Our boss told us that we HAD to eat at Kai while in the area on our business trip and made us reserve a table. Kai is such an elevated experience. Their service is unmatched! We were greeted promptly by name by the hostess, who then took us to our table, where 2 gentlemen awaited to pull out and push in our chairs and then place napkins on our laps. The restaurant is decorated with native paintings and decor there is plenty of space between tables - you are within ear shot of the party next to you but it remains quiet enough for you to converse within your party without competing with others. The view from the restaurant at sunset was incredibly beautiful. They have an outdoor patio that you can go out on for a photo op, and the wait staff was out right behind us to see if they could take some photos for us. Every time you were seated at the table, they would push in your chair and place napkins on your laps. Laura, Austin & Taylor were who assisted us in our dining adventure and they were all so incredible and attentive. Our water glasses never got below half before Austin was over filling them again. Kai offers a tasting menu with 7 courses, 4 of which you make a choice. My meal included: The Birth - From the Elders, The Beginning - Elk Ragu, The Journey - Bison, The Afterlife - S-Thoa Mu:n, & the Honey Dessert. All of which were delicious. Kai runs $195/person or $350 w/ Wine Pairing, and the service alone was worth that. Dining at Kai was such a unique experience. It takes between 2-3 hours for the full experience. Each menu has its own hand-painted indigenous art piece on the front. The staff greets you in the native language and they include traditions of the native people throughout the evening. Upon our decent, our car was ready at valet waiting for us - with a gift and card from our server. Which was such a nice touch. read more

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I cannot say enough good things about Kai. This restaurant has been on my must try list for years. I'm so glad I finally got to try it. I loved the whole Native American influence throughout the meal. Each course was unique and different. The bison was absolutely delicious. An amazing experience. read more

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Can I give Kai 6 stars? 10 stars? This is one of most exquisite and memorable dining experiences I've ever had. The excellent service begins before you set foot on the property--the person who takes your reservation asks a number of questions to make sure the restaurant is prepared for your arrival. When you arrive at the valet stand, the attendant knows you by name and greets you according to the information you gave the booker (for example, if it's an anniversary dinner, he'll make reference to that). The people at the host stand greet you by name before they take you to your table. The menu has a slot in the front where servers can remove and replace a piece of art; your server has chosen an image especially for you. The tasting menu consists of gourmet dishes inspired by Indigenous ingredients and flavors, all presented beautifully. Each course is explained in full by your server. In between the official courses are small bites such as a piece of bread with butter or a wellness juice shot. One of my favorite parts of the experience came near the end of the meal. A bowl of rocks and plants was set on the table, then a server poured hot water over it. Suddenly, my table was filled with the scent of rain in the desert. My car was ready at valet before I even walked outside, and sitting in my passenger seat was a thank-you gift and a bottle of water with a personalized thank-you card from my server. I cannot say enough good things about Kai--the food, the service, the views, the ambiance are all incredible. The only drawbacks I could see other people finding with the experience are the cost (the bill for one person with tip was over $300) and the "foodieness" of the menu--this is a meal for people with sophisticated palates. read more

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Very special place where they try to make every detail of your experience absolutely divine, starting with the hand-painted, one-of-a-kind menus, to the introduction in the native language, to the respect given to the native tradition. Service was incredible - for each course change, a host of servers descended on our table in unison to greet us and prepare the food, often tableside or with some tableside finishing. They also included a dry-ice presentation to have us smell the creosote and finished with a gift for each of us and a hand-written thank you note. Incredible concept and well executed. They accommodated us when one of our party was very late and when one was cold, by giving us a blanket. I will say I was served a cocktail in a cracked glass, which is kind of scary, but they were very apologetic and I understand things happen. read more

