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Featured Replies

I couldn't find a Greek thread, so I figured I'd start a general Mediterranean version.

Last night, my wife and I went to a new place in central-west Austin called Yamas.  It's on Balcones Drive, near Koenig/Mopac, just down the road from Chez Zee.

This place was hopping.  I booked a reservation a week in advance and could only land 9:15 PM.  It was as you expect of a Greek restaurant, bleached white decor with bright blue accents.  The food was terrific.  The owners were very present and made sure everything was good with all their clientele.  I had a pasta dish that was reminiscent of lasagna, but the seasoning had strong notes of cumin, coriander and mint in addition to the standard Italian bolognese.  My wife had the lamb chops -- holy smokes, they were good.  She got a dessert, I got another glass of wine.  (My kind of dessert.)  Hers was sort of a dry bread pudding, she said it was fantastic.

I expect good things from this place.  The vibe was fantastic, if loud.  It's in a bit of a cursed location, the last restaurant in that location opened up just before covid, so that was unfortunate.  Check it out.

34 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

I couldn't find a Greek thread, so I figured I'd start a general Mediterranean version.

Last night, my wife and I went to a new place in central-west Austin called Yamas.  It's on Balcones Drive, near Koenig/Mopac, just down the road from Chez Zee.

This place was hopping.  I booked a reservation a week in advance and could only land 9:15 PM.  It was as you expect of a Greek restaurant, bleached white decor with bright blue accents.  The food was terrific.  The owners were very present and made sure everything was good with all their clientele.  I had a pasta dish that was reminiscent of lasagna, but the seasoning had strong notes of cumin, coriander and mint in addition to the standard Italian bolognese.  My wife had the lamb chops -- holy smokes, they were good.  She got a dessert, I got another glass of wine.  (My kind of dessert.)  Hers was sort of a dry bread pudding, she said it was fantastic.

I expect good things from this place.  The vibe was fantastic, if loud.  It's in a bit of a cursed location, the last restaurant in that location opened up just before covid, so that was unfortunate.  Check it out.

Good to hear.  Looked a bit spendy when I first saw the menu.  May need to try.

Good to hear, I sent my wife a review of it last night and we will be hitting it up soon. Another good place besides Troy in this area would be nice. 

Edited by hornbri

Thanks Jimmy Jazz.  I’ve been meaning to try Yamas since reading it opened but living southwest it’s never convenient and/or I forget about it.  Need to book a table and just put it on the calendar.  Artemis in Bee Cave is our go to for Mediterranean.  Or Arpeggio if we’re up north. 

+rep, jimmy.  I love Greek/Mediterranean food and this is close by. I hope this place does well. The last restaurant there – some gastropub, I forgot the name – wasn’t bad, but never seemed to get off the ground.

  • Author
13 minutes ago, South Austin said:

+rep, jimmy.  I love Greek/Mediterranean food and this is close by. I hope this place does well. The last restaurant there – some gastropub, I forgot the name – wasn’t bad, but never seemed to get off the ground.

Yeah, I went there once, not long after they opened.  It was fine.  And then covid hit.

Glad that Yamas seems to be doing better/have their shit together. I went one of the first couple weeks it was open and despite the food being alright, it was probably the worst dining experience I have had for a place at that kind of price point.

Anyone been to Ezov?  If so, curious to hear about it.

4 hours ago, hobbs said:

Anyone been to Ezov?  If so, curious to hear about it.

Once about a month after it opened.  Food was really good, and overall more interesting than comparable places I have been in Austin (e.g. Peacock).  It was loud.  Really long dinner . . . as in I had to ask the waiter whether they had forgotten to put in several of the dishes and noticed nearby table having the same issue.  

38 minutes ago, Ollie Slatt said:

Once about a month after it opened.  Food was really good, and overall more interesting than comparable places I have been in Austin (e.g. Peacock).  It was loud.  Really long dinner . . . as in I had to ask the waiter whether they had forgotten to put in several of the dishes and noticed nearby table having the same issue.  

Sounds good and hopefully they have service tightened up some by now.  Thanks for the info and planning to try it soon.

Edited by hobbs

Santorini Cafe up on North Lamar. 

  • 4 weeks later...

Went to Yamas last night. Everything we had was excellent, portions are large (and expensive). 

For those with kids, we took our 2 kids (8 and 11) there was not a kids menu offered but between skews, pitas, dips etc there was plenty of things for the kids to eat that they liked, and the fries were really good. 

Parking is kinda a disaster, not sure if there is a trick to that.

On 10/3/2023 at 4:55 PM, hobbs said:

Sounds good and hopefully they have service tightened up some by now.  Thanks for the info and planning to try it soon.

went last weekend and it was good. thought the dishes were more interesting than aba.  the menu was confusing and didn't really give a great description of what you were getting...we got one thing that ended up being a fish taquito. we sat outside but the inside did seem very loud and the service was quite slow...we were there for over 2 hours with a table of 5. 

Okay, went to Ezov on Fri and both food & service were very good.  We went pretty early and it wasn't packed when we ordered, so that might've helped.  Would definitely go back.

  • 4 weeks later...
On 10/3/2023 at 11:53 AM, hobbs said:

Anyone been to Ezov?  If so, curious to hear about it.

Went for cocktails after dinner at Intero and they were great.  Have not eaten though.

