Mockingbird Kitchen & Bar

Although local we just had our first visit to Mockingbird and now my husband and I are asking, «why did it take this long?» The space and the ambiance are amazing. Very comfortable, tastefully decorated and inviting. The menu included many options for all including vegetarians/​vegans. We ordered the vegetarian lasagna and we both loved it. It was fresh and tasty and the serving size was perfect. They have innovative drinks as well as a great wine list. Sam the owner greeted us at the front door and the service was excellent throughout the meal. The bar is a unique space and would be a great option for drinks and appetizers or to enjoy your meal. We will definitely be returning!

Great décor. Very good food. A bit pricey. Really no value. Terrible seating. All the chairs wobble and are as uncomfortable as sitting on a rock. I can’t go back unless you revive the seating. Let me know then

Nice remodel job. Very bright and refreshing look. Sat at the bar for dinner with wife. Slow and inexperience is what we were served. Food was good but no wow factor for the price being charged. Paid with cash and had to wait for them to find 35 dollars in change. Strange I thought. Not bad but not to impressed. maybe I will try again in 6 months. Hard to beet Aretha and Zinis, neighboring resturantes.

I waited for a few months after your relocation to give you an opportunity to find your groove. I so wanted to love you, Mockingbird in Bantam. I’m hopeful that these setbacks are temporary and you get your wings back.
The renovations are beautiful: well-​planned and pretty. Due to the open space, some fabric (rugs/​curtains) would help warm the place up and help absorb some sound. Our table of four had a difficult time communicating over typical restaurant noise.
The staff is pleasant and accommodating. Our server was a superstar — attentive, but not overwhelming. We loved her.
Drinks are delicious and offered in a nice variety. Great job here.
We tasted each other’s meals and here is the feedback on our joint experience:
Tollgate Salad ($ 8), nothing more than lightly dressed greens with bought-​in-​a-​bag dried cranberries. This could be so much better.
4 Oyster On the Half Shell ($ 12) — these were lovely & fresh and the mignonette was tasty and didn’t overpower.
Pulled-​Pork Tacos ($ 10) — miniature… tiny… with only traces of pork — underwhelming and disappointing.
Salmon w Miso ($ 28) — flavors were meh. Rice was hard — actually hurt our teeth.
Ravioli — great portion, cooked perfectly and was delicious (it was a special; I don’t remember the price). We all enjoyed this.
Roast chicken ($ 27) — had a hard time figuring this out. The favor was delicious, but the texture of the chicken was really off. It had the texture of raw chicken, but it was fully cooked. After a little research, it might have been a failed sous vide technique, but can’t confirm. Based on texture alone, none of us could eat it. The truffle gnocchi also tasted great, but it was extremely soft and again became an issue of texture.
In the end, the restaurant was gracious and didn’t charge for the chicken and tacos, for which we were very grateful. However, we rarely get together, so it was disappointing our night out for fun chatter turned into being all about the food (for the wrong reasons) and finding enough to share between us.
I still think there’s hope, Mockingbird, but you’ve got some tweaks to make.
PS — Why is the Bantam Inn sign causing a stir? Paying homage to the history of the property is great.

My wife and I had a wonderful meal here this past Saturday night. We sat at the bar, which is our preference. The service was very attentive and the drinks and food were delicious. I had the salmon burger, which they make on premises. My wife had the short rib which was delicious. The place has a nice casual vibe and there was plenty of friendly conversation at the bar. Recommended!

A date night with the wife went fantastic at this establishment! We ate at the bar, really fun bartenders and people around us. I had a suggested chop, it was so good and melted in my mouth. My wife had a chicken plate and also loved it! Great night, great group of people and amazing food! Have already told many people to come try you guys in fact one just posted a Unilocal review also. I will be back for sure!

The staff is friendly and inviting. The Brussel sprouts app was tasty and the spicy calamari was excellent. It was lightly breaded and cooked perfectly. They have the potential for a 5 star rating once they pay a little more attention to the small details. A salt and pepper shaker on the table, 3 coffee beans in the sambuca and a little less olive juice in the dirty martini.

My wife and I love to eat at bars in whatever city we find ourselves.
Mockingbird has two lovely dining rooms with soft music playing. One has a fireplace.
The bar is long and social and has the same menu as the dining rooms
Owner/​chef Samantha Tilley already has a reputation in NW Connecticut. She is creative and demanding with a warm presence to any customer.
She is a true fusion chef, and she has assembled an amazing kitchen crew as well as a warm and professional wait staff.
If you don’t go– you are missing out but leaving more room for me, my family, and our friends.

As requested by some friends, here it goes:
Started with pear vodka martini with actual slice of pear… off to a good start!
Appetizers– Shrimp and Scallop ceviche, also ordered the roast beet salad. Ceviche was really good as expected. Beets were perfect but seasoning (cinnamon) flavor was too much
Next appetizer was two little tacos made with chicken confit… mmmm, you say, little to no flavor and chewy
Entrée– we shared the special Thai tofu dish (don’t remember exact name and is not on the menu) spectacular dish. Also shared the Spanish Red wine offered by the bartender, nice selection
We had a nice setting, good service but for the price of $ 160 for two people, felt a little taken advantage of!