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I'm going to start off with a warning that this review will be a bit pretentious, but that comes with the type of restaurant this is and the price point. You kind of have to have higher standards. Let's start with the great. The service was perfect, I didn't have a single worry or want the entire time I was there. The staff were very friendly and made sure everything was taken care of. Saying they were attentive was an understatement. Now to the good. The food tasted good. There were certainly no issues with any of the courses, and I enjoyed them all. Same with the cocktails. I enjoyed the flavors of the ones we tried. Now to the not so good(the pretentious part). The decor and vibes of the restaurant were very distracting. You walk into the hotel lobby and are greeted with an amazing view, then you keep walking and get into Kai... and you're greeted with a bunch of knick-knacks all over the walls that try to distract you from what is obviously just a hotel conference room. To continue the theme of vibe, it was also just so quiet the whole time we were there with a very low volume white noise ambiance. If my date and I weren't whispering, the whole room would be able to hear our conversation. That might be the preference for some finer diners, but for us it was a bit awkward. Next, I want to call attention to the 22-25$ cocktails we got. They were good, but they weren't 25$ good. I frequent cocktail bars and even they aren't this overpriced. Finally, I want to talk about the food again. I want to emphasize that the food tasted good, and everything was cooked well. My issue is that none of the courses were amazing. Not a single one did I think, holy cow I need to tell someone about this. This isn't a critique I would usually make, but this was one of the highest priced fine dining restaurants I've been to, and I expected the quality to reflect that. I even got their signature dish, the bison, and it was cooked well, but the flavors were pretty standard. If you want to feel like a king being waited on and don't mind throwing down 500-600$ on pretty good food, this is your place. If you've been saving up all year to have the most incredible meal you've had in a while, I think there are some better choices out there in the area. read more

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I have never ever had an experience like the one I had last evening at Kai. From the moment we walked through the door until the moment we left which was 2 1/2 hours later, we were treated like celebrities. I've never had service this excellent and food prepared so beautifully and tastily (is that even a word?) We arrived a few minutes early and were greeted by our last name and presented with a tablet with specialty cocktails. The bartender came to us to take the order and to deliver the drinks while we waited for our 6 PM reservation. Everyone who works in this establishment, and there are many who make it happen, know all about the native culture, the menu, and seems so happy to be working here. You can select from a few choices of every course and there are some surprises from the chef in between. Whomever created the concept thought of everything even chilling thr silverware when we were eating a cold item and heating the silverware when we were eating a hot item. Each dish was masterfully explained by Taylor our wait staff. She had just the right amount of intelligence and humor to make the evening very enjoyable. The menu features native dishes and ingredients and most things are locally sourced. The staff know where every item comes from and we had a lot of exchange about what we were eating. As soon as we finished a course, wait staff scooped in and took the dirty dishes, pronto. They brushed crumbs off the table, though I couldn't see them. This level of service is unprecedented as is the food. It was pricey, but well worth it. As I was leaving one of the staff asked if I enjoyed the food and asked me to tell them what I had which I did. There was a lot. She gave me a beautiful card handwritten by Taylor as well as a gift. The ambiance is amazing and a tribute to the native culture on which the resort stands. I am a fan. read more

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Laura, Feliciano, Austin, and the rest of the staff were incredible in explaining all the foods and making sure everything was perfect. The food was amazing and you could tell care was put into it. Not many people were there so it was a quiet place to enjoy good food and the sunset read more

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More than just an incredible meal - it's an unforgettable experience. Kai has been on my list to try for years, and we finally visited this past weekend for my birthday. I truly could not have had higher expectations and they were surpassed. Each course told a story and was well executed, and the service was fantastic. We loved the pee posh garden, Ha:L, late harvest, u'uwhig, key lime pie, and honey. The duck was one of the best dishes I have ever had in my life. The hotel and restaurant are gorgeous, romantic, and very peaceful- I can only imagine how beautiful the view is at sunset. Such an amazing experience and I cannot wait to go back ! read more

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Being with friends in the industry made the evening fantastic! The narration of what is on the plate is perfect. It draws you into the flavors before you even taste the food. I loved the great service in a relaxed environment. We all started at the bar, and the Cosmo was on point. We visited the beautiful fireplace and then meandered to the dining room, where the group I was with filled the entire room. Our lead waiter was gracious to our chit-chat and moved around to network. The wine pairing was perfect, as you could choose white, red, or both to accompany whatever tasty course you were presented. I highly suggest this as a place to take your team or go out on a romantic evening for two. read more

