You may have noticed that this week’s “lobster roll” location has “birdie” in the name, and if you’re an intellectual you most likely made the astute observation that lobsters are not birds. We are only in week two of the series and I am breaking every rule – the rules being: 1. Eat a lobster roll, and there are no other rules. How did I screw up this bad?
Well, in an attempt to get a lobster roll this week, I tried every location in Sag Harbor that offers one but was told that they are either out of lobster or closed for the season. So, as any highly adaptable human being would do, I pivoted to chicken instead. Please enjoy this one-off review and we will be back to our regularly scheduled lobster programming at Montauk Lobster House (On The Harbor) next week!
This little (or lil’) chicken shop in Sag Harbor had flown under my radar until just a few days ago and I was certainly glad to find a new lunch option in my area. Harbor Market’s chicken tenders are hard to beat and Cilantro’s has some amazing lunch options, but I’ve been longing to expand my horizons. Spread my wings, if you will.
Enter Lil’ Birdie, a to-go restaurant located just a block over from Main Street, tucked away behind the UPS store next to Jack’s Coffee. A bright and colorful neon sign of their logo welcomes you into their low-capacity establishment. The online ordering process was easy and pickup was a breeze – I was in and out before my personal chauffeur could park! Not sure if that’s on my driver or the speed of the pickup, but I couldn’t have been in there for more than 10 seconds.
My compatriot and I both ordered the “lunchbox,” available between 12-3pm which is an absolute steal of a lunch deal. $15 for a massive sandwich, mountain of fries, and your pick of a variety of high-quality sodas. She went with “The O.G.” with truffle fries and a Shirley Temple, while I went with “The Bee’s Knees,” Old Bay fries, and a water (boring, I know, but I just can’t get into soda).
The amount of fried chicken served between the soft bready buns is anything but lil’ – a cartoonish double or even triple serving that I was pleasantly surprised by after questioning the seemingly low price point of $15 (and the name Lil’ Birdie). Compared to options such as the chicken po boy at Breadzilla or dirty chicken at LT Burger (both $16) which don’t include fries or a drink, the value here is amazing.
Conquering this sandwich proved to be no easy feat – it’s definitely a two-hander with a height requiring the jaw of a whale shark. The breading was super crispy and seasoned to perfection, while the chicken inside was juicy and tender. The pickles were nice and sweet and paired well with the hot honey sauce. The Old Bay fries were my favorite kind of double-breaded fries with plenty of seasoning and an audible crunch when bitten into, but still soft and fluffy on the inside.
Overall, a good first experience here, I would give my meal a 3/5 and would recommend it the next time you’re looking to try something new for lunch.
