how to go:
WHAT: Yardbirds Southern BBQ
WHERE: 932 West State St., Trenton (in Trenton Crossing Shopping Center)
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday - Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday & Sunday Kitchen Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to Midnight Friday/Saturday. Happy Hour: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday. **note–Yardbirds will be serving breakfast on Friday and Saturday nights beginning in October, from 2:30 a.m. until lunchtime.
COST: Full Slab Ribs $19.99, Half Slab $15.99. Other Down Home Dinners $10.99, Sandwiches are $6.99 - $8.99, Yard - Wings are $3.99 (5) to $28.99 (50). Kids Menu items are $4,99, and there is a daily lunch special for $5.99, Desserts are $2.99 & $3.99.
MORE INFO: (513) 988-9690 or www.yardbirdsbbq.com
CRITICS CHOICE: Half - Slab ribs smothered in BBQ sauce, BBQ Pig Chop
If the name Yardbirds Southern BBQ sounds familiar it may be because the Trenton restaurant was recently featured on Regis & Kelly. When the show decided to have a small town cook off, the restaurant was chosen as a finalist in the ribs category. Now, Yardbirds is a local favorite and out of town guests are coming to see what all the fuss is about.
“We’ve been here three years, but after being on Regis & Kelly I’ve had several people visit from out of town because they saw us on the show, wanted to try us, and they like us “ said owner Benjy Diesbach.
Diesbach’s story is different than that of the typical restaurant owner. Most of his adult life has been spent working at AK Steel, and his love of cooking began when he made food for his co-workers. When the State Street location became available, Diesbach decided it was time for a career change, and in July 2006 Yardbirds Southern BBQ was born.
“A Yardbird is what they call chicken in the South, and one of my former co-workers used the name as a code word when he’d sneak out and get us Popeye’s Chicken to eat at AK, so I used the name,” Diesbach said.
Diesbach’s home made sauce is what makes a trip to Yardbirds worthwhile as it’s not too sweet and has a generous kick to it. The slow roasted ribs come in full and half slabs and the meat is so tender it literally falls off the bone. A Brisket dinner, BBQ Pig Chop, BBQ Yardbird and Baked Tilapia round out the Down Home Dinner Menu. All dinners include a choice of two sides such as Southern Style green beans, fried corn, fried apples and southern slaw.
Wings are another favorite and are known as Yard-Wings at the restaurant and come in servings of 5 - 50 pieces. The variety of home made sauces include BBQ, Hot BBQ, Garlic, Chipotle and Cajun Garlic, and Blue Cheese and Ranch dressing are available. There is also a sandwich, soup, salad and burger menu.
Yardbirds is a full service sports bar with daily drink specials and NASCAR and NFL games are carried on one of the many on-site tv’s. Those who like plenty of light when they dine, should sit in the front of the restaurant because it’s very dark in the back, but seating is available for up to 135. Live music and karaoke are featured on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and there are darts, video games and a pool table for those who like to get up and move around.
Kids under 12 have a separate menu at Yardbirds, and a variety of home made pies are available for dessert. Free WiFi, Carry-out, large party dining, and offsite catering with the Yardbirds mobile cooker are available.
Contact this writer at tlhrsly@cinci.rr.com.
About the Author