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this food was like nothing i've ever had before!!! the service was like i was the queen of england!!!! read more

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My husband brought me here to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary! We arrived early and that gave us time to walk around the grounds and just enjoy the sunset. Once we got to the restaurant, we were given a glass of wine and we sat next to the fireplace. I have to say I have never experienced such outstanding service! The service was exquisite! the food was delightful and our servers were knowledgeable and ever so friendly! The only criticism I have is that the lobster tail could have provided more lobster! I know it's a tasting menu but really one bite of lobster for $350 was a tad disappointing! Oh yeah, the wine pairing was phenomenal! but don't come here if you don't want to spend money with the wine pairing, it was $350 apiece and with the tip it was $900! But it was well worth it because the experience is something that's hard to put into words! read more

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2nd time here was not a disappointment food and service as good as last time the bar tender I I wish I could remember her name she went well beyond what she had to do for a drink she even made and new one ramons aviation fiz it was the best read more

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Experience photo-documented. MIC DROP. WOW. The service BLEW US AWAY more than the food and ambiance. And the food and ambiance were stunning. Yes, it was pricey, but it was so worth the visit. What a treat. Of course, MAKE RESERVATIONS. Overall, highly recommend! read more

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Amazing food but small portions, even by fine dining standards. Great taste, and service, but leaving wanting a burger to fill the void

I have to say this was the best experience I have had at a restaurant to date. From being called by our last names, having our chairs pulled out for us, napkins placed on us to a full on history lesson and a timeless story told through the food. Not to mention the lighting was yellow which I normally I'm not a fan of but they were able to match the lighting with all the colors around bringing out an exotic feeling. read more

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Service was 10/10, ambiance was beautiful 10/10, food was beautifully presented with a lot of different flavors but I wasn't that wow'ed by it so 8/10. From their website, the restaurant "celebrates Native American cuisine... while highlighting the culture and history of the area" and it did just that. Maybe it was that I am not used to this kind of cuisine that things didn't sit so well with me that evening, but during the meal everything was great. It is pricey for the meal so maybe that why I was hoping for more. The history and culture that the servers were sharing was very interesting and the plates and silverware were created to match the vibe. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal from the hostess stand to the walk out to your car. The staff here is out of this world. They are wholly dedicated to your experience. It is fine dining to the max. My husband and I waited for our table at the bar and he got a super cool cocktail. It was $50, and he said it was worth it. When our table was ready, the server came and got us. When you go inside, you see a gorgeous view of the sky and Native American cultural artifacts on the walls. It's simple but effective. As for the food, prepare to be amazed. I can't say enough about the thought and care the chef has clearly put into each bite. You get to choose four items off of the menu, and they add amuse-bouche, a cheese dish, and truffles as well. I chose the crab, the lobster, the veal, and the corn (dessert). I genuinely was worried my husband and I wouldn't be full, but we were satisfied in terms of hunger. In terms of taste, I don't think I can convey just how high-quality and elevated this meal was. The meat was so tender, the bread and cheese were so fresh, the sauces were so fragrant. What is extra cool is that your server (ours was Feliciano) explains each ingredient before you dive in, so you know what you're eating. It's kind of like a history lesson too, because there's a lot of Native American culture infused into the dishes. Yes, it's expensive, but it's probably the best dining experience I've ever had. When you leave the restaurant, the hostess even has the valet to have your car ready for you by the door. When we got our car, the valet gave us a jar of honey and a card thanking us for dining with them. Such a nice touch! read more

