I totally get you &. don’t think he really wanted to do a burger but felt he had to. The other thing is they have a huge bar area and had very little bar food (if I could order half size portions of everything is be there all the time). Everything was sharing size portions. I’m not going to eat a sharing size portion of meat or fish sitting at the bar by my self so it’s nice to have the burger.
That’s my.02c anyway
Nothing attracts crowds quite like a signature burger, and since the pandemic, Birdie G’s has been laboring to fill its 180 seats.
“A burger is the only answer the suits in the restaurant business seem to have when you’re struggling,” he said, on a January day when he was stress testing the kitchen layout to see how a burger would move between stations. His current version — grilled over almond wood, cheese melted under a spun-iron cloche, butter-toasted Japanese milk bread bun — has the makings of a hit.
Yet another reference to Birdie G’s struggling, and this time from the horse’s mouth. Such a bummer 
180 seats? Damn, that’s huge.
As a young cook I wished to cook what I wanted. Now long out the industry, disabled, wiser, I recognize the popularity of things and jumping on the wave. Now I know it isn’t about me, it’s about business and paying the bills. If only I had a redo.
They don’t have 180 seats. The whole place including private room, bar, and outside seats 150. The main dining room seats 80.
Maybe the figure is from when they had tables along the walkway? Anyway, 150 is a lot of seats!
When I used to work at a place that also did events we had less seats for special events due to the nature of service and having that many people all at once so for a 150 full buyout that might be the case - like you’re not gonna seat at the bar for a wedding too
The dining room seats 80 so that plus whatever usual patio seating is open for service is the number. Though restaurants mostly think covers, not seats.
What’s the difference (genuine question)?
Covers is how many customers you seat including turns.
Having been there quite often, they usually seat the entire bar area and the patio (weather permitting). The full patio seats maybe 20-30 people? 150 might be accurate for full capacity outside the private room. Either way, it’s a lot and I suspect can result in big swings in covers which makes it hard to manage staffing and food cost. Rustic Canyon feels like it’s less than half the size.
Was there last night, it was packed inside so maybe the NYT piece sparked interest. There’s a new menu, my fave vodka sauce pasta has been transformed into a ravioli (we didn’t try it)
The patio, fyi, seats about 25 on each side… such a strange discussion but it really is a huge restaurant.
It used to be a small spiral pasta with the vodka sauce. So yummy. How was the ravioli?
this one was with sausage, very meaty and savory. I was surprised by the huge shape but nice texture on the pasta. really good
Just here to say that we dined at Birdie G’s last night and it was packed. So great to see right now. Patio, bar, restaurant - all full.
Specifically wanted to try the new addition to the menu, the onion rings, but they were sold out (at 6!). They brought us a small crudite with 5 onion dip, and I have to say it’s the best thing I’ve eaten in forever. Thinly shaved radish, parsnip, celery, and lots of veggies I didn’t recognize, but fresh as if out of the ground and the dip is to die. Could make a meal out of it.
