Best Modern Southern American Restaurants in River North (Chicago)

We had an incredible dining experience at Yardbird during our honeymoon. The service was top-notch—our server was friendly, and the manager personally greeted us, which was a lovely touch. The food was fantastic! As a Southern cuisine fan, I can be picky, but everything we ordered was excellent. We started with the **deviled eggs**, and while I prefer them with shrimp at home, they were still a solid start. Then came the **Fried Green Tomato BLT Stack**—pork belly, pimento cheese, and tomato jam. This was absolutely delicious, the perfect combination of flavors. The **Mac & Cheese** with five artisanal cheeses was rich and creamy, though not mind-blowing—solid 8/10. For the entrées, the **Chicken & Waffles** with spiced watermelon and bourbon maple syrup was my first time trying this classic, and it was divine. The crispy chicken and the sharp cheddar waffles with grilled watermelon were the perfect balance of savory and sweet. The **Shrimp & Grits** had perfectly seasoned shrimp and flavorful toppings, but the grits were a little too coarse for my taste—7/10. We had drinks—the **Bloody Mary** was spectacular, and the **Passionfruit Breeze** was nice but took a backseat to the Bloody Mary. For dessert, the **Banana Pudding Cheesecake** was *amazing*—100/10. The vibe at Yardbird was perfect—not too loud, so we could enjoy our meal without shouting. Overall, Yardbird is a must-visit for anyone craving Southern comfort food with great service and a relaxed atmosphere.

I've dined at this restaurant twice, and it was amazing both times. The drinks and food never miss. Service was excellent. Recommend reservations.

Good was great and they gave me a birthday dessert!

Food was amazing and service was quick! Very nice and knowledgeable servers.

As a first timer I was highly impressed by the Customer Service, we were seated right away, and the wait staff wasted no time with getting water to the table and then asked if we wanted appetizers right off the bat. Once we made our order the food was prepared and brought to the table faster than I expected. The Food was outstanding, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the entrees where and then the main meal was THE BOMB!!! We'll definitely be back.