It's really disappointing to have to leave a negative review but I feel forced to do so since I have called and emailed multiple times without any return call to schedule a dinner - being informed that as a party of 10 we need a contract. Totally fine, please give me the contract - but no one will call back or secure our date. I've spoken to Grace multiple times, she has assured me the woman the works from home will contact me to get my special event scheduled. I've called so many times she informed me my date was no longer available because "the reservation needs to be made 2 months in advance". What!?! I've been calling for that long. Such a bummer to see the scheduling service is dropped so profoundly when the actual service within the restaurant has always been outstanding. read more

Possibly the best overall fine dining experience in the whole Valley. Certainly the priciest. But, for cost it's worth it. It's a 5 course pre-fixe. Wine pairing if you want it, but expect to be gorged. Wonderful ambience especially at sunset. Food is unique and delicious. read more

One of the best dining experiences ever. The staff was impeccable, professional, friendly, and had a little dash of fun. Loved the story of the menu and the art, the background of the restaurant and knowing they use and support local business. The food was amazing. Truly an experience. We had the tasting menu with wine pairing and it was one of the best I have ever had. I say that after going to Gordon Ramsay's place in London a couple weeks ago and being a HUGE fan of Elements at Sanctuary. The wine pairing was really something that accentuated each course...some wine pairings are really not something that elevates the food...this did! The Sommelier was well versed and definitely had passion for his craft. He was an exceptional addition to the experience. Valet parking was nice and they left a gift in the car of some of the raw honey. Kai also gave us a gift bag with a list of all the wines and nice candle. A nice finishing touch. They are definitely all about the details. Loved this place so much and glad to experience a 5 diamond place in Arizona. Well done Kai!! I am not easily wowed and this place did it. Wish the windows didn't have the large pillars the block the view of the beautiful desert sunset, but otherwise also loved the views. Bravo to the chef and staff. Enjoy y'all! read more

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An amazing experience--beautiful dishes with a serious nod to Native ingredients; attentive but not snobbish staff, comfortable and handsome space with great view and art. Chef Drew Anderson please never stop cooking, I beg you. Whimsical, solid and delicious fare--thank you!!! PS the foie the foie the foie--magnificent read more

KAI - Amuse bouche - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Well, I wanted to really like this place. The cultural aspects of the restaurant and food and effort and service were amazing. However, I was underwhelmed by the food. I had the pee posh salad, the scallop, the ny strip/lobster, and date tres leches dessert. I would say the pee posh salad was by far the most creative and interesting of everything I ate. The food was not bad at all, don't get me wrong, but nothing was outstanding or outright delicious. Well, the pee posh salad was delicious, in an interesting way. But by now I've experienced other restaurants at this price point, and I would say it didn't live up to expectations. read more

I have lived in Phoenix for almost ten years, and I have always heard about how amazing Kai is. Last night was supposed to be my wedding day, but my fiancé and I had to postpone because of COVID. So, we decided that the next best thing would be to have one of the best meals in our lives, and Kai gave us exactly that. First I want to applaud our server Feliciano and all of the other wonderful staff who took care of us. They were attentive and friendly, and everything was timed with perfection. Ok, now let's talk about the food...oh, the food! There was a complimentary goat cheese starter and bread service with three different home made breads--so good! Then we both had the mushroom soup. It was complex and rich and so different from any mushroom soup I've had. My fiancé said it's the best soup he's ever tasted, and he's an amazing cook. Then he has the lobster roll and I had the escargot. Both were prepared in ways that we'd never seen, and they were delicious. Then, for the entrees, I had buffalo and he had the wagyu special. The buffalo was fantastic, but the wagyu was something else...it literally brought tears to my fiancé's eyes because the dish was so good. It was rich without tasting fatty, and the accoutrements were perfect. We were so full at this point that I said I would only eat one bite of dessert...wrong! They were so good! I'm not even a sweets person, but my dessert was so unique and creative, and I ate way too much of it! Now I need to throw in special praise for the sommalier. We chose to do a the pairings, and they were PERFECT. Pairings almost doubles the price of the meal, but, if you are able to, it is 100% worth it. There are a lot of amazing restaurants in the Phoenix area, but Kai is more than a restaurant. It is an experience, and it is not to be missed. I will be anxiously awaiting our next experience here! read more

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We got lucky and got in off the waitlist. Over the top in every way. Thoughtful tasting menu with options. Surprise the cheese course was the best with a fried bread to die for. They even end the meal with a special gift to take with you. You'll have to go to find out what it is. read more

Their food and service is beyond 5 star. We've been there 3 times and each time is better than the previous. The presentation of the food is amazing. read more

Disappointed in everything about dinner tonight. Bad service and experience overall.

