OvenBird

Good experience. Haven’t done tapas in a while and from what I could tell, OvenBird doesn’t specifically market itself as a tapas restaurant. Given that, I appreciated that our server set the tone and let us know what most diners do in terms of number of plates and methods. Food was good. Our table ordered the empanadas ($14 for simply 2 empanadas is pretty crazy, the quantity was not made known on the menu). Also ordered the paella, which was solid, proteins consisted of Chicken and Conecuh Sausage, which was a nice Southern twist on paella. They were good, but the price point was not ideal. I ordered the Choripan (very good) and Snapper Throat (also good, a bit heavy on the BBQ sauce). Great experience, good ambience.

Wow! This has to be some of the best food I have ever had. We had five different dishes and two desserts. Everything was wonderful flavorful and perfectly cooked. They have tables right near the grill. I recommend sitting there. I’ll definitely go back.

OvenBird is a unique experience that I have not had in the Birmingham area. Your experience starts the moment you step onto the property. The decor is so unique and inviting, I love the open floor plan, and the food is very flavorful and unique. I didn't leave with a super heavy feeling but was also satisfied. It's a 'dinning experience' so be prepared to spend some time there. The tapas menu also allows for foodie discussions at the table. Also, ask questions about the dishes! Some are chef inspired.

I never write reviews, but I was so blown away I decided it was necessary. We moved to seattle five years ago and came back to Birmingham for a wedding. This spot has been on my list to try since before we moved. We didn’t have a reservation, but they had two bar seats that were perfect. Jada was amazing. She guided us through the menu and everything we had was astounding. This place is an absolute gem. Birmingham is so lucky to have a fabulous special occasion spot with this price point and options. The beef fat candle, snapper throat and hanger steak were all show stoppers. This place— the food, the service, the people— were all the best parts of my hometown and my husband and I had a truly unforgettable time.

Ambiance & Setting: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Menu & Offerings: 5/5 | Food: 5/5 | Pricing: 5/5 Ovenbird is a masterclass in open-fire cooking, blending Southern and South American influences into a dining experience that feels homey yet elevated. Ambiance: The rustic, open-fire concept gives a warm, intimate feel, making it the perfect spot for a cozy dinner. The flickering flames and earthy decor create a welcoming atmosphere, especially in cooler weather. Service: Flawless. The staff delivers fine-dining-level service without the pretension—attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about the menu. Food Highlights: • Beef Fat Candle with Sofrito – A must-try. This signature appetizer is rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. • Ceviche – Light, fresh, and expertly prepared, with just the right touch of citrus and spice. • Burrata with Tomato & Prosciutto – Creamy, delicate, and beautifully paired with fresh, high-quality ingredients. • Fideos – Perfectly seasoned, with a rich, creamy texture and fresh seafood. • Risotto – Outstanding—impeccable texture, depth of flavor, and overall balance. Pricing: Remarkably fair for the quality. This is fine dining without the fine-dining price tag, making it one of the best value experiences in town. Verdict: A must-visit for anyone who appreciates thoughtfully executed, fire-kissed cuisine.

OvenBird is one of our favorite spots in Birmingham! We've been several times and it’s always a great experience. You have to try the beef fat candle, it’s so flavorful and unique. The hangar steak is delectable and you have to order the wine Porrón! Trust me, it’s such a fun tradition and makes the night even more memorable! Phenomenal ambiance, service and dishes! Can’t recommend this place enough!

Five Stars Aren't Enough! We visited OvenBird for the first time last Saturday. It was phenomenal. Monica, our server (also new to OvenBird) was fun, knowledgeable, and made perfect recommendations. She can order my dinner any day! The wine list was limited, no, curated is a better term for their carefully matched wines at a wide variety of price points. And then there was the food. Go hungry. Do not miss the beef tallow candle with sofrito. Trust me. Just order it. Don't skip the paella or mushrooms either. There is something for everyone on that menu. Everything we had was perfect. Thank you for a great evening! Hope to see you again soon.

