Wayan Aspen — Restaurant in Aspen

We had a really terrible experience at Wayan yesterday from the get go mostly due to the service and a nice bout of racism. As a white person, our diverse table of 6 was treated to a level of rudeness I have never experienced, especially at a restaurant of this caliber. We constantly had to ask for service - our waitress sat us down, told us about how many plates we should order, and for the rest of the night it was like we had to beg to be waited on or treated with respect.

We had to ask for plates to be cleared, we had to flag a server down 4 times to order 2 cocktails and ask for more water (every time we asked for something they would leave before we could get another word in), they brought plates of food but no plates for us to eat off of, no forks, no knives, didn't clear plates, we were brought 2 wrong dishes, & as a table of 6 our waitress never mentioned the portion sizes of dishes so we were just guessing as things arrived. She was never there long enough to do anything other than drop them off - consistently weird, uncomfortable things that let our table know we were forgotten, an after thought, and not worth the care or attention to detail you’d normally expect from a place like this. The rude comments made over our waitress's shoulder at us at the end of the meal were just the cherry on top of our $700 bill, $60 of which went to a plate of literally just 3 scallops and a lot of tasteless sauce.

The food was fine. The decor was covered in Arhaus lamp shades. The Indonesian inspiration was ironic considering the diversity of our group and our treatment. This experience is the reason I don’t care for these types of places. We won't be...

Like any new restaurant always wait a few months before visiting, It takes teamwork and coordination to make things gel. Overall the food was delicious, but a few of the appetizers and 1 main dish fell short. My dinner guests and I sampled 3 different appetizers, 2 main courses and 1 dessert. Due to booking a late reservation, we set at the chefs counter and definitely enjoyed the activity in the kitchen. The hamachi tartare was excellent but the grilled octopus was slightly tough. Unfortunately there wasn’t any seafood satays so we settled on the lamb, which was excellent. Our main courses consisted of the steamed Black Sea bass which proved to be the standout item on the menu and the crescent duck which was accompanied by a brown gravy/ sauce that did absolutely nothing for the dish. My biggest concern was the service or lack of attention from our waiter. The food runners did a fantastic job of getting our courses out, but failed horribly in removing dirty main dishes. My guests promptly moved them to a empty table after 15 minutes that had been setup behind us for no apparent reason. Obviously glitch’s happened, but when our desert ordered didn’t show up, the whole dinner became frustrating. Our waiter apologizing didn’t rectified any of the actual problems. This was apparent when he left the dirty dessert dishes! I truly believe once the staff works better as a team these issues with this visit will definitely improve. I’ll definitely be returning and looking forward to Wayan having a successful run...

Wayan is hands down one of my favorite new spots in Aspen, and I can’t recommend it enough! The restaurant is a perfect fusion of bold Indonesian flavors and a cool vibe that instantly transports you from Aspen into another world. The ambiance is edgy yet comfortable, offering a unique dining experience that’s both relaxed and exciting.

The flavors here are absolutely incredible—innovative, fresh, and full of depth. Every dish is a delightful surprise, with bold combinations that you won’t find anywhere else. If you have the chance, definitely sit at the Chef's Counter. It's a fantastic way to watch the kitchen in action and really appreciate the craftsmanship behind each dish.

What truly stood out to me, though, was the level of attention to detail. I was especially impressed when a dish was about to go out, and the executive chef noticed a small imperfection on one of the skewers. Without hesitation, he took it down, coached the team member, cleaned the skewer, and then sent it out to the guest. It’s this kind of dedication to perfection that really sets Wayan apart from other places.

The entire team clearly has a passion for what they do, and it’s reflected in every aspect of the experience—from the food to the service to the meticulous care given to each plate. Wayan is a true gem in Aspen, and it’s quickly become one of my go-to spots for a meal that’s not just delicious, but memorable. If you’re looking for something bold and different, this place is an...