‘Elevated All Day Delights’
by Sue Giustino
Long time Montauk establishment, the Bird on the Roof has been impressing visitors and locals since the early 70’s. In 2022, it was bought and renovated by Montauk local Leo Daunt, and has since become a popular eatery and gathering place. Offering varied menus sure to please all, the meals are fresh, clean and perfectly satisfying. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered daily in a casual, come as you are atmosphere.
They have a lovely array of coffee and specialty lattes to start your day, as well as breakfast items ranging from eggs many ways, breakfast sandwiches and pancakes, to brunchy/lunch choices including an intriguing grain bowl, smash burger, summer salad and crab cake.
We visited The Bird on a beautiful Friday morning to enjoy a late breakfast. Just inside the entrance, there’s an intimate bar with several tables and stylish tiled high-tops. This room is perfect for a meal, a drink at the bar and for enjoying the live entertainment they have many nights. A bit further in, is the simply decorated dining area- calming and aesthetically pleasing allowing each lovely dish that emerges from the kitchen to take center stage. Al fresco dining is available on the backyard patio or in front where you can watch the happenings on the street.
Sitting in the main dining area, we enjoy the casual atmosphere and chatter of visitors enjoying an early meal together. 
After sipping some tea and coffee, we decided it was time to’ brunch it up’ with a few tasty Bloody Mary’s and a Spicy Bird – created with hibiscus tequila, jalapeno, and lime.
The Soft Scramble Toast consists of a piece of a thick white toast topped with perfectly fluffy soft scrambled eggs and a creamy young burrata with a drizzle of basil oil- all plated with a fanning of fresh avocado slices. 
Also quite tasty, is the Eggs Any Style offering your choice of made to order fried or scrambled eggs accompanied by gently spiced home fries and a choice of rye or white toast, and avocado, bacon or sausage.
Straying from the more traditional egg breakfast, the third dish Shakshuka is quite unique and bursting with flavor. Shakshuka is a Maghrebi dish that is popular throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Chef Marcos expertly prepares it with stewed peppers and tomatoes, along with flavor accents from garlic, cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper. Presented in a cast iron pan, the delicately poached egg is perched atop goat cheese and the aromatic sauce. Toasted sourdough sides the pan which is perfect scooping up the sauce. (See above)
The Not Your Poppy’s Pancakes are absolutely not – but don’t tell my dad. These buttermilk pancakes which can be prepared with blueberries or bananas are deliciously light and fluffy. We enjoyed them with a side of plump, lean sausage and fresh blueberries adding another level of yumminess to the pancakes.
Limiting your Bird experience to just breakfast would be a mistake, be sure to stop by for lunch and/or dinner. If you do, I recommend two of my favorites. The Crab Cake – full of sweet, fresh crab was served atop an amazing rémoulade with a side of microgreens- and the Cantina Mussels – with a light accent of flavor from the chorizo sausage blended with the zesty cilantro, butter and garlic which creates a well-balanced mouthwatering broth for the mussels, as well as for dipping the accompanying grilled crusty bread. Although the menu changes a bit seasonally, both of these outstanding dishes tend to appear year after year.
Conveniently located at 47 S Elmwood Ave, it’s just a block from Main Street and two from the Beach. In addition to the restaurant, the Daunt’s Albatross Motel is just across the street. Check their website for additional information including the live music performances and engaging trivia night schedule.
https://www.birdontheroof.com/