My boyfriend and I dined at Ovenbird last night, and unfortunately, our experience was not great. We had reservations for 7:45 but arrived early, so we decided to sit at the bar and wait. The ambiance was warm and vibrant, making our wait enjoyable. Additionally, the hostess was very friendly and welcoming. Once our table was ready, we were seated at the back of the restaurant. Our server, who was of Asian descent, never introduced himself. He completely ruined what had started as a lovely dinner date. We had several questions about the menu items, but his responses were short and unhelpful; it felt like we were bothering him by asking. Another server walked by and was incredibly helpful. We ordered two cocktails and two appetizers but chose not to order dinner due to our server’s poor attitude. We also noticed how accommodating he was to the table next to us, which further discouraged us from staying. Although the appetizers we tried were delicious, we wouldn’t return because of the service we received from that one server.

The beef fat candle is to die for. So so so good. All the food was great, the ambiance was amazing, the view of the kitchen was really fun.

Omg divine. With a charming outdoor patio and indoor seating located near the kitchen, ovenbird is inviting and absolutely delicious. I loved every single thing I ordered. From the empanadas to the mushroom to the steak and finally the tres leches. Portions are small but it is tapas and perfect for sharing. Ovenbird knows what they're doing when it comes to tapas. Do not miss out on this Birmingham favorite.

The restaurant looked very nice. The outside sitting area was very nicely laid out. Inside the dining area has a very nice atmosphere. Decoration's and bar area were laid out nicely. We were seated and taken care of without an appointment with no problem. The food looked very good. We had an understanding that the dishes will be small. The MAJOR reason for three stars is for the flavor of the food. Every dish including the desert had no flavor!

Quite frankly, the food was underwhelming. The scallops were the best. The hanger steak was good but other restaurants can give me just as tasty food for less $. The real disappointment was the peruvian chicken. Frankly the mojo chicken at Publix has more flavor for 1/3 the price and the lima beans were not good. They could come up with a better side to serve. The starter empanadas were small with very little filling. I was honestly disappointed.

Totally a vibe, great date Night location, very earthy yet trendy, went for a birthday dinner and it was really nice. Our waitress was extremely kind and nice ,very attentive to our table and provided suggestions according to our preferences.

OvenBird is such a unique experience and hands down amazing food. This is definitely a celebration spot as I like to order a lot when I go. The style is shared plates so it's fun to order a bunch for the table and everyone gets to try. I really love the beef fat candle and the paella! If you get a chance, experience the porrón! It's a decanter of wine and you have to try and extend your arm out while pouring the wine into your mouth. It's super fun and also entertaining! I love the rustic feel of OvenBird and the patio in the summer makes for a quintessential date night spot.

Fabulous! Loved the atmosphere, the service and the food. I highly recommend checking it out. I can't wait to go back!

My best friend and his husband insisted we try this place when we visited Birmingham. This was the only place we dined at all week that everyone we encountered seemed friendly helpful. All the bites were good but my favs were the beef fat candle(we ended up ordered a second; 0 shame) and the tres leches cake. The whole restaurant was decorated for the holidays and was busy with lots of tables full; which I took as a good sign. 10/10 would return!

OvenBird was recommended to us by a friend who lives in the area, while we were on vacation. It did not disappoint. Great vibe and decorative touches everywhere. The Fat Candle was unique and crazy good. Dishes are small but very tasty. We aren't huge portion people anyway. Great drinks as well. Loved their take on the Old Fashioned. Ice cream right around the corner at Jeni's.

One word - stunning. From the fresh wood fired foods to the warm inviting interior, this is one of the best Birmingham restaurants for sure. You have to start your meal with the beef fat candle to dip their crusty delicious bread. Their grilled vegetables and steaks are so fresh and flavorful. Cooking over wood gives everything a smoky but clean taste. And the servers are so fun - willing to make some experimental mocktails for our party with a pregnant friend. If you need a spot for a special occasion or to bring an out of town friend - this is it.

Who knew Birmingham can do food? Well it can, and they do it especially well here. Fantastic meal across the board, to include a terrific mixologist at the bar (shout out to my Cali transplant). Get the Beef Fat Candle. Trust me.

