Surprise! Jonathan Waxman Is Opening a Fast-Casual Roast Chicken Restaurant

A little over a year after opening Waxman’s in Ghirardelli Square, chef/restaurateur Jonathan Waxman is set to unveil his own fast-casual roast chicken restaurant, J Bird, right next door. The whole thing is inspired by the chef’s signature roast chicken, which is served at all of his restaurants.

J Bird joins San Francisco’s booming roast chicken scene, which recently added RT Rotisserie and MF Chicken to a bevy of standbys like Zuni, Souvla, and, well, Waxman’s.

The roast chicken will be available as a half or whole with a salsa verde of salsa verde of capers, anchovies, garlic, parsley, arugula, basil, tarragon and sage. The whole chicken will cost $19.50; a half will go for a relatively reasonably $10.50. Fried thigh will be available at $3 per thigh, and a picnic basket of chicken with two hot/two cold sides will cost $35.

The petite space was designed by Jon de la Cruz, a Ken Fulk alum who is also behind the lush interior of Leo’s Oyster Bar. There’s also a — wait for it — “rosé garden” on the patio, that will be adorned with ivy, hanging plants and flowers, and chandeliers.

The new chicken on the block will debut Tuesday, August 8. In the meantime, Waxman’s has closed for renovations, as of August 1. No word on what those renovations might be, but the restaurant is slated to reopen in September.

• Inside Waxman's Restaurant and Café, Ghirardelli Square’s New Hope for the Future [ESF]
• Waxman’s [Official]