As for Yamas, friend posted pictures and it looked really cool so I checked out their menu online and Looooooool no way I'm paying those prices for Mediterranean food

  • 9 months later...
On 9/3/2024 at 8:30 PM, MagicSoccerSpray said:

Did Yammas close? Google says temporarily closed and they're not answering their phones.

Appears to be still open. Good food. Very over priced imo. $20 for a horiatiki salad. Come the fuck on. 

📣 UPDATE: We are still closed for service today, 9/1 but are anticipating an opening tomorrow, 9/2 for dinner!

We experienced a small outdoor electrical fire this evening, 8/30. Nobody was harmed and our structure remains fully intact. We are closed this evening and will update everyone here as soon as we have more information and are able to reopen.

Thank you sincerely for your understanding.
Please reach out to contact@yamasatx.com or call us at (512) 243-7499 if you have questions about upcoming reservations.

20 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

Appears to be still open. Good food. Very over priced imo. $20 for a horiatiki salad. Come the fuck on. 

Their pricing was a non-starter for us.

On 9/3/2024 at 8:30 PM, MagicSoccerSpray said:

Did Yammas close? Google says temporarily closed and they're not answering their phones.

 

22 hours ago, Anastasis said:

📣 UPDATE: We are still closed for service today, 9/1 but are anticipating an opening tomorrow, 9/2 for dinner!

We experienced a small outdoor electrical fire this evening, 8/30. Nobody was harmed and our structure remains fully intact. We are closed this evening and will update everyone here as soon as we have more information and are able to reopen.

Thank you sincerely for your understanding.
Please reach out to contact@yamasatx.com or call us at (512) 243-7499 if you have questions about upcoming reservations.

 

 

  • 3 weeks later...

Finally went to Yamas, it was very good and was expensive. Had the beef tartar, dolmas, calamari, and moussaka. All great. $5 iced teas with no refill was a bit much, but the place was packed and the food was great.

On 9/24/2024 at 2:28 PM, MagicSoccerSpray said:

$5 iced teas with no refill

That's some bullshit. 

I remember when a $5 shake was outrageous.

 

images (20).jpeg

On 9/24/2024 at 2:28 PM, MagicSoccerSpray said:

Finally went to Yamas, it was very good and was expensive. Had the beef tartar, dolmas, calamari, and moussaka. All great. $5 iced teas with no refill was a bit much, but the place was packed and the food was great.

 

Sorry Beef and Tuna Carpaggio

 

10 hours ago, Deej said:

That's some bullshit. 

I remember when a $5 shake was outrageous.

 

images (20).jpeg

 

It was ridiculous, the server was sheepish about it, though the food was excellent and the place was very nice. Good dinner/date place imo.

  • 3 months later...

Went to Yamas last night. It was fine. I got the steak skewer and it doesn’t come with pita anymore. You’re a Greek restaurant! Give me some fucking pita. Calamari was delicious. Waitress was hot af. 

Edited by 4th&Five

On 1/1/2025 at 12:15 PM, 4th&Five said:

Went to Yamas last night. It was fine. I got the steak skewer and it doesn’t come with pita anymore. You’re a Greek restaurant! Give me some fucking pita. Calamari was delicious. Waitress was hot af. 

Yes, I went a second time with some buddies, and they were complimenting the scenery and the staff. Need to go again to see if it holds up

 

  • 3 weeks later...

Phoenician Resto on the Drag and 29th is very good and has good Lebanese. Ask for the Lebneh with garlic, the Lebanese potatoes, and the Tabouli is very good as well. With so few Lebanese restaurants in Austin, this one is a keeper.

  • 6 months later...

Been a couple of times to the "Greek Bar" in the old Tarboush location on Oltorf by Curras. It's been great, with good food and good drinks. I recommend it if you like mediterrean. It's cheaper than Yamas, but more expensive than a casual restaurant. Cozy date place.

  • Author

Hey, thanks for the rec.  I've never heard of it, but will definitely check it out.

38 minutes ago, MagicSoccerSpray said:

Been a couple of times to the "Greek Bar" in the old Tarboush Texicalli location on Oltorf by Curras. It's been great, with good food and good drinks. I recommend it if you like mediterrean. It's cheaper than Yamas, but more expensive than a casual restaurant. Cozy date place.

One minor correction.

8 hours ago, ftf82 said:

One minor correction.

That location is where restaurants go to die.  

I was recently in town visiting family and ate Mediterranean food several times. 

Halal Hub: I had the lamb on rice and it was awesome.

Pita Shack: Lamb Tikka, hummus and tabouleh. Fucking delicious. Best out of the three places I ate.

Chako Halal: Got the Falafel wrap, would bang again. 

  • Author
11 hours ago, F250 said:

Pita Shack: Lamb Tikka, hummus and tabouleh. Fucking delicious. Best out of the three places I ate.

Looks like there's a Pita Shack (Pflugerville) and a Pita Shack Grill (Burnet Road).  Which one did you go to?

2 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Looks like there's a Pita Shack (Pflugerville) and a Pita Shack Grill (Burnet Road).  Which one did you go to?

The Burnet location. 

2 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Looks like there's a Pita Shack (Pflugerville) and a Pita Shack Grill (Burnet Road).  Which one did you go to?

So, Taco Shack doing Mediterranean, now?

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