What a beautiful restaurant with open windows and outside patio! Food and service were both great! The menu is tapas style which is my favorite. I recommend the steak, burrata, chorizo, empanada, and potatoes.

YOU SET MY HEART AFLAME! For Valentine's Day this year I decided on making a reservation at OvenBird. The website lead me to their Resy page. Making the reservation was very simple and easy. I made a later reservation to accommodate scheduling for both Courtney and myself. Everyone talks about this resturant so that was one of the prime reasons I decided to come and check it out for myself. For those unaware, OvenBird is part of the Birmingham originals. Meaning it was one of the restaurants that helped build the foundation for the food scene here in Birmingham. The resturant highlights small plates and almost everything is made from the live fire oven. The location of this resturant is perfect too as it is tucked away in Pepper Place next door to Son of A Butcher and across from Little Professor Book Shop. There is a large patio with heat lamps among tons of seating options inside too. When we were seated, our waiter Jack was outstanding. Very talkative and gave some of the best recommendations. Since this resturant is known for their small plates we decided on ordering a mixture of items so we could sample the menu a bit. Starting off we got the apple and manchego salad, which came with a Dijon dressing and toasted pecans this dish was light and great to kick off the meal on the right note. Next was the burrata. Burrata is a soft cheese similar to mozzarella. It was served with grapes tossed in an herb vinaigrette. Courtney mentioned that he had never tried either of the two cheeses that we indulged in this evening so he was happy to broaden his horizons a bit. Before our "entrees" came out, Jack came over with the roasted vegetables. Though we did not order these, he told us that when items are made to order, sometimes the kitchen will make too much and this gives the opportunity for different parties to try different dishes. I mean, who is going to say no for a free item? These vegetables were perfectly seasoned and delicious. A top tier vegetable mixture for sure. Honestly it was exactly what we needed in between our appetizers and protein. For our protein we ordered the roasted chicken (recommended by Jack) and the hanger steak. The chicken came with Lima beans and a semi spicy sauce. This sauce definitely had a kick to it, but it's one of those that sneaks up on you out of nowhere. Courtney fell in love with this dish. It was the perfect combination of beans and chicken with his heat level. He said that he remembers eating lots of Lima beans as a kid growing up and this dish gave him a bit of a blast from the past. My favorite was the hanger steak. It was tender and juicy, served with some vegetables and potatoes. Oh how I will be dreaming of that dish. Finally, to end our meal we could not decide between the two desserts so we ordered them both. A chocolate mousse and tres leches cake. They both were superb desserts. Not too sweet either. Overall, I loved my experience at OvenBird and am already planning a reason to go back. This was the best $150 meal I have had in a long time, so if you are traveling through Birmingham and need a smaller portioned meal or planning a special date night with your partner, I highly suggest coming to OvenBird. It definitely takes the cake for one of the best meals I've had in Birmingham.

Just want to preface that I'm reviewing for the NYE prefixed menu that they had. The service was super quick, we were seated almost immediately once we came in. It was a candle lit dinner. What made OvenBird lose stars is that I just wasn't impressed with the food. Nothing had flavor. The portions were fine, it's tapa style so lots of small plates but I just felt everything was lacking seasoning/salt. It probably didn't help that we went to South America the day after and experienced a whole other level of amazing food. Don't think I'll be going back but if you've never been, I'd say come to experience the restaurant and try a few things off their menu.

Very cool vibe! If it had been cooler we would have loved to sit outside in the courtyard. Our server was on top of it! Made great recommendations and had our drinks out quickly. We shared: Beef Fat Candle, Black Grouper Ceviche, Paella, Hanger Steak, Whole Flounder (Chef's Specialty), Roasted Vegetables, 7 Layer Cake. Sounds like a lot but they're definitely sharing plates. Ceviche was amazing, Flounder also amazing, Beef Fat Candle was good, loved the Roasted Vegetables, Hanger Steak and Paella were ok. Save room for the 7 Layer Chocolate Cake! We will definitely be back!

