
Uncle Gene’s fish sandwich. Photo: Peter Taylor
The fast-casual restaurant Jimmy Pearls is opening at the Market on 7th Street in the former Uptown Yolk spot on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Why it matters: Jimmy Pearls, a beloved spot with a menu inspired by family traditions, previously operated at the Market on 7th Street. It closed there last June to focus on its food truck (called Jimmy P’s) and on pop-up dinners at places like Free Range Brewing, Nebedaye Farms, Resident Culture and Leah & Louise.
- The chefs behind Jimmy Pearls are Oscar Johnson and Daryl Cooper.
- “There’s a lot of history behind all the stuff that we do, no matter how simple it looks,” Cooper told Axios last year.
What to expect: The Tidewater-inspired menu will feature popular items from the food truck, including their signature Uncle Gene’s fish sandwich. It’ll also have a few new items, such as crab cakes.
“It’s a blessing to have a platform to share these stories and cook in such a way that illuminates all the work of my elders,” Cooper said in a statement.
- Jimmy Pearls will be open Tuesday-Sunday, 11 am-8pm.
Of note: Once the new Uptown location opens, the food truck will be used exclusively for catering parties and larger culinary events, according to a press release Monday.
- Uptown Yolk, the space where Jimmy Pearls is opening, closed at the Market on 7th Street in spring 2021. The restaurant is slated to open this year at a new location, at Vantage South End.

Cooper (left) and Johnson in front of their food truck. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios