Okay, I couldn’t help it with the title, but it’s true with the new The Bird and The Bread restaurant in downtown Birmingham. The new concept from owner Kristin Jonna has been all the rage since opening on February 22nd. Kristin is also a part owner of Vinology in Ann Arbor, another of our favorite spots.
The new venture is situated along South Old Woodward in the spot previously held by South nightclub. The inside has been transformed into a comfortable yet hip spot for enjoying the European inspired menu and pretty awesome beverage list.
I was lucky enough to attend the grand opening party for the new eatery yesterday, and I really enjoyed my experience. I stayed for dinner after the opening event and sampled the calamari and grilled octopus appetizer, and the short rib & sweet potato puree pizza. Let’s just say I was not disappointed.
I spoke with Kristin about the name, and she told me that it actually comes from the nicknames her father gave her twins! She said they agonized over the name and that currently you can see the names that weren’t picked on the chalk boards that hang below the ceiling as you walk through the restaurant.
Now let’s get to the important part. The Bird and The Bread features 24 tap handles of ridiculously awesome craft beer, with several of the taps rotating seasonals from Bells, Shorts, Greenbush, Founders, Griffin Claw, and Arcadia. There’s also another 75 beers carried by the bottle. They carry Valentine Vodka and Liberator Gin, and a small selection of Michigan wines. They are still working on expanding the beverage list to include more Michigan products, so look for those to be added in the future.
I spoke with Beverage Director, Steven Hildebrand, and he mentioned that they will be holding several tasting events in the future in the attached private dining space, The Elm Room. One event that will make an appearance is the Beer vs. Wine dinner that has occurred previously at Vinology and that we have attended. I’m really excited to see what other kind of events they come up with, and we will make sure to keep everyone updated when we hear of any Michigan beverage related events going down.
If you get a chance, I highly recommend heading over to check out the impressive beer list and delicious food. It’s a great spot for a date night, a casual dinner, or hanging out with friends at the bar. If you’ve already been, I’d love to hear how you liked it!