Had this restaurant on the bucket list and checked it off tonight for a special evening. Upon arrival we valeted our car and walked in to a nicely white Christmas desert arizona decor of the lobby. Several of the staff stood waiting for our arrival and guided us to our table. We were greeted by our names and given an area separate of the main area due to a little one in our party. This is great because I'm guessing probably rarely anyone brings a baby to fine dining like Kai. Anyway our server Francias (I think that was his name) was well versed in the seasonal menu and advised that the buffalo is the one dish that stays on the menu year round. (I should have tried this but I can always try next time). He greeted us in the native Indian language and educated us on the menu front covers which showcased the some beautiful native art. (I totally was distracted and didn't take pictures of the menu so pardon the lack of the actual names of each food item.) We had a first taste of an egg yolk bite and pee posh garden mini which was a nice light bite. The Birth: escargot on top of a French toast circle with truffle, goat cheese sauce and a frozen yogurt stick. The escargot was already out of its shell and covered within the sauce. The Beginning: Compilation of Lobster was served in 3 ways. In simplified descriptions the first was Lobster tail on a bread; second was mixed in a curry like sauce and the third was in a beautiful greenery pea salad. All was presented in a square slate dish. Although creative it wasn't the right dish to cut on when it resembles a chalk board and scratching. Intermezzo: Apple sorbet helped cleansed the palate. The Journey: a mixture of the ocean. Nicely presented with a white fish, jumbo shrimp, and jumbo scallop garnished with cherry tomatoes, fennel and the romanesco broccoli (aka Roman cauliflower) all sitting on a black pasta sheet and covered with uni blanc. Our server throughout each dish asked about the flavors of each dish and almost all were good. We mentioned that this dish was slightly salty. But it wasn't until I took a bite of the jumbo shrimp that I really tasted the "slight saltiness" and by slight, I mean extremely salty as if swallowing ocean water. Our server mentioned to have it redone (prior to eating a bite) however since we had a little one in the party we chalked it up by scraping the outsides and tops of each of the remaining seafood item and gulped lots of water. Maybe the chef accidentally coated it twice with salt. Although the experience from the server and staff was phenomenal we didn't want to take up more time. Water was topped off frequently. An aroma of jojoba plants, sage and others helped enhance some flavors. Dessert: smoked marshmallows on sweet potato cream with edible flowers was a nice finish to dinner. Chocolate truffles was an added sweet treat. After picking up our car from the valet service they sent us home with a card to thank us for our dining with them, as well as provided water and blue corn muffins with local honey. Enjoyed this the next morning. Overall experience was phenomenal - just next time i would like to have the dish recooked when time permits. Next time I would like to try their buffalo and fois gras. read more

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I had the privilege of dining here and it was the most wonderful experience I could have hoped for. The ambiance was perfect. The sommelier chose the perfect glasses of wine for each course. I never knew how outstanding something could taste when the chef has as much passion as they did. I can't wait to dine here again! read more

KAI - This was amazing! - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is not intended as a review, per se, but more of a complaint. We have dined at Kai twice and found it to be fabulous. Everything was great from the food to the service. The combination of unusual/non traditional items that complimented the meals made for a wonderful dinning experience, one we wished to duplicate again, for a special occasion. Which leads to my complaint: I went to Open Table for a reservation for a specific night, which was two weeks away. Nothing was a available, so I called the restaurant and left a message. No response. The next day I tried again, no response. On the third day I called the hotel and spoke to a person there, explaining my situation. Again we have had no response. Today I made a reservation for Ocean's 44. They too had nothing on Open Table, but a phone call produced a reservation at an acceptable (though a bit early) time frame. Sorry Kai. Maybe we will try again in the future. read more

