Stephen Loftis, chief branding officer for Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, opening this month at 5201 Buckeystown Pike, says one of his favorite items on the menu are the Bar Bites. “My wife and I will order these sharable plates of meatballs, sliders or seafood,” he says, along with a salad and a cocktail or wine. When they’re with their children, the kids order salmon. “They’ll only eat the salmon at Firebirds,” he says.

Open for lunch and dinner, with brunch on the weekends, Firebirds is “casual dining, but a notch above,” Loftis says. The chain restaurant features steaks and seafood, as well as burgers, salads and soups. It also likes to take advantage of local produce and, in the bar, local craft beers. Cocktails and mocktails are fashioned from house-made mixes and fresh juices.

“We are excited to become a part of the community,” Loftis says, by enjoining in good causes such as contributing a portion of lemonade sales to cancer charity Alex’s Lemonade Stand and honoring the military and first responders with free meals on special days such as 9/11 and Veterans Day. www.firebirdsrestaurant.com