Excellent experience at OvenBird during Birmingham Restaurant week. The food was nothing short of delicious. The blistered okra won us over and I'm usually not a fan of okra. The fish was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. The ambiance was great. Nice for date night or just getting together with a group of friends in the patio. Will definitely go back to try other dishes and to get more of the okra. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

Excellent service....amazing food...and the absolute best atmosphere for a holiday/bday dinner. read more

OvenBird - Lovely outside fire - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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. read more

See all

What an amazing surprise as we searched for dinner on our drive to the ATL airport to leave for Cuba. The patio area is elegant and sets the mood with just the view. Once you enter, you are infected by the music, the conversation and the presence of culinary evolution. The service was great, the jamon and serrano rivaled that of Madrid and the braised goat was delicious and tender. We were in a bit of a hurry, but I plan to go again in a couple of months to relax and enjoy such an elegant surprise. read more

See all

I will start by saying this is a very special place to dine. The entire experience is full of careful details that really make it shine. I've eaten here twice so far, once pre-covid, and once after the re-opening post covid. The first visit was for my 26th birthday and absolutely everything was impeccable from the service to the quality of each dish. We were so enamored with each dish that came out that we kept ordering more and more dishes. I'd say between both visits we've tried 75-80% of the menu. The artisan cocktails and wine list are both impressive. The beef fat candle was a favorite and we ended up ordering a second one on that first visit. Fast forward to my most recent visit a few weeks ago. The owner happened to walk in at the same time as I did and greeted me like an old friend. We had to wait a little despite having a reservation, though it was clear the staff was all doing their best on their first week back open, and we didn't mind the wait. We were seated in a room we had never been in before, we didn't realize how large the place is! The decor was thoughtful and special. Our server was very helpful and kind. The bread with our beef candle was a bit over salted, but we asked our server for new bread and it wasn't an issue. Small details like that I know they do not typically miss, but we love Ovenbird and didn't mind overlooking it. They were absolutely packed (within the reduced capacity) and the staff was working extremely hard. If you have a subpar experience here, I highly encourage you to address it on the spot and they will make it right. These are kind and hardworking people who know their food and want to please the customer. We had never had the Peruvian chicken before but we were picking every last bite off the bone! It was a unique spice blend and the char on it was perfection. Little did I know after dinner we would be getting engaged! We look forward to our next visit, and will certainly savor each bite! read more

See all

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. read more

OvenBird - Mushrooms - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

3 stars go to service, scallops cooked perfectly and beef shoulder. -2* go to being sat by a bathroom, wait station and freezing back room. As well as 2 oysters that had nothing accompanied except lemon? Laid on rock salt instead of ice, burnt creme brûlée, chocolate pudding dessert and a piece of fish that was about 1/3 of a filet missing its side. Pitiful. Didn't even take pics bc I was embarrassed at the lack of food. Granted it's a tapas restaurant but for $90 a plate on NYE... give me a break. Hot and Hot has a chance bc of a gift card but yeah, ovenbird can stuff it with it's ridiculous prices and small plates. read more

OvenBird - Beef candle - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Another instance in which I wish this app had .5 star increments as I would be giving this rating a 4.5 out of 5. What keeps it from getting 5 stars is really the inconsistency in their menu and the portion sizes. The food is always spectacular but man what a wallet slayer. read more

See all

My favorite brunch in the Magic City must be OvenBird on Saturday mornings. Spend some time walking around the Pepper Place Market, then stop in for a delicious brunch. The Bloody Mary is a must! Spicy and zesty, it's a great way to get your morning started. I also love the biscuits and gravy- not the typical cream sausage gravy we're used to here in the Deep a South but instead with a tomato sausage gravy. Also delicious is the bacon and the stone ground grits are super creamy with flecks of roasted peppers. Also be sure to try the pork belly BLT and the burger. Both are outstanding. read more

See all

It is quite a unique place. The location is great. The atmosphere is fantastic. It has both more crowded area and more private, which is great for business meetings. Food is exceptionally good, and quite diverse from its similars in town. Service is attentive but not overwhelming. Definitively one of the most unique restaurants in town. Highly recommended read more

OvenBird - Food is always fantastic, but let's not call this an "espresso". Where is the foam?!?!? - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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. read more

