Restaurant Review: YardBird

The pretty lights inside adding to the lovely atmosphere

On Friday night, at around 8pm, we headed over to Yardbird for a late dinner.  We didn’t make reservations, but fortunately we didn’t have to wait long. I think you should definitely make reservations if you want to eat there during peak hours and also peak season.  The food is so good that you don’t want to miss it.

I loved the  low lighting and chill atmosphere.  It was probably my favorite meal that trip.  It felt romantic and relaxed and was just what we needed after a long and hectic day.  

The hostesses were friendly and our waiter was incredible, friendly and just overall helpful.  Even the bartender was incredibly chill and friendly as we waited for our table. He offered us suggestions and friendly chatter until the hostess came to grab us.  

Before getting to the restaurant we knew that we wanted to try their signature Chicken ‘n’ Waffles ‘n’ Watermelon.  Chicken and Waffles has always been one of my favorite dishes and we both love watermelon so we knew it was something we had to try. It’s fried chicken served with a Vermont sharp cheddar cheese waffle and chilled spiced watermelon.  It also comes with hot honey sauce and bourbon maple syrup. It was a necessity.

When we got to the restaurant and looked at the menu we had a problem though.  Everything sounded amazing and we didn’t know where to start. That’s where our bartender and waiter were so great. They talked us through the menu and led us to the perfect meal.  

In addition to the Chicken ‘n’ Waffles, we tried the Fried Green Tomato BLT and the Macaroni & Cheese.  

We started with the Fried Green Tomato BLT and it was different than I’d expected.  I thought they would be little sandwiches since normally a BLT is served on bread but these were adorable and different.  The base was the fried green tomato. And sitting on top of each was house-smoked pork belly, pimento cheese (also made in house), frisee (a curly leafed type of lettuce), and smoky tomato jam lemon vinaigrette. It was delicious.  Neither Baros nor I had ever tried fried green tomatoes before, probably because it’s a southern classic not found as often in NJ and NY. This was a great introduction. I can’t believe I hadn’t tried it sooner! Fried Green tomatoes are delicious, especially when paired with pork belly.  The pork belly practically melts in your mouth. It’s smooth and delicious and rich. The frisee added a little freshness while the jam lemon vinaigrette added a little acidity to balance the rich flavors. There were three on the plate so Baros and I had 1 ½ each although I easily could have eaten 5 of them at least!  

The Macaroni & Cheese and Chicken 'n' Waffles 'n' Watermelon 

The Macaroni and Cheese and Chicken ‘n’ Waffles arrived at the same time but first let's talk Mac and cheese. It’s made with trottole pasta, five artisanal cheeses and a crispy herb crust.  Oh man, it was probably the best macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had. It was rich and creamy and the flavor of the cheese was incredible. It comes in what looks like a small bowl, but it’s pretty endless. I’m really glad I was sharing it with Baros.  It was delicious but it would have been difficult to finish alone because of how rich it was .

A Close-up

Then of course we got the Chicken ‘n’ Waffles ‘n’ Watermelon.  It was the best chicken I’ve had in a while possibly because it was all natural (no hormones or dyes), brined for 27 hours, dredged in flour and spices and then fried to perfection.  It’s juicy and delicious and practically melts in your mouth. And the spices were spot on. The waffle was light and fluffy with great flavor thanks to the cheddar. Together with the chicken it was a perfect bite, especially with the honey hot sauce (which reminded me a bit of Mike’s Hot honey).  The bourbon maple syrup was also delicious but I’m not as much of a fan of syrup in general and neither is Baros so we had a lot less of it. After having a savory bite of chicken and waffle, a bite of the watermelon was wonderful. It’s served chilled and with a little kick. I’m not sure if they soak the watermelon in spices or infuse it, but it was delicious with a hint of heat and I think a kick of mint (that’s not listed anywhere so I can’t be sure). All three elements of the dish worked incredibly well together and I’m so glad we got it.  It was a great portion to share and we left not a bite on the plate. I think one person might struggle to finish unless they're very very hungry.

Such a filling portion

I think Baros and I were simultaneously sad and happy not to order dessert.  Happy, because we were just the right amount of full from our meal. Any more food and we would have been uncomfortable bumps on a log and I don’t think we would have made it to the pool afterwards.  However, we were sad because the desserts sounded delicious. They had a doughnut box special for National Doughnut Day that really looked amazing and, if I remember correctly, they had a peach cobbler for dessert that night too (it’s not currently on their menu though).  Based on all of the other food we tried, I think the desserts would have been fabulous. So if we ever get back to Miami, or to one of the other three locations (Los Angeles, Los Vegas and Singapore), we will have to make room for dessert.

If you are by any of the locations, you should 100% try some of their southern comfort food.