Saaya — Restaurant in Dallas

Absolutely Disrespectful and Disappointing Experience – Do Not Recommend

My wife and I had high hopes for this restaurant during a short trip, but what we experienced was nothing short of humiliating. From the moment we arrived, we were met with unprofessionalism, arrogance, and what felt like blatant discrimination.

I was dressed well.. neat, stylish, and wearing high-end Italian designer slides. My wife carried her Louis Vuitton bag and looked equally put-together. We were clearly not dressed inappropriately, yet the host — a man with curly hair, an open shirt, an AirPod in his right ear (who appeared South Asian).. refused to seat us because of my footwear.

Respecting the stated “dress code,” I left my child with my wife, returned to our hotel, changed into proper shoes and pants, and came back — only to be denied entry again. At that point, it no longer felt like policy enforcement.. it felt personal. Or worse, racially motivated.

The host himself was wearing a wrinkled, cheap-looking black Shein shirt, visibly dirty shoes, and black jeans covered in pet hair. And yet he felt confident enough to critique my appearance? His smug attitude and dismissiveness made it clear he was on a power trip. The restaurant was nearly empty, but he made a point to say, “Even if you have money, you still can’t get in here.” That comment alone was appalling and unnecessary.

I then spoke with someone who claimed to be the manager, but frankly, he didn’t act like one. His response was, “I don’t know, man, this is just the policy.” No empathy, no flexibility, no leadership — just robotic excuses and indifference. I explained that we were visiting for one night only and had planned to dine here, but they didn’t care in the slightest. Despite remaining calm and respectful throughout, we were treated with passive aggression and zero professionalism.

And to make matters worse, the restaurant simply isn’t worth the trouble. The location feels unsafe, parking is a nightmare, the street is dirty and dimly lit, and the inside is stuffy with outdated decor. My wife didn’t even feel comfortable staying inside while I went to change.. that says enough. The menu was small and unimpressive, and frankly, there was nothing Mediterranean about the place despite its marketing.

We ended up dining at a nearby restaurant, Chefika, and the contrast was night and day. There, we were treated like actual guests.. warm, respectful staff, incredible food, and a true 5-star experience. This place could learn a lot from them.

Bottom line: This was a disgraceful and deeply disappointing experience. We left feeling disrespected, unwelcome, and discriminated against. A restaurant’s atmosphere starts with its staff, and this one completely fails in that department. I would not recommend this place to anyone.. not for the food, not for the vibe, and certainly not for the customer service.

Avoid...

Saaya: Highly Overrated We visited Saaya to celebrate our 15th anniversary, drawn in by the appealing Instagram posts and website pictures. Unfortunately, the experience fell far short of expectations.

Customer Service: When making the reservation, I mentioned our anniversary and requested a special experience. However, it was clear they hadn’t taken note. The staff seemed indifferent, and the customer service was poor.

Ambiance: The ambiance was nothing like what they advertised. If you’re looking for a place to relax, eat, drink, and have a conversation, this isn’t it. The music was so loud I had to shout to be heard, making it impossible to enjoy the evening. The dim lighting and cramped atmosphere made it feel more like a den than an upscale restaurant. Definitely not a venue for celebrating a special occasion.

Food: The food was disappointing. Saaya claims to serve Mediterranean cuisine, but they couldn’t even get the basics right. The salad was not fresh, and the falafel was burnt and overly salty—I had to send both back. While the rest of the dishes were passable, they didn’t reflect the quality you’d expect from an “upscale” restaurant. Honestly, I’ve had far better Mediterranean food at small local eateries. It felt like the chef lacked experience in Mediterranean cooking.

Drinks: I ordered the Watermelon Heatwave, a tequila-based cocktail, but it was more like sparkling water with a hint of watermelon. There was no detectable alcohol, and the drink was a huge letdown.

Price: Even after returning two dishes, the price for three items was exorbitant. Given the poor quality of the food and drinks, it was absolutely not worth the cost.

Overall: Saaya is not an upscale restaurant, despite its carefully curated social media images and loud music. The experience was a complete disappointment and ruined our anniversary celebration. I couldn’t wait to leave. It’s definitely not worth the...

I recently had the opportunity of dining at The Saaya, where I had been lucky enough to be served on by Gizem, a server whose outstanding hospitality will never be forgotten. It was clear right away that Gizem not only performed beautifully in her role but also exemplified moral principles and beliefs that I found to be very similar to my own.

Gizem demonstrated warmth and professionalism the entire evening. She came over to our table smiling heartily and was really excited to make sure we had the best possible meal. Her commitment to quality is truly outstanding, as evidenced by her attentive manner and genuine interest in meeting our needs.

But what actually stood out was how similar our values and beliefs were. In addition to demonstrating her strong work ethic, Gizem's commitment to offering first-rate service was representative of a common culture that values kindness, honesty, and respect. This alignment increased the significance of the experience by creating a connection that went beyond the standard server-customer dynamic. Moreover, Gizem showed myself and everyone around me nothing short of unbelievable respect and generosity. She was attentive to our tastes, making insightful suggestions and making sure that every detail of our meal was to our satisfaction. Her kind hospitality transformed an everyday dinner into a memorable event by making us feel cherished and appreciated.

To put it briefly, my experience with Gizem was an outstanding example of excellent customer service. Her warmth, friendliness, and professionalism not only made my meal more enjoyable, but they also demonstrated how crucial shared values are to building deep relationships. I have nothing but praise for having had the opportunity of being served someone as exceptional as Gizem, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for an elegant dining experience that embodies quality and...