See all

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! read more

I have mixed emotions. The food was good, and the beef shoulder was great. The atmosphere was great. It was a very warm and inviting place. But the staff was a bit indifferent.i asked what was good and got the Minnesota trademark "it's all good". I'm not asking for a list of what sucks, I want some recommendations! It was not a busy night, either. I was one of ten people in the house. I'd try again for sure because the food was good but I hope it's a bit more lively. read more

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. read more

OvenBird - Rufus Horneros - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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. read more

Hot and Hot is always my Chris Hastings go-to, but my first experience at OvenBird (now just around the corner) was wonderful as well! We started with drinks at the bar and the bartenders were attentive and had great suggestions based on our preferences. Our favorites: Looking glass (it's purple and comes with a flower) and Prescot (summery rum drink without being too sweet). If you're looking for a bourbon cocktail, the Rufus was sweeter than my dad had hoped. We were seated in the semi-private dining room in one of their two kitchens, which was great! Our server Jack was attentive and had great suggestions to lead us through our meal. We got many different menu items, and shared the tapas family style. We loved trying many different dishes like: - Beef fat candle: a must try! Great bread for dipping, almost like a super flavorful vegetable soup to dip your bread in - Empanadas: a little dry for my taste, but a flavorful filling - Snapper throats: looked intimidating (be ready for fins) but once we got to the meat, it was wonderful and delicate - crowd favorite - Deviled Eggs: great texture, upscale classic - Heirloom tomatoes: simple and super fresh - Beat salad: again, simple but fresh - Roasted chicken + Lima beans: larger dish, rosemary flavor in the meat itself and not just on the skin, which was great - Paella: chef-inspired with conecuh sausage - not traditional but a cool southern take on paella - Seafood Fideos: more of a traditional paella but with tiny angle hair pasta instead of long grain rice - Scallops: simple and delicious - crispy golden brown crust with perfectly cooked, soft inside - crowd favorite Overall great food, service and ambiance! This is one of those restaurants where you can visit multiple different times and have different experiences each time, because of the changing menu and multiple seating options! I'm looking forward to sitting on their patio next visit! We'll be back soon! read more

See all

I was a little shocked on how big this place is they have out door dinning area. The food was delicious but be prepared to order multiple plates as they do come in small portions read more

See all

I love OvenBird. I was shocked to see that I had not already written a review. The location is amazing. In the old plant nursery right in the heart of Pepper Place. The concept is Spanish tapas all cooked on open flame. Everything is good honestly, but the beef candle is still one of the more unique dishes I've eaten. Recently the scallops with carrot romesco took the place as best scallop dish I've had in my life. The roast chicken was also delicious; Flavorful and juicy. This is one of a handful of restaurants I take out of towners to show what Bham has to offer. read more

I have been wanting to come to Ovenbird for a very long time. Really a neat space that you will have to see to appreciate. Almost everything is cooked over open flame, in a huge wood fired oven, or on the plancha. I started off with the street corn. Oh my goodness. Charred corn on the cob with melted, wait for it... not butter, no it is beef fat aioli. Then rolled in manchego cheese and served with lime to squeeze on top - you have to use the lime, it is super! Next up is Gulf Fish, with fried grits, peach mojo and achiote. Oh my goodness, the snapper was outstanding with very crisp skin, which I ate - I never, ever eat fish skin. The grits were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The peach mojo had some kick, which I love. Very good dish. I finished up with beignets, which are stuffed with a sour jam and it also comes with a lemon ice cream. When you eat it all together as one bite, it is really a great way to end a meal. They also have great, strong coffee, which they brew when you order. I sat at the bar because the place was pretty full. One thing you need to know is that the servings are "small plate" style, so unless you order the fried chicken (which is a half chicken), you may not be as stuffed as you normally are (is that a bad thing?). Just order more items! They will all be excellent. read more

See all

This isn't the first time my husband and I have had the pleasure to dine at OvenBird and once again it didn't disappoint! We sat outside in perfect weather and the service couldn't have been better. We had the farmers cheese which was amazing along with the paella and Peruvian chicken. All the dishes were so good and we enjoyed the entire experience! read more

