love it!!! I really like the egg rolls there they're so good oh yeah and so are there burgers and the waiter service is great this is a great place and i highly recommend it this is the place to go.
(5)Don C.
Amazing food and service. Get the steak, with the potatoes. And also like their salads. We were with a table of 7 and every plate was unbelievably good. We will definitely be back.
(5)Mandie H.
Dissapointing compared to our last experience. Worth noting is that the dining room is gorgeous; a lovely presence. I could live in the dining room. When we first came a year ago, we were greeted with an amuse-bouche. This time: bread and a tomato, basil, olive oil spread that was good but not an amuse-bouche. We received bread last time as well. That was the first thing that tipped us off to things not flying so well at Red Bird. The second was that our waiter wiped the wine bottle with his finger after he poured!! Um....gross.....a cloth napkin perhaps? Isn't this dining 101? If you forgot your napkin, then just don't wipe, please. But he did it twice!! For a starter, the Pan Seared Scallops....which were slightly underdone. My husband chose a Carrot Bisque which he really liked (a special). I had the Farro Beef Salad which lacked depth and creativity. (Last time I had the Grilled Octopus Salad and it was superb......) The meal did get better from here. I chose Shrimp & Artichokes; intriguing, with Shrimp and Ricotta filled Cannelloni, a Fontina Cheese filled Artichoke (beautiful and well-prepared, but not that good), Pickeled Shrimp (so good, but more of a curried shrimp) sitting in a Shrimp-Artichoke Bisque with roasted Carrots (the carrots were amazing!). My husband had the Grilled New York; Rosemary Rubbed with Potato Pierogie, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Compound Butter, and Grilled Vegetables. He overall enjoyed his main course (despite the somewhat gristly steak), but we are still so upset about the wine bottle finger swipe, lack of amuse-bouche, and the dissapointing scallops and farro beef salad, that giving it any more than three stars for the $130 we paid would not be fair to those coming here after us. There are many more places to try in Missoula before we'll be back.
(3)Katherine G.
Great dark ambiance, although I don't remember music playing. On this Friday night, the place was buzzing, but we walked right in for a late dinner near the bar. The duck pate app was very tasty. I had the scallops on gnocci, which looked to me like polenta...not gnocci, but still very tasty. Great wine selection by the glass. The place wasn't so busy that I couldn't speak with my table mate. I'll look forward to returning.
(4)Chad R.
Absolutely the best food in town!!! Atmosphere was very good, the staff was awesome... The beer was great, you can't go wrong here, the price was outstanding for the food!!!!
(5)Anthony L.
In short. Great wine selection, supper small food portion sized. In long. The atmosphere is very sleek, modern, private, and sophisticated. The beer and wine list is extensive enough to make even the pickiest censurers happy. They food is below average for what one might expect (taste, presentation, and serving size).
(3)Bradley N.
"The Pi-onot Man" It's eight thirty-five on a Monday, An unusual crowd walks to the bar, We've come for some wine and a quick meal. We're hungry and don't want to drive far. He says, "Sir, can I offer you Pinot? For $12, we give quite the pour. They call it St Innocent and they make it in Oregon: Red berry, allspice, forest floor." Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Bring us more wine tonight. Well we're all in the mood for more Pinot The live music has us feeling alright. Casey on the stool is a friend of mine He orders a Crabbie's, not wine. And he's quick with that knife and the pulled pork cuts nice There's no place that he'd rather be. He says, "Brad, I believe this is filling me" As hush puppies disappear from his plate. Well, I'm sure that next week I'll come back here; For wine flights and fine food - I can't wait!" Chirp, chirp, tweet tweet tweetie tweet Tweet tweet, twitter, tweet tweet. Now Marty's a big man on campus Who also had time for a bite And he's talking about Nico who isn't in town, though But my, this St. Innocent drinks nice. And the bartender serves us all pork chops And lamb stew and other delights. Yes, we're sharing three stools at the wine bar! Better here than out in that cold night!! Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Fill up our glasses just right. Because we'll all in the mood for live music And outside, the snow gives us frights. (With apologies to Billy J. Then again, maybe he deserves it.)
(5)Chris K.
Been back a few times since original review, good food, service is good, one of the better places in town
(4)C Marie M.
Five-star service! Bartender had Great selections, and even offered me tastings of different lines before I selected which one I wanted a full glass of. Dessert was great, I had a vanilla tart. Personally, I would've added some lemon zest the dish but I'm not a pastry chef so what do I know?
(5)Louis T.
We are from a suburb outside New York city traveling to Yellowstone and happened upon this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pastrami the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend.
(5)Danny H.
The cheeseburger is tasteful and refined, with the most pleasing condiments you ever tasted! They made all the condiments in their kitchen right there at the restaurant. The decor is done as neatly as can be. The mood: chill and refined. The location is inside an historic hotel-turned-commercial building, a fine lobby and fireplace right outside the red Bird.
(5)Mariah R.
The food was off the charts good and presented really beautifully. I liked the creative dishes on the menu. The ambiance is very classy. Loved the gold wall paper, very "Mad Men". The service was a bit slow and the servers seem to share tables, which seemed a bit strange. We started with one but then another took our dessert order and helped us throughout our dining.
(4)Heather A.
We went here for our five year anniversary, and it was the best food and service I've ever had! Save this for special occasions, it is a bit out of normal price range! We had a quail appetizer, and I had the rabbit ragu for dinner, it was absolutely fantastic! My guy had the lamb, and it was perfect, cooked medium rare just like he asked! We finished off with a chocolate lava cake and beignets, both were excellent! The entire time, service was spectacular, and they really knew their wines, and which would go best with the meal. For two people, appetizer, two meals, and two desserts, it was $140, so not your everyday spot, but well worth it! The worst part is now I'm craving it! :)
(5)Dawn C.
It's the best restaurant in Missoula, and difficult to add to the review after that. Don't get me wrong: Missoula is a foodie town. It's simply that Red Bird is so good, and so consistent, and so...gosh-dang special. You should really stop reading this review and just go there. But in case you need more convincing... I've been a fan of Red Bird since the days where you had to enter the restaurant off the alley, where the only clue as to its existence was a bird cage and a red lamp. Nowadays, I think most diners come in through the chic, art-deco hotel (what's its name again?). So now that I've belabored the ambiance, let's get to the real point of this review which is the FOOD. Did you know that the 'Bird uses all locally raised land-dwelling meats and vegetables? How about this: that the chefs butcher all cuts in-house and make most all of the restaurant's charcuterie? Good ingredients add up to a lot in my book, and the fact that the chefs know what to do with them pushes this place well in to my top 10 restaurants of all time. (Oh, speaking of that...I should make a new list!). The last bit of advice I have for you, Yelpers, is to sit in the restaurant side over the wine bar side. As much as I love the casual ambiance of the wine bar, I want access to the coffee tray, which is only available restaurant-side. If you've not been before, this tray is a dessert in and of itself. Chocolate chips, brown sugar, rock candy swizzle sticks, ... and they'll keep refilling your cup if you make a mistake! Go, mountain-westers. Go, visitors. Get thee to Red Bird.
(5)Adam S.
A cool, chill atmosphere, with great food, and a stand-out beer selection (especially impressive list of sours). I had the lamb special, which had a lamb kebab, house-made lamb sausage, and some veggies. It was delicious, reasonably priced, and our server was fun and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Pierre V.
A great evening. Well thought out menu, with attention to local products. Interesting wine selection ... try the Montana wines.
(4)Cara C.
The beet salad rules. Spring for dessert too...so worth it. They have redone the place and it's gone a totally different direction decor-wise. it's very funky, I miss the old style Bird though. The food...it was better than it was last time I was there. It used to be my favorite place to eat --anywhere--then it lost a bit of its food charm for me. Then it got it back! YAY! It is the perfect special dinner place. A gem in Missoula.
(5)Andrea F.
Oh Red Bird....I used to love you so. First, let me preface this- this review is for the Wine Bar. The restaurant side is wonderful, and has never let us down. But, we used to eat at the wine bar all the time, and so this review is for the wine bar. The Wine Bar was kind of "our place." A nice glass of $5 red, a great pulled pork sandwich- what's not to love? We went there pretty much every week and always left full and happy! But, then some stuff changed. The first time things changed, we went on a Friday. We knew it would be busy and we'd have to wait. But, that is ok because they have a fireplace, and they will let you order wine while you wait out in the lobby area. We went to get on the waiting list, and the normally nice hostess gal was just rude to us. And before we went to wait in the lobby she said "I'm not bringing you wine while you wait, just so you know." Well....that was ok. She must have been busy. But, then, a few minutes later, she came out and was offering to get drinks for the party of two who had gotten on the list AFTER US! Soon, everyone waiting around us in the lobby was with wine and drinks, and we were not. When a party of two that had gotten on the list after us got seated before us, we decided to leave. We didn't come back for a matter of months (and we had usually gone there every single WEEK). So, we came back 4 months later. I guess the chef changed, and the menu changed a little. My favorite sandwich- the pulled pork sandwich, was now gone with another pork sandwich in its place. I was sad, but figured it would force me to try something new. The service was slightly better, but the waiter hardly came and checked on us and brought my husband the wrong beer. Nothing awful, but nothing great. But, let's get to this sandwich. It tasted like a flat, unsalted piece of pork fat. Seriously, it had no flavor. At all. I didn't even want to eat it. And I LOVE PORK. Love it! But unseasoned chunks of pork fat? No thank you. It is nothing comparable to the old pulled pork sandwich. It was flavorless, overpriced, and I could seriously make something better at home. The salad was overdressed....really, just rookie mistakes. Not Wine Bar quality. So, I decided to write a letter. I wrote and explained, in logical and even tones, why I think the Wine Bar experience had gone down a notch. I explained that I was simply taking the time to do this because, as a fellow business owner, I would want to know if something was not up to snuff. I liked their business, wanted to see it do well, and said that if I was noticing this stuff- most likely other folks were too. I received a snotty letter in response. Defensive, not appreciative at all that someone would take the time to tell them about a bad experience, basically just saying that they were happy with stuff so everyone else should be too. Really not a nice tone. I would have rather gotten no response, to be honest. Anyway, at that point, we decided to find a new place as "our place." Kinda sad. We went from spending $50 a week there to nothing at all. I even had my graduation party there. Now I don't want to ever go back. Hope they pick it up or they won't be around much longer!
(2)Emily D.
I have loved the Red Bird since I first went there for a gourmet meal. The food is always good and the wine selection is on par. The wine bar provides diners with a more casual experience than the restaurant and the food comes from the same kitchen; furthermore, the wine bar has a more updated interior design and the atmosphere is sexy and romantic, yet comforting and unpretentious for all types of parties. I have never been disappointed with the food, wine, or experience at the Red Bird and it is a dining experience not to be missed.
(5)Natalie H.
Great wine selection. Food is horrible. Unable to eat an appetizer and sent it back. We were still charged for it. Fondue is the only edible item.
(1)Cookie M.
The Red Bird has excellent food; I am always craving the food. This place could possibly be my favorite restaurant in Missoula.
(5)Chris F.
