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On July 3, 2012, Yummies burned down. The soul-food eatery located within the Heritage House living complex on Olive Street in Midtown had been open a mere ten days in its new location.
Yummies’ owners Nathaniel and Jacqueline Phillips (left) were devastated. The Heritage House residents, excited about eating fried chicken, sweet potatoes, greens dotted with ham-hock and so much more deliciousness, were gobsmacked, too. They were particularly disappointed because Yummies had just scheduled a welcome-to-the-neighborhood feast, and the fire put the kibosh on that, too.
Enter Mayor Slay and Alderwomen Marlene Davis and Kacie Starr Triplett. The politicians – along with a passel of local restaurants that donated much food – arranged for tents and tables to be set up outdoors, the party happened, and the Yummies crew vowed that, like General MacArthur, they would return.
Some 16 months later, Yummies is back, and one of the area’s most popular soul-food palaces is slinging fried catfish, neck bones, okra and spaghetti once more.
Standout menu items include wings and oversized drummies tossed in a variant of “Nana’s Sauce” (above left), named for its inventor, Jacqueline’s mom. A mix of ranch, honey, hot sauce and secret ingredients, the sauce starts out sweet and finishes with a whisper of heat. Spiced meatloaf drizzled in barbecue sauce (above right) is a keeper. Creamy, satisfying mac and cheese is made with seven different cheeses. Lemon chicken is a savory delight.
Rib tips, turkey with stuffing (both below), roasted pork chops in an apple reduction, ribs, pork steaks, hamburgers, franks – Yummies offers a wide choice of entrees, and regulars quickly get used to which courses are offered on which days of the week.
Lunch includes two sides, dinner includes three, and the “Amen Plate” includes four. Diners can enjoy sides like sweet potatoes, greens, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, potato salad, spaghetti, corn and many more.
The restaurant, which was located at 3149 Shenandoah Avenue for three years before moving to Heritage House, became famous for a light banana pudding (right) that’s both fat-free and sugar-free. It contains a layer of Nilla Wafers that the pudding softens into a stratum of dense pastry. It’s available every day, and to coin a phrase, really yummy.
The “Chocolate Sin” dessert (below) offers everything but the kitchen sink mounded into an imposing chocolate Kilimanjaro – cookies, cake, brownies and fudge are topped with Oreo crumbles, chocolate chips, ice cream, whipped cream and a cherry. Bring a friend.
Beverages include cherry and grape Kool-Aid (below), which bring back memories, and just might make kids bounce off the wall with hyperactivity.
When Yummies isn’t serving the general public, they’re cooking three squares for the Heritage House residents, who are retired teachers. It’s surely an honor for Sous Chefs Sean Robbins and Maurice Reed II (below) and cohorts to cook for them; if anybody deserves a relaxing interlude and a good, juicy pork chop, it is surely the much put-upon American teacher, cruising into the twilight years and free of our damn youth at last.
Jacqueline is one of the world’s biggest Michael Jackson fans, and the décor consists exclusively of MJ memorabilia. A replica of the jacket he wore in the “Thriller” video reposes behind glass (left), not far from a sequined glove, and various posters, buttons and so on. The restaurateur says you can come to Yummies in August for a special birthday party for Jackson with cake, music, and a celebrity impersonator, too.
But you might consider coming well before then for the banana pudding.
Yummies (inside Heritage House)
2800 Olive
314-696-2444
Sun-Thurs (exc Tues): 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
