The bustling suburb of Ntinda has plenty to offer in terms of culinary experiences and Yums Café is certainly one of them. Nestled behind a thick bamboo hedge along the Ntinda-Kiwatule Road, it is easy to be fooled by its simple, unassuming name, but once inside its gates, one quickly realises that Yums Café is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill café, but a fully-fledged restaurant with lots to offer ardent foodies.
For starters, at the entrance there is a large wood-fired pizzeria to the left of a lounge with tables and chairs neatly arranged to accommodate both large and small groups. The building is huge with another partially hidden section on the ground floor, for patrons who prefer to dine in a more private, inconspicuous setting.
I was warmly welcomed by a waitress who ushered me up a wide, well-lit staircase with decorative wrought iron railings that led to a large terrace, which seemed to be the place of preference for the majority of customers that day. The terrace is dotted with large potted plants and overlooks a thick bamboo hedge that invites nature into a space that is pleasant and peaceful. It is divided into a covered area with a trellis ceiling decorated with artificial leaves and an alfresco area with large umbrellas, for those who prefer to enjoy the cool breeze while they eat.
Ambiance
The décor is well-thought out and tastefully blends modern aesthetics with a few local touches creating an ambiance that is warm and inviting. Yums is a family-friendly restaurant where children have adequate space to run around and just be children, while adults can relax and unwind over a leisurely meal with soft music playing in the background.
The menu
The food and drinks menus offer a large selection of items, with dishes that cover Continental, Mediterranean, Chinese, Thai, Asian and local Ugandan fare and include pizzas, sea food, soups, salads and char-grilled meats. Desserts here comprise mainly of fruit and various flavours of ice cream. A child-friendly section for children is included on the menu at discounted prices, as well as a wide selection of beverages that include a variety of teas and coffee, fresh fruit juices, smoothies and virgin mojitos. Alcohol is not served here, probably due to the religious beliefs of the proprietors.
The service and food
The predominantly female waiting staff were smartly dressed in black trousers, white blouses, black ties and waistcoats and carried out their duties professionally and in a friendly and courteous manner. They all had name tags and the team leader used a modern staff pager to communicate with her staff, which made their service quick and efficient. The waiting staff have adequate knowledge of the food and drinks they serve and offer customers advice when asked to. There is also a large screen showcasing the different dishes prepared by the chefs to help the undecided choose what they would like to eat.
I opted for fish fingers, vegetable rice and chips. The fish fingers served with tartar sauce were crunchy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. The rice fluffy and the fries nice and crispy. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal which was tasty and satisfying. While I was eating, one of the waitresses quickly placed a lighted candle in a small glass jar to ward off an insect buzzing around the table that I had not even noticed.
The restrooms
The loos are clean and fitted with marble countertops, large mirrors, beautiful glass bowl sinks and automatic hand driers.
The bill
The prices for most of the meals ranges from Shs 33,000 to Shs 37,000, except dishes that include prawns, which cost Shs 49,000 and the full chicken and mutton khadai specials which go for Shs 79, 000 at Shs 85,000 respectively.
Currently, however, there is a 25% discount on all food items on Mondays to Fridays from noon to 4pm, except on public holidays and festivals.