My Husband and I came here for an anniversary brunch and were so well pleased with the food and service. This little diner reminded me of my friend from Jersey who mentioned missing diners like this one. The food was so amazing, we ordered the firecracker cauliflower that everyone recommended and I was simply amazed. We are not vegan or vegetarian however I would prefer these over sauced boneless wings any day. I ordered the ham and mushroom omelet with Gouda sauced cheese and this is unlike any omelet that I've ever had, so delicious. My Husband ordered the burger with bacon jam (the double burger) and it was a delicious burger, he let me steal a couple fries and wow were they so perfectly seasoned with a touch of herb flavor. I love that they use local ingredients because southwest MI has an abundant farm to table offerings that we benefit from. Well done Bird Dog! read more

Everything is fabulous the drinks service and food are all amazing things!!! It's a nice cozy place. Firecracker Cauliflower is awesome read more

Great addition to Mattawan! Excited to have a nice dining option in downtown. Atmosphere is great, small building and very intimate, if you sit at the bar you can watch the chefs at work! Nice drink menu with specialty cocktails available. We went for dinner, all of me u sounded great so it was a tough choice. Cauliflower starter and carrots side were both the stars of the meal though! Highly recommend. The fish was great - can't go too wrong with Parmesan crusted. The bolognese was ok, tastes good but nothing exciting or different about it. Service was impeccable. Will definitely be back - want to try brunch next! read more

Bird Dog - Firecracker cauliflower - Bars Near Me - Mattawan, Michigan

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l i've been here twice, with my kids, in route to Chicago and I must say the food is absolutely amazing. The three meals I have had here are the Reuben Benedict, little Jerry goes to Nashville, and the loaded tater tot's. I cannot wait to bring my wife here and see what she thinks. The place is quite cozy and comfortable and my only complaint is the hostess or the lady that seats you has been somewhat unfriendly on both occasions. During both of these visits, I asked for outdoor seating and there was a table available and they would not give it to me. On one of those occasions, she told me it would be about a 10 minute wait and people came in after me and sat first and they forgot about me. Accidents happen but twice I felt a little bit of rudeness.. They do not take reservations, so it wasn't like they were ahead of me. read more

We loved Bird Dog! Our intent was to stop in for a quick drink before heading to a friends in the area but we were quickly convinced we needed to at least try something on the food menu and boy was it delicious!! Our server/bartender Samantha was great! So the place is super small but that's part of its charm; 11ish barstools and maybe seating for 20! The kitchen is behind the bar so you watch the owner/chef cook up an amazing storm. Ambiance is everything, right? This place has it! Go check it out!! (No reservations, bar is full service, lots of food options). read more

Bird Dog - Firecracker cauliflower - Bars Near Me - Mattawan, Michigan

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Pleasantly surprised by this tiny gem! The pancake and the French toast were delicious! Everyone working was so kind and helpful!

The cauliflower alone deserves these 5 stars but everyone involved in the inner workings of Bird Dog take pride in making every dish just as savory. These recipes are a labor of love for really good food! Every meal I've had here dances on my gustatory cells. The libations are equally as palatable. And, the carrot cake is no joke! I never liked carrot cake and then Bird Dog changed my mind. My family is not affluent, on the contrary; However, we splurge every blue moon and are treated with respect and care. This restaurant is for everyone. I mean, everyone! You will be welcome, arms wide open, with delightful dishes to make you feel beyond satisfied. As long as these doors are open, my family will support this business and spend our hard earned schmeckles. I'm certain that will be a very long time, given the quality of this establishment. read more

I cannot say enough about this cozy restaurant. The food is excellent, a deliberate wine list, and some unique whiskies.

I love Bird Dog! Have had multiple meals and drinks here and nothing disappoints. The food is local, fresh and so flavorful. The interactive and open environment is so fun and refreshing for the Mattawan area. I can't wait to try more! Can't give this place enough stars! read more

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This is not about the food. They have a great reputation -- clearly an upscale gourmet restaurant. We have just started dining out again and we live in the area, so we thought we'd treat ourselves. I called the day before to ask about a reservation, and was told it's first-come, first served. We decided to take our chances and showed up at 5:45 on Sunday, only to be told there was a two-hour wait! I understand that no-shows can cause problems for a reservation system, but come on! For a restaurant of this caliber to not take reservations, or at the very least, a call-in wait list, is the height of arrogance. Why would you want to insult your customers that way? Mattawan has a good restaurant scene. Too bad I'll never get to eat at this one. read more

