Bird Bird Biscuit in Austin ranked #5 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2022.
Check out Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2023 and catch up on stories of past winners.
The Queen Beak: spiced and breaded chicken breast, cayenne black pepper honey, and bacon-infused chipotle mayo on a handmade buttermilk biscuit. Not only is Bird Bird Biscuit’s delicately prepared fried chicken sandwich incentive enough to get any Austin resident off the couch, but its team’s passion and drive serve as inspiration for customers and business owners alike.
Bird Bird Biscuit recently secured the number five spot on Yelp’s list of the Top 100 Places to Eat for 2022. We heard from founder—and self-proclaimed capitán/biscuit whisperer—Brian Batch on his reflections, motivations, and community presence.
What are some of your proudest moments in business from 2021?
The proudest moments I experience at Bird Bird tend to revolve around the same general theme, and that is learning how to treat one another with sincerity. The hardest part of my job is the relational aspect of helping our team have a healthy interpersonal dynamic. What makes me smile inside is when I am able to witness two people grow in their understanding of one another by implementing the willingness to walk through a tough situation or conversation with a desire to learn and understand one another.
What excites you most about your business in 2022?
We are always striving to make things just a little bit better. What brings me joy when I think about the future of Bird Bird is our ability to do two things:
- Dial in the experience of Bird Bird so consistently that each and every experience we provide has the potential to be mind blowing.
- Grow with our team. We have such wonderful people that work alongside us, and I love the idea of growing our business so that we can grow opportunities for those around us.
We hope to use 2022 to focus on consistency. Our goal is to continue to build on the relationship we have with the community by showing up each day and being our best.
What inspired you to start your business?
I would say relationships. My relationship with my good friend Ryan and also our relationships with those around us who work alongside us. We wanted to build a business that, as we grew, would be able to uplift and support those around us as well.
What makes your business unique?
From a very practical standpoint, I would say the product. We make one heck of a biscuit sandwich. There are not many places around us that are doing what we do. So from that standpoint, we are unique simply because we are rare.
On a deeper level, I feel what makes Bird Bird unique is the ethos of its mission. Fundamentally, Bird Bird is built on this question: “How can we use our time on earth wisely to become the best we can be?” This question provides deep purpose and meaning behind things that could seem trivial or small. It makes every day a learning experience in the most meaningful of ways. This gives rise to an atmosphere of motivation and enthusiasm, and out of that, anything is possible.
Photos from Yelp users
What presence does Bird Bird have in the community?
At Bird Bird, we put a lot of intention into how we treat people, how people feel while working at Bird Bird, and how guests feel when they come to Bird Bird and leave. We know that in any given moment there is an opportunity to have a positive impact in someone’s life. I would say that this is the work of Bird Bird in the community. We strive to be the place where all know they are welcome and all feel loved. That is the heart of us, and to me, that is our greatest and lasting contribution.
How have you overcome the challenges that came with the past two years?
In three words, togetherness, innovation, and flexibility.
What keeps you motivated?
For me, it is having a worthwhile goal and then keeping that goal always at the forefront of my mind. A goal shapes the mindset, and with a healthy mindset, motivation is in each breath.
How do you motivate your staff?
We do our best to truly love our people. We care for them like family and show them that we are in it with them. We hope our actions speak as loud or louder than our words. We also frequently share the positive impact they have—whether that be a great Yelp review or doing an excellent job. We love to let our team feel our appreciation for what they do.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Do what you are shown in order to know what you do. But once you know what you do, then do what you know while always staying open to learning something new. And enjoy the ride. 🙂
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