A first timer and severely under-whelmed. Four minutes late at Chaya and the 5 of us were made to feel like we needed to seek penance. In sharp contrast, a recent visit to another high-visibility, high-end restaurant everyone from the entire bus to waitstaff were happy to see us and glad we stopped in (even without a reservation). Chaya's space itself was very nice and filled-up quickly. I wondered why, because it certainly wasnt the food. The signature fish dish done to death; the sauce though pretty in appearance was tasteless; and they left the garlic out of the garlic-mashed potatoes. Several sushi items did not taste fresh. Perhaps it was an off night, but more likely it is just another LA-place to be seen and not eaten at. Sigh, so many restaurants and now another one I can take off my list.
Pros: atmosphere, good wine list
Cons: mediocre food, poor value, bad attitudes
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