I've been to Bantam about four times over the years. Whenever I come up to Bellingham, I always come here and always sit at table 29 with my friend. Hot chicken was hot but not too hot and juicy. The slaw tastes refreshing with cilantro, and it was just the perfect amount of food. Highly recommend it. It's not Nashville hot chicken, but it's still really, really good. The upstairs is like a cool bar with a nice bathroom. It's nice and quiet up there, so perfect for a date night. 21+ up there. read more

Bantam - Hot chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Had a great first time visit. We did not know about reservations for 2 ppl but we do now! We gladly sat out on their heated patio and happy for that option. The service was 5 star thanks to Annie and at least 4 others who brought us our food and made sure we were well taken care of. Our food was great despite the lack of warning about how hot the hot chicken is lol. From what we were told it is also NOT their hottest dish. Receipts come with 20% Mallard ice cream which we quickly redeemed. I throughly enjoyed my 1 Piece Fried Meal (fried chicken cutlet) which had the most amazing (only slightly spiced) warmed honey which I drenched everything with. The biscuit was DREAMY!! If I could offer one bit of advice be sure to check out the side dishes on the backside of the menu. I think the macaroni would have made an amazing appetizer. Next time! read more

Bantam - 1 Piece Fried Meal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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First of all, I have to praise the staff. They are wonderful! I will come back to them after I talk about the food--my order? Fries and the 1 Piece Meal (white). The excellence of the food here is such that I will never, ever forget how good it is. That said, coming here again was yet again an "OMG it is sooooooo good!!!" experience! I suspect I could eat here every week and have the same reaction. The chicken is just so . damn . good!!! As is everything else I've tried here. Even the pickles. Even the pickles that came with my coleslaw that came with my fried chicken were so . damn . good. (And then to dip them in the honey sauce! Oh my! And I'm not even that big on sweet. I was planning on ignoring the honey sauce completely, decided to make one little pickle/coleslaw foray into it--just one little dip--and it was so good--and such a different flavor experience--that the next thing I knew I was dipping the already perfect chicken in it. Not to mention yet more of a pickle/coleslaw-laden fork. I couldn't stop myself from going back and forth for the variance in the scrumptious flavor notes...) The "basic" fries were perfect just as they were. Then, a small dip into the garlic aioli. Oh my...very different from other preparations I've had before. And absolutely divine. Back and forth for me, yet again... Just one bitty bite of the perfect buttermilk biscuit. Oh my... And again, the chicken... fried with no sense of it being fried--perfect light and airy batter, white meat juicy and tender. The staff I met were perfectly charming, attentive, helpful, funny, kind and just plain wonderful, and there were many. Furthermore, I was seated at the bar and my two bartenders, Micah (sp) and Blaire each successfully rose to the challenge of making a mocktail worthy of being as delicious as a true cocktail. We decided one should be called the Micah Old Fashioned and the other, the Blaire Pear. (I hope they put them on the menu.) The bar is a thing of comfort and beauty--kind of like a speakeasy, Micah declared. Blaire told me the story of the starry lights overhead--it was wonderful. Wonderful experience, wonderful night, just--in all ways--wonderfilled and wonderful. read more

Boring menu not so great chicken for a chicken place. Fried chicken was dry and just not good for the price.

The pros Their poutine was hot, crispy, and covered in a delicious mushroom and chicken gravy. The waiter was kind. The ambiance of the restaurant seemed welcoming. The cons Bantam is a chicken restaurant that was out of chicken at 6:00 at night...let that sink in, a chicken restaurant was out of chicken. Our family was seated and immediately told they were out of the seasonal specials. OK, there were other things to choose from and we came for the rotisserie chicken family meal on the menu and a few other items. A minor bump, which in that moment we did not know was a foreshadowing of things to come. We ordered two small plates as we continued to look over the menu. We quickly received our two small plates. The poutine, which was delicious, and the roasted cauliflower, which was cold and underwhelming. We then attempted to order our main dishes and was told they did not have enough chicken to fulfill the family dinner that is on the menu. But, they could piece meal it out, for a small discount. Meaning, they could serve three quarters of a whole chicken. When I asked the waiter how much the discount would be, the waiter could not provide an actual amount, just that it would be minimal. We asked for a few more minutes to look over the menu. When the waiter came back we had a few more questions before ordering. Before we could ask, the waiter informed us the restaurant could no longer offer us any rotisserie chicken at all. At 6:00 at night, the chicken restaurant was out of chicken. We asked if there could be any other way they could offer a family meal, seeing as they also have fried chicken. We were told no. Seeing as there was no flexibility or chicken at this establishment, we decided to pay for the small plates and leave for another restaurant that had those things. read more

