Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
Iced Tea
Fried Green Tomato BLT – house smoked pork belly, smoky tomato jam, frisée, pimento cheese pickled lemon vinaigrette
Deviled Eggs – dill, chive, smoked trout roe
Butter Lettuce and Mango Salad – Char-Grilled Mango, Smoked Pecans, Tomato, Onions, Benne Seed Dressing
Mama’s Classic Buttermilk Biscuits – Honey Butter and Strawberry Jam
Chicken n’ Watermelon n’ Waffles – Fried Chicken, Hot Sauce Honey, Spiced Watermelon, Cheddar Cheese Chow Chow Waffle, Bourbon Maple Syrup
Shrimp n’ Grits – Florida shrimp, crisp Virginia ham, Nora Mill Granary grits
Short Ribs – 14oz Short Rib, Charred Corn, Green Beans, Sweet Garlic Bordelaise, Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Swine Burger – short rib, brisket, and chuck blend, house smoked pork belly, house pickles, american cheese, thick cut tomato, pickled onions, lettuce, house fries
Mason Jar Pumpkin Shake – House made Pumpkin Pie, Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Caramel Drizzle
Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll – Salted Gooey Caramel, Whipped Cream Cheese Butter
Ultimate Pumpkin Cheesecake – Rum Soaked Pumpkin Cake, Cream Cheese Mousse, Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Pumpkin Harvest Coffee Cake – Cinnamon Toast Crunch Crumble, Dried Cherries, Pumpkin Latte Ice Cream
Stawberry Shortcake, Chocolate and Maple Bacon Donuts
Red Velvet Cheesecake – Cream Cheese Mousse, Sprinkles
Chocolate Nutella Cake – Candied Hazelnuts, Raspberries, Chocolate Nutella Mousse
Red Velvet Cupcakes – Cream Cheese Frosting
Piggy Shortbreads
Having celebrated with family and friends several times at Yardbird it seemed only right to call on the Venetian’s “Southern Table & Bar” for a close friend’s special day, Chefs Sandra Palomo and Keris Kuwana going above and beyond even the highest expectations to present a birthday brunch for six that continues to speak of a restaurant willing to go the extra mile in order to please.
Now marking a dozen visits to the restaurant, admitting that I’m a fan and known-entity beside the point, it was just past 1:00pm that the group checked in at the hostess podium and quickly led to the Private Dining Room the subsequent two-hours would be spent in total contentment, the menu arranged in advance with Sandra with everything tailored to our needs – from the noise level to tongue-in-cheek condiments.
Essentially a family gathering, all the others related and none but myself having ever experienced the South-by-50Eggs hospitality that would soon see smiles around the room, it was almost immediately on entry that the surprises started coming, a Happy Birthday table display complete with two Cakes, Cupcakes and Pig-shaped Shortbreads alone more than enough to feed a dozen before we even took our seats.
Serenaded by the likes of Queens of The Stoneage followed by The White Stripes as conversation flowed with ease, it was with beverages poured that share plates arrived for the first of three courses, the signature Eggs and BLT joined by the World’s best Buttermilk Biscuits and a refreshing Mango Salad that saw a lot of smoke beneath a very light slick of Benne Seed Vinaigrette.
Ordering up one of the recently retooled Swine Burgers for the youngster at the table, adults treated to Fried Chicken, Waffles, Watermelon, Shrimp and Grits, a table-favorite quickly emerged by way of the more-tender-than-remembered Beef Short Ribs that melted in the mouth amidst Cauliflower Mash and Grilled Green Beans.
Already looking at the desserts present as an insurmountable task it was with Coffee poured that Chef Kuwana took over the rest of the afternoon, a small collection of Donuts with various toppings presented next to creamy Pumpkin Shakes that had even doubters of Pumpkin-Spice-Everything quickly draining their glasses plus a Pastry-Board presentation of all the season’s new dessert options – the Cinnamon Roll so warm that radiating heat melted the nearby Pumpkin Latte Ice Cream while *Ultimate* Pumpkin Cheesecake paired light boozy notes to a creamy base topped in candied Pepitas.
Barely able to make a dent in the Cinnamon-rich Coffee Cake with dried Cherries at this juncture, fears of being unable to waddle out a growing concern, both the Red Velvet Cheesecake and Chocolate Nutella Cake were saved for late-evening indulgence after servers joined in on a Happy Birthday chorus, both of these choices amongst the very best slices of Cake in Sin City with the latter just about as rich and indulgent as it gets.
FIVE STARS: Obviously an experience built to thrill, it really warrants mention just how far Chefs Sandra and Keris went to make this afternoon really shine – truly a world class showing of skill and generosity from a restaurant that continues to generate big numbers by doing far more than they probably need to in order impress each guest and simultaneously improve themselves.
RECOMMENDED: Mama’s Classic Buttermilk Biscuits, Chicken n’ Watermelon n’ Waffles, Short Ribs, Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll, Ultimate Pumpkin Cheesecake, Nutella Cake.
AVOID: Questions of why no Chess Pie…
TIP: Pumpkin Themed desserts arrived just last weekend, a Gluten-free Pumpkin Parfait also offered for those interested in such things.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
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