I understand that this place is recently re-branded and opened...but our meal earlier this week just missed the mark. The previous reviewer's say the food is good...and I simply can't give a blanket statement like that. There are a couple tasty things on the menu (fried chicken!!), but for the most part, it seems as if the chef is uncomfortable with BBQ. I fear that the owners are just hopping on the BBQ bandwagon, and attempting to compete with the likes of The Woodshop, Slow's, etc. I desperately want more quality restaurants in this general area to thrive. I'm hoping the owners of Yard Bird are open to the criticism presented here on Yelp. The restaurant itself is charming, rustic, and cozy. My only complaint about the atmosphere was the contemporary country music. Others might disagree, but I feel so alienated when I have to hear "save a horse, ride a cowboy", and other trashy anthems. I'm trying to eat here, man. As far as food, the fried chicken is FABULOUS. Crispy, juicy, flavorful...yum. Get the fried chicken. The roasted apples were also delicious, I really liked that they had savory herbs paired with them instead of your typical brown sugar or maple syrup. Everything else was, well, just alright. The macaroni and cheese had a good flavor, but the cracker crust was too chunky and thick for my liking. The andouille sausage tasted like regular ol' kielbasa. The smoked meats (brisket & pulled pork) we're trimmed properly, had huge chunks of fat, and just weren't all that good. I expect brisket to come in slices, this was just falling apart and I couldn't really tell the difference between that and the pork. The cornbread is awful. Dry, bland, entirely disappointing. I don't understand how a chef would make that cornbread and taste it and say "yeah, that's okay to serve!" I question whether they have a true BBQ pitmaster cooking the meats, or if it is just a hobby of the chef's and they decided to take a stab at a restaurant. The BBQ sauce was house made and really, just okay. It was a typical Northern style BBQ sauce. I prefer a variety of sauce (hot, mustard, vinegar, etc.) Another huge disappointment was the "sheet cake." It was regular chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I have my suspicions that it wasn't house made either, it just didn't have a fresh-baked taste. As far as the service, it was okay. Our waitress was overwhelmed, even though the place wasn't packed. Busy, but not crazy. She didn't know what beers were on tap, nor what kind of beer was what. She offered us an "IRA" instead of an IPA. Even if you don't drink beer, you need to know what you're selling. They also only had the carry-out menus which only listed the food, so we didn't know what drinks were available. Apparently, there was a SNAFU with the company that printed the in-house menus. A simple was to remedy this would have been to print off a handful of temporary drink menus to pass out with the carry out menus. We'll come back and try again in a few months. Truly, I want to see more quality restaurants in this area exceed, because most stuff in the greater West Bloomfield area is garbage. I hope the owners can tweak their recipes and get the help they need to solve the problems and reach success. (And if they need a cornbread or Texas sheet cake recipe, send me a message.)
(2)
Drew B.
The tater tots were fabulous!! Chunks of brisket smothered in slaw and BBQ sauce, seriously yum!! We also had the loaded chili, not your traditional chili but non the less amazing!! House drinks were creative and well worth a try, we tried three and all were great. Definitely worth the drive.
(5)
Daniel R.
Hearing mixed reviews about this restaurant already, I wanted to try it out for myself. I came in promptly when they opened and was greeted and seated right away. Our server Christina was well informed and her suggestions were both personal and professional. I would def recommend her as a server. Pork Cakes were delicious for a starter and my Caesar salad was well dressed and seasoned perfectly. My Bo Dip was good but not great. The yardbird on the other hand was terrific, juicy and a good enough reason to go back to this restaurant. I could of done without the cornbread and the Mac and cheese came out barely warm. Altogether It has its early kinks but Jeremy is doing something great at this location.
(5)
Mike C.
Was very excited to try this place for the first time at the Polish Fair a few weeks ago. Unfortunately when we arrived at the fair, we were informed that the health inspector had SHUT THEM DOWN and then they were controversially escorted off the premises. Uh oh! All that aside, my girlfriend and I decided to just visit the location ourselves that same night. We walked in to a hostess on her phone, and a loud CRASH in the kitchen, then looked into the kitchen (open to the public view) to see a cook bending over then placing a spoon in a large pot, hope that wasn't on the ground!?!? The sides were the most edible part. The sampler was a decent size. But I kept getting a taste of gas from the meat so we went straight to dessert and more incredibly strong drinks from our bartender because of our dislike for everything else. Unfortunate, will not be back
(1)
Beth R.
Hesitated to go due to other reviews but tried it anyway based on a friends positive experience. Started with the Pig Cakes. They were small and not hot. Probably would have been good if they were warm and not room temperature. One of our parties ordered a salad that was described as "iceberg" and there was romain and other lettuces but no iceberg. We ordered a slab of ribs and the brisket with Mac and cheese, cole slaw, potato salad and fried green tomatoes as the sides. Both meals came with corn bread. The corn bread was dry and stale, the rub on the ribs was so salty it was barely edible and the brisket was fatty and not flavorful. The Mac and cheese was ok as was the cole slaw and pot salad. The fried green tomatoes were tasty but too garlicky. Food came out very quickly and the place was very crowded. The server was friendly but not very knowledgable. This restaurant is a big disappointment for a true BBQ fan.
(1)
Lisa S.
Phenomenal..... Great food, great vibe, great prices! Read the menu and don't waste their time if you are not into this type of food, they go out of their way to do this right;). Well done!!
(5)
Jason L.
Totally enjoyed my first time here. Service was good and dinner was enjoyable. I will return.
(4)
Jim J.
They shouldn't call this a BBQ joint . there was no BBQ too be found anywhere .smoked ribs were OK glazed. Pulled pork was tender an brisket was tough but the burnt end was made too be that way. What's. with the jalapeño in the corn bread. Nothing I ate there invited me back.
(1)
Jessica B.
Food was ok, restaurant was freezing! They really need to turn the heat up... it must of been 50 in there! Resturant is also very smoky. I don't think I will be back unless it's summer time when it's warm and I can sit outside to avoid the smoke smell in my clothes and hair.
(2)
OJ J.
Just left yard bird smoked meats and I have to say it was a little bit different bbq for me . They are over thinking bbq . Ribs were tender and juicy but the sauce was not good .if it had a normal sauce they would've been A1. Brisket was on point . Fried chicken wasn't bad but not alot of flavor . Pulled pork was just pulled pork . Sides were flavorless. Who puts greenpepper and onion in coleslaw . Any ways wouldnt go back . Get it anywhere
(3)
Yvonne N.
Disappointed. We were told this place was as good as the Woodshop in Clarkston, not even close. And the staff is not friendly at all, our server barely cracked a smile. I thought by mentioning it was our first time there she might have a reaction and explain the menu or recommend something...nothing. Maybe it was a bad night. We don't live that far, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there. The food was good but not good enough for me to want to go back.
(2)
Anthony C.
Slow service, took 20 minutes to get menus, 40 minutes to get food, dry and tasteless, 2/10 would not recommend. Dissatisfied and disappointed.
(1)
W L.
I really wanted this to be good, BBQ tasted like fuel, sides were passable, sauces were forgettable. The things I liked most were the waitstaff and the decor. Will wait a bit and give it another try in a month or so.
(2)
Steve M.
Wow - went in with low expectations & came out impressed. Got the sampler with Ribs instead with the dry rub. Everything was great - yellow sauce was the best I've ever had. Mac & Cheese was very good - just not amazing. Good experience all around & will definitely come back!
(4)
Lo B.
My husband and I have been here several times previously, and each time it's getting worse. We have had 1 great meal here, but that's out of about 5 meals. The service this past time was terrible. It took about 10 minutes for someone to even greet us at our table. We went the whole meal without anyone checking on us, which meant no drinks at all. I actually had to walk to the bar myself to refill my water glass. The waitress never apologized for anything, or asked if she could get us anything else. Instead, we were greeted with the bill and that was it. The meat on our sandwiches was very fatty and everything was just kind of cold and tasted reheated. The parking lot is a nightmare as well. If you want good BBQ, take the time to head to the Union Woodshop. It's a long wait to get seated, but it's worth good service, big portions, and tasty food. Yardbird is overpriced and under-performing! I give this place another 6 months before its shut down. There are too many other good restaurants around!
(1)
Randy R.
A letter I wrote to the owner I would like to tell you about my first time experience with two other people at your restaurant on 11/8/2014 at approx 7:30 pm. Order #4843. Well I must start off by saying you have a great location and it is very nice. And the service we received from our waitress Gina was perfect even under the circumstances and that is why she received a $20.00 tip. The tip was not a reflection of the food though. We are all big smoke bbq ribs/food kind of people and we have been all over the country throughout our travels trying smoked foods, so it is not is something new to me or to the other two people who were with me. Knowing what to expect when you go to a restaurant even if you have not been there is one thing, but no one expects to have cold to warm food served. Also, if I may add, this letter should be used as a tool to help you out and to change the future reviews on your place on Yelp and other online sites because this is a day and age of making a living and staying successful by online reviews. Moving on, the main part of our food, the St. Louis ribs were not hot, but we just dealt with it. The Beef brisket was not hot at all, was served midway through cold to warm just like the ribs. And the same for the pulled pork. We did tell Gina about it and she was deeply concerned and did what she could do and took back our beef briskets, which at $15.75 for four pieces is over priced. Upon receiving the same beef briskets back, you would expect them to be hot, they were not. I did appreciate you not wanting to charge me for the soup and the brisket, but as the owner and operator of many different things like hotels and supermarkets and other things I do understand you have bills to pay so that is why I declined your offer to not charge me for the couple items. I was not looking for a discount or free food like other people do and I do not think you have ever come across someone denying free food or giving you the type of response I did through Gina or in this letter. I was also expecting a manager or the owner to come out and talk to us, which obviously did not happen, proving another disappointment. Another word of advice, regarding the bbq sauces on the table, you need a different selection. Look at other bbq places, they offer a good tasting selection of bbq for the guests on the table. We were just looking for good food that was at least hot, but unfortunately you did not come through on that and you are a new restaurant, you need anyone who first comes there to want to come back. Just think of the people who do not mention anything or complain, you just never see them again. Good luck with everything, I hope you do great there!
(1)
Dena O.
Not going back anytime soon. The food was average. I had a salad with the house dressing which was good. Also had the brisket and Mac and cheese which was served luke warm. I liked the flavor of the Mac and cheese but the brisket was ok. There wasn't a great variety of sauces. I had the red which was also ok. They give you a tiny piece of corn bread which is just as well because it was very dry and tasteless. We told our server this and he said we appreciate the comments and if they read these reviews maybe they will get the hint.
(1)
Reilly H.
This place is the same location as the former Jeremy's Wine Bar. I believe it may possibly be the same owner. So let's start with the good, or the great for that matter...the food. It really was awesome. If you like BBQ like smoked brisket, chicken, pulled pork, etc. you'll love the food. The decor was also very rustic and original. I thought they did a very good job with it and I love the two big garage doors for nice days. The service on the other hand was horrible! The place was packed and they had two waitresses on staff. It took 15 mins to get water, 30 mins to get our drinks, over an hour to get our food, the buss boy ended up taking our order and messing it up a little, my chili came after my entree and it took 20 mins to get the bill which was all done by the buss boy. We didn't even see our waitress after we placed our drink order. I left a tip because I'm not a jerk but I really felt like I should have given it to the buss boy. Now I knew walking in that they'd only been open a few days and I was taking my chances. Most new restaurants need a couple weeks to work the bugs out and it's not really fair to judge them on their first week, though I'm sure many people do. Also they were slammed at 7p on a Wednesday so maybe they were caught off guard. That said, knowing it's your first week and that first impressions are everything you should be overstaffed just in case. In conclusion, though the service was awful I personally will give them a few weeks and check them out again. The food really was fantastic with a really cool decor! Hopefully they'll quickly work the bugs out of their service. I am understanding about the growing pains of a restaurant's first week but if I go back in a month and things haven't changed I'd be hard pressed to give them a third chance.
(3)
John P.
YardBird is crazy good! Im the type of person that, once I find something I like I stick with it. But at YardBird I bounce around, due to the fact that everything Ive tried has been fantastic. The Pig Cakes are a must for an app. Ive never had catfish that melts in your mouth quite like YardBird's Big Fish Dinner. The Pig Apple Pie is a pulled pork sandy with sliced apples and some famous local Michigan cheddar- crazy good. A friend convinced me to try the fried green tomatoes, I normally don't like tomatoes but again, crazy good. Its fun to go with a group of people and snag a little taste off everyone's plate. What goes better with BBQ than beer? The YardBird has an awesome beer line up; Shiner Bock, Norms IPA and Screamin Pumpkin (crazy good) and Miller Lite on draft, with a ton of Michigan beer in bottles and CANS too. Lastly the atmosphere is super cool and eclectic. Two big garage doors open to a streetside patio. Ive never seen anything like it- people drive by and wave from their cars, pedestrians casually stroll by and smile, what a fun place to hang out.
(5)
Patti B.