I have gone to the wine bar pretty regularly throughout the years. Despite having good spatial orientation skills, I have never seen nor am I entirely convinced that the restaurant side actually exists rather than being some mythical place of excellent cuisine. Not that I haven't tried thoroughly exploring the building, either--it's like trying to find Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda. Yep, 27 years later and I still haven't let that one go... Regardless, the wine bar side of the equation has always been my favorite dining location in Missoula for delivering a great atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food. The atmosphere is very intimate with the dark woods and fireplace. Definitely a place where you can impress a date, have a casual relaxing evening with friends, or treat your parents when they are in town (or hopefully have them treat you!). True to Missoula upscale, you can feel just as comfortable coming in your Carhartts as you do in your best suit/dress. The service, in my experience, has always been prompt and attentive regardless of which of these options has brought you in for good eats. The food is consistently impressive. Balanced, rich flavors. Good variety on the menu. Properly sized portions. And as a vegetarian with occasional locavore transgressions, I can appreciate that they source all their meats locally and do any butchering and curing in-house. The duck and pear pate is probably the best thing on the menu, and I'd drive back to Missoula just to satisfy the craving! They are happy to bring extra bread, and the appetizer can be somewhat filling for two or easily make a meal for one. The menu is rounded out by a more than acceptable beer and wine list. Price is definitely on the higher side for Missoula, but more than fair for the dining experience that you get.
(5)Jake N.
Mediocre food and wine selection. Decent beer selection. The quality of the proteins is below average (especially for the price tag) and the dishes are uninspired and outright poorly executed (the pasta was undersauced and the steak was poor quality and overcooked). There are plenty of better places to eat in Missoula.
(2)Lacey C.
Get the fondue and enjoy the wonderful ambiance. Our lovely waitress was also pouring us doubles all night instead of the customary half-glasses of wine. Would definitely go back to toss back some vino with my pals. Twin Peaks fans will feel like they're in the Black Lodge--but in a good way.
(4)Nick H.
Going in, my wife and I were excited for a great night out and we had high expectations for our dinner from our previous experiences at the Red Bird ...unfortunately this time was different. Tell me, how do you eat less than a third of your meal and when the waiter takes it, he doesn't offer to wrap it up to go or even ask how the meal was? I have no idea, but nobody ever asked how our meals were throughout the meal. Maybe they just assumed everything was great because we didn't want to go to the fuss of complaining. If so, they would be wrong. My Seafood Pasta was simply mediocre; I have enjoyed higher quality meals at many restaurants far down the line from the fine dining experience that the Red Bird seems to aspire to. My wife's Mexican vegetarian dish was just plain not good, no getting around that fact (she ended up eating half of my less than stellar entree). The central pieces of the veggie dish were two blechy and sauceless quinoa cakes. Unfortunately the staff and management of the Red Bird wouldn't know this as the service was inattentive and nobody bothered to ask us how our meals were. The one bright spot of this meal was the Insalata Caprese, a very tasty precursor to my entree. Her beet salad was good, though not great. We have had excellent meals at the Red Bird in the past, but this is apparently what you get for $92 plus tip at the Red Bird these days. Weak sauce.
(2)Paige J.
As a local, I frequent the wine bar and the restaurant as well for the last 8 years. I have never had a bad meal. The restaurant is their fine dining and their wine bar is more economical fare and a more festive and bar like atmosphere. I always get the champagne fondue no matter what venue I choose. They do not serve hard liquor, but I really enjoy their wine recommendations and most often get the flight when I go as long as it's not chardonnay.... yeck! The Wine Bar is pretty loud but the restaurant is much more quiet. I can honestly recommend anything they have on the menu. They do a great job with it all.
(5)John M.
Great place. Romantic. Interesting well done cross between disco and art deco décor. Our meals were excellent. The Bison tenderloin was perfectly cooked and dressed. The lobster and halibut plate was flawless. Had some nice conversation with the service staff and they treated us very well. One of the best beer lists I have ever seen and that is coming from someone who lives in Portland. And the wine list had many unique bottles at reasonable prices. The wine bar looked great, too, but did not eat/drink in there. When in Missoula, this is our favorite place!
(5)Daniel F.
We were in town for an art opening at the MAM and picked Red Bird on a whim. Best choice that we could have made. We ate in the main dining room and not the wine bar. The service was exemplary and the food was outstanding; a very flavorful and cooked and presented very well. Even though it was Nov. they tried to use as many local ingredients as possible, which added to both the taste and the "feel good quotient". the dining room was funky yet laid out in a manner that offered each table a sense of intimacy. All in all an excellent experience and we will be back next time we are in Missuoa
(4)Toby V.
Great food. One of my top 5 places to eat in Missoula.
(5)Craig M.
After trying and loving the pearl, my parents and I decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the red bird. I really could not believe this is the top ranked place to eat in Missoula. The service was poor, the wine list was very limited, and the food was not only disappointing, but borderline disgusting. Picked up fast food on the way home, horrible experience.
(1)Leah Catherine B.
Since the remodel, we love going over to the restaurant side...it has a 1920's flair...all done in soothing colors of persimmon & sea foam/aqua...the low lighting sets the scene for a romantic or intimate evening with friends.
(4)Alex C.
My review is for the main restaurant, where I had a very good dinner experience. All appetizers and entrees were excellently prepared. The wine list is fairly large, and has something for everyone in terms of price and variety. Service was friendly and competent. Obviously pricey, but not unreasonable for the quality of ingredients used. I look forward to trying the adjacent wine bar, which apparently serves a more causal menu at a lower price point. It was packed.
(4)Philippe L.
Love the owners. Great food. Downtown. Fast service.
(5)Madison B.
My fiance and I went to the Red Bird last night to celebrate our engagement at the wine bar. When we walked in we were instantly surprised by how dark the room was. It reminded me of a demon bar in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Our eyes adjusted and we found a seat at the bar. Our bartender wasn't overly friendly ( when we said we had just gotten engaged that day he just smiled and nodded at us. I know that's not major, but I would have expected a congratulations or something....haha), but very pleasant. We ordered the champagne fondue (comes with bread and pears) and opted for the offered inclusion of marinated bison and steak. So Good! I'm already pining for more of it. For dinner, I just ordered the cheeseburger with blue cheese. It was amazing. It was honestly the best burger I've had since I moved out of Chicago 5 years ago. It was big (I only could eat half), juicy, cooked exactly to order (which never happens), and smothered in generous amounts of cheese, caramelized onions, and the perfect amount of bacon. Even the damn bun was perfect. We've decided based on how good what simple food we had was and how delicious the meat that came with our fondue was, that we will definitely be coming back to dine in the dining room. Great meal!
(5)Jess C.
Red Bird's great. I've only ever eaten in the wine bar and not the restaurant in back, but it's likely my favorite restaurant in Missoula. Never had a dish I didn't enjoy. Great food, great wine and beer selections, great drinks, and great atmosphere for a classy night out.
(5)Socrates M.
Big difference between wine bar and restaurant, but both are equally deserving of high marks. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - really something would not expect to see in MT. The food matches the ambiance, making it worth the big city prices. The wine bar has a nice vibe and decor - accented, of course, by red. It can get a little loud at times. Beers from around the world and great selection of wine. Good small plates, including a great ahi salad and tuna tartare. I'd say the food quality is a toss-up with Pearl, but the service at Red Bird gives it the edge. Best restaurant in Missoula.
(5)Alan P.
I have a new favorite dining spot in Missoula. The wife & I were looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal without our children. We picked a winner. Everything was simply excellent. I'll start with service. Carl, our server, was super attentive & friendly. He suggested a perfect bottle of wine to pair with our extremely varied entree selections. His presence certainly made the meal more enjoyable. The meal itself was superb. While the flavors were definitely unique, each course was more delicious than the last. I'm not a huge salad lover, but even the salad we chose was to die for. We ate in the restaurant, not the wine bar. I think it was a good choice for us. The wine bar seemed to be a lot of fun with a lively crowd. We sought out something a bit quieter and intimate. The restaurant is very sparsely decorated with well spaced tables that allowed for a very individualized experience. The setting was perfect, as we could focus on each other and our meals. Like I said, we truly loved the entire experience. The Red Bird would certainly be a great date spot or for anyone just looking for a terrific upscale dinner spot in Missoula. Gotta check it out.
(5)Philippe L.
Love the owners. Great food. Downtown. Fast service.
(5)Don C.
Amazing food and service. Get the steak, with the potatoes. And also like their salads. We were with a table of 7 and every plate was unbelievably good. We will definitely be back.
(5)C Marie M.
Five-star service! Bartender had Great selections, and even offered me tastings of different lines before I selected which one I wanted a full glass of. Dessert was great, I had a vanilla tart. Personally, I would've added some lemon zest the dish but I'm not a pastry chef so what do I know?
(5)Louis T.
We are from a suburb outside New York city traveling to Yellowstone and happened upon this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pastrami the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend.
(5)Danny H.
The cheeseburger is tasteful and refined, with the most pleasing condiments you ever tasted! They made all the condiments in their kitchen right there at the restaurant. The decor is done as neatly as can be. The mood: chill and refined. The location is inside an historic hotel-turned-commercial building, a fine lobby and fireplace right outside the red Bird.
(5)Mandie H.
Dissapointing compared to our last experience. Worth noting is that the dining room is gorgeous; a lovely presence. I could live in the dining room. When we first came a year ago, we were greeted with an amuse-bouche. This time: bread and a tomato, basil, olive oil spread that was good but not an amuse-bouche. We received bread last time as well. That was the first thing that tipped us off to things not flying so well at Red Bird. The second was that our waiter wiped the wine bottle with his finger after he poured!! Um....gross.....a cloth napkin perhaps? Isn't this dining 101? If you forgot your napkin, then just don't wipe, please. But he did it twice!! For a starter, the Pan Seared Scallops....which were slightly underdone. My husband chose a Carrot Bisque which he really liked (a special). I had the Farro Beef Salad which lacked depth and creativity. (Last time I had the Grilled Octopus Salad and it was superb......) The meal did get better from here. I chose Shrimp & Artichokes; intriguing, with Shrimp and Ricotta filled Cannelloni, a Fontina Cheese filled Artichoke (beautiful and well-prepared, but not that good), Pickeled Shrimp (so good, but more of a curried shrimp) sitting in a Shrimp-Artichoke Bisque with roasted Carrots (the carrots were amazing!). My husband had the Grilled New York; Rosemary Rubbed with Potato Pierogie, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Compound Butter, and Grilled Vegetables. He overall enjoyed his main course (despite the somewhat gristly steak), but we are still so upset about the wine bottle finger swipe, lack of amuse-bouche, and the dissapointing scallops and farro beef salad, that giving it any more than three stars for the $130 we paid would not be fair to those coming here after us. There are many more places to try in Missoula before we'll be back.
(3)Bradley N.
