Shy Bird Opens Third All-Day Rotisserie-Concept Restaurant in Boston’s Fenway Neighborhood
Shy Bird, an all-day rotisserie, bar, and cafe, has opened its third location in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.
Founded by restaurateur Andrew Holden, Shy Bird launched in Kendall Square in 2019. Holden said the all-day dining concept was unique because very few restaurants in the city offered quality food and drink that people could enjoy during different parts of the day for various occasions.
In an interview with Restaurant Hospitality, Holden said, “For us, a modern neighborhood restaurant is a restaurant that’s always approachable, affordable, accessible, and open nonstop from 8 a.m. through close of day. At the time, it was a little aspirational … but we thought if we bundled all of that up into an urban setting, it could be an additive to the community.”
Shy Bird initially faced challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 shuttered all in-person dining. This led Holden to pivot toward takeout and delivery services for the restaurant’s signature rotisserie chicken.
Upon opening his second location in South Boston in 2022, Holden knew the business would not only need to respond to various segments of the day but also have to be flexible to accommodate each neighborhood’s vibe. Holden referenced Kendall Square as a Monday through Friday traffic driver during business and school hours, whereas South Boston sees more traffic at all hours of the day. Its Fenway spot is a middle ground between the Kendall Square and South Boston environments.
In addition to adapting to the needs of each community, Holden also told Restaurant Hospitality that he had to adjust the service model and menu to create distinct dining experiences for different segments of the day.
“With an all-day concept, your guests are coming to you for different reasons at different times of the day,” he said, “and the service model, menu, and physical space needs to change so someone will feel good about bringing a date at night.”