Bird Pizzeria — Restaurant in Charlotte

We finally got a reservation at Bird Pizzeria after trying for a while and were really excited because of all the glowing reviews. Unfortunately, our experience didn't live up to the hype.

Our reservation was for 5:30 PM, but the doors were locked + didn't open until 5:36, leaving us waiting outside in the cold with other parties. Once we were finally let in and seated, we were placed at a small table in the middle of the aisle. My husband felt uncomfortable with the lack of space and asked to move to a table against the wall where he could sit more comfortably. We were told we couldn't switch tables because reservations were staggered and the wall table was for another party of 4, but we only saw one party of two sit there the whole time, which made the explanation confusing. The hostess told us we need to email a seating preference in advance next time if we don't want to sit in the aisle --honestly, it felt dismissive given how uncomfortable the table was.

First impressions aside, we ordered and found the pizza to be good, but not extraordinary. The service, however, was underwhelming. No one came by to check on us during the meal/ask if we were enjoying the food, and when we were ready to wrap up, we waited about 20 minutes for someone to clear our plates. We also considered dessert but skipped it because of the long wait. When the server boxed our leftovers, they forgot our salad and only brought back the pizza until we reminded them. We also observed this with another couple next to us where the server seemingly forgot some of the leftovers.

Overall, the experience didn't meet expectations, especially after all the effort to get a reservation. The food is decent, but the lack of hospitality and attention to detail made it hard to enjoy the meal. Considering this was opened to present more of a finer dining experience, the ambience lacked. For a place with such great reviews, we left disappointed.

UPDATE: Thank you for your response below but I’d like to clarify a few points.

First, the table that was offered to us after we were already seated was not the one we requested. It was a different table, furthest to the window, which presented the same cramped space issue we were trying to avoid. This detail seems to have been overlooked in your reply.

Second, while I understand your suggestion to flag down staff when needed, there is a key distinction between a customer seeking out service and the waiter or waitress performing the basic courtesy of checking in during the meal. Asking how the food is and ensuring the dining experience is enjoyable is a fundamental part of good service and shouldn’t be bypassed.

Lastly, your policy regarding guests waiting outside until the restaurant opens at 5:30 doesn’t align with the experience we had. If reservations begin at 5:30 and your business model operates accordingly, the doors should be open and guests welcomed promptly at that time, not left to wait outside.

I appreciate your effort to address feedback and hope these points can further contribute to improving the experience for...

The fact that you aren't up waiting for Bird pizzeria to open right now is wild and insane! This place is really like that, like that so let me explain why...The year is 2024, and the setting in a small and unsuspecting street in a medium big town. There are no big signs, no crazy lights, but if you know - you know. Long white drapes cover the windows, and you walk into a bustling little restaurant where everyone is eating, ordering, laughing, and has big piles of green kale on their table. For a table of 2 on a Thursday night (Halloween), we were able to slide in and first get two seats at the bar but switched immediately to a table with efficiency and ease. Luckily the influencers haven't taken this place over yet (love them, BUT WE KNOW HOW THEY DO!) but truly it's because this place is really about the food! The ambience is clean, easy, and a sprinkle of sexy on top for a date night level pizza, but no grass walls, no gold encrusted drinks, etc. are needed! Also, although a bit tight, someone with crutches and another with a motorized wheelchair were able to come in and be seated, so accommodations work no matter your transportation. Now... the food! KALE SALAD GOES CRAZY! I could eat piles, I could sleep on top of the pillow-y goodness covered in Parmesan and breadcrumbs! It was absolutely perfect! The dressing, the ratio of dressing to kale to toppings. There is no better kale salad on this earth and that is that!!!!! The wine is nice and affordable. Nothing too wild and crazy about the list, but thorough. The pizza is aromatic, and flavorful with fresh ingredients- the basil felt like grandma picked it from the garden! Pro tip: the crust is amazing, but if you want a crispier crust throughout the middle you may need to ask that the pizza be "well-done". Oh, and get extra hot honey!!!! Finally, the head chef/owner came out and tapped us on the shoulder about a pear sorbet he made with vegan caramel and sea salt- GET IT! My mind was blown!!!!! The depth of the pear flavor was incredible. Idek where I was after trying it, like is this Charlotte or a New York speakeasy with a secret password for the best pizza, kale salad, and pear sorbet in the world?! But hey, go and see for yourself. Definitely will be going back! Oh and for a full pizza, bottle of wine, and kale salad the total was $74!...

First the facts: Ordered 2 pizzas and two waters at 5:57PM. Pizzas served at 7:46PM.

But let's go back to how we got here: Read article in New York Times about 22 best pizzas in the US. I work in Charlotte 3 days a week and was meeting up with a work colleague for dinner. Rather than a formal sit-down restaurant, I proposed Bird pizza.

We knew it was going to be casual. We get there and my colleague orders the pizza from his phone. So far so good. It all goes downhill form there. Approaching the window, we ask for our beverages and how long the pizza would take. "Just chill, and we are out of San Pellegrino, all we have is tap water; And Mexican Coke". Tap water it is.

As we sit on the improvised curbside patio we watch people come and go. Some live nearby and are clearly return customers. They pick up the pizza they ordered during the Reagan administration. Output, about 1-2 pizzas every 5 minutes. We knew we were going to wait. We talked and drank one cup of warm tap water. At about 7PM, the restaurants stops taking orders. They even have a sign for this. "All Pizza reservations are full". I admire the gall of a business model that includes failing their customers with a dedicated sign. Clearly nobody cares.

7:46PM comes around, we get our pizzas. A red one with arugula and a white one with sausage. The anticipation by now has worn off. A second cup of tap water, again in the low 80ies, was generously provided. The pizza is piping hot, actually not bad; But not worth the wait, not worth the trip, for sure not worth a return trip. I trust many others will reach the same conclusion. That should address the availability of pizza reservations.

What could I have done in 2 hours? I could have walked to Capische and had a pizza just as good. I could have gone to Omaggio and also had a pizza that is not worse that Bird. In either case, I could have a drink, would not have sat in the heat and felt abused by some condescending operator who got his moment of fame as one of 22 best pizzas in the US. Clearly, the New York times only went...