"The Pi-onot Man" It's eight thirty-five on a Monday, An unusual crowd walks to the bar, We've come for some wine and a quick meal. We're hungry and don't want to drive far. He says, "Sir, can I offer you Pinot? For $12, we give quite the pour. They call it St Innocent and they make it in Oregon: Red berry, allspice, forest floor." Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Bring us more wine tonight. Well we're all in the mood for more Pinot The live music has us feeling alright. Casey on the stool is a friend of mine He orders a Crabbie's, not wine. And he's quick with that knife and the pulled pork cuts nice There's no place that he'd rather be. He says, "Brad, I believe this is filling me" As hush puppies disappear from his plate. Well, I'm sure that next week I'll come back here; For wine flights and fine food - I can't wait!" Chirp, chirp, tweet tweet tweetie tweet Tweet tweet, twitter, tweet tweet. Now Marty's a big man on campus Who also had time for a bite And he's talking about Nico who isn't in town, though But my, this St. Innocent drinks nice. And the bartender serves us all pork chops And lamb stew and other delights. Yes, we're sharing three stools at the wine bar! Better here than out in that cold night!! Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Fill up our glasses just right. Because we'll all in the mood for live music And outside, the snow gives us frights. (With apologies to Billy J. Then again, maybe he deserves it.)
(5)Chris K.
Been back a few times since original review, good food, service is good, one of the better places in town
(4)Mariah R.
The food was off the charts good and presented really beautifully. I liked the creative dishes on the menu. The ambiance is very classy. Loved the gold wall paper, very "Mad Men". The service was a bit slow and the servers seem to share tables, which seemed a bit strange. We started with one but then another took our dessert order and helped us throughout our dining.
(4)Katherine G.
Great dark ambiance, although I don't remember music playing. On this Friday night, the place was buzzing, but we walked right in for a late dinner near the bar. The duck pate app was very tasty. I had the scallops on gnocci, which looked to me like polenta...not gnocci, but still very tasty. Great wine selection by the glass. The place wasn't so busy that I couldn't speak with my table mate. I'll look forward to returning.
(4)Heather A.
We went here for our five year anniversary, and it was the best food and service I've ever had! Save this for special occasions, it is a bit out of normal price range! We had a quail appetizer, and I had the rabbit ragu for dinner, it was absolutely fantastic! My guy had the lamb, and it was perfect, cooked medium rare just like he asked! We finished off with a chocolate lava cake and beignets, both were excellent! The entire time, service was spectacular, and they really knew their wines, and which would go best with the meal. For two people, appetizer, two meals, and two desserts, it was $140, so not your everyday spot, but well worth it! The worst part is now I'm craving it! :)
(5)Dawn C.
It's the best restaurant in Missoula, and difficult to add to the review after that. Don't get me wrong: Missoula is a foodie town. It's simply that Red Bird is so good, and so consistent, and so...gosh-dang special. You should really stop reading this review and just go there. But in case you need more convincing... I've been a fan of Red Bird since the days where you had to enter the restaurant off the alley, where the only clue as to its existence was a bird cage and a red lamp. Nowadays, I think most diners come in through the chic, art-deco hotel (what's its name again?). So now that I've belabored the ambiance, let's get to the real point of this review which is the FOOD. Did you know that the 'Bird uses all locally raised land-dwelling meats and vegetables? How about this: that the chefs butcher all cuts in-house and make most all of the restaurant's charcuterie? Good ingredients add up to a lot in my book, and the fact that the chefs know what to do with them pushes this place well in to my top 10 restaurants of all time. (Oh, speaking of that...I should make a new list!). The last bit of advice I have for you, Yelpers, is to sit in the restaurant side over the wine bar side. As much as I love the casual ambiance of the wine bar, I want access to the coffee tray, which is only available restaurant-side. If you've not been before, this tray is a dessert in and of itself. Chocolate chips, brown sugar, rock candy swizzle sticks, ... and they'll keep refilling your cup if you make a mistake! Go, mountain-westers. Go, visitors. Get thee to Red Bird.
(5)Adam S.
A cool, chill atmosphere, with great food, and a stand-out beer selection (especially impressive list of sours). I had the lamb special, which had a lamb kebab, house-made lamb sausage, and some veggies. It was delicious, reasonably priced, and our server was fun and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Pierre V.
A great evening. Well thought out menu, with attention to local products. Interesting wine selection ... try the Montana wines.
(4)Cara C.
The beet salad rules. Spring for dessert too...so worth it. They have redone the place and it's gone a totally different direction decor-wise. it's very funky, I miss the old style Bird though. The food...it was better than it was last time I was there. It used to be my favorite place to eat --anywhere--then it lost a bit of its food charm for me. Then it got it back! YAY! It is the perfect special dinner place. A gem in Missoula.
(5)Chad R.
Absolutely the best food in town!!! Atmosphere was very good, the staff was awesome... The beer was great, you can't go wrong here, the price was outstanding for the food!!!!
(5)Anthony L.
In short. Great wine selection, supper small food portion sized. In long. The atmosphere is very sleek, modern, private, and sophisticated. The beer and wine list is extensive enough to make even the pickiest censurers happy. They food is below average for what one might expect (taste, presentation, and serving size).
(3)Natalie H.
Great wine selection. Food is horrible. Unable to eat an appetizer and sent it back. We were still charged for it. Fondue is the only edible item.
(1)Cookie M.
The Red Bird has excellent food; I am always craving the food. This place could possibly be my favorite restaurant in Missoula.
(5)John M.
Great place. Romantic. Interesting well done cross between disco and art deco décor. Our meals were excellent. The Bison tenderloin was perfectly cooked and dressed. The lobster and halibut plate was flawless. Had some nice conversation with the service staff and they treated us very well. One of the best beer lists I have ever seen and that is coming from someone who lives in Portland. And the wine list had many unique bottles at reasonable prices. The wine bar looked great, too, but did not eat/drink in there. When in Missoula, this is our favorite place!
(5)Chris L.
Another fantastic downtown option in Missoula. Can't miss here. I like the quieter aspect of the dining room, as well as the option for hanging out in the wine bar section. I've only been a couple times, but will be going back plenty. My loud-as-hell rock band played their Christmas party (in May) and these people also know how to have a good time. A blast, literally, all around!
(5)Chris F.
I have gone to the wine bar pretty regularly throughout the years. Despite having good spatial orientation skills, I have never seen nor am I entirely convinced that the restaurant side actually exists rather than being some mythical place of excellent cuisine. Not that I haven't tried thoroughly exploring the building, either--it's like trying to find Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda. Yep, 27 years later and I still haven't let that one go... Regardless, the wine bar side of the equation has always been my favorite dining location in Missoula for delivering a great atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food. The atmosphere is very intimate with the dark woods and fireplace. Definitely a place where you can impress a date, have a casual relaxing evening with friends, or treat your parents when they are in town (or hopefully have them treat you!). True to Missoula upscale, you can feel just as comfortable coming in your Carhartts as you do in your best suit/dress. The service, in my experience, has always been prompt and attentive regardless of which of these options has brought you in for good eats. The food is consistently impressive. Balanced, rich flavors. Good variety on the menu. Properly sized portions. And as a vegetarian with occasional locavore transgressions, I can appreciate that they source all their meats locally and do any butchering and curing in-house. The duck and pear pate is probably the best thing on the menu, and I'd drive back to Missoula just to satisfy the craving! They are happy to bring extra bread, and the appetizer can be somewhat filling for two or easily make a meal for one. The menu is rounded out by a more than acceptable beer and wine list. Price is definitely on the higher side for Missoula, but more than fair for the dining experience that you get.
(5)Jake N.
Mediocre food and wine selection. Decent beer selection. The quality of the proteins is below average (especially for the price tag) and the dishes are uninspired and outright poorly executed (the pasta was undersauced and the steak was poor quality and overcooked). There are plenty of better places to eat in Missoula.
(2)Lacey C.
Get the fondue and enjoy the wonderful ambiance. Our lovely waitress was also pouring us doubles all night instead of the customary half-glasses of wine. Would definitely go back to toss back some vino with my pals. Twin Peaks fans will feel like they're in the Black Lodge--but in a good way.
(4)Paige J.
As a local, I frequent the wine bar and the restaurant as well for the last 8 years. I have never had a bad meal. The restaurant is their fine dining and their wine bar is more economical fare and a more festive and bar like atmosphere. I always get the champagne fondue no matter what venue I choose. They do not serve hard liquor, but I really enjoy their wine recommendations and most often get the flight when I go as long as it's not chardonnay.... yeck! The Wine Bar is pretty loud but the restaurant is much more quiet. I can honestly recommend anything they have on the menu. They do a great job with it all.
(5)Andrea F.
Oh Red Bird....I used to love you so. First, let me preface this- this review is for the Wine Bar. The restaurant side is wonderful, and has never let us down. But, we used to eat at the wine bar all the time, and so this review is for the wine bar. The Wine Bar was kind of "our place." A nice glass of $5 red, a great pulled pork sandwich- what's not to love? We went there pretty much every week and always left full and happy! But, then some stuff changed. The first time things changed, we went on a Friday. We knew it would be busy and we'd have to wait. But, that is ok because they have a fireplace, and they will let you order wine while you wait out in the lobby area. We went to get on the waiting list, and the normally nice hostess gal was just rude to us. And before we went to wait in the lobby she said "I'm not bringing you wine while you wait, just so you know." Well....that was ok. She must have been busy. But, then, a few minutes later, she came out and was offering to get drinks for the party of two who had gotten on the list AFTER US! Soon, everyone waiting around us in the lobby was with wine and drinks, and we were not. When a party of two that had gotten on the list after us got seated before us, we decided to leave. We didn't come back for a matter of months (and we had usually gone there every single WEEK). So, we came back 4 months later. I guess the chef changed, and the menu changed a little. My favorite sandwich- the pulled pork sandwich, was now gone with another pork sandwich in its place. I was sad, but figured it would force me to try something new. The service was slightly better, but the waiter hardly came and checked on us and brought my husband the wrong beer. Nothing awful, but nothing great. But, let's get to this sandwich. It tasted like a flat, unsalted piece of pork fat. Seriously, it had no flavor. At all. I didn't even want to eat it. And I LOVE PORK. Love it! But unseasoned chunks of pork fat? No thank you. It is nothing comparable to the old pulled pork sandwich. It was flavorless, overpriced, and I could seriously make something better at home. The salad was overdressed....really, just rookie mistakes. Not Wine Bar quality. So, I decided to write a letter. I wrote and explained, in logical and even tones, why I think the Wine Bar experience had gone down a notch. I explained that I was simply taking the time to do this because, as a fellow business owner, I would want to know if something was not up to snuff. I liked their business, wanted to see it do well, and said that if I was noticing this stuff- most likely other folks were too. I received a snotty letter in response. Defensive, not appreciative at all that someone would take the time to tell them about a bad experience, basically just saying that they were happy with stuff so everyone else should be too. Really not a nice tone. I would have rather gotten no response, to be honest. Anyway, at that point, we decided to find a new place as "our place." Kinda sad. We went from spending $50 a week there to nothing at all. I even had my graduation party there. Now I don't want to ever go back. Hope they pick it up or they won't be around much longer!
(2)Emily D.
I have loved the Red Bird since I first went there for a gourmet meal. The food is always good and the wine selection is on par. The wine bar provides diners with a more casual experience than the restaurant and the food comes from the same kitchen; furthermore, the wine bar has a more updated interior design and the atmosphere is sexy and romantic, yet comforting and unpretentious for all types of parties. I have never been disappointed with the food, wine, or experience at the Red Bird and it is a dining experience not to be missed.
(5)Nick H.
