C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill
1403 South Commerce Road, Walled Lake, MI, 48390
C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Walled Lake for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Walled Lake for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Walled Lake for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1403 South Commerce Road
Walled Lake, MI, 48390 - Phone (248) 574-8447
- Website https://cayagrill.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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L R.
Pretty good. Amongst the better ribs I've had in southeast MI. They fall right off the bone and they are seasoned very well. They weren't dry and tasted just fine plain. The only reason this place isn't getting 5 stars is due to the selection of sauces. There were two - a blueberry sauce, which was okay, and the other a mesquite sauce. The latter was better for me. I would've liked to see more options, though. The biscuit was good, too, and the corn bread was fabulous (though it was a small portion for three people to share as a side - better for two). Nice, clean atmosphere. Great selection of beer too. The patio is nice to sit in on a nice day, as it's very well screened in. However it is right next to the road, so if you don't mind traffic, then you're good to go. We'll definitely be back sometime this summer. One more downer - along with the lack of sauces (with ribs and meats so flavorful and tender enough to stand on their own anyway, but, you know, you gotta have sauce with BBQ) the menu was a bit pricey. A lot of other random entrees, with no sides included. All sides have to be ordered a la carte ($$$) and there aren't any combos. Oh well.
(4)spence b.
Not impressed. Sauces bland , nice atmosphere . Mac & cheese great , cornbread great , ribs -so-so, pulled pork is hard to mess up . Not a lot to say except try for yourself. Just not my cup of tea when it comes to BBQ .
(2)Bryan A.
Just wish I would have discovered this place before I did. Visited there twice this week and will be back many, many more times. Pros: great service, outstanding food and a really cool vibe. Cons: none I can think of. Do yourself a favor and try the smoked turkey, beef brisket, crab cakes and mac & cheese -- all top notch. Also, the beer selection is great. One last thing: the Chef/Owner is quite active and it's obvious that A) he has very high standards and B) he keeps a close eye on all aspects of his business. That dude must put in about 100 hours a week. And guess what? It's working!
(5)Clint C.
Great take on Michigan BBQ, with the classic selections done just right. Great vibe. Bring the fam.
(5)Justin W.
I went with my wife and in-laws. The table decided to order 'family' style. So we got a couple meats, and 3-4 sides and shared (the waitress brought out extra plates). The Smoked Meat was amazing. We got the Ribs and Pork. All fantastic. The Side were great too; very tasty. Most of the sides are huge and able to be shared by 4 people. Only thing the table agreed was so-so/bad was the Smoked Squash. Good thing we ordered family style so no person was stuck eating all of it. The service is a touch slow; but it's a relatively new restaurant so I'm sure they are smoothing it out. Nothing to worry about. The food is worth the wait. Absolutely will return.
(5)Ed L.
The one-star rating has nothing to do with the food at Caya Smokehouse Grill because I didn't get a chance to sample it during an attempted visit on Saturday evening, 11/1. It seems the restaurant was closed to host a wedding. I can't fault the management for ensuring a full house, but I can fault them mightily for not posting the event on their website or on their recorded phone message. I tried calling earlier in the day to see if Caya took reservations and got the recorded message that reservations were only for 6 or more ... no mention that the restaurant would be closed. I checked their website ... no mention. When we did arrive, the hostess said the closure was mentioned on their Facebook page which, in my mind, is not much of a mention if you hadn't already friended them. The couple who were ahead of me to talk to the hostess were really angry since they had driven almost one hour from Shelby Twp. because they had a gift certificate. They really were not happy. And as we were leaving, we saw at least half a dozen other people turned away. That's not the way to build a loyal following. Just as a side note to the owners ... it's easy to design a website that allows you to make quick updates on the homepage. It probably won't make a difference to me since I do not intend to try Caya in the future. There are several good BBQ spots in the area.
(1)Marcella K.
CAYA is a smokehouse, so naturally I had the ribs. They were flavorful, tender and plentiful as they fell off the bone. Truly some of the best BBQ I've had outside of Slow's on downtown Detroit or heading south. There's a great variety of other sides - the Mac n cheese and cornbread were tasty - as well as other entrees to choose from as well, but I can't speak for what I didn't (and don't see a reason for) order or taste.
(4)Darrell R.
We had a party of 6 and wanted to try this new BBQ place. Be aware it is very noisy because they have not finished the walls, ceiling or floors. We arrived at 6:30 and were seated at 7:00. Note the seats are wood and not comfortable. It took 10 minutes to meet our waiter Drew and place our drink order. It took another 10 minutes to get our drinks when we placed our food order and had to ask for water which took another 10 minutes. We waited about 45 minutes (8:10) and asked the waiter if we could talk to the manager. After another 15 minutes our food came out with my pulled pork and squash both cold. We never did see the manager even after going to the bar and asking. On a positive note most of the food was good, the corn bread was very good. Long, long story the service was extremely slow and rude, prices high with food, atmosphere and wait staff cold. I will not go back and do not recommend it. Want good BBQ go to Beale Street Smokehouse in Fenton.
(1)John K.
We have eaten there twice. Great good and service. Food is smoked on site. Nice wine selection too! There deserts ate good too.
(4)David L.
A buddy and I went to CAYA shortly after it opened. I had amazing service and everything was very flavorful. I have been back multiple times and had nothing but stellar service! I highly recommend the short rib!
(5)Brian C.
The service at this place is horrible my girlfriend and I were seated waited 10 mins while 2 other tables were seated those tables were both served and we were never greeted in addition to the ridiculously priced menu The first clue should have been the numerous empty seats I won't be back
(1)Dan H.
Appetizer - smoked salmon sliders. Deliciously smoked fish on a toasted bun topped with greens - it worked well Meal - a la carte brisket and smoked squash, burnt ends chili & corn bread and brussel sprouts. Also onion rings. The brisket had a late smoke flavor but it's the real thing. Squash had to be the biggest surprise, complex smokey flavor. The chili was smokey, but balanced by just enough heat. Brussel sprouts were a bit crunchy and enjoyable. So many other things I wanted to try on the menu, but out of that we ended up taking two boxes home. Service was great and lots of knowledge of the menu. Very impressed with this gem in a location that has traditionally been very tough for anybody. They were able to transform the inside and outside decor into an appealing smokehouse theme. This place is likely to be putting lots of 5 star reviews on the board in the future.
(4)Michael T.
Third time here in 6 weeks & still really impressed with the food and service. Had the smoked wings, loved them & the homemade Bleu cheese dip was very nice. My wife had the Thai chicken burger and loved it. Onion rings were very well done.
(4)Bryan W.
My wife and I went for dinner tonight - first time we've been there. I want to start by saying that I love barbeque, and have been to a lot of barbeque restaurants in the Detroit area, and in other cities. I was optimistic about CAYA going in the door - they've spent a lot of money renovating the place - industrial design meets casual & barbeque - and big screened-in dining porch for the summer - so far, so good! Staff was friendly, not many people in the place, but it was 7:30 pm on a Wednesday night. Large selection of beers, and all drinks - beer, wine, cocktails - were reasonably priced - another plus. Then we looked at the menu - good selection, but the dinner entrees were way up there with more premium restaurants - braised short ribs $27. The barbeque prices looked to be more in line with similar barbeque restaurants - so we went for "pick 2 combos" - beef brisket & pulled pork $18 a'la carte - lots of sides but all are extra $'s. Salads were good, macaroni & cheese was tasty....but the beef brisket was fatty & kinda tough - disappointing. The pulled pork was tender & good. CAYA only has two home made bbq sauces - one bourbon / vinegary, the other sweeter & has blueberry in it...both were good, but could have used more selections. They also had a good home made stone-ground mustard with horseradish that went well on the barbeque. All told, I felt like the food was OK to good, drink prices good & drink size OK (small cocktails) to good pour on beer & wine. Would I recommend to my friends or go back?...probably not - could find a better place for the amount of the overall tab at CAYA...too bad, was hoping that CAYA would be another really good local place to go to...
(2)Bob V.
We had a very good dinner Sat. night. The food was excellent. Fred recommended the braised short rib and I was not disappointed. Fred made the dining enjoyable with great service, wonderful suggestions, and a down-home 'Houston 'welcome ...next time we will try some smoked entrees though...save room for their desserts too!
(4)Thomas B.
Loved the brisket sliders & pork belly. Beer selection was good. NY Strip was very good also. No complaints for my first visit.
(4)Angela M.