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My partner took me out for my birthday and we were super excited because we haven't been back to Kai since before Covid. It was our first fine dining experience in three years and one that was extremely disappointing. In the crab dish my partner bit into the cartilage, which should be an absolute no-no in fine dining. The onion tart was overwhelmingly horrible, one not, and missing a lot of seasoning. It was the only thing either of us could taste for the rest of the evening, which my partner ended up throwing up when we arrived home. Overall everything seemed to lack seasoning. The saving grace was the terrific service and desserts. Nothing was taken off of our check for the cartilage. It's a real shame to see such a fine establishment go down hill. It used to be my favorite restaurant but now I do not think we will go back. read more

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Surprised I haven't reviewed Kai - I've been coming here since 2014. My most recent visit was a week after they reopened for their 2023 summer closure. Instead of the 13 course menu I've enjoyed in the past, they were only offering a five-course tasting menu. Every course offered options aside from the cheese course. The service here is unparalleled in this state. New napkin every time you get up, someone always there to push in your chair. In the past when they've closed the doors to the dining room, there's always someone there to open them like you're making a grand entrance. They always open the curtains right at sunset so you can watch the colors change across the sky. My previous complaint - the portion sizes - appears to have been addressed by the new chef. It used to be the case that you'd end up with a huge bag of to-go food by the end of the night because their portions were just too large to enjoy everything. They've nailed it now. The price tag surprised me. I know the cost of goods everywhere has gone up, but I'm used to paying $330 per person for the 13-course option with wine pairings. This visit was $330 for five courses with pairings. The wine pairings are well curated. I love to see a mostly old-world pairing selection. And when you leave, your vehicle is waiting out front with water bottles and a little gift to go. Great special occasion spot. read more

Eating at Kai is about the experience. If you like to be pampered, have someone pay attention to the details, and try flavors in a new way, this is your place. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, it was perfect. Exceptional service. This is just as special as the food. Intimate setting with tables spaced well enough to have your own conversation. Highly recommend for those special occasions when you want to feel special. read more

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Forbes Five-Star + AAA Five-Diamond All I have to say is wow, wow, wow. I will never be able to eat at another restaurant like this again. When you walk into the restaurant, there's a cozy lounge seating area with a bar. Live local music is playing in the background. Nice way to set the mood, tone of the evening. As for our server Kevin and the team, immaculate service. This restaurant paid homage to Native American cuisine, and focused on farm/land to table while featuring local ingredients. I can appreciate that. The menu tells a story from The Birth, The Beginning, The Journey, and The Afterlife (my fave course). Not to mention that French service! The only comment that I have is in regards to making reservations and I get it, we booked within a week out (definitely not recommended as they book months in advance), but it was just a lot of chasing. Initially left a message on their VM, didn't get a call back until the next day to which they advised they'll put me on the waitlist. They called back another day later to advise that a reservation cancelled so we were in! But just needed to fill out a credit card form online via OpenTable to guarantee. I did that, received a confirmed message on my phone screen, but never got an email or text nor did it show up on my OpenTable account. So it was 2 more days of leaving messages on their phone to reconfirm to which the day before our reservation, I received a call back saying they got our credit card and the reservation was confirmed. Whew, but it was worth the wait and anticipation, and I think they know that. read more

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Excellent food, service, and ambience! Make a reservation and go! My wife and I celebrated our anniversary at Kai while visiting Arizona and it was a wonderful experience. I can't stress that enough, it's not just dinner, but an experience, and an amazing one at that. Every second of the dinner was exceptionally thought out. From the menu design, to when they open the shades to enable guests to watch the sunset, of course each and every menu option, to when you walk out of the restaurant, their entire staff take the extra step to ensure it's a classy and tasteful experience. I definitely recommend checking the restaurant out! read more

I made reservations for the wrong date and was treated like a complete piece of shit by the person hosting. It was a guy with curly hair. I get it man. I'm a fool and should have looked at the date, but don't make me feel like that especially in the service industry. Learn how to do your job properly you pretentious prick. read more

