Daniel B.
Yelp
My friends and I had a great time at Two Birds Taphouse, a popular bar and restaurant near Marietta Square. This place has been well-liked by my coworkers ever since Two Birds opened for business in July 2016. My friends and I visited on a Friday night and there was a private event going on in one half of the space. The entire place was packed out.
The four of us sat at what looked like one of several makeshift tables that "extended" from the bar. The place was so busy with the private event and regular customers that I believe the tables at the bar weren't the norm. Our table was small for four people and we sat on barstools which weren't the most comfortable. On the bright side, we were right next to the bar so we could get the bartenders' attentions easily. And we had great views of both the TVs at the bar and the projection screen in the back, to watch sports.
The night of our visit, this place was more like a restaurant than a bar with a lot more sit-down dining going on than hanging out and drinking, though it evolved into the latter as the night wore on. This was true of the back space, with its communal picnic tables and standing areas.
Two Birds itself is located in an old brick building. The storefront is fairly nondescript and the sign up top isn't the easiest to read because it blends in with the building. Free street parking is available in the immediate area as well as on the Square itself. However, this part of Marietta has grown increasingly busy in recent years and parking has become more difficult to find. There are a few pay lots nearby. The two closest lots are right at the intersection of Powder Springs St SW and Waverly Way. There was an event going on during our visit, so we each paid a flat $10 event rate to park.
The restaurant and bar space looks great. It's one of those "historic" repurposed buildings with exposed wooden beams, ductwork, and brick walls. I love the numerous light fixtures above the bar as well as the neon red Two Birds sign in the back. The place was bustling and had a fun, casual vibe.
This is a gastropub and the kitchen serves what I'd describe as "elevated" pub grub + wood-fired pizzas. The kitchen stays open until 10pm. There were eight pizzas on the menu, from a Margherita Classic ($12) to a Prosciutto - Burrata ($16). Below is what we had. Outside of salads, bowls, and apps like Deviled Eggs ($6) and Calamari Fritto Misto ($13), it should give you a general idea of what else Two Birds has to offer food-wise.
Snack & Share
* Charcuterie Board ($20) - Benton's 18-month aged country ham, chef's choice of cured meat, house pimento cheese, local artisan cheeses, pickled okra, pickled green beans, strawberry jam, and crostini
Mains
* Wings ($14 per order) - eight flash-fried Springer Mountain Farms wings tossed in house sauce (choice of spicy teriyaki, hot buffalo, BBQ), carrots, celery, and ranch or blue cheese dressing
* The Burger ($15 each) - certified Angus beef (pink or done), melted brie, bacon, fig jam, arugula, balsamic red onions, brioche bun, and side of fries
Dessert
* Ricotta Donut Holes ($8) - whiskey bourbon gelato, dark chocolate/Milk Stout Nitro ganache, and dulce de leche
The couple next to us was munching on a Charcuterie Board when we sat down. It looked too good not to get. A food runner dropped the board off at our table with no explanation of what was on the board aside from what was written on the menu. I don't think we cared at the time and it's not a big deal to me, but it is nice when staff explains the different types of meat and cheeses on a cheese and charcuterie board. I found everything on the board to be delicious, especially the meats and pickled veggies. In addition to strawberry jam, our board also included a tasty, runny apricot spread. I recommend the Charcuterie Board. It's great for sharing.
We got a couple orders of the wings in two different flavors. I didn't try any, but my tablemates did and they finished all 16 of them, so they must've been not bad. The portions on the carrots and celery that came with were sparse. The wings were served in small skillets on Two-Birds-branded paper-lined trays.
We also got a couple orders of The Burger. I had mine cooked and served "pink," which it was. It was good. It was wetter and soggier than I would've liked and it also made my hands sticky (must've been the fig jam). Overall though, I enjoyed it. It was flavorful and satisfying, and also a bit heavy. The included fries were excellent. They looked fresh-cut and salted and were smooth, thin, and McDonald's-sized. You can order the fries separately with smoked aioli ($5) and smothered in either warm pimento or beer cheese ($9).
The Ricotta Donut Holes were very good. If you're looking for something sweet, it's hard to go wrong with them.
Also have to mention we got a variety of cocktails and beer. I had an old fashioned (not on menu) and it was delightful.
Service from Sarah, bartender Zack, and others was terrific.