Food was decent, but not memorable. The service really bothered me. The waiter was smug and refused to let me order my appetizer before I ordered my entree. Not appropriate at all.
Michael Spiegel
The staff and atmosphere are good, the food is not that good. The steak frites are dry. The hamburger was also not for me.
Luis
We went with a group of three couples. The shareable appetizers were very good and all of our entrées where good portions and tasted delicious. The ambience was terrific as well. We're looking forward to a return visit.
Jeanne
This experience really failed to deliver. The portions were shockingly small for the price paid. Our son ordered the rage meat sauce pasta and it could not have been more than a cup of food placed in a shallow bowl. Never have been to a restaurant where we actually didn't have enough to eat. It was not a good value at all for the price paid. The food overall was very good but unfortunately overshadowed by the small portions. There was no bread even on the menu to order. Their service was perfectly wonderful and our two servers were attentive and helpful. Most distressing was the noise level - none of us could hear each other to hold a decent dinner conversation. The Forum hotel is beautiful venue but gosh darn they need to get the restaurants in order if they want folks to come back. We love this hotel but won't return to this restaurant.
David
Food overall was very good. One of the items was labeled Gluten Free incorrectly, but the waitress caught the mistake and they didn't charge us for the appetizer. Valet parking may improve, but was slow.
Sunny
Ordered an olive oil cake from Birch and Bloom while staying at the Kimpton hotel. They insisted to bring it to our room even though we ordered in person. Well the cake was $8 and when they brought it to my room — they charged me another $8 for delivery. $8 to take the elevator up to the 5th floor is absurd! What’s even more disheartening is the cake I received. Presentation was a let down. There were no peaches. It’s literally corn bread dipped in heavy oil over a creme. Took one bite and it was disgusting. I couldn’t even eat it. All that money wasted. I can’t believe they would even serve this on their menu! This was so disappointing. If I could give negative stars I totally would. I would not recommend this place.
Brittany Newton
My friend and I dined here in May this summer and the food was amazing! 2 months later, we came back and the menu had completely changed. They removed their brussel sprouts and the quality of the food was horrible. We talked to the hostess, and he said there was a new chef. I hate to see this new hotel restaurant lose business because their quality of food and menu has changed so much. Please bring back the old menu!!! Nobody wants to pay $80 for dinner with low quality.
Sheena Rooke
I had dinner at Birch and Bloom while staying at The Kimpton and it was amazing. David’s service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I highly recommend!
Charles
Disappointing for a Kimpton property. Service was fine, food was average at best and value not there at all. Both my wife's and my appetizers were very good (hers: the Manchego/apricot, mine: the Valdeon Bleu/fig). The mains were disappointing. My grilled pork chop was terribly salty (and I like well-seasoned food!) and was grilled only in name. I suspect it was sous vide or some other prior prep technique and then tossed on a grill for about a minute - barely any grill marks on it. Presentation was unappetizing as well. My wife's roasted snapper was OK but not exceptional. We split a desert, the peach upside-down cake. The olive oil cake was tasty, but we suspected that they were making a single peach stretch for the whole restaurant for the evening. Then there was the wine -- or, more properly, then there wasn't the wine. We both started with a glass of a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. OK, but totally bland -- for $16/glass it was a rip-off. I had a glass of a Spanish Garnacha with my pork chop. Their list spelled it "Grenacha" -- what, were they afraid we wouldn't know the Spanish word for Grenache? In any case, it was adequate but just that -- and it was $15/glass. I know wine by the glass can be expensive but should deliver quality for the price. A really excellent restaurant would have a much better wine by the glass program than this. Overall, the food was adequate, the service very good, the value awful. We won't be back.
Brad
Food was exceptional as usual but Service we received & recommendations from our server Jamie was spot on and the best we both have ever had ?. Looking forward to our next stay at Kimpton in Charlottesville & dining at Birch & Bloom as well ? Also I like to give a shout out to James at the Kimpton for his over the top Customer Service ??
Lights were on way too high and the live singer was turned up so loud our server couldn't hear us. Server, Brooke, was the highlight of the evening, doing her very best to make the experience a good one. Cocktails were delicious. Food was all pretty significantly underseasoned and bland; I always feel terrible asking for salt but it was absolutely necessary. Salmon ordered medium came out well done. Pasta dish with roasted zucchini particularly tasted like it had been cooked with zero salt. At the end of the meal (around 7:30) lights were abruptly turned down so low we could barely see the check. For a meal that cost $500+ everything should have been better. Having had a stellar meal (and really bad service) the last time we came in February, Birch and Bloom feels very inconsistent. The quality of our meal that first time will definitely mean we give it another try!
