MOCKINGBIRD KITCHEN & BAR, Litchfield - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Reservations

Is this an American restaurant?

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About

At Mockingbird Kitchen and Bar, our goal is to bring you global cuisine using fresh, vibrant seasonal and local ingredients. Locally sourced and globally flavored we strive to present well-balanced dishes with flavors ranging from subtle to bold.

CUISINES

American

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Dinner, Brunch

FEATURES

Delivery, Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Parking Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.0

84 reviews

Excellent

37

Very good

20

Average

13

Poor

12

Terrible

2

Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

DJMXX

Westport1396 contributions

Like dining in a cozy gourmet ski lodge

Mar 2024 • couples

Our dining experience was like a warm hug on a cold night! Food was amazing but the ambiance and service brought it to the next level. My burger and fries were off the chart and my dining companions equally loved their swordfish and salmon. We shared dumplings and Brussels for appetizers and a carrot cake (don’t miss this!!!) and a chocolate banana bread pudding for dessert. The wines and cocktails were also on point! Look forward to going back when the sun hasn’t set to enjoy the view of the lake nearby.

Written March 7, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PeteD25

Charleston107 contributions

What happened???

Dec 2023 • couples

Mockingbird was our go-to place for years, albeit years ago before we moved south in 2018. We're up visiting friends and family for the holidays and were really looking forward to dinner here, one of our once favorite places. We should have checked the recent reviews before making the reservation. Long story short, we left before placing our order, after 20 minutes before we got a glass of water. It was a Saturday night, only one server, freezing cold despite the fireplace, and just 6 other patrons who all watched jealously (in their hats and coats) as we left. We went down the street to one of our other go-to places, Zeni's, without a reservation. Within a minute of sitting down we had water, bread, a candle lit, and placed our drink and appetizer order and proceeded to have a wonderful evening. Hopefully a new owner or manager will take over and make Mockingbird what it once was and could be again. Until then, proceed at your own risk!

Written December 9, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terri T

1 contribution

Bread and water

Oct 2023 • friends

Last night I had a reservation at the Mockingbird Kitchen In Bantam, CT. We had been there years ago but wanted to try it again after only getting takeout there during the pandemic. I had a 6:30 reservation for me and a friend. When we walked in at that time, the restaurant seemed warm and inviting and almost full. Unfortunately, that is that last moment I felt any kind of welcome.The bartender acted like she cared not that I had a reservation and didn't ask for my name. She told us to "Sit anywhere" and being unfamiliar with the restaurant, we made our way to a table near a large multi-family group near the fireplace. We sat down, eager to have a glass of wine and catch up with each other. Alas, no one came to our table and the three women who were working acted like we were invisible. I finally went up to the bar and asked who our waitress was and got a blank stare. I sat back down, puzzled, and a woman who appeared to be the owner came towards us, my spirit lifting, but alas again, she was coming to put a log on the fire. She paid us no attention but we desperately asked if we could please get two glasses of wine and some menus. She said yes but apparently never put a drink order in because for the next 45 minutes, we got nothing but bread and water. I wish I could review the food at this point (the water was very cold and the bread very fresh!) but we walked out before we had to beg for someone to take our order. The young woman at the bar said she was sorry and looked sad when I told her they shouldn't have taken our reservation if they couldn't serve us. This was the only time I've ever walked out of a restaurant for not even bad service but no service. We went down the street and had a lovely dinner where someone greeted us at the door and we had wine in our hands in about 5 minutes. They also gave us bread and water but they gave us what Mockingbird totally lacked which was a warm welcome and a sense that they cared about their customers, the service and the food.

Written October 21, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

uconn1990

27 contributions

Awful service, Average food, Poor Attention to Detail.

May 2023 • couples

Terrible service. Waitress forgot our cocktail order and we could not flag her down. We had to ask for them again when a different server brought out our appetizer. When the drinks finally arrived, there was no apology. This is service I would expect from a diner. The menu was very limited and by 7:00 on. Friday, they were out of the appetizer my wife wanted. The restaurant was not busy. The salmon appetizer, similar to a ceviche, was the best dish we had. Very well balanced. The raw oysters were below average. They were not properly shucked. No mignonette was served with them. No small fork. I had to use my fingers to detach most of them from the shells. The pork chop was cooked well but the molè was bitter. The avocado and citrus fruit on top were out of place. The Chicken Milanese was cooked well with a crispy breading. However, it had absolutely no seasoning.

Written May 26, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

H G

13 contributions

LONG WAITS

Oct 2022 • none

Every time we go the wait is at least 2 hours. The owner is the chef and most often will only have one person helping. The wait is unacceptable and the food is just ok.

Written January 16, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gerarda R

San Pedro16 contributions

inovative menu, great execution and beautiful setting

May 2021 • none

have had the pleasure of dining here often and am always very happy with whatever menu selections I make the menu changes often so there are always new dishes to try. Sam- the owner/chef is very creative and the execution is never disappoining -- Caroline is one of the best waitresses I have ever encountered in a restauant setting - she is attentive, engaging and very efficent .. it is very challenging for restaurants - during this time to find staff , even to bus tables -- so please be patient and enjoy your outng ....

Written September 21, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Film G

New England993 contributions

Aggressively Mediocre

May 2020 • couples

Though only a few patrons were there, the server forgot the salad we ordered. (Oops! Sorry. Do you still want it?) Our main courses were serviceable. Memorable? No. Everything seemed assembled. Nice toilets. Easy parking. There is no reason to go out of your way to eat here. Just fuel.

