Purbird

"Success: you just worked out. But now you’re starving. And also in sweaty clothes, and also facing the reality of an empty fridge at home. You need to eat something fast, and preferably something that won’t undo your gym success. At the same time, the idea of eating a salad from a chain makes you want to shove some French fries in your mouth as quickly as possible. If you live in Park Slope, you have a place that was designed to save you in this situation, and its name is Purbird. The thing here is organic grilled chicken, and it’s excellent. You can get it as a half or whole bird (with a variety of homemade sauces), on top of simple salads, inside wraps and on sandwiches, or in the form of unbelievably good chicken noodle soup. And you can also get it with a variety of sides, which are maybe even better than the chicken itself - particularly the mac and cheese, which is a top contender for our favorite in the city. Is it healthy? Absolutely not. Pick your battles. To be clear, the gym is not a prerequisite for eating at Purbird. It works just as well as a quick pick-up on your way from the subway to your house, and they also deliver. The space is no-frills, but would also be perfectly fine for a super casual one-on-one meal - particularly when it’s warm and you can sit at one of the picnic tables outside. Being outside is basically the same as working out, right? Food Rundown Half Chicken If health is your priority, order this and the vegetable side of the day. You’re impressive. Chicken Breast Sandwich Topped with avocado and turkey bacon (don’t judge it), this is a damn good chicken sandwich, and our go-to order here. Mac & Cheese As stated above, this is all-time great mac and cheese. It’s also a giant portion - split it amongst two people or you risk the very real possibility that you won’t be able to stop yourself from eating the whole thing. Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes are a pretty perfect food on their own. But then Purbird went and mixed them with jalapeño puree, and now we can’t ever look at them the same way. Purbird Chicken Soup If you are feeling sick, this is your medicine. Tastes almost as good when you’re feeling not-sick too." - Katherine Lewin

"Purbird is a counter-service spot where you can eat half a grilled chicken and a side of sauteed spinach, mac and cheese, or some mashed potatoes covered in a tennis-ball green jalapeno puree. There are also some sandwiches (mostly with chicken) and a couple of salads, and you’ll find it difficult to spend more than $20 on a dinner here. There are two locations (both in Brooklyn), and they make for excellent backup plans when you can’t or won’t make your own food." - bryan kim

"Purbird is a casual little place in Park Slope with excellent, affordable comfort food. It focuses on grilled chicken, and you can get it in a few different forms (as a burger, in a wrap, or as an entree alongside some of their bread). They have some worthwhile sides including jalapeno mashed potatoes and some of the best mac & cheese we’ve had." - bryan kim, hillary reinsberg, matt tervooren

"If grilled chicken is your thing, you can get a half or whole bird (with a variety of homemade sauces) from Purbird for less than $30. You can also get a variety of sides, which are maybe even better than the chicken." - team infatuation

"Purbird is known for its juicy and spiced grilled chicken, served with grilled flatbread and a choice of sauces. Sides include mac-and-cheese, fries, and creamy mashed potatoes. The chicken spicy option is recommended, and the food holds up well for delivery." - Eater Staff