YaYa’s Euro Bistro: A Warm, Welcoming, Innovative Experience

Award-winning YaYa’s Euro Bistro is one of many of restaurants participating in Restaurant Week this month. From January 12 through 21, you can enjoy fixed price lunch and dinner menus at restaurants all over town. There are many options to choose from, but YaYa’s is among the best, and they are offering their most popular signature items at an amazing value for one week only: $15 for a 2-course lunch and $33 for 3-course dinner. Be sure to call for reservations; the demand for tables is always high, but that’s especially true during Restaurant Week.

Standing on the foundation of tried and true recipes from co-founder Paul Khoury’s grandmother, this restaurant provides a whimsical sense of homestyle comfort and trendy sophistication. General manager Austin Deforest and executive chef Breck Hatcher run the show with experience and passion. After 24 years in Kansas City, YaYa’s is well known for both its cuisine and ambiance, but the enterprising pair stays relevant by evolving and adapting to emerging culinary trends through seasonal menus and daily specials.

“I always keep my ear to the ground for new trends,” said Breck. And because YaYa’s is a chef-driven concept restaurant, his expertise and creativity are reflected in a menu that’s influenced by a broad range of diverse styles and ideas. You will see dishes inspired by American, French, Italian and Greek cuisines. I have enjoyed many of their creations over the years, and I can say with confidence that this menu offers something for everyone.

The restaurant’s signature dishes are well loved and frequently ordered for a reason, so if you’re in a quandary over what to order, this is a good place to start. At lunch, the Bill’s Chicken Salad is perfect; it’s a hearty meal, with the familiar ingredients we love on a chicken salad. I also enjoy flatbreads for lunch. The two on this menu that I particularly love are the Black and Blue flatbread, gorgonzola cream sauce, balsamic onions, tenderloin, arugula and crispy fried onions, and the Prosciutto, a sweeter twist on this savory selection that’s reminiscent of a charcuterie platter. It’s a combination of pear jam, fresh apples and lavender honey, a surprising and wonderful blend of fruity flavors.

For dinner, the possibilities are endless, but there’s a dish for whatever you are feeling. Steak tonight? By far, the most-ordered steak is the 8-ounce filet mignon with a side Caesar salad. Pair this with a bold glass of red zinfandel or cabernet for a perfect meal. Craving pasta? The Shrimp Linguini or the Angel Hair Pomodoro are my favorites because of the expertly blended flavors and the lightness; they are filling but not rich pasta dishes. They’re so good that you forget you aren’t in an authentic Italian restaurant, which is what I love most about YaYa’s. No matter what region an item on their menu is sourced from, it is crafted with authenticity and integrity.

The Campo Lindo Chicken is another signature dish you must try. The free-range chicken is sourced from local Camp Lindo Farms; YaYa’s has enjoyed a long partnership with this and other local companies to source the finest ingredients this region has to offer. I have never had a chicken prepared as flawlessly as this one is. The skin is crispy and flavorful while the meat is juicy and so tender it falls off the bone. Also on the plate are crispy potatoes and a delicious au jus for dipping.

If you’re just looking for a quick drink and snack after a long day, YaYa’s is a great option for a very happy Happy Hour, any day of the week! It’s an unheard-of seven days a week, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. The bar, accented with a colorful mosaic tile backsplash, is the heart of the restaurant. Perhaps it’s the warmth from the large oak-fired brick oven, or the friendly smile from the bartender, making it feel like an ideal place to unwind. Martinis and signature cocktails are $5, domestic bottles are $2, well cocktails are $3 and house wines are $4 a glass. They also offer a wide selection of appetizers ranging from $4 to $9.

Sunday Brunch at YaYa’s is a long-standing Kansas City tradition. It’s very popular because of the decadent buffet loaded with traditional sweet and savory favorites such as Prime Rib and made-to-order omelets, alongside their own creations such as French Toast Casserole. You can brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Sunday, and early birds arriving between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. receive a $5 discount.

Private events and catering are mainstays for YaYa’s, and the staff is exceptional at providing worry-free, flawless events in a variety of capacities. The full-time event coordinator, Jenny Robinson, will work closely with you to customize an event you can proudly host and enjoy. The versatile private dining space seats up to 70 people, but the room can be partitioned to accommodate smaller groups. One of the private rooms has a private patio with comfortable lounge spaces for an indoor/outdoor experience. YaYa’s can also come to you for in-home celebrations, office parties or can cater at other event venues. ■

There are many reasons to make YaYa’s your next night out; visit yayaskc.com for details about Wine Fridays, the Sunday night special, Martini Wednesday, $1 oysters and more! For KC Restaurant Week offerings and reservations, check out kcrestaurantweek.com/yayas-euro-bistro.