Yardbird Southern Table & Bar's Pre-Opening Bash: Bourbon and Bites (Photos)

All photos by Laine Doss

Yardbird Souther Table and Bar was packed for its pre-opening celebration

​Jeff McInnis manages to give us a smile as he's supervising what seems like dozens of kitchen chefs to get more and more food plates out to the hungry throngs that filled every inch of space at Yardbird Southern Table and Bar last evening for the restaurant's pre-opening shindig for friends and family.

Yardbird's dining room, which features white brick walls, mason jar chandeliers, communal tables and round booths, was maxed out as industry, friends and the curious thronged to get a taste of the much buzzed-about southern bistro. While bartenders served bourbon-based drinks with names like The Porkchop and Southern Peach, waiters passed bite-sized versions of McInnis' creations that served as major teases, planting visions of slow, relaxed dinners of pork chops and shrimp and grits in the minds of attendees.

Truth be told, though bits and bites (and bourbon-infused cocktails) were nice, it really was just a hint at what McInnis can do behind the burner when working with the dishes that best remind him of hearth and home.  The evening left us with but one thought -- we're going to have to go back for a real sit-down....which was probably the intention all along.

Yardbird opens for dinner on October 3rd. Lunch and gospel brunch will follow.

Chef Jeff McInnis puts the finishing touches on Yardbird's fried green tomato BLT

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Ham and cheese biscuit at Yardbird

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Deviled Eggs at Yardbird

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Fresh watermelon and grilled farm cheese

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One-bite s'mores at Yardbird

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Jeff McInnis smiles through an extremely busy night at Yardbird's pre-opening bash

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Guests were sent home with bourbon, moonpies and preserves in mason jars

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