Ok, don't get me wrong.....the brisket sandwich and the ribs were good, but what we missed was the smokey smokehouse taste we craved. The brisket was melt in your mouth good, the ribs were fall off the bone perfection. But what we truly hoped for was that smokehouse flavor. We didn't get that. Also, we ordered a side of brussel sprouts with bacon. Felt they were a bit under cooked. Just a bit too hard for our liking. Not sure if we will go back. The outdoor patio might be nice in warmer weather.
(3)Jonathon C.
Nice place tucked in the corner of walled lake. Myself and my wife visited on a snowy Sunday night. We both enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the food. We ordered the pulled pork and a variety of sides to share. Everything was full of flavor. Decent beer selection paired with a lot of mix drink suggestions on the menu. Would definitely come back again!
(4)Bruce P.
Went there last night, needed someplace to eat during the power outage. Had tried to get in here on a Saturday but the wait was too long so we decided to try another time. When we walked in there wasn't a line and there were quite a few empty tables but the hostess's had a hard time figuring which table to sit us at. After being seated waitress was quickly at the table and asking us what we wanted to drink besides the water she had brought us,u wife ordered a Tennessee margarita and it was really good with frozen watermelon for ice cubes. My wife ordered the crab cakes and a side of asparagus, I ordered the brisket sandwich with a side of brussel sprouts, daughter got a bacon/blue cheese burger and a side of mashed potatoes. All the food was good, all the side were huge and we were able to share them, ended up taking all the sides home. Need to go back and try the ribs and pulled pork. Inside is nice but the music is a little to loud, making it hard to have a conversation, but all in all the food was very good and waitstaff was attentive, will definitely be back.
(4)Misty M.
Between the five of us I think we managed to order 2/3 of the menu and everything was great. The prices were reasonable and the staff was pleasant. They had a fantastic craft cocktail selection. I will absolutely go back.
(5)Rick B.
Really disappointing. Not at all crowded on a Friday night, which says a lot. Hostess was unpleasant, never smiled once. Service was slow given the number of customers. Worst of all, smoked turkey was dry and bland. Wife's baby-back ribs tasted very odd, not good at all. Bottom line: not going back.
(2)Mary Jo M.
Enjoyed a delicious dinner here on a busy Saturday evening. The wait was brief and the food service prompt. The food arrived hot and full of flavor. Duck breast was moist and tender served with olives and asparagus. An appetizer of pork belly atop a potato pancake was large enough to share. The half slab of ribs was falling off the bone and with a side order of poutine tots was more than enough food. My major complaint is the noise level. When will restaurant designers ever learn that there needs to be some material to absorb the noise. The industrial design though attractive includes, concrete floors, high steel beamed ceilings and wooden furniture. It does not present a relaxing ambiance. However, the food is worth it and I trust with time the bar will be more fully stocked.
(4)Rebecca M.
I came here for the first time with some friends and was very impressed! The place is a good balance of casual/fun and chic. The menu is creative and sophisticated, yet unpretentious. The smoked salmon appetizer was amazing (it has a slightly sweet sesame sauce). I also had the almond-crusted trout filet, which was delicious. Basically everything I tried was very flavorful and fresh. They also have decent cocktails and a good beer selection. Great place to come for an evening out!
(5)C C.
Came in while visiting the area. Insanely good smoked meats, my personal fav was the pulled pork. The BBQ sauce is amazing, my Bloody Marys were amazing, it was all-around some of the best I've had. Absolutely worth a visit.
(5)Leah F.
Delicious food but the hours & decor are a little strange. Very contemporary for a BBQ joint. The beef brisket & ribs - yum! BBQ sauce sweet yet tangy. Many different sides to choose from, each big enough for 2. The asparagus was especially tasty and surprisingly enough the brussel sprouts...who knew brussel sprouts were good! For the non-veggie lovers out there the mac n' cheese & potatoes were good as well.
(4)Diane M.
We came in with high expectations based on past reviews. We had the cornbread, pulled pork, chili and the brisket. The pulled pork and the brisket were just okay both were served at about room temp and might have been a little better if they were served hot. I called before we came and was told that a lot of the menu was gluten free including all of the smoked items. When we came in we were told that the chili with burnt brisket ends was gluten free and we ordered it first and then after eating it we were told by our server that she checked with the chef and that none of the smoked items were gluten free due to the rub that had gluten in it. We then asked how the chili could be gluten free if it had the brisket in it, the server apologized and said she would check with the chef. The manager then came out and told us that the chef checked all of the ingredients and that the rub was gluten free and that the chef was not dressed to come into the dining room otherwise he would come talk to us. Interestingly enough the chef did come into the dining room about 20 minutes later and spoke to several tables but he avoided ours. While the server was very nice and attentive, it was very clear that the staff is not well trained. On to the food. The Chili was very good, and the burnt ends in the dish were very tender. It was smokey and flavorful, which was very different from the rest of the smoked items we sampled. The pulled pork was okay. Not very smokey or flavorful itself, but the blueberry barbecue sauce improved it immensely. The brisket was bad. It was extremely dry, tough, and lacked good flavor. Even the sauce did little to improve it. We have been to Roast and Toast (restaurants that the chef has worked at and loved both of them) but we most likely will never return to this one.
(2)Justin H.
Great food, great service, lots of new flavors to explore. I ordered the fried sweet potatoes and smoked salmon for appetizers and my taste buds were in heaven. For dinner I went with the asian beef short rib and it melted in my mouth. Its a great casual place for sharing meals and mixing flavors. Will be back for sure !
(5)Josh E.
Made my 3rd trip to CAYA on Friday and once again had an outstanding meal! Visits 1 and 2 were smoker focused, with the brisket and Asian beef short ribs being the tables favorites. This time I went with the smoked turkey sandwich and LOVED IT! The tartness of the apples contrasting with the smoked turkey was GREAT! Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Henry S.
First experience here, will not be the last. Easily found, well signed. It's not a meal, it is an evening (2.5 hours tonight). Get past the slow start at the entrance and enjoy the visit. It was a warm evening and we opted for the screened deck. The seating is comfortable and noise levels support conversation. First timers do not be shy in asking for assistance navigating the menu. Expect to be pampered and enjoy the leisurly pace. Enjoyed our server, she was energetic, professional, personable and most helpful. Experiment with the menued mixed drinks, you will not be disappointed. Our party of 6 took a broad swipe at the menu and, at evenings end, supported arguments that all others should have ordered what they had. Since I'm writing, the very best (although I will definately try the steak, cornbread, soup and salad next visit) was a cup of Burnt End Chili, Pulled Pork and Beef Brisket with sides of Onion Rings and Mac & Cheese. This Mac & Cheese displaces my previous Clarkston favorite. There will always be bumps in the road when you are starting out, but the food and beverages are winners and we look forward to a long relationship with this establishment.
(4)Kevin B.
Just ok ... Nothing special. We tried this restaurant on a Friday night it was busy but we got seating right away . The tables are very close to each other so the people sitting next to you that you don't even know can listen to your conversation. The food was definitely smoked but very greasy.
(2)Kay M.
Every time we have gone in to eat we have been happy especially with the pulled pork or brisket. However today we got carry out burgers and the poutine and was very disappointed. The burgers were over done, the bacon was burnt and chewy, and the bun was so thin the grease from the burger totally saturated the bottom bun. You might say well maybe it sat too long, no, we live about 90 seconds away. We also got an order of "poutine" I use the term very loosely. They didn't have gravy and were very mediocre, might be better fresh but still not poutine. On another note I am so happy they are offering brunch! Very good and a decent price. $2 mimosas!
(3)Ernie And Dora H.
While visiting Michigan for a NASCAR race, we decided we were ready for some BBQ. Now being from North Carolina, we know good BBQ. So finding a BBQ restaurant that lives up to what we have come to expect is not always easy. From the different BBQ restaurants nearby, we chose C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill in Walled Lake. C.A.Y.A. stands for "come as you are" and the casual rustic décor fit right into their name. I like to try a little of everything to get an overall impression of their BBQ style. So the three of us ordered the half slab of baby back ribs, half pound of brisket, and half pound of pulled squash. For sides we chose the mac & cheese, creamy cole slaw, and my favorite, tots! The ribs and brisket were both tender, with a perfect smoke ring. The pulled spaghetti squash was smoky, quite different (good) from anything I have ever tasted. Dora here. Great food, quick service, and a cool rustic interior. What more could a person want? We rate the restaurant, 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly serving great food. ~Ernie & Dora Hiers, Fiction Faith & Foodies Blog
(4)Cecilia E.
