Honestly, this place is DISGUSTING. I went to this restaurant less than a month ago & the amount of mice that were scurrying around comfortably was so disturbing. I saw the manager have to talk to almost every table because they were so unsettled by the mice. This video i took was literally a mouse just sitting there on a self. I also witnessed the Female manager CHASE this mouse through tables to catch it completely disrupting dinners being had to have a cat / mouse chase through out the restaurant. Completely unacceptable & unprofessional behavior from a manager. & I watched her throw the mouse in the trash so at least she caught it i guess. would not recommend this place. read more

Shy Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Phenomenal! This is one of our go-to spots for my partner and I. It's close to MIT and Kendall Square and has the best chicken we've ever eaten in the area! Their Whole Chicken was large and so juicy -- definitely a feast for two. I love the Ranch Fried Chicken sandwich; flavorful and had a nice kick to it! Although Shy Bird is known for their chicken obviously, they have several vegetarian and vegan dishes to accommodate their rather hippie community in Cambridge. Their Green Apple and Beets Salad - drenched in bright violet, beets-based dressing - was super tasty. The celery bits were a great addition, and I normally don't like celeries in anything; but this was an exception. Don't be shy, try Shy Bird! Corny... Yes! read more

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Drinks and fried chicken was great and the service was even better! Waitress Dee was the best and took great care of our large group

The food was pretty good, as was the ambiance. The service was exceptional! I had the Smash Burger with fries. It was decent. read more

Shy Bird - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Take out review here. I ordered the blackened chicken salad for lunch today, I should have stuck with my instinct to get the Ranch chicken sandwich - I just didn't feel like having fried food. The blackened chicken salad was all dark meat - not a single bite of white meat (no mention of that on the menu). It was heavily dressed with the lemon aioli. As a huge fan of lots of sauce, aioli, dressing, it was too much. The saving grace was the Iggy's bread the sandwich was served on - it was delightful. I ate the top slice of the sandwich and picked at the filling and called it ... lunch Aside from the bad lunch sandwich, the interior of Shy Bird looks lovely read more

Food: 2.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Food at price point: 5/5 Notes: decent place for brunch, although i got the waffle and it was soaked in whipped cream. i love sweet stuff but just wasn't good read more

If you're looking for chicken - you've found the right place here in Kendall Square! We sat on the patio and enjoyed some cheap bucket of beers which is always welcome. We started with the Chicken Dunks which were sooo good! Most of the table got the Fried Chicken Sandwich which everyone reported that it was amazing (I'm definitely going back to try it!). I shared the Rotisserie Chicken with a friend and that's the only reason I docked a point. Honestly prefer the rotisserie chicken from whole foods! It was just a tad dry. Overall still 100% recommend and I'm excited to go back! For more recs follow me on ig @sophiaeaaats ! read more

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I have been dying to try this restaurant, and it was DELICIOUS. If you like chicken, this is the place for you! Come while the weather is good and grab a seat on their patio! Great views and good vibes. I was with one other person, and we ordered the 6-piece fried chicken dunks, and the ranch fried chicken sandwich with a side of black pepper and rosemary fries. This was the perfect amount of food for two! If you get the dunks, definitely choose the pecorino ranch as your sauce. It is to die for. We ended up pouring some of the ranch onto the sandwich because it was that good. The rosemary and black pepper fries were great, and the ranch chicken had a nice kick to it! Everything was seasoned perfectly and came out hot! All of the chicken was crispy to perfection. This is a great place to come with friends and family. The tables were properly spaced, waiters were in masks, and the menu's were disposable. I would love to come back here and try out their drink menu! read more

