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Needing a lunch reservation in Contra Costa County — even in Walnut Creek — is pretty rare. But there I was, refreshing the Resy app for Esin and Curtis de Carion’s just-opened Lafayette restaurant, Social Bird Kitchen & Bar, and coming up short. A 2 p.m. slot finally popped up and I grabbed it. Better than dragging my 8-year-old to dinner at 8:45 p.m.
Now I know what all the buzz is about. The Danville restaurateurs (Esin, Revel Kitchen & Bar) have unveiled a stunner. Located inside the former — and gutted — Yankee Pier space, Social Bird aces every element, from well-executed New American dishes to great service, style and a beverage program brimming with mocktails, craft beer, fresh cocktails and fine wines. Here’s our experience from Sunday afternoon.
THE VIBE: Casual yet upscale. The remodeled 3,000-square-foot restaurant has a Revel vibe, with an exhibition kitchen, horseshoe booths and a massive wrap-around bar with seating for 19. Muted blue, gray and white give the dining room a modern feel. On our visit, the restaurant was frenetically busy, but servers kept their cool. Ours was friendly, warm and decisive, with recommendations like “I would bathe in that chimichurri sauce if I could.”
THE FOOD: There’s an emphasis on shareable appetizers ($9-$17.50), rustic bowls ($16-$17.50), sandwiches and burgers ($14.75-$29) and family-style entrees ($26-$32), all made with local and sustainable ingredients. The menu is big enough to feel daunting at first; we suggest you start with those delightful appetizers, like the Avocado Bruschetta ($12.50), which comes piled high with pickled peppers and crispy shallots. Plates of Korean Fried Chicken Wings ($13) — crispy Mary’s chicken wings slathered in spicy apricot glaze — were flying out of the kitchen during our visit, too.
For lunch, tuck into one of those bowls; we loved the Grilled Prawns ($17.50) with organic polenta and wild mushroom ragout — so comforting and full of flavor. Like a serious fried chicken sandwich? The Buttermilk Biscuit Sliders ($15.75) will possess you upon first crunch. The mini sandwiches feature juicy Mary’s fried chicken breasts topped with pepper jelly, garlic aioli and cheddar cheese. They nailed the biscuit-to-chicken ratio.
DON’T MISS: Six reasonably-priced craft cocktails ($11-$12), including the winter warmer, Devil’s Medicine, made with tequila, mezcal, lemon, honey, spicy ginger and jalapeno tincture. Social Bird also has a kids menu ($8-$9) and six desserts ($9 each) including a Butterscotch Pudding with salted caramel and chocolate shortbread. Coming soon: Three patios with heat lamps, large umbrellas and seating for 80. That should help open up reservations.
PERFECT FOR: Everything from family dinners to power lunches; or sating that craving for oysters and bubbles, beer and burgers, or plant-based grain bowls.
DETAILS: Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 3593 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette; www.social-bird.com.