Disclaimer: my husband didn't care for the brisket and pulled pork, he said they were both dry, and he didn't like the sauces either. His eating experience here was definitely below expectations, especially given the price. I, on the other hand, really liked my meal. I ordered the build your own burger (juicy, cooked exactly to order, great brioche bun, fresh and tasty toppings) but I am OBSESSED with the tomato salad I had! Fresh, looked like heirloom tomatoes mingled with watermelon, red onion, and cubes of Spanish cheese, dressed with a light red wine (?) vinaigrette and chiffonade ribbons of fresh basil. OMG SO GOOD! Also their tater tots were delightful! Not like the soggy things you might remember from childhood... The restaurant itself was kinda ugly and very open, a little awkward on the inside, felt very warehouse-y and not comfortable. And the prices were a bit higher than I will routinely pay. But, I really enjoyed my food a lot. I would come back for that tomato salad. :-)
(3)Shanna H.
I had a smoked turkey sandwich and tater tots- Very tasty! The couple I was with ordered mac n cheese (can you really go wrong?!), scallops, then a two portion meat plate (delicious with their homemade barbeque sauces!). I ordered a mixed drink which was recommended by our waiter who has only worked there a couple of days. The drink had watermelon ice cubes in it and was NOT good at all. $9 for a maybe 6 oz mixed drink was NOT worth it, at all! Overall, I would recommend CAYA for food. Since it is a barbeque restaurant, expect to pay a little more for fresh cooked foods and meats! Sitting on the patio was nice- Screened in patio so no bugs are around and the wind isn't extreme. Nice and quite restaurant.
(4)Liz S.
Went here for a family members birthday and the food was pretty good quality. We all left satisfied with our meal, but I knocked down a star for the patio area and small portion sizes for seafood. We sat in the patio area which we soon realized was a bad decision. The look of the patio area really sets a great ambiance, but the air circulation in that area only makes you want to stay for 5 minutes. Even with all the windows open, very little air was circulating through. Also there's only one ceiling fan covering a large area. It was no bueno.
(4)Jody K.
After reading the reviews, I really wanted to try C.A.Y.A. We went there for brunch on a Sunday. Unfortunately, the patio area was closed for a funeral reception, so we had to sit inside. There weren't many people in the large, open, dining area. It is decorated in wood and feels like a restaurant you'd find up north. While waiting for my party, the server brought water & mentioned that they had $2 mimosas. Did you see that? $2 MIMOSAS! That's the same or less than any off their other beverages (which, at $2.50, are overpriced.) Of course, I partook as did my mom & sister when they arrived. I made my own omelette with cheddar cheese, mushrooms and brisket. It was very good, but the brisket is pretty much minced, so you don't get the full flavor. I think perhaps a better choice to get the flavor would've been the BBQ & eggs. The potatoes that came with it were a little salty (why do so many chefs these days seem to over-salt everything?) but had a good flavor. And the biscuit was nice and light. My sister ordered the Brisket Hash & Eggs. The eggs were as she liked them, but her hash was mostly potatoes, with minced cubes of brisket, and not many at that. My mom had the waffle with berries, and she must've liked it because she ate the whole thing, which she rarely does. When the bills came, my mom noticed that she was overcharged for her breakfast & asked to see the menu. But the server caught the problem and fixed it for her, explaining that it was an issue with how the computer was programmed. I like that it's all locally sourced, and the staff is friendly, too. I think that, for dinner, some of the other barbecue places offer a wider variety at less cost, but if you want something different for brunch on the weekend, this is an excellent choice, and one that I will be back for. (I do wish YELP would allow half stars, as I'm wavering between 3 and 4. I am giving it 4 because of the local sourcing and unusual brunch choices, but the mincing of the brisket and stinginess with the ratio of brisket to potatoes in the hash makes me want to give it 3 stars.)
(4)A F.
I give them 4 because the pork was cold and their online menu is not updated. My wife loves Apple crisps and they had it listed online. When we ordered it for dessert, the waiter came back and said I must have looked at the online menu which hasn't been updated for a while. Great food, great prices. Share the plates and sides and you'll be happy. Nacho starter with brisket is not lacking either. Oh, and the smoke was really light which will please those intense BBQ guys like me but also those who are just starting to like it.
(4)Kelly S.
We were in the area and had a hankering for bbq so we stopped in for carry out. The ribs were good, not great but good. The brisket was better, had some burnt ends which is my fav so we may come back for the brisket if in the area again. The service was good & attentive.
(3)Brooks D.
This is one of those places that has a menu you don't find at any other place. Sure, the meat from the smoker is out there, but their appetizers, extensive sides list, entrees, salads, and craft drinks are unique. Menu changes with the seasons. Service is always good. It's rarely crazy busy. I love the background music. My current favorite menu item is the pork chop. You don't see many restaurants do a pork chop because it's a challenging cut of meat. CAYA nails it. I also love the smoked spaghetti squash and the risotto. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Megan K.
I love BBQ. I was super excited to find out about Caya and it's much closer to where I live than any other BBQ place in the Metro area. My boyfriend and I came on a Sunday night. It wasn't particularly busy but there were some large groups of customers. This became a slight problem because there were only 2 servers so it was hard for them to keep up. I got a red blend and my boyfriend got beer to drink. The wine was very good and reasonably priced but the pours looked a bit short, imo. Their beer list is great, lots of bottles and a handful of craft beers on tap. The bottles run about $4-5 and the taps were $6 for a pint. For food, we split the polish sausage appetizer. I got a half pound of pulled pork and mac and cheese. My boyfriend got a half rack of ribs and a half pound of brisket plus collard greens and pickled veggies. The Polish sausage appetizer was not exactly what I had in mind. It was smoked and grilled but there didn't seem to be any seasoning at all in the meat. Polish sausage normally has a very spicy, kind of salty flavor. This sausage didn't so I wouldn't order it again. Kind of disappointing. My pork was really, really good. Way superior to Union Woodshop or Lockhart's. About on par with Meat and Slow's. The one thing I think could improve is the sauce situation.They only have three. Mustard sauce, bourbon pepper sauce, and a sweet fruity sauce. I thought the sweet sauce was too much and the bourbon sauce just lacked. It was a bit peppery but I would have liked something more substantial with a tanginess or a vinegar based sauce. The ribs were absolutely amazing. They were falling off the bone and were absolutely delicious. The brisket didn't contain really any fat which was weird. It seemed a bit dry but the piece I ate was okay. The mac and cheese was yummy, the collard greens were tasty but too salty. Overall, the bill came to about $90 but that included all the food and 5 drinks between the two of us so I think it was reasonable.
(4)Patrick M.
Great food, great prices! Went there with about 10 adults and 8 kids. And everything went surprisingly smooth considering our crazy table! Can't recommend it enough!
(5)Matthew P.
Solid! Have been eyeing this place for a while now. We came with a group of 8 on a Saturday, and I called ahead for a reservation; reservations are taken for 6 or more. I told them we had 7 adults, and a toddler. When we arrived on time, the table was ready, there was 7 waters and a then milk in a cup with a lid and straw. Talk about service! The rest of the meal was pretty damn good, there were no complaints. We all had different entrees, we all ordered a side to share, so we quite literally sampled nearly the whole menu. Few of us had some mixed drinks, which I can't recall the names but they were crafted well. A couple things stole the show, aside from all the desserts which were amazing, the pear bread pudding being my favorite. One item was the corn bread with maple butter in the small cast iron pan. YES! Another was the smoked turkey. I've never tasted more flavorful and moist turkey in my life, and my dining companions agreed. Roasted brussel sprouts with bacon were a bit try, but the grilled asparagus was on point. Overall. I'd come back.
(4)Allison B.
Great food, atmosphere, service, and price. Not much more you need to know! But, Yelp makes you write more :) I had the smoked turkey, bacon, and apple sandwich which was awesome! Highly recommend, will come back.
(5)Ann W.
It is always a good problem to have when you cannot make up your mind between all the delicious-sounding items on CAYA's varied menu. For dinner, some notable entrées include: smoked chicken pot pie, osso buco, and braised short ribs. However, the smoked meats were the main attraction and provided an opportunity to indulge. I was able to sample both the smoked brisket and the incredible pork ribs. The latter was beyond tender, the definition of "fall off the bone" goodness. Sides include: tater tots poutine with an abundance of melted cheese curds in an earthy mushroom sauce; sweet potatoes served with maple syrup, and cornbread. On paper, the sweet potatoes with even sweeter syrup should not have worked. It did though and was very enjoyable. The restaurant is large and can accommodate a crowd - its parking lot is huge. The dining area has an industrial rustic feel that adds just the right ambiance. On Sundays, it tends to be busier in the morning for brunch and later on in the evening. The serving staff was helpful and courteous.
