Craftbird
Newington
(18)
Newington
(18)
18 customer reviews
Deirdre N.
Okay, so first and foremost I always promise to leave the most honest review I can. I follow the craft bird food truck and the food always looks beyond appetizing. We had some time to kill around 5 on a Saturday and decided to try this place. Let's talk about the location:Craft Bird is located in Newington on a busy street with food all around. Peking can be difficult, but on this day we got a spot right in front. It was meant to be. Walking in, we were very surprised at how dead it was. Only one other couple was at the place.There were three young works there, they gave us suggestions and over all, the staff seemed super friendly. The place doesn't have a lot of seating and has a very simple style. Also, bathroom was clean as well. Let's talk about the food:What we orderedYard bird sandwich BBQ bird sandwich Truffle Mac and cheese bites Buffalo chicken dip Crispy Brussels sprouts The yard bird sandwich was okay. The sauce was so tasty, but it didn't have enough sauce at all. The chicken was tender, but so thin. The sesame bun seemed to overpower everything. 4/10The bbq sandwich was the best item we tried. So delicious and a pretty unique bbq flavor. Definitely 10/10. Truffle Mac and cheese, we were told this was one of the best sellers. We didn't really care for them. They were extra salty and the Mac piece needed something. It was pretty bland. And we were pretty disappointed. The crunchy part was amazing though. For that, we give a 3/10. The Buffalo chicken dip was also said to be a best seller. It was strange. The dip barely tasted of Buffalo and the chicken was ground which gave a very different texture. The homemade chips were the best part of this and so we will give this a 6/10. Lastly the crispy Brussels sprouts. My fiancé is obsessed with Brussels sprouts, so we tend to try them everywhere. They were okay. 4/10. Over all, I am giving this place a 3/5. I think there is so much room for improvement and I will definitely try them again in a few months or a year to see if they have grown. As always, definitely try this place for yourself. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Mike D.
Very good chicken sandwiches and sides. Portions leave you with a bit to be desired but nonetheless they have a great food. Customer service was great got my food quickly and accurately. The sandwich tasted fresh and was enjoyable. Potato wedges were crispy and fresh tasting as well. Good food just wish the sandwiches were a little bigger! Maybe order 2 sides, which is a bit pricey. So I say 3.5/4 stars good but not great. Try it out if you want a nice chicken sandwich. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Elisa F.
Oh Craftbird, how I love you so. As big fans of the truck, we were psyched they opened up a brick and mortar location one town away from home in Newington. We ordered takeout on a Friday evening and it was the perfect after-work dinner.We ordered tenders, the hot bird sando, mac & cheese bites, potato wedges and brussel sprouts. Came to about $42 for two people including tip. The prices seem high at first but altogether it's not a bad total for two for dinner.Got to say, the first difference I noticed is the way the chicken was fried. The breading on the chicken was a lot darker than I remember from the truck. Not sure if it was in my head or if the dry oil was different? And of course, when you're getting takeout and bringing it on a 15 minute drive home, it's going to get a bit soggy vs. when you're eating almost immediately from the truck. I also noticed they give out more wedges now. Before it was literally only 3 which was insane so I'm glad it's a good side portion now. The mac bites are perfection as always. I could happily eat a bucket of those bites of heaven. First time I have tried the brussels though and thought they were flavored well but a little too greasy. Taste wise, everything was just as good as the truck. However, I don't think I'd do takeout and bring it home again. Not being able to have the chicken as crispy as I'm used to was definitely a bummer. I'll eat in the restaurant or enjoy the truck from now on. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Andreya P.
Such good food. The fries are my favorite, next to the sandwiches obviously. Can't wait to go back :)
Reviewed on Yelp
D S.
The chicken was well cooked, but lacking in flavor. I had the bbq sandwich which helped, but the regular tenders where bland.The staff were wonderful.
Reviewed on Yelp
Allie K.
AMAZING for Gluten Free folks!! All of their sandos and tenders can be made gluten free. They use a designated Gf fryer, rice flour, and store the Gf buns separately. I felt totally confident that my order was 100% gluten free and most importantly, it was DELICIOUS!!! The Gf tenders were crisped to perfection and the Hot-Bird sando did not disappoint. They also offer several gluten free sides to choose from. I got the street corn salad and potato wedges. 10/10. Overall an amazing place with an upbeat atmosphere and friendly staff! Craftbird Sandos & Tenders is easily my new go-to spot More...