I've been to Birmingham many times and ate in some wonderful restaurants here. This place stands out among the greatest! Who uses beef tallow to make a candle, light it and let it float in a bowl of vegetables and beef gravy? The visionary, superstar chefs of the Ovenbird do. I asked and they said there are four chefs back there. This place truly is special. Jada was our server tonight and she was simply awesome. She came by regularly to refill drinks and check on us. I saw her do this at every table too. We ordered the deviled eggs, empanadas (tonight they were beef), paella, and roasted chicken. We also got the beef-fat candle with bread. I won't even try to put in words how delicious everything was. The food was a work of art. It was rich but not overpowering. They are very insightful in the way they pair food together. The roasted chicken came with lima beans. Between the Peruvian lima beans and the black beans with the empanadas and the chicken, we couldn't finish all the protein on our plates. This brings me to another point -- They are generous with their portions. Lastly, the interior is super cool and they have outdoor seating that is very elegant. I don't mean to write a book but if there's any place that deserves a book to be written about it, this is it. Come here and enjoy AND always remember to be kind to your servers.

I went tonight with friends for Birmingham Restaurant Week. I ordered off the restaurant week menu which was $45 for a starter, entrée and dessert. Our server (Chris) started by telling us that the food portions are small. After his speech I understood that I would not be full when I left. He encouraged us to Get a couple of plates of this and that and share everything... The empanadas were very good, but as expected a very small portion. Surprisingly, the paella had no seafood in it at all. This was prepared with conecuh sausage and chicken. It was good, but definitely missing the seafood. The flan was nice. I also had 1 glass of red wine and one mixed drink ($88.00, 20% gratuity was automatically added). My friend ordered the steak... it was small enough to be on a saucer with plenty of room to spear.

I hate leaving this review because 2 previous visits had been so excellent but last night was not. We invited a few friends for a small party. Service from waitress and hostess were excellent but one thing ruined the experience. Salt. Ugh! We ordered beef fat candles (which are usually excellent) and they were salty almost to the point of being inedible. Deviled eggs too salty. Chicken, salty. Steak, you guessed it, salty. And yes all 7 at the table agreed TOO MUCH SALT. $300 in food ruined by $.10 worth of salt. Frankly, I'm embarrassed that we invited and subjected our friends to it.

We heard mixed reviews about Ovenbird so we have been hesitant to try it. HOWEVER, we really enjoyed our meal! Everything we had was good. A few favorites were the steak, arepa, chicken and roasted vegetables. DEFINITELY a place to go with a group so that you can try more things. Bonus-- 10/10 food allergy friendly

So I've always raved about OvenBird, though it was never a full 10/10, I don't expect perfection and it has always been a solid spot. I moved didn't visit for a couple of years, but I came back and brought my favorite person here to share a special holiday meal... And we were completely underwhelmed. Everything was just okay. The portions seemed smaller and we weren't really full but still spent $100. He was pretty surprised to hear this was one of my favorites in town, and I was left trying to explain it used to be better. IDK. Maybe we caught them on a bad day, but I don't really want to pay to find out. Bummer.

I had a beautiful birthday dinner here ate OvenBird. They made nothing of the fact that my party was one person short of the reservation I had made. My party was seated as soon as I arrived, and my server had to be one of the most entertaining I had ever encountered. Think surfer boy who has a knowledge of food and drink. We enjoyed our meal from beginning to end. It was my first opportunity to sample ceviche which left an impression on me for its refreshing quality. The roasted vegetables were equally impressive considering the size-to-price of dish ratio. The dressing and cook on the vegetables was a delight. The empanadas inspired delight. I wanted to learn to cook them at home so I can have them all the time! And finally, the beef fat candle exceeded my expectations in every way. A heartier version of bread dipped in herbed olive oil, this dish was a savory queen's dream! I still think about it from time to time. The beverages were good while not particularly notable. I ordered the hanger steak which while scrumptious was quite a small portion. I need to read up on my measurements! I also sampled the Gulf fish which my friends ordered. It was delectable. We finished the meal with dessert, and the chocolate cake was a wonderful bow on top of the entire experience. I'll also say that when the bill arrived, it was half what I expected it to be! A welcome sight on a student budget. I greatly enjoyed what OvenBird had to offer and look forward to returning!