If you want amazing BBQ and fantastic service, go to Yardbird. We sat at the bar where we were well taken care of. Our server knew we were in a bit of a rush and completely accommodated us. I had the City Chicken salad and my husband ordered the fried yardbird. Both meals were outstanding. Incredible favors. And the place just smells good.and the vibe is great.
I'm picky and quick to complain. We've tried the place twice; ordering salmon sandwich, chicken sandwich, brisket and brisket sandwich. We've also tried the house fries and the cole slaw. We were extremely pleased with the taste of the food and presentation. Everything we ordered was well-prepared and served hot. The brisket is a sheer delight with interesting sauces on the dining table and served with a tasty dipping sauce.. The service was friendly and efficient. My companion enjoys fish and thought the salmon was excellent.
(5)
Stephanie E.
Tried it twice. a bit pricy for the amount of food you get. ribs and chicken were tender, but the rub is very dry. Not many choices on the side dishes that are for someone watching their weight. Our waitress looked miserable and never smiled., threw the bill on our table without even saying a word. The rest of the staff seems to congregate at the hostess stand doing not much. one wore her coat with her hands in her pockets. Wasn't sure at first when I came in if she was an employee or staff. Not very happy crowd of employees.
(2)
Shannon W.
Everything was so-so, from the server that lacked any personality to the food which was under seasoned.
(3)
J R.
The food is good, however the service is terrible. They are not only understaffed, but nobody seems to be managing any aspect of the restaurant operation. On my second visit, my group of 3 was seated at 8:30 pm, we waited over 30 minutes and not one waiter or server came by to even offer a drink or apologize for the delay. The staff was more concerned about moving BBQ sauce from the prior table to bring inside to another one. After realizing we were never going to be served we walked out. I will not be returning until they get it together( has been open over 3 weeks). Not that hard to get a staff and a manager in the keego area. Amateur operation for a rather simple food concept.
(1)
John L.
We have dined at Yardbird twice now and both times we have had good service and good food. The menu is innovative and the descriptions of each item make it hard to choose. I would recommend sharing. The apps are the winners here. The chips with brisket are the best thing on the menu. The ribs were very good as were the sandwiches. The chili left something to be desired. Kid friendly with Faygo pops and sundaes. A bit to chilly. Hard surfaces and if you sit on the wall where the garage doors are be prepared to be cold all night. The drinks in the mason jars are cool and strong. The management seems content on standing near the bar all night and seldom makes his way through the room to see how everyone is doing. The waits staff could use a bit of polishing but our servers were attentive. Watch out for the beer prices on the menu not to match the prices on the bill. All in all at great addition to the neighborhood.
(4)
Josiah W.
Had the brisket sandwich and it was very salty. Wife had ribs that were nothing special. Mac and cheese was decent. Service was a bit hit or miss. Sat there a long time waiting for a server but they were accommodating and let us move tables to the outside once they came. I liked the ambiance/decor of the restaurant and nice patio but not sure I would make a return trip because the brisket was not good. Maybe I got the wrong thing?
(2)
Catherine B.
The decor here is charming and well done with lots of fun, rustic touches, and the waitress was very friendly and very attentive. It probably helped that the person I came with was a familiar face here. I had great salmon over at The Lodge earlier that day, and then got to try the salmon salad here for dinner. I love salmon, what can I say? The salmon here was very well marinated and bursting with flavor, and complemented with fresh veggies. I loved the salmon here just a bit more than the salmon from The Lodge, even though both are different and great in their own rights. Really, though. I still have yet to find salmon in California that compares to what I've had in Michigan, and I'm almost tempted to move to Michigan for it.
(5)
Bill S.
By far, the worst smoked meat restaurant I have every had the opportunity to visit. The food was overpriced (but that was the least of the issues). The chili was horrid. It tasted as though it had sat in a cardboard box for a week. The fries (so called "fresh cut") were soggy and seasoned with a sweet seasoning (on fries????). The brisket was so salty I couldn't eat it. Trust me, there are many far superior establishments out there. Then, it took the waitress 10 minutes to take our order. At the end, when she asked if we needed boxes, I told her no, the food was horrible. After she took payment, she then asked "anything I can do to make the situation better?". Now wouldn't you ask that before you have the customer pay?
(2)
Michele K.
I always give a restaurant three times before writing them off. This was my 2nd time here and it took a lot to get me to go back. The place has changed for the better. Our food was outstanding, service also. Very nice to see them making things better. I am definitely going back the food was just so yummy one person in our party forget he had a beer he was just raving over the taste of the brisket so much! LOL. Thumbs up for making it right.
(5)
Mark B.
We had a hands-down, five star barbeque dining experience last night. Our first time at Yardbird, the three of us each ordered something unique to sample the widest variety. First up we shared a bowl of 'loaded' chili. Great flavor, chunky, no beans and hot temperature-wise. Excellent. I'd have avoided the sour cream had I known about it. Brisket was warm, very moist, nicely smoked and very flavorful. Add-on quarter slabs (3) of St. Louis ribs very, very good without any sauce. Smoked salmon was moist, nicely smoked; pulled pork was tender, moist, nicely smoked mild in flavor so best with one of the seven or eight sauces. Prompt, friendly excellent service by Casey who made great suggestions and was generally a mind reader. I'll be back shortly!
(5)
Crysta D.
Love their food. The drinks are good, it's affordable and good service. Got sat right away got our food quickly. I absolutely love the pig cakes they are delicious.
(5)
doug r.
I apologize for the poor photo focus, but it was too dim for my tablet's camera to focus properly. A foodie-friend invited me to accompany him for an early dinner at Yard*Bird (formerly Jeremy's). I was curious, as Jeremy's kitchen never Wow!'d me. Then there was their dining room with a few too many tables (fixed). And the valet-thing (fixed). The bldg has been gutted and re-done in the spirit of Vinsetta Garage. The garage doors open to an enlarged patio. Sadly; the patio is only a sidewalk away from Cass Lake Road. But if you are dining with good company, it is not a problem. The remodel has introduced a lot of hard surfaces. There is also a TV (or was it music?) adding to the cacophony. As other dinner guests arrived, the noise level increased noticeably. Having a conversation at a 2-top became increasingly difficult. When the screaming two year-old arrived ... we left. The qty of tables and chairs is appropriate for the space. Plenty of room for guests to move about and servers to do their jobs. The chairs' back brace, squeezes the butt. Uncomfortably so. The chili. I'm from the school of, "anybody that knows beans about chili, knows that there are no beans in chili." It was not intended as a criticism, but the server mistakenly took it as criticism. I think I was able to convince her that it was simply another regional difference. Not bad. Just different. Pleasantly so. YB's chili has a few unanticipated ingredients. The recipe uses pinto(?) beans. Nicely firm, not the typical soft/mush chili bean. +1. Sweet corn in chili? Yup. I've only seen this done once before. It works for me. +1. The meats include chuck, brisket & ground beef. +2. The base? Thin and nicely seasoned. Not the typical thick tomato-y base common to SE Michigan. +1. The bowl was appropriately sized and only $4. For another $1, YB will add salsa, jack cheese, sour cream and pickled jalapenos. No. Thank you. The chili was a pleasant surprise and does not require accoutrements. I chose their sampler for my entree - $17. Pulled pork, sausage & brisket. I loved the pulled pork. Smokey, tasty and not over-salted - hurray! The sausage was a miss. A bit over-cooked(?) and dry. I'm not a brisket guy, but this was good brisket. Good flavor profiles. Not over-salted. Moist. The sauce; the best sauce was the one that we both expected to underwhelm: Harbor Heat, made with beer, vinegar and chili. Thin, spicy and sour. I think it also includes minced garlic. Loved it. I forgot to ask about buying a bottle to take home. The entrees include two sides. I chose cornbread and mac & cheese. The cornbread portion was a wee bit skimpy. Otherwise; it did not disappoint, nor did it wow. I like the way that Beans & Cornbread, does cornbread. I will not order again. The mac & cheese? Y*B's recipe is not what I prefer. I like my mac & cheese the way that Beans & Cornbread does mac & cheese - thick, not creamy. I will not order again. The portion sizes were appropriate, not over-sized. The BBQ was served on butcher paper, directly on the tray. Both simple and low-cost. Not keen about this touch. Not even a little bit. The server was prompt, knowledgeable and attentive. WiFi? They have it. I could not get it to work using the WPA key they provided, "JeremyRes". The business seems CCW friendly and the food:liquor mix does not seem to disqualify CCW. But KHPD's interpretation and routine (mis)behavior is unpredictable enough that I won't risk it. How unpredicatable? In KH, wearing a ballcap backwards will get you a VERY stern lecture about violating the (non-existent) Gang-Wear Ordinance. You've been warned. Website: yardbird.cool - Not a typo: it's a dot-cool site - Works fine in IE. - Works fine in Chrome. - Does not work in my Firefox v31 installation. Will I return? Yes. Primarily because I'm willing to give them another chance. They are considerably more convenient for me than LazyBones, Slows or CAYA. Next trip? Ribs and other sides. I'm a sucker for good tots.
(3)
Ashley R.
The portions are perfect size! We tried the Mac n cheese, fried chicken, pulled pork, green beans & corn bread. Everything was great!'
(4)
Shelby H.
Yum! I wasn't disappointed. We got the pig cakes for an appetizer and I thought they were good but small. The appetizer only came with two cakes and some coleslaw. For my meal, I got the southwest salad, which is kind of a bbq take on a taco salad. It was delicious. My only complaint about it is that the vinaigrette it comes with doesn't have much flavor. I added bbq sauce to it, which I really enjoyed because I wanted to try all the sauces anyway. As is usual with many bbq restaurants these days, they have a bunch of different sauces on the table to try. They were all good. Their desserts sound delicious, but I didn't have room. Next time.
(4)
Chrissy R.
I think they had some opening business hiccups which it has overcome, but I think it's a great neighborhood restaurant, very tasty and each time I have been there the service has been good.
(4)
Bryon R.
Great food, good service would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys BBQ!
(5)
Susan H.
With all the bad reviews we were tempted not to give this place a try but I'm sure glad we did because the food was great! We had fast service and for MI it was pretty amazing BBQ! We started with the tater tots smothered with pulled pork, cheese and BBQ sauce. Normally cole slaw is on top as well but we opted to get that on the side. They were pretty good! The tater tots on the bottom were huge so if they were smaller there would maybe be a little more crunch to them as they seemed more like big hash brown balls but the dish was still amazing. We then got 1/2 rack of ribs, brisket, and tried the Mac and cheese, smashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and bacon baked beans as our sides along with the corn bread. We loved everything with the exception of the green bean casserole. (I don't think we were a fan of the onions on top as they seemed stale) but aside from that one side dish we were a fan of all of it. The brisket was really juicy and the ribs were thick cuts of meat (baby back style). The corn bread was good but nothing amazing. The Mac and cheese and smashed potatoes were ridiculously good. So was the bacon beans. (That's a hard one to get me to like too!). We stuffed our faces with all this food and washed it down with water and a coke (thank you for not serving Pepsi!) :) We couldn't even think about dessert we were so full! Perhaps next time we will go for drinks and a dessert as they looked like they had a few good options. The dinning area was a little tight so if they took out a table or two there could be more space for guests to enjoy their food but I'm guessing when they open up the doors in the summer time things get a little more spread out. Bottom line: Don't let bad reviews scare you from a place. Most of the bad ones on here look like it was bad because of the staff when they first opened. Give it a try yourself and see what you think!
(4)
Nerice G.
I live so close to this restaurant, I want it to be just perfect so I can make it my local hang out. Sadly, I struggle to enter because I know the food will be hit or miss and the service lackluster. I generally order a few things pretty regularly, usually happy with the results. The wings are fabulous, no sauce necessary. The yard chips are a wonderful invention and a must order. The pulled pork is well done, and never disappoints. When entering, and sitting at the bar, I hope to be greeted with a warm smile and service, however, I sit staring at many employees just hoping someone wants to take my money! I don't relax until my food arrives and I hope that after that they don't forget about me. It does not matter whether a busy night or slow gathering, service is the same.. sub-par! I am not a fan of their sauces, but again, growing up in the mid-west I would say I am spoiled. I hope you try the place because you could feel different about the food as well as the service, I just strike out. I only return because it is close to home.
(3)
C P.
Very cool place with awesome wait staff but very marginal food. Meat was pretty dry. Sauces were nothing to write about. Fried green tomatoes were almost all bread. Mac and cheese was blah. Onion rings were the best. Fun to visit but won't make this a regular stop.
(3)
Angela S.
I was expecting to be blown away here based on all I've heard but was sadly disappointed. We had the Pig Cakes appetizer and it was nothing more than pulled pork meatballs topped with slaw and a splash of BBQ sauce. Pulled pork entree with fried green tomatoes and slaw was underwhelming. The pork a bit dry, the tomatoes bland, and the slaw was bitter. No jalapeño flavor in the cornbread either. I also had a side of mac and cheese and it seemed like they used Velveeta for the base. The sauces didn't stand out with one of them tasting like a grainy watered down French's yellow mustard. I liked that they scratch-bake their cakes but the lemon poppyseed had no lemon flavor and was covered with frozen strawberries. Frozen? Really? I've had much better Q and wouldn't go out of my way for this place. It's beginner BBQ and will most likely sink once Slows opens in Pontiac if they don't step up their game.
