Kaia South African Farmhouse Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

came here with some of my girlfriend’s for happy hour the other night. we hadn’t seen each other in a while, and wanted a place where we could drink wine and then enjoy an appetizer or two. with a happy hour advertised for 3 hours, we figured we’d have an ample amount of time to sit and drink and wait for everyone to arrive since it was a group of 5 of us. we were proven wrong very quickly. the servers continued to check on us and at first i thought it was because they were being diligent and making sure we were okay, but it was really because they wanted us to give up our table to people who were just arriving. I’m sorry, i’ve been to MANY restaurants where things get busy and have never been asked to give up my table because we weren’t spending money fast enough. the servers just assumed we weren’t going to order food at all and wanted to move us. when i kindly explained that we were waiting on another guest before making a food decision, i was ignored and then approached by another server with the same request. not sure if it was lack of communication or understanding, but if you’re so concerned about the number amount on the bill then why have happy hour at all? obviously our bill is going to be small..your happy hour deal is great! but i don’t think that means i or my party should’ve be forced to give up our table and moved to a corner in the back of the restaurant where no, it cannot fit 5 people. unless those 5 people are 5’2 and tooth pick skinny, its not working. and during winter? with coats and scarves? absolutely not. we got their before the dinner rush, and were sat at a table. that’s not our fault. i had heard great things about this restaurant from around the neighborhood, and was excited to try it. since i knew it was popular, i made sure we arrived early enough to where we could stay the duration of happy hour and be finished by the start of their dinner rush. i just wish the servers who i spoke to actually listened to me when i was speaking rather than physically grabbed my glass and belongings to push me and my friends off the table faster. maybe you need to establish a different policy? or set a specific duration of dining/table time? maybe you should’ve put us at the bar originally? again i’m not sure entirely what the solution would’ve been, but what occurred wasn’t correct. it’s not our fault that you got slammed and didn’t want to turn people away. i unfortunately didn’t even get to try the food since the table in front of our bench was in no way big enough and it was not a comfortable space to dine in or continue chatting, but i hope that the restaurant figures out how to communicate better with customers in busy times so this doesn’t...

I used to enjoy visiting Kaia, but my recent experience was absolutely dreadful. My girlfriend and I arrived around 5 pm and opted for a seat on the patio. Initially, everything seemed fine as we placed our orders for food and drinks. However, our peaceful evening was ruined by an incredibly baffling decision made by the restaurant.

To our disbelief, they had positioned a speaker right in front of the establishment, blaring music at an alarmingly high volume. It became increasingly difficult for my girlfriend and me to have a conversation or even hear each other properly. Seeking a solution, I politely called over our waitress and asked if it would be possible to lower the volume. I explained the situation and emphasized our struggle to communicate. Disappointingly, he assured me that he would take care of it but failed to do so.

Feeling frustrated, I decided to escalate the issue and approached the manager. Regrettably, the manager's response was anything but professional. He arrogantly dismissed my concern, asserting that the loud music was part of their cultural tradition. I pointed out that while indoor speakers might be acceptable, playing music at such high volume on the patio was not appropriate. However, he continued to provoke me, suggesting that I should change tables or move to a different area. This response was both disrespectful and absurd. Why should I have to rearrange my seating just to have a normal conversation? The manager's unprofessional behavior not only left a sour taste in my mouth but also provoked me in front of my girlfriend. I have never encountered such rudeness and lack of customer service in my entire life.

Realizing that the situation was not going to improve, I decided to settle the bill for our drinks and promptly canceled our food order. Disheartened and frustrated, my girlfriend and I left the restaurant and sought solace elsewhere. It is important for potential customers to be aware of this establishment's complete disregard for their patrons' comfort and satisfaction. The manager's attitude towards customers is unacceptable and it's evident that he thinks he runs a mob, not a restaurant.

My experience at this restaurant was nothing short of a nightmare. I caution anyone considering dining here to exercise extreme caution. The rudest staff and manager I've ever...

4.5/5 My new restaurant obsession. This cute South African wine bar tucked in the UES serves a variety of SA wines along w/ an array of South African inspired dishes both big and small. And of course they have a decent meat and cheese selection too!

✅ Chenin Blanc by Bloem Wines: A general crowdpleaser wine that starts lush but finishes quite crisp. It’s not overly sweet though not quite dry either. I was feeling a bit middle of the road and this was a great rec by our waiter. ✅ Bread & Dukka: The bread is soft with a hint of sweetness and it goes amazingly against the savory smokey and toasty flavors of the dukka dip. I’d gladly just come for this (5/5) 🆗 Oysters w/ Apple Gimlet sauce: The oysters were excellent. Sweet but briny with a light finish. I just didn’t feel like the apple gimlet paired well with it. The tartness of the sauce and the fragrance of the apple took over the oyster too much. (3.5/5) ✅ Lam Sosaties: These lamb apricot skewers are a common SA BBQ feature and I can see why. The lamb is gamey but the curry seasonings play with the gaminess well while the sweet apricots and onions help mellow it out. (4.5/5) ✅ Peri Peri Deviled Eggs: So simple but so delicious. It’s “spicy” in terms of flavor but not heat. The yolk is rich and creamy and it just coats your mouth (4.5/5) ✅ Cheese (Sleeping Beauty and Queen of Corona): I loved the Queen of Corona which pairs beautifully with the cherry compote. The wine in the compote which adds a hint of bitterness that really helps the cheese’s funk shine. (4.25/5) ✅ Elk Carpaccio: The elk is crusted with seasoning and is firm but creamy. The mustard sauce is creamy and fluffy tho I personally found it a tad sweet (4.5/5) ✅ The Gatsby: A common street food in SA and I’m addicted. I’m usually not a fan of these style of fries but these were flavorful all the way through and even as they softened, they melded with the mayo to give the dish a creamy component that paired really well against the pulled chicken. The sandwich is brightened by the pickles and...