Going in, my wife and I were excited for a great night out and we had high expectations for our dinner from our previous experiences at the Red Bird ...unfortunately this time was different. Tell me, how do you eat less than a third of your meal and when the waiter takes it, he doesn't offer to wrap it up to go or even ask how the meal was? I have no idea, but nobody ever asked how our meals were throughout the meal. Maybe they just assumed everything was great because we didn't want to go to the fuss of complaining. If so, they would be wrong. My Seafood Pasta was simply mediocre; I have enjoyed higher quality meals at many restaurants far down the line from the fine dining experience that the Red Bird seems to aspire to. My wife's Mexican vegetarian dish was just plain not good, no getting around that fact (she ended up eating half of my less than stellar entree). The central pieces of the veggie dish were two blechy and sauceless quinoa cakes. Unfortunately the staff and management of the Red Bird wouldn't know this as the service was inattentive and nobody bothered to ask us how our meals were. The one bright spot of this meal was the Insalata Caprese, a very tasty precursor to my entree. Her beet salad was good, though not great. We have had excellent meals at the Red Bird in the past, but this is apparently what you get for $92 plus tip at the Red Bird these days. Weak sauce.
(2)Jillian S.
My husband and I recently ate in the wine bar for the first time in 6 months or so. We had a really disappointing experience at red bird, which is a shame since we've had so many good experiences here. The wine list really leaves something to be desired -- nothing really stands out anymore. It just is. Isn't this a wine bar? We ordered a wine flight that wasn't as advertised (different vintages) and was really unpleasant. My husband ordered the pizza (normally excellent) and was underwhelmed. The crust was under baked, the cheese bland, and the toppings were uninspired and seemingly taken out of a package and slapped onto the pie. We're not fans of having to complain at restaurants. I feel like body language and an uneaten plate of food should be signal enough to the server to indicate something's not right. ours didn't inquire. I ordered a salad that I've ordered several times over the past few years (grilled halloumi cheese). It's a good salad, nothing great, but the non-lettuce components of said salad were lacking compared to previous times I've had it -- if it's called a grilled halloumi cheese salad, said cheese should occupy a little bit more of the plate. Maybe we went on an off night, but the menu could really use an update and a return to inspired dishes is much-needed. In the meantime, if I want a great glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, I'll head to caffe dolce.
(3)Heather P.
I have visited several times, and all experiences have been mediocre. The food is good, and the wine selection is good too. On my last visit I was really disappointed with the knowledge my waitperson had of the wine list, they were unable to answer 2 questions I had
(3)Daniel F.
We were in town for an art opening at the MAM and picked Red Bird on a whim. Best choice that we could have made. We ate in the main dining room and not the wine bar. The service was exemplary and the food was outstanding; a very flavorful and cooked and presented very well. Even though it was Nov. they tried to use as many local ingredients as possible, which added to both the taste and the "feel good quotient". the dining room was funky yet laid out in a manner that offered each table a sense of intimacy. All in all an excellent experience and we will be back next time we are in Missuoa
(4)Ben K.
I love the atmosphere and usually it's decent, but I have gotten sick twice eating seafood along with my wife. If you can avoid that and enjoy drinking wine, red bird is a great place to relax.
(3)Monica P.
I've had meals ranging from 3 starts to five stars...the five stars have always been in the regular dining, not the wine bar. When you get the right thing here they really knock it out of the park. Definitely top 3 for my favorites in Missoula but couldn't give it the full five because of a couple sub-par experiences. Won't stop me from coming back though!
(4)Kelly M.
I searched hi and low for a great place to eat in Missoula. Being from Honolulu we are used to numerous 5 star restaurants, therefore I was apprehensive for what I might find in a town with the population 70,000. Red Bird is a pleasant surprise. It's understated and underrated making the entire experience incredible. Tonight I dined on the Bison and twice baked herb potatoes. To say it was anything less than fantastic is an understatement. Our server was none other than Americana band leader extraordinairre, Tom Catmull. We were greeted by people who were beyond friendly, extraordinarily helpful and knew the wine list and menu by heart. It is a small intimate setting, with a great wine bar perfect for happy hour, and a wonderfully cozy setting for a most extraordinary meal. The Bison is amazingly tender well seasoned and better than most rib eyes. The twice baked herbed potatoes need no introduction. Service was excellent, wine list quite good and the menu had something for everyone.
(5)Casey P.
Best overall in Missoula! Have been here over a dozen times on the wine bar side and fine dining side. Compared to other restaurants in Missoula I would give this place the edge based on consistency and good service.
(5)Leah Catherine B.
Since the remodel, we love going over to the restaurant side...it has a 1920's flair...all done in soothing colors of persimmon & sea foam/aqua...the low lighting sets the scene for a romantic or intimate evening with friends.
(4)Alex C.
My review is for the main restaurant, where I had a very good dinner experience. All appetizers and entrees were excellently prepared. The wine list is fairly large, and has something for everyone in terms of price and variety. Service was friendly and competent. Obviously pricey, but not unreasonable for the quality of ingredients used. I look forward to trying the adjacent wine bar, which apparently serves a more causal menu at a lower price point. It was packed.
(4)Sarah V.
Loved the ambiance, decor, and service, but the food needs some tweaks. My boyfriend and I visited Red Bird a few weeks ago and were definitely impressed with the restaurant's appearance and with the service we received. However, after we left, we both thought that the flavors needed some work. His bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, but the other items on his plate seemed somewhat bland. I had the "chicken and waffles" appetizer and, although I must say the meat was good, it needed to be seasoned more, and the preserves that came with the dish did not compliment it. That said, the actual pistachio waffles were very good. This place has serious potential if it improved on the flavors...
(3)Amy K.
A great restaurant is a great restaurant, but it becomes something a little more special when you go to a small town and walk out blown away by the caliber of the service and the food. I had asked my shuttle driver for some restaurant recommendations and he asked what I was looking for, so I provided some basic criteria...NO chains, someplace I could grab a good glass of wine, local food, etc... He didn't even pause for a second before stating, "Red Bird." He even drove me past it so I knew where it was (since honestly, it isn't well marked from the exterior). The building's lobby is a bit ornate, reminiscent of it's days as a bank or whatever, but closer to the restaurant it is cozily set-up with some club chairs near a fireplace and the wine bar is dark and well appointed. Since I was traveling on business and by myself, I made myself comfortable at the bar. Their wine selection was impressive for a small town and they were even offering a tasting flight. I wasn't starving so opted for the "cheesecake" which is a savory, cheesy piece of heaven served with toast points. I also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day which was a local mushroom and roasted red pepper. Hands down the best bowl of soup I have had since I don't know when (and I love soup and eat quite a bit of it). I love the fact that they make a lot of their own things in house, including their bread. Red Bird, you've carved a place in my culinary heart. I will see you again when I am in Missoula. Until then....smooches!
(5)Kim T.
Eclectic menu, happening bar, beer & wine only. Excellent meal. Would for sure go back. The waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine which was disappointing but at least it was less expensive than what we ordered.
(5)Shannon J.
The Wine Bar is a classy place to start a night on the town or peg as the main event. The atmosphere is excellent both in the lobby and at the bar. My friends and I spent an hour and a half sitting on the lobby couches listening to some local artists and sipping an excellent pino noir, thanks to a wait staff recommendation. This could be a new Friday tradition. Recommend the Champagne Fondue served w/ Bread & Pears. Adding the Bison & Beef is a must.
(5)Jason L.
I love this place. Whether I'm feeling fancy and sitting in the actual restaurant or meeting friends for a casual drink in the wine bar, I'm always pleased by the quality of the food. The menu is constantly changing, extremely well-prepared, mostly local, and just plain delicious. The blend of styles is impressive, and I have yet to try something that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. In addition, they have one of the best beer selections in Missoula. They've got imported bottles that you just can't find anywhere else as well as a few decent drafts. I did have one really awful experience with a waiter there when trying to split a tab (he screwed it up three times and somehow managed to make ME feel like the idiot), but I can't bring myself to drop this review to a 4-star. Every other member of the staff has been outstanding, so that guy must have just been having a (really) bad night.
(5)Jennifer B.
The place started out as a solid 4 or 5, but went downhill.... The ambiance is great - dark little place - very cool light fixtures and decorations - LOVED it. It was a little hard to find - it is hidden inside an office building and you can miss it as there is no exterior signage. The appetizer - champagne cheese fondue - we thought we were going to die it was sooooo good....the waitress recommended getting the grilled bison in addition to the bread and pears to dip - and we were SOO GLAD we did - it was the best - we wished we would asked for double portions of the bison - it made us excited for the entree.... We ordered the mexican vegatable dish and the lamb kabob and sausage. the vegetable dish came with eggplant - which was not mentioned on the menu and would have been a deal breaker...it was not BAD - but just ok. The curry with the lamb kabob was delicious - the sausage was good, but the lamb was a little tough. I had the wine flight with some red blends and one of the wines was bad...but they replaced it no problem...just a hassle. The dessert was the real downer....not a good way to end our meal. We got the berry cobbler and it was like baked jelly with some sort of nutty frozen thing on top - that was supposed to be ice cream - but had the consistency of bleu cheese. very crumbly ... wish they would have put some crumbles on top of the cobbler....the taste was bizarre and the consistency almost made you gag.... When the server noticed that we did not barely touch our dessert - she just took it away without a word - thought she might ask why we dissected it without eating it - but she didnt. They were friendly enough and the food was good enough - but we wish we would have just gotten another of the fondue with bison and we would have left happier....
(3)Deanne J.
I really wondered what I had gotten myself into as I walked in...a dated martini-type bar but no martinis...and country western music playing too loudly. OK, I thought, this IS Montana, so go with the flow... The food turned out to be really awesome (in the Wine Bar, never could locate the actual restaurant as it turned out to close pretty early). I had the pate plate that included cheese and fruit with the crusty bread, and I loved it. My husband opted for a burger, also awesome, with caramelized onion. Wine selection topped it off.
(4)Mary H.
Quiet and pleasantly intimate dining room in remarkable old Art Deco building although one has to go through the dark wine bar to get there. Amazing lists of wines and beers and a couple of wines by the glass were excellent and went well with the food. Impeccable service, with waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, and right there when needed. Food was interesting and very well prepared. Halibut and lobster tail made a great combination although the spaetzle was a bit on the heavy, greasy side. Beet salad delicious with just right amount of gorgonzola, as was a cold corn soup of the day. And, yes, the tray that comes with coffee is almost a dessert in itself, with sweetener, coffee sugar, sugar swizzle, cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc. etc. Didn't think we had room for dessert, but shared peach/ginger sorbet was a perfect choice--light and delicious. Would we return? Absolutely!
(4)Ken B.
Missoula has a few very good restaurants. Red Bird, Caffe Dolce, Silk Road & Pearl. We have not been to Sapore yet, so no opinion. But, Red Bird has been consistently top-rate...both the Wine Bar and the Restaurant. We recommend it to anyone who likes fine food and wine.
(5)Madison B.
