Yardbird is far overrated, and probably by guests who don't know Southern cooking. We are from the South, grew up with collards and fried chicken, so we know a thing or 2 about real Southern food, and how it should be prepared. Yardbird is not authentic.
Their mac n cheese is could easily be a Kraft mix with breadcrumbs added on top. The buttermilk biscuits are heavy, not light textured, and are far too chewy. The shrimp and grits are incredibly bland, and not worth buying. The collards were not properly seasoned, and left the impression they are California influenced, not Carolinas (or other Southern state) influenced as they should be. Allegedly, the Preacher's Ham is from Virginia, but if so, they would be better off serving Smithfield's mass produced ham. It was not particularly flavorful. In the South, we would never serve a ham biscuit with cheese, much less using any cheese from Vermont. Carolina Q sandwiches are pork, not tuna. Tuna? Give us a break.
Don't get me wrong, the food is OK, not great, and the best analogy would be US Mexican restaurants don't serve authentic Mexican food in order to attract as many customers as possible.
Our server was attentive, but did not know the basics about true Southern food.
Will I go back? No, not even it they converted to service off a food truck, nor would I attend a conference party held at Yardbird.