Yardbird’s the Word

A classic, Southern-style eatery spreads its wings to L.A. with the opening of a new outpost at the Beverly Center

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar is its restaurateur’s personal tribute to classic Southern cuisine, with many of the dishes based on his grandmother’s tried-and-true recipes and updated with modern culinary twists.

Now visitors to his newest L.A. branch of the highly touted eatery can expect to experience what diners in Miami Beach, Las Vegas and Singapore have been privy to for a while, complete with a warm and inviting atmosphere, upscale home-style cooking, an extensive bourbon selection, and of course, homegrown hospitality.

“Southern Cuisine is what I grew up on,” says John Kunkel, CEO of 50 Eggs Inc., who founded the acclaimed restaurant in 2011.

“I spent countless hours in the kitchen by my grandmother’s side, learning and watching her make all the amazing dishes of my youth. When I was developing the Yardbird brand, I noticed there was a lack of upscale Southern restaurants. Yardird is a unique experience; while you can come in and have the Southern classics my grandmother made, you can also have an amazing glass of wine or a rare bourbon.”

Situated on the ground level of the newly re-imagined Beverly Center on La Cienega—amid a lineup of other chef-driven restaurants by Michael Mina and Nathan Peitso—Yardbird’s warm and welcoming atmosphere features the same elements of reclaimed wood, white brick and industrial accents for which all of the eateries are known.

But also expect a definite L.A. flair, including a living wall, plates that are handmade locally, vintage silverware and custom-branded leather menu covers.

As for the menu, the restaurant is most known for its Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken—a 100-year-old family recipe prepped for 27-hours and dredged in cayenne-spiced flour before hitting the fryer—but Corporate Executive Chef Patrick Rebholz and two-time James Beard-nominated Executive Pastry Chef Hedy Goldsmith will offer diners a wide range of seafood dishes, salads and desserts as well. Among the highlights: chicken ‘n’ watermelon ‘n’ waffles, deviled eggs and house-made buttermilk biscuits.