My fiance and I went to the Red Bird last night to celebrate our engagement at the wine bar. When we walked in we were instantly surprised by how dark the room was. It reminded me of a demon bar in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Our eyes adjusted and we found a seat at the bar. Our bartender wasn't overly friendly ( when we said we had just gotten engaged that day he just smiled and nodded at us. I know that's not major, but I would have expected a congratulations or something....haha), but very pleasant. We ordered the champagne fondue (comes with bread and pears) and opted for the offered inclusion of marinated bison and steak. So Good! I'm already pining for more of it. For dinner, I just ordered the cheeseburger with blue cheese. It was amazing. It was honestly the best burger I've had since I moved out of Chicago 5 years ago. It was big (I only could eat half), juicy, cooked exactly to order (which never happens), and smothered in generous amounts of cheese, caramelized onions, and the perfect amount of bacon. Even the damn bun was perfect. We've decided based on how good what simple food we had was and how delicious the meat that came with our fondue was, that we will definitely be coming back to dine in the dining room. Great meal!
(5)Jess C.
Red Bird's great. I've only ever eaten in the wine bar and not the restaurant in back, but it's likely my favorite restaurant in Missoula. Never had a dish I didn't enjoy. Great food, great wine and beer selections, great drinks, and great atmosphere for a classy night out.
(5)Socrates M.
Big difference between wine bar and restaurant, but both are equally deserving of high marks. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - really something would not expect to see in MT. The food matches the ambiance, making it worth the big city prices. The wine bar has a nice vibe and decor - accented, of course, by red. It can get a little loud at times. Beers from around the world and great selection of wine. Good small plates, including a great ahi salad and tuna tartare. I'd say the food quality is a toss-up with Pearl, but the service at Red Bird gives it the edge. Best restaurant in Missoula.
(5)Alan P.
I have a new favorite dining spot in Missoula. The wife & I were looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal without our children. We picked a winner. Everything was simply excellent. I'll start with service. Carl, our server, was super attentive & friendly. He suggested a perfect bottle of wine to pair with our extremely varied entree selections. His presence certainly made the meal more enjoyable. The meal itself was superb. While the flavors were definitely unique, each course was more delicious than the last. I'm not a huge salad lover, but even the salad we chose was to die for. We ate in the restaurant, not the wine bar. I think it was a good choice for us. The wine bar seemed to be a lot of fun with a lively crowd. We sought out something a bit quieter and intimate. The restaurant is very sparsely decorated with well spaced tables that allowed for a very individualized experience. The setting was perfect, as we could focus on each other and our meals. Like I said, we truly loved the entire experience. The Red Bird would certainly be a great date spot or for anyone just looking for a terrific upscale dinner spot in Missoula. Gotta check it out.
(5)Toby V.
Great food. One of my top 5 places to eat in Missoula.
(5)Amy B.
Always a memorable dining experience. I rarely finish my meals elsewhere, but I can't stop myself when I come here. Gorgeous plate presentation. I loved the pork chop entree. The staff is excellent and friendly.
(5)Yizhou E.
Had apps and drinks here with some girlfriends. Great place! Had live music that night too. The only thing keeping it from getting full marks is how noisy it can get. They have little insulation so it echoes quite a bit and conversation it difficult.
(4)Linda J.
The restaurant is in a former hotel that was converted into offices and apartments, and it's fun just to enter the building and enjoy the old-time feeling and the stately lobby. The restaurant itself is a very artful use of a windowless space...it's decorated in red and black and has a romantic, cosy feeling (there are no birds, either). The food was very good. We ordered four small plates and a half bottle of wine. The duck pate with pears, toast points, bleu cheese and walnuts was the standout, and the crabcakes were quite good too. The sesame duck pancakes with salad were just okay. Definitely the best place we ate in Missoula.
(4)Sam P.
Just amazing! Since moving away from Missoula 5 years ago, I can not get the Red Bird out of my mind and have found no other to fill the emptiness in my gut! By far, the best food experience in Missoula, great cozy atmosphere and personalized selections with excellent wine pairings. I dream of their Roasted Red Pepper soup, truffled sauces and herb infused creme brule. Jim and Laura, since taking over the Red Bird have done amazing seasonal changes to the menu and I am always delighted to experience something new and different. Oh Red Bird, I will see you this summer!
(5)Craig M.
After trying and loving the pearl, my parents and I decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the red bird. I really could not believe this is the top ranked place to eat in Missoula. The service was poor, the wine list was very limited, and the food was not only disappointing, but borderline disgusting. Picked up fast food on the way home, horrible experience.
(1)Margaux A.
Red Bird is a very elegant restaurant, I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. The food was excellent, it is a pricier restaurant, but it is worth it, a place to try at least one. It is a smaller restaurant, but still comfortable. Their red wine was really good (I cannot remember the name) and their service was great, very nice people with a great dinning environment. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Missoula and I recommend it to others.
(4)Nils J.
Based on several recommendations I made reservations for last night for the restaurant. When we checked in they said our reservations were for the wine bar. After having to explain I specifically requested the dining room we were reluctantly seated. My wife ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the bison tenderloin. Mine was very good but my wife's was all fat. It took forever to get the servers attention so we could explain it was inedible. He darted off and we had to track him down to get the check. Won't be going back.....
(1)Jenna B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant like this in Missoula. This place fits right in to a restaurant in LA. Other than the decor and location, it's on the first floor of an old bank and the setting was very dark, this place wasn't too bad at all. I had the pork chops and it was one of the best prepared pork chops I've ever had- moist and full of flavor. The appetizers were OK, the dessert was wonderful. If I'm ever back in Missoula (highly DOUBTFUL), I'm definitely going back.
(4)Nathan C.
We visited Missoula during the 2010 marathon, and after reading reviews about Red Bird decided to make a point of going there. We made reservations (anticipating a crush of people downtown for the race) and arrived at 8:00. The restaurant was empty except for two other couples, however, the wine bar was quite full. That should've been our first sign that something was amiss. We were seated promptly. The decor in this establishment is borderline depressing. Most of the walls are simply empty, with just an off-white paint. On the wine bar side, the mood is dark, romantic, and mysterious. Our side? Bleak and way too bright. Our server looked bored and seemed uninterested in us. When we mentioned the race and how we'd expected the place to be packed, he rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, saying they'd called in extra help to manage to the crowds. But rather than really going out of his way to take extra great care of the two people he actually had in his section, he pretty much lolled around like he was waiting to go home. The food was just okay. I had a portobello pasta dish and my wife had the sirloin, which per their "we butcher our own mean" spiel was the only cut available. The pasta was very tasty but certainly not worth $30. The sirloin was simply disappointing - tough, with uninspired seasonings. The wines we were offered were mediocre and overpriced. Our total bill, with tip, came to nearly $200, and with the sub-par quality of the food and the less-than-friendly service, we will never go back. Ironically, we visited the Iron Horse the night before, paid around $30, and had wonderful meals and beer, with lightning-fast, friendly service. Our experience there was almost enough to make up for the disappointment we felt about Red Bird.
(2)Lou G.
Of course I checked Yelp first but this recommendation guided us to the best dinner I've had in a long time. I had the pork dish and my wife had mushroom risotto - both were excellent. Also had a Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah - all very reasonably priced and the service was outstanding. I'd recommend it to anyone with good taste !!!!!
(5)Hollie B.
The restaurant part of the Red Bird is my annual choice for my birthday meal and I absolutely love it. I've eaten there probably 5 times in the past 6 years, and am always so excited to see the menu as it changes seasonally. I also love the wine bar - the food is excellent, and even if you're not eating, it's a very nice place to enjoy live music on Monday nights and have a glass of wine. Great atmosphere.
(5)John H.
This is Missoula's finest restaurant. The menu is divine with an option for anybody. Call ahead if you are a vegetarian and the chef will take care of you. Next time I'm in Missoula this will be the first place I go. Be sure to show up a little early and enjoy the nice atmosphere in the wine bar before you sit at your table for dinner.
(5)Joseph T.
Fine food, good service. Definitely itching to be a fine dining establishment, and it comes oh so close, but some of the food pairings could use tweaking. I had halibut (standard menu item, not a special) which was perfectly cooked, but covered in a tomato goop. The dish also came with vanilla-roasted potatoes. Yuck. The more or less long menu centers around meat, meat, meat. Even vaguely vegetarian sounding dishes would have an infusion of duck, or some other animal. My vegetarian friend was left choosing a salad which even had an anchovy dressing (which they were able to swap out). There's one eggplant dish that was all vegetarian, but that was all. I'd go back, if invited by someone else who was paying, but I won't be going back under my own power alone.
(3)Drew B.
This place is arguably the classiest dining establishment in Missoula, along with the Pearl. It serves quality food in a comfortable, tasteful environment. My two complaints are that the portions are quite small and the food is overpriced. If you are looking for a tasty meal and paying with a company credit card, I would highly recommend eating here because you will not be disappointed with the product.
(4)Padre C.
Went on the recommendations of the yelp reviewers. I was not disappointed. Great marks across the board. The wait staff was exceptional. Food was beautifully presented and tasted great. The restaurant takes great pride in using Montana meats and produce. Extensive wine list....great ones offered by the glass and and nice selection of beers....several on tap from the local breweries. If my daughter decides to attend UM, Red Bird will be a must stop on all of my trips to Missoula.
(5)Melissa L.
This is one of the places we come for our special nights, birthdays, anniversarys, etc. They have a great menu, true, more to the meat side but delicious! Their bison steak is succulent and melts in your mouth. They have fab salads and quite a nice wine selection. One of our favorites!
(5)oliver g.
Two word Love IT I mean It is Soho good. We'll I don't go there that much but when i do I love i love it!!! I really like the egg rolls there they're so good oh yeah and so are there burgers and the waiter service is great this is a great place and i highly recommend it this is the place to go.
(5)Amy B.
Always a memorable dining experience. I rarely finish my meals elsewhere, but I can't stop myself when I come here. Gorgeous plate presentation. I loved the pork chop entree. The staff is excellent and friendly.
(5)Don C.
Amazing food and service. Get the steak, with the potatoes. And also like their salads. We were with a table of 7 and every plate was unbelievably good. We will definitely be back.
(5)C Marie M.
Five-star service! Bartender had Great selections, and even offered me tastings of different lines before I selected which one I wanted a full glass of. Dessert was great, I had a vanilla tart. Personally, I would've added some lemon zest the dish but I'm not a pastry chef so what do I know?
(5)Louis T.
We are from a suburb outside New York city traveling to Yellowstone and happened upon this restaurant. The food is fantastic and the pastrami the best I have ever eaten. I highly recommend.
(5)Danny H.
The cheeseburger is tasteful and refined, with the most pleasing condiments you ever tasted! They made all the condiments in their kitchen right there at the restaurant. The decor is done as neatly as can be. The mood: chill and refined. The location is inside an historic hotel-turned-commercial building, a fine lobby and fireplace right outside the red Bird.
(5)Toby V.
Great food. One of my top 5 places to eat in Missoula.
(5)Mariah R.
The food was off the charts good and presented really beautifully. I liked the creative dishes on the menu. The ambiance is very classy. Loved the gold wall paper, very "Mad Men". The service was a bit slow and the servers seem to share tables, which seemed a bit strange. We started with one but then another took our dessert order and helped us throughout our dining.
(4)Katherine G.
Great dark ambiance, although I don't remember music playing. On this Friday night, the place was buzzing, but we walked right in for a late dinner near the bar. The duck pate app was very tasty. I had the scallops on gnocci, which looked to me like polenta...not gnocci, but still very tasty. Great wine selection by the glass. The place wasn't so busy that I couldn't speak with my table mate. I'll look forward to returning.
