Yardbird's Southern Menu and Hospitality Delights This Diner

I am a big fan of Southern cuisine, so I was thrilled to receive an invitation to check out the “foot-stompin’, soul-healin’ brunch” at the newly re-opened Yardbird Southern Table and Bar, located in the courtyard of PwC Tower at Park District, in the heart of Uptown. Prior to their opening earlier this year, the Dallas Observer informed readers that, “the theme is classic Southern dishes with a flair, fried chicken, strong cocktails and a keen eye toward hospitality. Menus vary a bit according to location, but they bill ‘farm-fresh ingredients’. Menu staples include shrimp and grits, lobster macaroni and cheese, a fried green tomato BLT, deviled eggs and lots and lots of biscuits. Maybe unlike your Southern grandma's house, these dishes can all be washed down with their robust bourbon selection.” They had me at biscuits.

SPOILER ALERT: My experience was so good I was inspired to create my first ever Instagram Reel.

Yardbird held a splashy grand opening in March. It was a very see-and-be-seen affair, complete with Real Housewives appearances. And then the world shut down. They have recently reopened, just in time to take advantage of patio season. I knew they had a location in Las Vegas, but learned that the original restaurant opened in Miami in 2011 with chef Jeff McInnis at the helm, who was a Top Chef finalist. He partnered with restaurateur John Kunkel, and created a menu focused on the meals McInnis was raised on at his Florida Panhandle home. Bon Appétit named Yardbird the “Best New Restaurant” of 2011, and it has been nominated for a James Beard Award.

Brunch is served at Yardbird Southern Table and Bar

Similar to One Arts Plaza, you pull into a courtyard facing Woodall Rogers to valet park. The first thing that caught my eye were two chairs located outside the massive front doors, suspended from the ceiling. They provide an Instagrammable moment before you ever enter the restaurant. We let our waiter guide our menu selections and went with all of his suggestions, staring with the Deviled Eggs ($11) made with dill, chives, and sprinkled with smoked trout roe and the Fried Green Tomato BLT ($14) topped with house-smoked pork belly, pimento cheese, smoky tomato jam, and frisée tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. The deviled eggs were good, but nothing to write home about. The Fried Green Tomato BLT on the other hand, had me clutching my pearls. The tomato was firm and had just the right amount of breading. The toppings added to it, but didn’t overpower the tartness of the tomato. You get 3 on a plate and it could easily be a meal. I will be reordering this on a future visit. For the entree course, we went with their signature dish, Chicken ‘n Watermelon ‘n Waffles ($36). The chicken is brined for 72-hours in a mixture of water, salt, sugar, paprika, cayenne and black peppers, and garlic and onion. Seasoned with garlic, onion, paprika and cayenne, then fried, it’s Southern perfection. The Food Channel published the recipe, but frankly, its just easier to eat it here! The dish offers you a 1/4 chicken served with a cheddar cheese waffle (available gluten-free), and watermelon spiced with lemon, cayenne pepper and mint. This dish easily feeds two people (or provides an additional meal for later!) and was absolutely fantastic. My husband had seen their Lobster Mac’n Cheese (MP) on Instagram and had to try it. I was unprepared for the impact it had upon presentation. WOW, Bethenny. Wow. It’s a WHOLE lobster blended into the pasta made with five artisanal cheeses, served in a small cast iron skillet with the top half of the lobster on top for show. I only had a bite because I was so into the chicken, but it was very cheesy, which is super important. We ended our dining experience with a slice of Bourbon Bacon Chocolate Cake ($13) topped with Nutella Frosting, a bourbon salted caramel drizzle and topped with candied bacon. And if that wasn’t enough, you get a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. I’m not a big fan of chocolate, but I AM a fan of bacon. And I was not sorry to end this amazing meal on this note. Check out the full brunch menu HERE.

Yardbird Founder John Kunkel recently told CultureMap, "We were thrown a COVID-19 curveball back in March when we were originally planning on opening and were forced to delay due to the pandemic, but I couldn’t be happier to finally have the opportunity to introduce Yardbird safely to the Dallas community. Combining our chef-driven atmosphere with beautiful interior design by our partners at Rockwell Group, our team can’t wait to finally flip the lights on, crack open the doors, and deliver our signature blend of modern and traditional Southern charm to locals and visitors alike.” Welcome back, John. I sure am glad to see you.

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar serves a fresh take on Southern fare, for lunch, happy hour, supper, and brunch. Takeout and delivery are available and include a new boxed lunch program and family-style ordering options. 2121 N Pearl St Suite #170, Dallas, TX 75201, (469) 208-2441.

NOTE: My visit was hosted by Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. While I did receive a complimentary experience for authoring this post; product selections, descriptions, and opinions are 100% my own. Interested in a sponsored post or product review? Contact me for details.