| Belmar |
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Kaya's Kitchen 
 based on 21 member reviews
817 Belmar Plaza, Belmar New Jersey
07719
732-280-1141
Type: Ovo, Lacto, Vegan-friendly, Catering
Info: Veggie restaurant with an extensive menu featuring breakfast selections, combination plates, salads, veggie burgers, sandwiches, specials, and beverages. Prices moderate and up. Live music some times. Breakfast Sun 10-1, lunch Tue-Fri 11:30-3:30, dinner Tue-Fri 5-10, Sat 4-10, Sun 5-9. Price: Expensive.
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| "Hit or Miss.."
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My Rating |
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4 |
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Posted on: Thursday, September 17, 2009 |
Review: I've tried Kaya's Kitchen multiple times and the only consistency is that it will be hit or miss. Everytime I go the prices have been increased and now I truly believe it's a little ridiculous. I enjoy my food (sometimes) but most items are things you can make in your own home. I'm not blown away but I do enjoy going out to eat and having a place that I can sit and the luxury of ordering anything off the menu. For that luxury you pay a hefty price. The atmosphere was better when it was Veggie Works and so was the food but it's a different place now so I won't take points off for that it's too bad they couldn't get the chili recipe or the singing cowboy from the original owners, two of my favorite dishes, worth the hour drive. Maybe even keep the salad bar which was delicious. I don't crave Kaya's Kitchen if I'm in the area I'll go. The last time I went which was two weeks ago the waitress was awesome! I also drove the hour for Mother's day and got there 1.5 hours before closing time to find out they decided to close early for the holiday. They were still there but they weren't serving anymore. No sign outside, nothing listed on their website. I guess I should have called first but that's still irresponsible.
Pros: Specialty Food * BYOB *
Cons: Service is Hit or Miss * Atmosphere lacks * PRICES |
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• gorillawar, this review is really backwards and when it comes in flurries of ridiculous reviews it is reasonable he would take it personally. once in a while 3 or 4 guys remember this site and decide to bag on it unfairly. like you he compares it to the old est, which is neither here nor there. he then uses his own irresponsibility of not calling to blame the cafe for not serving him. That is stupid. Are you he? your themes are parallel to one another, not liking the Sunday buffet/Sunday brunch, old cafe, both less than 5 reviews but w a veg heaven....
calead fwiw has no taste, he likes processed food and can't appreciate wholesome organic food. if he understood the difference there's no way he'd bag a place for serving it well.. response by kindlizard
• Interesting that the owner can not take criticism. People are allowed their own opinions. It doesn't seem very professional to blow up that way.. response by Gorillawar
• Funny you would mention the drive. I drove much longer to get there on many occasions when I was in NJ and I was never let down. I was there during private parties, during breakfasts, dinners, always stellar food and service. You must not try eating organically often if you complain about cost. For quality food, Kaya's is actually a bargain. Too bad you have nothing better to do than sign up multiple times (under diff names) to bash a positive vibe; you offer nothing of value.. response by kindlizard
• Who in the world doesn't call a restaurant on mother's day to see if they are open, then publicly complain about it. This is why I can't take any of this crap seriously. By the way genius, we happened to be open ALL morning for breakfast and well into the evening for dinner....had a rather great day too. Oh one more, Things were better at veggieworks? I worked there for 6 years and TRUST ME, you don't want to eat nuthin' off that salad bar! The chili is still the same recipe and the "singing cowboy", is now simply called a country gluten steak. Did you even read the whole menu, or was it that I ditched the gay name? It is people like you who are the reason I can't take this seriously, you really have no clue....... response by kayaschef
• Sorry, if I could get ORGANIC ingredients any cheaper, I would lower my prices, but until then, go ahead and much on some chemical induced, pesticide sprayed, cancer-causing food. I'm sure your body with be happy with where you cut your costs..... response by kayaschef
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| "Way overpriced, over rated"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 |
Review: Well..here I go again. I am a vegetarian for 16 years and am dying for a great vegetarian place in NJ. I would love to love Kaya's. I have eaten there 6 or 7 times..each time willing to try again. Though the food is generally good..it's not great and not worth the terrible service and the unclean conditions. For those prices you should get what you ordered, not have to reorder 2 times because the waitress "forgot." The service is rude and unprofessional with NYC prices. I have tried to like it but I am just too way offended now to try again.. go in and see for yourself. When it was Veggie Works with different owners the service was not great either but you put up with it because the food was reasonable and delicious.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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• Inappropriate content from this listing has been removed for violation of HappyCow terms of use.. response by webmaster
