The dynamic duo behind the new grilled chicken restaurant, Farmbird, hit the nail on the head when it comes to switching up the flavors of the household staple. Struggling with healthy diets, they knew they wanted grilled chicken to be the main focus of every dish, with healthy sides of greens and roasted vegetables complementing the bold and unique flavor combinations…
Farmbird, located in the residential area of H street, is a casual restaurant offering fresh, never-frozen ingredients, and dishes that are made-to-order. I visited Farmbird for lunch and it was busy as people stepped in from the rain to try the new restaurant. Most of the menu is gluten-free, with the exception of their sandwiches, which are clearly indicated on the menu along with dairy-free and vegetarian. Their most popular dishes are plate style, which includes a chicken breast, thigh, or even tofu over brown basmati rice with a choice of one or two sides. Each plate has an option of a unique flavor combination and you can even substitute for cauliflower rice! Even if you are feeling unhealthy that day, and say you go for the mac & cheese, Farmbird always wanted that “something green” on the plate and serves a chopped kale salad with the plate in addition to your sides.
I tried the barbecue ranch and the chipotle masala with a side of sweet potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts. The roasted Brussels sprouts are no longer on the most recent menu since they are trying to use the freshest ingredients for the season, so the side dishes change frequently! The barbecue ranch is a MUST try and I would recommend it to anyone who is stepping into Farmbird. The perfect combination of buttermilk ranch, barbecue sauce, and crispy shallots takes you back to your childhood days when you used to put ranch on everything. I’ve even tried to replicate the flavors at home several times since, and I can just not get it right! Which means a trip to Farmbird is in my near future.
The sweet potatoes were a classic choice, just lightly seasoned with seas salt and the kale salad was dressed with a light, lemony vinaigrette which was the perfect taste of freshness, an embodied the emphasis on using fresh, healthy ingredients. Because, let’s be honest, when’s the last time you went to a casual restaurant and they served a kale salad on the side? I absolutely loved this about Farmbird – you can have a fast and casual meal, and still feel healthy afterwards.
Next time you are in the H Street Corridor area, I highly suggest stopping into Farmbird for a casual lunch or dinner! They also have beer and cider, for those that are looking for something refreshing to go with your meal. And please try the barbecue ranch, you won’t be disappointed!