Kai (means "seed" in the Pima language) partners with the local Pima and Maricopa tribes to source local ingredients naturally found in the valley, foods they've eaten for centuries such as cholla buds, saguaro blossom syrup, and mesquite flour, only with permission from the tribes. Throughout Kai and the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass you'll see paintings, symbols, and architecture that pays homage to the tribes of the land it's on. The restaurant requires a reservation and must be made well in advance. Ask for a seat by the window and make your reservation for sunset for the best possible view. You can self-park for free, or receive complimentary valet just validate it at Kai. The prix fixe menu is $145 per person and that comes with five courses. With the wine pairing it's $265 per person. They also have cocktails, scotch, beer, coffee, and more. One of our favorites was the "Pee-Posh Garden" which was a gorgeous and unconventional salad, it looked like a mini garden with a candied pecan soil. Another favorite was the "Pima Blue Corn & Sumac Crusted Quail" which was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly! A third favorite was the "Chocolate & Queen Creek Olives" which beautifully combined basil cake, lemon foam, white and dark chocolate mousse. We had a wonderful experience here, and Jeremy was very knowledgeable about everything from their partnership with the Native American tribes to the details in the courses. It's no wonder Kai is Arizona's only restaurant with both the AAA Five Diamond Award and Forbes Five-Star Award. read more

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The most amazing culinary experience of my life! This is a must try, but be advised, the price is $$$$$, but well worth it. read more

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This is the place in Arizona to celebrate a very special occasion. There is no menu, just a 5 course dinner. The food is excellent, the service is unbelievable, and the sunset is amazing. Each dish comes with a story, they greet you by name, and have your car ready for you when you are done. First class service. read more

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It's going to be $200+ a person plus gratuity. Let's get that out of the way. If that's going to impact your enjoyment, you should probably skip it. Kai is unique in a few ways but the most important, to me, is the tie to the native community which flows through every aspect of the restaurant; the hotel itself, the surrounding area, the views, the decor, the menus, the food, and the stories behind every that is presented to you. It really makes dining here much more than a meal. The food itself is a tasting menu of 5 courses; choice of appetizer, second course, and entree followed by a set cheese course and choice of dessert. Then there are some other items in between (bread/sorbet). Unlike some tasting menus I've done, you will be fed more than enough food. I was stuffed upon standing up at the end of the meal. Each course is substantial (in tasting meal terms) and the overall quantity is great - dare i say a value at this price point? The food quality and taste is excellent. The highlights for me were the pee-posh garden, the Pisin, and the Gi:sho. I think the desserts and the pork were just ok. The service is, for the most part, wonderful. Unfortunately, however, we did arrive early to have a cocktail in the lounge and never did get served after sitting there for nearly 20 minutes after the bartender acknowledged us. That was a hugely disappointing. Lastly, I think it's time to update the decor of the restaurant. It is a bit tired and does not match the experience of the food. Overall, if you haven't been you should go for a special occasion or just to celebrate the fact that we have such a wonderful place in our backyard. read more

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Five stars for our 5 Diamond rated restaurant! We "experienced" Kai last night for my birthday and it was a very special dinner. Service is impeccable from making and confirming your reservations to greeting and seating you all the way through dinner service. Immersion into the culture that defines the food makes this a unique experience. If you're lucky enough to score a window table, they dramatically pull the drapes just at sunset to reveal stunning views of the greenery on property extending out over miles of desert and the mountains as a backdrop - just icing on the cake! read more

Didn't return my phone call!! We had dinner there before and it was very good, but I guess they are too busy to call back!

Great experience with very dedicated host and staff! We came for a birthday celebration (stated on the reservation, but unfortunately there did not seem to be anything special from Kai for birthdays) and the host and staff were impeccably cordial and attentive. A great explanation of each dish was given before ordering and as each item was brought out. When we enjoyed a particular element of a dish, the staff was even wonderful enough to bring extras for my partner or I to taste. I think it's worthwhile to dine here for a special occasion. The menu is mostly accommodating for vegetarians, but I do think some value is missed out on the vegetarian options. The ambiance is fairly calming and there was a live musician for the beginning half of our meal. Overall, our meal came out to ~$420 with tip (2 non-wine dining option) read more

