Starling has been one of my go to recommendations since it first opened in 2024, and I am bummed to say it has really taken a turn in the wrong direction. The first time I visited Starling, I had a decent burger, tasty cauliflower, and wings that I would rave about to anyone who would listen. I thought the decor was great for being on the first floor of an apartment building, and it always seemed busy, regardless of being at the bar or dining tables.
In the times I've returned since, the quality of the food and the service has continued to slip, and this last visit, my seventh, has left me without any desire to return. I have never written a one star review, and I truly don't like to bash a restaurant, but when something was decent and so evidently has not kept up with standards, I think future guests have a right to know.
Our group of four was directed to the back part of the restaurant on December 23rd. There was no music to speak of and it felt desolate and quiet. Despite staff telling us it would fill up, there were only two other parties that eventually made their way into the quiet space looking out onto the parking lot. Our waiter was nice, but came back a few too many times, and didn't seem to have an excellent grasp on the menu. I ordered wine (solid pours), but the old fashioned cocktails that my dining partners ordered (after the waiter gushed on them) were half filled, watered-down and missing that rich color an old fashioned should boast.
My biggest disappointment came at the start of the meal from the once-amazing fish sauce caramel wings. These had been a consistent staple during my visits to Starling but I was truly appalled at their presentation. The wings, typically tender white meat with a golden fried finish, normally coated in a rich, umami type fish sauce with a dash of sweetness, were honestly inedible. I believe they may have been baked instead of fried, but regardless, covered in fat, a little too pink in the middle for my liking, and absolutely bland, they were a dramatic shift from prior. When I looked into the bowl to find the precious sauce, a soupy, thin, "fish sauce" swirled around the bottom. Was this their attempt at coating the wings? They were truly so awful that we even left some in the bowl, not a common practice for my family.
Next the steamed pork buns, another one of my previously GOATed small dishes from Starling. Surely these would not disappoint? The bun itself was nice and light, sticky and doughy like usual, but the filling was lackluster. The pork was grey, jiggly, and flavorless. The hoisin sauce was the only redeeming quality and the pickled vegetables were overpowering in what should have been simply a garnish.
By the time we were ready to order mains, we really weren't interested in anything and even though we picked the kale salad (again, one of my more memorable salads in the past) and the hummus and pita (the only thing that was consistent from times past), we were just deflated. I recall the baby kale salad being more reminiscent of actual kale leaves, with a hearty avocado ranch dressing, thick croutons with pickled onions and a generous portion of shaved parmesan cheese. Instead, the leaves of this salad reminded me of spinach, with only about five croutons, barely-there cheese, and a thin dressing yet again.
I really am sad writing this review, but after witnessing Starling's steady decline over the last year, I feel like it is warranted. I know this restaurant group has other great spots (Parlour, Rustica, Borough, P.S. Steak), but some of its more recent openings (Skiki and Mirabelle) have somewhat missed the mark in my experience. The worst part? I had hyped up so much of this food to my family and they were so confused!! read more