I must say that the appeal of EMP has always eluded me on my three lunches there during Humm's tenure. The room stinks. The food is heavy without being particularly memorable. (I guess you could disagree on the latter judgment; the former, I think, is unassailable.) The service is fine but lacks the warmth of that at Gramercy Tavern. Now, EMP may be a different restaurant at dinner, but I can't say I've been remotely tempted to find out. Is Kyo Ya a one star? Who knows? Who cares? The rice in broth with tofu skin, fresh-ground wasabi, a little plum and a few mushrooms is at $9 one of the great bargains in New York.