Made a last minute reservation that was canceled while en route. Disappointed to say the least. We have been several times before and never had this happen. Adam needs to brush up on reservation policies. It will be a while before we consider returning. . For this level of service I would expect more and providing this feedback for management awareness. Your frontline staff are the face of your business and may need to polish up on their approach. It would have been easier if we were not offered the reservation to begin. read more

My wife wanted to go to a fancy restaurant for our 18th anniversary, so I asked a buddy for a recommendation. He gave me 7 or 8 places but said if I can get reservations at Kai that I need to jump on it. So we did. We live in the northwest valley, so we made a weekend out of it by staying at the resort there. All I can say is I will never look at food the same! Everybody there was absolutely amazing, and our sommelier Faliciano was fabulous. We will most definitely make another trip to Kai, and I can't wait! read more

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Kai is a premium fine dining experience at the Sheraton Grand, at Wild Horse Pass near Phoenix. The cuisine is Native American - not an option you see much anywhere in the USA. And the environment, service and structure are very much that high-end, Michelin-style fine dining that you may have experienced elsewhere - although Michelin itself does not grade in Arizona. The dining room is a beautiful room decorated with cultural artifacts and with a great view that we couldn't see at that time of night. The tables have been spread for appropriate social distancing. Service is top-notch - attentive staff tend to every need, including going above and beyond when asked. Each dish is narrated as it is presented, describing both how it is composed and how it related to native American culture. Even the menus are unique and get their own narrative. In fact, all this narrative is a very slight weakness - we were seeing friends that we don't meet often, and wanted to talk. The staff had to apologise several times for interrupting, and afterwards we all remarked that the meal had involved a bit more listening than we would have preferred - although all of it was so interesting and well presented, it would have been hard to give this feedback at the time. The restaurant has just reopened after covid, and is currently only serving its large tasting menu, with no a la carte option. Most courses had a couple of options, and it was easy for me to find a dish I was excited about in each phase. I have attached a picture of the menu on the day we were there. The food was expensive ($145 per person without any drink pairings), but was quite reasonable compared to similar restaurants in other locations. The tasting menu had 5 courses. Portions were small, but perhaps not small enough. My first two courses were delicious (a soup and a lobster dish), leaving me insufficiently hungry for the beef tenderloin. I normally have a hearty appetite and had not eaten heavily this day. The two first courses were a better size for an a la carte menu, but maybe too large for a tasting menu. And if I'd have been ordering a la carte, I would have wanted even more of that amazing lobster "roll". It was easy to leave the tenderloin unfinished as this was the least interesting and unique part of the menu. Well prepared, but not my favourite even had I been hungry. Our table tried almost all the dishes and loved them all. For me the best part was the lobster "roll" and the Hail, a mesquite squash soup. Across our table almost every dish was tried and almost all got high grades. It took over 3 hours from start to finish to complete our meal, and we were not going slow. As so often at this kind of meal, there was a lot more unmentioned free food - an amuse bouche, great native american breads, a course of petit fours that were super, and a set of drinks and banana breads that were left in our car after we got it from the valet. The petit fours were better than my actual dessert (a rather dry chocolate souffle). We don't eat this way very often, but we have had better premium fine dining meals. However, this was very good, and presented new and interesting flavours with a connection to culture and history. If you like fine dining and are in the area, I'd recommend this. It's an amazing experience. read more

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The service were excellent! The food is good, very unique, although I can't say excellent. The environment is just alright, maybe because the COVID, they have only one area room open, which is not very fancy nor romantic. They requested to have the dress code, well I think that should also apply for women, other table, girls were very casual, wearing hoodies ~ I mean ??? What?! read more

