Umana Yana — Restaurant in City of Albany

Adventures in brunching don't even ask what number LOL

This was a spur of the moment choice since we waited last minute to think about foods.

Nice, small, cozy, quaint place. Right on the main road so easy to find.

Jamie seated us and told us about the specials. Drinks ordered - daughter tropical mimosa, me - Bloody Mary (rare occasion if I get something else LOL), GP kiddie mimosa (OJ n soda (?) - asked for Sprite, Sierra Mist, etc but didn't taste like it at all. Thinking the OJ might have been fresh squeezed but not sure.) Daughter happy with her drink. Mine was like spicy tomato juice. I added some salt n pepper hoping it helped - nope.

For foods - daughter - shrimp n grits, me - my mouth was fixed for chicken n waffles but Jamie said one of the specials was oxtails and grits so I ordered that, GP had her eggs (no cheese cause all they had was goat cheese), bacon n home fries.

The shrimps and grits looked good. Daughter liked it - had extra sauce like she requested. GP liked the plain eggs (edit - she gave the chef an awesome amount of stars for the eggs), picked through the bacon and home fries - they were cooked too much for her liking. Crispy is nice but hard to bite/chew is too much. I tried it along with her.

So I was excited to get oxtails and grits as haven't had either in a while. The oxtails were cooked perfectly - nice and fork tender. The taste was decent - not overpowering seasonings maybe made with onion soup mix?? It was good and familiar. The grits left a lot to be desired. Being served with oxtails an extra side of gravy or even pouring some gravy over the whole dish would have cut some of the stiff and dry of the grits. They were not really seasoned (maybe extra s & p and some butter would have worked) but tasted ok. Grits should be creamy and smooth with a touch of "gritty".

Overall it was a decent meal. The atmosphere made it welcoming and pleasant. May or may not return on our second...

One star to any restaurant which takes the time to read their reviews and respond. Another star for responses that show they care. But it's an automatic 5 when they serve food as good as it is at Umana Yana!

We just moved into the neighborhood and have been eager to try this restaurant. Umana Yana exceeded our every expectation.

My husband ordered the Chicken and Waffle. While the menu states chicken on the bone, it was served boneless (my preference always!). He said the waffle was cooked perfectly and had a hint of...cardamon perhaps? Whatever it was, he liked it. The chicken seems to have been marinated before being battered and fried which added a nice depth of flavor to the poultry. The spicy, syrupy sauce was the perfect match for the chicken, while he opted for standard syrup for his waffle.

I chose Shrimp and Grits. Tail-on shrimp lay atop a large bowl of creamy grits with chunky chorizo and tender peppers and onions piled high in the middle. I added hot sauce only because I like a bit of spice but the dish has enough flavor to stand on its own.

Wheat Ale with Earl Grey Tea (beer)...it's a winner too!

The staff was most pleasant and helpful. The dining room and bar provide a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. Staff wore masks as did patrons while they were away from their tables.

We're excited to have found this gem of a restaurant in our neighborhood. It's definitely worth a visit.

UPDATE: Valentine's Day Dinner w/ pictures

Another winning meal at Umana Yana with live music made our Valentine's Day a memorable one.

Check out the creative menu they came up with for their prix...

It’s a local eatery that relocated a door or two down the road from a former location.

I do like the idea they have… the ethnic foods in this less than ethnic area. However, they run out of food often and that’s annoying.

I went a few days ago for brunch and they closed early for a staff meeting. Like ok.. y’all close early on Sunday anyway- you could have waited until after hours to hold that meeting. I found it to be unprofessional to me.

I also ordered takeout here and the bags ripped. Luckily I was at my front door or my $35 plate of food would have been on the concrete.

Unfortunately they do have roaches roaming around their establishment, so keep that in mind.

The drinks are ok. I’m a champagne/wine kinda woman.. I did enjoy their tropical mimosas during lunch.

Lunchtime they have drinks half off, however this is only on Saturdays and I’m not sure if this is a limited time deal or not.

We went to brunch a few weeks back… my honey said the French toast was undercooked. So he didn’t finish it. I felt the biscuits were too thick as well as dry. The gravy wasn’t flavorful enough to cover up the ignore the thickness.

It is relatively cozy inside so call ahead if you’re planning to sit down and eat with more than 2 people. The seating is a little odd as well. They do offer outdoor seating if you’re into that.

The food is good for the most part. I do miss their old menu, but I understand change happens from time to time.

Overall, I would recommend you at least try their food. Idk about sitting down to eat though... I‘ve done it. But it’s your choice.

Happy...