• keep it up
go ahead, keep trying to bash my restaurant. better yet, try to walk in my shoes for a day and get back to me. My life is committed to providing healthy, satisfying, organic cuisine. Just because you had a bad experience @ Kaya's, give it up. I get dozens of amazing compliments TO MY FACE every day, Not some dweeb who has nothing better to do with his life that keep f'n with me. Got more to say about my restaurant? come and say it to me. my name is Omar, and I am the owner. I will gladly entertain your criticism in person.. response by kayaschef
• Dude, you have to read the rules of posting reviews. Your review being removed is no mystery. You signed up to slam one place, and offered nothing else, a year expired w/o logging in and it got pulled. They will likely let your hostility stand here for another 365. You are only slamming them bc you think your cafe is better and it isn't, and its dirty tactics you employ w this. They don't spam your reviews to make you look bad w your frozen nonsense.. response by kindlizard
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| "Delicious food, but I recommend take out only"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 |
Review: Most of the reviews here are from 2007, and so I went to Kaya's expecting it to be an all round excellent restaurant; great food, service, ambiance, etc. I've gone there twice in the last month with my husband, and the food has been totally delicious, scrape your plate good. But the service is really bad. And the place looks like it has not been maintained. There were dead flies on the window ledge that we were sitting next to. The silverware and plates always seem kind of nasty. The waitress is not attentive, and you don't get the feeling that you've come to eat out at a restaurant. It's like you're eating at a place that's trying to be a restaurant, but should be a fast food joint.
I get the feeling that the owners are thinking, "well the vegans really don't have other choices, so I don't see why I have to try". And, it's true. I don't have other choices, and I really like the food. But when I go out to eat and pay $50 for dinner for two, I don't like to get that nasty feeling I get when I have to eat at a rest stop in the middle of no where. So I recommend taking out your food from Kaya's kitchen and having your dinner at the beach. Again, the food is totally delicious.
Pros: delicious food * awesome deserts * great selection
Cons: poor ambiance * bad service * lack of cleanliness |
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• So you signed up on the website just to be nasty about a really great place run by awesome people. First, "desert" is hard to believe since its on the NJ shore, blocks from the ocean, though the sand may have thrown you. Secondly, if the food was "scrape your plate good", the service could not have been as bad as you say. If it was, the food you got would have been ice cold. The food apparently reached you still hot and delicious, so I think your claims against service are grossly overstated. You said you were there twice, yet the plates are "always seem kind of nasty". That is impossible for you to know if they are always nasty, first of all, being that you were there only twice. Perhaps both times you were there you were dissatisfied, but how were your plates nasty? You scraped them clean yourself.
As for your claim.... response by kindlizard
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| "Mostly great ... some issues though."
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My Rating |
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5 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 |
Review: I think that this is one of the best joints there is around the shore area. The food is usually very good. I go fairly often and have been since the place was Veggieworks. I did have one or two times that I went and felt kind of ripped off by the quality. 98% of the time it is very good. My main issue is that you never know what you are going to get when you go for the Sunday buffet. I would still go because what ever you get, it's usually quite delicious. I usually call ahead to make resrvations and inquire about the content of the buffet and the response is usually "Uh, I dunno. It all depends on what we have around." I went for Father's Day and I also went for Mother's Day and it appeared to have less selection for Father's Day. They also ran out of brown rice and started serving white rice. I think with a little forethought they could have a menu planned for the weekend. I really miss the lunch specials/menu that used to be offered when it was Veggieworks (also the salad bar no longer exists). I know they are two different places but I still miss some of what Veggieworks had.
Oh, some of the wait staff needs to improve their professionalism.
Pros: good food * vegan * like the decor
Cons: No lunch menu/prices * needs better planning * |
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• No I don't work for them. Look at my reviews, I have 100 of them all over the country. This place isn't being reviewed fairly, not just by you but I believe some really inadequate places try to sabotage his place. The terms of review you agree to state not to mention other places. To wish the old place's salad bar continued or whatever has nothing to do with what is reality and now. Be Here Now.
