Jaya at The Setai — Restaurant in Miami Beach

A Disappointing Evening at Jaya: A Culinary Misadventure My recent experience at Jaya, located within The Setai, left me profoundly disappointed and disheartened. Despite having arrived dressed in accordance with the dress code and anticipating an exquisite meal on August 19th, my dining party and I were subjected to a series of unfortunate events that marred what should have been a special occasion.

From the outset, the inconsistencies were glaring. Having been informed of a strict dress code earlier in the week and told to come back dressed appropriately, it was surprising to witness fellow diners flaunting attire that should have been deemed unacceptable. This initial discrepancy set the tone for a night that would be riddled with further letdowns. While we had been led to believe we would be indulging in an Indian culinary experience, we were presented with a pan-Asian menu featuring sushi and steak dishes. The inclusion of dishes like "CHICKEN MAKHANI" with garam masala only reinforced the departure from authentic Indian cuisine. My assertion that garam masala did not align with traditional Indian flavors was dismissed, further distancing the meal from its promised roots.

A series of service mishaps followed suit. Our anticipation was punctuated by flat coke, accompanied by an inexplicable wait of over 10 minutes for a replacement. Despite these clear missteps, there was a lack of acknowledgment, apology, or even a gesture of goodwill.

Opting for the limited options available, we ordered egg fried rice, chicken makhani, and naan. Our dismay grew as the dishes arrived in a dismal state. The egg fried rice was devoid of flavor and disappointingly cold. The chicken mockney was burnt, and the naan arrived frigid, a stark contrast to the warmth one would expect. Expressing our concerns, we sought an explanation, only to be met with the assurance that this was standard fare and that, as Indians, we should understand and accept these culinary shortcomings.

Upon summoning the manager, Francesco who I believe his name was, our hopes for resolution were further dashed. Instead of displaying empathy and understanding, Francesco's response was combative. An argument ensued, with our genuine concerns met with resistance and indifference. The pivotal question remains: should a Michelin-starred establishment not prioritize the satisfaction of its patrons over ego-driven disputes?

Our intention to celebrate a significant birthday was thwarted, leaving us bewildered and unsatisfied. Despite having taken care to adhere to the dress code and embrace the occasion with anticipation, our evening concluded in a mere 30 minutes, leaving us both hungry and disheartened.

The incongruities continued when we observed other patrons disregarding the dress code entirely, appearing in shorts and swimwear. The manager's nonchalant explanation only deepened the inconsistency, undermining the importance of adhering to their own policies.

Moreover, the insistence that the offerings were indeed Indian cuisine, despite clear deviations, demonstrated a lack of culinary integrity. As an individual of Indian heritage, I found it particularly disheartening to have my understanding of my own culture's cuisine challenged.

The overall experience at Jaya within The Setai was nothing short of disheartening. My past experiences with Michelin-starred restaurants had instilled certain expectations that were blatantly unmet. The inability to address and rectify such glaring issues, coupled with the dismissive attitude displayed by the manager, left me questioning the essence of a Michelin-star rating. This evening, meant to be a highlight, transformed into a regrettable and frustrating episode, leaving me questioning the very core of the restaurant's values and commitment to their patrons'...

