Turning 16 years old is an important life event and most people throw a big party for the occasion. Not us. We celebrated with fried chicken.
By Brenda Benoit
Yardbird is a slang term for the common chicken, generally after being prepared for a meal. Quite a unique name for a restaurant. A distinctive concept that lured us straight into the arms of Chicken Heaven so that Issa could celebrate sixteen years on earth with her favorite food.
So what did we start with first, the chicken or the egg? The egg. Deviled Eggs to be exact. Lake Meadows organic eggs, fresh dill, “redneck caviar” smoked trout roe. Who doesn’t like a stuffed egg? We ate these in one mouthful and the blast of flavors was unbelievable. Such a good-looking dish too.
The Macaroni and Cheese was decadent: so much cheese and creaminess had to be a sin.
After all the egg indulgence we tried the Lean Chicken Meatloaf, a Blue Plate Special which was served with House “ketchup” glaze, parsnip mash, snow peas with balsamic brown butter and sauteéd corn. So much goodness on one plate. The “lean” meatloaf not obvious when combined with the divine parsnip mash. It did not taste lean at all, on the contrary: it was sumptuous.
Llewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken was fine indeed! I get all choked up just remembering the flavor of this heavenly chicken. The very best we have ever tasted: crunchy-crunchy on the outside and so moist and buttery-soft on the inside. My chickens devoured it. I tried to hold back to grab and bite the whole plate in deference to the birthday girl, to no avail. We placed a second order. Just had to. The citrus pepper watermelon and house-made buttermilk biscuit added that extra touch of nonessential but delicious extravagance.
Issa chose the dessert. A Mississippi Mud Pie with cocoa nib crunch and coffee ice cream. Oh Lordie me: how marvelous and crazy-good. I just took one bite (really) as my belly did not need any more feeding. Birthday wishes were abundant. The single blue candle representing sixteen years of life was blown.
This was the perfect place to bring Issa on her special day. The setting was warm and welcoming, the service above par and the chicken, oh well, the chicken was better than sex. Oops. Did I just say that? Bad girl Masala.
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar describes themselves this way:
“Yardbird Southern Table & Bar is a house of worship for farm-fresh ingredients, classic Southern cooking, culture and hospitality. What we believe is a noble endeavor indeed. So stop on by, cop a seat and sample some from-scratch divinity. We’re serving up the freshest; most inventive takes on regional Southern fare seven days a week with a foot-stompin’, ?soul-healin’ brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. We’ll keep a place set for you.”
Keep a place for us because we are coming back!
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
1600 Lenox Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 538-5220
