The Deer and The Dove

We had an outstanding dinner at The Deer and The Dove in Decatur. We started with the family platter charcuterie board, and it was the perfect way to begin the meal — generous, beautifully presented, and thoughtfully curated. From there, every dish impressed. The foie gras was rich and perfectly balanced, the oxtail mezzaluna was deeply flavorful and comforting, and the octopus was tender with a great char. The bone marrow and snails were decadent and absolutely worth ordering, and the grilled beef tongue was incredibly tender and packed with flavor. The whole experience felt elevated yet relaxed. The kitchen clearly knows how to handle bold ingredients with confidence, and the service made the night feel special. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in Decatur.

We had a small birthday dinner here for our daughter. They were very accomodating and opened up the B-Side for our group of 16. There is a Minimum spend if you do this. This also allowed us to mingle around. The staff was awesome and very attentive. They helped to accomodate the few vegetarians in the group. Appetizers and main courses were tasty. It may be considered an adventurous menu, but it gave out group the opportunity to try out a lot of items that we wouldn't regularly get. We've resolved to come back to try other dishes.

Not a bad dinner outing overall. We were a party of six and were seated outside the main dining room, right next to the bar. We ordered the coffee-dusted venison, chicken liver pâté and foie gras, roasted vegetables, and yeast rolls as appetizers. The venison and foie gras were standouts—highly recommended. For mains, we tried the dry-aged duck, trout, wood-fired rabbit, oxtail ravioli, and beef cheek cabbage wrap. These were a bit hit-or-miss. The duck breast leaned too raw and the skin’s fat wasn’t rendered thoroughly. The rabbit was overcooked and tough to chew, and the oxtail ravioli sauce was overly salty. For dessert, we had the cookie and the crème caramel—both decent but nothing memorable. We brought two bottles of wine, and the corkage fee was $50 per bottle.

The Deer and The Dove is the kind of place that makes you feel like a regular on your very first visit. Our server, Hannah, passed the vibe check immediately—fully in sync with our energy, and effortlessly personable. She didn’t just take an order; she read the table and set the tone for a start to an experience. The venison was the initial flex — perfectly rare, melt-in-your-mouth tender, with subtle coffee notes that hit first like a smooth espresso before settling into deep, earthy richness. The duck fat potatoes were unreal: a crisp, salty exterior giving way to a creamy interior so good no other potato could compare. The true showstopper was the rabbit…this was a choice out of curiosity. Might I say it delivered …bold, rewarding, and beautifully executed. And the Bear Creek Farms O

Decided to dine here for my 48th birthday dinner. The restaurant had some rave reviews, so I thought this would be an excellent way to celebrate my birthday. Unfortunately, I think the menu is overrated. Here's why: 1) The Bone Marrow + Snails were amazing. Definitely recommend it due to its richness and FLAVOR. Wow! On the contrary, the focaccia it was served on had the consistency of it being 3 days old. Not good. Since the focaccia was so difficult to cut, we decided to order the Homemade Salted Yeast Rolls. 2) The Homemade Salted Yeast Rolls - get them! And eat it with the Bone Marrow + Snails. Swirl your warm rolls all through that sauce and enjoy it. We certainly did. 3) The Halibut - sure, the fish is fresh, but the sauce underneath it had a strong mayonnaise taste that did NOT c