Meet the Culinary and Front of the House Team at Yardbird

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar gears an early 2015 opening at the Venetian in the former Pinot Brasserie space with new hires to handle the kitchen and front of house. The Miami-based restaurant from 50 Eggs Inc. touts "comfort food and Southern hospitality."

Eater Vegas already told you about former Downtown Grand assistant executive chef Todd Harrington taking on the executive chef role. John Courtney Jr. joins him as chef de cuisine. The former executive chef at Born & Raised also worked at RM Seafood, Marche Bacchus and Pinot Brasserie. Most recently he was at neighboring DB Brasserie as executive sous chef.

On the front of the house side, Gregory Thomas joins the team as the general manager. He worked as general manager at Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas and director of operations and regional general manager of Margaritaville West Coast.

Fans of Yardbird know the cocktail program is an important part of the experience there, and Robert Ortenzio comes on as lead mixologist. He oversees the beverage program for all 50 Eggs Inc. concepts and plans to expand the menu. Ortenzio worked as general manager at Yardbird in Miami as well as beverage director and bar manager at Michelle Bernstein's Sra. Martinez in Miami.