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We were staying at the Sheraton Grand and were told Kai was one of the best restaurants in Arizona. We decided to try it out and had a phenomenal experience. They offer a 5 course pre-fix menu with a couple options and enhancements in some of the courses. The service was 5 star! No complaints. The detail from the art on the cover of the menu featuring Native American history to the many reflections to the heritage of the reservation throughout the experience was amazing. The food was inventive and super yummy. The standouts were the fried bread with cheese course, the signature dish with buffalo and oxtail, and the chocolate dessert inspired by the mountains surrounding the restaurant. The drinks were PHENOMENAL! We had a couple cocktails which were 5 star and did the wine pairing. We did not have one pairing that let us down- superb choices. I think the only thing I would change would be the carpet- it was a bit dated and with changing it to something a little more modern the restaurant would be even more beautiful. The other room for improvement was the surf and turf course- the lobster was great with bone marrow foam, but we felt the NY strip was a little tougher than our liking. Maybe if they paired with a filet mignon it may have worked better? Despite these small recommendations, if you are in the Phoenix area, Kai is a must try! They would easily be a one star Michelin restaurant. Can't wait to come back! read more

KAI - Menu with art - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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First off, IGNORE any bad reviews you see here! Secondly, AMAZING! My girlfriend and I were staying onsite at the resort for her law firm seminar, and saw this as an eating option. A triple A five star diamond dining option onsite?! We both figured it was something to check out. We casually walked up to put our names in and were told that it was a minimum 3 hour dining EXPERIENCE, and they only had two open spots. Say what? YES, 3 hours but can go as long as 6 hours. I thought they were pulling my damn leg. My girlfriend and I both chuckled and took the 8:30 reservation for that night. Fast forward to 8PM, we are chilling in the room and debating just ordering room service. I get on Yelp to read reviews and after reading a couple to her, she decides she wants to go. We get dressed in "smart casual" clothes (didn't know that word until coming out west) and head over. They have a small lobby area with very comfy seating and a bar, with a nice fire going. No TVs. The concierge greets us and asks us to be seated in the lobby. She comes back by a few minutes later and apologizes that our table isn't ready yet and OFFERS US TWO DRINKS on the house. I almost gasped. I'm used to waiting to eat and it seriously was only 3 minutes past our reservation. WOW! So we order drinks and then are called to be seated. This is where your journey starts. I encourage you, during your meal here, to notice the subtle and not so subtle differences in what makes this a 5 star triple A diamond dining "journey/experience". Here is what we witnessed: - Wait staff will seat you and push your chair in, then place a napkin across your lap - Your main waiter (ours was Kevin, convenient) will go over the intricate details of the land that the resort sits on and the menu - The table you are seated at has a cushioned table top - For your water, they bring out a citrus tray with tongs (no hands touch the fruit) that includes lemon/lime/orange/cucumber - The temperature in the room is perfect - The wait staff simultaneously pick up dirty plates, as well as put down new food plates - The silverware will be heated or chilled based off the dish it's served with - There is a waiter on the wall scanning the entire room at all times so they know when to bring next course and when to remove plates or do refills - All plates have a different curvature - They brew the coffee right in front of you, as in RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU ... my gf ordered coffee just to watch - Near the end of the meal, they bring out a plant and pour something into it that releases a fog which streams down and out of the sides creating a pleasant aroma - They serve a refreshing water/citrus spritzer drink before final course For the food, everything was very unique in how it was prepared and served. Exquisite! I enjoyed every dish I had minus one, and was certainly full even though portion sizes weren't huge. I'd give the food 4 stars, the service 10 stars and the cocktails 6 stars. FYI - the cocktail drink I ordered (can't recall name but it had been infused with jalapeños) was by far THE BEST COCKTAIL I've ever had. It was so good, I made I it last the entire meal. It had a sweet spicy to it and the dried pineapple dipped in it was amazing. My gf's cocktail was also very good. They also serve house-made breads as part of the meal and they are VERY unique. Another great part to the meal. So, we were both about to fall on our faces near the end (10:45PM but we were still on Atlanta time which would've been 12:45AM) and decided to skip dessert. But they brought out 4 house-made chocolate truffles and they were the best I've ever had. For an encore, since we were staying in the resort, they sent us a card and also a breakfast treat the next morning. Best dining experience of my life! Certainly make this a special occasion spot, worth wvery read more

