'Biophilic' Restaurant Bird&Wolf Opens In North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Bird&Wolf, a "biophilic" restaurant, bar and cafe, had its grand opening Wednesday in North Andover.

The new restaurant is located at 1268 Osgood Street.

Operating partner Xochitl Bielma-Bolton said that the restaurant was organized around "balance" and "biophilic" design, incorporating natural elements. It features a "living wall," indoor hydroponic garden towers and mushroom farming, as well as non-living natural pieces like wood bartops, and large windows letting in natural light.

The menu is also built around "balance," Bielma-Bolton said.

"Americans seem to think protein comes from animals," she said. "That's not true. Protein also comes from a beautiful vegetable."

The chefs at Bid&Wolf look to treat animal protein and vegetable protein "with equal respect," so that the menu has options to vegetarians, vegans and gluten-intolerant people.

"It's no longer where, if you had a restriction, you're the odd one out," Bielma-Bolton said. "We want to make sure everyone is taken care of."

Bielma-Bolton named a mushroom dish, a vegetable dip, a short rib and a carbonara as four dishes that showcase the restaurant's philosophy. The full dinner menu for the current season is available here.

Bielma-Bolton said that they are not concerned about the impact of the pandemic. With Bird&Wolf's high ceilings and large windows, "you don't feel so cramped," she said.

"We truly believe that hospitality the way that it was a year and a half ago won't bounce back," Bielma-Bolton said. "The way we're opening Bird & Wolf will be the face of new hospitality."

North Andover has been very welcoming and supportive, she said.

Bird&Wolf had a successful grand opening Wendesday night, Bielma-Bolton said. So far, they have been reservation only.

"It's been so nice to see people have been waiting for us to open," she said. "We really hope that people enjoy what we're doing. We want to feed everyone and really be in everyone's budget."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.