The Bird
Brown Butter-Brushed Buttermilk Biscuit
Fried Chicken Sandwich – Fried Chicken Breast, Celery, Housemade Apple Slaw, Mayo, Pickles, Bun
Housemade Apple Fritters – Fuji Apples, Cinnamon, Maple Glaze
Although The Bay Area has no lack of Fried Chicken there are few who’ve carved out a niche like The Bird, Chef Blair Warsham’s space in the Financial District bringing a “do one thing and do it well approach” to the scene since 2016 and showing no signs of slowing down if the line on Tuesday at noon was any indication.
No frills and focused only on Sandwiches, Salads, Fries, Fritters and Biscuits, a 7:30am opening on weekdays additionally offering Bacon and Eggs, it is beneath signage featuring a Fox that guests will find access, limited seating immediately in front of and to the side of an open kitchen with a few seats also offered outside.
Located at 115 New Montgomery Street and anything but “everything to anyone,” though Warsham’s tenure at The Restaurant at Meadowood has gifted him with an understanding of customer service that outperforms other ‘fast-casual’ concepts, it is while waiting in line that the smell of Paprika and Garlic permeates the sinuses, an average transaction taking but a minute and Food coming out of the kitchen at a breakneck pace.
Charging just $8 for a fully dressed Sandwich, the Breast delicately spiced with Berbere and breaded with a Gluten-free mix of Masa, Potato Starch and Rice Flour, it is completing the picture with Apple and Cabbage Slaw that each bite offers something a little different, the Bun standing up well despite a lot going on and the each flavor working well without overwhelming the others.
Passing on Curly Fries and Beer, their combination with a Sandwich dubbed “The Happier Meal,” it was instead a $1 Biscuit plus three fifty-cent Fritters that completed lunch for under $12, the former a bit small but plenty buttery while deep-fried Apple bites were moist yet light and intense with Cinnamon that finds its foil in Maple Frosting.
www.thebirdsf.com
