Lakewood's Birdietown blends mini-golf with upscale bar vibes
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Birdietown opened in January on Madison Avenue between Robin and Quail Streets. Photos: Sam Allard/Axios
👋 Sam and 👊🏾 Troy here. We took a trip this week to Birdietown, the new upscale mini-golf bar in Lakewood, to see what all the fuss is about.
The big picture: With young people consuming less alcohol these days, bars and restaurants are distinguishing themselves with extracurricular offerings: gimmicks, themes and activities to complement the suds.
Vibe check: When Birdietown opened in Lakewood's Birdtown neighborhood in January, it was an instant hit.
- This isn't a chintzy Dave & Buster's knockoff. This is a high-class affair with bespoke furnishings, midcentury modern decor and a menu handcrafted by rockstar Cleveland chef Jill Vedaa.
Yes, but: The Putt-Putt was not as good as everything else.
State of play: We booked a midweek happy hour round to avoid crowds, playing a brisk and uneven nine holes ($14/$10 during happy hour).
- The locally designed holes (nine upstairs, nine downstairs) are pretty, but not particularly challenging or interesting to play.
- Given the space constraints, we were often forced to putt with the opposite hand or stand with one foot on the turf and one on the hardwood floor.
- During the weekend rush, with groups crammed in the compact space, this dynamic might approach real unpleasantness.
⛳ What happened: Sam took an early lead, but almost gave the round away with an out-of-bounds first putt on 9. He earned a dramatic, one-stroke win.
Dig in: After the round, we enjoyed beers and small plates in an elegant dining area.
💭 Sam's take: I could've eaten a vat of the pimento cheese dip ($13), which came with crispy house potato chips — a nod to the famous menu item at The Masters.
💭 Troy's take: I could see myself taking a date here. Golf is a fun, intriguing concept, but it's the food and drinks that would make me come back.
- I loved the chicken wings ($15) though the garlic taste will stay with you for several hours.
The bottom line: It's a compelling date-night venue with top-tier photo opps.
- But you're going for the novelty and the ambiance. Destination mini-golf this is not.
