McInnis, formerly chef at DiLido and Gigi, rose to celebrichef status as a contestant on Top Chef in 2008. His new adventure with John Kunkel (of 50 Eggs and Lime) is said to be a "down-to-earth joint that preaches the gospel of good food and good company." And, that it is. My grandparents would absolutely love McInnis' fried chicken; which takes 27 hours to make and is a 150 year-old recipe.
The menu has a made-from-scratch ethic that uses humanely treated meats and seasonal ingredients that helps support southern farmers such as Paradise Farms, The Green Railroad Organic Workshop, Worden Farm, Lake Meadow Naturals and White Oak Pastures — all suppliers of the restaurant. Everything is made in-house, even the alligator sausage.
Yardbird boasts a vast selection of over 50 different bourbons, including some hard to find brands like Pappy Van Winkle and Black Maple Hill. They also have a nice selection of bourbon cocktails. The beer selection includes many Southern breweries, including Tampa's award winning Cigar City Brewery.
Lucky Miamians were treated to a preview party on October 1st, which proved to be a teaser to whet our appetites. It will be exciting to see what McInnis delivers when the restaurant opens on Monday. McInnis was ever the gentleman, hand delivering dishes to our table throughout the evening. He and his manager Greg proved to be a formidable team, juggling dozens of cooks, servers, and bartenders while taking the time to stop and charm us ladies at intervals throughout the evening. guests were treated to goodie bags that included pickled goods and various bourbons; y-u-m.
My favorite bite of the evening was the fried green tomato BLT.
It was to die for, a perfect combination of salty, spicy, and bacony. Perfectly cooked. Or, maybe my favorite was the meatloaf. Or, the fried cheese on watermelon. Oh wait, it was the fried chicken on a buttery biscuit. Heck y'all, it was all fantastic. I also managed to try every one of the six bourbon cocktails. The Southern Peach tasted of sweet tea and included a thyme garnish. My grandparents do not serve tea like this at their house. What a shame.Some more pictures from the preview party are below. My pictures are of sample bites, not actual size. In fact, many of the entrees at Yardbird are family-sized; meant for sharing. Just like at my grandparents' house.
Yardbird is now serving dinner and will begin lunch service the week of October 10. Sunday gospel brunch will begin November 6. Hours of operation are as follows: 11AM — Midnight, Sunday — Wednesday and 11AM — 2AM, Thursday — Saturday. Yardbird is located at 1600 Lenox Avenue, one block from Lincoln Road. For more information, visit www.RunChickenRun.com.
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