(4)Saagar U.
$2 Mimosa specials ($5 for a larger one with vodka) are always a good addition to a lovely Sunday brunch. We were a large group (~25 people split over 3/4 tables) so service was a little slow, with the first table receiving their food before the last table had ordered. I believe that they may have intentionally done this to help prevent the last table from expecting their food earlier than it would have shown up as I am sure that they would not be able to prepare 25 meals at the same time. For food I ordered their Mushroom Omelet (Mushrooms, herbs and goat cheese) with Pesto and the combination was delicious since it had been made well. I also liked that they had water bottles at the tables which prevented us from needing to ask a server each time we needed a refill. There were however a few things that I was not pleased about from my visit. First, the mimosa was not bubbly (still tasted good), next we did not have enough opportunities to order more drinks as our server did not come around enough and finally, our server did mess up the orders slightly by giving my first mimosa to someone who had not yet ordered theirs (though this was rectified quickly).
(4)Gene G.
The food was good but a bit overpriced. $6 for a 15 Oz beer, $10 for a sandwich, sides cost extra, entries push $30 for a 1lb portion with no sides. The quality of food is IMHO just slightly below the price point. My brisket sandwich was flavorful and tasty but didn't have that BBQ flavor awesomness that I expected. You're supposed to use one of the two or three sauces on the table, which is not quite the same experience. My wife's pulled pork entree was a bit on the bland side, good after we added sauce but again, nothing spectacular. Don't get me wrong - their meat is very good. Just not their price point good. The place is not fancy but atmospheric. The service was decent. But I think they should either work on their flavoring / presentation or their prices. We may come back but I wouldn't have it as my first choice. Oh, and check the reviews that Yelp hides under "not recommended" category. Quite a few negatives based on their cost vs food quality. I wish we've read them before driving here.
(3)Joe M.
I have been looking at stoping in here for a while. My wife has been several times and keeps saying I needed to go in. We ended up getting the all you can eat for. Its a special they run. At first I was not impressed. I got the Brisket and the pulled pork. The Brisket was dry, lean brisket is always dry. The owner could tell that I was not happy and he came over. I told him about the brisket and he went back and grabbed some wet brisket and that made a massive difference. I liked it. Overall the service in my option was slow. Also we had the Nacho's, I didn't like the sauce they put on it. Thought it over took the brisket on top of it. Impressed that the owner came over, and so glad he had me try the wet brisket. For me thats the best kind. I say stop in and give them a try, but get the wet brisket if you want more flavor.
(3)Lloyd D.
CAYA catered a wedding in my backyard. Great food, great people, great service, easy to work with and the price was spot on. We had a great party with raves about the food. Could not have been better. And the few leftovers we had, got better! Great party.
(5)P B.
I can never return to C.A.Y.A. Tonight the manager insulted my family by asking us to take our hungry, crying toddler outside because other patrons were bothered by the noise. If you are familiar with the atmosphere here this complaint would seem ridiculous. The noise level gets so high inside C.A.Y.A sometimes that you can hardly hold a conversation. We are deeply saddened by this turn of events. C.A.Y.A. has been one of our favorite restaurants, and of the couple dozen times we've been here this is the only bad experience. For that reason I must leave my rating at 5 stars. I cannot, however, support a business that will not support me. We are trying to work with our daughter to teach her that crying does not get you what you want (she wanted to get down and run around). This lesson was lost when we were pressured into taking her out of the highchair to quiet her down. In retrospect I wish we had walked out upon his request, but my daughter's food was arriving right behind the manager as he stood at our table, and we knew part of the issue was hunger.
(5)Stacey C.
CAYA is a great option in the Walled Lake/Commerce area for casual dining and great food. My family goes there for breakfast on the weekends and dinner through the week a few times a month. The service is always good and prompt. I wish I could do 4.5 stars out of five. I only knocked off a bit because the smoked meat (pulled pork, brisket) is good, not great and their BBQ sauces are ok. It's still head and shoulders above any other BBQ restaurant in the area. All of the side dishes are fantastic. We usually get the corn bread, Brussels sprouts, and macaroni and cheese. Beer selection is very good but the mixed drinks aren't very strong.
(4)Tim W.
Great atmosphere and really good smoked foods. I had the brisket and ribs. Definitely a new "go to" place.
(4)Carrie M.
Good atmosphere. Interesting menu but not great taste. Pickled vegetables, cole slaw and bbq sauces had way too much vinegar. Pork didn't have smoked favor but was tender. Friendly staff and good cocktail. But save your money as it's too pricey for this quality of food.
(2)Greg C.
I've been here about four or five times now - it's just down the street from me, so it's really convenient. But it's the food that forces me to return. Everything I've had here is really good. It's easy to go in here and order up a full rack of ribs and a draft of beer to stuff your face like a gorgon - don't do that! Grab 3-4 friends to join you so that you can order multiple items on the menu and have a little taste of everything. The 1/2 chicken dinner is a great value and you can make a meal off of the burnt tips chili and an order of corn bread. Save some room for desserts - they're pretty darn good! I recently had some banana and choco chip bread pudding with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream - off the hook my friends! Best get up there soon, as the desserts are seasonal and change on a regular basis.
(4)Sarah S.
Third time here, each time quality has gone down a bit. We dined here on 1/24 and everything was good except for an incident that left a bad taste, literally. We ordered a side of Brussel sprouts and they were cold and soggy. I had this side before here and it was good served hot and al dente. I asked the waitress if we could get them remade. I never send food back but they were gross. She took them and came back a few minutes later and told me the kitchen said, that's how they are supposed to be and gave them back to me. Really? Bad enough to discredit me but to do it in front of my table of friends. Basically your wrong and deal with it. Thanks. Kind of pricey for what it is. There is better BBQ out there. Did not make me feel valued and our tab was over $200. Won't make it a point to go back.
(3)Jason R.
The meat was so fatty it was almost inedible. Everything else was bland and overpriced.
(1)Steve K.
Meh. Had such high hopes, based on Yelp reviews. Went w/wife & three kids. Best items were smoked wings appetizers & putine. My wife's chili & Mac & cheese were relatively flavorless. My baby backs were just ok. Daughter 's medium well burger was raw, other daughters kale salad & wife's kale salad pretty good. Pickled veggies - meh as was my cornbread. Daughter's boyfriend enjoyed his pulled pork. Drinks were weak. Gavin, our waiter was on & off. Place was pretty empty on a Friday night at 7:30. Shoulda been a tip off. Don't think we'll go back.
(2)Thomas L.
My friend and I were looking for a BBQ place to eat and came across this place. What a great decision that turned out to be. Upon arriving greeted by a friendly hostess who took us to a table right away. Server arrived shortly after and took drink and dinner order. Since it was our first time we decided on a variety of items. Pulled pork, ribs, brisket, onion rings and brussel sprouts. Food was delivered and the owner himself gave us a run down of the two sauces which were amazing as well as the food itself. Food was smoked so good that did not need the sauces but they were equally delicious. I could go on and on about this place and how good everything was. Have not even mentioned the decor or cleanliness or details about service. All in all this is a must try place if you are in the mood for BBQ well worth the trip. One last thing. Be prepared to take home leftovers for the portion sizes are very good for what you pay.
(5)OJ J.
Ordered half slab ribs to go. They were good but I expected something better from reading reviews. Iv had worse but on a rib scale from 1 to 10 , 10 being the best they were a 6 maybe 7 . They need to smoke harder and glaze them better .
(3)Gary S.
My friend had been talking about CAYA for months and we finally joined his family for a Saturday dinner. This place is a revelation for Commerce Township. Let's just say the restaurant choices are a bit lacking up here. CAYA is modern and classy, with friendly staff. The food was excellent. I had the brisket with the sweet potatoes on the side, and it was perfect. Prices are reasonable too. We liked it so much, we decided to take my parents there the following Sunday for my Dad's birthday. Unfortunately after unloading 3 kids from the van and walking up to the front door, we were greeted with a "Sorry, we're closed for a private event" sign. Needless to say we were disappointed and frustrated and I haven't been back since. I understand restaurants have private parties, but they should section off the restaurant for large parties and leave some tables open for other clientele. Otherwise they're going to be losing customers because of the "I wonder if they'll be open?" question looming.
