Red Bird

Delicious food and cocktails. Beautiful space. I love that they also have a vegetarian menu.

This was my 3^rd time to Red Bird. Two out of three of my experiences here have been very disappointing and one was forgettable. I decided to give it another try because some friends were visiting from Brooklyn and wanted to meet in Waltham. This was on Sunday night at about 8:30, so things weren’t too busy as there were a few open tables in the dining room and by the bar. First and foremost, the service was terrible. We didn’t get drinks until 20 minutes after arriving. The waitress was very flakey – she just kept ignoring or not hearing things we were requesting. For example, my friend asked to sample 2 of the beers on tap – the waitress brought only one. Asked for bread with olive oil, because I’m vegan – got bread with butter and an apology, but then had to wait another 10 minutes for the olive oil – because someone lost their gloves?! There came a point where we were seriously worried that we may not get any food, because everything was taking so long. I eventually got the vegetable plate for $ 18.00, which was pathetically sparse and bland. Oh and the torn and fried potatoes that I requested as an appetizer, came just a few minutes after my main course. I so badly wanted to complain to management, but never saw him/​her present – perhaps that’s part of the problem. Will not waste my time or money giving this place another chance.

Been here two times, both of them treating others for dinner. I have the habit of trying expensive restaurants, so marked this place the moment I got here. Once again I am criticism so I might say a lot of aspects that it can improve on, but I rate it by its quality.
They don’t take same day reservations, but I believe you will be fine just walking in. If you do make reservations, ask for booth. Those coaches look really nice. Street parking outside. Might have difficulties finding a spot during rush hours.
The first time we had five people, I think they rearranged tables to fit us in. I knew that because the second time it was different, not because the arrangement felt wired or anything. I randomly choose two appetizers, and they all tasted amazing. Months later when I saw this restaurant’s name again on Unilocal,I remembered how tasty it was and decided to come back. Same thing this time, great entries.
The service, on the other hand, needs some serious improvement. I once gave the server $ 10 and ask her to take my card and run it without letting my friends know, but she still cut in our conversation and gave me that «I need to talk to you» look, and made me repeat every thing I just said. The other server we had was no good. I sad I was in a rush, and she still waited when everything was ready to bring the food. No smile, not friendly. And yes, they asked for id when we tried to order drink. I mean, I wouldn’t expect that in a good restaurant.

I had been wanting to go to Red Bird for quite some time, and finally got the chance this week. As expected everything about this place was phenomenal. The waitstaff was very cordial and helpful. The overall décor of the restaurant was spectacular. We were seated at the high tops near the kitchen and you could actually see the food being prepared, which was amazingly cool. And lastly, the food was DELICIOUS.
Tried the Iceberg Lettuce for an appetizer, which came with an amazing vinaigrette dressing. For an entrée I had the Slow Simmered Pork Ragu. The rigatoncini were perfect. Overcooked pasta, even slightly overcooked, drives me nuts. The ragu itself was divine. The tomato sauce had the perfect level of sweetness. I’m getting hungry just thinking of that dish!
For dessert we ordered the Chocolate Soufflé. It was to die for! I know that they change their dessert menu continuously, but if you get the chance, I highly recommend trying the soufflé.
I cannot wait to go back and try the other items on their menu.

The PEI mussels were some of the best I’ve ever had. Would have been 5 stars but sitting at the bar, service was slow. I was one of 6 customers. I will certainly be back to try other menu items.

So, as promised we tried again. We had arrived earlier and were told to come back. This time we were seated punctually, although we noticed that the place was half empty. Food was very good. We ordered the charcuterie, buffalo cauliflower and the pork cutlet with spaetzle. Drinks were excellent. Food different but tasty. Waitress was excellent. Definitely better experience than last time, although not as good as the first.

Had such high hopes and was a very disappointing birthday dinner.
Appetizer never came and it took 30 minutes to get any food without waitress checking in on us or letting us know what was happening. Small portions.
Gnochi app (as part of dinner) — meat had no flavor. Mussels (as part of dinner) good but bacon overpowered both dishes. Cod very basic, not interesting. Duck confit I’ve always had it shredded and very tender. This was served one big piece on the bone. Side of brussels sprouts very good so we ordered a second and that time it only took 5 minutes. Waitress seemed unexperienced and was never around. Decided we didn’t want another hour devoted to dessert so left without getting birthday dessert. Will not go back.

Red Bird was good, but, not great. I felt the food needed to be elevated a bit to get into 4 star territory.

I’ve been meaning to update this review for a while — mostly because Red Bird has become our favorite restaurant (and we REALLY enjoy eating out).
First, the atmosphere is relaxing and very nice, we have always felt very comfortable wherever we sit. The wait staff is extremely attentive and pleasant, and oftentimes recognize us when we come in.
The food has always been phenomenal. To start, the drinks are great. I’m more of a beer person (which they have a great selection of), but my wife likes cocktails, and Red Bird has some of the best (or so she tells me). They always seem creative and interesting and most importantly, delicious.
Appetizers are great, we especially enjoy the cheese plate and the gnocchi. For dinner, the steak cannot be beat, especially if you like Brussel sprouts. The potatoes are cooked perfectly as well, and taste amazing. My wife loves duck, and the Confit, when available, meets her expectations (which can be quite high).
What surprises us most are the deserts. Make sure you save room — these are something special. They frequently change and are never boring. In fact, both of us are willing to admit they are consistently the best deserts we have been served.
We think the prices are more than fair, especially considering the quality of food and service.
As I type this, I look forward to another reservation in the near future. I HIGHLY recommend coming here, especially if you live in the area.