Reviewed on Yelp
katrina p.
As a grubhub driver they were so kind to me! I was offered a water and some small talk while waiting for my customers order, I can't wait to come back with my family!
Reviewed on Yelp
Bill K.
So glad I don't have to chase the trucks anymore and can just head to Newington center for a CB fix. Â Street Corn Salad is beyond amazing but my usual is the Hot Bird with side of Potato Wedges. Â The decor is so bright and cheery - just like the counter crew who took our order. Â Keep up the good work and CONGRATS! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Ian L.
I hate to be that guy to leave a negative review so soon after their grand opening but I do this out of love. I hope they succeed. Listen, I did my research. I cannot control market prices, I know it is farm to truck (in this case farm to table), and I know their food truck is amazing. But this area is much too competitive in terms of chicken shops with all these fancy sandos or tenders.After conducting my own research, this is the most expensive option. Not only that, I have already been here 3 times since opening weeks ago. Here is what I have gathered after those 3 visits:The food is just OK. I had the Hot Bird Chicken Sando. Farm to table? Yeah sure $13 later with no sides. The sesame bun was nice and fluffy but each time I ordered a sandwich from here, I found myself with a full bite of bread after. I checked with the rest of the party, they all said the same thing. Sure this sounds ridiculous but for $13 this chicken shouldn't be paper thin (yes it's an exaggeration) and mostly breading by the time it gets to the outer edge of the bun leaving us with nothing by the last bite. Why do I care? Because this has never been a problem for me ESPECIALLY when I could name 2 places very close to here that charge an average of $8.99 or less for a massive chicken sandwich that are also farm to table. On lower standards, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and now KFC all have chicken sandwiches that are nearly as good for an average of $4. The chicken sandwich at Popeyes was almost double the thickness of this one. Here's some math for you broke college students out there, save your money and get 3 sandwiches for the price of one at Craftbird.Now for the order of 3 Chicken Tenders w/ranch. $13 with no side and the tenders are much smaller than usual. I won't even mention the fast food options to compare for this but for the other 3 chicken shops less than 15 minutes from here, once again this is the most expensive option. Everywhere else was either cheaper or $13 with a side. The other places also gave me larger tenders.To be clear, I have money for food. I'm not mad that I spent $26 before tax for a spicy chicken sandwich and 3 tenders (maybe I am) but my girlfriend was still hungry and wanted to go to Popeyes right after. Yes, the Popeyes chicken sandwich was almost twice as thick in terms of chicken. I'll give Craftbird some credit though! I like their buns better.I understand, quality or ambiance may back up the high prices. Farm to table? Okay sure. The chicken was juicy, I believe my sandwich had dark meat, I could be wrong but it was juicy and tender for the most part. However my chicken tenders were a little soggy even though the taste and meat quality was there.Don't even get me started with the chicken wings, brussel sprouts or potato wedges. TOO LATE!Dear God the potato wedges were SOGGY and $16-$17 total after getting them with a sandwich, what am I even doing?Usually I finish everything I order but when we ordered the brussel sprouts they were extremely salty. SALTY salty. Like un edible. I thought like the pickled onions would save it but the salt even overcame that. Something was wrong. It was awful.As for the wings, the experience was forgettable. The only thing I remember was how dry they were.No holding back, this could be great because it's the legendary Craftbird but I was just extremely disappointed.At least their orders were on time and the staff were very friendly. Quick disclaimer, I got all my food handed to me as soon as it was packed so any soggyness issue was not developed over time.It hurt writing this review but I have to do what I have to do. I expect this type of food and prices from their food truck. Which is why they do so well in that area of expertise. With too many competitive options, at the fraction of the price, better tasting or filling food and litterally minutes away, Craftbird needs to step up their game. More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Christian R.
Best wings ever! Also had truffle mac n cheese bites and they are to die for! My wife hade the Yard Bird sandwich it was tender, juicy, Â and flavorful. Highly recommend for excellent food and fast professional service. Â Will return frequently! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Jason P.
