Birdman Japanese Bar + Grill — Restaurant in Athens

Have been at Birdman twice in the course of 8 months (October 2020 and May 2021) so had the opportunity to try different dishes (I assume they vary depending the seasonality of ingredients). The food is arguably some of the best food in the city center, especially since it’s located in a very touristic part of town (where the risk of being just average is high). The menu is limited, but the focus is on the quality of the ingredients. Unfortunately, during both visits some of the dishes we wanted to try were not available, which really limits you as the menu is small. Between the two visits, we tried several dishes from the menu that were available and overall they were very good. The meat-on-a-skewer dishes were exceptionally tasty, however the chicken felt on the overcooked side and the chunks really too big for a single bite. That was not the case for the rest of the meat skewers. Also, there were some issues with consistency: we ordered the same skewer twice and while first time round it was cooked to perfection, Second time round was cooked longer resulting in a much smaller (reduced/less juicy) outcome. There were some issues with the timing: when ordering as a group of 3 during the second visit, the two burgers came at the same time, but the skewers the 3rd person ordered started to arrive about 5-10 minutes later and not all of them came at the same time. This means that either two people get to watch their food go cold as they wait for the 3rd person’s food, or they start eating and the other person sits and watches. During the first visit, the skewers would be arriving at much better timing and they would be grouped. Also, while the bar seating setup is fine, the leg space under the tables is really too narrow for two people to sit side by side. While the food is overall really really good so, value for money in terms of quality, it but less so in terms of quantity and overall experience. It’s certainly going to Birdman once and be willing to spend the extra money, but I probably won’t go again given the inconsistencies in cooking and...

Extremely disappointing experience at Birdman, Athens

We booked seats at the bar on purpose - that’s supposed to be the heart of the Birdman experience. Instead, the bartender made the whole evening uncomfortable. From the moment we sat down, he ignored us: no explanations, no effort to engage, just handed us a drink menu and went straight back to chatting and flirting with the woman next to us.

When my partner ordered a cocktail and I said I was undecided, he literally turned his back and walked away. I had to shout my choice across the bar so I wouldn’t be left with nothing while my partner’s drink was already being prepared. He then served my partner first, continued his conversation, and only later got around to me. Throughout the evening he kept giving attention - and even free shots - to the women sitting near us, while treating us as if we didn’t exist. It didn’t stop there - once that guest left, two other women sat down next to us and immediately the same story repeated itself. He showered them with attention, nonstop conversation, and even free shots the moment they arrived, while we were completely sidelined. Not once did he ask me if I wanted another drink, and throughout the evening it felt like we were invisible.

Food service wasn’t better: the waiter wasn’t rude, but clearly unprofessional - no menu for a long time, no explanations, and vague answers when asked for recommendations. Even the open kitchen, which is supposed to be a highlight, felt careless - one of the cooks was scrolling on her phone right in front of us before going back to cooking without washing her hands.

The food itself was fine but not memorable, and the whole experience of being ignored and sidelined at the bar completely overshadowed it. For the prices they charge, this was unacceptable.

What was supposed to be a special night ended up as one of the most disappointing dining experiences we’ve had. I would not return - and I absolutely would not...

I visited the place on Saturday, September 10th, a party of two people. I had made a reservation using their site which was very convenient! We ordered:

1. Aged rump tar-tar: practically a take on nigiri with beef tartare on top. Delicious!
2. Tataki: Also tasty but I would like the beef to be less chewy
3. Corn with ponzu butter: Incredible taste!
4. Kawa- chicken crispy skins: A nice idea and an explosion in my mouth
5. Iberiko katsu: A sando with nice flavour combinations
6. Smash burger: This is their most famous dish and for a good reason!

Their service is very friendly and professional. I did not order any drinks so I have no opinion on that.

I also have to point out that their “after-market” customer experience is amazing. They sent me a satisfaction survey along with a “Thank you” e-mail.

Now, why did I award 4 stars? Two reasons: first is because I believe the value for money could be better especially given the raw materials used and the fact that we dined on a simple metal table with two chairs on a pavement in downtown Athens. The second reason is because if you book a table they ask for your credit card and if you are late or a no-show they charge you 20€ per person. To be honest I do not know if they enforce is or this is simply a way to avoid uncertain bookings. However, this is something that I could tolerate from a high-end restaurant that serves a degustation menu and thus has specific costs tied to each reservation. It is not something I like from a place that I could simply get a drink and also is so popular that the spare table will be given away on an instant.

I would however definitely...