(4)David R.
Back again and satisfied as always. The turkey, ribs and tater tots are the best you will find anywhere. If you are with a group, you MUST get the corn bread. Very classy place with an extraordinary value for the quality and portion size. The chef was just telling us today that he is excited to hit the local farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables tomorrow, which just feels good. And we all like to feel good, right?
(5)Joel C.
I was there about 3 weeks ago, the brisket had little flavor. My wife sent her chicken back because it was undercooked and had Slimy skin... My potato's were average. Unless they made some MAJOR changes, I won't be back. Service was ok at best, had to walk from the patio to the inside to get her attention to pay out because we were very unhappy, and pretty much let her know we were... Unhappy. She was nice but it didn't change how the food was. Famous Dave's was much better, and I would drive the extra 5 miles for Dave's BBQ... It's gotta tell you something.
(2)Zack U.
It's tough to get really good BBQ outside of Texas. So I was pleasantly surprised at my visit to the local CAYA Smokehouse grill. Very nice decor, clean, good music. $3 PBR (heck, only $2 during happy hour.) Started with a cup of chili (excellent, but not spicy) and fresh corned bread which was excellent. Sides were excellent: great Kale salad, decent Mac n Cheese, nice sweet potatoes. Smoked turkey was great. But the true measure of a BBQ joint is the brisket. And in that regard, it was a bit of a mixed bag. The brisket would not pass muster in Texas. It was dried out. Not completely, but definitely not moist the way it should be. The BBQ sauce helped. (Ask for the spicy sauce!) But when I mentioned at the end that it was not too moist, the waitress took it off the bill and brought me some *really* good brisket. I was too stuffed to eat it, but it was what I was looking for. And that's gonna be my lunch tomorrow. I will definitely go back. But again, best to make sure the brisket is fresh and not overcooked. Otherwise, better get the pulled pork or turkey. Also, I gotta say that even if the brisket was not up to Texas standards, everything else, including the service, was well above average.
(4)Steve B.
We consider ourselves well-versed in smoked meats. Being that we were on the far side of town we decided to come to the Caya smokehouse. It is a great atmosphere and plays fun 80s tunes. We were immediately seated on the open air porch. We ordered a pound of brisket in a pound of pulled pork with the poutine tots, mac & cheese, and an order of the pickled vegetables. I have to say that the pickled vegetables are a great palate cleanser in between bites everything else. We immediately ordered a second. Poutine tots were excellent! Mac & cheese was really good too. We found meats smoky and it fell apart quite easily. Although it seems to be a bit dry as if it may have sat in a pan before being delivered to our table. Overall the service was prompt and the food was really good I would return here again.
(4)Dee D.
Positives: Very good service. Nice screened-in porch area. Tasty smoked chicken wings appetizer. Creamy cole slaw. Lovely sparkling Michigan wine that was only $5 a glass. Ribs were tender and meaty, but not great. Carrot appetizer yummy. Disappointments: Beef brisket and pulled pork were not very good. Brisket was fatty and lacked flavor. Pulled pork was dry chunks, not "pulled" really. Sauces were forgettable. Polish sausage was also dry and lacked good flavors. Brussel spouts side was over done and too heavily soaked in Balsamic. Poutine tots were blah. At 7:30 on Friday night there wasn't a wait. I understand why now. I recently moved back to MI after living down South for many years. I had the opportunity to try smoked meats and bbq all over the South, from Texas to the Carolinas. I was hoping to enjoy good bbq last night, but that didn't happen. I know there's plenty of great bbq outside of the south, it just isn't at CAYA.
(2)Jennifer K.
Epic... That's the only word I can't think of after this Saturday later afternoon meal. It could be the amazing cocktails talking or the fact that my stomach is so full from half the menu that I'm in a deliriously good food coma. This place is a must try. Worth every bite.
(5)Thomas H.
Visited for first time recently. Nice friendly service at bar, good selection of wines by the glass and a nice range of beers on tap and by the bottle. Tried the pulled pork and brisket. Brisket was good, moist, nice smoke ring. Pulled pork was below average, looked like sliced pork that was cut into strips. Ok flavor but dry, not up to my standard (slows). All 3 sauces were good to very good. For the area not bad, I will be back, but needs improvement.
(3)Lynn H.
Come As You Are (C.A.Y.A) Smokehouse Grill was named by the Detroit Free Press as one of the 13 best new restaurants of 2013, so I was eager to try it. I called to find out if C.A.Y.A accepted reservations - no dice, which wasn't surprising. Call ahead seating? Nope, not that either. OK then, I'll get there late and hope the line isn't too long. So, we arrive at 8:20 and put our names in with the host, then inquire about how long the wait is. The host replies that he can't really tell us, but there are 6 tables in front of us. What? That's right - CAYA doesn't tell anyone the wait time, because it depends on how long people take. Huh? How do other restaurants do it? This is a real turn off and CAYA needs to fix it. So, how long does it take when there are 6 people in front of us? It takes 45 minutes. So it turns out we shouldn't have given up our seats at the bar after 25. Sounds like a one star review so far, right? But there are a lot of other things that CAYA gets right: Drinks - I had a passionfruit mohito and Hubby had a tequila sunrise. Both were excellently prepared (and quickly quaffed). Decor - The mix of industrial elements and reclaimed barn wood lends just the right vibe for a BBQ joint. Food - I got the mushroom appetizer, and boy was it mushroomy! - in a delicious, fragrant way. The cornbread was some of the best I've ever tasted. Truly. Hubby's brisket sandwich was tasty, with a fresh brioche bun and tender, smoky brisket. The crab cakes and Brussels sprouts were a-OK. The only disappointment was the brisket by the 1/2 pound, and the only reason it was disappointing was that it wasn't as tender as it should have been. I can't explain the difference between the brisket on the sandwich and the brisket on my plate, but I sure hope the sandwich stuff is the norm.
(3)Kristen C.
The food here is always good. Been here a few times and keep coming back. My favorite is the cornbread, mac n cheese and brussel sprout sides. I always leave full and wanting more.
(5)Colten D.
Got a carry out burger that was raw. I called them when I got home and tried it, and was told to return. They made me a new burger that was cooked perfectly and even threw in some extra items for the trouble. Great atmosphere. Nice beer selection, and good food.
(4)Austin A.
My wife and i absolutely love CAYA. We come often and always leave happy. If you like real BBQ then anything you order you will love! My wife is a wine drinker and they have nice pours as well as a good selection. I'm a craft beer guy and they have tons of awesome beer with a bunch of michigsn beers. If you've never been here you need to check it out!
(5)Michael M.
Staying in Novi for work so naturally I go to Yelp for my dinner recommendation. So happy with this choice. Atmosphere is laid back and friendly, but not overrun by children. Bar service was quick and food was spot on. The menu had so much I wanted to try but I settled on pork shank sliders(phenomenal), chili(very good), and brisket/pulled pork combo(also very good). Portions are hearty and prices are very affordable. I highly recommend CAYA.
(5)Lauren M.
I went to C.A.Y.A for Saturday dinner with my husband and parents. My Yelp-efficacy took a major hit after a poorly vetted birthday dinner selection. Anywho, we were seated quickly for a Saturday evening (7pm), with no wait at all. My mother who is always a tough critic, loved the ambiance and the rustic-modern BBQ decor. Our servers name was Fred and he already has quite the reputation judging from some other Yelp reviews. He was super pleasant and had a Texas accent to match the bbq! Everything we ordered came out eerily quick--almost too quick, but everything fairly tasty. Apps: Beef Brisket Nachos-- decent, really fresh salsa situation, but no nacho-esque fixings (sour cream, jalepenos...) and very little cheese. The brisket was in cube like pieces--not what I expected in terms of brisket, good smokey flavor but still kind of weird. There was very little cheese. If you are expecting NACHOS dont get this. Also there is no sour cream in the kitchen, incase you dont take my word for it. Mushroom and asparagus-- fresh, well seasoned, good summer dish, nice light balsamic-y reduction Chilli- hearty, smoky and full of the cubed brisket. My husband is a chilli fanatic and he liked it, but there was not enough chilli-ish consistency. It was very chunky. Chicken Wings-- amazing, smoky and crunch and fresh, served piping hot--no sauce required. Entrees Burger- my dad said it was just a burger, no fireworks here Beef Brisket Sandwich- very taste and moist, whole slices of brisket which was a nice improvement from the nachos. The lack of saucery is disappointing though. Apparently they use to have only two sauces, now they have 3 and all are an acquired taste: Blueberry (house specialty), Bourbon, and Mustard Horseraddish (not really a bbq sauce.) Trout--Best dish by far, brown butter sauce very well executed. Pulled Pork-- second best, with the exception of the lack of sauce options Ribs-- IF you make bbq at home-- eh. Nod to the bartender for accommodating a strawberry lemonade request on the spot. And, shout out to Fred for being the king of rapport. I cant said if we will be back, but it was definitely worth a try.