We had a delightful dinner at OvenBird during Restaurant Week in July '23. Our group enjoyed everything on the menu and all of the cocktails we tried. It was a wonderful atmosphere with perfect service. Loved every minute and can't wait to return.

Yelp! Ladies night begin and end with Ovenbird! We are a party of three tonight. Drew is responsible for us tonight. Thanks Drew for your attentive an wonderful service. For starters we got the charcuterie board! All the stars are for this board! Amazing and fresh. People you must try something knew! Entrees were 2 roasted chicken with Lima beans and salsa verde (Tasty and juicy chicken, but weird combination), and a chef inspired paella. So good. I wanted to try your seared brûlée, but it's not in season at this time. SoNote the stars. Do, I'll be back!

An excellent first experience here! I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and so I decided to try it out for my birthday. This place a cozy romantic vibe. I wanted to try everything but we settled on ordering the deviled eggs, empanadas, roasted potatoes, gulf fish and roasted chicken. The food was excellent, we cleaned every plate. My favorite was the gulf fish, which was a red snapper and it was cooked to perfection. It was raining the night we went so the patio was closed but I'd love to go back and enjoy their outdoor seating.

OvenBird is a restaurant featuring modern flavors and Southern American cuisine. The name of the restaurant "OvenBird" comes from a bird and an ancient cooking tool, emphasizing the uniqueness and creativity of cooking. Offering a variety of snacks, grilled dishes, grilled meats and other creative delicacies. Chef Cristina Soto is known for his passion for cooking techniques and innovative spirit, often creating unique flavors and complex seasonings in his dishes. The restaurant offers a comfortable dining environment with its modern décor and warm atmosphere, with a variety of dining options including alfresco seating and a bar area. Cristina Soto is a well-respected chef who has won multiple gastronomic awards and actively supports local farms and ingredients producers.

Ovenbird is a great choice, especially as the weather starts to warm up. The courtyard patio has a relaxing vibe, and even the indoor seating areas are open to the fresh evening air. We started with the beef fat candle, which in a very good way is far more beef au jus than it is fat. It's well seasoned, and great for dipping. We shared the tapas style entrees of the paella and the roasted chicken - both quite flavorful. The best part of the meal is always dessert, and the apple crisp did not disappoint. Service from Alex was perfect, just the right combination of attentiveness with drinks, and giving us time to have quality dinner conversation without being interrupted. For a beautiful evening of good food, a gorgeous setting, and excellent service all at reasonable pricing you should certainly consider Ovenbird.

I made reservations here for my husband for his birthday and was not disappointed! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and romantic! Our waitress was kind and helpful and our food arrived in a timely manner. Will definitely recommend OvenBird to others!

My husband took me here during restaurant week for my birthday. I can't believe what a great job he did at finding this place. Everything, from the service, to the cocktails, to the food - was amazing. He ordered from the restaurant week menu and I ordered the deviled eggs and the hanger steak. All incredible. Maybe the best deviled eggs I've ever had. They use romesco as their secret ingredient. The tres leaches cake was light and delicious. Although the portions are tapas sized, they're just right and leaves room for sharing. The next day I couldn't stop thinking about the awesome experience and wanted to return lol.