Just a wonderful experience. Beyond worth the splurge for a special evening with prestine service and such attention to detail in all aspects. The chocolate dessert is just so visually amazing... read more

KAI - Unreal design of the wonderful chocolate dessert - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Kai Restaurant is a Forbes Travel Guide five star and a five diamond AAA restaurant located in Chandler Arizona. Kai specializes in cuisine that is Native American tribal inspired sourcing as much regional ingredients as possible. The menu changes with the seasons and this season the menu features many different proteins such as elk, buffalo, pork, lamb and more. I found that the service was attentive and impeccable. Besides enjoying a shop stopping dinner this event also was slightly educational from the interpretations of menu paintings described by our server. Dinner takes about three hours without the multi course tastings. Several amuse bouche are served and tribal flute music plays in the background. I do note although they say they can accommodate anyone. I am not certain that they actually offer any vegetarian plates. Possibly only one of the salads might be vegetarian style but the other as I was surprised to find out after it was sitting in front of me that it had squid in it. Ironically the salad was named, "From The Garden" I sure wasn't expecting squid and my server offered to make me a new one or get something else. I don't feel it's necessary to remove a star for this one fault since the salad was so absolutely stunning. I received the most sophisticated breath taking salad I've ever seen before that truly looked as if it was growing up from a garden with fancy vegetables I've never seen before like a small green with a fuzzy bright red top that I was told was some sort of spinach. The salad was delightful and looked magical. I was told it was a small plate and it was much larger than I expected it to be. For dinner I had the Chimayo Rubbed Dry Aged New York Stirp that came with horseradish potatoes gratin, creamed spinach, heirloom carrots with bordelaise sauce. The steak wasn't the most succulent steak I've ever had but it did have a really great crust on it that was very unique. The portion was very large for me and after eating enough I took home close to 7 ounces of steak. Heirlooms carrots were scented with vanilla or something that reminded me of vanilla. I thought the creamed spinach was very good but the potatoes gratin was slightly over salted. My husbands Elk Loin wrapped in Iberico seemed like a much more complex dinner and I went green with envy when they shaved fresh truffles over it. Peanut butter in mousse towers, peanut sponge cakes, crunchy peanut brittle dust and Jelly Dessert was many layers of peanut taste and very grown up jelly. Blackberry five spice sorbet, poached grapes and red wine hibiscus drops adorned the plate. This dessert really was amazing. It wasn't too sweet and was just right and had many different textures and was delicious. Waiting for us in the car was a handwritten Thank You Card from the server, two bottles of water and a box of chocolates. If you attended Devoured this year you might have picked up a card from Kai that would give each guest a complimentary glass of wine and a complimentary appetizer. For two people that adds up to a $70. savings. If you still have your card now is the time to try Kai if you were thinking of doing so. read more

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Phenomenal & unforgettable dining experience! Impeccable and superb service from entire crew, especially from Jackson and Alicia! The staff's unison yet unimposing delivery and execution was a symphony to behold. Hands down, KAI truly cares about their patrons and made each us feel like a VIP. The "Storytelling" behind KAI came alive using ALL our senses! TASTE - Each dish was delicately complimented with native ingredients, reflecting the Pima and Maricopa culture. SIGHT - From the presentation of the hand-painted menus and decor, and beautiful & colourful plating to the breathtaking desert sunset. SMELL - From the release of smoking aromatic native medicinal herbs such as Arizona juniper, jojoba and sage in covered dishes and infused centrepiece "air freshener". SOUND - From the subtle rhythmic background music of flutes, drums and percussion instruments that invoke healing, relaxation and wellbeing. The 13 course tasting menu "Journey" with wine pairing named appropriately described our epic 5.5 hour meal that felt like time stood still. Deserving and highly recommendation for a future Michelin Star! Five star and five diamond accolades are a testament to KAI's unrelenting pursuit to perfection. Parting gifts of hand crafted scented candles added to the magic and wonderment. KAI's storytelling did not end when we left the restaurant, but continued when we entered our car from the complimentary valet parking. We were absolutely blown away with farewell offering of Voss waters, box of special home made cornbread and honey, and a hand-written note from Jackson!Absolutely, one of the best dining experiences we have ever had! read more