You are so afraid of the present you are afraid of 'chef's choice' on the Sunday buffet. That I think is really sad that you would be so closed to the flavor of the day. Most chefs appreciate some freedom to express themselves; that you can't appreciate self-expression and creativity is your own problem.
Coast to coast would be a far commute!. response by kindlizard
• Kindlizard,
I opened the review with the fact that I think it is one of the best places around. I also included that I understand that they are two different places and I don't hold it against them. I just like salad bars where I eat. Do you work for them? I think it is entirely possible to have lunch prices. There are organic veg*n restaurants in NYC that do it, as well as other cities. I would go more often if it were a little cheaper and in the long run, they would probably make more money. I also have family that are in the restaurant business. They serve high quality food and offer a lunch menu.. response by Gorillawar
• Most fine cafes ion the country have rotating menus. Though the menu here is very consistent, they save one day for when they can do a "chef's choice". I would think as consumers we would want to try the inspiration of a chef that day.
The fact that it is a different cafe from before can not be held against this current place either. Lunch specials are not affordable for a cafe serving this high quality cuisine. That is unfair to hold against a cafe that they are different from a previous cafe that has nothing to do with the current.
Other than that your main issue is they ran out of brown rice. I think that is forgivable, don't you?
You forgot to mention in your review how great your experience was.. response by kindlizard
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| "Pretty tasty food"
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My Rating |
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4 |
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Posted on: Sunday, June 21, 2009 |
Review: I stopped at Kaya's Kitchen since I was in the area for business. I had the Philly Steak with a small house salad & the Grilled BBQ Soy drumsticks. Both dishes were good. Govinda's Cafe/Gourmet To Go has the best Philly cheese "steak," but that's not surprising given that Govinda's is in philly. Make sure you check their hours before you go, since they do shut between lunch and dinner.
Pros: portions are a good size * *
Cons: a bit pricey * shut between 2:30 and 5 * |
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| "AMAZING!"
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My Rating |
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2 |
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Posted on: Friday, March 06, 2009 |
Review: Kayas is AMAZING. I went with my beau (who is a CARNIVORE, and LOVED it.) for Valentine's day and we got a whole bunch of stuff. Its amazing food, so delicious, and lots to choose from. Its not cheap, but definately worth it. I go once a month. Theyre really nice there, too.
Pros: Delicious * healthy * Friendly
Cons: Not cheap * * |
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| "Best Veggie Restaurant Ever"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Thursday, December 18, 2008 |
Review: I used to live in NJ, but I have been living in California for almost 7 years now. I have never found any place that has lived up to Kaya's Kitchen (or as I used to know it, Veggie Works). I still try to drive out to Belmar anytime I am on the east coast, going hours out of my way just to go to this restaurant.
I love the mock fried chicken and the mock meatloaf. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
It is true that you should get a reservation because it can be very busy. Last year I practically had to beg to get a table at dinner! I explained that I flew in all the way from CA, and they had pity on me.
Pros: food * varied menu * delicious
Cons: very busy * small * slow |
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| "Amazing"
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My Rating |
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9 |
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Posted on: Sunday, November 30, 2008 |
Review: Yeah so amazing really sums it up. I foget the name of the dish I had. It had vegetables and rice. Then for desert I had a bannana chocolate bunt cake. Everything was so great and fresh.
Pros: excellent food * friendly staff * great atmosphere
Cons: * * |
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| "Best Vegan Restaurant Ever"
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My Rating |
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5 |
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Posted on: Friday, August 01, 2008 |
Review: I know those are bold words, but this is hands down my favorite restaurant. Whether you're there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the options are mind boggling (so many good choices!) and the food is fresh, organic, and perfectly delicious. Favorites include Belgian waffles, chocolate chip peanut butter pancakes, French toast, and The Jersey Devil (vegan pork roll and cheese sandwich) for breakfast; junk yard burger or Philly cheese steak for lunch; and grilled gluten steak, vegan beef enchiladas, and the Kaya's combo for dinner.
