Purbird Brings 'Slow Fast Food' to Sixth Avenue

In the food world these days, chicken has a hard time stealing attention.  It’s “burger this” and “pork belly” that. But any restaurant kitchen will tell you that the true test of a chef is whether or not they can turn out moist, juicy chicken. 

The owner of Purbird, opening on Sixth Avenue just past Flatbush at St. Marks, wants to make sure chicken gets the attention it deserves.

The corner eatery is the brainchild of Christina Comerford-Lekkas, owner of the Greek restaurant Elia in Bay Ridge, who said she's been wanting to open a chicken restaurant for the past decade.

“I love chicken, and I find it very hard to find really good chicken that isn’t either dry or tough or greasy. This is going to be amazing chicken,” she said. 

The restaurant, which Comerford-Lekkas owns with her husband, Peter Lekkas, will seat about 30 at tables and long wooden bars, and delivery and take-out will be available. Comerford-Lekkas hopes to be open by the end of July.

When your restaurant’s concept is based on chicken, the search for the perfect supplier is a critical step, and Comerford-Lekkas said she's been searching for just the right source.  

“I think I probably have eaten 2,000 chickens to taste them," she said.

The birds she chose come from a small, local farm, and they will be brined and ground in-house for Purbird’s homemade chicken burgers and sausages. The Royal Crown Pastry Shop in Bay Ridge is making specially-designed buns, and Chef Ivan Martinez (also of Elia) will be making 10 different homemade sauces, from spicy to mild.

There will also be grilled chicken breast sandwiches and wraps as well as individual chicken pot pies. Sides will include creamed spinach, macaroni and cheese, and salt and vinegar fries, as well as several salads. 

Chef Martinez makes everything to order, which means Purbird will be what Comerford-Lekkas calls “slow fast food.” 

“You’re not going to come in there and get the food right away,” she says.  “It’s going to take 10, 15, 20 minutes, but it’ll be worth it when you get it.”

Those who don't like poultry are out of luck—the shop offers nary a beef or even veggie burger. But Comerford-Lekkas said that while having a smaller menu may exclude some customers, it will allow the restaurant to focus on perfecting the items they serve.

Growing up in Bay Ridge, food was a big part of Comerford-Lekkas’s family. 

“I have eight brothers and sisters. My mom is Italian. I cooked with my grandparents.  It was a very focal point of my family, eating,” she said. 

She worked in restaurants throughout high school and college, and she even met her husband when he waited on her at an Italian restaurant.  Today they live together in Bay Ridge, but she’s happy to have a reason to spend more time in Park Slope and Prospect Heights. 

“I’m very, very excited about being in this area because I love it. It’s a great neighborhood. I hang out down here when I can. And now I’ll be here!” she said.

Comerford-Lekkas hopes that Purbird will be the kind of restaurant that appeals to both kids and parents in the neighborhood by offering healthy, delicious meals that taste like something you might make yourself “but even better.” 

The prices and atmosphere will be casual. And if people like it? 

“I’m hoping this is not my only one,” she said.

Purbird is located at 82 Sixth Avenue, between St. Marks Avenue and Prospect Place.