Shy Bird - 6 Piece SB Dunks with Pecorino Ranch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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What can I say? This is damn good rotisserie chicken. I'm sure if I asked them what the seasoning is they'd be like, "oh, really simple, just salt pepper garlic!' or something like that. But there's a magic they imbue upon this chicken that I could never recreate in my kitchen. I think part of the magic is in the rotisserie setup-- Shybird boasts an impressive lineup of chickies spinning behind the bar, and I can't stop in for a drink without getting hungry. During COVID, Shybird delivery has been a great source of healthy and delicious weeknight dinners-- never arriving soggy like the chickens sometime taste when you pull them off the warming shelf at Whole Foods. We have also samples a few delicious wines and large format beers (which came wrapped in adorable polka dot paper-- it's like a present to yourself!). Before I moved to working from home, this space was a great meeting spot in Kendall for coffee, lunch, or drinks. It's pretty spacious and I never had trouble grabbing a table. Also, gorgeous design! read more

Shy Bird - Shybird rotisserie chicken, side o' brussels sprouts, and that adorably wrapped beer. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ordered the chicken sandwich and goat cheese salad with added *crispy* chicken. Both items were delicious and the breading on the chicken was absolutely perfect. The staff was friendly and timely. Also, the fries had rosemary which was a nice touch. A little bit pricey for what we got. read more

Shy Bird - Chicken sandwich and goat cheese salad + chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Had the ranch fried chicken sandwich. Really juicy fried chicken with nice relish. The relish was too tart for my wife who is ultra sensitive to tart foods. But it was perfect for me. Upscale ambience. read more

Sat us next to the dishwashing room so it smelled like a wet rag for most of the meal. The service is not very friendly and they don't think to bring things like utensils or napkins. Lastly, we ordered the sundae and they brought us this: ..... needless to say not the best. read more

Shy Bird - Sundae - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great lunch spot! Very quick and efficient experience. I got the SB smashburger and it was quite good. Their fries were nice, though. It's a busy spot, but the floor to ceiling windows make it feel open and bright. Nothing bad to say, but it is a pretty typical spot. Overall, would return! read more

Let me start off by saying the service was good. The server was nice. Our food and drinks came out at a reasonable time. I really enjoyed my espresso martini. It was really good and just the right amount of alcohol. I ordered the ShyBird Benedict. I was told this place is known for their chicken and I thought it was ok. It didn't really stick out to me that much. In fact, there was too much pepper on the chicken and it just didn't taste like there was much flavoring to begin with. The place however was nice and I enjoyed the atmosphere. I'd like to come back for the espresso martini. read more

Shy Bird - Espresso Martini. Its v good. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Menu is quite bird-y. Would highly recommend for people who love chicken Went there with a friend- first time visiting the restaurant and I loved the ambience and location (so close to the Red Line T, so super accessible). Take a seat at one of the many tables lining the windows and enjoy the sunlight/experience of people watching also! Seems like a great place for dates at the bar, friend groups, coworkers etc etc. Would probably return if in the area. read more

The service was superb, and friendly. Gentle sale/suggestions were on point and delicious. Good value, and great taste.

On our way walking around MIT we stumbled upon Shy Bird. It's the perfect afternoon spot for a quick drink. We sat at the bar and ordered two mocktails, they were delicious! They also have a nice big patio if you'd like to enjoy some time outside. I'd highly recommend stopping in for a drink. read more

Very popular spot in Kendall Square. Limited menu but great service. The cocktails were delicious. The max and cheese had the perfect amount of cream to it and lots of flavor. The salad was fairly plain but good read more

Shy Bird - Salad with goat cheese - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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There's nothing shy about this bird, let me tell you. I don't really have anything to back that statement up, I just really wanted to write it. I remember the Boston Market of my youth, how it tried to rebrand rotisserie chicken from the penny-colored grease bomb you pay $5 for at Market Basket into something sit-down and family-oriented. Not sure when Boston Market threw in the towel and just became a sadder KFC, but I definitely missed a nicely arranged plate of chicken pieces. Shy Bird fills that need, though it would like about twice the price, if you don't mind. The chicken is pretty well done, greasy enough to be satisfying but not too greasy for a business lunch. The service is pleasant and the atmosphere is edging on classy. The sauces are good, but not so good that they couldn't just offer them all for free (a la Chicken and Rice). These classy-fied fast food joints tend to be really protective of their sauces for unknown reasons. Guys, mustard and sugar. You can spare it. read more