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This is a 7 STAR REVIEW. Here is the real, honest to goodness truth. I've done tons of reviews. I've given some 5 stars before. Now that I've been to Kai, I literally feel that I need to go back and move all others down a full star. Kai is by far, that good and the absolute best food and experience I've ever had. It's simply not fair to put other 5 star Yelp reviews on par with this restaurant. I'm a food lover, a dining experience lover. Honestly, I kind of prefer the hole-in-the-wall places, mom and pop, casual. Kai may have changed me,...no, it did change me. I have a new appreciation for restaurants like this. It was beyond tremendous. I truly believe it may have ruined me on other "really nice" restaurants. I would hate to be the next "really nice" restaurant I go to because there is absolutely no-way it will measure up to Kai. Bottom line, this was the best "dining experience" of my life. And I've been to some nice places in some pretty cool countries. Why? Service: absolutely impeccable. All plates served and cleared at the same time. Silverware heated/chilled to appropriate temperature for your next dish. Sommelier was spot on, picked the exact wine I described we'd like that night, absolutely perfect. Wait staff: friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, polite, timely, genuine. Best I've ever had, ever, anywhere, hands down. Food: Carefully, lovingly prepared by what are clearly experts, with the absolute best, freshest, highest quality ingredients in the perfect amounts. Best tasting, robust, full, absolutely incredible. We were worried portion sizes would be small. Worried for nothing, we were stuffed, perfect! Atmosphere: peaceful, comfortable, soft, warm, comforting, soft music, lots of space, clean. Simply unreal Value: honestly, for the service, quality, quantity and the entire experience, this is the best value there is, worth every penny and not excessively priced. I've had much less for much more money. No kidding, if I could afford to eat here EVERY NIGHT, hands down, I would do it. I honestly wish there was a 6 star option,...or 7. This is just like the Tesla Model S P85D breaking the Consumer Reports Rating Scale. It only goes to 100 and the car scored 103. That is Kai, better than the best. If you have to forego 5 restaurants to save to go to Kai, do it! Don't miss this restaurant, whatever you do. read more

Amazing food and presentation. Want to feel pampered? Eat here. Out of the way but worth the detour. A fusion of Native American and French cuisine inventively served. The Pee Posh salad is a mini garden in a bowl. Seared fresh water trout w roe was delicious and flying south w duck three ways was delicious. No space for dessert but I heard they are delicious. Definitely an experience to remember. read more

KAI - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I have no idea how I haven't reviewed Kai since I've been here so many times. This is probably my favorite restaurant in AZ. More of a special occasion restaurant, but I still love going all the time. Reservations are a must. The menu changes constantly, so it's always fun to go because they almost always have a new dish or new type of preparation for an old dish. If you look through my pictures, I have had foie gras half a dozen different ways here. It's always awesome. Food: As i mentioned above, I love to get the foie gras. It's some of the best foie gras I've ever had. Every time I go, they seem to have it prepared differently which keeps in interesting. Only downside to this is that if there is a certain preparation you like, it almost certainly won't be there the next time you go. As far as entrees go, I have had just about everything on there, but always come back for the buffalo. This is a dish that is almost always prepared the same way and I wouldn't have it any other way. Compared to other fancy restaurants, the portions here for the buffalo are colossal. It is a massive buffalo tenderloin served over some chorizo that gives it a nice kick. This is a must try. The service here is absolutely top notch. Complimentary valet with cold voss water bottles in it when you come pick it up. The overall experience is great and it never gets old. Probably the best restaurant in AZ and definitely my go-to for any special occasion. If you go around sunset, try and request a table by one of the windows as that's pretty cool. read more

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You will go bankrupt and it will be worth it. Amazing birthday dinner, great wine. 5/5.