(2)
Rozy H.
I would never rate this place below four stars unless I had a bad experience. The location is great, it's close to home, the building is nice and the area is safe and clean. The food is totally great and fresh. It's just there's so much good barbecue nowadays it's not exceptional. We wanted a light meal, some good beer and outdoor seating. We got exactly what we wanted and the waitress was great. Never bugged us but was always there. We shared their nacho with brisket and it was perfect. The meats are wonderful. We're blessed. We have plenty of great barbecue in the area. This venue is smaller and more intimate than most barbecue joints. But the food is awesome. Great salads too. You can't go wrong here. Make sure you want a nice intimate place that fills up easily and you're not rushed if they're busy. Be casual and ready to chill a little and you'll be very happy you came. I hope this review sets proper expectations. I'll be back here soon.
(5)
Jamie W.
We continue to come to yardbird because of its convenient location and love for barbecue but this place is so hot and cold in terms of having good cooking that we are getting tired of it. The chili can either be amazing or inedible. Their salads can be great or gross. Their hot dogs seem to be pretty dependable. Service is always great though! Oh and the drinks are good too.
(3)
Wadim S.
Chicken is amazing!! Briskit is amazing!! Corn bread!! Chilli!! Mac n cheese!! Better than slows!
(4)
Janine L.
Food was cold, quality was average. Waitress was not on top of things. Waited a long time for food with no updates. Table was served at different times. Needs a LOT of work to pull it together. Brisket VERY salty. Won't be back until we hear things improve. Too bad, it sounded interesting.
(2)
Albert K.
I saw this place a few weeks ago and it looked great from the outside, so I coaxed a buddy of mine to grab dinner there the following week. The menu is unique and the decor/atmosphere is open and casual. We started with loaded parmesan tater tots, and they were delicious. However, they were more like croquettes, as the insides were very smooth. Then I had the sammie sampler, which consisted of the Bo Dip (16-hour smoked brisket, griddled peppers & onions, swiss cheese, smoker jus for dipping, on a potato roll), Pig Pie (16 hour pulled pork shoulder, buttermilk slaw, on a potato roll) and Smokey C (pulled chicken, caramelized onions & peppers, cheddar jack cheese, much sauce (contains peanuts), on a potato roll). I think my favorite was the Pig Pie and the chicken was just behind. The brisket was a bit dry for my tastes. As for the sauces, I was all about the KC (smokey bbq) and the Old Yeller (honey mustard-ish) sauces. I also ordered a side of he jalapeno cornbread. It was okay, but something tasted off with the batch I had. It had an artificial flavor and the orange butter they serve along side it, had the same issue. My friend ordered the Salmon and Farmer salad and in trying some of it, the salmon was very fishy. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, but I found the meats to be a bit under seasoned. It is a place that I would try again, but only if I was in the area or a friend asked.
(3)
Sahar S.
I am speechless after many years of enjoying Jeremy, the food and the atmosphere we r greatly disappointed in Yardbird. The food is always cold. And really not great. The salads have been at least a couple days old every time. And service is just ok. We were excited after the long wait to have a new and casual restaurant in an area that greatly needed something good. Excitement is gone.
(1)
Lauren W.
Came here for a blogger event...Such a funky and cool spot tucked in the winding roads off Keego Harbor! I loved the decor from the Americana bottle decor at the entrance to the frying pans hanging on the wall. They truly seemed to be symbolic of the delicious home cooking inside! My favorites were the cornbread {seriously awesome} and the brisket with the Midwest sauce. Also, the bourbon butterscotch pudding was off the chain...I would drive 45 minutes just to eat it again :)
(5)
Bryan A.
Pros: Outstanding food, Shiner Bock on tap and extremely attractive waitstaff. Cons: Indifferent waitstaff, dirty beer lines and weird parking lot. Took the hot blond wife out for drinks and appetizers last Friday and was delighted to see that this relatively new place had Shiner Bock on tap... until the next day that is. I have a suspicion that the keg lines have not been cleaned in a while because the after-effects of the beer were pretty severe. The Yardchips with brisket were a great value and very delicous, while the Mason Jar Sundae was also a winner. Will definitely be back but drinking bottled beer from now on.
(4)
Crystal W.
Went to check out for blogger event. I sampled everything. I really loved the Mac and cheese. It was delicious. I liked that they had different bbq sauce to try.
(4)
Renee S.
Excellent smoked salmon. Seasoned well and moist. Reasonably priced. Nice casual atmosphere. Only downside is there is NO call ahead.
(4)
Jody K.
I'd been watching the renovation of the restaurant and was very excited to see something new going in there. I'm often looking for a place that has good ribs and such, so I was pleased to see that such a restaurant had moved in. I've also been following the reviews and was unsure what to think, as they're all over the place. Well, I went there tonight with a group of other people. It is definitely loud; I could only hear the people sitting right next to me & directly across from me. (There were 10 of us there.) I did notice that they made some changes to a few of the menu items from what is posted online: they removed the fried green tomatoes and the potato salad, and they raised the prices of the salads. I ordered the 1/2 slab of ribs with the red glaze and chose the mac & cheese and broccoli medley as my sides. When my meal was served first served, it didn't look like that big a portion, but I ended up taking half of it home; the only thing I finished was the vegetables!. The ribs were quite good -- a little spicy, but not overly so, and the sauce was sweet and tangy -- just how I like it. I also enjoyed trying all the other sauces that were on the table. I liked the mac & cheese, too. It's something I haven't learned to make well, so I often take advantage of the chance to try it at restaurants. It was creamy and cheesy and had a nice topping -- all the things that I would try to do, if I could actually make it! For a side, it was a huge portion -- the leftovers wouldn't even fit in the 8 oz container that the server brought! I liked the broccoli medley (the vegetable of the day), but it was weird that there were raisins in it. It seemed like whoever came up with it was playing around with the ingredients. It was fine, and a nice change, but I think I'd have left the raisins out. I also ordered iced tea. At first, it tasted a little odd, but I came to like it. The server was very good about bringing refills. There was another server who also came around to fill water glasses & kept trying to put water in my iced tea. I stopped her the first 2 times, but she finally got it when my head was turned. Good thing I was nearly done with it! All in all, I was pleased with Yard Bird and will undoubtedly return.
(4)
Desiree A.
all of our food came cold. We ordered the sampler that included sausage and cornbread and we got out food and the sausage and cornbread were both missing. Nachos were cold along with all the barbecue meats. Definitely won't be back.
(1)
Richard B.
I read some reviews that were less than positive so I was reluctant to try it. So glad I did. This place is great. Real smoke meats with great flavor even without the sauce.
(4)
Tim K.
The pulled pork and beef brisket with the "red" barbecue sauce are my favorites. The gumbo is especially awesome! The veggie salad is delicious and the pepperoncini's in it give the salad a nice kick. We really enjoy eating at the bar. They serve beer, liquor, and wine, and the staff is very attentive and friendly. We like to eat here regularly, and we especially enjoy running into our friends and neighbors while here. There's a real sense of community at Yardbird.
Fifth time here & still just feeling ehhhh about it. Really want to love it but food is consistently hit or miss & service just isn't good:( Total bummer...
(3)
Brian M.
Great food and atmosphere! Proud to see this as a great Keego harbor establishment. Amazing Barbecue and affordable. The brisket is to die for! Oy!
(5)
Sonja T.
It took over an hour to get our food (3 BBQ chickens and Mac and cheese). The half chicken which was so dry it felt like saw dust in my mouth. I told the waitress who offered a replacement. My family's chicken was also dry so I ordered a hot dog instead. They didn't offer to take it off the bill and replace it with the cheaper hot dog and it took so long to see a manger, we just paid it and left. We have given the food here several chances because we like the atmosphere but I am tired of getting bad food, and it's not cheap. I may return for a drink at the bar, but that's it.
(1)
Abbigail R.
Service is terrible, I had called in a carry out for a burger, she told me 15, 20 mins until it would be done, I got there 15 mins later and when I came in and told her my name she said Oh, it's gonna be another 15 20 your order hasn't been put in yet, mind you it's a Tuesday night and it was slow, I sit for for another 10 mins and I hear the hostess tell the waitress that my order still hadn't been put in, so I complained and stated I called in 25 mins ago for a carry out, thankfully the waitress rushed and said she will Have it made on the fly and I left 10 Mins later. This was my first visit and my last
(2)
David H.
Have been wanting to try this place since I started working closer to their location. Had the pleasure like so many others to enjoy Jeremy in its first couple of years in business. Seems like it lost its identity, back then... Now it's yardbird a smoked meats concept! Came in yesterday, service was attentive (it was 4:30pm) yet lacked menu knowledge? At the table we all shared the fried chicken, brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs and the sausage. The sides at the table were fries, baked beans, green bean casserole, Mac and cheese, and buttermilk coleslaw. Guess you could say that e tried a good amount. First things first, brisket had flavor, (not a smoke ring to be found?) there's a smoker out back, is it for looks? It wasn't on, do they smoke meats once a week...if so sad. The problem was that the brisket wasn't moist in any way, super dry. Not the awesome sliced when you order it Slows brisket. The pork was dry as well with no real smoke flavor, again tasted as if the pork was smoked last week and heated and served! Dry and under whelming is an understatement. The baby back ribs were fall of the bone tender, and most real BBQ fans like a little chew to their ribs. Again I looked for the smoke ring and no dice? Baby back ribs are my favorite, and these were ok, nothing special... the fried chicken was ok, lots of batter and overcooked meat inside. The sausage was just fine for store bought, that's all I can say. Sides, cornbread was Delish, baked beans not so tender? The green bean casserole was average, the Mac is pretty good, the coleslaw should be scrapped from the menu it straight sucks! The sauces are ok again nothing special. Its great that this area is jumping on the bandwagon of the current culinary scene, only problem is they are about 8 years behind, and there's a train called SLOWS coming to Pontiac...
(2)
David C.
The pork I was served had apparently been fairly dried out then saturated with water to reconstitute it. It was very bland and watery-mushy. No real pork or smoke flavor. Don't waste your money. These people don't know smoked meat. Other members of my party had other things and were not impressed. The only thing I tasted that was decent were the fried green tomatoes.
(1)
Jeff K.
Went with my boys a few weeks ago. Service was pretty slow all around. Only had 2 people serving the whole place, which was a bit more than half full. Food on the other hand was almost all really good. Brisket was some of the best that I've had. Very thick cut which was unusual, but was really outstanding. The ribs were also excellent. Very tender with a nice crust on them. Pork was just OK, decent smoke flavor and the only meat that needed sauce. Sausage was good, just a little bit of spice and nice and crisp. Fries were good and the Mac & Cheese was really good. Very creamy with the addition of crackers sprinkled on top being a good thing. I kept things simple with just the straight BBQ sampler and kids ribs and everyone was very happy. We'll be back for sure.
(4)
V P.
This place was ok-the service was abysmal no explanation of anything. Water was prompt drinks were not- delayed considerably for all because I ask if the gin they used was gluten free. When we asked if they had a full bar we were handed a list of "drinks available" so I guess if I wanted a Long Island or just a gin straight up that was not an option. Because I have a dietary problem I called ahead and asked if they had a gluten free menu- I was told to just ask my server and they could guide me to their gluten free options. So- I did, she did not have a clue. I asked about the fries the reply I guess so I'll check- never really got an answer-hope they were should know soon.Nope-not gluten free-be very careful here. We were all served, food was ok nothing to go back for-that coupled with the very lackluster service, I won't be back. I understand the concept I don't understand poorly trained not happy to see you staff. And if you don't want to serve people with special food problems be up front about it. Thank God my problem is not life threatening, but gee whiz! If you go-silverware is in a jar on the table, your napkin is the roll of brown paper towel in the middle of the table, you have to ask for salt and pepper. No one will tell you these things.
(2)
Mark B.
Stopped in for dinner tonight. Hostess said there would be a thirty minute wait. No problem, we will sit at the bar and wait. The bartender tells us we can eat at the bar but there will be a forty five minute wait for food. The restaurant is about seventy percent filled so this seems a bit odd. We pass and go elsewhere. What a shame. I was looking forward to eating here.
(1)
Steve K.