Pros: Excellent Food * Healthy Cuisine * Friendly Staff
Cons: * * |
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| "Outstanding Vegan Food"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Sunday, June 22, 2008 |
Review: The food is incredibly fresh, every dish we have had so far has been amazing. This is a restaurant worth traveling to. The wait staff and owner are kind, friendly, and cultivate a peaceful atmosphere. For Lunch , my husband and I had 5 dishes plus beverages (he had the Ying Yang which is tasty and pretty to look at), and our bill was a scant $38.00!!!
Pros: Excellent Food * Good Value * Friendly Staff
Cons: * * |
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| "mouth watering"
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My Rating |
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4 |
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Posted on: Thursday, April 24, 2008 |
Review: Great food. Go for the dinner buffet and brunch. FOod is soo good.
Pros: yummy food * diverse menu *
Cons: slow service sometimes * * |
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| "Kaya's!"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Saturday, April 05, 2008 |
Review: This place is wonderful. The food is consistently great, and the wait-staff are always sweet and helpful. I usually make the hour-long trip to go here once a week, that should say enough. Their prices are a little high, sure, but consider that vegan options are few and far between, and that they source organic ingredients. There Sunday buffet is a delight as well. It is about $19 a person, but well worth it's weight in mashed potatoes and karma wings. You truly do get what you pay for!
Pros: Junk-yard Burger * Potato salad * Karma Wings
Cons: Distance for me * Price * |
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| "Pricey But Delicious"
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My Rating |
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3 |
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Posted on: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 |
Review: I had only gone to this restaurant two or three times since I've lived in Belmar. As the semester is coming to an end, I find my time to experience this cuisine again before the school year finishes is running thin. Every time I have had their food I had been pleasantly surprised by the flavors, tastes, and service. The only problem I have is the high high high price, but that's the price you pay for good food.
Pros: good food * good service * open year round
Cons: price * price * price |
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| "great veg cuisine"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Thursday, January 17, 2008 |
Review: The ravioli is a must try, the staff was so sweet...took a while for our order and the bread basket was cold both times, but overall, good experience, and not just some seiten or tofu in sauce-- they really put thought into their dishes.
Pros: friendly staff * lively * good portions
Cons: * * |
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• I don't think I have ever had hot bread in a bread basket. Where do you usually eat where its hot? It affected your night? This place is awesome.. response by kindlizard
• Hey, I was wondering what Rav dish you were talking about? I didn't know they had one. Are you talking about the porgies? I am pretty sure that the bread is not supposed to come out hot. everytime I have went threre it had been room temp and not toasted.. response by BoOgIe Down
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| "Best Place in NJ!!!"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 |
Review: I love this place. The food is great, the wait staff is friendly, and the music is awesome. They have live music on the weekends some times which is a nice change. People might say that thier prices are to high, but we are paying high quality organic food. you cant find this kind of food at most places... or any where that I can think of. Being a vegetarian I was not use to such a big selection to choose from, that it took me so long to pick something! As far as the staff goes. They are very friendly and helpful. I go there alot and know most of them by name and look forward to seeing them when I go in... Kaya's Kitchen is a great place!
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "Hands down: best vegetarian restaurant EVER"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Thursday, December 20, 2007 |
Review: You can't beat this place. It has great energy, great food and very cool customers. Get the coconut chicken curry dish. (I prefer it extra spicy.)
My friend brought her leftovers home (the above mentioned chicken curry dish)and her mom ate it and asked her "Since when are you eating veal?". She refused to believe that what she just ate wasn't meat.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "One of the best"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Saturday, September 15, 2007 |
Review: I'm a vegetarian who eats mostly vegan that lives 1/2 mile away from Kaya's. I try and visit them once a week, and usually order take out one day a week as well.
To address the reviewer(s) who are claiming that the staff members are rude - I have never seen the staff there treat anyone with anything other than respect. I'd admit, sometimes the service is a little slow, but the girls who serve you are about the friendliest group of people you'll meet.
The food is excellent, and is portioned where we bring home leftovers for lunch the next day. I've been to a lot of vegan/veg places all over the US, and I consider myself fortunate to live so close to Kaya's.
