There was a time when my boyfriend would have to move Nashville Hot Chicken across state lines for me. He would bring it, wrapped fresh off the rack from Chicago's Budlong (a $10 endeavor- this detail will be important later) and present it to me right off the train. His whole backpack smelled like grease and chicken. When Fatbird planted its flag in South Bend, I thought such a time was over. We would have our own delicious chicken sandwich on our doorstep. Alas, it was not meant to be. Fatbird's Nashville Hot Chicken is not much better than a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. It's whopping $18.00 hot chicken plate comes with one leg, one breast, one thigh, one wing. A little baby portion. I could drive halfway to Nashville itself to secure my own chicken at this price. Better yet, I could have two Chicago Budlong sandwiches at this price. The two sides were yummy enough but a small scoop each. There may be a food shortage in the FatBird kitchen. As for the chicken, it managed to be both too greasy and too dry in various areas. Where there was chicken, anyway, and not breading. I gnawed and gnawed around the bones and breading, rooting hungrily for chicken, to no avail. I emerged totally unsatisfied. The chicken, as it were, is not fat. The staff was wonderful so it isn't their fault that the chef's vision seems to be relying solely on wealthy, indistinguishing college students to carry the day. In addition, the restaurant managed to find the one corner of downtown South Bend without readily available parking. A weird additional touch. Covid precautions: Fatbird is open for indoor dining and take-out. Guests are seated at the bar or at tables, six feet apart. Staff members wear masks. read more

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Uhm.. can I get more stars please?! Why is this gem not closer to me?? Maybe it was because it was our first stop in South Bend, or maybe we were just starving, but the food made my belly SO happy. Online menu (QR code at the table) is weird and hard to navigate initially. After struggling for a couple minutes trying to figure out how to even view it, we ordered the Chicken & Waffle & Watermelon (A++++!!!), Po' Boy (pretty good), Long Cooked Green Beans (WOW), Campanelle & Cheese (yesssss), Laminated Biscuit (decent), and Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream (yum!). We popped inside quickly to say we wanted outdoor seating and grabbed a table outside. Service was fairly quick and very friendly. We really wanted to come back again during our short trip but ran into a holiday weekend and they were CLOSED!! Lowkey down to make another trip out to Indiana just to get Fatbird.. read more

Fatbird - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

I'll give this place 3.5 stars, but mostly for their wait staff and the friendly service we received. Stopped in on Friday December 4th for lunch. We were excited to give the new place a try. Started with the Vidalia dip with chips... it was good, but skimpy on both dip and the bag of chips for $5.99 I ordered the OG fried chicken sandwich with slaw as a side. Hubs ordered the Nashville fried chicken with green beans. The sandwiches arrived hot and steamy upon arrival. Served on separate plates from the side which I immediately thought that I'd hate to wash all the dishes. I cut my sandwich in half to make it more manageable to eat and noticed the mix of dark and white meat both in the sandwich. The bun was too flimsy to hold the chicken, shredded lettuce and pickle without falling apart, so I ended up eating mine without the bun. Didn't love the slaw at all... sliced sweet peppers aren't anything I want in my coleslaw. Hubs thought his sandwich was definitely hot in terms of spice and felt it'd be better if there was a choice of the degree of hotness. His green beans were just okay and said the onions were the best part. I felt the prices were a bit high for the area, but hope they make it. I may stop back in after a couple of months to allow them to dial things in. I think a Southern style foodie experience is a great idea. I just differ in opinion of what's "southern". read more

Fatbird - Vidalia onion dip with chips $5.99 - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

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In town visiting family, we broke away to explore the culinary delights of South Bend. What a gem we found in Fatbird! The tasteful decor coupled with the absolute delicious fare we enjoyed was only surpassed by the customer focus we received in the service. I am already looking forward to my return visit to the area just to try something new at my new favorite spot. I recommend the Nashville chicken (grilled) along with the corn. read more

Fatbird - Nashville Sandwich - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Great place to stop off during our travels. The chicken bbq sandwich was super spicy but not just in a HOT way. Definitely a running nose inducer. PoBoy was pretty tasty with a nice soft roll. Servers very pleasant. Definitely a place that's has earned its stars. read more

