BIRDCODE Hot Chicken — Restaurant in West Hartford

I went here for the very first time as a customer (but a few pick ups for a food delivery service a while back), and I do not remember the last time I was 100% impressed with any establishment on the first go. Let’s start with the food. I went at lunchtime on a Sunday in February, and ordered the sweet honey chicken sandwich, fries, birch beer, and the banana pudding. Firstly, any restaurant that has birch beer from a soda fountain (behind the counter, you pay per drink) is a win for me. I forget what brand it was but it was delicious as birch beer has a distinct sweetness profile that needs fresh carbonation to be at its best. The crinkle cut fries were perfectly portioned and the best crinkle cut fries I’ve had that I could remember. The sweet honey chick sandwich was cooked perfectly and the batter they use, has a crispiness and texture I’ve never had in a chicken sandwich. It reminded me of a cornflake crispiness, and it was incredibly flavored with the spices and tossed with sweet honey. The defining two marks of a great chicken sandwich are the crispiness and how well the batter sticks onto every area of the chicken even after a few bites in, without cracking away and falling off. The banana pudding was insane! Just the right sweetness with the vanilla wafer pieces and chunky and fresh banana slices! And I swear this may of been the second time in my life ordering banana pudding. I had to try it here because it was highly-rated. The woman at the counter was courteous and answered all my queries quickly and professionally before my purchase. I must commend a gentleman in particular who was prepping the food and bringing it out all with a smile to the seated customers, while moving all the other orders along so diligently. When he called my name, he gave me the food with a genuine smile, and when I told him it was my first time here, I don’t recall the words, but he told me to enjoy and great to see you here. I’m getting hungry now, so I’ll stop writing. Time to head back over lol! Thank...

Delicious Fried Chicken, amazing flavor on the spices. My husband and I have ate here on a couple of occasions and look forward to many more visits.

They have different levels of heat for their chicken. •You have the Country which has no heat, but a good honestyle batter. •Mild which has very minimal heat. •Medium heat starts to get a little burn (one of the heats we typically choose, not the most flavorful weirdly enough, but still really good), •Hot as they describe burn baby, burn (This is the other heat we typically get and the flavor is amazing with this one, you do get a burn, but the flavor is kickin') •Code breaker (their menu states) Do you really want to do this? Try at your own risk.

I love some spicy food and some days I can handle spice better than others, but be acknowledgeable about how much you can take. I want to try code breaker, but their hot usually puts me down. So if you can't handle spice order accordingly! (For some clarification which may help to order, I have been known on some days to find a McDonald's Spicy Chicken sandwich too spicy, but then there are days when I can sit down eat fresh jalapeños straight and chicken with ghost pepper seasoning without an issue and not be satisfied because I'm looking for something spicier. An average spice day for me would be somewhere in between)

The one and only complaint would have to be the price, my husband, myself and my inlaws each got a meal, 1 drink each and 2 banana puddings. With tip the total came to just over 90.00. I will say this, the taste and texture of the chicken is undoubtedly amazing and all the price point does is makes it so we may not eat here as often as we would like, but we will continue to frequent this...

Walking into Birdcode, I expected a typical Nashville fried chicken joint — lively, bustling, with the smell of hot oil and spices filling the air. And while the main menu did not disappoint, serving up crispy, juicy chicken with the perfect heat, a side of tangy pickles, and the best Mac & Cheese I’ve ever had, I soon realized there was much more to Birdcode than meets the eye.

As I was working through my meal, I noticed a few regulars exchanging subtle nods and whispers with the staff. Intrigued, I listened in and caught a peculiar phrase, "Featherfoot." When I casually mentioned "Featherfoot" to my server, he nodded and, to my surprise, led me through a side door and down a short hallway to a dimly lit, secret room. Inside, I was handed a hidden menu featuring a few adventurous items — including one that stunned me: bald eagle.

Initially, I was torn over whether I could stomach the idea of tasting such a rare and symbolic bird. But reassured by Birdcode’s quirky, “ethically-sourced” claim, I took the plunge. When the dish arrived, I braced myself for a bold flavor but was surprised — the taste wasn’t quite what I’d imagined. It was richer and more gamey, with a unique flavor profile that, oddly enough, reminded me of owl. It had an unexpected complexity that kept me coming back for bite after bite.

Birdcode is full of surprises, and while their fried chicken alone is worth a visit, it’s the hidden menu, accessible only with a little insider knowledge, that’s made me a loyal fan. I’ll definitely be back, both for the classic Nashville heat and the chance to dig deeper into their...