Awesome 100% Can't wait to go back. Recommend if you are looking great service and awesome food. read more

This restaurant definitely deserves to be a 5 diamond restaurant. I'm not easily impressed when it comes to service, but I am thoroughly impressed with the service at this establishment! Starting with the choice of citrus for your FREE VOSS water (lime, lemon, or blood orange slices), the service is impeccable all the way until the end when you walk out the hotel door to find your car pulled by your valet perfectly timed for your exit! Sitting inside your car are complimentary bottles of Voss water, a hand written thank you note from your head waiter, and a box of chocolate!! WOW! To top it off, the food is amazing with all the flavors just married together perfectly in every dish! We ordered the Short Story and made some adjustments to the menu and they were VERY accommodating! I didn't care for the gaspacho, so I asked to replace it with the seared foie gras and was willing to pay an up-charge. Done! They did an app portion foie for me and it was absolutely delicious! Spanish sea bass was cooked perfectly and just melted in my mouth. Tenderloin of buffalo was not too gamey with just the right flavor. All the flavors in each dish come together to perfection! My hats off to the chef and he certainly is an upcoming Michelin star contender!! Highly recommend this restaurant to any visitors to AZ as well as residents! A must have experience! read more

Amazing! If you like fine dining this is tour place. Everything is top from food to service. We went here after visiting a Michelin star restaurant in Vegas - and Kai was better. Native American themed restaurants, art and some ingredients are sourced from the local tribes, too. Great experience throughout and we will certainly be back. read more

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Kai was a very unique experience. I knew next to nothing about Native American cuisine, so it was a bit of an education, to go along with a fantastic meal. To say they use local ingredients is an extreme understatement. The thought process and execution behind each dish, wine pairing, and overall service was akin to some of the nicest Michelin rated spots I've been to; dining here was an immersive experience. Their menu obviously changes with the seasons, but the highlight from our meal was the truffle soup. I cannot begin to do the dish justice with my description, but its one of the best things I've ever eaten. The addition of meyer lemon to the soup certainly enhanced the flavor, as well as cut the richness, making a decedent dish somehow light. Kai is simply one of a kind. read more

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One of the best dining experiences possible in Arizona. My girlfriend took me here for my birthday end of August. Even before coming to the restaurant, we knew the service here would be excellent. Originally, we were supposed to dine here on a different night but the staff emailed us and said that unfortunately they had to reschedule us for a different date because they were overbooked. For our inconvenience, they offered to give us a 50% discount on our total bill. Not a lot of restaurants would do that so it was definitely appreciated. We chose not to do the tasting menu because we were afraid we wouldn't be able to finish it all so we ordered a la carte. I would definitely recommend the tenderloin of tribal buffalo and the escargot. We also got the foie gras and composition of lobster which were both amazing as well. The food here was wonderful but the service here stood out to me the most. The staff here knew our names and always addressed us by names. Everyone was very friendly and liked talking to us about the dish they're serving. When we got our car back from the valet, it came back with bottle waters and a small gift box on the seat. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anyone interested in fine dining. I would absolutely want to come back here again if possible! read more

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Sat down and took 10 mins before the waiter showed up and another 20 before we got our drinks , decided against ordering food based on service as we did not have 9 hours to enjoy a dinning experience read more

Visited again last week and STILL Hands down best dining experience in the valley and maybe the country. I have eaten at Michelin starred restaurants around the world and the service is probably better at Kai and the food is on point. Our most recent visit we again participated in the journey, this time bringing two newbies with us. Wine sommelier Kevin was super knowledgeable and explained each pairing. Loved our usual server Jeremy, Uber focused on making sure you have a great experience. Did have many new assistant servers from our last visit but service was still amazing. Jeremy's knowledge of the Pima and Maricopa culture was second to none. Many updates to the menu since our last time dining including adding Snake River Farms wagyu beef which was to die for. This is by far our favorite dining experience in Phoenix. Definitely a spot to use as a celebration for fun occasions. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Remarkable foodie experience I read about Kai in Phoenix Magazine and made reservations for an anniversary dinner for my wife and I. It was a tour of exquisite dishes, prepared wonderfully, and coupling in Sonoran Desert ingredients and flavors that are completely novel in everyday cuisine. Jeremy was superb in leading the service staff. We were pampered and took occasional moments to enjoy the sunset over the mountains, followed by lightning periodically igniting the clouds as night took over. From amuse to the tribal buffalo and duck entrées to the desserts, it's a meal my wife and I agreed we will remember for a long time. read more