Geri
Amazing service and food, don't let the fact that it is a hotel restaurant deter you. Thomas (maitre'd) and James (server) provided some of the best service we've had, as well as the rest of the staff. Both made excellent suggestions for food, and made us feel special (it was our 35th anniversary). The cocktails were wonderful (we had the Aloha Sour and the Vieux Carre) and they have an expansive wine list. The menu is new (new chef) and everything was excellent in both taste and portion size. We will be back!
MicheleW
We made reservations on Open Table and let them know in the comments that it was our anniversary. We were greeted by the maitre de who brought us to a romantic table and proceeded to give us a complimentary glass of bubbly and an anniversary card signed by everyone who worked at the restaurant. David waited on us and gave us impeccable service. We had the hanger steak and fries for dinner, a tomato and avocado dish as a starter. Both were delicious. Unusual flavors that really worked together. My husband had the carrot cake for dessert which was the best we've ever had. I had the peach upside down cake which was good but a little underwhelming. Overall we were very impressed with Birch and Bloom on this, our first visit, and will be back again!
Michele
We made reservations on Open Table and let them know in the comments that it was our anniversary. We were greeted by the maitre de who brought us to a romantic table and proceeded to give us a complimentary glass of bubbly and an anniversary card signed by everyone who worked at the restaurant. David waited on us and gave us impeccable service. We had the hanger steak and fries for dinner, a tomato and avocado dish as a starter. Both were delicious. Unusual flavors that really worked together. My husband had the carrot cake for dessert which was the best we've ever had. I had the peach upside down cake which was good but a little underwhelming. Overall we were very impressed with Birch and Bloom on this, our first visit, and will be back again!
Linda Deegan
My husband, son and I had the pleasure of visiting Birch & Bloom a few days ago for the first time. No question, the sentiment among us was unanimous: the variety, freshness and quality of our course selections did not disappoint. They included crab cakes, tender greens, roasted snapper, hanger steak and Pot du Creme. Point of fact, each was exceptional. Equally outstanding if not more so was our amazing server, Darmal. He answered all of our questions on specific menu items; offered insights and recommended choices that were spot on; and made us feel welcome and special. A real asset to the establishment. Congrats to management for adding him to the staff.
Food was decent, but not memorable. The service really bothered me. The waiter was smug and refused to let me order my appetizer before I ordered my entree. Not appropriate at all.
The staff and atmosphere are good, the food is not that good. The steak frites are dry. The hamburger was also not for me.
We went with a group of three couples. The shareable appetizers were very good and all of our entrées where good portions and tasted delicious. The ambience was terrific as well. We're looking forward to a return visit.
This experience really failed to deliver. The portions were shockingly small for the price paid. Our son ordered the rage meat sauce pasta and it could not have been more than a cup of food placed in a shallow bowl. Never have been to a restaurant where we actually didn't have enough to eat. It was not a good value at all for the price paid. The food overall was very good but unfortunately overshadowed by the small portions. There was no bread even on the menu to order. Their service was perfectly wonderful and our two servers were attentive and helpful. Most distressing was the noise level - none of us could hear each other to hold a decent dinner conversation. The Forum hotel is beautiful venue but gosh darn they need to get the restaurants in order if they want folks to come back. We love this hotel but won't return to this restaurant.
Food overall was very good. One of the items was labeled Gluten Free incorrectly, but the waitress caught the mistake and they didn't charge us for the appetizer. Valet parking may improve, but was slow.
Ordered an olive oil cake from Birch and Bloom while staying at the Kimpton hotel. They insisted to bring it to our room even though we ordered in person. Well the cake was $8 and when they brought it to my room — they charged me another $8 for delivery. $8 to take the elevator up to the 5th floor is absurd! What’s even more disheartening is the cake I received. Presentation was a let down. There were no peaches. It’s literally corn bread dipped in heavy oil over a creme. Took one bite and it was disgusting. I couldn’t even eat it. All that money wasted. I can’t believe they would even serve this on their menu! This was so disappointing. If I could give negative stars I totally would. I would not recommend this place.
My friend and I dined here in May this summer and the food was amazing! 2 months later, we came back and the menu had completely changed. They removed their brussel sprouts and the quality of the food was horrible. We talked to the hostess, and he said there was a new chef. I hate to see this new hotel restaurant lose business because their quality of food and menu has changed so much. Please bring back the old menu!!! Nobody wants to pay $80 for dinner with low quality.