Say you love the food of Craftbird food truck, but for some reason, you really, really dislike large automobiles with deep fryers. Â What would you say if I could get you into a brick and mortar Craftbird? Â Sound too good to be true? Â Well it is true! Â As of 4 p.m. today, Craftbird opened as "Craftbird Sandos and Tenders" ("CST") in underrated food destination Newington Center.CST is on the stretch of businesses to the right of the bike shop. Â Like most businesses in the Center, it is small. Â CST's name says most of what you need to know about the food. They have a variety of chicken sandwiches (aka, "Sandos") and they have chicken "Tenders". Â Hence, Craftbird Sandos and Tenders. Â They also have Brussel sprouts, biscuits, slaw, fried truffled Mac, salad and wings.Between the two of us, my wife and I ordered the Yard Bird sandwich, tenders, Brussel sprouts and Mac Bites. Â I ordered and paid by phone and picked up at CST. Â Service was friendly. Â The shop was functional and colorful in a taxi sort of way.The Mac Bites were wow good! Â Perfect color and texture. Â Good salty. Just the right amount of truffle oil in the creamy Mac filling. Â The Brussel Sprouts were very good. Â They were sweet/mildly spicy and got a splash of color and acidity from the pickled red onions.The chicken sandwich was good. Â The outside was a bit more done than I like, but with the pickles and tasty honey sriracha, I didn't pick up any burnt flavors. Â The inside texture was juicy and tender. Â The sesame bun was top notch.On behalf of the citizens of Newington, I'd like to unofficially welcome visitors to the new brick and mortar Craftbird. Â There is plenty of parking behind the building. Â If you need to buy a bike, get your nails done, procure flowers, make change at a bank, caffein-ate, eat poke made by a Mom and/or a Pop, or buy a Fudgie the Whale, Newington Center can help, with a smile and an air five!4.5 Stars More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Ariel S.
Amazing interior! Even better food and staff! The trucks were amazing and now you can enjoy Craftbird without having to follow them around! The chicken sandwiches are the best around and tenders are perfectly crispy! They have separate fryers for gluten free and a ton of options! This is fried chicken perfection! More...
Reviewed on Yelp
Don Lundberg
Street Corn salad Empanada Both were very good
Reviewed on Facebook
Jim Flood
Had a little bit of everything today. Great chicken across the board, the truffle Mac and cheese bites are spot on as well. We will definitely be following these guys around!’ More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Lauren Jacko
We hired Craftbird for our wedding in Mat 2020. Due to COVID we were forced to reschedule.. a few times. We are very thankful for the professional and courteous response we got from Craftbird during this extremely difficult time. We highly recommend Craftbird and cannot wait to work with them in the future! More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Mitch Stuart
I just ordered from them, and upon order were quite pleasant. I unfortunately had some bad chicken that was inedible, whether over cooked, or poor quality I am not one to say. But slimy chicken with breading falling off is never a good sign, especially when you bite into it and cannot even chew through it. Btw this is now my second time ordering from them and having this happen. I approached this truck kindly to let them know. Perhaps your oil is running too hot and it’s not cooking through. I was rudely received, and the gentleman cooking snapped back saying we don’t take food back.( understandable during Covid) however you might want to look at it to see where it went wrong. When asking for a refund, he said he’ll do it later. Well why not now while I’m standing in front of you, line or no line, I paid full price for food that would’ve undoubtedly made me sick. I also left a nice tip. Last time I will eat from them. Mistakes happen all the time in the kitchen which is understandable, but your attitude is inexcusable. More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Jonathan Hendrix
I’m from Nashville, where we know our chicken - fried, hot, or otherwise. This is easily *the best* chicken sandwich I have had in my life. We got the original, the Seoul bird, the mac and cheese bites, and the spinach-artichoke bites. All absolutely phenomenal. Crispy, juicy, bursting with flavor, and an aioli that I would buy in stores by the bucketload. 11/10 More...
Reviewed on Facebook
Jess Maura
Yum 🤤 I didn’t realize there could be so many different ways to make a fried chicken sandwich. Very good variety, but you’ll find a favorite after your first bite. The TRUFFLE Mac and Cheese bites are a must! More...
Reviewed on Facebook
