"Yardbird The name brings to mind either the seminal 1960s English rock band, the jazz great Charlie Parker, or a chicken. In this case, chicken is the right reference. Yardbird is an izakaya —aJapanese gastropub—and specializes in chicken yakitori, or poultry grilled on skewers. The vibe is casual and relaxed, like a family-style neighborhood bistro. Chef Matt Abergelusesallparts of the chicken in his cooking, including wings, heart, liver, rib, and parts you never knew a chicken had, like knee. Thereare also options like KFC (Korean fried cauliflower, of course), fish cakes, and duck fried rice. The cocktaillist includes sake, shochu (a distilled spirit made from rice that’s stronger than sake), and Japanese whiskey."