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Wonderful dinner. The staff was amazing and met every need my girlfriend and I had for this meal. We did the short tasting journey and it was incredible. read more

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This was probably the most incredible culinary experience I've ever had. I have been to the best places all over the world and this one was by far the most exquisite and unique experience. The food is amazing but not exactly my favorite types of dishes; however, the entire experience is a lesson in the ultimate wowing of the customer. From the heated silverware (chilled for dessert), menus with authentic Indian art on them that the waiter tells the story about (ours was about the medicine man), multiple palate cleansers, explaining all the ingredients and how they were used by the Pima tribes, the most artistic plates of food and then gifts for us when the valet brought my car up. It's a 3-hour deal. Expensive so not something I would do regularly. Almost $400 for 2 of us and we didn't order any alcohol. Our waiter, Jeremy, was fabulous and Taylor was super cute and helpful . I took my grand daughter for her bday and they made it an unforgettable experience for her. Highly recommend for a very unique experience! read more

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We have eaten in 5 star restaurants and Michelin rated restaurants all around the world and we would rate this a contender. The service was impeccable (especially Felizciano who has been with the restaurant since it opened 18 years ago). The menu is a symphony of locally grown ingredients that have been in Native American recipes since ancient times and marrying them with such fare as Buffalo tenderloin (better than beef), quail, trout, lobster...and did we mention the homemade bread and desserts? The meal ends with a little aromatherapy at the table: local desert plants in a bed of pebbles and dry ice that get watered with a lemon lavender mix that activates the ice and creates steam filled air. All staff wears secure masks and sterile gloves during this time of pandemic. What a treat! read more

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Recently, some friends and I stopped by the bar to visit our friends who are servers and the bartender at Kai. I wish we could say it was a pleasant visit, but it was far from that. We felt uncomfortable and unwelcomed regardless of knowing people that worked there. The supervisor of the restaurant Alicia was consistently making her presence known. Five minutes into us being at the bar she walked through the bar and was staring at us but did not make a point to introduce herself. It wasn't until we had been there for a while that she finally spoke to us, but it was to interrupt a conversation. Throughout our time there she would consistently present herself behind the bar and occasionally, would stand just watching us. We personally felt like she didn't think that we would be able to afford to drink at the only 5-star 5-diamond restaurant in Arizona which was on tribal land. Mind you, three of us are Native American and one is a member of the Gila River Indian Community, which is the tribe that the restaurant resides on. Being in our 20s, we know what we can afford to do but our entire time at the bar we felt as if we were being watched being uncomfortable because we were being stalked by a white woman. Towards the end of our night, we had left but felt weird not addressing the issue head on. So, before leaving the hotel, we decided to speak with Alicia. We let her know our concerns and her apologies were very insincere when we let her know that she made us feel like we felt displaced. When we asked her what her job title was, she told us that she was the manager initially. Yet, when we asked who her manager was, she shared his name was Julius and informed us that he was the manager of Kai when we asked his job title. Overall, this was not a great experience for our first time visit the restaurant and we do not plan on returning if this is the kind of treatment that Indigenous people receive at a restaurant that showcases our culture. read more