How many ways can I say horrible? We used to love Jeremy when that first opened, then, over the years, sadly watched as it went downhill. Sort of feel like the owner/chef feels "nobody understands him" and thus has a rather ambivalent attitude toward clientele. When Jeremy shut down, we figured it was due to dwindling business. We were happy to see the space reconfigured as a "smoked meats" spot, because we love BBQ, etc. Hmmm . . . Our first visit was horrible. Plain horrible, in every way. I'm thinking they confuse "smoked meats" with "dry meats," as everything we had was dried out - burgers, St. Louis ribs & pulled pork. Blech. What was worse, was that, even though the place was NOT crowded, it took forever to even get menus. Then forever on water. Same on drinks. When she finally brought our drinks after 20 mins, she had the gall to actually ask if we were READY to order! Uh, yeah! She took our order, then disappeared for another 30 mins. Seriously. I approached another server, asking him where our waitress went - even though I saw her chatting with friends out on the patio. Our drinks were long empty. I even asked for a new server. When our food finally arrived, as noted, DRY!! Asked to speak to a mgr - she was semi-sympathetic, but very limp "apology" about still working out the kinks. Uh, huh. I think that's what soft openings are for. No offer of free drink or dessert, no adjustment to bill. No. Going. Back. The last straw was that at tip time, our waitress was all over us - but only to completely throw her colleagues under the bus, telling us that she was sooo busy covering for those other "loser" servers (yup, she actually said that) she felt guilty for having to neglect us. I neglected her a tad with the tip. Good luck, Jeremy.
(1)
Mike K.
We have eaten there three times since they opened. The food is outstanding and the staff people are all very friendly and accommodating. We will be regulars for sure. The place is small and parking is limited so go early.
(5)
Joe D.
I love this place. They don't take reservations for parties under 6. But my group of 4 went across the street for predinner drinks at B-1's and they texted us when the table was ready. Service was awesome (Stephanie was our waitress). I highly recommend the sampler platter and adding on the ribs for an extra $3. Overall, price, quality, and service was 5 stars. This is my new fav restaurant.
(5)
Xxxxxxxx X.
Wish I could say more good things. Service was terrible. Waitress not even willing to make eye contract with our group of 3. Was rushed and insincere. No wine list for wine drinkers in our group. Just a few "house" wines. I ordered a salad that was supposed to have been made with mixed baby greens and roasted beets. Instead, substituted shredded head lettuce (was brown) and what tasted like beets out of a jar -not fresh. Dressings tasted like bottled and not house made. Sides were mediocre. I gave two stars since the two others in our party like the chicken and shredded meat.
(2)
Jennifer P.
The food is amazing and the atmosphere is even better. A great place to hang out especially in the summer with the openness to the outside! Our food was amazing! The contractor burger was amazing and my hubby had a combo plate which was too die.... The Mac and cheese side was so yummy. The meats were salted and peppered which gave them a different and great taste above other places like Slow's. Highly recommend. Parking is no problem, no wait for tables either...
(5)
Ken M.
Had the itch for the BBQ chicken when I was leaving work tonight. There just are not enough BBQ joints around. Went on Yelp and found this place, called and ordered some takeout. The chicken was good but the sauces were excellent. Side of beans deelish, cole slaw tasty and a nice homemade cornbread. Best BBQ chicken ever eaten? No. But for 14 bucks for a half chicken and 2 big sides it was perfect. I'll be back to sample some beefier items next time. I recommend giving it a try
(4)
Staxx D.
Very friendly staff. Beers are cold. Great BBQ - I like the Sammie sampler and the big apple pie. kids love the burgers. Parmesan Tots too. The area needs more restaurants and this was a great addition to the area. Straight ahead restaurant with casual vibe.
(4)
Grande B.
Went to Yard Bird for the first time tonight. I thought the food was great and I'm so happy that there's a legitimate bbq place nearby. I went in a little apprehensively considering some of the previous negative reviews and I'm glad to say that my experience was nothing like theirs. We went at 7p on a Thursday night and were seated immediately. Our waitress was kind and courteous and served us well. Upon sitting down I looked at the plate of the guy next to me and it looked amazing - he ordered the chicken and a side of ribs. He said it was great and that he ordered too much! My wife and I ended up getting the pulled pork that included 2 sides and cornbread. The pulled pork was great - tasty and juicy. Not dry and not too salty. Our sides were mac 'n cheese and collared greens. Mac 'n cheese was surprisingly good and very creamy. Collared greens were also good and not too salty - although the portion was a little small. Speaking of small portions, the cornbread was a joke - it may have been a 1"X1" portion. We also got a side of fried green tomatoes - and it was just two slices. They weren't bad, but I wouldn't get them again (but I'll definitely get the mac 'n cheese and collared greens again). The sauces at Yard Bird were pretty good. The plain Red bbq sauce was good. Harbor Heat was ok - I like the spice, but the garlic was a little much for me. I also enjoyed the Yeller mustard - it went well with the Fried Green Tomatoes. I look forward to going back to Yard Bird and trying other things - specifically their brisket and chicken. I love Slow's (used to live next door) and also love Union Woodshop. IMO Slow's has the best sauces and the best mac 'n cheese. The pulled pork at Slow's and Union are about the same to me. Yard Bird is a great alternative for me, especially since it's only a few minutes away - and I wouldn't feel like I was settling if I chose to go to Yard Bird instead. I anticipate that it'll be a place we frequent quite regularly!
(4)
Vicky D.
Nope, I can't stomach the smoked meats with the dry rubs. I much prefer the old menu and the atmosphere. The rubs are way too much. This food is not worthy ofJeremy Grandin. Menu is screwed up too. No apple slaw, no onion rings.
(1)
Wendy B.
Very disappointed. Fish was so spicy you couldn't taste the fish or the smoke. Waitress not too pleasant either. Too bad.
(2)
Eric M.
Very disappointed. I ordered $90 worth of takeout and both racks of different ribs were very dry. The sampler was meager and also dry. For sides, you got very Small portion sizes for the money. Even the obviously young girl who took my order was rude when she asked how to spell my name. The Lakes area still lacks a decent bbq place.
(1)
Brad G.
Well they been open a few weeks now and service is picking up. The food was awesome I really liked the meal that I had. My only complaint, well 2, is country music and the bees. This is Michigan, not Kentucky, they should have maybe blues music... it would be much better. I'm not one for eating outdoors so I don't like the insects flying around my food. So the music choice and open dining to the outside world just isn't my thing. My son says they should specify Canadian bacon instead of bacon...it is important.
(3)
Maria E.
I have to say as I was reading The reviews on my way here I was concerned as to what I might find. But upon getting here on Friday for a cocktail and a good meal I found that none of the reviews that I had already read really apply to what I was experiencing. I had the Yardbird fried chicken with coleslawand mashed potatoes. My D enjoyed his beer and I have to say their special Sylvan Bella cocktail was very good the waitstaff was amazing friendly and the bartender even came out to explain where the beer we were drinking was from. I recommend for a great place to unwind meet friends or just grab a quick bite.
(5)
B B.
Service was very friendly albeit slow. We ordered the parm tator tots for an appetizer, they were ok, nothing special or very flavorful.Husband ordered the beef brisket, which he liked.my dad ordered a hamburger which he seemed to enjoy. I got the fried green tomato enter which wasn't very good, wouldn't order it again. It came with Mac n cheese which was pretty good although a bit spicy and the corn bread which was loaded with jalapeños. I wouldnt order the corn bread again, I'm allergic to peppers and specifically asked about the Mac n cheese and the corn bread and was to there was no spice whatsoever. My dad ordered a vernors float but it's made with Canadian dry, that's not vernors lol. All in all it was a decent experience for the guys, not so much for me. They do have high chairs there for children and we appreciated that.took about 20 mins for our check an had to ask several times for it. Be prepare to wait a bit for food and drinks even if it's not very busy.
(3)
Olivia J.
I had the pulled pork sandwich which was amazing ! All the sauces were great and the pulled pork was tender. My husband has baby back ribs which he enjoyed as well. My first time here and I'll be back. Good spot and our waitress was great.
(4)
Vera G.
Truly disappointed. I have traveled the Carolinas,thru the middle south to Texas and the west to follow my passion for smoked cooking. If Jeremy is the Pit Master, he failed big time. The brisket was dried out and tough as were the glazed baby back ribs. The Mac and cheese was average. If the people who frequent Yardbird think this is what smoke ribs and brisket taste like they will be turned off to this wonderful style. Jim
(1)
Elizabeth T.
Is it possible to rate -0 ? Smoked meats? Only if you consider meat doused in Liquid Smoke smoked meat.It's a travesty to call this smoked meat! Nothing is right on the menu. Buttermilk coleslaw? In what universe? The sides are very small which is actually good because they are terrible. Fried green tomatoes are NOT a main dish, they are a side. They are also sliced thin, coated in cornmeal and fried. Not big chunks of some sour tasting lump that you only call a tomato because the menu says it is. Burger King is more authentic.
(1)
Mark S.
No frills kind of rustic atmosphere. Food was very good. I tried the brisket with slaw and beans. Meat was very tender and smokey. Slaw could have used more flavor. SS had the Yard Chips which is a Nacho with pulled pork. Excellent flavor with an interesting choice of cheeses.
(4)
Joe M.
Had dinner again at Yardbird and it keeps getting better with every different menu item I try. I always get the Real Gumbo and the name suggests it's Real and could be called Legit Gumbo, some of the best I've ever had - thick, hearty and full of flavor. For my entree, I ordered the half slab of baby back ribs, dry w/ a side of the Mac and Cheese, as well as a side of the Green Bean Casserole. The ribs were money! Great Bark, defined Smoke Ring, thick Loin Meat and the Chine. They looked beautiful, and the smell of the apple and cherry woods was subtle but distinctive. I'm not sure if these ribs came from a Berkshire or Mulefoot bred stock, but the pork flavor was very tasty. To say these ribs were great would be an understatement. I got them dry so I could try all the sauces and The Northern Red was my favorite - good flavor and sweet. Sides were good too. The Mac & Cheese is topped with Ritz crackers and the only thing I can say that would make it better, would be another serving. The Green Bean Casserole was good and the fresh green beans make it a real star. I normally don't get the dessert, but seeing as there was a daily Homemade Cake as well as a Seasonal Cobbler or Pie, I took a chance on the cake because everyone needs a little cake. The cake of the day was a white cake topped with pineapple, cream cheese frosting, crumbled Heath Bar and drizzled with caramel -. When the server described the cake, it sounded just like something you'd find in a roadside BBQ joint along I-84 in South Georgia. This cake takes you down to the south. And the homemade caramel sealed the deal. This cake did not disappoint at all...moist and rich, sweet and salty, and light and airy all in the same dish was a perfect way to end another great meal at Yardbird. The Yard Bird's interpretation of BBQ is a refreshing alternative to what Detroit has had for a while, which is a lot of aroma and little to no substance. And it's a great addition to Orchard Lake Road and Cass Lake Road area.
(5)
Gayle E.
Whether or not the food is good I will never know. I can't say the service was "bad" because we didn't receive any service. Hostess passed by 5 times before realizing we were there to sit and eat and not tagging along with some guy getting a to go order. Waited 15 minutes for someone to acknowledge us- never happened. The owner should consider having an experienced adult manage this establishment and not leave it for 18 year olds whose mothers would be ashamed of their clothing to attempt to run the place. Sorry to say no changing a first impression
(1)
Natasha H.
I don't know what negatives people are finding here. It is delicious! Never had a bad menu item in our few visits. Can't wait to return and try new things!
(5)
Rick B.
Have been in several times since they have opened, everything on the appetizer menu is a home run. The pig cakes are especially amazing. I had the brisket dip sandwich last time and it was really good. The brisket was great, but I also really liked the bread it was on. It was just sturdy enough to dip and not become a mess. Check out the craft beer prices! What a steal. They had Griffin Claw screamin pumpkin. One of my faves! Service has been good and the owner or manager very friendly.
(5)
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Address :1978 Cass Lake Rd
Keego Harbor, MI, 48320
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Caitlin F.
I understand that this place is recently re-branded and opened...but our meal earlier this week just missed the mark. The previous reviewer's say the food is good...and I simply can't give a blanket statement like that. There are a couple tasty things on the menu (fried chicken!!), but for the most part, it seems as if the chef is uncomfortable with BBQ. I fear that the owners are just hopping on the BBQ bandwagon, and attempting to compete with the likes of The Woodshop, Slow's, etc. I desperately want more quality restaurants in this general area to thrive. I'm hoping the owners of Yard Bird are open to the criticism presented here on Yelp. The restaurant itself is charming, rustic, and cozy. My only complaint about the atmosphere was the contemporary country music. Others might disagree, but I feel so alienated when I have to hear "save a horse, ride a cowboy", and other trashy anthems. I'm trying to eat here, man. As far as food, the fried chicken is FABULOUS. Crispy, juicy, flavorful...yum. Get the fried chicken. The roasted apples were also delicious, I really liked that they had savory herbs paired with them instead of your typical brown sugar or maple syrup. Everything else was, well, just alright. The macaroni and cheese had a good flavor, but the cracker crust was too chunky and thick for my liking. The andouille sausage tasted like regular ol' kielbasa. The smoked meats (brisket & pulled pork) we're trimmed properly, had huge chunks of fat, and just weren't all that good. I expect brisket to come in slices, this was just falling apart and I couldn't really tell the difference between that and the pork. The cornbread is awful. Dry, bland, entirely disappointing. I don't understand how a chef would make that cornbread and taste it and say "yeah, that's okay to serve!" I question whether they have a true BBQ pitmaster cooking the meats, or if it is just a hobby of the chef's and they decided to take a stab at a restaurant. The BBQ sauce was house made and really, just okay. It was a typical Northern style BBQ sauce. I prefer a variety of sauce (hot, mustard, vinegar, etc.) Another huge disappointment was the "sheet cake." It was regular chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I have my suspicions that it wasn't house made either, it just didn't have a fresh-baked taste. As far as the service, it was okay. Our waitress was overwhelmed, even though the place wasn't packed. Busy, but not crazy. She didn't know what beers were on tap, nor what kind of beer was what. She offered us an "IRA" instead of an IPA. Even if you don't drink beer, you need to know what you're selling. They also only had the carry-out menus which only listed the food, so we didn't know what drinks were available. Apparently, there was a SNAFU with the company that printed the in-house menus. A simple was to remedy this would have been to print off a handful of temporary drink menus to pass out with the carry out menus. We'll come back and try again in a few months. Truly, I want to see more quality restaurants in this area exceed, because most stuff in the greater West Bloomfield area is garbage. I hope the owners can tweak their recipes and get the help they need to solve the problems and reach success. (And if they need a cornbread or Texas sheet cake recipe, send me a message.)
