Sichuan Flavours and Good Company in Williamsburg

Birds of a Feather, known in Chinese as 鴛鴦, brings Sichuan cooking to a welcoming corner of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Created by Yiming and Xian, the couple behind Café China, the restaurant carries their interest in traditional Chinese flavours into a setting with a more contemporary feel. Yiming designed the interior herself, giving the dining room a personal touch and an easy warmth.

The menu has plenty for lovers of Sichuan spice, but its appeal extends to contrasts of texture, sweetness and acidity. Familiar dishes sit alongside less expected choices, making this a good place to order generously and share. A few friends around the table means more opportunities to explore.

The Fried Eggplant Accordions are a particularly playful example. Cut to open into delicate folds, the eggplant is fried until crisp outside and soft within, then paired with a sweet-and-sour sauce. The Spicy Soft Shell Crab, served with fried shallots, offers another inviting combination of crunch, seafood and spice. Both give the table something to talk about as well as something to share.

Much of the restaurant’s charm lies in how comfortably it brings everything together: a thoughtfully designed room, a varied menu and the pleasure of passing dishes between friends. Birds of a Feather makes Sichuan dining feel at home in its Brooklyn neighbourhood, with enough personality to draw diners from beyond it.