The Holy Birds, London’s only restaurant to specialise in poultry, landed on historic Petticoat Lane Market last month with a memorable launch party, serving up the best birds, finest cocktails, and great music until the early morning hours.

The restaurant was launched by entrepreneurs The Calabrese Brothers, Gerry and Jon, (Wringer & Mangle, The Hoxton Pony, Hoxton Gin) and lending a hand is their father, legendary bartender Salvatore Calabrese, who has collaborated with his sons for the first time, to create an extensive cocktail menu.

The Holy Birds is spread out over two floors and its décor is inspired by the 1960’s London music & art scene with furniture and fittings from the 60’s Danish Modernist movement, hand-picked by The Calbrese Brothers themselves and shipped in from all over Europe. Upstairs, under a huge Murano glass chandelier, snacks, brunches, lunches and dinner are served from an open plan kitchen.

This restaurant serves everything from chicken, duck and grouse to wood pigeon, quail and pheasant and all poultry is locally sourced and free-range. Dishes include Quail’s egg cup Florentine, Baked hen egg, spinach, blue cheese and cream, Confit duck sausage. Or how about Two-way (roasted & confit) guinea fowl salad, poached egg, potato and watercress or Rotisserie chicken salad with avocado, corn chips, cos lettuce and jalapeño pepper? Dinner offers mouth-watering options of starters such as Duck breast carpaccio, Pigeon and almond pastille. For mains Roast snipe with mushroom, bacon and grape is on the menu plus the Roast grouse, bread sauce and redcurrant and Pot-roast pheasant and wild mushroom. Also on offer is The Holy Birds Grill & Rotisserie featuring half & whole chicken with a choice of brine from citrus & peppercorn, garlic & herb or smoky paprika, Chargrilled quail with burnt onion and The Holy Bird chicken burger with hand-cut chips. Delicious. Vegetarian dishes are available as well.

And Babycham is back. Oh, Yes! The Holy Birds offers a Saturday Babycham bottomless brunch, where diners are able to drink all the Babycham they desire for just £15. Coffee is also available from the original 60’s vintage art-deco coffee maker.

Downstairs cocktail lounge The Mule Bar offers late-night refreshment and a state-of-the-art sound system with renowned DJs and one-off live performances. Here, you also find two private rooms which are available for hire – the Negroni Room featuring a lavish solid oak dining table overlooked by a dazzling art-deco lampshade seating up to 12 people and the larger Manhattan Room, a beautiful space designed to transport people back to the swinging 60’s and a perfect space for receptions and drinks parties for up to 45 people.

Salvatore Calabrese, ‘The Maestro’, who started working in the bar industry in the 60s, has designed an extensive menu of authentic cocktails, and he has returned to his roots in creating this extensive menu of 60 cocktails, including the time-honoured Bloody Mary, the Moscow Mule, a punchy cocktail that dates back to the 1930’s and was originally served in a copper mug stamped with a kicking mule to warn of its bite, The Downtown Manhattan which is served in a glass first smoked with lavender and The Negroni Svegliato which is a combination of Salvatore’s two favourites, the classic Negroni and for that extra kick – an Italian Caffe Moka

Speaking about the new launch Gerry Calabrese says, “Our ambition was to create a restaurant and cocktail destination that celebrates the incredible cultural decade of the 60s, whilst bringing it to the forefront of 21st century dining with our own modern day twist. We hope those ambitions have now been realised. From the carefully curated menus in collaboration with our very talented head chef Ben Berenger to the 60 strong cocktail list that we have crafted with our father to the 60s inspired soundtrack and the beautiful hand-picked furnishings that feature throughout, we are proud to be able to open The Holy Birds doors.”

Jon Calabrese adds, “With our strong family ties in the East End and the 60s the time when our father first launched his career, The Holy Birds is a dream that has now been realised. My brother and I have brought together our expertise in mixology, hospitality and events to create something truly unique and we look forward to welcoming everyone.”

Address:

The Holy Birds
94 Middlesex Street
E1 7EZ London, UK
www.theholybirds.com

Opening Times:

Restaurant
Mon-Sat 11am – 12:30am
Lunch 12pm – 3pm
Snacks 3pm – 6pm
Dinner 6pm – 10:45pm

The Mule Bar
Thurs – Sat 6pm – 1:30am

Bookings:

Email: info@theholybirds.com
Phone: 020 3610 0185
Online: OpenTable