(2)Drew B.
The tater tots were fabulous!! Chunks of brisket smothered in slaw and BBQ sauce, seriously yum!! We also had the loaded chili, not your traditional chili but non the less amazing!! House drinks were creative and well worth a try, we tried three and all were great. Definitely worth the drive.
(5)Daniel R.
Hearing mixed reviews about this restaurant already, I wanted to try it out for myself. I came in promptly when they opened and was greeted and seated right away. Our server Christina was well informed and her suggestions were both personal and professional. I would def recommend her as a server. Pork Cakes were delicious for a starter and my Caesar salad was well dressed and seasoned perfectly. My Bo Dip was good but not great. The yardbird on the other hand was terrific, juicy and a good enough reason to go back to this restaurant. I could of done without the cornbread and the Mac and cheese came out barely warm. Altogether It has its early kinks but Jeremy is doing something great at this location.
(5)Mike C.
Was very excited to try this place for the first time at the Polish Fair a few weeks ago. Unfortunately when we arrived at the fair, we were informed that the health inspector had SHUT THEM DOWN and then they were controversially escorted off the premises. Uh oh! All that aside, my girlfriend and I decided to just visit the location ourselves that same night. We walked in to a hostess on her phone, and a loud CRASH in the kitchen, then looked into the kitchen (open to the public view) to see a cook bending over then placing a spoon in a large pot, hope that wasn't on the ground!?!? The sides were the most edible part. The sampler was a decent size. But I kept getting a taste of gas from the meat so we went straight to dessert and more incredibly strong drinks from our bartender because of our dislike for everything else. Unfortunate, will not be back
(1)Beth R.
Hesitated to go due to other reviews but tried it anyway based on a friends positive experience. Started with the Pig Cakes. They were small and not hot. Probably would have been good if they were warm and not room temperature. One of our parties ordered a salad that was described as "iceberg" and there was romain and other lettuces but no iceberg. We ordered a slab of ribs and the brisket with Mac and cheese, cole slaw, potato salad and fried green tomatoes as the sides. Both meals came with corn bread. The corn bread was dry and stale, the rub on the ribs was so salty it was barely edible and the brisket was fatty and not flavorful. The Mac and cheese was ok as was the cole slaw and pot salad. The fried green tomatoes were tasty but too garlicky. Food came out very quickly and the place was very crowded. The server was friendly but not very knowledgable. This restaurant is a big disappointment for a true BBQ fan.
(1)Lisa S.
Phenomenal..... Great food, great vibe, great prices! Read the menu and don't waste their time if you are not into this type of food, they go out of their way to do this right;). Well done!!
(5)Jason L.
Totally enjoyed my first time here. Service was good and dinner was enjoyable. I will return.
(4)Jim J.
They shouldn't call this a BBQ joint . there was no BBQ too be found anywhere .smoked ribs were OK glazed. Pulled pork was tender an brisket was tough but the burnt end was made too be that way. What's. with the jalapeño in the corn bread. Nothing I ate there invited me back.
(1)Jessica B.
Food was ok, restaurant was freezing! They really need to turn the heat up... it must of been 50 in there! Resturant is also very smoky. I don't think I will be back unless it's summer time when it's warm and I can sit outside to avoid the smoke smell in my clothes and hair.
(2)OJ J.
Just left yard bird smoked meats and I have to say it was a little bit different bbq for me . They are over thinking bbq . Ribs were tender and juicy but the sauce was not good .if it had a normal sauce they would've been A1. Brisket was on point . Fried chicken wasn't bad but not alot of flavor . Pulled pork was just pulled pork . Sides were flavorless. Who puts greenpepper and onion in coleslaw . Any ways wouldnt go back . Get it anywhere
(3)Yvonne N.
Disappointed. We were told this place was as good as the Woodshop in Clarkston, not even close. And the staff is not friendly at all, our server barely cracked a smile. I thought by mentioning it was our first time there she might have a reaction and explain the menu or recommend something...nothing. Maybe it was a bad night. We don't live that far, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there. The food was good but not good enough for me to want to go back.
(2)Anthony C.
Slow service, took 20 minutes to get menus, 40 minutes to get food, dry and tasteless, 2/10 would not recommend. Dissatisfied and disappointed.
(1)W L.
I really wanted this to be good, BBQ tasted like fuel, sides were passable, sauces were forgettable. The things I liked most were the waitstaff and the decor. Will wait a bit and give it another try in a month or so.
(2)Steve M.
Wow - went in with low expectations & came out impressed. Got the sampler with Ribs instead with the dry rub. Everything was great - yellow sauce was the best I've ever had. Mac & Cheese was very good - just not amazing. Good experience all around & will definitely come back!
(4)Lo B.
My husband and I have been here several times previously, and each time it's getting worse. We have had 1 great meal here, but that's out of about 5 meals. The service this past time was terrible. It took about 10 minutes for someone to even greet us at our table. We went the whole meal without anyone checking on us, which meant no drinks at all. I actually had to walk to the bar myself to refill my water glass. The waitress never apologized for anything, or asked if she could get us anything else. Instead, we were greeted with the bill and that was it. The meat on our sandwiches was very fatty and everything was just kind of cold and tasted reheated. The parking lot is a nightmare as well. If you want good BBQ, take the time to head to the Union Woodshop. It's a long wait to get seated, but it's worth good service, big portions, and tasty food. Yardbird is overpriced and under-performing! I give this place another 6 months before its shut down. There are too many other good restaurants around!
(1)Randy R.
A letter I wrote to the owner I would like to tell you about my first time experience with two other people at your restaurant on 11/8/2014 at approx 7:30 pm. Order #4843. Well I must start off by saying you have a great location and it is very nice. And the service we received from our waitress Gina was perfect even under the circumstances and that is why she received a $20.00 tip. The tip was not a reflection of the food though. We are all big smoke bbq ribs/food kind of people and we have been all over the country throughout our travels trying smoked foods, so it is not is something new to me or to the other two people who were with me. Knowing what to expect when you go to a restaurant even if you have not been there is one thing, but no one expects to have cold to warm food served. Also, if I may add, this letter should be used as a tool to help you out and to change the future reviews on your place on Yelp and other online sites because this is a day and age of making a living and staying successful by online reviews. Moving on, the main part of our food, the St. Louis ribs were not hot, but we just dealt with it. The Beef brisket was not hot at all, was served midway through cold to warm just like the ribs. And the same for the pulled pork. We did tell Gina about it and she was deeply concerned and did what she could do and took back our beef briskets, which at $15.75 for four pieces is over priced. Upon receiving the same beef briskets back, you would expect them to be hot, they were not. I did appreciate you not wanting to charge me for the soup and the brisket, but as the owner and operator of many different things like hotels and supermarkets and other things I do understand you have bills to pay so that is why I declined your offer to not charge me for the couple items. I was not looking for a discount or free food like other people do and I do not think you have ever come across someone denying free food or giving you the type of response I did through Gina or in this letter. I was also expecting a manager or the owner to come out and talk to us, which obviously did not happen, proving another disappointment. Another word of advice, regarding the bbq sauces on the table, you need a different selection. Look at other bbq places, they offer a good tasting selection of bbq for the guests on the table. We were just looking for good food that was at least hot, but unfortunately you did not come through on that and you are a new restaurant, you need anyone who first comes there to want to come back. Just think of the people who do not mention anything or complain, you just never see them again. Good luck with everything, I hope you do great there!
(1)Dena O.
Not going back anytime soon. The food was average. I had a salad with the house dressing which was good. Also had the brisket and Mac and cheese which was served luke warm. I liked the flavor of the Mac and cheese but the brisket was ok. There wasn't a great variety of sauces. I had the red which was also ok. They give you a tiny piece of corn bread which is just as well because it was very dry and tasteless. We told our server this and he said we appreciate the comments and if they read these reviews maybe they will get the hint.
(1)Reilly H.
This place is the same location as the former Jeremy's Wine Bar. I believe it may possibly be the same owner. So let's start with the good, or the great for that matter...the food. It really was awesome. If you like BBQ like smoked brisket, chicken, pulled pork, etc. you'll love the food. The decor was also very rustic and original. I thought they did a very good job with it and I love the two big garage doors for nice days. The service on the other hand was horrible! The place was packed and they had two waitresses on staff. It took 15 mins to get water, 30 mins to get our drinks, over an hour to get our food, the buss boy ended up taking our order and messing it up a little, my chili came after my entree and it took 20 mins to get the bill which was all done by the buss boy. We didn't even see our waitress after we placed our drink order. I left a tip because I'm not a jerk but I really felt like I should have given it to the buss boy. Now I knew walking in that they'd only been open a few days and I was taking my chances. Most new restaurants need a couple weeks to work the bugs out and it's not really fair to judge them on their first week, though I'm sure many people do. Also they were slammed at 7p on a Wednesday so maybe they were caught off guard. That said, knowing it's your first week and that first impressions are everything you should be overstaffed just in case. In conclusion, though the service was awful I personally will give them a few weeks and check them out again. The food really was fantastic with a really cool decor! Hopefully they'll quickly work the bugs out of their service. I am understanding about the growing pains of a restaurant's first week but if I go back in a month and things haven't changed I'd be hard pressed to give them a third chance.
(3)John P.
YardBird is crazy good! Im the type of person that, once I find something I like I stick with it. But at YardBird I bounce around, due to the fact that everything Ive tried has been fantastic. The Pig Cakes are a must for an app. Ive never had catfish that melts in your mouth quite like YardBird's Big Fish Dinner. The Pig Apple Pie is a pulled pork sandy with sliced apples and some famous local Michigan cheddar- crazy good. A friend convinced me to try the fried green tomatoes, I normally don't like tomatoes but again, crazy good. Its fun to go with a group of people and snag a little taste off everyone's plate. What goes better with BBQ than beer? The YardBird has an awesome beer line up; Shiner Bock, Norms IPA and Screamin Pumpkin (crazy good) and Miller Lite on draft, with a ton of Michigan beer in bottles and CANS too. Lastly the atmosphere is super cool and eclectic. Two big garage doors open to a streetside patio. Ive never seen anything like it- people drive by and wave from their cars, pedestrians casually stroll by and smile, what a fun place to hang out.
(5)Patti B.
If you want amazing BBQ and fantastic service, go to Yardbird. We sat at the bar where we were well taken care of. Our server knew we were in a bit of a rush and completely accommodated us. I had the City Chicken salad and my husband ordered the fried yardbird. Both meals were outstanding. Incredible favors. And the place just smells good.and the vibe is great.
(5)Patty V.
My friend and I decided to try Yard Bird, the new Jeremy Grandon restaurant in Keego Harbor. We live close by and have wanted to go since it opened. I've got to say that I was very curious to check it out since I loved Jeremy's previous incarnation, Jeremy's, and I had read some "not-so-favorable" reviews of Yard Bird. Well, I've got to say my experience was fantastic! We got there for an early dinner, so we were seated immediately. Our server, Stephanie, was prompt, personable, and extremely knowledgeable of the menu. I asked her for recommendations, and she was more than happy to oblige. We both ended up ordering the Pork, Brisket and Sausage Sampler. It came with two sides, and the sides there are much more interesting and appealing than the normal fries, onion rings or vegetable, although those are available as well. You can have mac and cheese, corn bread with apple butter, bacon dog pit beans, griddle apples, potato salad, sweet and tangy apple slaw, vegetable of the day, beer-battered onion rings and the absolutely-beyond-delicious fried green tomatoes! I tell you, they were fabulous! I could make a whole meal out of them!! Seriously! They're served with a homemade salsa and a scrumptious garlic sauce. So, so good! Now for the meat. The brisket was my favorite and was extremely flavorful, so much so, that I was reluctant to even use any of the 4 different sauces that you can choose from with it. The pulled pork and the sausage were tasty as well. Two of the sauces I liked more than the others...the Northern Red and the Harbor Heat. Yummy! Corn bread with apple butter came with our entrée too. Stephanie was on top of everything. It was a lot of food for me, and both my friend and I took home doggie bags. I'm not a big eater so I can enjoy a couple more meals from that one platter of food. We were too full to try a dessert, so I can't speak to that. There are so many other items on the menu that sound wonderful and I'm anxious to try. Prices are reasonable and vary, so you can pretty much stick to any budget. I would recommend to anyone. I can't wait to go back!!! Good job Chef Jeremy!
