Birdy's Behind The Bower — Restaurant in New Orleans

Rarely customers are treated like a complete and utter nuisance: egregious exceptions are when one is sitting on a Ryanair flight to Ibiza or visits the Louis Vuitton Maison on Place Vendome in Paris.

Enter Birdy's Behind the Bower where the dining room is empty but customers cannot dine. 12 noon on an average Wednesday: only seven table seated, servers lolling about in idle chat among themselves, one takes a selfie, plenty of kitchen staff... but a pretentious hostess stiffly announces that she won't take walk-ins, for two people, in New Orleans. When we point out that the dining rooms are virtually empty she announces that "the kitchen is backed up", (which makes it sound a little like a sewer).

When we point out that one of us is a 90 years old disabled woman, she again insists we should leave at once. But we don't. We are tired and need to sit down, it's called hospitality after all, so down we sit and we order drinks at the bar. From then on is a constant litany of servers who are suddenly very preoccupied and keep coming to our (outdoor) table just to underline the fact that food won't be served. We buy one more round, and again the previously-idle servers, including the selfie-taking long, greasy hair one, return to our table to state the obvious: no reservation, no food.

No one ever mentions to us that a reservation can be made online and that a table is available within 15 minutes window. So we reserve a table online, finish our drink, call the server and point out that we have a reservation for 12.30 and is now 12.30. The server seems to hesitate, he is confused, his tenet is suddenly vacillating. So he resorts to hand us the menus, but insists that "the kitchen is backed up" and that it would take one hour to get our food. One hour.

Meanwhile two of the seven tables have left and only five parties are eating. No one else has come in. It feels like a desert, a hospitality, taste, grace, and friendliness desert. The New Orleans we know has never been so far away. Our point was made, we walk and will definitely never return. Bye...

First and foremost, The atmosphere an overall aesthetic of the establishment Is gorgeous. Greeted by a handsome gentleman at the door who was very friendly and accommodating when asked to be seated outside. When first at a table, that seating was not necessarily the right fit for me we asked to move and was graciously obliged, and seats were switched. We were served by 4 to 5 different waitresses no names needed as everyone we saw was friendly, courteous, polite, and a gem. Bottomless mimosa worth every penny our cups runneth over as they were never empty! I mentioned that my birthday was tomorrow And before I knew it, I had my own coffee espresso birthday Sunday. It was so sweet of them to just think of me I will mention it was a Monday mid morning. We do believe the manager/owner approached us about enjoying our meal which we were ending. She was very sweet and very attentive. The food was phenomenal and the portion size is very generous, especially at the price point. I had their pork bagel and my friend had their burger which was delicious with healthy options of a side salad and a fruit cup. We did take our leftovers home. I recommend Birdy’s to anyone who wants a brunch experience with that authentic, New Orleans, hospitality and friendliness that the city is known for, Birdy’s on magazine Street is for you! I would be remiss to not mention the coffee, top notch and delicious well prepared with bold flavors Delicious with several different varieties and versions to try. Thank you Birdy’s for giving me a memorable experience on a Monday morning ! 🩷 Bathrooms were extremely clean and unexpectedly aesthetically...

Do not recommend by making reservation. I made a reservation two weeks ago - First was asked to email the manager and had to wait 2-3 days for a response. After I picked my time, I was told that I had to put a card down due to a fee if any person from the party did not show. Called within the next couple of days and gave my card information over the phone and was told everything was done and there was nothing more to do. The morning of I realized the manager emailed me about my reservation being cancelled so I called (three times with finally an answer on the fourth call) to be told that my reservation was for sure cancelled and there was nothing they could do.. We had a party of 15 ready to go…. Whoever answered the phone was not helpful and told me the manager would call when she came in - never received a phone call. I messaged on facebook after emailing the General Manager what happened to my card information and if it was booked for another party. They asked me what my card ended in and to send a screenshot of the phone call…..a phone call almost a week later..

Things happen in the service industry and mistakes are made BUT the way a business handles themselves in those mistakes speak volumes. Every person I talked to was rude, matter of fact and unapologetic. A simple we are sorry made a mistake would go a long way.. instead I got asked for a screen shot because they did not even believe I made the phone call… No clue what they did with my card information which is...