Yana's - Ye Olde Drugstore Restaurant - is one of the best small community restaurants found in our travels along the North Carolina coast. The food is outstanding and the character of the restaurant is exactly what you might expect in a small coastal town that depends on visitors for much of its business. Plan to arrive early and sit on the benches outside because the wait time can be as much as two hours during the busy season along the NC coast. Our wait was only twenty minutes at around 11:30 on a Sunday morning in April. As the weather gets warmer the crowds get bigger and the wait get's longer (up to two hours). And - yes - the food is that good and worth the wait.
The small town restaurant occupies an old drugstore building in the heart of Front Street in Swansboro, NC. Furnishings include old cafe' style tables and booths, juke boxes, Christmas trees, lots of Elvis memorabilia, buttons and signs from long ago. Next to the restaurant is Yanamama's 50's Memorabilia Shoppe featuring souvenirs and gifts focused on Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, The Lone Ranger, I Love Lucy, Betty Boop and so much more from an earlier time in our history.
On our visit we had two of the breakfast standards - two eggs, bacon, grits and toast for $5.25, and a cheese omelet with hash browns and toast for $5.25. Add two endlesss cups of coffee and our tab was $15.00 with the tip. The experience was exciting and the service was superb. Head on over to the coast and check out one of the best restaurants in the area!
After dining at Yana's check out the other shops and old homes along the waterfront and Front Street!