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If I could say no stars I would . The worst service ever . I met 2 friends there and was told I could not stand at the bar to order a drink. I asked for an explanation and was told if I wanted to order a drink, I would have to stand in the corner out of the way from the serving staff to drink it . The place was not even crowded. There was plenty of room and there were also extra space at my friends table. They refused to let me bring a chair over. I was asked to leave after being embarrassed by the manager who decided to yell at me for absolutely no reason inc Tony of the patrons. I have never been treated so horribly at an establishment. read more

We had great service, delicious contemporary southern food, and an amazing atmosphere! read more

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Service was like non other. It was amazing. Super kind. They brought us out there Nashville hot chicken. My husband just wanted the sandwich. They brought out sides for us and let us keep the platter and charged us for the sandwich! Also gave my husband a free beer for the "inconvenience." Very friendly and caring staff. The vibe in the place is very laid back and cool. The food was good. Not my favorite place to eat personally but everything we ate had a unique flavor. Would go back to this restaurant solely for the amazing service! read more

The food was excellent. The food was spicy hot. The jambalaya was spicy hot. The crawdad boil was spicy hot. The pimento cheese was spicy hot. The baked beans was spicy hot. The water was spicy hot. Everything was spicy hot. Except the saltines. The saltines were fine. read more

Fatbird - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

This is the best food we've had in south bend, we tried the wings, my husband said they were the best he's had in his life! I had the OG chicken sandwich with Carolina gold sauce a side of the Mac and a biscuit. Everything was amazing read more

You get what you sign up for: southern food while closer to Ontario than Tennessee. Whoever made the mac and cheese is on CRACK and didn't think I would notice the cheez-it crumbs that dropped out of their mouth into the shot glass full of mac. They also tried to give multiple warnings about the Nashville chicken like mfs were on Hot Ones. Meanwhile I felt more unsafe in my local Buffalo Wild Wings but that might just be because they got roaches. Wanted to give 3 stars for the peach tea but then they gave me a refill with double the sugar content. Man y'all are way too nice in the midwest, but the food is just that. Mid! Edit: wrote this while taking a dump and turned around after to find that the flush sensor straight up fell off the structure. Score stands read more

The food came quick and fresh. The service was excellent and the ambiance is chill. Would definitely recommend and we'll be back!

Although I mourned the passing of the previous occupant of this space (Tapastrie), I was eager to try its successor, especially when I heard the Crooked Ewe guy was involved. I can't complain (much anyway--see below). The look of the place is similar, albeit tweaked, mostly for the better. The food that my dinner companions and I have tried on several visits has always been good/great. The prices are a bit high, but when you consider that the uniqueness and quality (and the fact that this isn't some crappy chain), I think they are understandable. By the way, Lindsay (or is it Lindsey?) is seriously like the best waitress in the greater South Bend metro area. So go visit Fatbird just for the privilege of being waiting on by her! Not that the rest of the staff is bad or anything! They're all helpful and friendly, but this is a special shout-out to Lindsay. Here is my "BUT" list... 1. But Fatbird should really invest in some window coverings. When the sun shines in those big windows it can be very bright and very warm. 2. But Fatbird should make an effort to accommodate vegetarians. Would it be that hard to include one beans and rice dish *without* meat? 3. But I seriously think the grilled carrots are waaaaaay overpriced. read more

This place seems decent enough. Perhaps my experience was abnormal. I ordered the Nashville Hot wings. My food was delivered and no follow up. I probably wouldn't have refused them or asked for a refund, but they were quite the disaster. It was impossible to bite into them without the breading all coming off. This was unfortunate because then I had to look at the soggy chicken skin underneath. Mac and cheese was fine, but I'd avoid these wings like the plague. read more

Fatbird - Nashville Hot Chicken wings - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

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This was one of the worst restaurants I have ever been to. The food was lukewarm at best. My wife's carrots tasted like the smell of a musty old basement cellar. The best thing we had were the chips that came with the onion dip appetizer. We did get our food super fast. I think the cooks should have taken more time to actually cook the food. read more

