3.5 stars knocked down to three because of the sheer volume of noise at K'ya on any given evening. Seriously, between the baby boomers who are losing their hearing due to aging and the young pups who are losing their hearing due to too-high levels on their iPods, how does anyone hold a conversation in this place???
We started with the organic gold beet, baby tomato and feta salad (greens, candied walnuts, mustard vinaigrette). It arrived mounded on a small plate and had a nice, green flavor (the greens were mainly arugula) but the feta nor the vinaigrette really didn't shine through. Also, the salad portion was good enough that it mounded on the small plate and was hard to eat the initial bites without spilling the salad onto the table. A larger plate would have made it easier to enjoy this dish.
Next, we split several dishes, tapas-style:
1. Lobster Truffle Risotto (caramelized onion, white wine, Parmesan cheese). A solid portion, even though it arrived in a smaller container. The top was layered with Parmesan shavings and the bits that melted to the top of the dish added a great flavor. The bits that stayed cool and intact almost competed with the more delicate flavor of the lobster in the risotto. Nice creamy texture and very rich.
2. Coq au Vin (chicken simmered in wine with mushrooms and onions). Overall nice flavor, large chunks of white-meat chicken. Not overpowering even though it was garnished with a sprig of thyme, and as the sauce was a bit watery it would have been great to include a small piece of crusty bread with this dish.
3. Wild Hawaiian Ahi Poke (onion, seaweed, avocado, spicy soy). One of the standout dishes of the evening - we almost ordered a second one because we blew through the first much too quickly.
4. Curry Seared Wild Ahi (organic brown rice pilaf, mango chutney). Phenomenal sear and color on the ahi, and the curry/mango chutney flavors melded nicely and gave the dish an overall wonderful flavor.
The pros: good service, great prices.
The con: (and it's a BIG one): the noise.
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