This was my first time at OvenBird, and I'm honestly surprised that its name doesn't come up more in the Bham restaurant conversation! It's tucked away in Pepper Place. The patio is absolutely a vibe, but I was seated indoors this time. We had a 7 pm reservation; the place filled up quickly! My server was very attentive and her pacing was great. She also knew what to suggest and could tell I was a little indecisive since it was my first time. As a gin and kombucha, I started with the Black Berry Spritzer- it did not disappoint! The slight sourness of the blackberry and lemon paired nicely with the drink. The charcuterie was our starter. I would recommend pairing the Kentucky sausage with the comte cheese and a marcona almond atop a piece of bread drizzled with honey. It's the perfect texture and sweet/salty bite! I do with there had been some dried fruit, but alas. The main course was the Hangar steak and the seafood fideos. I was surprised by the seafood fideos. The meat portion is very small, so don't expect to be full on the protein. The shrimp, clams, and small chunks of chorizo are atop a bed of fideos, which are a very thin egg-based Mexican noodle. The noodles were chopped finely (almost rice-like) and very easy to consume. The tomato-base was not too overwhelming, to my satisfaction. The hangar steak was a very small portion as well, to be expected. I stand by a medium rare order and found this to be so juicy. You could genuinely taste a difference in that it was cooked in a wood-fire setting. My second drink was the Pear Flair. This is their new drink. I was blown away. I've had a cocktail every night this week, but this was unlike anything I had ever tasted. I am officially a proponent of the pear cocktail club. This drink contains rum, pear, lemon, port, and nutmeg. It was not too sweet yet very easy on the palette. I would definitely return just for this drink.

I'm day dreaming about the food already!! My favorite part about the experience is getting to know the staff and getting the best drink recommendations!!

We had a rough day and decided to try a new restaurant that we had been eyeing...thankfully we were able to grab a reservation. The courtyard is beautiful. Pitcher of Red Sangria - just ok I appreciate that it wasn't overly sweet, but it also didn't taste like sangria. Rather it tasted like red wine over ice. It was missing the wonderful soaked fruit and instead was served with a lime round Ceviche- very limey and delicious. The portion was tiny and it would have helped to have some house-made chips/wontons Charcuterie board- Delicious Brie and Pate... the rest was boring and small/expected Cauliflower- I love cauliflower, but not this cauliflower. This was a pretty roasted head but very mushy with a overly sweet maple sauce... like if cauliflower was trying to be dessert. Additionally the mint gremolata, which could have made it less sweet by balancing the maple sauce, wasn't there at all... it was just torn mint. Scallops- They were seasoned well but not seared well enough but the romesco was lovely Hanger Steak- steak was cooked well at medium rare and delicious paired with a spicy chimichurri Seafood Fideos- our least favorite. While the seafood was cooked well, there was no seasoning and the best part was the few slices of roasted peppers Overall, we tried everything we wanted to from the menu and I don't think there was anything amazing enough to bring us back for dinner. Given how understatedly beautiful it is, a pre-dinner drink may be worth considering.

Went to Ovenbird last night for the first time on a date night: The ambiance was so nice, soft lighting, good atmosphere. Service was quick for a Friday night, our server was very knowledgeable about the dishes and told us to expect smaller portions. Food was really good. We shared the charcuterie board and an Argentinian cabernet which was scrumptious (the blue cheese was our favorite thing, so rich!). I had the choripan and despite the bread being burned was very flavorful, spicy with a tasty aioli. I tried a bite of the hanger steak which was a smaller plate but so tender and delicious. Overall, a good experience with tasty food!

It's great to find a restaurant where people still dress up! Great customer service, beautiful indoors and outdoors... if you come here, expect a good overall experience. I recommend the empanadas & the bread is delicious.

I'm going to preface the review by saying the ONLY reason this is 3 stars is because Chris Hasings tried his best to right what was wrong, because this was an easy 1-2 star experience for us. The experience did NOT live up to the price. This is our first and last time eating here. It's a tappas style restaurant where everything except the roasted chicken is overpriced for the portions you get. The food is good but the drinks took an extremely long time (30+ minutes). Our table of 6 even talked about canceling the drink order and leaving. My reviews are based on type of food, taste, portions, price, quality of service and atmosphere... For OvenBird: prices are high, service was mediocre, food was good, portions are very little, and the outside atmosphere sucked. We were sat outside... in Alabama... in August.... mosquitos, cicadas, all the bugs. I paid $20 for a "steak" I ate in 2 bites. We also ordered the seafood fideos, which never came, so we just told the waiter to take it off our tab. The charcuterie board is laughable for the price and so is the "tomato salad" (see pics). You can make these at home from Walmart for a fraction of the price, nothing special here. Glad we tried it, won't be back. Chris did comp the 2nd round of drinks and the staff was apologetic. However, we spent $120 and were so hungry 2 hours later, we stopped at a fast food restaurant on our way home. Pass it up, the juice isn't worth the squeeze.