Made a visit to FatBird after getting a recommendation and seeing great reviews! So glad we took the recommendation! The food was amazing, service was great, and the overall atmosphere was warm! The vidalia onion dip with chips was so simple yet sooo tasty. They offer extra chips if you ask too! For the entree, I got red beans and rice with a biscuit and maque choux. It was all so delicious. The biscuit was served with a butter that had a slight bit of sweetness and the biscuit itself was super soft and flaky. The maque choux was delicious. The red beans and rice was well cooked and had delicious ham in it as well. Not pictured but also delicious is the Peach Faced Lovebird cocktail. Overall highly recommend and will definitely revisit when back in South Bend! read more

Fatbird - Vidalia Onion and Buttermilk Dip - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

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40 bucks for 2 dark meat chicken sandwiches and potato salad all with. I flavor. Just bland. And who wants a dark meat chicken sandwich. Hard Pass. read more

Great chicken! Fantastic crafted cocktails! Beautiful interior! Nice and engaging staff. Definitely a must try if you are in South Bend. read more

As a good ole boy in this city I have looked long and hard for decent southern cooking and have found nothing but failure. Until now. Fatbird offers the VERY BEST Jambalya I have had since New Orleans and that says a lot. I would recommend you try it but be careful its addicting. The staff and management are super friendly people. Never have had a bad experience with them. The side dishes are average and I really think they should add a few more options. I really would love to see what they can do with gumbo. read more

Appetizer was very good. Go with the Cuban! Best thing out of the three meals we ordered. Our chicken lacked flavor in the Nashville sandwich and the OG. Ap the flavor in the Nashville came from the spicy sauce. Since the OG has no sauce, you can really tell that the chicken hasn't been marinated in any seasonings. Bland overall. Had high hopes but it's okay. The drinks looked amazing though and the ambiance was a good vibe. Servers were amazing and so kind. read more

Food was and service excellent first night. Second night I came in and it was a 20 minute wait to sit although many tables not occupied. So I left. They are very short staffed. It's a shame, felt sorry for the sole hardworking waitress. read more

A fun spot to visit in South Bend! Great menu different from other spots in the city. Chicken sandwich is spicy but great! Have always had great service too read more

Atmosphere was great, service was quick. Food fell short. Had the fried snapper sandwich and Mac & cheese. The snapper sandwich, let me just say up front I hate sweet peppers. Had the menu stated the sandwich came with them I would have never ordered it. I tried to give it a go when it came but the sweet flavor combined with the watery coleslaw and dry fish I couldn't. The macaroni & cheese was heavily seasoned with what tasted like thyme. read more

Fatbird - Fried snapper sandwich - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Stopped in for a quick lunch with my husband. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, with a side of mac n cheese. My husband had the pimento cheese appetizer. The sandwich was perfect, enough heat with the slaw and sweet pickle to balance the heat. The mac n cheese was delicious - also had a bit of heat as did the pimento cheese appetizer. Both of us left happy and the prices were good. The staff was good, thoughI think they,like all restaurants, are hurting for employees. I will definitely stop again when near South Bend. read more

Fatbird - The Nashville Hot chicken sandwich and the side of mac n cheese. - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Ordered via DoorDash. Not a huge order, an $80 check. Order had with it six laminated biscuits and two orders of Mac and cheese. All sides substituted without consent for six orders of green beans. Should have canceled. Shame on Chef for allowing the order and changing it without consent. Guess they wanted the short term business more than the long term customer base. Gave Fatbird a month to respond to situation, a chance to make it right. Called them and explained. They never called back. read more

Fatbird - Unwanted but forced. - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

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Fatbird was ok..we had fried wings with white sauce and nashville hot sauce as a starter. It was good. The white sauce was very really good, flavorful and garlicky. For an entre I had the vinegar poached chicken chargrilled with the samewhite sauce. The thigh bone on my chicken was bloody...the server assured me it was sous vide and normal...probably would go a different route next time. Homestly I was a little surprised she didnt call a manager over. Even if it was safe to eat it was a little off putting- no one wants to see rare chicken. Whatever--- I didnt die. My long cooked.green beans were awesome...laminated biscuit was fantastic..macque choux corn was meh. It was just creamed corn with a bunch of thyme in it. I had a malbec that was pretty good with my meal. The server was ok-In general not terribly attentive,and not very adroit at handling issues or taking care of the usual problems when dining with kids. read more

