'Home from home' is how Ken and Emer Tobin want their customers to feel about Yummy Café Market - and, with its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, comfy seating area ('couch corner') and book swapping shelves, that's exactly what it is.
And - while you certainly don't have to have children in tow to feel at home here - its main USP is that families are not just tolerated but very actively welcomed. The L-shaped room is used to advantage to provide a large play area for toddlers that goes far beyond the usual token corner, so the kids are happy and everyone - with or without children - can enjoy their meal or a coffee and a chat in peace.
The whole tone of the place is homely and it has a very hands-on feel, partly because they have up-cycling down to a fine art here. Everywhere you look there are examples of materials being ingeniously re-used - the counter that's laden with tempting home bakes, for example, is made from corrugated iron and scaffolding, then there are light fittings made of old jam jars, even chairs that have been recycled by a local 'back to work' group (and very nice they are too).
Naturally enough, the food is homely too, and with an emphasis on family appeal. The kids’ menus (there is one for breakfast too) offer a good choice of wholesome, homemade versions of the things children like to eat - a nourishing breakfast of porridge with banana and honey, and lunch dishes like chicken lollipops, mini beef sliders, ham and cheese melts, penne pasta and kids Caesar are all favourites - and kids’ portions are also available for anything on the daily specials board. Very sensibly too, kids are encouraged to eat in the Toddlers' Corner if they want to - just feel the calm descend.
But it's not all about kids, there's stuff they aren't allowed - the excellent Illy coffees for a start - and the wide ranging casual menus (Breakfast and Lunch/Afternoons) suit all ages and dietary requirements.
Simple, wholesome food is the order of the day. The Yummy Special Salad, for example, is one of half a dozen and features warm brie, bacon & apple, then there are Yummy Flatbreads - a speciality chargrilled tortilla range from the well known Kerry chef Mark Doe, of Just Cooking cookery school nearby - a selection of wraps, and the toasties that many regulars pop in specially to enjoy. Try an Open Tuna, perhaps, it comes on homemade brown bread with ‘Yummy’s Secret Dressing’; the prices are very reasonable (with gluten free option available for an extra 75c) and you can have a cup of homemade soup with any lunch order for just two euro extra.
‘Cakes & Treats’ to accompany those Illy coffees and Barry’s teas are temptingly displayed, and there’s a selection of speciality products on sale too. While there’s not too much detail about suppliers on the menus, there’s a general commitment to sourcing locally and the quality of this tasty fare is plain to see.
If visiting Tralee en famille, and especially if you have babies and toddlers in tow, this is a must-visit destination for a relaxed meal break. Unusually, the family-friendliness is deep down genuine and extends to all areas of the business - they even have baby-changing facilities in all of the toilets, which is a boon for dads.