(4)Mandie H.
Dissapointing compared to our last experience. Worth noting is that the dining room is gorgeous; a lovely presence. I could live in the dining room. When we first came a year ago, we were greeted with an amuse-bouche. This time: bread and a tomato, basil, olive oil spread that was good but not an amuse-bouche. We received bread last time as well. That was the first thing that tipped us off to things not flying so well at Red Bird. The second was that our waiter wiped the wine bottle with his finger after he poured!! Um....gross.....a cloth napkin perhaps? Isn't this dining 101? If you forgot your napkin, then just don't wipe, please. But he did it twice!! For a starter, the Pan Seared Scallops....which were slightly underdone. My husband chose a Carrot Bisque which he really liked (a special). I had the Farro Beef Salad which lacked depth and creativity. (Last time I had the Grilled Octopus Salad and it was superb......) The meal did get better from here. I chose Shrimp & Artichokes; intriguing, with Shrimp and Ricotta filled Cannelloni, a Fontina Cheese filled Artichoke (beautiful and well-prepared, but not that good), Pickeled Shrimp (so good, but more of a curried shrimp) sitting in a Shrimp-Artichoke Bisque with roasted Carrots (the carrots were amazing!). My husband had the Grilled New York; Rosemary Rubbed with Potato Pierogie, Jumbo Lump Crabmeat, Compound Butter, and Grilled Vegetables. He overall enjoyed his main course (despite the somewhat gristly steak), but we are still so upset about the wine bottle finger swipe, lack of amuse-bouche, and the dissapointing scallops and farro beef salad, that giving it any more than three stars for the $130 we paid would not be fair to those coming here after us. There are many more places to try in Missoula before we'll be back.
(3)Bradley N.
"The Pi-onot Man" It's eight thirty-five on a Monday, An unusual crowd walks to the bar, We've come for some wine and a quick meal. We're hungry and don't want to drive far. He says, "Sir, can I offer you Pinot? For $12, we give quite the pour. They call it St Innocent and they make it in Oregon: Red berry, allspice, forest floor." Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Bring us more wine tonight. Well we're all in the mood for more Pinot The live music has us feeling alright. Casey on the stool is a friend of mine He orders a Crabbie's, not wine. And he's quick with that knife and the pulled pork cuts nice There's no place that he'd rather be. He says, "Brad, I believe this is filling me" As hush puppies disappear from his plate. Well, I'm sure that next week I'll come back here; For wine flights and fine food - I can't wait!" Chirp, chirp, tweet tweet tweetie tweet Tweet tweet, twitter, tweet tweet. Now Marty's a big man on campus Who also had time for a bite And he's talking about Nico who isn't in town, though But my, this St. Innocent drinks nice. And the bartender serves us all pork chops And lamb stew and other delights. Yes, we're sharing three stools at the wine bar! Better here than out in that cold night!! Bring us more wine, we're here at the Red Bird! Fill up our glasses just right. Because we'll all in the mood for live music And outside, the snow gives us frights. (With apologies to Billy J. Then again, maybe he deserves it.)
(5)Chris K.
Been back a few times since original review, good food, service is good, one of the better places in town
(4)Heather A.
We went here for our five year anniversary, and it was the best food and service I've ever had! Save this for special occasions, it is a bit out of normal price range! We had a quail appetizer, and I had the rabbit ragu for dinner, it was absolutely fantastic! My guy had the lamb, and it was perfect, cooked medium rare just like he asked! We finished off with a chocolate lava cake and beignets, both were excellent! The entire time, service was spectacular, and they really knew their wines, and which would go best with the meal. For two people, appetizer, two meals, and two desserts, it was $140, so not your everyday spot, but well worth it! The worst part is now I'm craving it! :)
(5)Dawn C.
It's the best restaurant in Missoula, and difficult to add to the review after that. Don't get me wrong: Missoula is a foodie town. It's simply that Red Bird is so good, and so consistent, and so...gosh-dang special. You should really stop reading this review and just go there. But in case you need more convincing... I've been a fan of Red Bird since the days where you had to enter the restaurant off the alley, where the only clue as to its existence was a bird cage and a red lamp. Nowadays, I think most diners come in through the chic, art-deco hotel (what's its name again?). So now that I've belabored the ambiance, let's get to the real point of this review which is the FOOD. Did you know that the 'Bird uses all locally raised land-dwelling meats and vegetables? How about this: that the chefs butcher all cuts in-house and make most all of the restaurant's charcuterie? Good ingredients add up to a lot in my book, and the fact that the chefs know what to do with them pushes this place well in to my top 10 restaurants of all time. (Oh, speaking of that...I should make a new list!). The last bit of advice I have for you, Yelpers, is to sit in the restaurant side over the wine bar side. As much as I love the casual ambiance of the wine bar, I want access to the coffee tray, which is only available restaurant-side. If you've not been before, this tray is a dessert in and of itself. Chocolate chips, brown sugar, rock candy swizzle sticks, ... and they'll keep refilling your cup if you make a mistake! Go, mountain-westers. Go, visitors. Get thee to Red Bird.
(5)Adam S.
A cool, chill atmosphere, with great food, and a stand-out beer selection (especially impressive list of sours). I had the lamb special, which had a lamb kebab, house-made lamb sausage, and some veggies. It was delicious, reasonably priced, and our server was fun and really seemed to be enjoying herself. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Pierre V.
A great evening. Well thought out menu, with attention to local products. Interesting wine selection ... try the Montana wines.
(4)Cara C.
The beet salad rules. Spring for dessert too...so worth it. They have redone the place and it's gone a totally different direction decor-wise. it's very funky, I miss the old style Bird though. The food...it was better than it was last time I was there. It used to be my favorite place to eat --anywhere--then it lost a bit of its food charm for me. Then it got it back! YAY! It is the perfect special dinner place. A gem in Missoula.
(5)Chad R.
Absolutely the best food in town!!! Atmosphere was very good, the staff was awesome... The beer was great, you can't go wrong here, the price was outstanding for the food!!!!
(5)Anthony L.
In short. Great wine selection, supper small food portion sized. In long. The atmosphere is very sleek, modern, private, and sophisticated. The beer and wine list is extensive enough to make even the pickiest censurers happy. They food is below average for what one might expect (taste, presentation, and serving size).
(3)Natalie H.
Great wine selection. Food is horrible. Unable to eat an appetizer and sent it back. We were still charged for it. Fondue is the only edible item.
(1)Cookie M.
The Red Bird has excellent food; I am always craving the food. This place could possibly be my favorite restaurant in Missoula.
(5)John M.
Great place. Romantic. Interesting well done cross between disco and art deco décor. Our meals were excellent. The Bison tenderloin was perfectly cooked and dressed. The lobster and halibut plate was flawless. Had some nice conversation with the service staff and they treated us very well. One of the best beer lists I have ever seen and that is coming from someone who lives in Portland. And the wine list had many unique bottles at reasonable prices. The wine bar looked great, too, but did not eat/drink in there. When in Missoula, this is our favorite place!
(5)Chris F.
I have gone to the wine bar pretty regularly throughout the years. Despite having good spatial orientation skills, I have never seen nor am I entirely convinced that the restaurant side actually exists rather than being some mythical place of excellent cuisine. Not that I haven't tried thoroughly exploring the building, either--it's like trying to find Ganon in the original Legend of Zelda. Yep, 27 years later and I still haven't let that one go... Regardless, the wine bar side of the equation has always been my favorite dining location in Missoula for delivering a great atmosphere, attentive service and delicious food. The atmosphere is very intimate with the dark woods and fireplace. Definitely a place where you can impress a date, have a casual relaxing evening with friends, or treat your parents when they are in town (or hopefully have them treat you!). True to Missoula upscale, you can feel just as comfortable coming in your Carhartts as you do in your best suit/dress. The service, in my experience, has always been prompt and attentive regardless of which of these options has brought you in for good eats. The food is consistently impressive. Balanced, rich flavors. Good variety on the menu. Properly sized portions. And as a vegetarian with occasional locavore transgressions, I can appreciate that they source all their meats locally and do any butchering and curing in-house. The duck and pear pate is probably the best thing on the menu, and I'd drive back to Missoula just to satisfy the craving! They are happy to bring extra bread, and the appetizer can be somewhat filling for two or easily make a meal for one. The menu is rounded out by a more than acceptable beer and wine list. Price is definitely on the higher side for Missoula, but more than fair for the dining experience that you get.
(5)Jake N.
Mediocre food and wine selection. Decent beer selection. The quality of the proteins is below average (especially for the price tag) and the dishes are uninspired and outright poorly executed (the pasta was undersauced and the steak was poor quality and overcooked). There are plenty of better places to eat in Missoula.
(2)Lacey C.
Get the fondue and enjoy the wonderful ambiance. Our lovely waitress was also pouring us doubles all night instead of the customary half-glasses of wine. Would definitely go back to toss back some vino with my pals. Twin Peaks fans will feel like they're in the Black Lodge--but in a good way.
(4)Paige J.
As a local, I frequent the wine bar and the restaurant as well for the last 8 years. I have never had a bad meal. The restaurant is their fine dining and their wine bar is more economical fare and a more festive and bar like atmosphere. I always get the champagne fondue no matter what venue I choose. They do not serve hard liquor, but I really enjoy their wine recommendations and most often get the flight when I go as long as it's not chardonnay.... yeck! The Wine Bar is pretty loud but the restaurant is much more quiet. I can honestly recommend anything they have on the menu. They do a great job with it all.
(5)Nick H.
Going in, my wife and I were excited for a great night out and we had high expectations for our dinner from our previous experiences at the Red Bird ...unfortunately this time was different. Tell me, how do you eat less than a third of your meal and when the waiter takes it, he doesn't offer to wrap it up to go or even ask how the meal was? I have no idea, but nobody ever asked how our meals were throughout the meal. Maybe they just assumed everything was great because we didn't want to go to the fuss of complaining. If so, they would be wrong. My Seafood Pasta was simply mediocre; I have enjoyed higher quality meals at many restaurants far down the line from the fine dining experience that the Red Bird seems to aspire to. My wife's Mexican vegetarian dish was just plain not good, no getting around that fact (she ended up eating half of my less than stellar entree). The central pieces of the veggie dish were two blechy and sauceless quinoa cakes. Unfortunately the staff and management of the Red Bird wouldn't know this as the service was inattentive and nobody bothered to ask us how our meals were. The one bright spot of this meal was the Insalata Caprese, a very tasty precursor to my entree. Her beet salad was good, though not great. We have had excellent meals at the Red Bird in the past, but this is apparently what you get for $92 plus tip at the Red Bird these days. Weak sauce.
(2)Andrea F.