Written May 31, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan K

7 contributions

Average food, very disappointing service

Feb 2020 • none

We had dinner here recently. Checked out the website in advance - the menu looked great and the place very inviting. The food was OK - my main course an improvement over the appetizer (a salad which had limp vegetables and congealed dressing), but most distracting was the mediocre service. While the waitstaff was pleasant, they were not very attentive either to us or to the details of our order. We debated speaking with the manager but decided against it. Better training could possibly solve some of the issues. Overall a disappointing experience - definitely not worth a return visit.

Written March 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

jayned225

Litchfield14 contributions

2 visits and both disappointing

Jan 2020 • friends

This is my second and last time I will dine here, as the service and welcome was below par. Ambiance - none. Food nothing special.

Written February 3, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

grumpy1952

North Stonington59 contributions

Very, very disappointing!

Jan 2020 • none

Went to dinner with another couple as we had heard good things about the Mockingbird. Their on-line list of weekly specials sealed the deal. When we asked the server for specials, she recited only a couple that were not on the website. When asked about those listed online, she told us that it was a mistake and those should have been removed from the website. Okay, not her fault. The menu listed salads with optional add-ons of chicken, shrimp or salmon. Salmon wasn't on the menu but I asked whether I could get an entree of salmon. Her reply was that they were out of salmon (huh?). When asked about the fried chicken (one of their signature dishes according to our server) we were told that we could have either a breast or a thigh/drumstick. Two of our party ordered fried chicken breast. When the plates came, they both had the thigh/drumstick (which were not too much larger than those of a Cornish game hen). When we pointed this out to our server she said they were out of chicken breasts so the kitchen substituted dark meat (but did not bother to tell us beforehand). My wife sent hers back and ordered a different entree (which was below average). The other party ate what little meat there was but said it was dry and clearly overcooked. When the bill came, we had been charged for the fried chicken entree. My wife went to the manager who, somewhat begrudgingly, removed the chicken entree from the bill after my wife pointed out that she did not eat it as it was NOT what she had ordered. No offers of a comp for dessert or coffee and certainly no apology for one of the worst dinners we have had in quite some time. Based on the quality, the food was wildly overpriced. The service was far below standard but in her defense, we think it may have been our server's first night as she seemed totally lost. Won't be returning and definitely would NOT recommend it to anyone.

Written January 30, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

787p

1 contribution

A must in the Litchfield Hills

Oct 2019 • couples

We had dinner on a busy Friday night, our reservations were for 6:30. It's very easy to park right behind the restaurant. The place is charming and romantic with a small bar that seats about 8-10 people. The food is absolutely outstanding. We shared very fresh ceviche appetizer and a vibrant green micro greens salad with pears, walnuts and blue cheese. The bread was a fragrant, crusty whole wheat affair, and it's made in house! We followed with a chicken piccata and o poi asta bolognese. The chicken was served with homemade gnocchi: delicious, moist chicken and a perfectly balanced sauce (not too lemony, as it often happens). The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was a true classic bolognese, save some bread to soak it all up at the end! Dessert was an English-style bread pudding served with 4 (yes, four) scoop of, once again homemade, ginger ice cream! What a delightful dinner!

Written October 26, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David W

8 contributions

Spoiled reunion

Apr 2019 • none

Arrived 15 minutes early for dinner.Went to the bar for a cocktail....ignored and then 'greeted' with indifference and haste by the bartender.At the table the waiter seemed overwhelmed ( 6:30).Ordered Perfect Manhattan,long delay produced a Vodka Martini.Appetizers were so small as to be impossible to share. Two out of four entrees were sent back....grossly overcooked.This is unacceptable at any price...but they are charging top dollar.A highly disappointing evening with poor even insulting service and a sloppy kitchen.

Written October 22, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

luna24

White Plains186 contributions

Diappointing

Aug 2019 • none

We had a very mediocre yet moderately expensive dinner here. We waited nearly an hour for the appetizer (our party had simply ordered one salad) to be served and more than an hour for the main course. Most of the entrees were failed attempts at creativity with too much going on and flavors that did not support the dish. This was especially true of the steak sauce. The fried chicken dish was decent.

Written August 28, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

db914

White Plains13 contributions

Over-rated food, slow service

Aug 2019 • family

It took 50 minutes before our appetizers arrived (a salad shared by two). And then another 30 minutes before our 5 entrees arrived, and the restaurant was only half full. The dishes sounded good on the menu but were not well executed: a steak ordered medium-rare arrived cooked medium-well on one side and closer to medium-rare on the other side, while the sauce was overwhelming and didn't work (some combination of BBQ sauce, Worchester, and Hoisin?). Other dishes were just OK. More humorous were the numerous typos on the dessert menu.

Written August 24, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

97869

58 contributions

Delicious food and fabulous service for our Special Occasion

Aug 2019 • none

I hosted a pre-wedding dinner at Mockingbird and Sam Tilley created such a fresh, innovative and delicious seasonal menu for our family dinner. Sam and her staff made the evening so welcoming for our family--everyone in our group raved about the food from the passed appetizers, to the entrees, to the desserts. Friends gathered on the porch and patio after the family dinner for drinks and light bites. We couldn't have asked for a better evening and Mockingbird made it perfect from start to finish. Sam's food is special and clearly made with love as well as talent!

Written August 23, 2019

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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