Brian Joe
We visited Ellie Bird for Valentine’s Day, our second time here, and while the food, service, and atmosphere remain top-tier, our evening was unfortunately marred by a distressing incident and a questionable response from ownership.
The food, service, and atmosphere were once again excellent. Our server, Amir, was fantastic, and the overall quality of the meal was top tier.
Unfortunately, our evening took a distressing turn when my partner became trapped in the restroom for 30 minutes due to a faulty lock. While the manager and a female staff member were incredibly apologetic (apologizing nearly 10 times) and did their absolute best to manage a clumsy situation, the rescue process was frustrating.
Instead of calling emergency services, we were just told twice the owner would arrive in five minutes. When he arrived, rather than prioritizing a quick exit, he seemed focused on preserving the door. He ended up dropping a screwdriver through the ceiling from an adjacent restroom for my partner to unscrew the lock herself. Passing tools through a ceiling is a pretty wild way to handle a trapped guest. Most commercial establishments are required to have emergency releases or call the Fire Department immediately.
While the manager graciously provided a full refund for the meal and drinks, the owner’s response was disappointing. He didn’t seem to offer a sincere apology, and his comment that this was an “unforgettable and interesting story” felt dismissive of the fact that my partner was trapped and distressed for half an hour.
Go for the food and the excellent floor staff, but I sincerely hope the owner re-evaluates their emergency protocols and, prioritizes customer safety and professional repairs over “interesting stories” in the future.
… moreElizabeth Cummings
We had a wonderful time for the Valentines Day Dinner experience. We sat at the chefs table and saw all the dishes being created with care. At one point we saw the head chef come out, taste a dish, gather the other chefs from the pass and adjust the flavors so it was just right – even during a busy dinner service. It felt like being behind the scenes on a high end cooking show! My wife has shellfish and nut allergies and we were wonderfully taken care of in that regard. All the food was absolutely delicious. The tuna carpaccio was our favorite, followed closely by the short rib over grits. We ate so much we felt like we would explode, even though the portions were well sized for a four course meal (we got plenty to enjoy and finished every. single. bite). The serving team provided fresh silverware after every course and wiped our table down before our next dish and we felt treated like royalty. The drinks were expertly crafted and so smooth and gorgeously presented to match.
We can’t afford to spend this much on dinner often, but we may make Valentines Day a yearly tradition here regardless of price. It really was that phenomenal.
… moreElizabeth Briones
This place is one of a kind. PHENOMINAL food, impeccable service , and really neat atmosphere. We were blown away by the creative unique menu and the fresh and delicious taste of the foods! We are so impressed and will definitely be back! Our server Jasline was so knowledgeable, personable and incredibly accommodating to my health needs as a vegetarian. We can’t wait to come back! This place is one of a kind.
… moreAshley Carswell
Flavorful food creations with a trendy atmosphere and quick friendly service. Would recommend: tornado omelet with kimchi fried rice and sweet Chinese sausage and pb and j french toast. Brunch cocktails were also fresh and delicious.
… moreHazel Afroilan
A great little find! Perfect for brunch. Small menu which my husband and I appreciate. The BLT with pork belly and fries was the star of our meal. PBJ French toast – a must order.
Maurice (our server) and Carrie (hostess) were so hospitable and sweet. Great first experience!
… moreMargalit M
Brunch winner in Falls Church! We had a lovely time brunching at this restaurant. Very nice and attentive service. The restaurant decor is a mix of traditional and modern. But the best part was the food. We had the pastry basket which was delicious. The pumpkin donut was my favorite. I had the tornado omelette which was so unique with an Asian spice profile. My friend has the fried chicken sandwich which she raved about, and my other friend had the traditional omelette which was very nice. Nice cocktails, a very cool lavender cappuccino– lots of attention to detail on the menu which changes for lunch, brunch and dinner. I’ll definitely be back to try their other menus in the future. IMO, this place is a must try if you’re in the area.
… moreMark Gavino
Resy for 8:00 PM, sat at 8:30 PM, appetizers came at 8:45 PM. Entrees did not come out until 9:15/9:20.
We had ordered food ahead and they did not tell us what apps or entrees they ran out of until we started getting food.
They comped a bottle of champagne and some apps and entrees, but failed to tell us what food they were out of so that we could at least know or make a substitution. The two pasta dishes we were served, as well as the potatoes in the branzino dish, were undercooked and hard to the bite.
Servers were friendly but infrequently checked on us. It seemed like there was a lack of coordination in our order & what was supposed to be communicated to us.
Some dishes were tasty but did not make up for our experience.
We were comped a few apps and got some freebies, so the service was good minus the infrequent check ins and lack of communication. May come back to see if we had an off day.
… moreAngela Schroeder
I was so excited to finally try Ellie Bird. My friends and I shared several dishes and I loved all of them, even as a picky eater! The pear cacio e pepe was my favorite- delicious and very unique! The restaurant was beautifully decorated and the service was great. I look forward to returning to try their brunch menu.
… moreHolly Ferrara
This place won me over! The drinks were amazing, the food was absolutely delicious, and the overall vibe was top-tier. Our bartender, Taylor, went above and beyond to deliver truly exceptional service. We’ll definitely be back!
… moreAlisa S.
Super down to earth service and very kids friendly. Great kids reusable water bottles. They offer kids menu and free pancakes & crayons for kids. Our 6 & 2 yr old had fun here and enjoyed the food very much. We had duck hash and chicken sandwiches. Both are great, duck hash had some oil on the bottom, making the last bit of food greasier. Coffee was strong and flavorful. Highly recommend here!
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