We booked at opentable a week ahead for Sat.4th Nov. 8pm table specifying its table near the show, specifying its birthday celebration. We got there 8.05pm maybe, and were greeted with very rude and attitude having young 20 yo hostess( who obviously hopefully never will work in this business again with high end ppl,and who does not even know how to greet ppl in a friendlier nicer appealing manner to make ppl comfortable and not to push to sell them to sit inside or at the bar for 1h to wait for a table they reserved!! ) hostess said : yes I see you reservation. Do you mind sitting inside( meaning we won't see the show at all...) we said yes we mind - as actually we made reservation for outside like a week ago, to see the show specifically. And we drove 1hour to south mia for this dinner & for this show for his bday.... yes we mind sitting inside where there is NOTHING to see at all! The hostess said well wait for table is around 30 min or more likely 45 min and if we mind to sit on the bar waiting for table??!!!!. Well, we say no thanks we kinda mind - because we made reservation for dinner at 8pm for outside and we dont want to sit and wait for a table for more than 10 min when we have reservation!! the mood was destroyed we intend to dinner at 8pm and that I made it very clear on reservation at 8pm that we will celebrate his bday.( and he never been before) and I've been and for sure we will NEVER come there again ever!. So we left and had a dinner at nice " blue ribbon" place near by. At 9.17pm the joya sent a msg that table is ready!!!?!? Must be kidding us - when we have already almost finished our dinner at blue ribbon! :) And joya tried to call me at 9.51PM too!?!.... I'd NEVER RECCOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE for dinner anymore ( it was a bit different in 2021... ) UNLESS YOU WANT TO HAVE NO SERVICE, AND SIT inside with NO show to enjoy.... FOR the prices ($$$$) they charge ( and we didn't mind to pay if her -hostess attitude/ service was real 5 star restaurant , not mcdonalds type of attitude!). So we ended up at "blue ribbon" and had a great dinner with hostess there sitting us with no reservation in 5-10 min. My husband owns large company in NYC and we make sure NEVER reccommend this "joya at setai" to ANY of our customers/ vendors/ friends and any acquaintances. THIS IS NOT AN ANSWER FROM HOSTESS YOU EXPECTING in a real 5star PLACE RESTAURANT when you have an active reservation made a week ahead for people who came from nyc to celebrate a bday at this restaurant!... Please pass this place by to not get dissapointed or your mood getting spoiled from the such customer oriented hostess! There are a lot of other restaurants in the area with more friendlier hostesses and customer - friendlier service...

If you're in town, would come here for a drink given the nice interiors and performances in the patio area.

The food however is a huge disappointment, especially if you are Indian. I've been here several times over the last 7 years as often visit for work. Each time has been a thorough disappointment but tonight was the worst. As an indian, the chef should be deeply disappointed in the poor quality of cuisine they serve. To call this fine dining is an insult. It's average dining in a nice hotel setting.

As a vegetarian and indian myself, Indian cuisine is a very accommodating and diverse cuisine for vegetarians. Jaya leaves much to be desired. The main vegetarian option is the thali which can be made vegetarian upon request. I came, I sat by the bar, told the lovely bartenders I'm vegetarian and they checked it was possible. We joked that I'm not vegan and he put it in the system. When the food arrived it had 3 meat curries in the thali and I ended up eating meat by mistake. The manager was barely apologetic, but the bartender was amazing and made sure it was taken off the bill and was generous with the wine. I didn't want to create a fuss. They switched out the meat for veggie thali items and it arrived 15 mins later. I sent the food back again because it was all cold after the debacle because they bother reheating anything. They then returned with warm food another 25 mins later but the food was so average. I wouldn't be surprised if it was frozen. Each curry item lacked flavor and freshness. A good paneer dish melts in your mouth but this was rubbery. I can make better Chana masala that was offered. Amazing naan is garlicky and buttery, often crisp on the edges in the tandoori - this was like the trader joes frozen naans I reheat at home lol. The samosa was Luke warm and sad. Not even the green chutney on top tasted fresh. I don't know how the chef could look at the vegetarian items on the menu and think that this is worth calling fine dining. I've travelled around the world at this point and had indian food at many fine dining to casual dining restaurants and this is a joke. I've had excellent thalis at a fraction of a price ($45 for a sub par thali?!). I only went because my work was going to pay for it.

Also the fact they charged a 20 percent service charge after getting my order wrong, serving me meat and then serving me cold food is shocking. If you call that deserving of a 20 percent charge then I am shocked. The only people who were deserving of a tip was the bartenders who are excellent and saved the day so I was glad to...