Yamas Greek Bar & Kitchen: A Piece of Greece in Austin

When the family-owned Yamas Greek Kitchen and Bar opened in Summer 2023, they quickly found success by filling the void of authentic Greek food that Austin was missing. They also brought it a step up with a restaurant filled with picture-perfect murals, amazing service and staff that all really elevate the dining experience!

The Menu

The cocktail list includes some elevated classics along with a twist on popular drinks using the Greek spirit Mastiha, one of these is their Medusa Margarita with Skinos Mastiha, hibiscus-infused Tequila blanco, lime and peach. The beautiful pink drink was quite strong and the hibiscus flavor really stood out and paired well with the lime and peach. If you’re looking for a lighter, more refreshing drink, the Artemis Spritz was a lovely combination of Gin, lime juice, mint and prosecco. You can also find an Aegean Negroni and Athenian Spritz on the menu to go along with the Greek mythological figure theme. On the drink menu, you can also find many Greek wines along with a few beers and mocktail options.

The main dinner menu is quite extensive, there are many appetizer options including the Fried Feta with Mixed Sesame that I tried. This dish was a great starter and is sure to please many with its simplicity, the fried triangles of cheese were served on a bed of honey, arugula, tomato and topped with pomegranate seeds to make the perfect mixture of savory and sweet flavors.

The options for your main course are endless with so many different kinds of dishes to choose from. The menu begins with soup and salad options then moves into their raw bar with a combination of seafood and meat dishes like the Hamachi Ceviche and the Beef Carpaccio. There is also a Mageirefta section, which is a Greek term for home-cooked, meaning cooked in the oven or on the stove as opposed to grilled. The next section, pasta, features my favorite dish of the night, Short Ribs cooked in tomato sauce with Greek spices over orzo. The meat was beautifully tender, paired with the orzo, it made a wonderfully balanced plate. The last section is Land, which has protein options including lamb, chicken and beef. I tried the Chicken Souvlaki which was served on a skewer with fries and Tzatziki. While it was a relatively simple dish, everything was very well seasoned and cooked perfectly.

For dessert, we were served the Ekmek Kadayifi which was a layered, creamy dessert topped with pistachios that was very delicious. I even saw some other guests receive the dish with a sparkler for their birthday!

Conclusion

Yamas Greek Kitchen and Bar brings unique culinary options as well as a lovely dining experience. From all the small details like the fun decor, mix and match tables and chairs, and the employees’ interactions with the guests and each other, I could see the care the owners have put into this warm environment. Each night you will find a mix of people and occasions so whether you’re having a birthday celebration or just looking for a date night spot, Yamas will not disappoint!