(3)Shawna P.
Bayside Grill had a two hour wait and a backed up kitchen, and we had driven all the way from Canton...so we pulled out Yelp and landed on C.A.Y.A. (Come As You Are) Smokehouse Grill. Beautiful restaurant with a great covered but breezy patio with skylights and stunning vaulted wood beam ceiling. Surrounded by trees and the smells of the lake, you almost feel like you're Up North. All the comments say that the brisket and the sweet potatoes are the best and I agree. There were 5 of us and we got a full slab and a pound each of the brisket and pulled pork, and a few sides to share. Everything was great. The meat was very tender and very tasty. I would say for something we just stumbled across, we were very pleasantly surprised. We loved the decor and the food.
(4)Chelsea G.
Come As You Are (CAYA). Just the name of this place makes you want to try it out. I found out about CAYA Smokehouse Grill through friends who just happen to stumble upon it. It is located in a building that has attempted to house a successful restaurant for years; I think CAYA might just be the one that succeeds. Since I first heard of them, I've read articles in the Detroit Free Press and Metro Times (to name a couple) and tried it myself. I always judge a BBQ place by their mac & cheese and cornbread and both were without a doubt up to my standards. Now I can recommend CAYA to others without any reservations. The cost is pretty typical when compared to other BBQ joints. Our side selections ranged from $3 for coleslaw or cornbread and $5 for the 3 cheddars mac and cheese. We started with a side of poutine tots, let me just say OMG, which was $5 as well. For dinner, I got a simple green salad with herb buttermilk dressing for $5, the guys got Pulled Pork sandwiches ($8) and a build your own burger ($9). The meals come ala carte and you can order sides to share. They have Happy Hour 4:30-6:30pm Tuesday through Friday ($1 off beer, $5 cocktail of the day, $5 select wines).They also offer catering. Click here to see their menus. High ceilings, neutral and trendy décor with a modern feel is how I would describe CAYA. They have a long bar with a few high top tables separated by a wall to the dining room which has a very open layout. The outdoor patio was not open because it was a cold February evening; however it looks like a place I would want to sit when it warms up. You could visit CAYA for anything and with anyone; date night, group dinner, happy hour, brunch, or a family dinner. Enjoy and mack sure to get the mac & cheese and cornbread, you won't regret it!
(5)K V.
We have had dinner here before which was great but now we just experienced a epic brunch! Awesome Bloody Mary and Hot Toddy to start. Then came a house made bacon L T with spicy mayo, smokey biscuits and gravy and the most divine Mac and cheese I have ever ate!! Prices were great and a nice atmosphere. This is our new brunch spot.
(5)Lauren K.
This place is such a gem! Absolutely DELICIOUS. We have dined for dinner and brunch and both were great. The only complaint was the service was a bit slow during brunch for as slow as they were.
(4)Rob P.
The pics on Yelp looked promising, so we came here. Excellent choice. Had the New York Strip cooked medium with asparagus and red potatoes. Everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The meat was very high quality. Did not need a steak knife to cut it. Surprisingly few people at the restaurant. We definitely will be back!
(5)Marie T.
Had dinner with friends and we were fortunate to be seated in Fred's section. Fred is a top-notch server, friendly with lots of personality. CAYA is lucky to have him! If you do check this place out - and you should - be sure to ask to be seated in Fred's section! P.s. food was good, too.
(4)Leigh W.
We were very disappointed. We went for dinner on a Thursday night at about 5pm. We were coldly greeted at the door and decided to sit at the bar. Once we sat down the bartender looked a little annoyed that we were there. There was a good beer selection and she made a very good Old Fashioned. We went the extra mile to be super cheery and nice and she warmed up a bit. It's hard to tell the identity of the restaurant. Are they a BBQ place? They say they're a "smokehouse" and they have a smoked/BBQ section of the menu but then they have a large selection of other things. We ordered smoked turkey, smoked brisket and mashed potatoes and mac & cheese. The brisket was ok, good texture, but no flavor beyond the natural flavor of the meat. The turkey was gross. It had the texture of processed lunch meat turkey and it was perfectly round. I did not have a natural/smoked flavor. I found it a bit odd that they only offered 2 bbq sauces, one was their "signature blueberry" and the other was a horseradish mustard (which was not a BBQ sauce, it was more like mustard.) I'm adventurous, but you would think the masses would want a middle of the road BBQ sauce as the ones they offer are certainly acquired tastes. I ended up using the blueberry because the turkey needed something, it could not stand on its own. The mac and cheese was good (not worth coming back for) and the potatoes were good as well. Also had the butternut squash soup which was ok, not great, sunflower seeds on top were a nice addition. All in all, very underwhelming and disappointing. Not sure I would go out of my way to return. It's too bad, it would be nice to have a good, successful restaurant in the area.
(2)Sharyl K.
This was our first time here. The ambience of the place was quite nice and our server was knowledgable and helpful. We waited for almost an hour for our food. We ordered beef brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. Nothing was hot or even warm and not all that great, quite dry and really nothing special. The sides thst we ordered (mac and cheese, onion rings, and corn bread) were very good, but over-priced for the size.
(2)Jen M.
Split the brisket & pulled pork with my husband. Kids meals were a little pricey but I don't think those chicken strips were from the freezer. Got a couple bites of blueberry chip ice cream from the kids- yum! All very good, will be returning!
(5)Mise Lee P.
Our table ordered a plethora of items from the menu so we could all try everything and I am SO very glad that we chose to do that! The burnt ends chili was AMAZING, the pork belly was, again AMAZING, the short rib was insanely good and a must order! The kale salad was bright and crisp, a little sweet and savory, absolutely delicious. There aren't enough adjectives in the English language for me to describe how much I enjoyed the cuisine at CAYA. All foodies and wanna-be foodies PLEASE check this place out. You will be pleased!
(4)Rick W.
Excellent food, had the pulled pork, was fantastic! Great cornbread! The service was fast and courteous! Will definitely be returning!
(5)Gary A.
CAYA - Come As You Are is a refreshing replacement to the string of want-a-bees in this location. They truly strip the restaurant down to the cider blocks, and started from scratch, with an industrial vibe. It is a smokehouse place not really a BBQ place - they have BBQ sauce on the tables, as well as a stone ground mustard (home made I think) pepper sauce and ketchup. Its a big place, with a main dining room and an outside screen patio. They have a bar up front, with a couple of TV's too, Its a bustling place. It is loud, because the main dining room is one open space. We went on a Friday night, at around 7:20, and we got the last available table, and people were waiting to get in even after 8:30. So the menu is smallish on the food options. The have a limited menu, basically 8-10 sandwiches, a la cart sides, 3-4 salads and 5-6 entrees. Or you can just purchase meat by the pound or 1/2 pound. They have a pretty good wine selection and 12-15 beer options - regional micro breweries with a couple of national brands. Go with the smoke turkey sandwich. It's served on a nice brooch bun, with green apples (on the bottom), thick bacon and swiss cheese. It was a really good sandwich. The smoked turkey was flavorful and juicy, and the apple bacon and swiss cheese were great counter balance flavors. Also, order a couple of the sides, starting with the corn bread. The sweet potatoes were good, basically roasted - you don't need the dipping sauce, the onion rings were good, but not outstanding. The wife's Salmon burger was OK My only complaint was, and this might because the restaurant is new, was the table we got wasn't that clean even after the hostess knock some crumbs onto the floor, and the food took a fair amount of time to arrive. Considering this is a Smokehouse restaurant and all of the food, except the onion rings, have already been made, it still took 30-35 minutes to get our food.
(4)Erin S.
We had about half the menu and I wasn't disappointed. I recommend the butternut squash ravioli, it was delicious. The brisket nachos were an unusual treat, that I will be trying again. The menu has a great sampling and offers something for everyone. I'll definitely be heading back.
(5)Craig D.
