[Review] The Bird Southern Table & Bar (Marina Bay Sands)
If
you would like to try some authentic Southern U.S. cuisine at the heart of
Singapore, do consider dropping by The Bird Southern Table & Bar, or "The Bird" as affectionately known by many diners.
Before
anyone cries "fowl" at us for recommending that you visit a chicken farm,
we are actually referring to the latest dining establishment from the
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) which recently teamed up with 50 Eggs to unveil the latter's first
international location of the award-winning
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar.
This
two-storey 190-seater restaurant serves classic Southern dishes,
including the famous Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken based on a 100-year-old recipe,
Butter Lettuce and Grilled
Mango Salad, Shrimp 'N' Grits and Buttermilk Biscuits.
Here, you can find a cozy and relaxing spot to chill and relax on a
Friday evening after work or on weekends and immerse yourself in a
Southern atmosphere with smooth jazz and blues music playing in the
background while enjoying a fowl feast featuring their signature birds
crisped to perfection.
We took the seats by the kitchen (see below) to watch the action of the
chefs and waited with bated breath as each
meticulously-prepared dish was served up the counter.
Starters
We tried the Fried Green Tomato BLT (S$18++), a
twist on the bacon, lettuce and tomato (BLT) sandwich sans the bread. Instead, a thick slice of fried
green tomato formed the base for layers of house-smoked pork belly, pimento
cheese and smoky tomato jam, and this starter was then carefully dressed in tangy lemon vinaigrette.
We also ordered the Devilled Eggs (S$14++), a dish we highly recommend. Devilled eggs are hard-boiled eggs that have been shelled, cut in half,
and filled with a paste made from the egg yolks mixed with other
ingredients such as mayonnaise, avocadoes and mustard. The Bird's
interpretation, which came in dill, chive and smoked trout roe, was so
creamily divine and left us craving for more. No wonder it is one
of their signatures!
If you prefer some greens, the Butter Lettuce and Grilled Mango Salad (S$18++) - another of their signatures - is a good choice. It was mouthwatering and refreshing, and we loved the generous servings of char-grilled mango, smoked pecans, red onions and cherry tomatoes tossed in benne seed vinaigrette dressing.
Main Courses
When here at The Bird, do
yourself a favour and remember to save your stomach for their signature superior
quality fried chicken. You can either pick the classic Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken (S$35++) or more fancy Chicken, Watermelon & Waffles (S$45++) which we ordered.
While the unorthodox
pairing of watermelon with chicken may seem rather gimmicky, the dish
overall was actually really good as the chilled spice watermelon added a
slight
tinge of acidity and served as a palate cleanser after we devoured the
lovely fried chicken. We
heard that this recipe was from Yardbird founder Mr. John Kunkel’s grandma, Llewellyn, who
would brine the bird for 27 hours, dredge it in cayenne-spiced flour and
then fry it. The resulting bird was tender and juicy, and exceptionally
cooked (unlike those
found in inferior dining establishments where the chicken is doused in
so much oil that it becomes rather nausea-inducing).
Special mention also goes to the savoury vermont sharp
cheddar cheese waffles which went really well with the bourbon maple
syrup. The infusion of cheese into the waffles added a nice midas touch and
certainly made the
waffles special enough for one to remember.
If you love cheese, you mustn't miss another of their signatures, the Macaroni and Cheese (S$14++). Served piping hot, the torchio pasta was generously mixed in five artisanal cheeses and topped with a nice crispy herb crust. The yummilicious cheesy
flavours were simply drool-worthy and
certainly reminded me of the cheese fondues I had when I was in
Switzerland. Warm and comforting, this is comfort food at its finest. Word of advice: eat this while it is hot.
Desserts
The desserts were also
wonderful. Creme brûlée lovers are in for a treat if they order the Cafe Creme Brûlée (S$16++). The coffee-infused creme brûlée served with a nice chocolate biscotti was certainly an
interesting and novel item on the menu. We licked up every single bit
until the bowl was clean *wide grin*!
The Banana Pudding (S$14++), a rum soaked banana cake topped with fresh banana vanilla wafers, classic chantilly cream and a cute chicken-shaped cookie, was also a good choice.
Drinks
The Bird offers a wide range of fancy cocktails, though perhaps a little on the pricey side.
One of their signatures is the Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade (S$27++), a fruity concoction made with wild turkey bourbon, blueberry puree, fresh lemon and cardamom. It added a really refreshing touch to our hearty meal. You may request for the child-friendly version without the bourbon, if you prefer.
If you like to try something really breathtaking, the Sub-Zero Floral Aviation (S$24++), a lavender gin with yuzu, comes in a floral-scented fog created using dry ice and lavender water. View the video below! :)
Overall
A
tribute to Southern hospitality and farm-fresh ingredients, The Bird
Southern Table & Bar offers comforts of classic Southern cooking and
has certainly enhanced the integrated resort’s diverse range of dining
options.
Incorporating
modern-rustic designs with industrial touches, this dining establishment offers a homely feel and is a really nice place to relax with family and friends after a long work week.
As we looked around at other diners' orders, we had in mind other dishes we would like to try next time: the really Instagram-worthy Flower Pot Mississippi Mud Pie (S$18++) and Peach Cobbler (S$25++). If you have already tried these desserts, let us know how they are in the Comments below! :)
The Bird Southern Table & Bar
B1-07, Galleria Level,
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands,
10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956
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