After the noon rush, so some seats available...
We were seated in what I refer to as the 'Chicago sardine seating'
where the seats are wedged in next to each other [John's immediate comment: "I hate this. I don't even sit this close to my relatives."]. I question whether squeezing in one or two more tables is worth the losses you might sustain in the long run. People having a meal together like to speak and hear and have their own private conversation. There are several places in Chicago I don't frequent because I'm not usually happy as a customer when I am treated like a sardine. Rents are high...but Blackbird was not full...so there may be a better customer-satisfying seating model that would work.
We could hear the people next to each of us better than each other across the table. The music was slightly loud and sounds were echoing off the walls [John: "I hit my lifetime quota of loud Fleetwood Mac many years ago"]. In reality, I could barely hear what the server said...which made me order less, quickly, to get the ordering experience out of the way. Too bad...there were several interesting lunch options---but it wasn't worth fighting the noise to inquire about them.
Our choices turned out to be quite acceptable. John ordered the falafel salad, I had the hot Italian sandwich.
The falafel salad had nicely-sliced apples, pepitas, squash (this was an issue), slightly dark but otherwise well-fried falafel, greens, a yogurt layer [John: The yogurt was bitter...a nice ricotta would have been better], and dressing that John described as 'uneven'---bland on one side of the salad and spicy on the other. This would have been a top-shelf salad except for what is described on the menu as 'roasted delicate squash' - don't know if that was supposed to be 'delicata'...but regardless, it was raw except for 2 slices that were 'browned' as in maybe a spot that was 'roasted until burnt'. It didin't have the nice sweet flavor of delicata squashe (trust me, I've grown every squash on earth--most of which you've probably never heard of---if this was delicata, it needed another week on a vine somewhere [John: "Linda is spot on. The squash was not ripe."]). Raw squash would have been passable if thinly sliced, but this was thick and chewy (Sysco the dog loves a good chew bone---he would have enjoyed this). I cannot explain the 'unevenness' of the dressing.
The hot Italian sandwich was better. Served on a nice baguette (that almost held up---it fell apart 3/4 of the way thru the first half), it held satisfying layers of black forest ham, sopressata, provolone, pepperoncini, fresh basil, mayo, vinaigrette. This varied from the menu which said it would be served on toasted Pullman. Frankly, the baguette provided a better presentation than a square Pullman would have. When the server took my order, she asked "Are you OK with pepperoncini?" "Yes, old ladies can eat hot peppers." The sandwich was served with a side of pickled cukes and onions---similar to Marianne's own 'refrigerator pickles'---less sweet, perhaps lacking a bit of flavor. Marianne's had a bit of celery seed and a few other secret ingredients.
Overall, lunch was quite good. As we noted, you couldn't have found anything like it in Shoreview, WBL, Roseville...sad that we have to drive to south Mpls for an interesting salad and sandwich (or I have to make it at home). We'd rate the experience in the 4.2 - 4.4 Star range. A few tenths deductions for: 1) sardine seating paired with noise level 2)thick raw squash 3)uneven dressing on the salad, and 4)I knocked off a tenth of a point for the dust kittens hanging over my lunch from the ornate old light fixture---attractive, except for the kitties.
Overall we'd recommend Blackbird. Many people in the Twin Cities food community rate it highly and dine there often. That's always a good sign. Open for breakfast (until 2), lunch starting at 11, and dinner...we'd say go in an off hour for best seating and chance to have a conversation with your dining companion(s). High quality ingredients, mostly well-prepared. We would have appreciated more veggie options.
The decor is mixed, not sophisticated, not eclectic, a bit kitchie.
Very nice wine selection but it was lunchtime and it's a long drive back home to the burbs.
Having been in the food business we like to check out the kitchen...when not viewable the rest room is always a good comp...looks fine...
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