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| - From the industrial look of Smallman Street, stepping in to Kaya is like walking into a tropical oasis. Beautifully decorated and colorful, there is a lot of character in the space. The owner is very friendly and it is apparent that this is a labor of love. We were seated for lunch and the server went over the menu with us, necessary as there are plenty of dishes with unfamiliar ingredients or combinations (pulled pork and banana, malanga).
She did not steer us wrong. We ordered chips and spicy-sweet salsa, and steamed buns with pulled pork. The house-made chips were composed of various starches, including malanga, a slightly-sweet root vegetable.
Our group ordered the Kaya burger, the pulled pork and banana sandwich, and rainbow salad. Rainbow salad is pretty special stuff (it's toasted garlic, spices, lots of different vegetables, and a lime to squeeze over it all, then mix) and Kaya's was a decent representation of it.
Everything was spot-on, overall. In the bathrooms - embossed guest towels! The floors, walls, bar, art - it can be upscale or kitschy depending on the mood. We are so happy we got here, and will be back in our Burgh travels.
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