Southern Comfort With A Creative Twist
Gateway Arts District's Bird Kitchen + Cocktails Has 'Em Flocking Back for Donuts
A quaint little eatery in Mount Rainier, Bird Kitchen + Cocktails is one of the newest food spots in the Gateway Arts District and people are flocking to it. This old house-converted-cafe with modern touches is a full-service, casual Southern eatery with a rotating menu. Chef Lenny Robinson and his team cook up classic and not-so-classic Southern dishes with an artsy approach to goodness, and it's all organic and locally sourced.
Chef Robinson, trained in southern comfort food and French cuisine, teamed up with Chef Jahlex Alexander, a Marine Corps vet with a worldview, in January, to add some flair. So yes, enjoy southern fried chicken, mash potatoes, greens and biscuits, steak and fries. Want something more exciting? Try the seared ahi tuna with a combination of orange and ginger flavors that will not disappoint. Crab gumbo with popcorn rice, bbq shrimp and grits, sweat pea and mint ravioli with hazelnut butter. There are various salads,
Nicoise Salad / Credit: Bird Kitchen + Cocktails
including crispy rock shrimp salad with cabbage and lime; and Nicoise salad: tuna, egg, tomato, peppers, green beans, mixed greens, and dijon vinaigrette. Lunch includes Po' Boy sandwiches--an interesting option is the Oyster Po' Boy with greens, tomato and lemon aioli. And vegans need not stay away: choices include roasted baby root vegetables, barley, elderflower mead broth & cashew butter, lentils, roasted wild mushrooms, crispy brussels sprouts, and corn pudding. Check out 80's Brunch on Saturdays. Listen to beloved musical hits of that era while munching on such goodies as hearty-sized buckwheat or buttermilk pancakes with berries; hash with corned beef, pulled pork or brisket; a spicy smothered breakfast burrito with fresh salsa and sour cream; an avocado, kale and tomato biscuit, and more.
Bird Kitchen & Cocktails offers a variety of beers, wines, ciders, and cocktails ranging from the classic Old Fashion to their soon-to-be signature drinks with fresh ingredients and spices.
Have a sweet tooth? For breakfast, enjoy morning buns, muffins and cinnamon rolls. At lunch or dinner, end your meal with baked goodness such as apple rosemary tarts, blackberry cobbler with homemade whipped cream, dark chocolate mousse, and what many agree is the best item in the house: fresh, out-of-the-oven homemade donuts dripping in creamy icing. Highly recommended is the bourbon donut.
Besides the donut, what makes this establishment special are native New Yorker Chef Alexander's creative infusion of special sauces and seasonings found around the world. Through these, he connects his life experiences with his love of the culinary arts. Perfectly in synch with the Arts District.
The eatery, located at 3801 34th Street, Mount Rainier, Md. is closed Mondays, but open weekdays, 9am-3pm and 6-10pm with happy hour 5-7pm. Saturdays and Sundays, they are open 10am-3pm. Saturday is also open for dinner, 6-10pm.
