Tapas has become a hugely popular way to dine, especially among those who may find it hard to decide what they want to eat (guilty!).
I have long been a fan of Pesto and have also previously tried Fumo by San Carlo, in Birmingham. What I particularly enjoy about these places is the varied menu, allowing me to have a variety of dishes in one meal.
When I first heard that village pub, The Stamford Arms, was to open a Mediterranean inspired tapas restaurant, I was very eager to try it.
Located in Groby, The Stamford Arms opened Yamas! as part of a joint venture with Everards and the pub’s owners, Justin and Wayne.
Along with the £500,000 refurbishment project also came The Stamford Deli, which serves breakfast and lunch options and operates in the same part of the pub as its tapas offering.
From the Yamas! menu, I selected three dishes including the Paella de Langotinos – made with king prawns, arborio rice, saffron aioli and crispy onions, priced at £8.
I also ordered the Kotopoulo Souvlaki, which is marinated chicken skewers with tomato, red onion and tzatziki, costing £7, and a pasta dish, Gnocchetti al Pesto di Basilico, which is basil pesto gnocchetti with mozzarella pearls and rocket, for £5.
Alongside my food, I opted for the Glorioso Rioja Blanco Crianza, a white wine, priced at £8.05 for a large glass.
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The first item I tried was the chicken souvlaki skewers, of which there were three served on a bed of rocket. The chicken was tender and juicy, with a bright, aromatic flavour.
Added juiciness from the tomatoes and the crisp texture of the red onions paired so well with the chicken, creating a very fresh and flavourful dish.
Next, I moved onto the pesto gnocchetti which was delightful and so moreish. I was very impressed with the amount of pasta served in the dish. The mozzarella pearls melted into the pesto-based sauce, and really elevated its richness.
I then moved onto the prawn paella. Whilst I love prawns, the main reason I selected this dish was because it was written next to the white wine I had selected as a recommended food pairing.
This was a detail included in the wine list on each of the options that I really loved. Often, I’ll order my food and not think about whether it will go with my wine so this added a fun element – also prompting me to choose a dish that I may not have tried otherwise.
The paella was bursting with flavour, and served with plenty of king prawns. The rice was lovely and soft, and the sauce had quite a bit of heat to it. I do find my senses are quite sensitive to spice so I did find it pretty hot however the flavours in the dish balanced this out.
I was accompanied by my mum for this meal, and I had tried part of one of her dishes as it looked far too good to miss out on.
One of the items she ordered was the six-inch Chicken Souvlaki pizza – made with marinated chicken, red onions, bell pepper, Kalamata olives and tomato. This is priced at £6.
Pizza and chicken souvlaki are two dishes that I absolutely love, and I can certainly say they go so incredibly well together. I am really glad that I managed to find the room to eat one slice of this, and my only regret is that I didn’t order it myself!
All of the dishes that I tried were wonderful, but the pizza truly was something else. It is the first thing I will be ordering as soon as I go back to Yamas!
The food at this restaurant isn’t the only thing that draws me back, but also the laidback and cosy atmosphere. There are a few tables inside surrounded by warm and slightly dimmed lighting.
Throughout the meal, there was soft Mediterranean-inspired music playing in the background which was a fantastic touch. The staff were also so welcoming, attentive and friendly.
Upon leaving, both my mum and I said to each other how excited we were to go back for meals there in the future. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone, the menu features something for all, and even has some great vegetarian options on offer.
Whether you’re looking to try out a new date night spot, planning a family meal or just looking to try a new restaurant – Yamas! will not disappoint you.
Overall, my experience could not have been better. There isn’t a single fault that I could pick out with the food, location and atmosphere.
I am very much looking forward to returning, and to taking my family and partner with me in the future.