The food was amazing!! The waiter was great at suggestions and explaining how much food to order. The atmosphere was fabulous. We will be back!

We went for a girls night out. We enjoyed numerous different dishes. Every thing was good, but the two pictures dishes were my favorites. Great place to go to try a bit of everything and it's all good.

This place has an incredible ambiance. It's all open to outside and very well lit and decorated. The kitchen is open as well and the whole place just smelled amazing. Food was incredible. We opted for the special which was a whole roasted fish with several sides including the potatoes. We got several drinks and all were great! Staff was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend trying this place and make sure you grab reservations!

We had never been before, and visited with some out of town family to check it out. It was a unique dining experience. They serve tapas, which means you need to order several items to get a meal. All the food was good, and it was a different dining experience.

We had a lovely dinner with friends on Friday night. We made reservations well in advance, and were seated on time. The wait staff and service was excellent. The restaurant and trendy atmosphere is very nice. Thank goodness we requested indoor seating because this February night was very chilly. We were aware of the tapas format and we decided to order multiple dishes and share among the four of us. We started with appetizer Beef Fat Candle, Cerviche, and the Pork Empanadas. We all agreed that the Beef Fat Candle and Ceviche stood out. Ask for additional bread so you can soak up all of the Beef Fat Candle broth. For our entrees we selected the Roasted Vegetables, Hanger Steak, Roasted Duck, and Seared Scallops. The dishes are carefully prepared and nicely plated. I really liked the Roasted Vegetables. The other dishes were good, but none really wowed me. Honestly, the entree portions are so small that sharing them among four adults is a stretch. For example, the Hanger Steak and Roasted Duck is so small that each person gets a small bite. You get just a little more with the Vegetables and Scallops dishes. For desert we ordered the apple crisp and the ginger infused cream brûlée. I liked the apple crisp. The twist on cream brûlée was creative, but just okay. Ovenbird was a fun experience, and I'm glad we went. But, I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped it would be.

My husband and I were downtown at the Pepper Place Eat in the Street and Holiday Open House event. While there, we decided to try something new, so we walked to Ovenbird. I had heard really good things about it from several friends. Being December, the restaurant was nicely decorated with lights and a tree. Luckily we were able to grab one of the last tables before there was a wait. All the tables were socially distanced and all the staff was wearing masks. The atmosphere was warm and our server was very nice and friendly. The three-star rating is because of the food. It was okay. First of all, it was my fault that I didn't realize that this was a small plate/tapas restaurant, so I think I was expecting more. We ordered several plates, starting with the Farmer's Cheese. It was good, and one of my favorites of the night. Next was the Spit Roasted Duck with kohlrabi, sweet potato, and apples. Unfortunately, the duck was bland. My suggestion is to add rosemary and more apple. We also ordered the Shaved Brussel Sprouts. I guess I should have read the menu a little closer because I did not realize that these would be raw and more like a salad. The taste wasn't bad it reminded me of a caesar salad with an anchovy paste. Then there was the beef shoulder. This was amazing and my overall favorite of the night! All of these dishes were plenty for the two of us. Because I am a huge fan of bread pudding, we ordered the Chocolate Bread Pudding which is cooked in a skillet. It was delicious, and interesting at the same time because it had the texture of bread pudding and looked like a brownie. My only complaint is that it needed to come with a bigger scoop of ice cream.

Celebrated a birthday dinner here! Very interesting food choices! We enjoyed our time and our waiter was excellent and interactive. The portions are a bit small for shareable plates, thus increasing price of bill if you have a larger party. Overall, would go back!

