Nextdoor at Birdie's — Restaurant in Valparaiso

Nextdoor at Birdie's in Valparaiso, Indiana, offers a stylish escape with its modern ambiance and refined menu. My wife and I, along with another couple, decided to give it a try on a bustling Friday night. Armed with a 6 pm reservation, we were promptly seated upon arrival. Our server was incredibly friendly and attentive, swiftly delivering our drinks. However, there was a noticeable delay before she returned to take our order.

Once we finally placed our order, the wait for our food was about 25 minutes, which is understandable for a busy Friday night in downtown Valpo. I opted for the steak frites. While the steak was slightly fattier than I prefer, the truffle fries were an absolute standout. I often find restaurants overdo it with the truffle oil, but Nextdoor at Birdie's achieved the perfect balance – just a hint of truffle flavor on those thin-cut, homemade fries. They were truly wonderful.

It's the kind of place where you can enjoy a delicious meal in a visually appealing setting. Despite the minor hiccups in service and the slightly fatty steak, I'm eager to return to Nextdoor at Birdie's and explore more...

I had relatives from out of town come and visit and we usually hit the restaurants right on the square, but I suggested we try something new. We were all very impressed with our food and cocktails... We all ordered dishes we could mix and match/share, and everything had amazing flavor. Our waitress Paige was very personable and was bouncing back and forth behind the bar and waiting tables. You could tell she was passionate about the restaurant and wants it to become a downtown staple. I'll be looking forward to stopping in for some drinks, and giving the breakfast restaurant a try as well. Also, if you are into interior design this will stand out.... The restaurant has a modern art deco appeal, and the diner next door looks like it could be the set for a 50's...

This was our first time but this will definitely be on our list of downtown rotations. The first test was the Manhattan--spot on with the correct cherries. Wine list is good including nicely priced J, a vineyard we know well. The steak frites was our real test--perfectly done (medium rare) with delicious frites and grilled asparagus; felt very French. Rigatoni proved very tasty,wth pasta el dente. Our server, Beth, clearly had lots of experience and struck the perfect balance between service and personal attention. Jess, the manger, noted all our comments: the only negative we offered was PAPER napkins--yuck. Cute place, with comfortable seating. Next time we will take the opportunity to check out all the pictures. The decor is a unique style but very...