I had dinner at Birch and Bloom while staying at The Kimpton and it was amazing. David’s service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I highly recommend!
Disappointing for a Kimpton property. Service was fine, food was average at best and value not there at all. Both my wife's and my appetizers were very good (hers: the Manchego/apricot, mine: the Valdeon Bleu/fig). The mains were disappointing. My grilled pork chop was terribly salty (and I like well-seasoned food!) and was grilled only in name. I suspect it was sous vide or some other prior prep technique and then tossed on a grill for about a minute - barely any grill marks on it. Presentation was unappetizing as well. My wife's roasted snapper was OK but not exceptional. We split a desert, the peach upside-down cake. The olive oil cake was tasty, but we suspected that they were making a single peach stretch for the whole restaurant for the evening. Then there was the wine -- or, more properly, then there wasn't the wine. We both started with a glass of a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. OK, but totally bland -- for $16/glass it was a rip-off. I had a glass of a Spanish Garnacha with my pork chop. Their list spelled it "Grenacha" -- what, were they afraid we wouldn't know the Spanish word for Grenache? In any case, it was adequate but just that -- and it was $15/glass. I know wine by the glass can be expensive but should deliver quality for the price. A really excellent restaurant would have a much better wine by the glass program than this. Overall, the food was adequate, the service very good, the value awful. We won't be back.
Food was exceptional as usual but Service we received & recommendations from our server Jamie was spot on and the best we both have ever had ?. Looking forward to our next stay at Kimpton in Charlottesville & dining at Birch & Bloom as well ? Also I like to give a shout out to James at the Kimpton for his over the top Customer Service ??
Restaurantji Recommends
Lights were on way too high and the live singer was turned up so loud our server couldn't hear us. Server, Brooke, was the highlight of the evening, doing her very best to make the experience a good one. Cocktails were delicious. Food was all pretty significantly underseasoned and bland; I always feel terrible asking for salt but it was absolutely necessary. Salmon ordered medium came out well done. Pasta dish with roasted zucchini particularly tasted like it had been cooked with zero salt. At the end of the meal (around 7:30) lights were abruptly turned down so low we could barely see the check. For a meal that cost $500+ everything should have been better. Having had a stellar meal (and really bad service) the last time we came in February, Birch and Bloom feels very inconsistent. The quality of our meal that first time will definitely mean we give it another try!
Amazing service and food, don't let the fact that it is a hotel restaurant deter you. Thomas (maitre'd) and James (server) provided some of the best service we've had, as well as the rest of the staff. Both made excellent suggestions for food, and made us feel special (it was our 35th anniversary). The cocktails were wonderful (we had the Aloha Sour and the Vieux Carre) and they have an expansive wine list. The menu is new (new chef) and everything was excellent in both taste and portion size. We will be back!
We made reservations on Open Table and let them know in the comments that it was our anniversary. We were greeted by the maitre de who brought us to a romantic table and proceeded to give us a complimentary glass of bubbly and an anniversary card signed by everyone who worked at the restaurant. David waited on us and gave us impeccable service. We had the hanger steak and fries for dinner, a tomato and avocado dish as a starter. Both were delicious. Unusual flavors that really worked together. My husband had the carrot cake for dessert which was the best we've ever had. I had the peach upside down cake which was good but a little underwhelming. Overall we were very impressed with Birch and Bloom on this, our first visit, and will be back again!
We made reservations on Open Table and let them know in the comments that it was our anniversary. We were greeted by the maitre de who brought us to a romantic table and proceeded to give us a complimentary glass of bubbly and an anniversary card signed by everyone who worked at the restaurant. David waited on us and gave us impeccable service. We had the hanger steak and fries for dinner, a tomato and avocado dish as a starter. Both were delicious. Unusual flavors that really worked together. My husband had the carrot cake for dessert which was the best we've ever had. I had the peach upside down cake which was good but a little underwhelming. Overall we were very impressed with Birch and Bloom on this, our first visit, and will be back again!
My husband, son and I had the pleasure of visiting Birch & Bloom a few days ago for the first time. No question, the sentiment among us was unanimous: the variety, freshness and quality of our course selections did not disappoint. They included crab cakes, tender greens, roasted snapper, hanger steak and Pot du Creme. Point of fact, each was exceptional. Equally outstanding if not more so was our amazing server, Darmal. He answered all of our questions on specific menu items; offered insights and recommended choices that were spot on; and made us feel welcome and special. A real asset to the establishment. Congrats to management for adding him to the staff.
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