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Ultimate dining experience of a lifetime. The only 5 Diamomd restaurant in Arizona. It's Diamomd quality service, luxurious dining room, culinary masterpiece dishes. The journey courses take you through an experience not only you tasting the food its the story about the food. Who, what, where and why. Again dining experience so enjoy the ultimate journey of culinary deliciousness. read more

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Prior to experiencing a small plate, multi-course supper, I believed that eating a burger was mandatory owing to the bite size. I was totally mistaken. The first course was an amuse buche that was expertly executed with multiple layers of flavor, crunch, acid, and salt, eliciting smiles around the table. Each mouthful was an exquisite combination of tastes. As the menu develops, the intricacy and elegance of the meals increase. There is a wine pairing for each dish, but we opted for the cocktails, which were equally as delicious as the cuisine. Although the service was excellent, there were times when our drinks ran out. But not so low as to lessen how great everything else is. read more

******* Is there a way that we could make this a 7 Star Ratting? We just had diner at Kai and the word diner does not even fit the bill here. BEST dinning experience ever! From the attention n of the Bar Tender, to Jackson Riggs Crew that took us on a journey that encompasses all our senses from tasting to pleasant surprises it makes it worth every single penny of our hard earned dollars. Being someone that came from nothing and still working hard to succeed in life, it is a blessing to live moments like these in life. read more

We visited Kai for a celebratory dinner, which we'd give 10 stars if we could! Kai offers a $145 tasting menu with five courses, each of which features local ingredients and a Native twist. The courses were well spaced out, and gave us just the right amount of food. We each picked different options (when possible), and all were just so good. I'll go by course to make it easy: (1) The Pee-Posh Garden is a very unique and refreshing take on a salad, with several small root veggies and legumes that work so well together. The Chilled Cactus & Melon Soup was also quite nice, and we found the Arizona melon in particular to be surprisingly tasty. (2) The Berkshire Pork Cheek & Crisp Belly was well cooked and very flavorful (a nice mix of textures, which turned out to be a theme for the evening). The Kai Lobster Roll was probably may favorite of the two second course dishes; it's a unique take on a lobster roll, with an avocado and pepper cream on the roll, and a separate piece of meat with a creamy sauce on the side. (3) The Grilled Tenderloin of Tribal Buffalo is Kai's signature dish, and I understand why. It was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and had just the right amount of sauce. The Kachk (sea bass with a fennel sauce) is also very nice; if you're fennel wary, don't worry, the sauce is lighter than you'd expect. (4) The Global Cheese & Local Mesquite Honey Comb board was great (but not nearly as unique as the other dishes). There are two cheeses--a twist on a cheddar, and a truffle Camembert. The dish also comes with a sort of strawberry compote and a bit of fresh, local honey, which is surprisingly floral. (5) The desserts were stellar. The Cactus Melange has a fun mix of different cactus parts made different ways, but I must say the cactus sherbet was one of the most unique things I've ever tasted. You know you're eating something green, but it's great! The Chocolate & Queen Creek Olives similarly offered a variety of textures and flavors; the mousse was dark and rich, and the olive snuck in some bites and packed a punch. The drinks were also quite nice and definitely aren't light pours. We tried the Pima Bear, Kai Old Fashioned, and the Caramel Appletini. All were interesting and tasty, but I think the Pima Bear was my favorite of the evening. The service was equally impeccable. Our servers started off the evening by explaining the influences behind the menu and how the restaurant sources it's ingredients. Each menu item was described in incredible detail, including the stories behind the art on the menu covers, which was done by a local artist. Towards the end of the evening, the servers offered us blankets to keep us warm. They then brought out a couple of cold hand towels and a beautiful mix of herbs that they used to make a scented mist. We were given a small final dessert (which they know to offer to box up in advance), and one of our servers even jotted down some of his favorite hikes on a letter for us to take home (we had spoken about hiking earlier in the evening). The last surprise was waiting in our car for us--a couple of small jars of wildflower honey! Just an incredible experience all around that should not be missed! read more

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