Enjoying a cult-like following in its native Chicago, Yolk, which has gone on to expand throughout the Mid and Southwest, will give new meaning to “sunny side up” when it opens its first South Florida location in Boca Raton in January 2019. Launched in 2006 by owner Taki Kastanis, the eatery’s focus is upscale breakfast and lunch fare, offering unique twists on classics as well as a bevy of specialty items. Since opening in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, it has gone on to be an area staple, winning awards and drawing standing-room only crowds.
“The Yolk experience is all about great food, unique dishes and fantastic service, delivered with a smile,” says Kastanis, who hails from a restaurant industry family and sees the Boca Raton location as the start of an exciting expansion for his brand. “I’m very excited to bring Yolk to South Florida and for Yolk Boca Raton becoming a place for locals to call their own. We’ve always been the type of restaurant that people visit two to three times a week; a breakfast with family on Sunday and a couple of lunches during the week. We think the Boca community will embrace Yolk’s food and service culture it as ‘their’ place.”
Kastanis was “born” into the restaurant business, growing up with hard-working parents who owned up to ten family-oriented eateries. At the age of 20, he opened his first breakfast and lunch concept. While it was a learning experience at such a ripe age, he sold it about a year later and returned to business school. Then at the age of 24, he returned to the food industry by purchasing an existing restaurant in a northwest suburb of Chicago. After a year and a half, Kastanis sold that property and decided to turn his attentions to honing what was to become the Yolk concept—one that he knew would have an urban appeal. In 2006, Kastanis opened his first Yolk restaurant in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood and never looked back. It didn’t take long before the Yolk concept of upscale breakfast and lunch fare took off in a big way, resulting in the opening of several more Yolk locations in downtown Chicago.
The Boca Raton outpost will carry the same quality of food and service with menus featuring dishes inspired by the local community. The space will have indoor and outdoor seating that can accommodate over 220 patrons, including a special “Coffee Bar” and exterior pick-up window for guests on the go.
The menu embraces the “something for everyone” aesthetic without feeling diffused or unfocused. Omelets, signature “scramblers” and build-your-own options abound. Breakfast and brunch-centric fan favorites include Breakfast Mac & Cheese – mac and cheese loaded with ham and bacon, topped with panko Parmesan crust and a sunny side up egg; Cinnamon roll French Toast – a gourmet cinnamon roll sliced into three pieces, dipped in their secret batter, grilled and dusted with powdered sugar; nutty monkey cakes – pancakes filled with banana slices and chocolate chips, layered with peanut butter and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Of course, there are a bevy of benedicts as well as lighter fare.
The restaurant closes daily at 3 p.m. so lunch is a big deal at Yolk. Those seeking greens will enjoy its generous array of salads—standouts being the Cobb topped with grilled portobellos and Steak & Greens—kale and mixed greens with red onion, cucumber, tomato, button mushrooms, goat cheese topped with perfectly-rendered steak. For those seeking sustenance between two slices, burgers and sandwiches include a pot roast sandwich on grilled sourdough; grilled cheese supreme—grilled tomato, bacon, goat and cheddar cheese on griddled challah and a killer patty melt, among others
Opening January 2019, Yolk Boca Raton is located at 5570 North Military Trail, Breakfast and lunch will be served daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.eatyolk.com
