For the record I’m not a fan of Bird & Co. a wildly popular Woodford’s Corner restaurant that purports to serve Mexican food. I wouldn’t even deem it fusion or some other derivative.
Here are three things that I didn’t like about the restaurant:
The noise—deafening. And parking is nearly impossible.
The look—unattractive with an amalgam of high-tops, tables and rear section that’s the ultimate Siberia.
The food: an uninteresting menu, hardly Mexican.
I could be criticized for having only a few dishes in my one and only visit to form an opinion. But I had enough to know that I have no interest in returning because of the three traits I mentioned above.
The margarita was overly sweet, tasting more like pineapple juice.
Of the two tacos I tried, the pork belly was an absolute winner: taste and texture reigned here from the crunch of fried pork belly within. The special taco, something called Hawaiian Taco with grilled pineapple, bacon, spicy mayo and scallions was a mush of flavors overpowered by bacon. I should have gone to Terlingua where they know what they’re doing serving superb Tex-Mex food. Witness the chimichanga, which I had at lunch this week; it’s a glorious presentation of deep-fried tortilla filled with pork and topped with a luscious corn salsa.
I left and went on to Izakaya Minato to finish my dinner and a stop a Gross Confections for a superb version of carrot cake. Now there are two respective members of our restaurant community that are worth their salt.
I rest my case.
Bird & Co., 539 Deering Ave., Portland, ME 207-747-4056
Rating: For a cheap date with a budget, go for the tacos, but that’s it
Tables: Numerous of all sizes
Ambiance: The noisiest restaurant in Portland
Parking: Virtually none nearby
$$$: Cheap, you get what you pay for