Patchogue's Bird & Bao closes
The Nashville Hot with crispy chicken, spicy tagarashi oil, chili mayo and black vinegar pickle at Bird & Bao in Patchogue. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Long Island just lost its top spot for Asian bao sandwiches. Located in bustling downtown Patchogue, the stylish Bird & Bao was consistently on Newsday's list of Top 50 Restaurants. But the tiny fried chicken shop at 58B S. Ocean Ave. posted to Instagram Wednesday morning that it's closing after nearly seven years.
"Thank you to everyone who ate with us, supported us, worked alongside us, and helped make this place what it was. I’m incredibly proud of what we built and grateful for every memory. It’s time for a new chapter," the post reads.
An array of dishes at the eatery. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Owned by Long Island native Conor Swanson, the fast-casual Bird & Bao was an anomaly in the neighborhood, which skews toward larger party restaurants. Swanson brought a chef's focus to the bao genre, which originated in China and was popularized by Swanson's former employer David Chang, of the Momofuku brand. Swanson's chicken thighs were prepared using a painstaking process of marinating the thighs for 24 hours in a soy sauce spice mix, before dredging them in potato starch and frying them twice.
Sesame Noodz with soba noodles and vegetables, chili oil and peanuts at Bird & Bao in Patchogue. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Bao stuffed with fried chicken was the restaurant's signature item. But the puffy yeast bun sandwiches could be filled with anything from falafel to Kimchi smashburgers or chicken Caesar salad. The sesame noodz were also pretty outstanding, with their addicting nutty sauce.
Swanson confirmed the closure Friday and declined to comment further. The business is listed for sale for $149,000.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.
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