Had high expectations and was very disappointed. Restaurant is very nicely decorated but servers are unprepared and management is very disrespectful. For value and quality there are many other and better choices. They have a lot to learn. Can’t even give it more than 1 star

Tasteful, elegant, and convenient. We did came for a pre-Valentine’s dinner and another time just passing by on a Friday. Red Bird excelled on both occasions. Décor is modern and vibe is high-​end for Waltham. The main dining room is a bit cramped — taking out a table or two would really open things up. Bar area has a few high-​top tables that provide a little more room. We like that, but may not work for parties of more than two.
The food is delicious. Portions are so-​so. Expensive, but not outrageous. And worth it since you’ve likely come to Red Bird expecting quality and the expense that comes along with it. Appetizers: Gnocchi and Short Rib plates are wonderful. We enjoyed them so much the first time that we didn’t bother looking elsewhere the second time. Highly recommended.
Maine courses seem to change pretty regularly, which reflects the kitchen’s creative approach. I recall a scallop dish that was quite good, and a fantastic butternut squash ravioli (maybe tortellini).
To wrap things up we had Irish Coffees that were prepared correctly, which is surprisingly not always the case at restaurants.
We love Red Bird and we’ll be back. Modest portions prevent the 5^th star, but will do nothing to keep us from coming back when we tire of the burger and beer scene on Moody Street.

Simply marvelous. David S. has the best kept secret in Boston dining. I had the veal and it was very tasty and well prepared. The grilled peach salad is amazing.

One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. The grilled peaches with goat cheese was divine. I’d go back for that alone. We all ordered pasta entrees and enjoyed them. Homemade gnocchi was delicious. I love that they have a separate vegetarian menu with plenty of choices, another reason to return. The plated desserts are exceptional. We tried two, the lemon panna cotta and the peach blackberry napoleon. Both were awesome, not overly sweet, lots of yummy little components on the plate.
Great place on Moody Street, plenty of public lots off the main drag so parking shouldn’t be an issue. Service was friendly and helpful. A great night out.

Fun date night! We had the Buffalo cauliflower for an app and I would go back just for that!
All of the entrees our table ordered were amazing! The cocktails were original and refreshing!
One of the best restaurants in Waltham! Definitely returning.

Had a good if not great meal here. There was literally no one else in the restaurant on a Wednesday at 7pm but could imagine it is a good scene when busy.
I started with the deviled eggs which were great and not overly drenched in mayo, followed by the pork chop which was great and more than I could finish.
Given the other options in the area this was a nice surprise and would go back.

It breaks my heart to write this review — which is why I’ve put it off so long — because Will and I had been DYING to try Red Bird ever since it opened and especially after our wonderful V-​day Solea experience! So here’s the rundown of what we ordered:
HOMEMADE POTATO GNOCCHI: Definitely one of the better dishes of the night. The gnocchi was sticky (in the best way) and the mushrooms were very tender. Still, something was a-​miss. Unfortunately I should’ve wrote this in March when I would’ve remembered but like I said, it was a very disappointing dinner which we had high expectations for.
FRENCH ONION SOUP: The gnocchi came out with the soup — they were serving us in courses of sorts since we ordered a random assortment of food rather than the typical an entrée per person kind of deal. Everything about the soup was delicious … except that it was over-​salted — Will mostly ate that one, he LOVES salt and even he admitted it was a bit too much.
BRAISED SHORT RIBS: Probably tied for our favorite dish of the night. This one we scarfed down, the meat was juicy, succulent and melted in your mouth. Excellent flavors.
DUCK CONFIT: We split this entrée and had very high hopes. We had tried duck confit for the first time at Solea and were excited to try a different take on it. The duck was cooked very well, meat falling off the bone, we didn’t care for the vegetable hash that much — it just seemed like it was there and didn’t even add anything to the plate, the colors were very muted. Everything with this dish would’ve been great if the duck didn’t have this weird creamy, mayo/​hollandaise like sauce on top of the duck. That really didn’t sit well with us and we pretty much were scraping it off to enjoy the already well-​seasoned meat.
BRUSSEL SPROUTS: I insist on a vegetable with every meal and our go-​to is a side of brussel sprouts or asparagus which I’ve never had anyone do wrong in nicer restaurants. Well, Red Bird managed to do it. The seasoning was unimpressive and the vegetable itself came out quite charred (please refer to picture) — and not in the way that was contributing anything to the already underwhelming flavor.
DESSERT: Unfortunately I don’t remember the name of the dessert we ordered and with their rotating menu, it’s not available at Red Bird anymore which is such a shame because it was the dish that was tied for our favorite. It was a flan of sorts dinner with crème brûlée’d bananas, and an assortment of other delicious dessert-​y bites around it. My words aren’t doing it justice but the picture should! We’ll just settle with — it was as delicious as it looks.
DRINKS: I will say one thing, Red Bird has an interesting drink menu, definitely give that a whirl.
Overall, if the portions are going to be small and the prices high, there needs to be consistency between the dishes. Not some coming out right and others falling flat on its face. I don’t know how the menu has changed now but from my experiences, the Red Bird experience you really want is at Tempo just across the street and down a ways. Price range about the same and the portions are MUCH bigger and each dish I’ve ever sampled or eaten there has never let me down and always left me moaning in pure bliss with each bite.

