I celebrated my birthday with 14 friends a few weeks ago. We were scrambling to find a restaurant near Harry Denton's Rouge, where we all attended a tea dance. None of us knew the area, but I came across the listing for YaYa and decided to give them a try.\r
\r
I'm very glad we did! We arrived on the day, and instead of working our way through the menu one at a time, we asked the chef to pick out what he thought we'd like. The phyllo dough dishes were light - the dough didn't overwhelm the other tastes. The fish was tart and delicious. The dolmas were exceptional. The cuisine was familiar, but with new twists (at least one that were new to me). The Bedouin-style dishes were nice to share family-style (especially so we could all try out the various dishes).\r
\r
It was especially nice because it wasn't as loud as most places you might go for a group dinner. The atmosphere was quiet and elegant, and the owner very hospitable and welcoming.
Pros: Inventive food; good wines; good for a group
Cons: I wouldn't go here for a quick dinner; it's set up to have you savor the evening & the table
more