When you have a Chef/Proprietor whose resume includes stints at Toast in Birmingham and working at Iron Chef Michael Symon's Roast in downtown Detroit, it is in your right to have high expectations. Caya delivers! I've ordered exclusively off the smokehouse menu, and can say that the brisket, ribs and turkey are all excellent. They also get extra points for serving Michigan beers. There's a difference between a smokehouse and a BBQ joint, but based on the meats they serve, you will inevitably see comparisons occur. While I love places like Slows and Red Smoke, my preference is and will probably always be Caya. Definitely worth checking out!
(4)Kara D.
I have only been to CAYA for brunch a few times, which is definitely not their namesake. The brunch is fine, but nothing to write home about. A variety of standard dishes, such as omelets, waffles and French toast. The lunch menu is also available at the Sunday brunch, and a few people in my group ordered off of that. Nobody ordered any BBQ, but the menu is very expansive and definitely only features a small percent of actual BBQ/Smokehouse items. On a plus service was good for both visits, each with a group of 10-12.
(3)David P.
My wife and I ate there on July 3rd just before the fireworks on Wolverine Lake expecting it to be packed. Thankfully it was not and we got a table in the bar area. The decor is industrial rustic, my wife loved the light fixtures. Service from the bartender was prompt and she was helpful with menu recommendations. I order a smoked turkey sandwich which had bacon and fresh apple slices and swiss cheese. It was very tender and tasty, especially with the house made bourbon BBQ sauce. My wife had the crab cakes and was very happy with them. The beer and wine selection was huge and the prices were quite reasonable. My wife loved the "Sexy" sparkling wine from up north, just $5 a glass. I definitely hope to eat there again and try the other smokehouse items.
(4)Kevin E.
I took my family to Caya last night for the first time. The food was really good. We ordered the ribs, which were very tasty and fell off the bone. The brisket and pulled pork was so good especially with the blueberry BBQ sauce. We ordered the corn bread and the sweet potatoes as sides. Lots of food and have leftovers for the next couple of days. Yummy.
(4)Robyn J.
Big room, lots of energy. Lights too bright. Nice bar set up. Plenty of room for big groups. Yummy ribs.
(3)Jason B.
Let me start with the good... The staff is very friendly. Now, the bad.... The food was excruciatingly mediocre. I had the brisket, the mac n cheese, the sprouts and their version of poutine. My fellow eaters had the pork, and none of us were impressed whatsoever by anything. It really is too bad though, because it is almost there. The one thing that was good, however, were the 2 (yes, only 2) sauces. There was a great spicy mustard and a sweet blueberry barbecue that I would like to have at home. Given the location, I can only assume the reason for the good reviews would be because there is nothing else around the area.
(2)Eliot Z.
Brisket was excellent. Side dishes are great. Great service. Bonus: all you can eat brisket on Wednesdays while promotion lasts.
(4)Teddy M.
Good not great. We had a 4 top Saturday night with no wait, actually it was rather dead. They have bar area and dining room. They also have a room downstairs for private parties. The layout is a bit odd by this I mean they should have more tables in the dining area. It felt like a vfw hall vs. a restaurant. They have a screened in porch during the summer too. Items we chose. nachos, pork belly, tacos. bb ribs, cornbread, brussels, kale salad n Mac n cheese. Nachos were a flop as were the brussels sprouts. The ribs, cornbread, and salad were all good. The rest just ok. I won't rush back but might carry out ribs one night or not,
(4)Molly G.
The staff was incredibly friendly and competent. It was a fun atmosphere with a great selection of beers. I had the plate of smoked turkey and pulled pork which tasted great. The cornbread was as good as any I have had. The prices were reasonable too.
(5)Paul S.
Food was good and priced fine. Service was very good. I enjoyed the brisket very much. Others had kale salad, sweet potatoes, onion rings and salmon. I look forward to our next visit.
(4)E B.
Arrived at 6pm on a Friday and was quickly seated. Great atmosphere for BBQ. Ordered smoked turkey, pulled pork, 1/2 slab. Pork was very dry and had little smoke flavor. Turkey completely lacked flavor. Ribs were very tasty, but overcooked. Meat fell off the bones. The al a carte pricing model can make for an expensive dinner... Unimpressed with the food, but might give it another try based on all the positive reviews for the place. Maybe it was just an off day for the smoker...
(2)Deb M.
So glad to have a local fantastic restaurant to go to that is consistently good. Jeff is a great host and his food is amazing! I've tried most of the menu so now it is a difficult decision when I go in as to which I want to have again. Such a good problem to have! And brunch is the best deal in town! Everyone should try it instead of the local "same ole" places. Best in town! Treat yourself and enjoy some really good service and food.
(5)Annie S.
Been here a couple of times now and want to like it much better. I'll try it again but will try new things. On both visits, these three side dishes were the stars: 1. kale salad - outstanding with slivers of granny smith apples, radishes, candied pecans and a tart-sweet buttermilk cider dressing - so good I try to make this at home! 2. tater tots - yes, tater tots! My daughter and her friend ordered them on the first visit and had to order more- they're $3 in a little metal bucket and to die for! 3. Even better - fried sweet potatoes with spicy maple glaze - perfect combination of crunchy, sweet potatoes with soft centers and the spicy sweet glaze. I've had better BBQ and I would definitely avoid the trout. The lemon butter brown sauce didn't taste like lemon or brown butter. If I hadn't read it on the menu I wouldn't have had any idea what it's suppose to be. I forgot to mention the Crispy pork belly appetizer. Decadent crispy Pork Belly, Potato Pancake, Soft Egg, Red Wine Vinaigrette. We split it four ways so maybe under 200 calories per person?? Delicious! Had a bad waiter with a bad attitude which didn't help but the owner/chef made up for the waiter. It's in a convenient location and I want to try the brisket nachos and the brunch.
(3)Diana S.
Great atmosphere and food. I had the brisket, sweet potatoes with maple syrup, and homemade pickled veggies. We shared the smoked wings with blue cheese dressing, and my hubby had the kale salad with chicken added. All of the food was excellent. You get good sized portions so I ended up sharing mine with my husband. Price seemed a little high for some things but the food, decor, service, cleanliness, was all impeccable. It was well worth our time and we will visit again.
(4)Katie B.
This place is fantastic! 5pm on a Sunday, there was no wait- service was good.... Though I'm a native to the area, I lived in Houston for 2 years and I don't think I had better BBQ there. We did family style and the 4 of us shared pulled pork, brisket, Mac n cheese, pontine tots, sweet potatoes, corn bread and the turkey sandwich- everything was excellent! There wasn't 1 thing we didn't like. The MI blueberry BBQ sauce was great (I don't even like blueberries)- however, the food required no sauce. I suggest 1 side and 1/4 lb of meat per person, it's plenty. Previous posters said their brisket was dry, I did not find this to be true. My only small complaint was the Mac n cheese portion was small, I'd get 2 next time.
(5)Shae M.
Truly enjoyed the food! We had the butternut squash soup and burnt ends chili both were good. The beet salad had many different flavors and was enjoyable. I had the portabella sandwich which was good but would've preferred roasted veggies instead of traditional hamburger toppings. The cornbread and Mac & Cheese were fantastic! The coleslaw was flavored well but the pieces were long strips which made it difficult to eat without cutting it up. The turkey was great! Decor-sparse and seemed empty for inside dining. The patio was enjoyable! I had a margarita with watermelon ice and basil that was amazing! I almost forgot the waffle dessert! You must try it! Overall really enjoyed my visit. Basically had a five course meal for two under $60.
(4)Julie B.
DELISH! Had a family dinner last night at C.A.Y.A last night it was AMAZING! I had the brisket super tender and moist! My mom had the butternut squash ravioli OMG this had a nice blend of flavors and was to die for. The sides were amazing too we ordered a bunch for the table... mashed potato's yum, brussel sprouts with bacon yum and they had a nice flavor not too much bacon just a hint, corn bread awesome, sweet potato's with a spicy maple dipping sauce incredible and the mac and cheese was really good too. We were all so fully but with an amazing meal like that, we had to try the dessert chocolate cake was really good and so was the salted caramel pudding a great way to end our meal 2 desserts to share between 6 of us. It had a great atmosphere and decor. I gave it 4 stars and not 5 only because the service was a little slow.... They were super friendly but the place was practically empty but we waited a long time for our food.
(4)Mike L.
We just got home from this place and I will give it a 5 star rating with this comment.. The staff was friendly the food was good. When we got there we asked how long the wait was and was told they dont give times out because people may not come back if the wait time is longer. My comment was if we wait to long not knowing I can say we wouldnt be back
(5)Steve R.