Another amazing restaurant on Moody St. I’ve been a fan since this place opened. The food is great. The wine and bourbon selection is great too. Rachel is amazing bartender. Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Gotta try a Blackberry Bourbon Bramble and the Red Sangria. Two of my favorite specialty drinks in addition to their Whistle Pig Manhattan.
For dinner: With apps, I would go with homemade potato gnocchi with the madeira jus or sticky pork ribs. Main course: Slow Simmered Pork Ragu (if you didn’t go pasta in apps) or veal Saltibocca. Both are great. You can’t go wrong.

I was so excited to come to Red Bird but my experience there was not great. A lot of the issues had to due with bad timing (we arrived at 8:30pm due to a late meeting at work) but there were also things beyond my control that made the experience poor.
We came on a Tuesday night and found two open spots at the end of the bar. There was a TV right ahead of us which was great but the open container of bar fruit in front of us made for a lovely game of «who can kill the most fruit flies» all night.
The bartender was very nice but she was also very flustered. She had mentioned that they had one of the busiest Tuesdays in a long time and it was very busy earlier on. At 8:30pm the crowds just were not there anymore, but we could tell that since all specials were all sold out that yes indeed they were probably busy.
Even though it was not busy anymore, we still waited a long time to order drinks. Once we received the drinks, I put in the appetizer of the homemade potato gnocchi.
We waited about 20+ minutes for the gnocchi to come out, it was very good; very rich and had a great pasta to lamb ratio but the portion was very small. We were never asked how the appetizer was and I had to hunt the bartender down to put in our main meals.
For our main meals we got the chicken and the hanger steak. Because of the timing of finally putting this order in, our meals didn’t come out for another 30 minutes and at this point we were starving. The chicken and steak were excellent, cooked to perfection, wonderfully seasoned and a great large portion. We were very happy with the meals, but the timing of everything just really made the experience not so great.
What I do like about Red Bird is that it is beautifully decorated and that the wine list is phenomenal. No bottle of wine was over $ 58, so the price point was very good. They also have a great list of cocktails and craft beers available as well.
What I do not like about Red Bird is that we had fruit flies around us all night, that there were no specials (again our fault for coming at 8:30pm — but the bartender even said they sold out early), not having someone check in with us on our food and also just the fact that we had to hunt down our bartender to put orders in for everything. It could of been just an off night but when you spend $ 150 for two people on dinner you want to leave feeling like you enjoyed your time and your meal. I just don’t know if we will be back after our first experience.

When I spend over $ 100 on dinner, I expect it to be fabulous. Sadly, I was disappointed. I went with two guys; one thought it was good, one was just as disappointed as I was. Here’s the breakdown.
Décor-​Really nice space, nicely decorated
Atmosphere-​Could be a little darker. The music was classic rock (Aerosmith, Tom Petty, etc.) for most of the night. It didn’t really do it for me and doesn’t seem to go with the place.
Cocktails-​They were so-​so. I got a Vanilla bourbon smash and thought it was OK. The guys got a tequila cocktail and liked them. I ordered a Manhattan that did not taste great. I did let the bartender know and she fixed it. Comment from one of the guys, «Craft cocktails like that need to be made with more love.»
Food
French onion soup-​All three of us thought it was good.
Tamale-​All of us thought it was underwhelming.
Salad-​It was OK.
Hangar Steak-​The guys got them and shared with me. It was good and the guys thought the sides, potatoes and brussel sprouts, were the best part. Even though it was good, compared to steaks we get a bunch of other restaurants at the same price point, the steak wasn’t as good. The portion size was good.
Scallops-​It came with butternut squash risotto. The dish was very good, but the portion size was ridiculously small. It was four scallops with a small scoop of risotto. I know you’re not going to get big portions of fresh seafood, but all of us thought it was horrible at $ 28.
Desserts-​For $ 12 /​dessert, they should have been to die for. We ordered a chocolate dessert and a flan. They were good, but not worth the hype or the price.
The service was good, but nothing special.
We paid the bill and left a decent tip (over 20%), and lamented about the $ 330 we left behind for not a great meal when we could have just gone to Tempo or Solea where we always enjoy it.

12÷6÷14
Sat at the bar and absolutely feasted on bread, appetizers, and sides. Handmade gnocchi, braised short rib, mixed green salad, torn fried potatoes all were fantastic and hit the spot.
They should throw some bacon and cheddar on the potatoes and I would be there every week!
They did take the arancini off the menu which was disappointing, but I can’t complain about the other options. We will be back soon.