Yardbird Southern Table & Bar Marina Bay Sands

The Yardbird is a casual high-end restaurant bar serving American Southern food. Physically, it is located on the basement floor of Marina Bay Sands Shoppes. Notably, the restaurant prides itself in offering farm-fresh ingredients, with their food prepared in classic southern cooking and culture.

Also, this can be seen in the restaurant deco. You will notice the establishment for it’s somewhat country style brick theming decorated with farm paintings. It has a mix of an industrial yet country look. Moreover, it features an open concept styled dining area facing mall walkways. Its interior brick-like country walls Yardbird is not like your typical Astons and has a rather upmarket feel, with a pricey menu to boot too.

A chill and southern country setting

Furthermore, having a rather open front entrance did not dilute of the restaurant’s cozy ambience. Entry to the establishment however, is still through the restaurant front reception counter. There is serviced tabled seating. Notably it is located beside Gordon Ramsay kitchen I wrote about a week back.

Front bar

Dining areas

Fresh coffee

Moreover, service is prompt, but not really friendly and could do better. Notably, the place does get reasonably crowded during lunch, even for a weekday. Noticeable demographics includes large groups of expatiates and causal tourists shoppers taking a mid-day break.

Signature fired chicken

A trademark dish of Yardbird is their fried chicken. If the Yardbird chicken logo does not give away what you have here. The place specialises in chicken. A restaurant recommendation is their Chicken and Watermelon and Waffles ($40). It is essentially a southern-style fried chicken platter. Or what I like to call an Atas KFC chicken bucket.

Moreover, the Yardbird chicken platter is quite a sizable meal and feeds two at least. It is great for sharing. You get about 5 pieces of the chicken, served with heaps of watermelon cubes as well as sides of crispy waffles. You get a mixed selection of chicken parts, namely big cuts of chicken breast, wings and thighs.

Interestingly, the chicken are fried but with a soft core. Moreover, you get Remnants of spice flakes on the skin of the chicken does tell a tale of the chicken being pre-marinated with a concoction of spices before being cooked. I found the skin of the chicken is indeed flavourful. However, past the tasty outer layer, I found the core of the meaty chicken sections tad too dry and bland for my liking.

Topping up the offerings is Lewelllyn’s fine fried chicken ($26). You can’t go wrong ordering that, it is good for one and is similarly prepared with a claimed secret 27-hour recipe. It is cooked with spicy Tabasco Honey. Smoke Backyard BBQ chicken ($28) and Mama free-range chicken buttermilk biscuits ($24).

Not all about Chicken

Moreover, Yardbird, besides a bar selection, offers a selection of small bites and small platter as well as salads in their dine-in menu. Adding onto their cooked food selection for patrons are other dishes including a selection of burgers, as well as sandwich wraps. I found their main courses such as the Shrimp sandwich and beef burger worthy a recommendation.

Got meat?

Mac and cheese

Yardbird chicken salad

Additionally, you get staples such as Yardbird Salisbury steak served with mushrooms, shallots and sherry mushroom gravy, St Louis style pork ribs ($32) and Pan Fried North Carolina Trout ($27).

Something worth trying too is their Shrimp and Grits ($28) comprising of Florida shrimp, served between Virginia ham and doused with Nora Granary grits. Additionally, more premium offerings exceeding $50 per meal includes their 12 Ounces Bone in fillet Migon $59 and Tomahawk porkchops ($55) which I find too pricey too my liking.

Other Sides (or Fixins)

Wrapping it up are Fixins comprising of salads, potato sides such as house fries and whipped sweet potatoes, as well as chilled watermelon ($6). Moreover, Yardbird offers a more affordable lunch set menu giving you their regular selections are really value rates. Price range, expect to fork out about $30 per head for a typical meal here. This is especially in such an upmarket area in the Marina Bay Sands area.

Furthermore, their burger portions are commendably sizable. Also, they are paired with heaps of fries as a side. The same can be said for their Lobster wraps and pasta.

Your main courses are served with sides of fries and goes well with it in general. Also, you can’t get any more southern with selections such as Smoke and Roasted Bone Marrow as well as Fried Frog Leg, very southern American indeed.

Try their interesting Watermelon cubes

A trademark dish of Yardbird is their unusual Watermelon cubes sides. You can have them as a set meal side with you main or you can also order this signatures watermelon cubes as a dessert side or appetizer item.

Interestingly, the watermelon are cut into small cubes and are stacked like building block on a plate. You get about 8 pieces of these cubes on a plate as a side. Moreover, they are flavored with mint, with a hint of spicy taste. It is presumably made with a pinch of powder spices in the mix.

All in all, Yardbird is a nice establishment for a dinner out. Also, their chicken and wraps are good and get my recommendations, though the cooking style may not cater for all. Overall, it is nice for a casual dining with a good ambience to boot.

However, given its above average price, the Yardbird is probably not a place I would frequent often. Unless you have the cash to burn, or a desire to treat yourself with a hearty meal out in the heart of the Marina Bay.

Verdict:

Must Go! | Worth Trying | Shortlist Optionally | Should Avoid
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
Marina Bay Sands Shoppes, Singapore
2 Bayfront Ave B1, 07
Singapore 018972
Opening Hours: 11am–11pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 10am–11pm