(5)Mark D.
I'm picky and quick to complain. We've tried the place twice; ordering salmon sandwich, chicken sandwich, brisket and brisket sandwich. We've also tried the house fries and the cole slaw. We were extremely pleased with the taste of the food and presentation. Everything we ordered was well-prepared and served hot. The brisket is a sheer delight with interesting sauces on the dining table and served with a tasty dipping sauce.. The service was friendly and efficient. My companion enjoys fish and thought the salmon was excellent.
(5)Stephanie E.
Tried it twice. a bit pricy for the amount of food you get. ribs and chicken were tender, but the rub is very dry. Not many choices on the side dishes that are for someone watching their weight. Our waitress looked miserable and never smiled., threw the bill on our table without even saying a word. The rest of the staff seems to congregate at the hostess stand doing not much. one wore her coat with her hands in her pockets. Wasn't sure at first when I came in if she was an employee or staff. Not very happy crowd of employees.
(2)Shannon W.
Everything was so-so, from the server that lacked any personality to the food which was under seasoned.
(3)J R.
The food is good, however the service is terrible. They are not only understaffed, but nobody seems to be managing any aspect of the restaurant operation. On my second visit, my group of 3 was seated at 8:30 pm, we waited over 30 minutes and not one waiter or server came by to even offer a drink or apologize for the delay. The staff was more concerned about moving BBQ sauce from the prior table to bring inside to another one. After realizing we were never going to be served we walked out. I will not be returning until they get it together( has been open over 3 weeks). Not that hard to get a staff and a manager in the keego area. Amateur operation for a rather simple food concept.
(1)John L.
We have dined at Yardbird twice now and both times we have had good service and good food. The menu is innovative and the descriptions of each item make it hard to choose. I would recommend sharing. The apps are the winners here. The chips with brisket are the best thing on the menu. The ribs were very good as were the sandwiches. The chili left something to be desired. Kid friendly with Faygo pops and sundaes. A bit to chilly. Hard surfaces and if you sit on the wall where the garage doors are be prepared to be cold all night. The drinks in the mason jars are cool and strong. The management seems content on standing near the bar all night and seldom makes his way through the room to see how everyone is doing. The waits staff could use a bit of polishing but our servers were attentive. Watch out for the beer prices on the menu not to match the prices on the bill. All in all at great addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Josiah W.
Had the brisket sandwich and it was very salty. Wife had ribs that were nothing special. Mac and cheese was decent. Service was a bit hit or miss. Sat there a long time waiting for a server but they were accommodating and let us move tables to the outside once they came. I liked the ambiance/decor of the restaurant and nice patio but not sure I would make a return trip because the brisket was not good. Maybe I got the wrong thing?
(2)Catherine B.
The decor here is charming and well done with lots of fun, rustic touches, and the waitress was very friendly and very attentive. It probably helped that the person I came with was a familiar face here. I had great salmon over at The Lodge earlier that day, and then got to try the salmon salad here for dinner. I love salmon, what can I say? The salmon here was very well marinated and bursting with flavor, and complemented with fresh veggies. I loved the salmon here just a bit more than the salmon from The Lodge, even though both are different and great in their own rights. Really, though. I still have yet to find salmon in California that compares to what I've had in Michigan, and I'm almost tempted to move to Michigan for it.
(5)Bill S.
By far, the worst smoked meat restaurant I have every had the opportunity to visit. The food was overpriced (but that was the least of the issues). The chili was horrid. It tasted as though it had sat in a cardboard box for a week. The fries (so called "fresh cut") were soggy and seasoned with a sweet seasoning (on fries????). The brisket was so salty I couldn't eat it. Trust me, there are many far superior establishments out there. Then, it took the waitress 10 minutes to take our order. At the end, when she asked if we needed boxes, I told her no, the food was horrible. After she took payment, she then asked "anything I can do to make the situation better?". Now wouldn't you ask that before you have the customer pay?
(2)Michele K.
I always give a restaurant three times before writing them off. This was my 2nd time here and it took a lot to get me to go back. The place has changed for the better. Our food was outstanding, service also. Very nice to see them making things better. I am definitely going back the food was just so yummy one person in our party forget he had a beer he was just raving over the taste of the brisket so much! LOL. Thumbs up for making it right.
(5)Mark B.
We had a hands-down, five star barbeque dining experience last night. Our first time at Yardbird, the three of us each ordered something unique to sample the widest variety. First up we shared a bowl of 'loaded' chili. Great flavor, chunky, no beans and hot temperature-wise. Excellent. I'd have avoided the sour cream had I known about it. Brisket was warm, very moist, nicely smoked and very flavorful. Add-on quarter slabs (3) of St. Louis ribs very, very good without any sauce. Smoked salmon was moist, nicely smoked; pulled pork was tender, moist, nicely smoked mild in flavor so best with one of the seven or eight sauces. Prompt, friendly excellent service by Casey who made great suggestions and was generally a mind reader. I'll be back shortly!
(5)Crysta D.
Love their food. The drinks are good, it's affordable and good service. Got sat right away got our food quickly. I absolutely love the pig cakes they are delicious.
(5)doug r.
I apologize for the poor photo focus, but it was too dim for my tablet's camera to focus properly. A foodie-friend invited me to accompany him for an early dinner at Yard*Bird (formerly Jeremy's). I was curious, as Jeremy's kitchen never Wow!'d me. Then there was their dining room with a few too many tables (fixed). And the valet-thing (fixed). The bldg has been gutted and re-done in the spirit of Vinsetta Garage. The garage doors open to an enlarged patio. Sadly; the patio is only a sidewalk away from Cass Lake Road. But if you are dining with good company, it is not a problem. The remodel has introduced a lot of hard surfaces. There is also a TV (or was it music?) adding to the cacophony. As other dinner guests arrived, the noise level increased noticeably. Having a conversation at a 2-top became increasingly difficult. When the screaming two year-old arrived ... we left. The qty of tables and chairs is appropriate for the space. Plenty of room for guests to move about and servers to do their jobs. The chairs' back brace, squeezes the butt. Uncomfortably so. The chili. I'm from the school of, "anybody that knows beans about chili, knows that there are no beans in chili." It was not intended as a criticism, but the server mistakenly took it as criticism. I think I was able to convince her that it was simply another regional difference. Not bad. Just different. Pleasantly so. YB's chili has a few unanticipated ingredients. The recipe uses pinto(?) beans. Nicely firm, not the typical soft/mush chili bean. +1. Sweet corn in chili? Yup. I've only seen this done once before. It works for me. +1. The meats include chuck, brisket & ground beef. +2. The base? Thin and nicely seasoned. Not the typical thick tomato-y base common to SE Michigan. +1. The bowl was appropriately sized and only $4. For another $1, YB will add salsa, jack cheese, sour cream and pickled jalapenos. No. Thank you. The chili was a pleasant surprise and does not require accoutrements. I chose their sampler for my entree - $17. Pulled pork, sausage & brisket. I loved the pulled pork. Smokey, tasty and not over-salted - hurray! The sausage was a miss. A bit over-cooked(?) and dry. I'm not a brisket guy, but this was good brisket. Good flavor profiles. Not over-salted. Moist. The sauce; the best sauce was the one that we both expected to underwhelm: Harbor Heat, made with beer, vinegar and chili. Thin, spicy and sour. I think it also includes minced garlic. Loved it. I forgot to ask about buying a bottle to take home. The entrees include two sides. I chose cornbread and mac & cheese. The cornbread portion was a wee bit skimpy. Otherwise; it did not disappoint, nor did it wow. I like the way that Beans & Cornbread, does cornbread. I will not order again. The mac & cheese? Y*B's recipe is not what I prefer. I like my mac & cheese the way that Beans & Cornbread does mac & cheese - thick, not creamy. I will not order again. The portion sizes were appropriate, not over-sized. The BBQ was served on butcher paper, directly on the tray. Both simple and low-cost. Not keen about this touch. Not even a little bit. The server was prompt, knowledgeable and attentive. WiFi? They have it. I could not get it to work using the WPA key they provided, "JeremyRes". The business seems CCW friendly and the food:liquor mix does not seem to disqualify CCW. But KHPD's interpretation and routine (mis)behavior is unpredictable enough that I won't risk it. How unpredicatable? In KH, wearing a ballcap backwards will get you a VERY stern lecture about violating the (non-existent) Gang-Wear Ordinance. You've been warned. Website: yardbird.cool - Not a typo: it's a dot-cool site - Works fine in IE. - Works fine in Chrome. - Does not work in my Firefox v31 installation. Will I return? Yes. Primarily because I'm willing to give them another chance. They are considerably more convenient for me than LazyBones, Slows or CAYA. Next trip? Ribs and other sides. I'm a sucker for good tots.
(3)Ashley R.
The portions are perfect size! We tried the Mac n cheese, fried chicken, pulled pork, green beans & corn bread. Everything was great!'
(4)Shelby H.
Yum! I wasn't disappointed. We got the pig cakes for an appetizer and I thought they were good but small. The appetizer only came with two cakes and some coleslaw. For my meal, I got the southwest salad, which is kind of a bbq take on a taco salad. It was delicious. My only complaint about it is that the vinaigrette it comes with doesn't have much flavor. I added bbq sauce to it, which I really enjoyed because I wanted to try all the sauces anyway. As is usual with many bbq restaurants these days, they have a bunch of different sauces on the table to try. They were all good. Their desserts sound delicious, but I didn't have room. Next time.
(4)Chrissy R.
I think they had some opening business hiccups which it has overcome, but I think it's a great neighborhood restaurant, very tasty and each time I have been there the service has been good.
(4)Bryon R.
Great food, good service would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys BBQ!
(5)Susan H.
With all the bad reviews we were tempted not to give this place a try but I'm sure glad we did because the food was great! We had fast service and for MI it was pretty amazing BBQ! We started with the tater tots smothered with pulled pork, cheese and BBQ sauce. Normally cole slaw is on top as well but we opted to get that on the side. They were pretty good! The tater tots on the bottom were huge so if they were smaller there would maybe be a little more crunch to them as they seemed more like big hash brown balls but the dish was still amazing. We then got 1/2 rack of ribs, brisket, and tried the Mac and cheese, smashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and bacon baked beans as our sides along with the corn bread. We loved everything with the exception of the green bean casserole. (I don't think we were a fan of the onions on top as they seemed stale) but aside from that one side dish we were a fan of all of it. The brisket was really juicy and the ribs were thick cuts of meat (baby back style). The corn bread was good but nothing amazing. The Mac and cheese and smashed potatoes were ridiculously good. So was the bacon beans. (That's a hard one to get me to like too!). We stuffed our faces with all this food and washed it down with water and a coke (thank you for not serving Pepsi!) :) We couldn't even think about dessert we were so full! Perhaps next time we will go for drinks and a dessert as they looked like they had a few good options. The dinning area was a little tight so if they took out a table or two there could be more space for guests to enjoy their food but I'm guessing when they open up the doors in the summer time things get a little more spread out. Bottom line: Don't let bad reviews scare you from a place. Most of the bad ones on here look like it was bad because of the staff when they first opened. Give it a try yourself and see what you think!
(4)Nerice G.
I live so close to this restaurant, I want it to be just perfect so I can make it my local hang out. Sadly, I struggle to enter because I know the food will be hit or miss and the service lackluster. I generally order a few things pretty regularly, usually happy with the results. The wings are fabulous, no sauce necessary. The yard chips are a wonderful invention and a must order. The pulled pork is well done, and never disappoints. When entering, and sitting at the bar, I hope to be greeted with a warm smile and service, however, I sit staring at many employees just hoping someone wants to take my money! I don't relax until my food arrives and I hope that after that they don't forget about me. It does not matter whether a busy night or slow gathering, service is the same.. sub-par! I am not a fan of their sauces, but again, growing up in the mid-west I would say I am spoiled. I hope you try the place because you could feel different about the food as well as the service, I just strike out. I only return because it is close to home.
(3)C P.
Very cool place with awesome wait staff but very marginal food. Meat was pretty dry. Sauces were nothing to write about. Fried green tomatoes were almost all bread. Mac and cheese was blah. Onion rings were the best. Fun to visit but won't make this a regular stop.
(3)Angela S.