Zero stars but I guess I'm forced to give 1 in order to let the public know of the atrocities committed by the owner. This Company Refuses to take orders from construction workers, me and my crew were turned away because there was "too many of us" trying to order. I had 9 guys plus myself and all we wanted was some Togo breakfast sandwiches so we could get back to work. Instead they refused to serve us and told us to leave. read more

I've been here 2 times now, and honestly, it's just not good. I really wanted to like it, but the core product, chicken, is very mediocre. I've had the fried chicken sandwich and their half chicken. The sandwich was inferior to Burger King. The side salad was not tasty either. It didn't offer anything. Also we found hair, and they were very nonchalant about it. Guess it happens often? Incidentally, the burger wasn't bad. But I can't really evaluate a place called Shy Bird on their beef. Maybe the play is that the chicken is too shy to taste good. read more

It doesn't get much better than Shy Bird. Located in Kendall Square, they make the most delicious chicken I've ever had. It's moist and tender and I can see why people will buy whole chickens from there. Had gastric bypass years ago and I still have a hard time with chicken. I ordered the cobb salad and figured I'd bulk up on veggies - if the chicken was a no-go. But it was amazing! It had everything I was looking for and the flavor was delicious. The best salad/meals I've had in a long time. Looking forward to finishing it off for dinner. read more

Had brunch here and got the chicken eggs Benedict and hash brown side. Overall I'd say the food is a 3 but the service and drinks were nice so bumped it up to a 4. Got the espresso martini and the "over the counter" cocktail. Both were good and were made quickly. Back to the food -- wish the Benedict came out hotter temperature wise; the chicken especially was closer to room temperature. Kind of wish they used fried chicken here instead of grilled/baked. The hash brown was a bit mushy inside but the outside crust was crispy. read more

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my friend picked this place for a girls brunch and it was the perfect choice! the inside is super cute and aesthetic. the green is really lovely! they had the whole wall open to make room for the patio and so we got some of the nice breeze from outside. my group got the breakfast wrap, breakfast plate and 2 overnight oats! i chose over night oats because it was one of a few vegan options. it was so delicious! very sweet- lots of cinnamon which made it so tasty! i'm gonna crave this for sure! everything is so reasonably priced ($7-$13/plate). we will absolutely be coming back! read more

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Shy Bird, from the folks that own one of my favorites, Branch Line in Watertown, opened up just this past week. NOTE: Be careful with your GPS, since my iPhone took me to the wrong place: it is actually right on the corner of Broadway and 3rd St, not farther down Broadway. Like its sister, SB is all about roasting things, in this case: chicken. They are open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, 7 days a week. I checked them out for a quick lunch at 12:30PM on a Thursday. When I arrived, there was 6-8 people in a line to order at the counter, which went fairly quick. They then give you a number sign and you grab one of the tables (there are also a few communal high top chairs) and they will bring your food/drinks, which was also pretty quick. Fairly crowded, but I didn't have trouble getting a table, and more tables started to open up at about 1PM. I tried: FRIED CHICKEN & EGG: With hot honey, pepper jack, on Portuguese bun ($11)...looked like chicken thigh fried with a Nashville style batter, drizzled with mildly spicy honey. A decent enough sandwich, but it didn't blow my mind away either. The meat was a bit dry, tough and stringy in the thin areas, although most of it was reasonably tender and fairly moist. A nice crunch. They also have a thin, vinegary, modestly spicy hot sauce on the table, which makes the sandwich a bit more interesting. Worth trying, but I'll go for a different sandwich next time (they have pork, turkey, lamb). SHY LADY: Hendrick's gin, hibiscus, lime, tonic, "floral & citrusy with a touch of fizz" ($13)...this is the only alcoholic beverage offered at lunch, although apparently the bar opens up at 5PM. Pleasant, but simple. So a decent, quick lunch. The service was friendly and efficient. Would like to come back for the more expansive dinner menu and try the rotisserie chicken (Branch Line does very good chicken). read more

