A shared dessert at YaYa’s. (I hesitated to use this photo because it looks like I’m balancing a plank on my head. But I thought you needed the laugh.)
Last week Cyndy and I were on our way to do some shopping in Chesterfield. That’s her old stompin’ grounds, so I left it to her to pick a lunch spot. Without a moment’s hesitation, she picked Charlie Gitto’s or YaYa’s Euro Bistro. We did an “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” and came up with YaYa’s and put Charlie Gitto’s on our “to-do” list.
Good Vibes
YaYa’s is a place where you feel warm, welcoming vibes as soon as you walk in the door. It starts with the handsome mosaic floors, limestone piers, winding bar, attractively beamed ceilings and comfortable seating. Ahh. . . and then there’s the eclectic menu. You’d think a restaurant offering American, French, Italian, Spanish and Greek dishes might be having an identity crisis. Let’s just say it’s a broad-spectrum menu, that indulges a wide Mediterranean palate. 🙂
So Why a Name Like YaYa?
I immediately thought about the book/film with a similar name. But it has nothing to do with The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. The word simply means grandmother in Greek. Think: homey, Mediterranean comfort food.
When I explained to our server that I was taking photos for my food blog, she brought out a sample of baba ghanoush and bread for us to taste while our order was being prepared. Talk about nectar of the gods! This eggplant dish was as good—or better—than what you find in the many ethnic restaurant in the city.
The lunch menu includes a number of pastas, hand-tossed pizzas cooked in a oak-fired oven, salads, soups, and sandwiches, as well as their signature hummus and pita.
Greek Salad
I finally settled on the sandwich/salad combo—a vegetarian gyro that came with a zippy Greek salad. Cyndy got the lunch salmon salad that was quite sizeable, but she managed.
Salmon Salad topped with crispy potatoes, walnuts, gorgonzola, bacon and cranberry vinaigrette.
Leave Room for Dessert
As we were about to check out, our server brought by a tray of house-made desserts. After some indecision, we split a sauced, brownie wrapped in filo alongside a scoop of ice cream. It was uber delish! Cyndy thought she could duplicate it and made a Google search to find something similar. Stay tuned.
Brownie wrapped in filo dough charmingly served with a lively sauce, a chocolate stick, and ice cream.
YaYa’s serves meals seven days a week, has a happy hour, a catering service, and a Sunday brunch buffet—all part of Chef Alexander Hayworth’s kitchen magic. They’ve been around for nearly 20 years, which is old in restaurant years. The Chesterfield bistro has always been on the front line of innovative cuisine, being among the first to use a wood-burning oven and locally sourced foods.
YaYa’s has a substantial and growing fan club for a lot of good reasons.
YaYa’s Euro Cafe, 15601 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield. Open: 7 days a week, 10a-9p. Happy Hour: 4p-6:30p. Sunday Buffet Brunch. (Photo of wood-fired pizza oven from YaYa’s website)
