My wife and I were really excited to try this “Michelin-rated” restaurant. Unfortunately, Blackbird did not meet even the most basic standards. The waitress was busy chatting with the bar tender the entire time and didn't come around our table. The drinks did not come out for 15 minutes. I'm pretty sure she forgot to place the order despite there being only 4 other parties in the entire restaurant. We ordered the mussels, risotto, and short ribs. The mussels were pretty average. Most of the flavor came from the meat they had mixed into the sauce. The risotto was pretty good. I would it a 4/5. The short ribs were grilled like a steak and cut into thick pieces. Very underwhelming and bland. At $75, we expected the short ribs to be braised for hours and fall off the bone and full of flavor. This restaurant was a huge disappointment and has no business being on any Michelin list.
The BEST experience. Our server, Maddie, was so sweet and so were all the bartenders and the hosts. I loved my experience. 10/10. Food was so delicious, get the ravioli and risotto!
Villager
Perhaps it was just an off-night for the place. The citrus salad was good, but the gem salad was indifferent. The mushroom risotto and dover sole were both oversalted and poorly presented. The vegetable ragu was oversalted and oily. Not what we'd have expected, given some of the great reviews.
My partner and I came into town from Los Angeles for an early Valentine's Day weekend. Blackbird had amazing reviews so we decided to reserve a table. Highly recommend for date night or small dinner party. Drinks are beautiful, delicious and strong. Chef and team have a wonderful and (omg) delicious menu. The service was A+. Our server was just wonderful and knew the menu well. We left so happy. Thank you. Can't wait to come back.
DVeg
Overpriced new years fixed price meal. Not at all like advertised. Same food was used for multiple courses. Food delivered very late and then no silverware with courses for 15 minutes food got cold. Clearly understaffed. Poured whole bottle of wine in first glasses to try to get us to drink more. Put 20% tip automatically for party of 4. Chefs did a good job given the situation. Manager didn't seem to know what they were doing. Just seemed like they wanted to get money from us.
EvaG
We didn't get the opportunity to truly enjoy our evening as the service was HORRIBLE. Service can make or break an experience and our service person destroyed ours. We ordered drinks before dinner and wine to accompany the dinner, they delivered them at the same time. Within minutes of getting both drinks they started bringing the food courses. The food was warm at best, the 4th course was very undercooked. For what we spent we left so disappointed. We had to ask to have our 4th course and desert plates removed. I had heard so many raves reviews, and was so excited to go, and now... Eh I'm sorry to say. Eva Alexander Gutierrez
etch
The bartender was fabulous as were the drinks he poured. Both food and service were also fabulous. But, unfortunately, I left with a very bad taste in my mouth - someone came around and let us (and the one other table) know that the restaurant was closing in ten minutes. Not, the kitchen is closing in ten minutes, the restaurant was. While we were nearly done, this is no way to treat your customers, especially at this price point. I do hope there is a little extra care taken in hospitality for future customers so they can relax and enjoy their meal and conversation without undue disruptions.
Heather MacFarland
The quail was amazing! A very outstanding dish. My husband had the mussels which he loved. The drinks were very good and the service was great. The only drawback was the restaurant was very cold with doors being left open on a chilly night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
TahoeSteve
First time visiting from Napa Valley. Restaurant is decorated ala Hitchcock! Chef de Cuisine Joshua Legrand was personally helpful in our menu selection. Starters of Richotta Gnudi was well matched with the Citrus Salad. The Braised Short Rib for two was perfectly cooked - very tender and flavorful. Service was friendly and efficient. Overall a wonderful evening dinner!
Emma G.
The food was excellent. The duck was super tender and moist. The steak was like butter and absolutely delicious. Kudos to the chef and the bartender for the delicious cocktail drinks
We had a reservation for inside. The hostess sat us outside. We asked to be seated inside and she said that all she had available was a hightop. The dining room was about halfway full an hour later, when we left. I don't know what we did to upset the hostess, but clearly, we must have. The waiter was attentive; the food was just ok. The small plates were better than the mains. We won't be back.
Patrick K.
Here for dinner, not too busy at 6pm, but decent amount of couples at the bar. Server was great, very helpful and did not hover. Cervichie with salmon chicharrones was delicious, scallops for my date, cooked to perfection and giant. Rack of lamb for and it was delicious as well. Citrus salad was prepared very good, nice wine and drink menu, only let down was the beer menu, it was only ok with brewery list, mixed, just needed a few more. Enjoyed and will be back to see what's next on the menu.
Alderman62
The service was very good and the ambience was nice. My steak was tough but pretty tasty. The fish dish left a lot to be desired. Overall, nice ambience and service but the food was OK and overpriced.
smartypantscommunist
Wine list is very odd, but luckily we found some things to our liking by the glass. Had some oysters which were outstanding, and ceviche, also very good. Had the lamb chops and black cod, both very very good. Maddie was our server, and very professional and attentive.
Yvonne D.