We had some work vendors in from out of town so we wanted to go to a nice local restaurant for dinner. A coworker recommended Oven Bird. I was very excited to learn that Oven Bird is in the heart of Pepper Place, one of my favorite areas. I arrived a little early. We had requested patio seating and I wanted to take a peak before the team arrived. I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance of the entire restaurant. The patio area was clean, had fun architecture, flowers and outdoor string lights. I was immediately greeted upon walking inside. I chose to sit at the bar while I waited. The bartender was amazing- friendly and very informative . I chose their house white wine for my libation. It was a large serving, crisp ,chilled perfectly and very tasty. As I sipped on my wine, the bar tender was explaining the menu to another guest. It was fun listening to his descriptions and explanations of the menu. The gentleman sitting beside me at the bar was from out of town and had nothing but good things to say about his food. When my party arrived, we were seated on the patio as requested. The transition from bar to table was seamless. The menu is mostly small plates, so we decided to do family style. We ordered the beef fat candle, deviled eggs, ceviche, charcuterie, roasted veggies, fennel salad, scallops, flank steak & Shrimp Fideos. We were sad they were out of the roasted bone marrow. I personally do not care for ceviche, but will have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! It had a delicious lemon flavor and was very fresh. I was a little disappointed in the roasted veggies. Some were too crunchy and tasted raw to me. The beef fat candle was not only a delightful sight, but was also delicious. Who doesn't enjoy dipping bread in a warm beef broth with tomatoes & onion? I loved the cheeses on the charcuterie, but didn't taste the other items. My companions all agreed that everything else was good. All in all I was wooed by the atmosphere, the service and presentation of the food. The food was delightfully interesting. I will return, but for someone who has a heartier appetite, they may be disappointed. Definitely a great place for drinks or a romantic date.

The food was absolutely amazing. I most liked the scallops personally. The ambiance was perfect for a well dinner night after work. Sloan was perfect in every way. Knew the menu and was very interactive with us. The Service was awesome.

We had a big table last night, ten in all, the night after Thanksgiving. We were tired of small talk and the television going nonstop. That made Ovenbird an ideal place to get away. The atmosphere is great. Lively enough, but not too noisy. The interior is interesting, divided into a lot of smaller dining areas. The result? It didn't have the big impersonal field of a large restaurant, rather achieving a sense of intimacy. Our server was spot on, always attentive and making great suggestions. And the drinks and food were awesome. Know a couple of things. This is more of a community serve kind of format, a tapas approach with lots of small plates intended to serve. It's not my favorite way to eat, in truth. Because it means that you really have to order smaller portions and pick on everyone else's plates. Not to mention that your bill adds up a little faster. I fully understand that's the format. I just prefer a more conventional serve when it comes to food.

What an experience. This was my second time being here and it was truly better than my first. I'm not sure if it was because Chef Hastings stopped by to talk to us--though that definitely was a highlight--or if I just picked better items this time, but the meal was simply delicious from start to finish. Our server was very attentive and told us we had to wait for the entire candle to melt before partaking in the beef fat candle; this is definitely a must. Everything tasted really fresh and bright. I think that's the best description. Nothing was heavy. I just really enjoyed everything we ate and the only complaint I have is that I want more! We will be saving our coins to make this happen more frequently. It will be interesting if the fall/winter menu can live up to the summer menu.

A group of friends and I came here for a casual happy hour and it was quite good! I can not recommend MORE the candle thing! Absolutely delivers and quite a spectacle!

We were so excited to try this place after a rave review from fellow coworkers while visiting Birmingham. Unfortunately, the experience was horrible with one person in our party never getting their entree. Two of us had the Peruvian chicken and ate our meals completely before our buddy's "small plate" steak arrived. In fact, we had to grab a random server to remind them of the mishap because our server never returned to the table for refills or to check in. He was a nice guy and they comp'd my friend's dinner, but the whole meal was ruined because we awkwardly ate in anticipation. So long story short, not worth the hype and the chicken was dry.

Dinner with the family while visiting BHM. We dined on the beef candle, charcuterie board, empanadas and flank steak. House rye drink was great. Recommend a reservation. Dinner was fantastic plus enjoyed the promptness of plates and open kitchen format.

Atmosphere was lovely. Alex was our server and did amazing. The food is good but definitely small plates. I ordered the roasted chicken which was a decent portion.