Kai is a step above when it comes to a dining experience. You can arrive a little early and enjoy the elegant bar/lounge area where the evening can start with one of a variety of delicious hand crafted cocktails that play with the chemistry of alcohol. One drink turns blueberry syrup to a purple mist in your drink while others incorporate agave nectar or elderflower. You are shown your table and introduced to your dedicated wait staff. Feliciano V is the leader of this platform of excellence and provides each table of guest with a history and background not only of the resort but of every dish served. There are not enough superlatives to praise the gastronomic celebration of the dishes offered on the current Kai Tasting Menu. The Tasting menu is available with wine selections specifically chosen to pair with each dish or without wine if you choose. The chef has hit new heights with their understanding of how to play with gently pickled baby vegetables and touches of sweet notes balanced with savory bites. The amuse bouche was a wonderful morsel of fish that whetted the diner's appetite for its culinary journey. The Pee Posh Garden was not only a melody of flavors it was a visual delight as well. It was the perfect balance between tangy, salty, crunchy and creamy. I followed with the Foi Gras and Apples. This dish literally dances on the palate begging the guest to savor every bite and look for more when finished. The apples brought a wonderful note of fruitiness to a very rich foi gras enhancing both ingredients. The black garlic rye is a nice crisp addition to the smoothness of the dish. For the main portion of the tasting my choice was the Grilled Tenderloin of Tribal Buffalo. The tenderness and rich flavor of this meat was delightful. The accompanying "sweet notes" in the form of Saguaro Blossom Syrup was pure genius. The incorporation of this indigenous delicacy is representative of the Chef's approach to all of the dishes on the menu. A palate cleansing course of cheeses with locally sourced Apple Leather, Native Praline and local Mesquite Honeycomb was the perfect balance of coarse cheese, creamy cheese with sweet notes of fruit and honey. Dessert was an unexpected yet delicious combination of chocolate and olives. The dish, Chocolate & Queen Creek Olives was not only wildly exciting and delicious, the presentation was a winter wonderland. The bright note of the lemon infused olive oil added at table-side, was again, culinary genius. The personalized attention of the wait staff can not be praised enough and the crowning jewel of that service was Feliciano. The final presentation is an incredibly creative arrangement of various plants used by the indigenous population. The plants are immersed in a bed of rocks layered over dry ice. As Feliciano poured orange and lavender scented water over the rocks, the water and dry ice combined to mimic the sound of rain in the desert and released the scent of creosote, sage and rabbit bush a smell of pure bliss for a desert dweller. read more

I and my husband went in for the 31st dec night dinner. It was his birthday too. The servers are hardworking and make sure everything is perfect for you.. I don't eat red meat so they made sure that everything was customized accordingly. The hospitality was above and beyond.. The whole 7/8 course meal took about two hours. We didn't do the wine pairing. Though everything tasted good, nothing in my opinion and taste, stood out! Probably, I had set expectations because of the grandeur and price point.(Also, the difficulty to get a reservation) I have also eaten at Michelin star restaurants to give a context of my dining experiences. Kai, fell short in the one most important aspect of a dining experience- the taste of the food. I would still have rated it 4 stars if it were not for me falling sick after I went back to my room. My stomach got really upset. My husband didn't feel great either. Overall, the dining experience was fine, the servers were great, the ambience was nice but the food was only, good. read more

KAI - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Celebrated Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. Delicious food, excellent customer service! . read more

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The food was great but man it's hard to book. I was able to book once when the reservation associates Patricia worked there but now every time I leave a voicemail about reservations, no one ever calls back. They should reservation online if they can't have someone call guests back. Horrible experience. I hope they do something about it because I do wanna go back read more

Visited by myself after noting the restaurant was listed as a AAA five diamond restaurant. I don't know where to begin, but I cannot say enough good things. I'll start with it is worth the drive if you are contemplating making the 30-45 minute drive from the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. Upon arriving for my reservation, I was greeted by valet, who gave me a ticket and directed me to Kai after I informed them it was my first time visiting. Along the walk, the gentleman concisely informed me on various aspects of the property before handing me off to the hostess that sat me at my table. Once at my table, I noticed the Native American influenced decor and observed the impeccable service delivered throughout the night as I sat behind other diners where everyone faced the same way. In the dimly lit restaurant, I received nothing short of exceptional service where each complementary dish was explained and there was no guessing on where the food was sourced from as it was all explained, which was a nice touch. I ordered a glass of cabernet that paired well with my Bison Tenderlion featuring smoked corn puree, cholla buds, chorizo, scarlet runner bean chile, and dots of saguaro blossom syrup provided by the native tribe. The eclectic food from the Native American Kai tribe was worth every cent. The experience was noteworthy and one I will never forget. read more