Liked this place a lot, cool decor/ design, food was all around really good with fair pricing, nice bar area with 2 TVs, you know your getting food from a experienced chef, it's by far the nicest restaurant in that general area, I will add it to my list of places I go, I hope the do well there, it might be a tough location for a nice place like that
(5)Michele C.
I've been looking forward to the opening since I grew up in the neighborhood behind and was a frequent guest at the old Nifty Normans. They did a great job gutting and redecorating with the industrial chic, but in an earlier review, I can see where the noise may be an issue in the future. The music selection left something to be desired. Rap and Nikki Minaj don't set the atmosphere for a great dining experience. It was WAY too loud at one point and you could barely hear it at other times. I did make a friendly mention on our way out and they did acknowledge that they were tweaking the selection. I also noticed that all of the staff were very young and didn't see a seasoned employee in the bunch, which could have explained the poor choice in music. The menu had a variety from a la carte smoked meats offered by the half pound and pound, a nice variety of sides as well as burgers and entrees which include fish, steak and foul. Our server, Andrea, was friendly and informative and guided us through each section of the menu. We started with the crab cakes with remoulade which were tasty, but they were warm to the side of room temp. Next, my husband ordered the Burnt Ends Chili which was full of flavor and delicious. He didn't care for the whole tomatoes and peppers, but I am not picky and ate the rest. For the main course, he ordered the 1/2 lbs Turkey and I ordered the half lbs Beef Brisket. We also ordered 4 sides between the two of us, not knowing if they were going to be enough to share. The meat was smoked to perfection and very tasty. They definitely know what they are doing with the smoker. I do wish that there were a variety of bbq sauces as they only offered the one which is made of blueberries. It was good, but not what I had in mind for my brisket. I chose to eat it without and because the meat was seasoned and smoked so well, I didn't miss anything. The sides we ordered were hit and miss. All were very reasonably priced and one side was enough to split between two people. We over ordered, but wanted to taste a variety. The cornbread was amazeballs. Not the grainy kind of cornbread, but super moist and had corn in the batter. Topped off with honey butter. Fantabulous. The cheddar mashed potatoes was a generous portion, but tasted a little thin. Not as rich as I would have expected. We also ordered the Poutine Tots, which I was really looking forward to. The tots themselves were crispy and tasty, but the mushroom gravy tasted a bit bland and there was too much cheese, which made the dish too greasy. Less would have been more. My husband wasn't fond of the coleslaw - he was expecting more dressing. I thought it was good. All in all, it was a pleasant experience and since I've owned my own restaurant and have been in the industry for over 30 years, I understand the growing pains of a new restaurant. Little tweaks here and there will make this a mainstay in the lakes area for years to come.
(3)Denny M.
Ambience is outstanding, food just so-so. The brisket had a lot of fat, far more than a good brisket should. We picked a lot off and left it on the plate. I might try it again but was only somewhat satisfied the first time.
(3)Adam S.
Awesome unique menu. Serious mouth watering creations and smoked meats. Great dècor. Highly recommend to any and everybody.
(5)Miriam I.
Finally made it out to Caya, after hearing numerous favorable reports. The 4 star rating definitely applies to the main courses. Slightly less impressive were the sides. First, the mains: the smoked ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, with just the right level of smoky flavor. The brisket was pronounced by my co-diner to be "as good as mine. (his)." Quite a compliment, and having had his brisket, not easy praise to earn. Some sides were a bit disappointing, particularly when compared to the main courses. The sweet potatoes with maple syrup may have been too much of a sweet thing. The asparagus spears did not hold up so well to the method of cooking used- they seemed a bit overdone. I liked the cornbread, which came in a generous portion in its own loaf pan. The onion rings, also a very generous portion, featured a breading that was quite light (unlike the usual overly heavy breading that falls right off the rings). Another member of our party had and greatly enjoyed the trout entree, which came with fingerling potatoes . His only mistake was in ordering the tater tots - when added to the fingerlings, a bit much. Now that our weather has warmed up a bit, drives out to Commerce seem much more feasible, and a return trip to Caya may provide just the reason we seek to make the journey.
(4)Catherine A.
I have only been to CAYA once so far, but it was totally worth the drive! The atmosphere is very cool! I loved the wood details and the bar area. Feels upscale, but I didn't feel weird showing up in jeans either. I want to go back and sit out on the patio before winter comes. But the reason I am giving it 5 stars is because of the food. The whole menu had a great selection of traditional BBQ and some unique twists. Some of my favorites included the smoked salmon appitizer, the pecan encrusted white fish and their ribeye. The dessert we got was incredible too. I'm a self-proclaimed foodie and a picky craft beer drinker and I would totally recommend this restaurant to anyone and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Guy N.
Had takeout from Caya tonight for the first time. They forgot our salad but I'm not holding it against them. Friendly staff when I picked up and their patio looks AWESOME. Food was excellent! We had ribs, brisket, asparagus, sweet potatoes and sausage links. Can't say a bad thing about any of it. The spicy mustard they added with the bbq sauces was really good. I was tempted to put it on my ribs it was so good. We will be making Caya a "usual" stop when we are looking for bbq! Best I've had in Commerce/Walled lake area.
(4)Nick C.
We had a large group dinner here right after Christmas. The menu looked good, but our service was terribly slow, and it was a slow night for them. We ordered our food, but were surprised by the lack of BBQ sauce options. Only 2? They said they were still "sorting out their menu". My meal came out, (ordered a burger with a fried egg), and it only have 1/2 of the bun and a giant hair across the egg. They remade my burger and everyone else enjoyed their meal. I wasn't blown away, but we'd probably go back for the fact that there is a true lack of dining options in the area.
(3)Corey F.
Really good no complaints other then I ate to much, great service very nice atmosphere I plan on going again for sure!
(5)Danny M.
I had the pleasure of being able to attend the preopening of this fabulous place. I am not from Michigan, but from my understanding it has a lot of Michigan history as the site use to be a very well known eatery back in the day. My party of 6 sampled many of the appetizers, the one that stood out for me was the chili, which I only had a spoonful of as it was passed about the table. It was smoky, and perfectly spiced. The wait staff was really on par and took to our every need. Even though it was a preopening, it was packed with a full menu to test the mettle of the wait staff and the cooking staff. I sampled one of the tap beers, all Michigan breweries, the name escapes me at the moment, but it did have the word Dragon in it I think. Eric the Dragon possibly? Very solid selection of wines and other beverages which our table took full advantage of. There were 6 of us at the table and 6 dessert options, we obviously decided to try 1 of each and everything tasted great, but the bread pudding stood out. But fair warning, it will make your teeth purple/blue from the blueberries. Very excellent setting, the ambience was perfect, high energy is really the only way I can explain it. The rest rooms were great, the outside covered patio was great. I cannot continue to say how great it was as nothing seemed off about it. At the end of the night one of Michigan's finest came by in his patrol car and asked if the place had opened to the public yet and was told it would not be until the 20th, he promised to be back. I too will be back on my next trip out to the D.
(5)Greg L.
Have you ever wished for an establishment that would treat you to the finest barbeque available while at the same time making a generous nod to innovative and creatively devised fine-dining fare? This place achieves both, and in doing so doesn't pander to any nonsense concepts of fusion cuisine; the bill of fare is roughly divided between traditional bbq and satisfying American concept cuisine. The first thing you'll notice is that you're enjoying the finest barbeque between Chicago and New York. The beef brisket, smoked, Texas style is not that dry and two-dimensionally flavored lack-luster item that always seems to show up, near or far, in even the most heralded barbeque joints. This one is, rather, as it always should be but never is: deep smokey flavor and that elusive texture that allows it to almost flake apart with your fork, an indication of the kind of rich moistness that can only come from long hours (fifteen, we were told) in the finest smoker available. The only thing that can top this in slow cooked meats also makes an appearance here: the most perfectly braised beef short rib, presented on the bone in a light natural jus and having just a hint of Asian spice, makes a subtle and successful nod to the fusion concept. Baby Back ribs come from that same smoker. Variations on the classics, from smoked salmon (w/ yuzu) to pork belly "pastrami" to "burnt-ends" chili (inquire into the origins of this dish, It's fascinating) abound on this menu and are all flawlessly executed. There is the nowadays inevitable poutine, thank goodness, and the mac and cheese is as delicate as it is satisfying. Highly recommended.
(5)