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Cool environment but it doesn't matter how cool the environment is if your service (especially your manager) is terrible. The manager, Lindsey, who served us, was patronizing, dismissive, and so rude that our whole table felt uncomfortable the entire time. When another server who picked up plates from our table kindly asked if he could get us anything, one woman in our party ordered a drink from him. Then, Lindsey had the audacity to treat her as if she did something wrong a few minutes later and responded in the most condescending way, "Well, I'M your server, so you need to order with me." By far some of the WORST service we've ever received. Word to the wise: times are tough for small businesses and restaurants right now. If you want your new business to survive, treat people with kindness, patience, and respect when they come into your establishment. read more

We ordered takeout with several fried chicken plates and the grilled wings appetizer. SIDES Laminated biscuit: really delicious, and comes with a great (honey?) butter Campanelle & cheese: mediocre - I wouldn't get this again Maque choux: pretty good - if you like corn, you'll love this CHICKEN Grilled wings: good flavor. The texture is not as good as the fried chicken, of course, but these were enjoyable. Fried chicken: wasn't seasoned well. I found it to be bland, and the bigger pieces were rather dry. Nashville hot fried chicken: definitely has a kick, but it's not unbearable and the flavor is decent. Obviously, wouldn't recommend to anyone with poor spice tolerance. Verdict: Expected better at this price point. Also, one of our sides was incorrect and we got green beans instead of a biscuit. Open to trying dine in at a later time - the delay associated with takeout may have affected the quality/taste. read more

Food was okay. Service was good. Drinks were 4 stars. We had the chicken sandwiches FB us know. known for and the charred carrots, Mac and Cheese and Beans for sides. Both sandwiches were good, Mac was dry, carrots were good, beans just weren't the style I enjoy so neutral there. Overall, a little spendy for what you get. read more

The food was outstanding. The service was spectacular. If we lived in town, we'd eat here every week. It was also very peaceful. Highly recommend. read more

Fatbird was awesome!! A great addition to downtown South Bend. The service was incredible - especially Joe behind the bar. The atmosphere is also welcoming and trendy. We tried the peach tea and black sweet tea and both were amazing. Then, Joe let us try a hibiscus tea that was also great. The food was packed with flavor! The pimento cheese appetizer is a good starter. The Murica! fried chicken sandwich was a classic that we'd definitely order again. The Nashville definitely has a kick of heat but also a solid choice.. the campanelle and cheese (fancy mac n cheese) was outstanding. Pretty sure there is a Cheeto crust on it that was divine. My boyfriend said, "I'd lick the bowl clean if I wasn't in public" (about the campanelle and cheese.)The biscuit was decadent and the butter to top it was also amazing. Overall this was a pleasant dining experience and we will definitely be back! read more

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Great chicken sandwich!!! 10/10!!! Wow, succulent chicken breast with great set of fries. Waiter was fantastic

We have been to Fat Bird three times in two weeks. This place truly is amazing. To say what we enjoy the most is very difficult. Staff: Amazing people with amazing service. The ownership and the people that work at Fat Bird truly care about their craft and the people that come and visit. They are incredibly friendly and take pride in everything they do. Environment: This bleeds over into everything you experience, from their interactive menu to their decor, you can tell everything has been intentionally done and has a purpose. This is also a kid-friendly restaurant. They have a kids menu, which is rare for a place as high quality as this. Food: Amazing selection, amazing quality, and really good prices. I am not sure where to start. The Cuban sandwich is one of the best I've ever had. My wife got it the first time and has refused to get anything else as we keep visiting because she loves it so much. We've had several of their chicken sandwiches, and those were all amazing. I think I preferred the Murica! over the Nashville, but it was close! The food came out hot, the buns were perfectly crispy, and the chicken was done perfectly. The jambalaya is by far the best you can get, anywhere close. We were all presently surprised by this dish. As far as the sides go, hands down, the mac and cheese is the best they offer. I would even be bold enough to say, it's one of the best overall items on their entire menu. Super excited to keep going back and experiencing new items and watching this place become a staple in South Bend. read more