See all

This place was not what I expected and I'm honestly a little disappointed. Firstly, the atmosphere is beautiful. Very romantic, dim lights with nice decor and aesthetics. It seems small when you walk in but there's more seating than what meets the eye and we had reservations so were seated quickly! Parking was slim.. had to park on the street (which was fine.) Our server Jack was great! Very laidback yet humorous and knowledgeable about the menu! Would highly recommend him. Now to the cuisines... now..I expected the portion sizes to be small because it was a tapas style restaurant BUT the flavors were not impressive for the price. I ordered the roasted duck and it was not tender. The beans or peas served with it were tough and it felt a little thrown together. The empanadas were burnt and flavor, again, was not impressive. The dessert was pretty good but not anything special. We ordered the strawberry short cake and it wasn't that sweet. The best part about the dessert is that I got inspired and decided to make my own at home which was much tastier (not to be rude.) The best meal was the roasted chicken my fiancé ordered which came with Peruvian peas. Really good and big portion size too. Was expecting much better cuisines due to great reviews but to each their own I guess. read more

See all

Hello everyone! Now that I'm getting older(34), I am definitely the full course meal kind of gal, now! I've heard so much about Ovenbird, I've finally meandered my way over. I met a girlfriend there, which made the experience even more divine! When I walked in, the aroma of firewood was very welcoming, as I am a lover of brick ovens, so authentic. We had to sit at the bar, so that's a sure sign that this is a popular getaway nestled behind The Pepper Place! So, back to being a 3 course meal gal! To start the party off, my friend and I ordered drinks, of course, although I don't drink, the wonderful bartender made me an eloquent mocktail. We toasted to a great year then dug into the menu. We decided on the empanadas, which were absolutely delicious. There were only two in the order, that was a little disappointing, but it made room for dessert at the end! With chef inspired filling, the crisp pastries were complemented with black beans, arugula and creama on the side. No complaints! For my exquisite entree, I enjoyed the "Seafood Fidedos", pasta twirled with gulf shrimp, clams, Spanish chorizo, drizzled with aioli! Genius. The portion was absolutely perfect, not too little, not too much. The pasta was buttery and bold, the clams and shrimp made the dish, "the" dish. Def recommend! Last, dessert! My goodness. I must say, the Tres Leches Cake was splendid! The moist cake melted my palate, and oh!, the whipped cream made me want to order an extra one to take home. Not too sweet and deliciously light, this dessert was the exact portion, I didn't leave with a bulging gut. The overall experience was superb! The bartenders were very loquacious and knowledgeable of the menu! That's always a plus! I will definitely be back! Thanks for an awesome beginning of a "Girls Night Out"! read more

See all

The restaurant is very pretty and I loved the ambience. I came for dinner and sat at the bar. Staff was super courteous and helpful on making suggestions. Portion sizes are small so I ordered both their braised octopus and winter green salad. The octopus was well done but the sauce that went with it did not suit the dish imo. The salad was pretty bitter and think it would have tasted better with more than 2 prices of orange on there. Lastly we had the 7 layer strawberry cake which was smaller than I imagined for 7 layers but it was delicious. I went with friend who had alcohol and that seemed to be better than their food. read more

OvenBird - Clean/ trendy bathroom - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Best meal I had in a long time! I went on a friends recommendation. The ambiance is great, I sat at the bar as I was alone. I got there early so no issues with grabbing a seat. I took the bartender recommendation and ordered the mushroom with egg and beef shoulder with root vegetables. This was plenty of food for me as I was very satisfied. Both dishes were flavorful and well seasoned. The beef was cooked properly to a good mid rare. These 2 dishes complimented each other. There were a few other items I will have to go back and try. read more

OvenBird - Beef shoulder with root vegetables - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Love this restaurant, truly one of Birmingham's culinary gems. Local/regional ingredients with a Spanish, Portuguese or Argentinian flair and cooked over local hardwoods. I've dined here half a dozen times and have never been disappointed. My guest and I dined on Spanish themed charcuterie, a local heirloom tomato salad and a whole wood-fire roasted gulf fish finished with a chimichurri rub. Great deserts, cocktails and a terrific wine selection await your arrival too. read more

OvenBird - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This place is true farm to table style of restaurant! Portion is small, but each dish has a good presentation and fresh ingredients! Service is nice too! Came in as a group, got perfect food and service! read more

