What we thought of Social Bird’s new Christmas menu available until January

It is some feat then to manage to replicate the homeliness of a Christmas dinner but deliver it with a twist which makes each mouthful as enjoyable as the last.

That is what Social Bird have managed to achieve with their Christmas menu, which launched on Thursday at the Newcastle city centre venue.

Located a short walk from Newcastle Central Station and nestled down a street just past The Mile Castle Wetherspoons, Social Bird is situated on the ground floor of Hotel Indigo. It is, however, welcoming to customers regardless of their hotel guest status.

Running until the end of December, Social Bird’s Christmas menu is priced at £25 for two courses and £35 for three courses.

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Given the prominence of the term ‘Bird’ in the restaurant’s name, you would probably have guessed that the menu is focused on chicken. And it delivers on its chicken-y promise, providing a fried chicken twist on traditional Christmas offerings.

We arrived at our booking at 7pm after taking the short walk from the station. We had already had a couple of drinks courtesy of Durham station’s platform bar – thanks to the seemingly endless rail delays – so were feeling in the Christmas spirit when we arrived.

The place was easy to find and we were soon sat at a fashionable-looking table having the Christmas-themed cocktails described to us and pulling crackers to don our festive paper hats.

(Image: The Northern Echo) We decided on a Baileys Espresso Martini and a Mistletoe Margarita which sustained us for the three courses.

To start we had chicken tenders with cranberry sauce and a bowl of the chicken bone broth.

The tenders were decent and had a nice crisp batter, pulled together by the cranberry dip. But the broth really put the star in star-ter. It was the perfect marriage of sophistication and comfort and made me feel a bit like the food critic in Disney’s Ratatouille, transporting me back to the broth of my childhood at my grandparents’ house.

(Image: The Northern Echo) When the main courses arrived we were shocked at the size of the portions in the best way. There is a lot of food and potentially could be a bit of a mountain for some people to climb if ordering three courses.

I went for the ‘Mother Clucker’ – a slow-roast quarter chicken served with all the Christmas trimmings and a Yorkshire pudding. For me, there is no side more underrated than braised red cabbage. Here it paired with the creamy mash and roasted sprouts so nicely. The roast potatoes were maybe a little under-seasoned for my liking, but that was forgotten about when I tried the crispy chicken skin shard which was full of flavour and added much needed saltiness to the plate.

(Image: The Northern Echo) My partner Charlotte opted for the ‘Dirty Christmas Bird’, a stacked chicken burger topped with stuffing and pigs in blankets alongside a dipping gravy. The burger’s batter was much better seasoned than the tenders and rounded off nicely by the brioche bun. It’s definitely a good twist on the classic Christmas flavours we all know and love.

(Image: The Northern Echo) By the time dessert came, we were so contently full. But there is always room for pudding.

Specifically, there was always going to be room for sticky toffee pudding, a favourite in our house, and time to try a new dessert for me, affogato.

An affogato to me screams sophistication. Don’t ask me why. But this specific one was served with a shot of amaretto which paired really well with the Tynemouth Coffee Company espresso. A perfect round-up to a sophisticated yet homely festive feast.

(Image: The Northern Echo) All while we feasted, we were serenaded by a wonderful live singer who added to the atmosphere.

For the cost of the three courses, you will be hard-pressed to find a better value meal of such quality. That, added to the central nature of the restaurant within the city, provides an experience that is elevated from the usual Christmas menu.

We rounded our night off with a quick drink at the Central Station tipi while we waited for our train. This was a lovely end to a festively comforting night out, but the star of the night was the meal and would certainly wow a significant other if you’re looking for a festive date night.

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