Birds Rotisserie Chicken Cafe   

There is an isolated strip of artsy book stores, cafes and restaurant/bars on Franklin between Hollywood and Los Feliz--among them is Birds, a meeting place of the young and hip. Warm and inviting, Birds is candle lit and painted rust red with comfortable seating and a menu featuring chicken in all its incarnations. A mirrored partition separates the bar from the restaurant seating in this small industry-type hangout, but at night it's filled with mostly neighborhood drinkers. A huge photo of Alfred Hitchcock holding two crows hangs from the exposed brick wall in the dining area, while the bar is modestly decorated and homey. A DJ spins mostly quiet grooves that are the perfect compliment for conversation. While you're there, read up on Birds' short history detailed in the framed articles that hang in the hallway. -- Ian Kenney