Grub Report: Yardbird

Conventional wisdom would suggest, given that Miami is considered part of the South, that hefty plates of Southern comfort wouldn’t be hard to find. Well you would be wrong. This fact wasn’t lost on restauranteur John Kunkel who opened Yardbird Southern Table and Bar in 2011, and hence filled a gaping void in the market.

Yardbird is a 170-seat rustic yet aesthetically refined space. Imagine a farmhouse touched by Ralph Lauren; distressed wood flooring, reclaimed barn wood wall accents, mason jar ceiling lamps, and tufted cream leather bench seating. Propped up by the Holy Trinity of Southern cuisine; Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken (brined for 27 hours, dredged in cayenne-spiced flour), Buttermilk Biscuits (baked fresh daily), and Mac & Cheese, Yardbird’s menu is rounded out by a bevy of other Southern mainstays. Skiller Cornbread, Mao’s Chicken Biscuit, Shrimp & Grits, and Watermelon & Farmer’s Cheese to just name a few. Yardbird also boasts a robust bar menu, which features over 75 craft bourbons. Crowd favorites include the Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade, and their signature Bloody Marry made with bacon washed bourbon. 

Yardbird remains a favorite haunt for locals and tourists alike so reservations are highly recommended, especially weekend nights and of course for their ever-popular Sunday Brunch.