- Overall 2
- Food 4
- Service 3
- Ambience 3
I dined at Shia on 11/23, and while I was eager to support Chef Edward Lee after following his journey on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, my experience left much to be desired.
The main reason I chose Shia was for the chance to meet Chef Lee. However, figuring out whether he would actually be present at the restaurant was incredibly difficult. Despite multiple calls, I received vague and inconsistent responses from the staff. At times, they cited privacy concerns, while at other times, they seemed completely unaware of his schedule until the day of. It felt like there was a deliberate effort to avoid giving a clear answer, which left me feeling like just another number. I suspect this was to prevent cancellations, but for someone traveling from Richmond with the sole purpose of meeting him, this lack of transparency was frustrating and disappointing.
The dinner itself was very expensive—$450 for two people with one drink and tip. Given this price point, I expected a higher level of service and consideration for guests with specific intentions. When I asked if I could leave my book at the restaurant to be signed at a later time, the staff initially said no because they couldn’t return it to me. When I offered to pick it up myself, the answer still was no. The moving goalposts only added to my frustration.
While the food was good and the kitchen staff seemed pleasant, the overall experience was overshadowed by the lack of a system to accommodate fans like myself who visit with high hopes of meeting Chef Lee. I wish I could have left with positive memories, but unfortunately, I cannot.
If you’re going solely for the food, you may enjoy your experience. However, if you’re a fan of Chef Lee hoping to meet him, be prepared for disappointment and little guidance from the restaurant.
SHIA RestaurantResponded todayThank you for sharing your feedback about your visit. I’m truly sorry your experience didn’t meet your expectations, especially given your enthusiasm for Chef Lee and the effort you made to dine with us.
We completely understand the excitement of wanting to meet Chef Lee and truly value your support. However, his demanding schedule across multiple projects and commitments makes his presence unpredictable - this is why we can’t guarantee his availability, a point we outline in our FAQ and during pre-reservation communications to set expectations early on.
I’m glad to hear you found the food and staff pleasant, as these are hallmarks of the fine dining experience we work so hard to deliver. We do not place value on one human's involvement, but the energy brought by the team as a whole.