This was the restaurant at the top of our list when visiting Bham for the weekend. It was a definite winner. With limited hours open and it being a Saturday we got there right as they opened up. We chose to sit upstairs at the bar as we did not make reservations. They had a very healthy amount of obscure mixed drinks. I went out of my comfort zone and ordered the test pilot. A rum drink. The bar tender was very friendly and knowledgeable. The ambiance was very mellow and had it been darker outside would have a very romantic feel. Perfect for a date night. We wasted no time ordering, my wife chose the fried chicken dinner and I picked the hot chicken. We accompanied both with a side of mac n cheese as well as the grits. My wife liked her fried chicken but was expecting a bit more flavor. I agreed. The hot chicken was just the right amount of hot and both meals had the chicken cooked perfectly. The Mac was fluffy and cheesy not to our liking and the grits were good, but I was hoping for a little more cheese. Either way we took care of business. Definitely glad we stopped by here. We took our remainder home as both were very large portions. Also just a side note, they taste great the next day as well. So don't feel like it's not going to hold up! read more

Bantam - Test Pilot - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I came here with a friend on a Thursday a little after 5:30pm. It wasn't very crowded so we were seated immediately and we got to choose between sitting downstairs or sitting upstairs - we chose upstairs, loved it! I ordered the Chicken and Waffles with the seasonal, Save A Horse, cocktail. I'm not much of a drinker so the cocktail was a bit strong for me but still very delicious and refreshing! The breading on the chicken was perfectly crispy and I loved the flavor of the butter with the chicken. I wasn't totally in love with the waffles as much as I loved the chicken but the chicken was SO good, I ended up just eating only the chicken in the end. Our waitress was SOOO nice! She took amazing care of us (I don't recall her name but she had a septum piercing and tattoos on her forearm so if you see this, THANK YOU!) The music they played was great, not too loud, could still comfortably converse. The decor was also stunninggggg, I felt at home! We spent a little over $110 (including tip) for 2 entrees, 2 cocktails, 1 appetizer, and 1 side. This felt like a good bang for our buck for sure! read more

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Wonderful cocktails, exquisite chicken, perfect little biscuit, and splendid slaw. Could not have been happier with the meal or the ambience. read more

I loved everything here so good the Mac and cheese left me FLOORED. The only thing I didn't like was the grits- I have never had grits before so I think I just don't like them LOL read more

Should update website to be hours to 8;25 pm for closing kitchen and trying to get food, cmon man

Bantam doesn't bother with half-measures. The room thrums with a low, confident swagger; cocktails land with precision; the kitchen cooks like it has something to prove and knows it's already won. Kick things off with hushpuppies that are crisp on the outside, tender inside, a quiet prelude to the main event: Nashville fried chicken--fiery, juicy, unapologetic. Pair it with a Cry Me a River cocktail, a glass of smoke and citrus that feels equal parts back-alley jazz club and Gulf Coast sunset. If fried chicken isn't your gospel, keep walking. For the rest of us, Bantam is Bellingham's altar--a place to eat, drink, and let the night stretch out until the world feels just a little more alive. read more

Overpriced fried chicken that wasn't even very good. The salted beets were not salted, the portion of the shrimp and grits was tiny. Service was good, ambience was nice. I doubt they'll be around for very long. read more

Yes it's expensive for roast chicken but a plate is enough for two and everything is delicious and served well. Definitely coming back! read more