I was expecting to be blown away here based on all I've heard but was sadly disappointed. We had the Pig Cakes appetizer and it was nothing more than pulled pork meatballs topped with slaw and a splash of BBQ sauce. Pulled pork entree with fried green tomatoes and slaw was underwhelming. The pork a bit dry, the tomatoes bland, and the slaw was bitter. No jalapeño flavor in the cornbread either. I also had a side of mac and cheese and it seemed like they used Velveeta for the base. The sauces didn't stand out with one of them tasting like a grainy watered down French's yellow mustard. I liked that they scratch-bake their cakes but the lemon poppyseed had no lemon flavor and was covered with frozen strawberries. Frozen? Really? I've had much better Q and wouldn't go out of my way for this place. It's beginner BBQ and will most likely sink once Slows opens in Pontiac if they don't step up their game.
(2)Rozy H.
I would never rate this place below four stars unless I had a bad experience. The location is great, it's close to home, the building is nice and the area is safe and clean. The food is totally great and fresh. It's just there's so much good barbecue nowadays it's not exceptional. We wanted a light meal, some good beer and outdoor seating. We got exactly what we wanted and the waitress was great. Never bugged us but was always there. We shared their nacho with brisket and it was perfect. The meats are wonderful. We're blessed. We have plenty of great barbecue in the area. This venue is smaller and more intimate than most barbecue joints. But the food is awesome. Great salads too. You can't go wrong here. Make sure you want a nice intimate place that fills up easily and you're not rushed if they're busy. Be casual and ready to chill a little and you'll be very happy you came. I hope this review sets proper expectations. I'll be back here soon.
(5)Jamie W.
We continue to come to yardbird because of its convenient location and love for barbecue but this place is so hot and cold in terms of having good cooking that we are getting tired of it. The chili can either be amazing or inedible. Their salads can be great or gross. Their hot dogs seem to be pretty dependable. Service is always great though! Oh and the drinks are good too.
(3)Wadim S.
Chicken is amazing!! Briskit is amazing!! Corn bread!! Chilli!! Mac n cheese!! Better than slows!
(4)Janine L.
Food was cold, quality was average. Waitress was not on top of things. Waited a long time for food with no updates. Table was served at different times. Needs a LOT of work to pull it together. Brisket VERY salty. Won't be back until we hear things improve. Too bad, it sounded interesting.
(2)Albert K.
I saw this place a few weeks ago and it looked great from the outside, so I coaxed a buddy of mine to grab dinner there the following week. The menu is unique and the decor/atmosphere is open and casual. We started with loaded parmesan tater tots, and they were delicious. However, they were more like croquettes, as the insides were very smooth. Then I had the sammie sampler, which consisted of the Bo Dip (16-hour smoked brisket, griddled peppers & onions, swiss cheese, smoker jus for dipping, on a potato roll), Pig Pie (16 hour pulled pork shoulder, buttermilk slaw, on a potato roll) and Smokey C (pulled chicken, caramelized onions & peppers, cheddar jack cheese, much sauce (contains peanuts), on a potato roll). I think my favorite was the Pig Pie and the chicken was just behind. The brisket was a bit dry for my tastes. As for the sauces, I was all about the KC (smokey bbq) and the Old Yeller (honey mustard-ish) sauces. I also ordered a side of he jalapeno cornbread. It was okay, but something tasted off with the batch I had. It had an artificial flavor and the orange butter they serve along side it, had the same issue. My friend ordered the Salmon and Farmer salad and in trying some of it, the salmon was very fishy. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, but I found the meats to be a bit under seasoned. It is a place that I would try again, but only if I was in the area or a friend asked.
(3)Sahar S.
I am speechless after many years of enjoying Jeremy, the food and the atmosphere we r greatly disappointed in Yardbird. The food is always cold. And really not great. The salads have been at least a couple days old every time. And service is just ok. We were excited after the long wait to have a new and casual restaurant in an area that greatly needed something good. Excitement is gone.
(1)Lauren W.
Came here for a blogger event...Such a funky and cool spot tucked in the winding roads off Keego Harbor! I loved the decor from the Americana bottle decor at the entrance to the frying pans hanging on the wall. They truly seemed to be symbolic of the delicious home cooking inside! My favorites were the cornbread {seriously awesome} and the brisket with the Midwest sauce. Also, the bourbon butterscotch pudding was off the chain...I would drive 45 minutes just to eat it again :)
(5)Bryan A.
Pros: Outstanding food, Shiner Bock on tap and extremely attractive waitstaff. Cons: Indifferent waitstaff, dirty beer lines and weird parking lot. Took the hot blond wife out for drinks and appetizers last Friday and was delighted to see that this relatively new place had Shiner Bock on tap... until the next day that is. I have a suspicion that the keg lines have not been cleaned in a while because the after-effects of the beer were pretty severe. The Yardchips with brisket were a great value and very delicous, while the Mason Jar Sundae was also a winner. Will definitely be back but drinking bottled beer from now on.
(4)Crystal W.
Went to check out for blogger event. I sampled everything. I really loved the Mac and cheese. It was delicious. I liked that they had different bbq sauce to try.
(4)Renee S.
Excellent smoked salmon. Seasoned well and moist. Reasonably priced. Nice casual atmosphere. Only downside is there is NO call ahead.
(4)Jody K.
I'd been watching the renovation of the restaurant and was very excited to see something new going in there. I'm often looking for a place that has good ribs and such, so I was pleased to see that such a restaurant had moved in. I've also been following the reviews and was unsure what to think, as they're all over the place. Well, I went there tonight with a group of other people. It is definitely loud; I could only hear the people sitting right next to me & directly across from me. (There were 10 of us there.) I did notice that they made some changes to a few of the menu items from what is posted online: they removed the fried green tomatoes and the potato salad, and they raised the prices of the salads. I ordered the 1/2 slab of ribs with the red glaze and chose the mac & cheese and broccoli medley as my sides. When my meal was served first served, it didn't look like that big a portion, but I ended up taking half of it home; the only thing I finished was the vegetables!. The ribs were quite good -- a little spicy, but not overly so, and the sauce was sweet and tangy -- just how I like it. I also enjoyed trying all the other sauces that were on the table. I liked the mac & cheese, too. It's something I haven't learned to make well, so I often take advantage of the chance to try it at restaurants. It was creamy and cheesy and had a nice topping -- all the things that I would try to do, if I could actually make it! For a side, it was a huge portion -- the leftovers wouldn't even fit in the 8 oz container that the server brought! I liked the broccoli medley (the vegetable of the day), but it was weird that there were raisins in it. It seemed like whoever came up with it was playing around with the ingredients. It was fine, and a nice change, but I think I'd have left the raisins out. I also ordered iced tea. At first, it tasted a little odd, but I came to like it. The server was very good about bringing refills. There was another server who also came around to fill water glasses & kept trying to put water in my iced tea. I stopped her the first 2 times, but she finally got it when my head was turned. Good thing I was nearly done with it! All in all, I was pleased with Yard Bird and will undoubtedly return.
(4)Desiree A.
all of our food came cold. We ordered the sampler that included sausage and cornbread and we got out food and the sausage and cornbread were both missing. Nachos were cold along with all the barbecue meats. Definitely won't be back.
(1)Richard B.
I read some reviews that were less than positive so I was reluctant to try it. So glad I did. This place is great. Real smoke meats with great flavor even without the sauce.
(4)Tim K.
The pulled pork and beef brisket with the "red" barbecue sauce are my favorites. The gumbo is especially awesome! The veggie salad is delicious and the pepperoncini's in it give the salad a nice kick. We really enjoy eating at the bar. They serve beer, liquor, and wine, and the staff is very attentive and friendly. We like to eat here regularly, and we especially enjoy running into our friends and neighbors while here. There's a real sense of community at Yardbird.
(5)Sarah G.
Really good date night! We went on a Friday night and the place was packed even when we left at 9:00pm. I had the beef brisket plate with Mac and cheese and coleslaw sides. Brisket: A, Mac and Cheese: A+, Clowslaw: C, Cornbread: A+. I am really picky about cornbread, theirs is so fluffy and light with the perfect hint of jalapeño. Amazing. The Mac and cheese was incredible. I don't like when the cheese is just melted block cheese that is clumpy. Somehow the creator turns it into liquid gold. So good. The brisket was really smokey and delicious. Fiancé had the Pig Apple Pie sandwich. He loved it and said the apples were great. He got it with a side on onion rings that I didn't taste but he said were great. They were crunchy and flavorful. I got a Sylvan Belle cocktail, which was a nice mix or sweet and vodka flavor. Fiancé had a bottle of Coors Light. Overall a solid A on food and drinks. One small gripe about service, which was that the drinks took too long to come out. That should be lickity-split. Two small gripes about the atmosphere: 1. It was relay crowded and I don't think it was too jammed but it would be better if the servers computer was closer to the kitchen/bar so they are walking through tables just to get there. 2. Server Attire: there are no uniforms, so it's hard to tell who works there, but more so that one server looked like a total slob (not out server, ours was great) but maybe a shirt or apron or something along with some guidelines. Overall, a great night and we'll be back to try more of the menu! Hopefully the pig cakes and hot dogs.
(4)Dani M.
Fifth time here & still just feeling ehhhh about it. Really want to love it but food is consistently hit or miss & service just isn't good:( Total bummer...
(3)Brian M.
Great food and atmosphere! Proud to see this as a great Keego harbor establishment. Amazing Barbecue and affordable. The brisket is to die for! Oy!
(5)Sonja T.
It took over an hour to get our food (3 BBQ chickens and Mac and cheese). The half chicken which was so dry it felt like saw dust in my mouth. I told the waitress who offered a replacement. My family's chicken was also dry so I ordered a hot dog instead. They didn't offer to take it off the bill and replace it with the cheaper hot dog and it took so long to see a manger, we just paid it and left. We have given the food here several chances because we like the atmosphere but I am tired of getting bad food, and it's not cheap. I may return for a drink at the bar, but that's it.
(1)Abbigail R.
Service is terrible, I had called in a carry out for a burger, she told me 15, 20 mins until it would be done, I got there 15 mins later and when I came in and told her my name she said Oh, it's gonna be another 15 20 your order hasn't been put in yet, mind you it's a Tuesday night and it was slow, I sit for for another 10 mins and I hear the hostess tell the waitress that my order still hadn't been put in, so I complained and stated I called in 25 mins ago for a carry out, thankfully the waitress rushed and said she will Have it made on the fly and I left 10 Mins later. This was my first visit and my last
(2)David H.
Have been wanting to try this place since I started working closer to their location. Had the pleasure like so many others to enjoy Jeremy in its first couple of years in business. Seems like it lost its identity, back then... Now it's yardbird a smoked meats concept! Came in yesterday, service was attentive (it was 4:30pm) yet lacked menu knowledge? At the table we all shared the fried chicken, brisket, pulled pork, baby back ribs and the sausage. The sides at the table were fries, baked beans, green bean casserole, Mac and cheese, and buttermilk coleslaw. Guess you could say that e tried a good amount. First things first, brisket had flavor, (not a smoke ring to be found?) there's a smoker out back, is it for looks? It wasn't on, do they smoke meats once a week...if so sad. The problem was that the brisket wasn't moist in any way, super dry. Not the awesome sliced when you order it Slows brisket. The pork was dry as well with no real smoke flavor, again tasted as if the pork was smoked last week and heated and served! Dry and under whelming is an understatement. The baby back ribs were fall of the bone tender, and most real BBQ fans like a little chew to their ribs. Again I looked for the smoke ring and no dice? Baby back ribs are my favorite, and these were ok, nothing special... the fried chicken was ok, lots of batter and overcooked meat inside. The sausage was just fine for store bought, that's all I can say. Sides, cornbread was Delish, baked beans not so tender? The green bean casserole was average, the Mac is pretty good, the coleslaw should be scrapped from the menu it straight sucks! The sauces are ok again nothing special. Its great that this area is jumping on the bandwagon of the current culinary scene, only problem is they are about 8 years behind, and there's a train called SLOWS coming to Pontiac...
(2)David C.
The pork I was served had apparently been fairly dried out then saturated with water to reconstitute it. It was very bland and watery-mushy. No real pork or smoke flavor. Don't waste your money. These people don't know smoked meat. Other members of my party had other things and were not impressed. The only thing I tasted that was decent were the fried green tomatoes.
(1)Jeff K.
Went with my boys a few weeks ago. Service was pretty slow all around. Only had 2 people serving the whole place, which was a bit more than half full. Food on the other hand was almost all really good. Brisket was some of the best that I've had. Very thick cut which was unusual, but was really outstanding. The ribs were also excellent. Very tender with a nice crust on them. Pork was just OK, decent smoke flavor and the only meat that needed sauce. Sausage was good, just a little bit of spice and nice and crisp. Fries were good and the Mac & Cheese was really good. Very creamy with the addition of crackers sprinkled on top being a good thing. I kept things simple with just the straight BBQ sampler and kids ribs and everyone was very happy. We'll be back for sure.
(4)V P.