Such a nice vibe and delicious food we went two nights in a row! The Short Ribs with Sunchoke purée were sublime. Look very forward to joining them again!!!
My wife and I were really excited to try this “Michelin-rated” restaurant. Unfortunately, Blackbird did not meet even the most basic standards. The waitress was busy chatting with the bar tender the entire time and didn't come around our table. The drinks did not come out for 15 minutes. I'm pretty sure she forgot to place the order despite there being only 4 other parties in the entire restaurant. We ordered the mussels, risotto, and short ribs. The mussels were pretty average. Most of the flavor came from the meat they had mixed into the sauce. The risotto was pretty good. I would it a 4/5. The short ribs were grilled like a steak and cut into thick pieces. Very underwhelming and bland. At $75, we expected the short ribs to be braised for hours and fall off the bone and full of flavor. This restaurant was a huge disappointment and has no business being on any Michelin list.
The BEST experience. Our server, Maddie, was so sweet and so were all the bartenders and the hosts. I loved my experience. 10/10. Food was so delicious, get the ravioli and risotto!
Perhaps it was just an off-night for the place. The citrus salad was good, but the gem salad was indifferent. The mushroom risotto and dover sole were both oversalted and poorly presented. The vegetable ragu was oversalted and oily. Not what we'd have expected, given some of the great reviews.
My partner and I came into town from Los Angeles for an early Valentine's Day weekend. Blackbird had amazing reviews so we decided to reserve a table. Highly recommend for date night or small dinner party. Drinks are beautiful, delicious and strong. Chef and team have a wonderful and (omg) delicious menu. The service was A+. Our server was just wonderful and knew the menu well. We left so happy. Thank you. Can't wait to come back.
Overpriced new years fixed price meal. Not at all like advertised. Same food was used for multiple courses. Food delivered very late and then no silverware with courses for 15 minutes food got cold. Clearly understaffed. Poured whole bottle of wine in first glasses to try to get us to drink more. Put 20% tip automatically for party of 4. Chefs did a good job given the situation. Manager didn't seem to know what they were doing. Just seemed like they wanted to get money from us.
We didn't get the opportunity to truly enjoy our evening as the service was HORRIBLE. Service can make or break an experience and our service person destroyed ours. We ordered drinks before dinner and wine to accompany the dinner, they delivered them at the same time. Within minutes of getting both drinks they started bringing the food courses. The food was warm at best, the 4th course was very undercooked. For what we spent we left so disappointed. We had to ask to have our 4th course and desert plates removed. I had heard so many raves reviews, and was so excited to go, and now... Eh I'm sorry to say. Eva Alexander Gutierrez
The bartender was fabulous as were the drinks he poured. Both food and service were also fabulous. But, unfortunately, I left with a very bad taste in my mouth - someone came around and let us (and the one other table) know that the restaurant was closing in ten minutes. Not, the kitchen is closing in ten minutes, the restaurant was. While we were nearly done, this is no way to treat your customers, especially at this price point. I do hope there is a little extra care taken in hospitality for future customers so they can relax and enjoy their meal and conversation without undue disruptions.
The quail was amazing! A very outstanding dish. My husband had the mussels which he loved. The drinks were very good and the service was great. The only drawback was the restaurant was very cold with doors being left open on a chilly night.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time visiting from Napa Valley. Restaurant is decorated ala Hitchcock! Chef de Cuisine Joshua Legrand was personally helpful in our menu selection. Starters of Richotta Gnudi was well matched with the Citrus Salad. The Braised Short Rib for two was perfectly cooked - very tender and flavorful. Service was friendly and efficient. Overall a wonderful evening dinner!
The food was excellent. The duck was super tender and moist. The steak was like butter and absolutely delicious. Kudos to the chef and the bartender for the delicious cocktail drinks
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a reservation for inside. The hostess sat us outside. We asked to be seated inside and she said that all she had available was a hightop. The dining room was about halfway full an hour later, when we left. I don't know what we did to upset the hostess, but clearly, we must have. The waiter was attentive; the food was just ok. The small plates were better than the mains. We won't be back.
Here for dinner, not too busy at 6pm, but decent amount of couples at the bar. Server was great, very helpful and did not hover. Cervichie with salmon chicharrones was delicious, scallops for my date, cooked to perfection and giant. Rack of lamb for and it was delicious as well. Citrus salad was prepared very good, nice wine and drink menu, only let down was the beer menu, it was only ok with brewery list, mixed, just needed a few more. Enjoyed and will be back to see what's next on the menu.
The service was very good and the ambience was nice. My steak was tough but pretty tasty. The fish dish left a lot to be desired. Overall, nice ambience and service but the food was OK and overpriced.
Wine list is very odd, but luckily we found some things to our liking by the glass. Had some oysters which were outstanding, and ceviche, also very good. Had the lamb chops and black cod, both very very good. Maddie was our server, and very professional and attentive.
Such a nice vibe and delicious food we went two nights in a row! The Short Ribs with Sunchoke purée were sublime. Look very forward to joining them again!!!