Bird Dog

When you walk into Bird Dog, it’s like arriving at an intimate dinner party in a tiny West Village apartment with 15 other people you will likely never see again. So come prepared to learn a little something about your neighbors during your meal (and vice versa). The prix fixe-only menu ($55, $65, or $110) has a mix of Italian and Southern dishes, including an exceptional bagna cauda served cold with charred and raw vegetables as well as a slightly bland plate of bucatini that comes topped with sage and crispy chicken skin. On the Southern end of the spectrum, you’ll find catfish with black-eyed pea gumbo, Nashville fried chicken, and tender honey-glazed baby back ribs that are aggressively sweet and pack some subtle heat, due to Calabrian chilis. Southern hospitality is also on full display in the bathroom, where you’ll see a neon pink sign that reads “Please don’t do coke in the bathroom.” At least they’re asking nicely.