Birdsnest

Good place to lounge about. Don't come here if you can't stand cigarette smoke, it's pretty strong. Plenty of seating areas, tables, large bar, good for socializing and a good amount of TVs. Pretty decent selection of drinks here, mostly common stuff. Came here for a going away, about 7 of us took up a couch area. It was pretty funny, one of the couches sloped so on one end, I was sitting normal, and on the same couch on the other end, my friend was sitting on the floor. Nothing against the establishment for that, just a funny note. A good place if you want to sit around and socialize.

Went there for election night coverage. The service was not exceptional. I actually found it really annoying. We had one main male server who took our orders and brought our food and a different worker asking the same questions five minutes after he did. I'm indecisive about ordering and take at least 10 minutes to order my first drink and another 20 to order food. I was in no hurry so I kid you not this happened at least 7 times. So the same questions 14 times! Annoying!! The 2nd server didn't stop until after we ordered food from the male server. We ordered sides, Brussels sprouts and roasted potatoes. Neither were great but I wasn't very hungry and won't ever be back for more. The food wasn't taken away until I had to push it to the end of the table and our drinks remained empty until my boyfriend stood at the bar to order more. The drinks are super cheap but not strong. I ordered two double vodkas and I don't even kind of have a headache today. The reason for 1 star is the cleanliness. After waiting for a table to be bussed, I sat on a very sticky leather couch. We are talking greasy, sticky, dirty leather but moving anywhere else meant sitting under the giant fan and freezing all night. I got over the couches but took a look around and saw a sizeable cockroach crawling up the wall. The same wall where you could see streaks of spilled liquids. Look around at the floors and white baseboards caked in black filth. The place looks like it had never been cleaned in the daylight or any light for that matter. The worst part was the COCKROACH THAT CLIMBED ON MY LEG ON THE COUCH. I brushed it off, jumped, gagged, and my boyfriend smashed it on the floor. I had no interest in speaking to the management since it's the kind of problem anyone can see if they looked. Don't go here. Be better than the management that accepts these low, low standards.

I first went into Birdsnest to enjoy a cigar with some friends, but ultimately Blackbirds is where I met and fell in love with scotch. With the biggest and best selection of whiskey in Norman, you are bound to find a drink you'll enjoy. Most nights it is a fairly relaxing place to enjoy a cigar and glass of your favorite beverage, but on a rare occasion it can be loud and crowded at times. Since it is a part of the restaurant Blackbird (the Gastropub right downstairs) the food is much better than your average bar. Another perk of being attached to the restaurant is that you can order food up to the cigar lounge and not ever have to put out your cigar or put down your drink. Speaking of cigars, for a place that doesn't have a large humidor, they have a pretty well rounded selection of cigars. There are some cigars on the cheaper side for those who don't want to pay an arm and a leg, as well as some cigars that will make anyone feel like a trust fund baby. Parking can be hard to come by but this is no different than any other place on campus corner. You may have to walk a bit, but there are plenty of free lots on the west end of campus corner. The cocktail waitresses are the only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars. Some of them are personable and have a impressive knowledge of what their bar serves (these waitresses are why I gave a 4 star rating rather than 3). On the other hand, some of the cocktail waitresses provide poor customer service and aren't familiar with the cigar and drink menu at all. It is a minor hiccup and shouldn't deter anyone from going in.

This place used to be one of my favorite places in norman to watch the game. After my last game day in norman last fall, I will NEVER be going back to there or blackbirds. I am so disappointed in the management there after our wallet was stolen from a bartender. We had stopped by for a meal before the game. It was early in the pre gaming experience, we have just started drinking as we got there, one drink each, so clearly not drunk. We had the wallet on the counter as we were finishing our waters before heading out after we paid the tab. Within minutes the wallet was gone. When you ask the workers if there were cameras some said yes, but some said no. Funny thing, they told us to go downstairs to blackbird to get the manager to ask about the cameras. So when we did we came back and our bartender was gone. The workers at birds nest said there were cameras and told us to get the manager who would be able to pull it up. and then the manager says no it won't be able to see where you were sitting? Sounded so fishy but how do you argue. And keep in mind our bartender was gone. The place was not packed at all. We did not have any other guests crowding around us. And the fact that the management was sketchy sending us back and forth to find another person to help us. And half saying there were cameras and half saying there weren't The story kept changing. Even with the manager. Well there you go birds nest and blackbirds you took $800 from us. I guess its enough to keep us from coming back, but don't worry I will continue to be sharing this with everyone. I hate to blame the business but the fact that they themselves were sketchy and protecting each other and getting us out of the bar, and our bartender all of a sudden off work? before the game is really over? doubtful!

Can't say enough great things about the drinks and food. Can't say enough HORRIBLE things about the waitresses!! I've no idea whether the cigar lounge doesn't have enough waitresses working during peak hours or if the waitresses are simply horrible at their job.In any event, the lounge is losing business and the waitresses are losing higher tabs and bigger tips by failing to check on tables. The last 2 times my friends and I have gone to the lounge, we've had to go in search of our waitress because she would never check on our table.So go enjoy a cigar and a scotch but be aware that you'll need to go in search of your waitress or avoid them all together and sit at the bar.