Pros: Friendly * Food * Portions
Cons: None * * |
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| "The Best"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Friday, September 14, 2007 |
Review: I eat at Kaya's a few times a month. I have to say, each time I go it gets better and better. I am yet to try everything on the menu, but I am working on it. Last time we went for dinner, there was a special called the RASTAMAN. Jamaican-Jerk Soy-chicken with mashed sweet potatoes, seasoned kale, and black-eyed peas. Yeah, It may have been the best thing I ever ate. This is the first review I have written, but felt I needed to because this place is truly amazing. I strongly recomend to any vegan, vegatarian, or even meat-eaters! you won't be disappointed! Keep up the great work!
Pros: Geat food * Friendly Staff * Organic!
Cons: * * |
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| "Wow... go somewhere else"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Monday, September 03, 2007 |
Review: Ok I went to this place when it used to be Veggie Works and it was AWESOME. Food, service, and atmosphere were all incredible. When it turned into Kaya's Kitchen I figured it would be just as great... wrong.
We only go there when we go to the beach since we live an hour away. We decided to get take out to take home. Well the hostess said they were swamped and it would take at least an hour and a half to get any food which is fine, but she was extremely rude and we asked about just possibly taking home dessert and the hostess said "WAIT the hour and a half first, THEN we'll discuss dessert!" Ok strike one. I know their busy, but be polite to customers.
OK so a year or 2 later we figure to give it another try. We go there on a sunday to eat in the restaurant and there are only 2 people working there. We wait 2 hours and 15 minutes before any of us got any food. We asked for certain things like silverware (never had any) and never got them. I had to steal some from an unoccupied table. The service there is TERRIBLE. The food wasn't all that special either. They ran out of veggie sausage, home fries, and syrup while we were there. Their scram is awesome though, I will give them that.
Bottom line, I'll stick to places like Horizons and Green Light, don't waste your time.
Pros: SCRAM * *
Cons: service * service * no salad bar |
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• I think if that was their experience, and they reported it as such, then it is not bashing. You don't have to agree with it and most will read more than this review.. response by Gorillawar
• WOW! Your review is amazing. You know so much, but what you failed to mention is that you didn't make a reservation at a place that is always packed on sunday mornings (obviously because they have the best vegan breakfast on earth), because if you did, you wouldn't have had to wait long. another thing, are you really comparing veggieworks to kaya's? veggieworks had great food, as does kaya's, but never did I get in and out of veggieworks in less than 2 hours min. I go to kaya's all the time and I am always very satisfied. And if veggieworks was so awsome, did you know the owner of kaya's worked ther for like 6 years before he took over? The ambiance in the dining room is relaxed and warm, the people who work there seem to be stongly devoted to thier cause, and they simply make the best vegan cuisine hands down. It is people like y.... response by vegancowboy
• The fact that you would even put Horizons and Greenlight in the same sentence shows your class and worth. G'light lies about what they have as vegan, then can't remember which lie they told last. Plus, unless you like shards of glass and drugs as your outdoor ambiance, you best not mess w Greenlight. Why sign up on a website to bash a good place like Kaya's? They have class, bump reggae, strict OG and Vegan (unless you order dairy cheese on something), that just seems like you have nothing better to do. You already spammed your board over there, why not let this one be? Horizons and Kayas are the two best in the area, ask anyone who knows. Greenlight not even in the discussion.. response by kindlizard
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| "best place in the state"
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My Rating |
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99 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 |
Review: These guys do a great job. It has a great feel to it. We drive a decent distance to go there if we want a really nice dinner. Some say it is expensive, which if you think of it is not actually true: it is Organic and freshly prepared, so it really isn't. It would be if they were buying their food at Walmart, but that is not the case. We have tried most things on the menu by now, there are not anything lacking. Solid place.
Pros: Menu * food quality * vibe
Cons: too full for dessert ;) * * |
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| "Comforting Vegan Food!"
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My Rating |
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19 |
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Posted on: Friday, March 09, 2007 |
Review: Kaya's Kitchen offers wonderful vegan delights such as Gluten Parm and Spinach Quesadillas, not to mention their French Onion Soup is mouth watering. My advise it to get there early. They can get pretty packed and then the service is slow. On the weekends you can enjoy great music from a jazz band while having your wonderful meal!
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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