Cravings – YaYa’s Euro Bistro

yaya’s Euro  Bistro

 is the flagship restaurant of PB&J Restaurants, the 27-year-old operation run by co-founder Paul Khoury, who

is a pro at opening upscale restaurants, both in the metro and outside the state.

Khoury closed the original YaYa’s location at 119th and Roe two years ago and relocated a year ago to the bustling 135th Street corridor and Corbin Park development in South Overland Park. He has staffed the restaurant with a superb mix of smart veteran servers in crisp white shirts. It’s a polished staff for a slick-looking dining room with exposed wood beams and stone work throughout. The decor is beautiful and reminiscent of the previous restaurant, but it definitely has more of a bistro vibe to it, with white tablecloths and spacious booths and tables. The overall feeling is light and airy and appropriate for couples, friends or special dining.

YaYa’s isn’t a fancy restaurant, but it conveys a certain elegance. Little touches set it apart from the competition. A girl can always tell what type of restaurant it really is by the restroom. The day I visited it was raining torrential downpours. Unfortunately I had left my umbrella at home. Even though I was able to park very close, by the time I made the door through the monsoon-like rains, I resembled a drowned rat. I found the women’s restroom conveniently right inside the front door. To my welcome surprise, there were washcloths on the counter for drying hands (and in this case the rest of my soaked existence). No air dryers, no paper towels. Real washcloths!

The menu is not extravagant but rewarding. My favorite small plate is the house-made gnocchi. It tucks pieces of potato into fragile little blankets of pasta with bits of chicken in golden, feather-light sheaths of creamy goodness. Try to use your manners when you use the bread provided to every table to soak up the remaining sauce. You’ll also get a healthy size plate of baba-ganoush for dipping.

I could have put together a fine meal from a couple of appetizers. The shrimp dish, Shrimp a la Plancha, is served in a cast iron skillet. The seared prawns have just the right hint of spice and are accompanied by garlic bread. My favorite time to visit is Thursday evenings, when they have live music on the patio. This dish fits perfectly with outdoor dining. Their patio is tucked around back with no views of parking lots. It actually overlooks a nice fountain area.

The best seller on the menu is the Campo Lindo Chicken with crispy potatoes, roasted garlic, chilies and caper berries. Another top seller is their Angel Hair Pomodoro with sautéed roma tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and fresh basil. It’s even better if you add chicken or shrimp. For steak lovers, they offer an excellent filet mignon with Chianti-gorgonzola sauce and potatoes. It is wonderfully presented, as are all dishes at YaYa’s.

If you’re looking for a bit more casual fare, they offer an abundance of sandwiches and have a wood-fired oven onsite where they make unique pizza concoctions such as Chicken Marsala pizza with caramelized onions and roasted mushrooms. They also have a gluten-free pizza crust available. You can order an abundance of different salads and top them with grilled salmon or chicken for a healthy option.

The restaurant is proud of the well-known chocolate ganache brownie dessert wrapped in phyllo dough. There are many other good selections if you still have room.

And really, this place is about those old-school touches, like house made pasta, linen-draped tables and superb service. With the new YaYa’s, there is once again a place that feels grand without being stuffy.

YaYa’s is open daily for lunch and dinner and Sunday Brunch is served from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with traditional offerings ordered from the menu. Enjoy a selection of eggs Benedict, quiche, omelets and specialty waffles or French toast. There’s an excellent coffee selection and mimosas are great. HLM

Visit YaYa’s Euro Bistro at 7021 West 135th Street, Overland Park, Kansas. Call 913-345-1111 or visit

the website at yayaskc.com for more information.