We were lucky to get a reservation in one of the igloos at 6:45 on a Saturday. There were 6 of us and we got a variety of food from the menu- it was all amazing. The firecracker cauliflower was a favorite- we polished off two orders. Everyone's meats were cooked perfectly to order and were delicious. To share with the table, the potatoes and brussels sprouts were so flavorful. It's a little pricey but it was more about the experience of eating delicious in a igloo with friends! How often can you say you get to do that? read more

Pasta and mushroom cream sauce was the pillow talk to a dessert finish that was rediculously delicious. The pasta was perfectly al dente. Perfect portion. The sauce was velvet-soft. The lemon-limey-strawberry tart was silky, and a perfect contrast to the light graham cracker crust and real whipped cream. My only regret was I couldn't order a cocktail, which I know are thoughtfully made. Can't wait to go back! read more

Excellent Food! Fun atmosphere! If you are a bacon lover I highly recommend the peanut butter and jelly for an appetizer, a delicious treat! Friendly customer service. My only criticism is with such a small building and limited space the wait to get a table is long....very long, almost an hour. More chairs outside for people waiting for tables would be nice. It is a first come, first serve operation, not a fan.....would love to be able to make a reservation! The food is delicious, but don't be in a hurry, your going to wait! read more

We were driving through the area on our way to Grand Rapids and had another restaurant picked out for a late lunch, but they had to close because they ran out of ingredients! Luckily Bird Dog was just down the street. The interior is small but inviting, and the smell from the open kitchen was amazing. We ordered the firecracker cauliflower appetizer, and like many other reviewers I thought it was fantastic. The sauce was like an Asian inspired wing sauce, with sesame seeds in it. The cauliflower was tender and the breading had a nice bite. I ordered the northern carbonara which was great. I personally would have preferred a bit more cheese but not enough to ask for it, I was hungry and it was delicious as is. My husband ordered the burger special (not pictured) which he enjoyed. The fries were stand-out, the texture was very nice and they were tossed in an herb salt blend that was really phenomenal. I would absolutely come back if I found myself in the area again. read more

Bird Dog - Northern Carbonara (fresh bucatini, clams, bacon) - Bars Near Me - Mattawan, Michigan

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I had heard a lot about this restaurant . Upon getting there and getting out of the car as I was hoping smells would greet usThere were none, no smells either good or bad and we parked real close to the restaurant entering the restaurant we got seated and that was as far as it went waited 10 minutes no one even took an order or a drink order for that matter. Looking at the menu and the outrageous prices I was just floored. This is not a high end restaurant to be charging those exorbitant fees. This is a dive that would like to be a high-end restaurant, but it does not make it. We will not be back if nobody can take your drink order after 10 minutes in the prices were like you needed to take a loan out to eat a meal Forget it. We don't mind upscale prices for an upscale restaurant, but this place is not yet it does not deserve the hype. read more

This is a wonderful restaurant. On Father's Day I had the best filet mignon ever. Our next visit we took our friends for Saturday brunch which was very enjoyable. Two nights ago we took our relatives who were visiting the USA. All meals were very, very good except mine. It was "ONE" surprisingly small piece of trout a la carte for $28.00 which was very dry. I decided to add grilled asparagus which was overdone for $8.00. I politely expressed mine concern and was given a delicious piece of cheesecake. The staff is excellent. read more

Loved this place! Dutch Pancake and Firecracker Cauliflower are two of the few other we loved! Hard to get RSVP in though, they need an online reservation system! Very small place, so it is challenging for a large gathering but perfect for brunch with your loved ones. read more

This restaurant is a great find. It has a wonderful menu and terrific food with very attentive service. The cocktails are well-crafted, and the wine selections are very good. It cannot be appreciated fully in one session.The Menu choices had us salivating immediately with creative preparations and up-scale offerings somewhat unexpected in this small and unpretentious setting. The chef is outstanding, so expect to be overwhelmed with his super combinations and delightful presentations. This restaurant is well worth an hour's drive to get there. To name only a few items on the menu would not give it the full credit it deserves, but the surprise "peanut butter and jelly," is over-the-top enjoyment. The salmon is outstanding, and the cheesecake is light and amazing, but you won't believe how great everything is until you go there and try it. It's worth a long trip. Enjoy! read more

A "Dot" of a restaurant. The food is AMAZING. We can't wait to go back. I'll certainly will try more items on their menu.