From the moment we walked in we knew this place was going to be special. We were greeted with a warm welcome, some advice on the drink menu to include non-alcoholic options. We were celebrating a graduation but our graduate forgot her ID and the manager gave her a rain check free drink card to come back for one. The food was awesome, great fried and rotisserie chicken options. The root salad was refreshing. The mac and cheese was super delicious, cheesy goodness. We also had the poutine and a round of tasty drinks. This is a nice place for a small group gathering or date night. read more

Bantam - The Golden Chicken - in tumeric jerk spice, with a pineapple habanero sauce. Spicy but your palate adapts to the yum - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Have been to bantam 2x now and both times have had a really great meal. Fresh and bold flavors, they are not trying to be blah, which I like. That saying... Mac and cheese COULD have a bit more salt!! But ... it was still yummy. I had the Nashville hot chicken and it was bomb - vinegary spicy and the pickles on top were nice too. Seemed like they were homemade. Underdog star is the coleslaw, GREAT. and cocktails- the black currant mule was so fruity and tart and zesty. Feels like a nicer dinner without being stuffy or pretentious, families too! read more

On our return to Bantam, the bar upstairs was open, and we grabbed two seats. Grey was our server/bartender, and his vivacious personality added to our evening. The chicken was fantastic again, ranking with the best in the country. I swerved off my prescribed lane and ordered the Garlic Herb Chicken rather than the iconic Fried Chicken Meal. My chicken was incredible, and I left a clean plate, but I think I will stick with the Fried Chicken Meal in the future. Why mess with the best. Accompanied by the creative drinks mixed by Grey, our chicken dinner was elevated to an experience that will be repeated again and again. read more

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This place. Seriously, this place. Go on Wednesdays for the chicken and waffles and sink in sublime bliss. Get a cocktail, even if you're not into cocktails, because they're SO delicious and inventive. Sit upstairs if you are 21+ and take in the sparkling star lights on the ceiling. I've had several different dishes there - Golden Chicken is my favorite. It's less traditionally spicy and more jerk style, and it's delicious. The hot chicken is a nice homage to Nashville, and even the regular chicken is just mouthwatering. The cauliflower and the mac and cheese are to die for as well. I really don't have anything bad to say about the food here. If you are looking for a delicious deal, the line cook chicken sandwich is juicy, comes with fries, and is $15. The only thing I would warn is that you shouldn't go here a) on a whim, or b) if you're in a hurry. Make a reservation to ensure you get in, and realize that not only does good fried chicken take time, but service is a bit on the slow (and somewhat aloof) side. It's a staple in my restaurant repertoire, and it should be in yours, too. read more

We rented the upstairs bar for our company holiday party this year and it did not disappoint. We worked with Sydney to select the menu and details, and she and a couple of other excellent servers helped us have an incredible experience. The food and drinks were amazing, they were able to accommodate for some dietary restrictions, the room was had the cutest decorations, and the staff was accommodating and made sure that we had a seamless party and a fun-filled night. 1000/10 would recommend!! read more

We had my birthday dinner here, and it was wonderful. We were seated promptly and served promptly. I think our server's name was Blain or Blair? She was a delight and took good care of us. The food and drinks were top notch, and well will return again. read more

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This is one of our favorite restaurants in Bellingham! Everything is consistently delicious. Drinks are amazing!

Maybe the best chicken you'll ever put in your face. The Golden is our favorite...oooh that HEAT! But we tried less spicy dishes, like the Garlic and Herb chicken, or the Line Cook Sandwich...all carefully prepared and full of flavor, and the sides are eye-rollingly good. The drinks are always fun and creative, and there are plenty of non-alcoholic selections as well. They have a swank lounge upstairs, by the way. It's hard to get to if you have mobility issues...which almost lost them a star...but they were so gracious and accommodating that we were just fine on the ground floor, too. Friendly staff, informative and loquacious management (it's great to see folks excited about their product) and a specials board that usually has something actually special on it, all make us come back for more. Highly recommended! read more

Food was great as always. Like the upstairs bar. I will have a drink at home before going next time. $15 for a cocktail. A little to much.