The people and the setting is comfy, friendly and attractive.
I would ask the owner of the Mockingbird KItchen and Bar to find out how to make a really good burger (80−90% lean beaf, salt and pepper, don’t overwork, DONT PRESS ON THE GRILL, don’t cook more than 6 minutes.). Come on… dedicate yourself to making a good burger before you venture into mains.
Gordon Ramsay would make this place a money-​maker. The setting in ready-​made. Antique-​New England town with interesting people and lovely staff (Kelly especially).
Yeah the Poblano Pepper appetizer was very tasty but come on…
The Bantam Inn sign says it all. No confidence in the restaurant brand.

I had the most amazing lamb chops. Love the wood bar and the staff were amazing! A+++

Magic! Wonderful evolution of MKB, now in Bantam. Space sings — simultaneously cozy and modern, anchored by the fire and the gorgeous deep free-​form wood bar-​top, with a view through to the hopping kitchen. Service is gracious and prompt, from start to finish. Food exceptional; comfort food and old favorites reinvented (Winter Kale salad) as well as exciting new items that take it to the next level. Profoundly creative and yummy. We’re already planning our next visit. Thanks, Chef Sam and crew!

Very nice atmosphere and even nicer bar. Food is tasty, competent and fairly priced. Maybe over time the place will become more polished. They should change the Bantam Inn sign to *at the very least * Mockingbird at the Bantam Inn.

Amazing in every way! Food is fantastic. A must visit in the dining scene of Northwest CT! Casual yet elegant, a great meal enjoyed by all.

I went in with high expectations. The décor and ambiance of the restaurant really work to lure the customer in to expecting a great evening with great food. Unfortunately, the outcome was less than satisfying. I had a 7:45 reservation on a Wednesday night. I was seated promptly and offered a drink shortly after. With a late reservation it was easy to order food as we were hungry and ready to eat. After an hour of waiting and no food we hoped that the food would at least be worth the wait. No luck. I ordered Chicken Confit… an incredibly small piece of chicken… dry, incredibly burnt brussel sprouts to the side, and potatoes over soaked in some sort of mustardy mayonnaise type sauce. Needless to say it was less than edible. My husband had a lamb burger. The bun more than overpowered the burger which was dry, feta cheese falling to the side and a FEW cherry tomatoes to maybe add color? It was spicy which is normally not a problem. but that was the only notable fact about the dish.
When asked how the meal was I had to be honest. I rarely complain about food. I had to. The kind hostess explained that it was a VERY bad night for the kitchen. This a a VERY sad excuse for a restaurant trying to get themselves noticed and off the ground in my opinion.
I always wish a new restaurant well. This place has a long way go when it is sitting next to a world class restaurant charging comparable prices. I wish them the best but do not see a bright future at this stage. All new restaurants have kinks to work out but this place needs to get on their food game soon or I am not sure it will last. I have no desire to return anytime soon, if ever. If I am asked if it is worth a try? I would absolutely say no. Not with Arethusa next door.

We have followed chef/​owner Sam Tilley and her amazing food for quite some time. Finally she opened her dream restaurant and bar, and both the food and the ambience are perfect.
You can be romantic near the fireplace, gregarious at the bar, or just plain happy in the larger dining room.
Always ask what’s new– she is forever creating.
And prepare to have your taste buds thank you!

Had a lovely brunch with 10 of my closest family and friends. The mimosas were made with had squeezed orange juice and the food was divine. Can’t wait to check this place out again soon for dinner.

They have made this space into a beautiful, warm and quaint restaurant. Quintessential New England Inn feel with dark hardwood wide plank floors and a wood burning fireplace with a touch of elegance. The food is a perfect mix of comfort food with eclectic flavors added to make it interesting. The staff are very inviting with small town feel. A place you feel like it has been standing for quite some time and where all are welcome. Mind you, this has been only the second week they’ve been open. We were seated at 5:45 and service continue without any long wait between courses.
Apps: Fried shrimp tempura was a little on the soggy side and could have been more crispy. It was drizzled with a Sriracha mayo. The shrimp itself was fresh and plump.
Falafel: Not your typical Mediterranean falafel, but good, served with tasty taziki and some sort of fruit preserve.
Entrees: Glazed Miso Salmon, although I did not taste, looked to be cooked perfectly and served with perfectly prepared crisp asparagus.
Mediterranean Chicken Breast: Moist, tender, plump and juicy with just the right amount of seasonings accompanied with cauliflower.
Crispy Fried Cod with Sweet and Sour Sauce was light with a nice sweet tomato-​based purée served atop a pan fried rice cake that had more flavor than I expected. It was the perfect duo.
Confit De Poulet. They had me at chicken thigh cured in duck fat! So delicious, falling off the bone. It was accompanied by crispy Brussels sprouts and small roasted potatoes with a light mustard cream sauce.
Very nice addition to Litchfield/​Bantam