REVIEW: UMANA YANA, Albany
Umana Yana
240 Washington Avenue, Albany umanarestaurant.com IG: @umanarestaurant.albany
Satellite location at the Empire State Concourse, Concourse Cafeteria, Albany, N.Y.
We like it for: Dinner or brunch of Afro-Caribbean plates, Ethiopian stews with injera bread, global wine list with unusual picks (like a South African wine made from bukettraube grapes) + wine-based or non-alcoholic cocktails. Sidewalk tables.
Must try: Tamarind margarita (add optional CBD shot), Ethiopian stewed chicken doro wat, spicy fish asa wat and tofu yetsom beyaynetu (a spread of vegan sides), jerk lamb and their famous yucca/cassava puffs with mango chutnye and tamarind jam
The Vibe: Colorful, artsy, island tropical, plants.
Sound: Afrobeats playlist
Style: Tropical, Afro-Caribbean, casual with gorgeous bold artwork by Obaro Ene.
Dale Davidson named her restaurant Umana Yana after a famed thatched communal meeting place in her homeland of Guyana. For over 11 years, the restaurant has been a bastion of global foods and art spanning Afro-Caribbean jollof rice to Ethiopian atkilt (a potato and cabbage dish,) misir wat (a lentil stew,) and slow roasted goat. There are bright salads, braised kale with peppers, house made sorrel and ginger juices, pineapple bread pudding and flourless ganache chocolate cake. At the popular Sunday brunch you’ll find vegan scrambles, crisp Johnny cakes with sorrel jam or pina colada French toast. The vibe is tropically warm, welcoming and happy.
Parking: Metered street parking.
Nearby: 1. Mystic Momo 2. Hot Spot Jamaican 3. La Polleria 4. Mamoun’s Felafel 5. Bitchin Donuts 6. Herbie’s Burgers 7. Larkin Hi-Fi