Oh Red Bird....I used to love you so. First, let me preface this- this review is for the Wine Bar. The restaurant side is wonderful, and has never let us down. But, we used to eat at the wine bar all the time, and so this review is for the wine bar. The Wine Bar was kind of "our place." A nice glass of $5 red, a great pulled pork sandwich- what's not to love? We went there pretty much every week and always left full and happy! But, then some stuff changed. The first time things changed, we went on a Friday. We knew it would be busy and we'd have to wait. But, that is ok because they have a fireplace, and they will let you order wine while you wait out in the lobby area. We went to get on the waiting list, and the normally nice hostess gal was just rude to us. And before we went to wait in the lobby she said "I'm not bringing you wine while you wait, just so you know." Well....that was ok. She must have been busy. But, then, a few minutes later, she came out and was offering to get drinks for the party of two who had gotten on the list AFTER US! Soon, everyone waiting around us in the lobby was with wine and drinks, and we were not. When a party of two that had gotten on the list after us got seated before us, we decided to leave. We didn't come back for a matter of months (and we had usually gone there every single WEEK). So, we came back 4 months later. I guess the chef changed, and the menu changed a little. My favorite sandwich- the pulled pork sandwich, was now gone with another pork sandwich in its place. I was sad, but figured it would force me to try something new. The service was slightly better, but the waiter hardly came and checked on us and brought my husband the wrong beer. Nothing awful, but nothing great. But, let's get to this sandwich. It tasted like a flat, unsalted piece of pork fat. Seriously, it had no flavor. At all. I didn't even want to eat it. And I LOVE PORK. Love it! But unseasoned chunks of pork fat? No thank you. It is nothing comparable to the old pulled pork sandwich. It was flavorless, overpriced, and I could seriously make something better at home. The salad was overdressed....really, just rookie mistakes. Not Wine Bar quality. So, I decided to write a letter. I wrote and explained, in logical and even tones, why I think the Wine Bar experience had gone down a notch. I explained that I was simply taking the time to do this because, as a fellow business owner, I would want to know if something was not up to snuff. I liked their business, wanted to see it do well, and said that if I was noticing this stuff- most likely other folks were too. I received a snotty letter in response. Defensive, not appreciative at all that someone would take the time to tell them about a bad experience, basically just saying that they were happy with stuff so everyone else should be too. Really not a nice tone. I would have rather gotten no response, to be honest. Anyway, at that point, we decided to find a new place as "our place." Kinda sad. We went from spending $50 a week there to nothing at all. I even had my graduation party there. Now I don't want to ever go back. Hope they pick it up or they won't be around much longer!
(2)Emily D.
I have loved the Red Bird since I first went there for a gourmet meal. The food is always good and the wine selection is on par. The wine bar provides diners with a more casual experience than the restaurant and the food comes from the same kitchen; furthermore, the wine bar has a more updated interior design and the atmosphere is sexy and romantic, yet comforting and unpretentious for all types of parties. I have never been disappointed with the food, wine, or experience at the Red Bird and it is a dining experience not to be missed.
(5)Jillian S.
My husband and I recently ate in the wine bar for the first time in 6 months or so. We had a really disappointing experience at red bird, which is a shame since we've had so many good experiences here. The wine list really leaves something to be desired -- nothing really stands out anymore. It just is. Isn't this a wine bar? We ordered a wine flight that wasn't as advertised (different vintages) and was really unpleasant. My husband ordered the pizza (normally excellent) and was underwhelmed. The crust was under baked, the cheese bland, and the toppings were uninspired and seemingly taken out of a package and slapped onto the pie. We're not fans of having to complain at restaurants. I feel like body language and an uneaten plate of food should be signal enough to the server to indicate something's not right. ours didn't inquire. I ordered a salad that I've ordered several times over the past few years (grilled halloumi cheese). It's a good salad, nothing great, but the non-lettuce components of said salad were lacking compared to previous times I've had it -- if it's called a grilled halloumi cheese salad, said cheese should occupy a little bit more of the plate. Maybe we went on an off night, but the menu could really use an update and a return to inspired dishes is much-needed. In the meantime, if I want a great glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, I'll head to caffe dolce.
(3)Heather P.
I have visited several times, and all experiences have been mediocre. The food is good, and the wine selection is good too. On my last visit I was really disappointed with the knowledge my waitperson had of the wine list, they were unable to answer 2 questions I had
(3)Chris L.
Another fantastic downtown option in Missoula. Can't miss here. I like the quieter aspect of the dining room, as well as the option for hanging out in the wine bar section. I've only been a couple times, but will be going back plenty. My loud-as-hell rock band played their Christmas party (in May) and these people also know how to have a good time. A blast, literally, all around!
(5)Daniel F.
We were in town for an art opening at the MAM and picked Red Bird on a whim. Best choice that we could have made. We ate in the main dining room and not the wine bar. The service was exemplary and the food was outstanding; a very flavorful and cooked and presented very well. Even though it was Nov. they tried to use as many local ingredients as possible, which added to both the taste and the "feel good quotient". the dining room was funky yet laid out in a manner that offered each table a sense of intimacy. All in all an excellent experience and we will be back next time we are in Missuoa
(4)Ben K.
I love the atmosphere and usually it's decent, but I have gotten sick twice eating seafood along with my wife. If you can avoid that and enjoy drinking wine, red bird is a great place to relax.
(3)Monica P.
I've had meals ranging from 3 starts to five stars...the five stars have always been in the regular dining, not the wine bar. When you get the right thing here they really knock it out of the park. Definitely top 3 for my favorites in Missoula but couldn't give it the full five because of a couple sub-par experiences. Won't stop me from coming back though!
(4)Kelly M.
I searched hi and low for a great place to eat in Missoula. Being from Honolulu we are used to numerous 5 star restaurants, therefore I was apprehensive for what I might find in a town with the population 70,000. Red Bird is a pleasant surprise. It's understated and underrated making the entire experience incredible. Tonight I dined on the Bison and twice baked herb potatoes. To say it was anything less than fantastic is an understatement. Our server was none other than Americana band leader extraordinairre, Tom Catmull. We were greeted by people who were beyond friendly, extraordinarily helpful and knew the wine list and menu by heart. It is a small intimate setting, with a great wine bar perfect for happy hour, and a wonderfully cozy setting for a most extraordinary meal. The Bison is amazingly tender well seasoned and better than most rib eyes. The twice baked herbed potatoes need no introduction. Service was excellent, wine list quite good and the menu had something for everyone.
(5)Casey P.
Best overall in Missoula! Have been here over a dozen times on the wine bar side and fine dining side. Compared to other restaurants in Missoula I would give this place the edge based on consistency and good service.
(5)Leah Catherine B.
Since the remodel, we love going over to the restaurant side...it has a 1920's flair...all done in soothing colors of persimmon & sea foam/aqua...the low lighting sets the scene for a romantic or intimate evening with friends.
(4)Alex C.
My review is for the main restaurant, where I had a very good dinner experience. All appetizers and entrees were excellently prepared. The wine list is fairly large, and has something for everyone in terms of price and variety. Service was friendly and competent. Obviously pricey, but not unreasonable for the quality of ingredients used. I look forward to trying the adjacent wine bar, which apparently serves a more causal menu at a lower price point. It was packed.
(4)Philippe L.
Love the owners. Great food. Downtown. Fast service.
(5)Sarah V.
Loved the ambiance, decor, and service, but the food needs some tweaks. My boyfriend and I visited Red Bird a few weeks ago and were definitely impressed with the restaurant's appearance and with the service we received. However, after we left, we both thought that the flavors needed some work. His bison tenderloin was cooked perfectly, but the other items on his plate seemed somewhat bland. I had the "chicken and waffles" appetizer and, although I must say the meat was good, it needed to be seasoned more, and the preserves that came with the dish did not compliment it. That said, the actual pistachio waffles were very good. This place has serious potential if it improved on the flavors...
(3)Amy K.
A great restaurant is a great restaurant, but it becomes something a little more special when you go to a small town and walk out blown away by the caliber of the service and the food. I had asked my shuttle driver for some restaurant recommendations and he asked what I was looking for, so I provided some basic criteria...NO chains, someplace I could grab a good glass of wine, local food, etc... He didn't even pause for a second before stating, "Red Bird." He even drove me past it so I knew where it was (since honestly, it isn't well marked from the exterior). The building's lobby is a bit ornate, reminiscent of it's days as a bank or whatever, but closer to the restaurant it is cozily set-up with some club chairs near a fireplace and the wine bar is dark and well appointed. Since I was traveling on business and by myself, I made myself comfortable at the bar. Their wine selection was impressive for a small town and they were even offering a tasting flight. I wasn't starving so opted for the "cheesecake" which is a savory, cheesy piece of heaven served with toast points. I also ordered a bowl of the soup of the day which was a local mushroom and roasted red pepper. Hands down the best bowl of soup I have had since I don't know when (and I love soup and eat quite a bit of it). I love the fact that they make a lot of their own things in house, including their bread. Red Bird, you've carved a place in my culinary heart. I will see you again when I am in Missoula. Until then....smooches!
(5)Kim T.
Eclectic menu, happening bar, beer & wine only. Excellent meal. Would for sure go back. The waiter brought the wrong bottle of wine which was disappointing but at least it was less expensive than what we ordered.
(5)Shannon J.
The Wine Bar is a classy place to start a night on the town or peg as the main event. The atmosphere is excellent both in the lobby and at the bar. My friends and I spent an hour and a half sitting on the lobby couches listening to some local artists and sipping an excellent pino noir, thanks to a wait staff recommendation. This could be a new Friday tradition. Recommend the Champagne Fondue served w/ Bread & Pears. Adding the Bison & Beef is a must.
(5)Jason L.
I love this place. Whether I'm feeling fancy and sitting in the actual restaurant or meeting friends for a casual drink in the wine bar, I'm always pleased by the quality of the food. The menu is constantly changing, extremely well-prepared, mostly local, and just plain delicious. The blend of styles is impressive, and I have yet to try something that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. In addition, they have one of the best beer selections in Missoula. They've got imported bottles that you just can't find anywhere else as well as a few decent drafts. I did have one really awful experience with a waiter there when trying to split a tab (he screwed it up three times and somehow managed to make ME feel like the idiot), but I can't bring myself to drop this review to a 4-star. Every other member of the staff has been outstanding, so that guy must have just been having a (really) bad night.
(5)Ken B.
Missoula has a few very good restaurants. Red Bird, Caffe Dolce, Silk Road & Pearl. We have not been to Sapore yet, so no opinion. But, Red Bird has been consistently top-rate...both the Wine Bar and the Restaurant. We recommend it to anyone who likes fine food and wine.
(5)Yizhou E.
Had apps and drinks here with some girlfriends. Great place! Had live music that night too. The only thing keeping it from getting full marks is how noisy it can get. They have little insulation so it echoes quite a bit and conversation it difficult.
(4)Jennifer B.
The place started out as a solid 4 or 5, but went downhill.... The ambiance is great - dark little place - very cool light fixtures and decorations - LOVED it. It was a little hard to find - it is hidden inside an office building and you can miss it as there is no exterior signage. The appetizer - champagne cheese fondue - we thought we were going to die it was sooooo good....the waitress recommended getting the grilled bison in addition to the bread and pears to dip - and we were SOO GLAD we did - it was the best - we wished we would asked for double portions of the bison - it made us excited for the entree.... We ordered the mexican vegatable dish and the lamb kabob and sausage. the vegetable dish came with eggplant - which was not mentioned on the menu and would have been a deal breaker...it was not BAD - but just ok. The curry with the lamb kabob was delicious - the sausage was good, but the lamb was a little tough. I had the wine flight with some red blends and one of the wines was bad...but they replaced it no problem...just a hassle. The dessert was the real downer....not a good way to end our meal. We got the berry cobbler and it was like baked jelly with some sort of nutty frozen thing on top - that was supposed to be ice cream - but had the consistency of bleu cheese. very crumbly ... wish they would have put some crumbles on top of the cobbler....the taste was bizarre and the consistency almost made you gag.... When the server noticed that we did not barely touch our dessert - she just took it away without a word - thought she might ask why we dissected it without eating it - but she didnt. They were friendly enough and the food was good enough - but we wish we would have just gotten another of the fondue with bison and we would have left happier....