My husband and I were visiting and randomly came across this restaurant. The food looked good and the reviews were good so we decided to give it a shot. We are so glad we took the chance! The food was delicious and it came with so many sides. I got the chicken & waffles while my husband got the Nashville fried chicken. I don't always love a lot of maple syrup but theirs was delicious! It wasn't overly sweet and it had a nice spicy kick to it. My husband loved the Nashville chicken and it went really well with the side of Mac & cheese. He would have loved it just a little spicier but that's a personal preference of course. He also raved it to all of his family members that lived close to the area. :-) read more

Fatbird - Chicken, Waffle and Watermelon, Nashville Hot Fried Chicken, Campanella & Cheese, Maque Choux, Cast Iron Cornbread, Potato Salad - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Had our first experience at Fatbird this evening for takeout after anxiously awaiting for them to open! My girlfriend and I ordered the Nashville and Murica chicken sandwiches with mashed potatoes and campanelle and cheese for sides. I'll start with the chicken sandwiches. The Nashville was delicious: the serving size was more than enough and the spice level, while hot, was not overpowering. The addition slaw and peppers was perfect; however, since we got it for takeout the bun did not hold up well and was very soggy by the time we got home. Definitely excited to eat in next time! The Murica was good but we preferred the Nashville sandwich as the spicy ranch dust wasn't very noticeable and the hot sauce mayo was either missing or added in a minuscule amount. Now for the sides... hard to pick a favorite. Both the campanelle and mashed potatoes were extremely tasty. The campanelle was absolutely covered in cheese and had a crunchy bread crump topping that complimented the noodles nicely. The potatoes, were seasoned to perfection and personally biased towards mashed potatoes with the potato skins left in. We can't wait to visit again! read more

Fatbird is a nice place we happened to swing around while in the area. We had the vinegar chicken which was amazing, laminated biscuits and mac and cheese amazing for sides. Nashville hot chicken was good but I think it was too spicy for me. So spicy I really couldn't taste anything else. My husband had the seafood boil and wasn't given a lot to open with due to the crawfish being small. Very very good caramel cake for dessert. Other than that, it was a great meal and very kind staff! read more

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In town for business and this was within walking distance. First thing...engaged, knowledgeable, helpful staff. Don't you hate it when you visit a business and the staff don't seem to be there? Next...try the roasted carrots appetizer. Not wings, not fried. Something your wife or Doctor would approve of. They were delicious. Dinner was roast chicken with vinegar. New for me but was a pleasant surprise. And not fried. Another plus. Did I mention the cole slaw yet? I try it wherever I go. 30 states and counting. Theirs was one of my favorites. Crunchy, vinegary and mayonnaise. Swoon. Too much? Give it a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

In summary, it was really good. From the drinks to the the apps and everything after, my husband and I loved this place! Fast service and cool ambiance. pecan old fashioned Sauvignon Blanc fried chicken wings - Carolina gold Nashville hot chicken sandwich with potato salad Cuban with green beans warm cookie We will be back with friends! read more

We stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and there were only two other tables. The staff needs to be better about wiping down tables and the booth bench seat especially when business is slow. I think wiping water spots off the glassware would give it better appeal as well. It made my water glass look dirty. We tried the Cuban and the Jambalaya. The Cuban was meaty, but lacking in mustard punch with only a bite where it was even noticeable. The Jambalaya was served over brown rice and had a heavy tomato base. The flavor was great and mild in terms of spicy. Sides were maque choux and the laminated biscuit with sorghum butter. My husband really enjoyed the sorghum butter, but the maque choux really hit that sweet spot of amped up cream corn for me. Service was excellent. We receive prompt refills without having to ask and were checked on regularly to see if there was anything we needed. We were not overly wowed. I think it's a bit pricy for portion size, but I'd be interested in trying some of their other plates next time. I'd return just for the maque choux and keep my fingers crossed for a cleaner restaurant. read more

A New Orleans style restaurant restaurant in South Bend? Sign me up. I had the Alabama Style Vinegar Grilled chicken for the first time and it's made my life just a little bit better. Next time I'm in South Bend, I'm not walking. I'm running here. read more

Fatbird - Alabama style Vinegar Grilled Chicken, baked beans and slaw. Amazing. - Southern Near Me - South Bend, Indiana