See all

The atmosphere: We came here on a Saturday night, were able to make reservations online pretty easily. It was raining, so we had to sit inside, but the outside patio looked absolutely beautiful. We sat at the bar and got to watch a chef make the various appetizers from there, pretty cool to watch. The inside is decorated really well, and the kitchen is half open so you can see the pizza oven and a few chefs working. The food: We were pretty hungry after having to skip lunch, so we ordered quite a bit of food. Deviled eggs - so so good. Absolutely must order. Their addition of Romesco sauce or these is genius, adds such a nice tang to them. Tomato Salad - fresh tomatoes with some balsamic vinegar, corn, okra, and peas on top. Again, a must try. Chef inspired paella - this wasn't my favorite dish after going to Spain recently and eating paella there quite a bit, but for what's available here, it wasn't bad. Gulf fish - absolutely perfect. Fresh tasting, with a really good tangy sauce to it. I believe the sauce was sherry based. Loved the bacon addition to the dish. Churros - not my favorite, just alright. Peach cobbler - DELICIOUS. Served warm in a cute jar with the crust pieces on top. Price: this place is pricey, but in my opinion very worth it. You can tell they they use great ingredients, and a lot of time is put into each dish. I think this is a perfect spot for a date night, expect to pay at lest The service: Really great staff, from the people that sit you down to the waiters. Big shout out to Caroline for taking care of us that night! read more

OvenBird - Warm peach pie with a side of ice cream - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

I dined here for the first time last week and I was very nervous! The mixed reviews and recommendations/warnings from my friends made me very hesitant to invest the time and money in trying out this restaurant. Fortunately, I had a stellar experience. We were able to get a table right away, which I have heard is not always the case. Our server, Chris, was very attentive and knowledgeable. He made great suggestions at every turn: wine, starters, shared plates, etc... The timing of the food was good as well because we were starving! Between my friend and I, we liked most everything we tried (except for the by batch- it was just "eh"). I usually pass on duck, myself. But they prepared it with pumpkin, cocoa and some other fancy stuff and it turned out to be yummy! So I was glad I decided to step outside the box. I could easily see how someone in a less adventurous mood would not have had an enjoyable experience. But, to that extent, they do have burgers and chicken items on the menu. As mentioned by previous reviewers, it is definitely on the pricey side (I realized after I left that I was charged for an extra glass of wine that I didn't have, so that's probably why it was smidge higher than I expected), but I will say that when I travel I don't blink an eye at similar price-points. Plus, the quality of the ingredients used probably necessitates it. I will definitely be returning! (I mean, after all, they owe me a glass of wine:) And with regard to the mixed reviews regarding service, I can only say that I am glad we ended up with Chris. He was friendly, knowledgeable and patient; and, he made sure that we had an excellent experience. read more

See all

Holy cow! This is easily the best restaurant I've been to in Birmingham. I went to dinner with friends a few weeks ago. Oddly, my dad had a travel/food show on and they were here and I said "I'm going there next weekend!". This place flat out rules. We had roasted beets, beef fat candle, roasted veggies, burrata, paella, fideo and steak. Everything was absolutely fantastic. Service was impeccable as well. Make sure to make reservations as it's fairly small and fills up fast! read more

This spot exceeded all expectations. To start, we each had a bourbon cocktail. The pouring and flavor combinations were spot on for each. For food, we dove into several different selections. The bone marrow was delicious and incredibly rich, definitely something you need to share with 2 or more to not experience sensory overload. The oysters and chorizo were pleasantly spicy and perfectly cook. We had a charcuterie board, which did not disappoint. The shishito peppers were expertly cooked, though the one negative here was the egg white and beef fat emulsion took away from the peppers themselves, and last, but not least, amazing deviled eggs with a perfect amount of candied jalapeño. We decided to go for dessert, and the dark chocolate bread pudding was a winner (and I for one usually dislike bread pudding). The staff... we had no reservation and the place was packed. They made it work for us without even the slightest prodding. Every member of the staff that brought out a plate explained the flavors and ingredients to an expert level. The servers were a 'team' of two, never did we feel like we were forgotten or overlooked, despite being alone at the back bar where many restaurants would have forgotten about us. This place checked every box. Food was fast and delicious, menu was exciting. We will DEFINITELY be back. I would rate this up there with some of the finest restaurants in New York, Miami or LA. read more

We left another excellent meal to get this bone marrow. Ask to have it deglazed with port. Everything is good. Avocado toast another must have. read more

