Kai now Arizona’s only 5 star, 5 diamond restaurant

The Kai Restaurant at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa recently received Forbes’ and AAA’s highest honors.

Kai was awarded Forbes Travel Guide’s highest rating, the Five-Star Award. It now stands alone as one of only 17 five-star restaurants in all of North America and the sole restaurant in Arizona to receive this prestigious commendation.

In addition, AAA last week announced their list of 2010 Five-Diamond Award winners, and Kai was the only restaurant in Arizona to be named to this list. These recent announcements mark Kai’s second Five-Star rating and fourth Five-Diamond designation, solidifying the restaurant’s position as the most celebrated and acclaimed dining experience in Arizona.

Kai, the Pima word for seed, opened with the resort in October 2002 with unique cuisine, coined “Native American with Global Accents” by the resort’s Michelin-trained Executive Chef Michael O’Dowd, who considers it his privilege to be a thoughtful caretaker of the Gila River Indian Community’s culinary story. Working diligently to learn traditional recipes and present them in a new setting is O’Dowd’s way of paying homage to the past while weaving a new culinary future for Native American inspired cuisine.

“It is truly humbling and a distinct honor to again be deemed one of the finest dining establishments in the world,” said Bunty Ahamed, General Manager. “It is a tribute to the passionate and talented Kai team whose daily aspirations to deliver world-class experiences clearly do not go unnoticed.”

Kai Restaurant hours are currently 5:30 through 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

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