(3)Deanne J.
I really wondered what I had gotten myself into as I walked in...a dated martini-type bar but no martinis...and country western music playing too loudly. OK, I thought, this IS Montana, so go with the flow... The food turned out to be really awesome (in the Wine Bar, never could locate the actual restaurant as it turned out to close pretty early). I had the pate plate that included cheese and fruit with the crusty bread, and I loved it. My husband opted for a burger, also awesome, with caramelized onion. Wine selection topped it off.
(4)Mary H.
Quiet and pleasantly intimate dining room in remarkable old Art Deco building although one has to go through the dark wine bar to get there. Amazing lists of wines and beers and a couple of wines by the glass were excellent and went well with the food. Impeccable service, with waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, and right there when needed. Food was interesting and very well prepared. Halibut and lobster tail made a great combination although the spaetzle was a bit on the heavy, greasy side. Beet salad delicious with just right amount of gorgonzola, as was a cold corn soup of the day. And, yes, the tray that comes with coffee is almost a dessert in itself, with sweetener, coffee sugar, sugar swizzle, cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, etc. etc. Didn't think we had room for dessert, but shared peach/ginger sorbet was a perfect choice--light and delicious. Would we return? Absolutely!
(4)Madison B.
My fiance and I went to the Red Bird last night to celebrate our engagement at the wine bar. When we walked in we were instantly surprised by how dark the room was. It reminded me of a demon bar in Buffy the Vampire slayer. Our eyes adjusted and we found a seat at the bar. Our bartender wasn't overly friendly ( when we said we had just gotten engaged that day he just smiled and nodded at us. I know that's not major, but I would have expected a congratulations or something....haha), but very pleasant. We ordered the champagne fondue (comes with bread and pears) and opted for the offered inclusion of marinated bison and steak. So Good! I'm already pining for more of it. For dinner, I just ordered the cheeseburger with blue cheese. It was amazing. It was honestly the best burger I've had since I moved out of Chicago 5 years ago. It was big (I only could eat half), juicy, cooked exactly to order (which never happens), and smothered in generous amounts of cheese, caramelized onions, and the perfect amount of bacon. Even the damn bun was perfect. We've decided based on how good what simple food we had was and how delicious the meat that came with our fondue was, that we will definitely be coming back to dine in the dining room. Great meal!
(5)Jess C.
Red Bird's great. I've only ever eaten in the wine bar and not the restaurant in back, but it's likely my favorite restaurant in Missoula. Never had a dish I didn't enjoy. Great food, great wine and beer selections, great drinks, and great atmosphere for a classy night out.
(5)Socrates M.
Big difference between wine bar and restaurant, but both are equally deserving of high marks. The restaurant is small, quiet, and intimate - really something would not expect to see in MT. The food matches the ambiance, making it worth the big city prices. The wine bar has a nice vibe and decor - accented, of course, by red. It can get a little loud at times. Beers from around the world and great selection of wine. Good small plates, including a great ahi salad and tuna tartare. I'd say the food quality is a toss-up with Pearl, but the service at Red Bird gives it the edge. Best restaurant in Missoula.
(5)Alan P.
I have a new favorite dining spot in Missoula. The wife & I were looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal without our children. We picked a winner. Everything was simply excellent. I'll start with service. Carl, our server, was super attentive & friendly. He suggested a perfect bottle of wine to pair with our extremely varied entree selections. His presence certainly made the meal more enjoyable. The meal itself was superb. While the flavors were definitely unique, each course was more delicious than the last. I'm not a huge salad lover, but even the salad we chose was to die for. We ate in the restaurant, not the wine bar. I think it was a good choice for us. The wine bar seemed to be a lot of fun with a lively crowd. We sought out something a bit quieter and intimate. The restaurant is very sparsely decorated with well spaced tables that allowed for a very individualized experience. The setting was perfect, as we could focus on each other and our meals. Like I said, we truly loved the entire experience. The Red Bird would certainly be a great date spot or for anyone just looking for a terrific upscale dinner spot in Missoula. Gotta check it out.
(5)Linda J.
The restaurant is in a former hotel that was converted into offices and apartments, and it's fun just to enter the building and enjoy the old-time feeling and the stately lobby. The restaurant itself is a very artful use of a windowless space...it's decorated in red and black and has a romantic, cosy feeling (there are no birds, either). The food was very good. We ordered four small plates and a half bottle of wine. The duck pate with pears, toast points, bleu cheese and walnuts was the standout, and the crabcakes were quite good too. The sesame duck pancakes with salad were just okay. Definitely the best place we ate in Missoula.
(4)Sam P.
Just amazing! Since moving away from Missoula 5 years ago, I can not get the Red Bird out of my mind and have found no other to fill the emptiness in my gut! By far, the best food experience in Missoula, great cozy atmosphere and personalized selections with excellent wine pairings. I dream of their Roasted Red Pepper soup, truffled sauces and herb infused creme brule. Jim and Laura, since taking over the Red Bird have done amazing seasonal changes to the menu and I am always delighted to experience something new and different. Oh Red Bird, I will see you this summer!
(5)Craig M.
After trying and loving the pearl, my parents and I decided to celebrate their 20th anniversary at the red bird. I really could not believe this is the top ranked place to eat in Missoula. The service was poor, the wine list was very limited, and the food was not only disappointing, but borderline disgusting. Picked up fast food on the way home, horrible experience.
(1)Margaux A.
Red Bird is a very elegant restaurant, I've only been here twice, but I've enjoyed it both times. The food was excellent, it is a pricier restaurant, but it is worth it, a place to try at least one. It is a smaller restaurant, but still comfortable. Their red wine was really good (I cannot remember the name) and their service was great, very nice people with a great dinning environment. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Missoula and I recommend it to others.
(4)Nils J.
Based on several recommendations I made reservations for last night for the restaurant. When we checked in they said our reservations were for the wine bar. After having to explain I specifically requested the dining room we were reluctantly seated. My wife ordered the lamb chops and I ordered the bison tenderloin. Mine was very good but my wife's was all fat. It took forever to get the servers attention so we could explain it was inedible. He darted off and we had to track him down to get the check. Won't be going back.....
(1)Nathan C.
We visited Missoula during the 2010 marathon, and after reading reviews about Red Bird decided to make a point of going there. We made reservations (anticipating a crush of people downtown for the race) and arrived at 8:00. The restaurant was empty except for two other couples, however, the wine bar was quite full. That should've been our first sign that something was amiss. We were seated promptly. The decor in this establishment is borderline depressing. Most of the walls are simply empty, with just an off-white paint. On the wine bar side, the mood is dark, romantic, and mysterious. Our side? Bleak and way too bright. Our server looked bored and seemed uninterested in us. When we mentioned the race and how we'd expected the place to be packed, he rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement, saying they'd called in extra help to manage to the crowds. But rather than really going out of his way to take extra great care of the two people he actually had in his section, he pretty much lolled around like he was waiting to go home. The food was just okay. I had a portobello pasta dish and my wife had the sirloin, which per their "we butcher our own mean" spiel was the only cut available. The pasta was very tasty but certainly not worth $30. The sirloin was simply disappointing - tough, with uninspired seasonings. The wines we were offered were mediocre and overpriced. Our total bill, with tip, came to nearly $200, and with the sub-par quality of the food and the less-than-friendly service, we will never go back. Ironically, we visited the Iron Horse the night before, paid around $30, and had wonderful meals and beer, with lightning-fast, friendly service. Our experience there was almost enough to make up for the disappointment we felt about Red Bird.
(2)Lou G.
Of course I checked Yelp first but this recommendation guided us to the best dinner I've had in a long time. I had the pork dish and my wife had mushroom risotto - both were excellent. Also had a Mark Ryan Wild Eyed Syrah - all very reasonably priced and the service was outstanding. I'd recommend it to anyone with good taste !!!!!
(5)Hollie B.
The restaurant part of the Red Bird is my annual choice for my birthday meal and I absolutely love it. I've eaten there probably 5 times in the past 6 years, and am always so excited to see the menu as it changes seasonally. I also love the wine bar - the food is excellent, and even if you're not eating, it's a very nice place to enjoy live music on Monday nights and have a glass of wine. Great atmosphere.
(5)John H.
This is Missoula's finest restaurant. The menu is divine with an option for anybody. Call ahead if you are a vegetarian and the chef will take care of you. Next time I'm in Missoula this will be the first place I go. Be sure to show up a little early and enjoy the nice atmosphere in the wine bar before you sit at your table for dinner.
(5)Jenna B.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a restaurant like this in Missoula. This place fits right in to a restaurant in LA. Other than the decor and location, it's on the first floor of an old bank and the setting was very dark, this place wasn't too bad at all. I had the pork chops and it was one of the best prepared pork chops I've ever had- moist and full of flavor. The appetizers were OK, the dessert was wonderful. If I'm ever back in Missoula (highly DOUBTFUL), I'm definitely going back.
(4)Joseph T.
Fine food, good service. Definitely itching to be a fine dining establishment, and it comes oh so close, but some of the food pairings could use tweaking. I had halibut (standard menu item, not a special) which was perfectly cooked, but covered in a tomato goop. The dish also came with vanilla-roasted potatoes. Yuck. The more or less long menu centers around meat, meat, meat. Even vaguely vegetarian sounding dishes would have an infusion of duck, or some other animal. My vegetarian friend was left choosing a salad which even had an anchovy dressing (which they were able to swap out). There's one eggplant dish that was all vegetarian, but that was all. I'd go back, if invited by someone else who was paying, but I won't be going back under my own power alone.
(3)Drew B.
This place is arguably the classiest dining establishment in Missoula, along with the Pearl. It serves quality food in a comfortable, tasteful environment. My two complaints are that the portions are quite small and the food is overpriced. If you are looking for a tasty meal and paying with a company credit card, I would highly recommend eating here because you will not be disappointed with the product.
(4)Padre C.
Went on the recommendations of the yelp reviewers. I was not disappointed. Great marks across the board. The wait staff was exceptional. Food was beautifully presented and tasted great. The restaurant takes great pride in using Montana meats and produce. Extensive wine list....great ones offered by the glass and and nice selection of beers....several on tap from the local breweries. If my daughter decides to attend UM, Red Bird will be a must stop on all of my trips to Missoula.
(5)Melissa L.
This is one of the places we come for our special nights, birthdays, anniversarys, etc. They have a great menu, true, more to the meat side but delicious! Their bison steak is succulent and melts in your mouth. They have fab salads and quite a nice wine selection. One of our favorites!
(5)oliver g.
Two word Love IT I mean It is Soho good. We'll I don't go there that much but when i do I love i love it!!! I really like the egg rolls there they're so good oh yeah and so are there burgers and the waiter service is great this is a great place and i highly recommend it this is the place to go.
(5)