Absurd Bird, a new restaurant in Shoreditch with a focus on chicken, has entered a hugely inflated market.
Londoners hungry for chicken can fill their appetite anywhere from Nando's to KFC or the bloated number of fast food shops on offer, especially in the east.
But while not spectacular enough to stand out from its competitors, Absurd Bird does offer enough charms to warrant a fun visit.
The menu draws its inspiration from the deep south of America and, true to the country's fashion, it has dishes on offer to raise the eyebrows of your average Brit.
If marshmallows on sweet potato mash or chicken on waffles makes you squirm rather than salivate, then give this place a miss.
But if you don't fancy taking things too seriously Absurd Bird is an enjoyable dining experience.
All chickens are bought while still in the egg to ensure they're additive and hormone free, so it's worth highlighting the effort that goes into the food.
Starter
My friend Nick and I began by opting for wings from the Wingshack, including the Crispy Fried Buttermilk Wings, Buffalo Chicken Wings, BBQ Chicken Wings and Smoked Chicken Wings.
The wings, coming in at a fantastically modest four for £6, offer great taste and provide a lot of tasty chicken for the price.
I also had the Sweet Potato Bake (£6), offering hugely sweet marshmallows atop sweet potato mash.
After my initial shock in adjusting to such a combination, I found it to be quite pleasant - a view heavily disputed by Nick, so expect to love or hate this dish.
Mains
For our mains, I chose the Chicken and Waffles (£11). Although I found the combination pleasant and the waffles delicious, there didn't actually seem to be that much chicken underneath the abundance of batter.
Nonetheless, the sweet gravy it came with was particularly nice, if you can handle pouring it on sweet waffles.
Nick chose the Big Mama's Favourite (£12), half a southern style smoked chicken - a tasty dish that does what it says on the tin.
It is a hugely generous portion for its price, so expect to be eating it for a while.
The verdict
Absurd Bird will be an opinion divider, but at its very good prices it's hard not to enjoy.
getwestlondon give Absurd Bird three stars out of five.