Food was amazing, my hubby had the filet with the most delicious mushrooms and I had a burger, which was great! Service was excellent and I loved being able to watch them cook! Don't let the owner scare you, he looks intimidating, but a really nice guy! Enjoyed talking with him. Definitely try the Mac and cheese. read more

Small seating area, an additional seating area outside in good weather. Food is Delicious!

We had an igloo reservation at Bird Dog after restaurants reopened in Michigan. They offered to seat us inside, as it was a chilly 10 degrees outside, but we opted to be adventurous. The igloo was toasty warm, although I brought a large blanket just in case. The food was delicious! The soup was hot and the beer was ice cold. I highly recommend! We will most definitely be back to dine inside. read more

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You have to try the Firecracker cauliflower! Service is great and they have fun seasonal drinks.

Found this location after a recommendation from the friends over @shadesoflavender farms (Anthony and group!). AMAZING food and and drinks will be visiting from Chicago again very soon! read more

We decided to come on a Sunday around 5:30 and were luckily able to grab a seat up at the bar right away. The workers are super friendly and welcoming! Food was served quickly and hot. Everything was absolutely delicious. The Cacio e Pepe was very filling, perfect for a chilly day like today. The filet was gone within a matter of minutes if that tells you how good it was. I was super happy that their dessert rotation was a chocolate torte today; no leftovers there. It was the perfect anniversary dinner! read more

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Delicious food, great service. Highly recommended! Firecracker cauliflower is to die for.

Been here twice and both times amazing!! I've tried the filet with risotto and the trout. Both to die for! Excellent service. The restaurant is designed to be small. I love the atmosphere it brings and that the owners are focused on serving a small select few customers with a delicious meal. You know you're going to get a fresh made meal that way so why complain?! We've found going at "odd" times is a sure way to get a seat when it's not his read more

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This is a staple for us in Mattawan. We go here often and never have a bad meal, the food is always delicious and the staff is always amazing! It is quite tight and you do sit very close to the other tables which sometimes isn't ideal. read more

The food was good, but this spot is super small. While seated, you can see everyone in the restaurant including the maitre'd, the cooks, etc. There are a few table outside, so IF the weather is good, that could be an option. read more

Had my first visit to this restaurant tonight, and I will be back many more times!! The atmosphere, staff, food, and drinks were more than I anticipated. I loved sitting at the bar and watching the cooks prepare the food. The menu is one of a kind and absolutely delicious!!! Everyone worked as a team and the cooks were more than happy to share what was being prepared, when asked. If I had more than two thumbs, this place would be getting them! read more

Great food and drinks. The smaller dining room provides the ability to manage the highest food quality that the owners dish up. Bird Dog is a must! read more

The food was insanely delicious. We just came back from an all inclusive resort in Mexico and this was the stand out meal. These people live food and flavors ! So fun and down to earth service. read more

This was a really hard one for me to decide to review. When it comes to allergies and dishes. Sometimes they don't see eye to eye. Which is why it was so wonderful when I alerted the staff about my allergy. My server made sure to check what was coming to my plate. For someone like me, eating out can be such a pain. That wasn't going to hinder me from having a great meal. We'd heard so much about the great dishes and wanted to try especially the lobster roll. I was going to pair my dish with a drink but decided against it. As I didn't know how long the food would take. Alcohol and an empty stomach is asking for trouble the next morning. Despite that I still got an appetizer. I settled on a filet mignon after much debate with myself. Lobster roll was also something I wanted to try. So then I had someone check to ensure it was free of what I was allergic to. Everything was going smoothly, the food came, and I mean the appetizer. We knew cauliflower could taste so good. Our dishes finally came and the lobster roll looked amazing. It was filled to the brim with lobster. My dish looked interesting. Not used to things being piled on top. None the less still a nice presentation. I enjoy a nice medium rare meat. So the blood oozing on to the risotto didn't look appetizing. It tasted nice according to my compadre, it looked weird, and that was because of the rarity I chose. What I didn't choose was a numbing mouth and pain. Unfortunately my dish did have something I was allergic too in it. Staff was quick to help and I not only had medicine, but a doctor in the house. What are the chances? I couldn't even keep the food down. In the bathroom, lightheaded, and in pain. They did comp the dish that caused the reaction. Eventually we left, my medicine kicked in, not before several car stops and vomiting. I got a check up and went home to sleep. Normally if an event like this would've happened it would've been 1 Star instantly. But no I can't bring myself to do that. They really did put effort into making sure I was ok. On a contradictory note, all steps should be taken to ensure this never happens to anyone. Not just me. Bird dog, you are doing the best you can as a local business. Carelessness, rushing, distractions, and so on. It could take someone's life. I wish you success and I thank the staff for being so quick to help. read more

