Byrd's Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I have been a loyal customer of this establishment for a long time, frequently ordering wings and promoting the place to friends and family because I believed in the quality of the food and service. Unfortunately, recent experiences have made me question that loyalty.

On multiple occasions, I’ve encountered a specific staff member who rudely refused my request to add spice powder to my wings, citing that it contains habanero and they “can’t do it.” Despite my explanation that other staff, and even the owner himself, have always honored this request in the past, I was rudely dismissed.

After the first incident, I left a review reflecting my experience. The owner personally reached out, apologized, and asked me to change the review, promising it would not happen again. I respected this and changed the review. But unfortunately, the same issue occurred again during a visit where I was excited to introduce a friend to this place. I was left feeling embarrassed, as the same staff member rudely refused my request again, making me feel like a fool in front of my friend.

To make matters worse, when I called the restaurant to ask for the owner to discuss the situation, I was met with even more rudeness. The staff member who answered refused to connect me to the owner, claiming they weren’t available, and proceeded to respond to my concerns in a dismissive and unprofessional manner. This lack of respect and unwillingness to address a loyal customer’s issue left me extremely disappointed.

Despite being promised by the owner that this issue wouldn’t happen again, the inconsistency and rude service continue. I’ve promoted this place numerous times to my friends and family, but now I feel let down. It’s frustrating to see such a lack of care for customers who have supported the business for so long.

I hope the management seriously considers improving both the consistency of their service and the attitude of their staff. As of now, I can no longer recommend this place...

Visited Byrd's today with my friends Henry and Noah, looking for a quick bite. Both opted for the 10-piece nuggets, enjoying their mild spiciness, although Henry struggled a bit with the heat, blaming it on his Caucasian descent. The nuggets were of standard size, akin to Chick-Fil-A's, priced reasonably at around $8 with a side of ranch sauce.

I opted for the Sandwich Combo (#1) priced at about $16, choosing the medium spice level, which was flavorful but not overly hot. The sandwich, roughly fist-sized, was accompanied by the 24k sauce, adding a unique sweetness that elevated its taste. The fries were fresh and paired well with the sauce, while the potato salad portion was generous. However, it's worth noting that the combo didn't include a drink.

Service was swift, though the expectation of a 20% tip felt excessive considering the standard service provided. The ambiance was a mixed bag; while the lighting felt somewhat bland with harsh white lights, the quirky action figures on the light fixtures added personality. The seating arrangement felt a bit dated, but encounters with friendly patrons lent a cozy vibe to the place. Yet, there's room for improvement in terms of energy and enthusiasm from the staff, possibly through adding more music, warmer lighting, and updating the seating to accommodate larger groups. Incorporating artwork could also inject more personality into the space. Overall, Byrd's has potential but could benefit from enhancing its atmosphere. Overall, if you need something quick and tasty, Byrd's is an excellent choice. For dine-in, I would not bring a family of 4 or higher as the restaurant simply doesn't accomodate that many people. If you want to take-out, or deliver, this would be great for that.

Will update this review when I go back! Last updated: February 27...

I’ve been a regular at this place, dining in about three times a week. In the past, they’ve always allowed me to use the restroom, but this time, when I asked, an employee flat-out told me they don’t have one. That made no sense, considering I had used it before. I questioned him about it, and in response, he told me to wait and that he would help me. However, when he returned, he doubled down and insisted there were no restrooms. If a restaurant refuses to let customers wash their hands before eating, how can they expect anyone to dine there?

To make matters worse, as I was still processing this absurd situation, a man sitting in the dining area suddenly started yelling at me, claiming he was the owner. Whether he was or not, his behavior was unacceptable. He blatantly said he doesn’t care about customers and doesn’t give a damn about them.

At that point, I had no interest in staying any longer. I requested a refund and let them know they had lost a customer. It’s shocking that a place I used to visit regularly would treat me this way. If this is their attitude toward customers, I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to anyone.

A business that lacks respect, honesty, and basic hygiene isn’t...