This place was ok-the service was abysmal no explanation of anything. Water was prompt drinks were not- delayed considerably for all because I ask if the gin they used was gluten free. When we asked if they had a full bar we were handed a list of "drinks available" so I guess if I wanted a Long Island or just a gin straight up that was not an option. Because I have a dietary problem I called ahead and asked if they had a gluten free menu- I was told to just ask my server and they could guide me to their gluten free options. So- I did, she did not have a clue. I asked about the fries the reply I guess so I'll check- never really got an answer-hope they were should know soon.Nope-not gluten free-be very careful here. We were all served, food was ok nothing to go back for-that coupled with the very lackluster service, I won't be back. I understand the concept I don't understand poorly trained not happy to see you staff. And if you don't want to serve people with special food problems be up front about it. Thank God my problem is not life threatening, but gee whiz! If you go-silverware is in a jar on the table, your napkin is the roll of brown paper towel in the middle of the table, you have to ask for salt and pepper. No one will tell you these things.
(2)Mark B.
Stopped in for dinner tonight. Hostess said there would be a thirty minute wait. No problem, we will sit at the bar and wait. The bartender tells us we can eat at the bar but there will be a forty five minute wait for food. The restaurant is about seventy percent filled so this seems a bit odd. We pass and go elsewhere. What a shame. I was looking forward to eating here.
(1)Steve K.
How many ways can I say horrible? We used to love Jeremy when that first opened, then, over the years, sadly watched as it went downhill. Sort of feel like the owner/chef feels "nobody understands him" and thus has a rather ambivalent attitude toward clientele. When Jeremy shut down, we figured it was due to dwindling business. We were happy to see the space reconfigured as a "smoked meats" spot, because we love BBQ, etc. Hmmm . . . Our first visit was horrible. Plain horrible, in every way. I'm thinking they confuse "smoked meats" with "dry meats," as everything we had was dried out - burgers, St. Louis ribs & pulled pork. Blech. What was worse, was that, even though the place was NOT crowded, it took forever to even get menus. Then forever on water. Same on drinks. When she finally brought our drinks after 20 mins, she had the gall to actually ask if we were READY to order! Uh, yeah! She took our order, then disappeared for another 30 mins. Seriously. I approached another server, asking him where our waitress went - even though I saw her chatting with friends out on the patio. Our drinks were long empty. I even asked for a new server. When our food finally arrived, as noted, DRY!! Asked to speak to a mgr - she was semi-sympathetic, but very limp "apology" about still working out the kinks. Uh, huh. I think that's what soft openings are for. No offer of free drink or dessert, no adjustment to bill. No. Going. Back. The last straw was that at tip time, our waitress was all over us - but only to completely throw her colleagues under the bus, telling us that she was sooo busy covering for those other "loser" servers (yup, she actually said that) she felt guilty for having to neglect us. I neglected her a tad with the tip. Good luck, Jeremy.
(1)Mike K.
We have eaten there three times since they opened. The food is outstanding and the staff people are all very friendly and accommodating. We will be regulars for sure. The place is small and parking is limited so go early.
(5)Joe D.
I love this place. They don't take reservations for parties under 6. But my group of 4 went across the street for predinner drinks at B-1's and they texted us when the table was ready. Service was awesome (Stephanie was our waitress). I highly recommend the sampler platter and adding on the ribs for an extra $3. Overall, price, quality, and service was 5 stars. This is my new fav restaurant.
(5)Xxxxxxxx X.
Wish I could say more good things. Service was terrible. Waitress not even willing to make eye contract with our group of 3. Was rushed and insincere. No wine list for wine drinkers in our group. Just a few "house" wines. I ordered a salad that was supposed to have been made with mixed baby greens and roasted beets. Instead, substituted shredded head lettuce (was brown) and what tasted like beets out of a jar -not fresh. Dressings tasted like bottled and not house made. Sides were mediocre. I gave two stars since the two others in our party like the chicken and shredded meat.
(2)Jennifer P.
The food is amazing and the atmosphere is even better. A great place to hang out especially in the summer with the openness to the outside! Our food was amazing! The contractor burger was amazing and my hubby had a combo plate which was too die.... The Mac and cheese side was so yummy. The meats were salted and peppered which gave them a different and great taste above other places like Slow's. Highly recommend. Parking is no problem, no wait for tables either...
(5)Ken M.
Had the itch for the BBQ chicken when I was leaving work tonight. There just are not enough BBQ joints around. Went on Yelp and found this place, called and ordered some takeout. The chicken was good but the sauces were excellent. Side of beans deelish, cole slaw tasty and a nice homemade cornbread. Best BBQ chicken ever eaten? No. But for 14 bucks for a half chicken and 2 big sides it was perfect. I'll be back to sample some beefier items next time. I recommend giving it a try
(4)Staxx D.
Very friendly staff. Beers are cold. Great BBQ - I like the Sammie sampler and the big apple pie. kids love the burgers. Parmesan Tots too. The area needs more restaurants and this was a great addition to the area. Straight ahead restaurant with casual vibe.
(4)Grande B.
Went to Yard Bird for the first time tonight. I thought the food was great and I'm so happy that there's a legitimate bbq place nearby. I went in a little apprehensively considering some of the previous negative reviews and I'm glad to say that my experience was nothing like theirs. We went at 7p on a Thursday night and were seated immediately. Our waitress was kind and courteous and served us well. Upon sitting down I looked at the plate of the guy next to me and it looked amazing - he ordered the chicken and a side of ribs. He said it was great and that he ordered too much! My wife and I ended up getting the pulled pork that included 2 sides and cornbread. The pulled pork was great - tasty and juicy. Not dry and not too salty. Our sides were mac 'n cheese and collared greens. Mac 'n cheese was surprisingly good and very creamy. Collared greens were also good and not too salty - although the portion was a little small. Speaking of small portions, the cornbread was a joke - it may have been a 1"X1" portion. We also got a side of fried green tomatoes - and it was just two slices. They weren't bad, but I wouldn't get them again (but I'll definitely get the mac 'n cheese and collared greens again). The sauces at Yard Bird were pretty good. The plain Red bbq sauce was good. Harbor Heat was ok - I like the spice, but the garlic was a little much for me. I also enjoyed the Yeller mustard - it went well with the Fried Green Tomatoes. I look forward to going back to Yard Bird and trying other things - specifically their brisket and chicken. I love Slow's (used to live next door) and also love Union Woodshop. IMO Slow's has the best sauces and the best mac 'n cheese. The pulled pork at Slow's and Union are about the same to me. Yard Bird is a great alternative for me, especially since it's only a few minutes away - and I wouldn't feel like I was settling if I chose to go to Yard Bird instead. I anticipate that it'll be a place we frequent quite regularly!
(4)Vicky D.
Nope, I can't stomach the smoked meats with the dry rubs. I much prefer the old menu and the atmosphere. The rubs are way too much. This food is not worthy ofJeremy Grandin. Menu is screwed up too. No apple slaw, no onion rings.
(1)Wendy B.
Very disappointed. Fish was so spicy you couldn't taste the fish or the smoke. Waitress not too pleasant either. Too bad.
(2)Eric M.
Very disappointed. I ordered $90 worth of takeout and both racks of different ribs were very dry. The sampler was meager and also dry. For sides, you got very Small portion sizes for the money. Even the obviously young girl who took my order was rude when she asked how to spell my name. The Lakes area still lacks a decent bbq place.
(1)Brad G.
Well they been open a few weeks now and service is picking up. The food was awesome I really liked the meal that I had. My only complaint, well 2, is country music and the bees. This is Michigan, not Kentucky, they should have maybe blues music... it would be much better. I'm not one for eating outdoors so I don't like the insects flying around my food. So the music choice and open dining to the outside world just isn't my thing. My son says they should specify Canadian bacon instead of bacon...it is important.
(3)Maria E.
I have to say as I was reading The reviews on my way here I was concerned as to what I might find. But upon getting here on Friday for a cocktail and a good meal I found that none of the reviews that I had already read really apply to what I was experiencing. I had the Yardbird fried chicken with coleslawand mashed potatoes. My D enjoyed his beer and I have to say their special Sylvan Bella cocktail was very good the waitstaff was amazing friendly and the bartender even came out to explain where the beer we were drinking was from. I recommend for a great place to unwind meet friends or just grab a quick bite.
(5)B B.
Service was very friendly albeit slow. We ordered the parm tator tots for an appetizer, they were ok, nothing special or very flavorful.Husband ordered the beef brisket, which he liked.my dad ordered a hamburger which he seemed to enjoy. I got the fried green tomato enter which wasn't very good, wouldn't order it again. It came with Mac n cheese which was pretty good although a bit spicy and the corn bread which was loaded with jalapeños. I wouldnt order the corn bread again, I'm allergic to peppers and specifically asked about the Mac n cheese and the corn bread and was to there was no spice whatsoever. My dad ordered a vernors float but it's made with Canadian dry, that's not vernors lol. All in all it was a decent experience for the guys, not so much for me. They do have high chairs there for children and we appreciated that.took about 20 mins for our check an had to ask several times for it. Be prepare to wait a bit for food and drinks even if it's not very busy.
(3)Olivia J.
I had the pulled pork sandwich which was amazing ! All the sauces were great and the pulled pork was tender. My husband has baby back ribs which he enjoyed as well. My first time here and I'll be back. Good spot and our waitress was great.
(4)Vera G.
Truly disappointed. I have traveled the Carolinas,thru the middle south to Texas and the west to follow my passion for smoked cooking. If Jeremy is the Pit Master, he failed big time. The brisket was dried out and tough as were the glazed baby back ribs. The Mac and cheese was average. If the people who frequent Yardbird think this is what smoke ribs and brisket taste like they will be turned off to this wonderful style. Jim
(1)Elizabeth T.
Is it possible to rate -0 ? Smoked meats? Only if you consider meat doused in Liquid Smoke smoked meat.It's a travesty to call this smoked meat! Nothing is right on the menu. Buttermilk coleslaw? In what universe? The sides are very small which is actually good because they are terrible. Fried green tomatoes are NOT a main dish, they are a side. They are also sliced thin, coated in cornmeal and fried. Not big chunks of some sour tasting lump that you only call a tomato because the menu says it is. Burger King is more authentic.
(1)Mark S.
No frills kind of rustic atmosphere. Food was very good. I tried the brisket with slaw and beans. Meat was very tender and smokey. Slaw could have used more flavor. SS had the Yard Chips which is a Nacho with pulled pork. Excellent flavor with an interesting choice of cheeses.
(4)Joe M.
Had dinner again at Yardbird and it keeps getting better with every different menu item I try. I always get the Real Gumbo and the name suggests it's Real and could be called Legit Gumbo, some of the best I've ever had - thick, hearty and full of flavor. For my entree, I ordered the half slab of baby back ribs, dry w/ a side of the Mac and Cheese, as well as a side of the Green Bean Casserole. The ribs were money! Great Bark, defined Smoke Ring, thick Loin Meat and the Chine. They looked beautiful, and the smell of the apple and cherry woods was subtle but distinctive. I'm not sure if these ribs came from a Berkshire or Mulefoot bred stock, but the pork flavor was very tasty. To say these ribs were great would be an understatement. I got them dry so I could try all the sauces and The Northern Red was my favorite - good flavor and sweet. Sides were good too. The Mac & Cheese is topped with Ritz crackers and the only thing I can say that would make it better, would be another serving. The Green Bean Casserole was good and the fresh green beans make it a real star. I normally don't get the dessert, but seeing as there was a daily Homemade Cake as well as a Seasonal Cobbler or Pie, I took a chance on the cake because everyone needs a little cake. The cake of the day was a white cake topped with pineapple, cream cheese frosting, crumbled Heath Bar and drizzled with caramel -. When the server described the cake, it sounded just like something you'd find in a roadside BBQ joint along I-84 in South Georgia. This cake takes you down to the south. And the homemade caramel sealed the deal. This cake did not disappoint at all...moist and rich, sweet and salty, and light and airy all in the same dish was a perfect way to end another great meal at Yardbird. The Yard Bird's interpretation of BBQ is a refreshing alternative to what Detroit has had for a while, which is a lot of aroma and little to no substance. And it's a great addition to Orchard Lake Road and Cass Lake Road area.
(5)Gayle E.
Whether or not the food is good I will never know. I can't say the service was "bad" because we didn't receive any service. Hostess passed by 5 times before realizing we were there to sit and eat and not tagging along with some guy getting a to go order. Waited 15 minutes for someone to acknowledge us- never happened. The owner should consider having an experienced adult manage this establishment and not leave it for 18 year olds whose mothers would be ashamed of their clothing to attempt to run the place. Sorry to say no changing a first impression
(1)Natasha H.
I don't know what negatives people are finding here. It is delicious! Never had a bad menu item in our few visits. Can't wait to return and try new things!
(5)Rick B.
Have been in several times since they have opened, everything on the appetizer menu is a home run. The pig cakes are especially amazing. I had the brisket dip sandwich last time and it was really good. The brisket was great, but I also really liked the bread it was on. It was just sturdy enough to dip and not become a mess. Check out the craft beer prices! What a steal. They had Griffin Claw screamin pumpkin. One of my faves! Service has been good and the owner or manager very friendly.
(5)