I celebrated my birthday at Yardbird Table and Bar; it was my first time dining at the restaurant. I read the menu and called the restaurant in advance of my visit with questions. I asked about Lewellyn's Fine Fried Chicken which is served as 1/2 bird. I inquired about getting all white meat, after the person answering the phone checked with the kitchen, I was told it could be done. The restaurant is huge, and lovely with lots of earth tones. It was lively and guests seemed to be enjoying themselves.
On the night that I dined at the restaurant, I knew what I wanted to order. Upon being seated, the hostess placed paper menus on the plates before I knew what was happening. I am a germophobe and this is something I absolutely hate. The menus have many germs after being touched by multiple people during the course of a day or several days. Thankfully one place setting did not have a menu, so I opted to sit at that spot. Again, I knew what I wanted so when our server appeared at the table to introduce himself he tried to place a menu on my plate, I stopped him. He tried to force a menu in my hands and I told him I don't want a menu so he placed it right next to me. I knew I was not going to like him at all. I was right because next he tried to force a drink menu into my hands and I am telling him no, I don't want a menu. He was too aggressive and inattentive to my needs. He had an agenda and it did not include anything that I wanted.
I ordered buttermilk biscuits for the table and asked for a fresh batch served warm. He appeared offended and said everything is served fresh. I explained what I meant that I did not want any that have been sitting but want ones immediately out the oven and then asked for regular butter instead of honey butter. That was discussion as well, of how the restaurant does not serve regular butter just honey butter; that was hard to imagine of a southern style menu. No regular butter, really? The biscuits arrive with the honey butter which I did not touch and apple butter jam. Only a tiny portion of jam was given and without a serving spoon. I asked for more and a spoon. I asked twice before it was delivered and by that time the biscuits were no longer warm. Did I mention that I did not like this server? I dined with two of my Sorors, together they ordered a charcuterie. I am not an adventurous eater so I did not partake but they thought the assortment was okay.
Next we ordered our entrée, remember I called beforehand with questions about the menu. I ordered the Lewellyn's Fine Fried Chicken, all white meat with an order of crispy fries without salt. The server said the chicken could not be served that way because it is portioned as half white and dark, no substitutions. I explained what I did prior to coming and asked for a manager. I again explained what I did prior to coming. Unfortunately, I did not write down the person's name who answered the phone and cleared my phone's call history which would have shown the day and time I called the restaurant. The manager left the table to inquire in the kitchen, and returned to say it is not possible to accommodate my request. I asked for a just a quarter portion because I do not eat dark meat. He said he would check and never returned to the table. When the food came out, I was given half a chicken - all white meat, of which I was thankful. However, my fries weren't right. They were very light in color and undercooked. I sent them back. The replacement fries came out the same way. I stopped the manager from earlier that night, told him about the fries and finally I received crispy fries.
For their entrée, one Soror ordered steak frites with fries, she said it was okay. The other ordered chicken and waffles and said it was okay. They shared an order of crispy Brussel sprouts. They also ordered lemonade with bourbon.
I wanted dessert and since that menu is not online I had no idea what was offered. I did not like the desserts and did not order anything.
Barring issues with menu placement, aggressive / argumentative/ and inattentive server, butter and jam issues, erroneous information provided over the phone, issue with ordering meal, and lackluster dessert menu, my meal was good. Also, the restaurant offered a Veterans discount. I am not sure that I would return but if I did it would be solely for the biscuits and jam. read more