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OMG! This place was So good. Had the Chicken Confit sandwich for lunch & it was delicious. Ordered the spiced cauliflower & the seasoned fries too. Really worth the drive. It's a very small place & we got in just prior to the lunch crowd. We visited a local vintage shop in town which recommended this restaurant to us. Would definitely recommend & go again. read more

My husband and I went for brunch about a week ago. Food was delicious, service was prompt, and the restaurant is gorgeous. I ordered the barbacoa omelet, my husband had the hot chicken and waffles and we split an order of breakfast potatoes. WOW. Everything was incredible! Those potatoes are a MUST have side. Will be back!! read more

Moved to Michigan about a year ago and have been looking for a upscale kind of place. This place is great, portions are large and the taste is fantastic. The starters could be meals in themselves. Scallops were cooked perfectly, my wife's filet was as well. We will be coming back again and again. read more

Bird Dog tonight. Our third visit which we chose to celebrate our anniversary ( one day ago)and New Years Eve was terribly disappointing. So much so that we asked for our check after the appetizer. We love the food here, but the service is just ridiculously bad. Strangers next to us were sharing the same bad service and some humor about it which lightened the mood. I have never asked my husband to get a check early. That is how frustrated we were. We like good food and nice dining, sort of casual upscale. However, when you bill yourself that way, you got to produce on all fronts. Having one service person who seats and clears (in that order) tables, takes your order 30 minutes later and never brings service ware ( napkins, utensils) or water even after a request is terrible. We got our appetizer at 25 minutes in, but had nothing to eat it with or wipe our hands on should we choose to eat hot, saucy cauliflower with our fingers. Our drinks came 40 minutes after being seated, well after the starter. We were not alone, tables on either side of us experienced the same. One of those guests complained. Those seated at the bar definitely did not experience the same service. Guess the tables are an afterthought. So, in short. Good food. Terrible service. Owner likes to chat with bar sitters. How about expediting a few things instead? read more

Best wings in the greater Kalamazoo area and such great service and atmosphere!!! I would highly recommend that anyone who wants to have a true dinning experience should take time and go to this fabulous place!! read more

Bird Dog - Bars Near Me - Mattawan, Michigan

My boyfriend and I decided to try Bird Dog for the first time. When we got there they were busy for lunch and so we waited at the bar for a patio table. It's so much fun to watch the cooks prepare all the food. Every single thing that left that kitchen looked absolutely amazing! We finally made it outside to our table and ordered. A short while later our server delivers my meal and not my boyfriends. She apologized that she accidentally ran his burger to a different table and that the cooks were making him a new one right away. We patiently waited and awhile later she came back and apologized that there was a miscommunication in the kitchen and the cooks did not start the burger but were actually starting it this time. They felt really bad and said they were taking his burger off our bill. They then came back outside and said they were taking my meal off our check as well. When we finally got his bacon cheeseburger he loved it. It had thick slices of bacon on it that tasted almost like it was cooked over the campfire. He said it was the best bacon cheeseburger he's ever had. My Nashville chicken sandwich was HUGE and the homemade chips were so addicting. Long story short, Bird Dog was kind and displayed great customer service! We understood that they were busy, had new staff and mistakes happen. The food was well worth the wait and we can't wait to go back! Our only regret was not getting the firecracker cauliflower for an appetizer. read more

Bird Dog - Strawberry Fields on the left and Paloma on the right - Bars Near Me - Mattawan, Michigan

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Something special is happening in Mattawan at Bird dog as they're still pumping out delicious well executed food during this time of take out. Expertly crafted apps, a delicious sweet and savory cauliflower, asparagus marinated in Asian flavors, creamy Mac and cheese, and savory wings - all winners and rivals for the best comfort food appetizers you'll find Michigan. The chicken sandwich is fried perfectly which hints of heat, not spicy enough but so well cooked it doesn't matter. The steak and frites and filet were perfectly cooked medium rare featuring rosemary fries and a decent risotto respectively. The shrimp and grits are some of the best I've had outside of the south. The Cuban sandwich has great flavor but could have been helped with more pulled pork. Worth the trip without question and, if you live in Mattawan, this needs to be your go to restaurant. read more