After long last I was able to sit down with some beloved Bellinghamsters and try Bantam on a recent trip back "home." I was delighted! A word to first timers, the number you are given matches the table you are assigned. You can take yourself to it once the host gives you the thumbs up. I had no idea and stood there with my number for a few minutes till I overheard them explain that to another party. We started with the deviled eggs and the beet salad, out of the two, I loved the beets due to the blackberry infused honey in the dish - and whipped goat cheese is always a quick way to my heart. The eggs are a super fun experience too, so do what I did and order both. I also ordered the Fried Chicken Meal, because I really wanted to use it as a base to explore their menu. Holy Moly. If you're wondering how someone can make fried chicken be both satisfying and not greasy at all: This is the magical location. i was wow-ed with the entire dish, from the main to the slaw: I can see why this place is so highly rated and loved locally. My side choice was the grits, which I regret - those missed the mark for me and I was expecting something more along the lines of grits I've tried in the Carolinas. I thought they'd be lighter (just in flavor, I get that its grits y'all), but there was an deeper, more savory than expected element, almost smokey, to them. Some folks might like it, but since all the other flavors in my order were so robust, I was looking for a side to anchor it. Maybe the mac and cheese would have been a better choice and I look forward to trying it on my next visit. My dining partners had a line cook sammy and garlic herb chicken: I think the Garlic Herb Chicken and some of their rotisserie options (they were out this time around) will be on my next "to -order" list as well. Everyone was happy, cocktails in hand. A shout out for those who love a good vibe cause the interior design here is one-hundred. The upstairs is the place to be in my opinion, but I know locals love the heated patio too. read more

Bantam - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This has got to be the best fried chicken I've ever had. Portions are pretty big so I split a plate. Ordered the Line-Cook Chicken Sandwich and with a side of poutine and garlic Parmesan fries. They have upstairs seating at the bar which is pretty trendy. Highly recommend! read more

We love Bantam. The upstairs bar is a favorite. Front of house management (Sydney) was so amazing when we hosted a 30 person dinner. The staff was just the best and the food was so good. read more

Fried chicken dinner - yum. And the portion size!! 2 large crispy boneless chicken breasts, drop biscuit with herb honey, coleslaw and one sizable side. I selected mac n cheese- delicious I'm so full, you know, that just ate a bunch of yummy comfort food kind of full. Yep, we'll be back next time we're in B-ham Oh and Bantam's take out window felt super safe read more

Bantam - Fried chicken dinner - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Excellent food every time we dine at Bantam. The upstair dining room is one of the most comfortable spaces and atmospheres in town. read more

If you want to experience a warm and friendly atmosphere with delicious food and cocktails then you must visit Bantam. The bar is one of the most beautifully lit and decorated places in Bellingham. A perfect spot to show off to your friends! read more

Bantam - Seasonal cocktails! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I do still really like the food and cocktails here, but it's hard to justify the prices anymore. They have gone up significantly since they reopened after COVID. Love the fried chicken meal but for $35 and a $4 up charge for Mac and cheese it's just not affordable. Wish they would consider changing up the menu and adding some options that are more accessible. read more

Food is good Prices are a Bit high Portions are large except for the beet salad Good lace for fun get togethers read more

Bantam - Half roti chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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It seems I've missed a big food craze that is showing up everywhere I turn! Fried chicken!! It's always been around but now I am seeing fried chicken specific independent locations pop up all over! We stopped in here as a second choice because the lines at our first choice were too long. But even as a second choice this did not disappoint! The fries were perfect, the deluxe chicken sandwich was delicious and you could tell the chicken breast did not come out of a prepackaged ready to cook box! It dwarfed the bun so it was like having a small side of fried chicken before you even got to the sandwich. Other than maybe a little more salt in the batter I have no complaints. Well, if you get the deluxe, make sure you have plenty of napkins and no cholesterol tests in the next few days! read more

Bantam - Deluxe Chicken Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Most people might think $3 for a side of ranch, which amounts to about a tablespoon, excessive, but it's actually worth it to make the near flavorless food even a little palatable. read more

