1103 EAST LAS OLAS BLVD., FT. LAUDERDALE
YAMASTAVERNA.COM
By VANESSA C. GUZMAN
OPA!
Ya Mas! is in Fort Lauderdale, bringing a chic and bustling taverna experience to the east end of Las Olas Boulevard. Since opening, the restaurant has already garnered raves and accolades and is quickly becoming the destination for fresh Mediterranean fare, killer cocktails, and a bustling vibe. Inside the restaurant, you’ll be transported to Santorini or Mykonos with its stylish yet minimalistic elements of light natural organic elements combined with accents of color throughout, a long communal wooden table, teak and wicker chairs, beaded chandeliers, and an accent wall depicting Greek God statues to complete the décor. Once my guest and I were seated inside the restaurant, we ordered a couple of Signature Cocktails from their menu, named Lavish Indulgence, which is handcrafted with Tito’s Vodka, lavender and blueberry syrup, lemon juice, and soda. This cocktail tastes fruity, fresh, and refreshing.
MEDITERRANEAN FARE
After toasting to a beautiful evening, we decided to order from the Small Plates, Whipped Feta & Labneh. It comes garnished with pistachios, Greek honey, and pickled onions. This dish has a smooth texture and goes well with the sweetness of the honey and the nuttiness of the pistachios. Next, we ordered Lamb Meatballs from their Medium Plates. The Lamb Meatballs are juicy and tender and come with Feta Foam, which brings out the flavors of the Lamb Meatballs. Next, for our main course, we ordered the Chicken Souvlaki. The Chicken Souvlaki comes with harissa, which is a hot chili pepper paste, Greek yogurt, and market vegetables. The chicken is delectable, with the peppery and smoky flavor of the chicken combined with the harissa and the creamy Greek yogurt. This Mediterranean dish is quite flavorful.
BACK FOR BAKLAVA
It was time for dessert, so we ordered the Baklava, made with phyllo, honey, and pistachios. Baklava is made of layers of phyllo dough with cinnamon- scented walnuts in the middle. After it’s baked, honey is poured over it for the phyllo to soak it up. It’s quite a sweet and tasty dessert. Once I took my first bite, I fell in love with the brilliant crunchy texture of the pistachios and gooey layers of phyllo and honey. This was the best Baklava!
