I am a sucker for good fried chicken, and love Southern food, so I made a point to visit Yardbird on my last trip to Las Vegas. This modern rustic restaurant is located in the back section of the Venetian Resort on the north end of the strip. They are fairly popular so you may need reservations or a long wait during peak periods.
This is modern Southern cooking with fried foods and sweet drinks. The star is the fried chicken which is pampered and prepared beautifully to enjoy. The brining makes it juicy and tender with a great crust and flavor. The combination of fried chicken and watermelon is a bit of a stereotype, but it is hard to argue with the flavor especially combined with a decent, but somewhat underwhelming waffle. Try the chicken with different sides.
I had to order one of their specialty drinks, because Vegas sober is like fishing sober. I had a mason jar with whiskey and peach which was sweet and refreshing like a good Southern night. It is hard to drink too much with sweet drinks, so it helps temper the booze into a slow rush. They have a great selection of cocktails and would make a great place for just drinks and shared side dishes to start your Vegas night.
Yardbird is a nice option for the area and a good fit in the Venetian, which is already home to lots of great restaurants. It is rather pricy for the style of food, but you cannot compare it to your favorite chicken shack at home - both lose with that comparison. Drink booze and eat chicken y'all!