This restaurant was a recommendation from a friend who's local to Bellingham and I took my visiting parents and family. At first, I thought the menu was really limited with just chicken and no other protein offerings, and pricing did not really match the ambiance of the restaurant. However, once we got our food - we were like yes that was really worth it. We got hush puppies for the table, fried chicken meal and chicken sandwich and I got the garlic herb chicken. I really loved my dish and everybody else who tried it enjoyed it a lot - the sauce was really fresh and the fried chicken was lightly fried and still crunchy and crispy. My least favorite was the slaw. Overall, we really enjoyed this meal and was pleasantly surprised. read more

Have walked by a few times but always when it was closed so last night hubby and I made it our plan to try it out for our anniversary and we were absolutely NOT disappointed! It is a small space on the first lvl but know there is more seating upstairs. We got seated and our waitperson was fabulous and listed the specials, I got the charity cocktail of the month, so good, sweet and refreshing! Hubby got an on tap beer and was happy with it. we ordered the hushpuppies for our app, hubby is from the south and said these were some of the best he has had in a long time! I got the Golden chicken which I was told is the hottest dish on the menu with the pineapple habanero sauce, I appreciated the heads up as I did not think it was going to be that hot but thankfully, I have a very high heat tolerance and it was so so delicious, the heat is a back heat so it hits more at the end but was well worth the burn, also got a single drop biscuit on the side because I just had to try it and I'm so glad I did! Hubby got the hot chicken and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. The chicken was fried to perfection which with breast can be hard to achieve. We will absolutely be back to try the chicken sandwich next! read more

I've been to Bantam a few times. I quite like it. Something that I like is the ceiling (see picture). It adds an interesting element. I had the chicken salad sandwich this time. It was good. I plan to buy it next time I visit. I had a blueberry mojito. I forgot to take a picture but it was tasty. I lean toward sweeter drinks and I enjoyed this one. I don't think it was too sweet, though. I'll see you next time! read more

Bantam - I love the ceiling here! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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EVERY SINGLE DISH IS ! The chicken is super crispy and juicy and very well seasoned. We tired almost every sauces and they are all AMAZING! The right amount of flavor and kick. Mac and chess blew me away. Perfect texture and creaminess. Noddles are perfectly cooked too. Fries are THE BEST I have ever had! They did not slack on any item! It took a while for us to get the food (35mins ish) but for this kind flavor bomb, I didn't mind the wait. read more

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Unfortunately, Bantam's claim of being the Best Fried Chicken west of Louisiana is false. I'm from New Orleans, and Batams Fried Chicken is not as tasty, way over priced($25 for a fried Breast); $32 for a breast/thigh meal which include a salad, small biscuit and a side - red beans/rice was not reminiscent of " New Orleans or Louisiana Red Beans and Rice), and was a trrrible disappointment . I'd suggest readers visit Popeyes and purchase their crispy fried chicken meal and save money. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler, Mon Ami! Coonass 1 read more

Super trendy bar upstairs with delicious chicken. Even the spiciest option wasn't too hot, honestly. The fries were great and a huge portion. Would recommend reservations on the weekend. read more

Bantam - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Wowie wow! What an awesome spot on Railroad in Bellingham. Bantam has completely renovated this funky downtown space into a modern metropolitan oasis! The downstairs seating is a bit small, but we were invited to eat in the bar upstairs and I am glad we did! After a bit of confusion on which table was open, we ended up at the bar, which had comfy seats with backs and foot rests so it was no issue. We were served by Gray who was excellent and can make a mean cocktail. We tried the Hurricane with rum and the cocktail with aperol, both of which were great! The food was prepared quickly, I got the line-cook chicken sandwich with garlic parm fries and my partner got the friend chicken and waffles. So good! The chicken was friend to perfection and the fries were so garlicy-delicious! Can't wait to try more of their menu next time! read more

One of the places I've been meaning to try since I heard about them ages ago. I finally went with a small group of friends and was so impressed by the food and atmosphere. First off, this isn't KFC. This chicken is from another world, one where chicken can be crispy and fried but not greasy. Where friend chicken is a delicacy and is paired with the perfect items to give your meal a super well rounded flavor. It's like that moment in ratatouille where he's explaining food through music and all the different instruments come together to make a beautiful song. Anyway amazing food, really fun place. My only complaint had to do with how long it takes for the food but when it's this good you really don't mind that much. read more

Bantam - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Bellingham, Washington