rev:text
| - 3.5 stars.
"Pittsburgh Magazine" listed Kaya as one of the top 25 restaurants of 2011, so I was really looking forward to our lunch there. Maybe we visited on an off day, but overall, I thought the food was pretty bland.
It was nice to sit outside and people-watch on the Strip, tho, and the White Sangria was excellent with fresh orange juice and bits of crisp green apple. The service was top-notch, too. When our first batch of Corn and Lentil Fritters came out with sticky, liquefied batter still in the middle, our server was most apologetic. And the manager herself came over to apologize as well and let us know the appetizer would be removed from the bill. Wonderful. I would have been happier if the fritters had more zing, tho. The green curry sauce that accompanied them was phenomenal and completely outshone them.
Speaking of green curry sauce, I ended up dousing my Jerked Tofu Tacos with the remainder of it. When I hear "jerk" I think of that puckery vinegar tang and that punch-you-in-the-mouth Scotch bonnet heat. I think "FLAVOR." Kaya's tacos were pretty tame and unremarkable. And before you go all pooh-poohing and saying something about how tasteless tofu is, what did I expect? -- I've had some mighty flavorful tofu dishes in my time! Husband had the Pulled Pork and Banana Sandwich, an interesting pairing which he seemed to enjoy. However, the accompanying sweet potato fries were flaccid. Don't you just hate a flaccid fry?
With so many fabulous restaurants in Pittsburgh and so little time each visit, I don't feel tempted to return to Kaya. Big ups for the great service, tho.
|