Shy Bird - FRIED CHICKEN & EGG: With hot honey, pepper jack, on Portuguese bun, at newly opened Shy Bird ($11) & Shy Lady gin-hibiscus cocktail ($13) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Located at the edge of Kendall Square, Shy Bird is a very popular eaterie that slings out a limited menu of mostly - you guessed it - chicken-centric dishes and cocktails. And boy do they do it well. I opted for the half-bird ($13.75) which comes with one of four sauces. Our waiter recommended I get the pecorino ranch and it was super tasty. My chicken was roasted beautifully and had a ton of flavor and was moist. They had this awesome spice blend that helped crisp up the skin and add great depth of flavor. My side of greens ($5.50) was basic and kind of boring with no tomatoes or sprinkle of anything else. It was just greens and a light dressing. My spouse went with the ranch fried chicken sandwich ($11.25) and got a side of rosemary & black pepper fries ($3.50). Our child opted for a six piece of their SB Dunks (aka giant, house-made nuggets) for $7.95 and which also came with a sauce of our choosing. We also split an order of the Eastern Provisions Pretzels ($7) which came with a honey mustard dipping sauce. Overall the food was good and there's a decent amount of healthy options too which is nice but the menu also feels like it's nickel and dimming you for sides. Why not raise the price of each item and have them include a side? Just seems odd. They also didn't appear to have any specials, and with such a limited menu, I felt like it was a missed opportunity on their party. All in all this place is pretty good and their patio is spacious. Service was kinda hit or miss, coming infrequently throughout the meal but other than that I'd definitely return. read more

Went to Shy Bird to grab breakfast on a weekday morning. No wait and easy to get to - parking is just always a challenge around there in general. Ordered the croissants (plain, chocolate and leek and cheese) - all 3 were awesome! Also ordered the egg and cheese and it was on point on their own English muffins and with their own hot sauce - delicious! Will be back much sooner rather than later. read more

Shy Bird - Croissants, chai and iced coffee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Had ShyBird for second time myself, first time for dinner (3rd for SO). They did an amazing job with breakfast catering our conference a couple years ago pre-covid (thanks Marissa for the ref!). My SO really liked the burger and the sesame rib flavoring, as well as the truffle fries, and he's not really a truffle person. Personally I thought the fries were amazingly unsoggy and fresh-tasting given that they were delivery, even tasted good once cold which is saying something! The ribs were tasty too, though we both thought the sauce a bit overly sweet and one of the four ribs was basically all bone with a little fat. Tonight I got the citrus plate with kimchi, quinoa, shrimp and rotisserie chicken. The proteins were amazing as was the dish generally. Sadly the delivery bowl was a gridded rotisserie plate though which made the food hard to scrape put of the bottom with small pieces, which we definitely wanted to do! (Please consider a different delivery container for this dish?) We also split the peach and strawberry salad, which was quite tasty in flavor combination, though the peaches were hard and underripe, which seems strange since they're in season in late August. Vinegarette was also tasty tho SO thought there was a weird base taste in it, maybe in the thickener. New City ice cream is also a great call, though OMG triple overhead on quality delivery. Overall, quite satisfying, just a little devil in a few subtler details. Good job ShyBird! read more

5.5/10 Shy Bird is situated right in the heart of Kendall. It has a great location and a cute interior. I have tried their brunch and their dinner. The "chicken nuggets" are a fan favorite and usually quite popular. The food is always okay, but never that flavorful and overpriced for what it is in my opinion. The last time I went for brunch we waited 45 minutes before someone took our order and the food was salmon on hash was underwhelming. read more

1/2 rotisserie chicken on point, very tasty. Great service from entire staff, waiter was very knowledgeable about area with our party of 19 from out of town celebrating her 50th birthday. The restaurant is very well done and the atmosphere is on point. read more

Great for small bites: my boyfriend and I ordered 3 plates to share and were not disappointed. Their mac & cheese was our favorite: flavorful without being "soupy". Service was mediocre: our server didn't really check up on us and when he did, he wasn't very engaged/friendly. We were able to sit on outside with no wait, which was a big plus. I would definitely come again for a snack or light meal! read more

This is one of my go-to spots! Shy Bird is a cool spot for everything from brunch to drinks at night. Before COVID we were out here all of the time but we pulled back. They are very safe here and have capacity limited and outdoor seating. The outdoors is nice because they have heaters and an overhang. My go-to menu items are the latte, the fried chicken and egg with bacon, and the Shy Burger. The fried chicken and egg with bacon is the perfect breakfast sandwich! Its a little sweet, filling, crunchy, and savory! The Shy Burger is the traditional burger done very well. The side of fries is worth it as an add on. They're salty and delicious. read more

Shy Bird - Oysters here are very tasty and large! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We loved our meal here - we ordered a rotiserrie chicken for 2 with the dip sampler, fries, and salad! The staff was so overly attentive and friendly. All the food came quickly - chicken was very juicy and well seasoned, plenty of dips and we loved having the variety. Salad was lettuce with Italian like dressing (no other toppings but still good). Fries were amazing and fresh! read more

Having used to work at the next block across from Shy Bird, I got to see how popular it is on a regular basis. Both times I've been here was for a Saturday lunch. Shy Bird is not a big place so the tables tend to be close together. It has a cozy vibe. At my last visit I got the ranch chicken sandwich, which had a little lick from the sauce and the chicken was nice and tender. Their craft beer and cocktail list is decent, along with a selection of mocktails. Shy Bird is a really great option for lunch, plus they will take reservations. read more

my husband and I live in the neighborhood and Shy Bird is one of our regular stops. he loves their espresso martinis, one of his favorites in the Boston area. Not many great fried chicken spots in the area, but Shy Bird's chicken is consistently awesome. we love bringing friends here when comfort food is the vibe. read more

Found this place while out for a walk - stopped in for a drink at the bar - great service - bartender Casandra was amazing, the coolest vibe, she was just electric & the drinks were perfect! Best part is - we got the best chicken bits - after kitchen closed - will def come back read more

Shy Bird - Rye Manhattan & Allora - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The service was good, but that was the only positive. Wanted to order the Steak Frites and was told it could only be ordered medium rare or well done. Say what?!?! Ended up ordering anyway, but everything was over salted terribly, and flavor was only mediocre. Not a fan and won't be back. Maybe your experience will differ. read more

When in Cambridge, I walked by this restaurant before and it immediately caught my attention because of its spacious patio. My friends and I did a same-day reservation for dinner and were promptly seated at a table half inside, half out in the patio. The lights and music definitely set a lively nightlife ambiance, and our server was very kind and attentive. We ordered the warm pretzel and smashed cucumbers as appetizers. The pretzel was somewhat small for $6.25 but the cucumber plate was very delicious. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan sandwich plate with a side of fries. The bread was soft and the chicken was well marinated. All 5 of our orders came within 10-15 minutes. A solid spot for any meal of the day and accessible with the red line! read more

Shy Bird - Smashed cucumbers and warm pretzel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Brussels sprouts are amazing and so is the pecorino ranch on the fried chicken sandwich. (why is all ranch not pecorino ranch?!?) the relish on the sandwich is also really good! and the reason I got the sandwich the second time I visited, however it was so much more spicy the second time, to the point I had to check the order to make sure nothing had changed. I don't mind the spicy, but I do like consistency. So now I don't know if the sandwich is supposed to be spicy or whoever made it that day got carried away. Good either way but that's why the four stars. Also the shy lady cocktail is exceptional! COVID: when we sat outdoors they gave us hand warmers and blankets. at the time their heat lamps weren't working. read more

Shy Bird - fried chicken sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great food! Went here for lunch and was not disappointed. The quality is fantastic and the flavor combinations elevated the simplicity of sandwiches. read more