Restaurant Review: Charlie Bird

Last night Jeremy and I decided to have date night and check out a new spot that we've been hearing about over and over, Charlie Bird. A bit pretentious at first glance, especially when they gave away our table after we were 10 minutes late. Let me ask, who isn't 10 minutes late to a reservation? Anyway, we waited just about another 10 minutes and they "figured something out" for us. It's a trendy spot in the West Village; a decent size with a happening bar. Our waiter was quite friendly and attentive, so A+ for service.

More importantly, the food was excellent. We both thoroughly enjoyed every part of our meal.

We each kicked it off with a cocktail. Me with the "Two One Two," a mix of tequila, Aperol, and grapefruit, and Jeremy with the "Old Pal," a mix of rye, vermouth, and Campari. Both were very nice.

Left: Old Pal
Right: Two One Two

We started our meal with two small plates - Grilled Octopus and Tuscan Chicken Liver. We told them we were sharing everything and it all came pre-separated, which I greatly appreciated. This way, I can eat at my leisure and there is no swatting of the fork when Jeremy goes for my portion.

The Grilled Octopus was served with speckled beans and green garlic. It was grilled to perfection with a nice, crisp exterior and it was juicy and tender inside. It had great garlic flavor too, without being overpowering.

Grilled Octopus

The Tuscan Chicken Liver was served in a bowl with toast on the side. I normally don't mind chicken liver, but Jeremy loves it. This liver, however, was actually delicious. It was not irony, as I normally expect, and it was creamy and seasoned very well, which I guess is "Tuscan" style. We had to ask for more toast to ensure we scraped the bowl clean.

Tuscan Chicken Liver

Our next course was the Duck Egg Spaghetti, split into two portions all tied up with uni on top, spring onions and lemon. The uni, or sea urchin, was a small portion but packed a powerful punch. A bit fishy as expected, but did not overpower the entire dish. The lemon provided a nice acidic balance and a fresh taste. Not 100% sure if the pasta was homemade, but it tasted like it!

Duck Egg Spaghetti

Last was the Grilled Black Bass. This was also portioned out for us, and the fish was served atop of a shitload of tomatoes. There were chunks and slices of heirloom tomatoes, and little tiny tomatoes cooked in someway that made them shrivel up still attached to the vine. All of this sat in a broth made with Lambrusco, a type of wine. The bass was cooked perfectly, and I personally loved the acidity the tomatoes brought. However, Jeremy thought it was a bit much. I am more of a tomato lover than he is.

Grilled Black Bass

Overall, we had a very nice experience. Great spot for date night, or even a double date. A little pricey, I will warn you, but worth it. I would definitely return!