OvenBird - Bone marrow. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I came here on the recommendation of a friend and left with mixed feelings. I will say they have some of the most unique dishes I've ever seen at a restaurant as would be expected due to their commitment to using only an oven to make all of them. Some are truly inspired - the beef fat candle is one of the few menu items that you can describe as legitimately fun. The paella is really good. Their desserts are also phenomenal - the s'more was delicious and their take on creme brulee makes for an amazing show with the hot iron to caramelize the top. So why the low review? Well two things 1) sharing and 2) timing. They recommend getting a number of plates to share which isn't a bad idea but not all of them lend themselves to it. I don't know how you're supposed to share the egg in the mushroom conserva. As for timing we were told the dishes would come out as they are ready and it appears they are all ready at the same time. We got the duck, octopus, paella and conserva all the same time. We couldn't eat them fast enough and once some of them got cold they were a lot less delicious. The duck in particular had some cartilaginous nubs that stood out. It was also hard to appreciate the individual flavors of the dishes when they were presented together like that. I think a smarter kitchen would send out one or two dishes at a time. That being said I'd probably come back here. The atmosphere is nice, the staff is friendly, the drinks are good - just for the price you want an excellent meal and I don't think I got that. If you want to visit for your next special event I'd go and juts have each person order for themselves. read more

See all

Wow. OvenBird is delicious. I love tapas, and our server gave some pretty great recommendations. The beef fat candle was the coolest thing I've ever seen. I had too much bread with it, but I managed to have room for: scallops, harvest vegetables, duck, Peruvian chicken, and beef. The vegetables had this orange sauce that was just perfect. I don't usually like beets, but I gobbled them up because of how good the sauce was. The Peruvian chicken was a little dry, but that's the nature of chicken. The duck, scallops, and beef were very good. The scallops paired well with the arugula, but the sauce was spicier than expected. In terms of dessert, I would highly recommend the chocolate cake and cranberry crumble. My only complaint is the smoke coming out of the oven. I was coughing from the smoke, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying a delicious meal. read more

See all

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! read more

My in-laws were raving about this place so I had to frequent this establishment as soon as I came to town. Upon arriving, I was delighted to find that they have a decent size parking lot! I parked quickly and walked right in. I didn't have a reservation but I showed up around 6/6:30, so I was seated immediately. Soon after I was seated I noticed the restaurant started filling up fast, so I got there just in time. Their outdoor patio area was closed because it had been raining and the indoor seating was limited. This is a tapas style restaurant so the idea is to order several dishes. We ordered the ceviche, the shishito peppers and the Peruvian chicken. All the items were delicious! Our waiter had suggested the Peruvian chicken and told us that it was a huge portion! I'm glad he did because that filled us right up! It was a big portion of chicken, rice and beans! I even had food left over! I don't usually have dessert but we were celebrating our ten year anniversary so we thought why not! At the end I decided to try the chocolate cake and it was so dry and just not good! I was deeply disappointed and told the waiter and he told me their pastry chef had quit. I would avoid ordering dessert then! If you go hungry just remember each plate starts at about $10 and can go up to $24! Most items are small portions so ask your waiter/waitress! Order wisely or you'll end up with a huge bill at the end and may still be hungry! read more

OvenBird - Shishito peppers - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great atmosphere and amazing food! Chef hasting has really out done him self with this place. I've enjoyed just about every food on the menu, minus a few I haven't tried yet! And the service is wonderful! read more

OvenBird - Whole fish - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

DON'T EAT HERE DURING COVID. It was like this our entire dinner. Good job social distancing, Chris Hastings. We are thoroughly disappointed. We expect more from a $130 dinner. read more

OvenBird - DONT EAT HERE DURING COVID. Like this entire dinner/Good job social distancing/Thoroughly disappointed/expect more from a $130 dinner. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Just a heads up, this place doesn't advertise it much but it is a small plate restaurant. The idea is that you order 4-8 small plates for the entire table, and everyone shares their food. I think this is an interesting note to know when choosing to go here. First off, the atmosphere is top notch. They have dumped tons of heart and soul into renovating this old industrial building. The outside is just as pretty as the inside though. Every dish is cooked over a wood fire. No gas fire here; just rustic, natural cooking. I had a beautifully crafted dish, and m date had the beef. The beef.. I have never tasted anything like it before. I am the average red-blooded America . So I have eaten tons of beef. So I want weight to follow my words I. Saying that it was immaculately spiced. I can't even begin to catagorize it. And the seafood was just as amazing. Make sure to look over the menu before you go. This may not be the local lunch stop, but it is quite a treat. read more

OvenBird - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

Great food and great service! Went for apps and drinks and it did not disappoint. Had empanadas, beef fat candle, and ceviche. Missed a pic of the grouper ceviche, which was also delicious. 10/10 read more

OvenBird - Cocktails - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all