The Bird

Now closed

The Bird closed on January 21, 2019; the space at 1337 11th St NW has since housed other restaurants (Eater DC). This review stays up for the record.

My Take

I have been to The Bird many times and have been consistently pleased. Their menu is narrowly focused, and the dishes benefit from this. Their cocktail program is also outstanding, and I have enjoyed several evenings at the bar drinking long after my meal was finished. While I prefer their original fried chicken recipe to the new incarnation, I have heard the opposite from friends. That being said I have a hard time ordering anything other than the Quail, Shrimp, and Grits.

The Ostrich Tartare was a wonderful dish which hopefully comes back, in the meantime the Duck Meatballs in Yogurt and the Foie Gras Terrine are wonderful.

So why only 4 stars? Last time I was there the service was not at the usual level. They sent out the wrong appetizer (which we kept because we were really hungry) and it wasn't removed from the check. Albeit this isn't required, but as a repeat customer I was surprised. I asked specifically in my Open Table reservation to sit at the bar, and this didn't happen, another little knock, not because my request wasn't honored, but because it wasn't even acknowledged. None of these points will stop me from going back.

Public Knowledge

The Bird opened in fall 2016 under chef Michael Bonk with dishes built on 13 types of birds, including Popeyes-inspired fried chicken, thinly sliced raw ostrich rolls, and duck meatballs on the happy-hour menu (Washingtonian). Owner David Winer later told Eater the kitchen went through several chefs and the restaurant had become inconsistent; brunch staples such as chicken and waffles carried over to its successor, Frenchy's Naturel (Eater DC).

Details

The Bird · 1337 11th St NW, Washington, DC · closed January 2019