They're a big London brand, and they're churning out chicken like no other, but how does Absurd Bird get on in Bath, and can they cater to both a meat-eater and vegetarian alike? I headed on down with my mum (yes, my mum) to find out.
The Venue
Bath is a pretty city, it's actually one of the prettiest i've ever been to, so you'd want the restaurants to match, right? Absurd Bird may not be your classic definition of 'pretty', but they've got what it takes to stand out amongst the streets laced in coffee shops and tourist traps.
While an island bar bathes the venue in neons, and festoon lighting gives the ambiance that delicate touch, Absurd Bird has a sinister appeal, which I both loved, and can't seem to shake. Doused in dark wood and cosy booths, the first floor is lowly-lit; if that's to avoid you side-eyeing another diner while you demolish a corn on the cob, they've turned a trick here. My appreciation was however reserved for the second floor. Dosed in vintage, yet grimacing charm, photo frames filled with ghoulish characters, Victorian trinkets and low hanging planters give the second floor space a frightening appeal. For a chicken restaurant, Absurd Bird Bath have gone out of their way to provide you with a wholly different, Deep South dining experience.
There's a broody cool to the vibe at Absurd Bird in Bath.
The Food and Drink
We were warned from the off that the portions at Absurd Bird were going to be like none we'd ever experienced before, and they were right. Kicking off with fried pickles at £4.50 with ranch dressing alongside Jalapeño cheese biscuits, not only were these deserving of the status of mains, they're bulky on the belly. While the ranch dressing and crunchy, pickle bites were moreish and perfectly savoury, the biscuits lacked basic seasoning, and came paired with a butter that had seen better days.
While disappointed by the biscuits, I was excited to see how a chicken-heavy restaurant could fare with a vegetarian burger, and if my chicken-loving mum got the fried delight that she was feverish for. While I opted for the Black Bean Burger (v) at £9.50 with onion, garlic, jalapeño, coriander, cheddar cheese and sriracha mayo, my mum indulged in the Nashville Hot Sandwich at £11.50 with spicy hot oil, harissa mayo, pickled cucumber, crispy onions and that all important fried chicken.
While once again, the portions are post-code worthy, the flavours finally kicked in a gear. My black bean burger was compact, juicy and had spicy tact with the touch of sriracha mayo that was both welcoming, and enjoyable. While again, my mum's plate was sky-high, the chicken itself was something of a let down, once again missing that seasoning we'd been craving before, if it wasn't for the harissa mayo and crispy onions, this could have been another let down, but was ultimately saved by sides.
While the cocktails we enjoyed throughout the meal were a delight, it's in moonshine that Absurd Bird do just that, shine. Not only do they have award-winning brands from the US gracing their shelves, they've made their very own bottles. Trying both a blueberry and vanilla moonpie offering (these come in at £4 a pop), this moonshine had my mum grappling for three more shots, showing it went down quite the treat, and that Absurd Bird know how to offer diners that special, extra touch.
Absurd Bird mean business when it comes to the size of their plates.
Summary
Clearly able to cater to a carnivorous mother and a meat-free daughter, not only are Absurd Bird churning out some of the biggest plates in the business for both sides of the dining spectrum, they know more about the art of 'getting stuck in' than any other restaurant in the city.
