By Juliet Winegardner, Greenwich Academy Class of 2024
Greenwich’s newest casual chicken restaurant, Freebird, is officially open for business in the spot formerly home to Kennedy’s All-American Barber on East Putnam Ave.
While the menu is centered around their famous crispy fried chicken, Freebird welcomes customers into their lively atmosphere to enjoy a variety of sandwiches, salads, and baked goods.
“This has been a concept of mine and my husband’s for a while,” said co-owner Heather Fratangelo on Tuesday at an event for local media. “We wanted to create something light and fun in both food and atmosphere, enjoying just being relaxed. So we thought okay, let’s just do a fried chicken sandwich. It’s fun, easy, and not pretentious. You can grab and go or have a seat here!”
The carefree energy carries through in the design of the store, with calming shades of blue and abundant light throughout.
“We wanted a coastal kind of feeling. Like you’re on vacation almost,” Fratangelo added. From the walls to the music, everything in Freebird maintains this chill vibe.
While their main dish is a variety of fried chicken sandwiches, Freebird offers options for every craving or time of the day.
“Coffee culture in Greenwich is very big so we wanted to incorporate that, as well as being open early. We have sweets for the morning and some overnight oats,” Fratangelo continued. “We also have breakfast sandwiches available all day.” And for those who do not eat meat, every salad and wrap is available without chicken as well.
Fratangelo even shared some of her favorite items on the menu. On the sweet side, she enjoys the chocolate chip cookie, banana Nutella muffin, or gluten-free cornbread muffin. Her favorite sandwiches are the Buffalo Bird or the Gluten Free Crispy Butternut Squash Cutlet. And when she’s in the mood for a salad she goes for The Crudite, which is a wrap with roasted vegetables, curry cauliflower, Brussels, crispy chickpea, honey roasted squash, cucumber, tomato, pickled onions and yogurt riata.
Freebird has something for everyone and will be a great addition to the Greenwich community. Fried chicken lovers will rejoice, because as Fratangelo puts it, “We are all about the chicken here. Bird is the word.”
Freebird is located at 116 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830
Tel. (203) 599-9100
Diners can order online at freebirdfood.com and visit the friendly team in-person to order or, for a quick meal, peruse the grab-and-go section to pick up a ready-made meal.
See also:
Chef Duo Open to Open Freebird in Greenwich, a Fast-Casual Chicken Restaurant