On a recent trip to the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales Yum Yum Cafe was our go-to…read morebrunch, coffee, dinner haunt. I echo another reviewer in my praise for owner, Manfred Rudolf, and his team. They put on a great show every visit.
The standout experience was definitely dinner on a Saturday night. Yum Yum Tree is located in a really special spot. Directly across the road from a mangrove lined estuary, amidst the lush subtropical rainforest dotted with weird and wonderful holiday shacks, and a mere stumble to the beach. As we sat at our cute candlelit table, the breeze funnelled down the road and made the atmosphere just right and the beading sweat on our foreheads redundant. Manfred had swapped his breakfast-lunch tank top and shorts for something a little more fitting of the linen-napkin dinner spread, and engaged us in genuine, light-hearted banter. He and his wait staff appeared when you needed them, "shall I top you up?", and disappeared when the reflection of the stunning surrounds was to be shared by only two.
Entree of buffalo mozzarella was substantial and as fresh as it comes. Beautiful rosy-red tomatoes, as in season as you will get, accompanied creamy though subtle white disks of cheese. A basil leaf per mouthful cleansed the whole thing; acting as the roots, the glue, that made this simple food so of the earth.
Mains were panfried snapper - fresh and local, of course - with kipfler potatoes, a refreshing citrus salad, and an assertive salsa verde, and butter-like venison served with asparagus and potato rosti and a cheerful balsamic sauce.
For dessert, a 'bush tucker' creme brûlée with lemon myrtle and ginger, and a side of to-die-for-I-kid-you-not raspberry coulis.
The thing I like most about Yum Yum is how understated it is. Just like the location. The ingredients do speak for themselves. That's how it should be. All the time!