KAI - Bison tenderlion from SD Sioux tribe smoked corn puree, cholla buds, chorizo, scarlet runner bean chile, & saguaro blossom syrup (dots) - New American Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Happiness 5.5/5 (that's right, it broke the scale) Deliciousness - 5/5. Oh my gosh you guys. Ohmygosh! I can't help but add to the insane amount of hype for this place. Kai earns it all, and more. First, I'm not an elitist snobby guy. Like some of you, I rolled my eyes when reading the reviews calling it an "experience." Well - shame on me. It absolutely lives up to the billing. The service is top notch. Artistic menus, gorgeous scenery outside of giant picture windows, staff all along the walls, finding a way to meet dietary needs, and then fresh (and free) biscuits and bottled water in my car when we were done (we didn't even have to call the valet, they do it for you). But what makes it an experience, beyond the out-of-this-world service, is that they try to engage all your senses. Calming Native American music. They brought out a basket of herbs that they poured hot tea on that filled (and cleansed) your nose and that activated dry ice to entice your eyes. How's that for an experience?! I've focused so much on the service, but the food lives up to the rating and the price. The foie gras really is to die for. My wife is pretty "meh" about foie gras, and ended up eating more than I did (to my chagrin). They gave us a free dessert and palate cleansers, which was so generous. I had the bison, which was probably the best cuts of bison I've ever had. This place is expensive but you get every cent's worth out of it. Highly recommended, even if you only make it there once. read more

Excellent Service, Delicious Food, Small Portions..... This is a great place for a date night or anniversary dinner. Just keep in mind it will be a $300 or more dinner for 2... The staff is as friendly and attentive as they could be. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable. The food is excellent and extremely well prepared. The menu is interesting and themed well for it's location. All in all if it wasn't for the TINY servings I would 5.5 star this place. $39 dollars of so for my oyster and cod appetizer and I only got 2 oysters! It was a good appetizer otherwise but maybe give me 6 oysters at least! The buffalo steak was great, but again, sized for a smaller child and not an adult man. Great flavor and perfectly cooked. I feel like when I am paying top dollar but leave not full from my meal the disappointment is understandable. TIP: Make reservations, this place gives you free valet parking with your reservation too... read more

I took my wife here for her birthday with her sisters and their husbands last weekend. To start with we are all 6 foodies and this place lived up to the hype and is really special! The location is set back quite a bit from the casino. There is a free shuttle that runs between the two which we took after dinner and it was about a 10 minute wait as we missed one that was completely full. You enter through the Sheraton hotel lobby and quite frankly it wasn't the best first impression. The restaurant entrance itself is off to the left side and is just a simple podium by a nice small entry area with a fireplace. They weren't seating outside due to the weather so we were near the window in first area. At first they had the blinds closed and they ambiance simply was a bit plain. I felt like it could've been a hundred restaurants I've been in. They opened the blinds a bit later (our reservations were at 6:15) and that definitely helped the feeling of confinement, and the outside area looked really nice. I would definitely recommend sitting outside if it's available. Starting with the service, which is impeccable, we had two waiters, both of which were great and our "main" waiter was amazing, a wine steward (boring and a bit put off by my questions, although he gave great advice), and for our table several helpers. Service starts with a long winded review of the unique, hand painted art on the cover of each menu. I'm guessing this would be great at two menus but we had six and it could use to be shortened. Since there were 6 of us we tried a number of dishes and shared bites. In the "birth" section the smokiness in the Hal is really good and it was the surprise of the round but the escargot was everyone's favorite. The pee posh looked great but it was more of a medley than a dish and was just ok. The staff brought our food out and servers everyone at the table simultaneously. In the "beginning" section we tried all four and the Foie gras was my favorite dish of the night! Really complex, and even amongst the other very strong dishes it stood out. The grouper cheeks were much heartier than I expected and were flavored really well, almost blackened. The lobster, which they finished at the table, was great and was prepared in 3 was, with the largest of the 3 portions being the best. The duo of goose and rabbit was good not great. Others liked it more than I did but to me it paled in comparison to the other 3. In the "Journey" section I had the Arctic Char which was very light, moderately seasoned and simple. Good taste not great. My wife had the Fly South (duck) and it was prepared in 3 ways, two of which I really liked. The Buffalo was a really nice thick cut, very flavorful and the sides it comes with really compliment it nicely. We had chocolate soufflé for dessert and it was fantastic, as was the small sherbet intermezzo. Overall slightly out of the way location, just ok ambiance, but between the staff and food it makes for an amazing experience. read more

This is my very very favorite restaurant. We have lived in AZ over 20 years and have been to Kai from the time we moved here till now! There is something about this restaurant that I fell in love with the first time I ate there. My whole family loves to go there. read more