Ria's Bluebird

04/27/2008 Posted by ivy1000

Located across from historic Oakland Cemetery, Ria's Bluebird restaurant is a jewel! Not much to look at from the outside, it is what's waiting for you on the inside that counts! Arriving on a Sunday at 12 noon, one can expect a wait of 20-30 minutes. The décor is simple with brightly colored murals on the walls and a collection of old local street signs hanging among the bamboo “garden” as decoration. Dress code is extremely casual. Outside seating is a must during the warm summer months, although the patio floor accumulates large puddles during rain even though it is covered. The table service was acceptable, only a 7 minute wait for the initial greetings by the waiter and once the order was placed, only a 12 minute wait for the food. The menu, which is posted online, has a wide range of choices, including vegetarian. The prices are reasonable, with the average being about $10 per person, drinks included. The food is well seasoned making every dish a delight! The “tofu scramble,” a deep bowl of seasoned black beans with 1-inch cubed spicy tofu, large broccoli florets, thick slices of tomato, rings of red onion and a dollop of pesto, was delicious! For a hearty tasting sandwich, try the House Roasted Beef, thick slices of beef piled high on a onion kaiser roll. Served with your choice of a side, their soup-of-the-day makes a fine addition to this tasty sandwich! No matter what you order, you will not be disappointed. So gather your family and friends and head downtown for a brunch at Ria's Bluebird Cafe. It is well worth the wait!

Pros: Well seasoned breakfast/brunch

Cons: Limited parking/Street parking. 30+ Wait time. Puddled patio. Long initial greet by table server.

04/12/2008 Posted by RobinH

Original menu & staff...for years now...! I almost dread the success of this place with the yuppies and kids beginning to take over. Long live original, freaky, quirky places such as this!

Pros: Food, delicious & original...excellent vegitarian choices!

Cons: children in my space...WTF?

01/02/2008 Posted by reviewer1964

What a shame! We have been enjoying Ria's great food for months now while overlooking the rude, incompetent service. Today, however, the straw broke the camel's back. One of her mignons (tall freak in dire need of Miss Manner's and a razor) barked at us not to wait inside the store while we were waiting for a table. Today it was cold....and while we understand having to wait outside if that is the fire code, (I am assuming that is the reason---since none was given), we could not tolerate his barking his commands at us across the crowded restaurant. He should have come over and talked to us in person. To add insult to injury, he had the audacity to tell us we could buy some coffee to keep us warm. What a moron!!! Sorry, Ria...but he lost you some regulars!!

Pros: good food

Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE

10/12/2007 Posted by douglasvilledave

Went for breakfast on a Friday morning. The place was busy but not packed. We were greeted immediately at the door and seated. The menu is a little different than you find in most breakfast places, but had some very inventive and unusual breakfast items. The brisket breakfast on the menu reminded me that I had seen the Bluebird featured on "The Hungry Detective" on Food Network. I had to try it. It was OUTSTANDING. My wife, not as adventurous an eater as I, had the pancakes with caramelized bananas. I think I'll order that next time. The food was wonderful, the service was prompt and attentive, the waiter's blue mohawk hair cut was interesting, and the prices were reasonable. I will be back!

Pros: Food, service

Cons: not very big, not much parking.

09/16/2007 Posted by christinaatl

I highly recomend Ria's for a wonderful ly different taste! I had the tempeh rueban and it was great! The atmosphere and staff are fun and friendly. I'm going back for breakfast tomorrow!

Pros: creative yet classic food choices

02/08/2007 Posted by jaymaygm

This is one of the coolest little places in ATL for breakfast. Smart inventive healthy options. Ria, herself, is a sight to behold. Another user, I think from Louisana, commented about the staff and patrons being freaks. I'm not a freak. Being gay, pierced, or tatooted, does not make a person a freak. What is freaky, are roughnecks(ab. for another word) like this coming into the city, and we just don't date or marry our cousins. Ria's rocks!

Pros: Great Healthy Breakfast, Staff, Patrons & Neighborhood!

Cons: Ultra Rural Bigots Who Came Here To Eat!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

02/07/2007 Posted by luisvalla

The caramelized Banana Pancakes were the best I've ever had. It was fast and fun service. I would recommend this place to everyone!

Pros: Great Food

Cons: Small tables, no room for large party

01/08/2007 Posted by teemtwo

tried this place for the 1st time on a saturday morning & loved it. i had a black bean breakfast burrito sausage links and it was delicious. staff was very friendly and i was seated out on the patio which was heated so it was very nice. wait time was short (i was seated in 10 minutes) the only thing I didn't like is that my waiter (although he was friendly) never came to refill my water or lemonade for some reason, i thought it was weird that he didn't at least ask if i wanted more of my beverages, but towards the end as i was waiting for him to bring me my check another waiter asked if i'd like a refill but i declined. was strange because although there were others out on the patio, it was not full but overall this was a great breakfast experience and i would definitely return because the food was excellent. the parking is terrible but they more than make up for it with great food and friendly service and the inexpensive prices.

Pros: Great food, Great prices

Cons: Parking

12/23/2006 Posted by paz5559

Best grits I have ever tasted. Limited but inventive menu, (specials ranged from Christmas pancakes made with eggnog to tilapia eggs benedict). If you aren't gay, pierced, or tattooed, you will be in the clear minority. Somewhat ramshackle, roughhewn, unfinished appearance, neighborhood, although in the process of being gentrified, is still questionable. Slightly expensive (breakfast entrees ranges from $6-9.25).

Pros: Great, inventive food

Cons: Dicey neighborhood, staffed and frequented by freaks AND yuppies

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/23/2006 Posted by buffy5674

I have been going to Ria's 2 or 3 times a month for the last couple of years and I have never been disappointed. The food is great and the staff is very friendly and knowledgable about the food. My only wish is that the wait was shorter on the weekend.

Pros: Food, staff

Cons: Wait