Shy Bird

We’re not exactly sure what Shy Bird in Kendall Square is. We guess it’s a counter-service place, but counter-service places don’t usually have full bars where people split bottles of Chardonnay and a roast chicken in the middle of the day. Whatever it is, though, it’s really good. That rotisserie chicken is their specialty, and it’s pretty close to perfect - moist meat with crispy skin and your choice of dipping sauce (we liked the salsa verde). If you’re not into chicken, you can go for one of their salads or larger plates, like the excellent clam toast with chorizo. It’s a good all-around spot that serves three meals a day and serves them quickly. So if you work nearby and need to get back to the lab to finish curing cancer, you can do that (though maybe not after the wine).