Restaurant 33 Group operates seven restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including two in downtown McKinney.
“The Yard is going to be a really tough one to duplicate,” Wisniewski said. “If I was willing to operate a restaurant on a daily basis for the rest of my life, it's this one. I love this restaurant."
The restaurant is located in an over 100-year-old historic home off the downtown McKinney square. The property, originally built in 1855, was used as a single-family home before being converted into a restaurant space in the late 1990s, according to the restaurant’s website.
The Yard opened at that location in fall 2018 after completing two years of renovations, according to its website. The restaurant’s concept focused on creating a backyard space where guests could eat, drink and play, Wisniewski said.
“This is a local gathering place for downtown McKinney, and that's what it's supposed to be from the very, very beginning,” she said.
The restaurant features indoor seating, patio and yard outdoor seating as well as the Yard Bar, a 21-and-over bar space in the backyard. The Yard is also dog-friendly and is considering offering treats for its canine guests, Wisniewski said.
“At any given time on the weekend, there's at least 20-30 dogs [at The Yard],” she said.
The restaurant keeps fans and misters on hand for the summer heat, as well as heaters for the cold months, Wisniewski said.
“We’ve really been graced by the downtown McKinney clientele,” Wisniewski said.
The menu ranges from nachos and smothered waffle fries, to chicken tenders and burgers. Recently added menu additions include some summer heat-tolerant and healthy items such as salads, as well as protein and grain bowls, Wisniewski said.
“All of the common things that you would expect to find in a backyard restaurant ... those things are still on the menu,” she said. “But we also wanted to get ... some more health-forward options.”
The restaurant’s drink menu includes draft and canned beers, frozen drinks, wines and premixed cocktails on tap, according to its website.
As the restaurant approaches five years in downtown McKinney, the business continues to focus on curating a community gathering space.
“It's one of those places that you could stay for 45 minutes or you could stay for six hours,” Wisniewski said.
Staff's top picks
Here are some of the favorite dishes of the staff members at The Yard.
Dave Hilsdorf, server and bartender
- Favorite dish: the Pickle Dip
- Description: A dill pickle dip served with chips and veggies.
- “I would describe it as a tzatziki with pickles in it. I'm from New York; I worked in a greek restaurant for three years up there; the tzatziki up there is really good. ... This stuff, it just takes it to the next level.”
- Favorite dish: the Church St. Club
- Description: A club sandwich with turkey, avocado, bacon, tomatoes, arugula, havarti cheese and Cholula mayonnaise on sourdough bread, served with waffle fries.
- “It’s been my favorite item for a very long time. I really like the sourdough that it's on, and the fact that we use arugula instead of like regular lettuce.”
- Favorite dish: the Yard Burger
- Description: A cheeseburger topped with grilled onions, lettuce and a signature sauce, served with waffle fries.
- “It's a fan favorite, it's a staff favorite, and it's super consistent every time.”
107 S. Church St., McKinney
Hours: Sun.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
469-631-0035
www.yardtx.com
