Those looking for New Orleans-inspired cuisine no longer have to leave town to find it. Yats has opened a location at Hamilton Town Center. The new Noblesville restaurant marks the third Yats in Hamilton County – the other two are at Old Meridian Street in Carmel and 96th Street in Fishers.
“If you’re looking for Cajun food in Indy, Yats is one of only two choices. There’s not many options and we’re happy for that,” Yats General Manager Rick Dowden said. “Our food products are second to none.”
The Hamilton Town Center restaurant opened at 4:08 p.m. Aug. 28 at 13901 Town Center Blvd. While it is Cajun, co-owner Chad Anderson said it is prepared for Midwestern taste buds. However, he added that the restaurant offers a variety of hot sauces to help kick up the spiciness. The daily menu also offers vegetarian and gluten-free options.
“If it’s made with beans and not an etouffee, it’s gluten-free,” Anderson said.
Anderson said Yats is a place you can come hang out with your friends and family. He said he wants customers to do two things: leave full and have fun.
“It’s a very laid back atmosphere,” he said.
The restaurant’s system is simple. The rotating menu of enticing sauces served over rice with toasted buttered bread is written on a chalkboard. When they run out of an item it’s simply removed. Yats offers a daily menu of seven to 10 dishes, which cost $6.25 for a regular or $7.25 for a half-and-half combination. Larger take home containers are available for $10 for a pint and $20 for a quart. Not sure about the menu? Dowden said the restaurant offers free tastings to customers.
“We’ll give anybody a sample of anything,” he said, adding he tweets the menu each morning at @Yats_HTC. “If you get something and don’t like it, we’ll replace it and give you something else.”
Not sure what to order? Anderson likes the half-and-half with Jambalaya and Chili Cheese Etouffee. Dowden’s favorite is half-and-half with Jambalaya and Drunken Chicken on top.
“I like the spicy foods mixed together,” he said, adding Maque Choux is cooler and sweeter for those looking for something less spicy. “The Chili Cheese Etouffee is ordered twice as much as any other menu option. If we ever ran out of that I’d probably lose my job.”
Dowden said it takes approximately two and a half to three minutes to prepare the meals – helping customers on the move get in and out quickly.
“It’s probably faster than other fast food services,” he said. “Most can get their food before filling their drink.”
The Hamilton Town Center location is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Anderson said he plans to have live jazz or acoustic music on Friday and Saturdays and the restaurant will expand to catering services.