Bird Dog — Restaurant in Antwerp Township

This was my second time eating at bird dog and as always the food was delicious, albeit pricey. Being a vegetarian it is disappointing be told you can only eat sides, a salad or the one pasta dish. That one pasta dish (without vegetables or any sides) being more expensive than most of the meat entrees. You would think that a good chef like they have at bird dog could be more creative when there is such a large vegetarian and vegan group in the surrounding areas and also price a simple pasta dish accordingly so that vegetarians don't feel like not only are they limited on what to choose but they end up spending more than a meat eater, and I know a quality piece of meat is not inexpensive. Our server was very kind and tried her best to make up for our very late igloo (they ended up running really behind). However, my boyfriend spoke with someone at the restaurant both on the phone and through text messages to confirm a surprise birthday dessert. This was obviously not passed onto our waitress who only brought out a dessert because I had posted a birthday dinner on IG and tagged the restaurant, it was brought out when we were already ready to leave and she asked whose birthday was it. My boyfriend was upset that he had a nice night planned and we had to wait almost an hour for our igloo, had limited options and his surprise was not as planned. On top of this, while going to the restroom I could hear the staff all gathered in the main area joking around and loudly cussing, as if a customer weren't right there in the bathroom. Then as I was leaving the bathroom only then did I notice that the kitchen staff did not have on masks, including the male chef and a tall blonde. So they are working without masks on which is not ok and continued to not have masks on while a customer was in the very small building. Had I noticed this when going in I would have walked right out and chosen the port-a-potty at the park across the street instead, which is unacceptable. All of the food is delicious but due to limited options, unequal prices (I don't mind paying a lot for food but not for plain pasta and sides) and seeing the staff act so unprofessionally and without masks, I doubt we will be return. Which is very sad considering a small town needs such a unique place. The servers did have on masks while serving us and were very...

Regardless of the food, service, or ambiance, the actions of the management reflect a concerning sense of entitlement over public space. One manager, in particular, has taken it upon themselves to launch a public campaign against a neighboring business and food trucks that serve the local community—all due to the noise produced by their generators.

Although public comments on the issue have been restricted, a visit to the business's public Facebook page reveals a dismissive and arrogant attitude, with the manager pushing for the village to prohibit food trucks from parking near their outdoor patio simply because they cannot plug into a quieter power source.

While some might sympathize with the complaint about generator noise, many community members feel the real disruption stems from the manager's actions. This aggressive stance against other local businesses paints the restaurant in a negative light and calls into question the professionalism of its leadership. Rather than fostering mutual support within the community, the manager appears more interested in eliminating perceived competition under the guise of concern.

Guests have the option to dine indoors if the outdoor noise is a bother—an option not afforded to the food trucks trying to operate. In a small town or otherwise, no single establishment should act as though its interests outweigh those of the broader community. The vibrancy of a town comes from a healthy mix of restaurants, food trucks, and local vendors, all contributing to its unique charm.

In the end, a business’s public image is built over time but can be damaged in an instant. When leadership prioritizes entitlement over collaboration, the entire brand suffers. True community success lies in inclusion and support, not exclusion and control.

Personally, I am in support of the food trucks and opposed business for the simple fact that they are creating opportunities for themselves, the village, and the entire community. Regardless of the noise, it is an added value to have diverse amenities and options that draw diverse visitors to enjoy the downtown area. I would never want to visit the Bird Dog at this point, as the indoor and outdoor atmosphere has been tainted by management decisions that are intended to divide...

Reviews made Bird Dog sound great so anticipated a nice experience and food. First, it is tiny with a single row of tables on the wall and 10 seats at the adjacent bar. Cozy!!! Noise level from the kitchen and bar was high and it wasn't very busy at 2 p.m. It is pricey but happy to pay if food is great. Husband had rueben plate with fries. Fries were crisp and peppery: good. Sandwich was bizarre with Turmeric in the tiny amount of kraut, no corned beef and huge pieces of unimaginably tough mushroom (oyster I think) that was truly not edible; couldn't chew it, and really disgusting to look at. The bread was a nice dark rye but in total it was strange and unappetizing as a sandwich. And how can it be a reuben with no corned beef. Okay, I had the pear salad with chicken added for protein. They offer 2 salads and the other was called a chopped salad but my salad turned out to be chopped too with lots of large chunks of roasted pear mixed in. I imagined a nice chicken tenderloin seasoned and hot off the grill but placed next to my salad on the plate were chunks of chicken that had been warmed up in a skillet so it had some hard, dry edges and some of that refrigerator taste you get from warmed up rotisserie chicken. The salad presentation was blah and uninteresting and that plate cost $24 w/the chicken. I ate the greens, some of the roasted pear and only a couple bites of chicken. No doggy bags for sure. On a positive note, the wine was very nice. Maybe the burgers are good but will not be going back...