Nov 23, 2020, 10:32 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
Moderator's Note: Sadly, due to COVID-19, many of the restaurants listed in this thread are no longer in business. Please check online to determine a restaurant's current status. We will retire this thread and start a new one once conditions stabilize.
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FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
Hawaii (Travel) Forum
Mahalo,
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
Hawaii (Travel) Forum
Consolidated "Restaurant Recommendations on Kaua`i" thread
Feb 24, 2007, 8:57 am
#1
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Consolidated "Restaurant Recommendations on Kaua`i" thread
I plan to be in Kauai in April. Can anyone recommend its best restaurant ? not in a hotel chain. Thanks
Feb 24, 2007, 1:10 pm
#2
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Sorry I can't give you the best restaurant,but I can tell you it's not Portofino's in Lihue.
Feb 24, 2007, 1:33 pm
#3
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I wasn't all that enthralled with the Beach House either, although nothing was really wrong with it. Honestly I enjoyed a pumpkin curry soup and Ahi nori wrap at Caffe Coco a lot more than the Ahi entree at the Beach house, at a third of the price. Two entirely different atmospheres though.
I thought Roy's was the most consistent with the chocolate souffle easily being the best dessert.
I thought Roy's was the most consistent with the chocolate souffle easily being the best dessert.
Feb 24, 2007, 3:18 pm
#4
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Feb 24, 2007, 3:45 pm
#5
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Best restaurant on Kauai may well be a title awarded by default. There is some good food, though nothing outstanding comes to mind. Still I hope you get some recommedations that make a choice easier.
Hope you consider the Cafe Hanalei (Princeville Hotel, request outdoor seating) for a nice leisurely lunch. And it will be leisurely because that's the pace of service. Nice, but slow. Which is a huge improvement over some otherwise grudging and lacking service elsewhere. Just the way it is. The scenery is the main reason to come, as the mountains are as majestic as you will find on the islands. And you need time to take them in. Ocean views are quite spectacular, too. There are some very good salads--a nice Cobb salad-- and a drink menu that might please.
Knowing this in advance may take the pressure off to find the 'best' place or get the 'best table' for sunset. That may happen, but you can enjoy sunset or sunrise on its own if someone has already gotten that coveted table 11 or 14 or whatever, wherever. Kauai is just amazing on its own.
My favorite meal revolves around sleeping late and cooking some Organic eggs (5.49 a dozen) and great coffee and whatever else I picked up at the also lackluster grocery stores. Pretty rural and many of the good to better restaurants are at the hotels. Enjoy the time there, that's what makes Kauai special. And if you are sharing it with someone, all the more so.
Hope you consider the Cafe Hanalei (Princeville Hotel, request outdoor seating) for a nice leisurely lunch. And it will be leisurely because that's the pace of service. Nice, but slow. Which is a huge improvement over some otherwise grudging and lacking service elsewhere. Just the way it is. The scenery is the main reason to come, as the mountains are as majestic as you will find on the islands. And you need time to take them in. Ocean views are quite spectacular, too. There are some very good salads--a nice Cobb salad-- and a drink menu that might please.
Knowing this in advance may take the pressure off to find the 'best' place or get the 'best table' for sunset. That may happen, but you can enjoy sunset or sunrise on its own if someone has already gotten that coveted table 11 or 14 or whatever, wherever. Kauai is just amazing on its own.
My favorite meal revolves around sleeping late and cooking some Organic eggs (5.49 a dozen) and great coffee and whatever else I picked up at the also lackluster grocery stores. Pretty rural and many of the good to better restaurants are at the hotels. Enjoy the time there, that's what makes Kauai special. And if you are sharing it with someone, all the more so.
Last edited by Orchids; Feb 24, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Feb 24, 2007, 3:49 pm
#6
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Are you looking for the best food, or the best 'restaurant', meaning a balance of style, service and ambiance?
The best food on Kaua'i can be found at places that are not restaurants - but you can take-out and make your own perfect experience, like a sunset picnic dinner on the beach.
The best food on Kaua'i can be found at places that are not restaurants - but you can take-out and make your own perfect experience, like a sunset picnic dinner on the beach.
Feb 24, 2007, 3:59 pm
#7
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We tried a number of places during a recent week there. Our favorite was Keoki's Paradise, in the same shopping center as Roy's.
This is technically a chain and the main reason we liked it was the opportunity to eat a rare Certified Angus prime rib one night, and a Prime New York strip loin the next night, at surprisingly reasonable prices. ^
The service was fine and the atmosphere touristy yet pleasant.
http://www.keokisparadise.com/
This is technically a chain and the main reason we liked it was the opportunity to eat a rare Certified Angus prime rib one night, and a Prime New York strip loin the next night, at surprisingly reasonable prices. ^
The service was fine and the atmosphere touristy yet pleasant.
http://www.keokisparadise.com/
Feb 24, 2007, 4:10 pm
#8
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I know you don't want a restaurant in a chain hotel, but I have to tell you that we LOVE Dondero's at the Grand Hyatt. No, it's not a restaurant with the fusion that is so popular on the islands, but I had the best Chicken Marsala there that I have ever had. Service was impecable too.
Feb 24, 2007, 4:27 pm
#9
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We tried a number of places during a recent week there. Our favorite was Keoki's Paradise, in the same shopping center as Roy's.
This is technically a chain and the main reason we liked it was the opportunity to eat a rare Certified Angus prime rib one night, and a Prime New York strip loin the next night, at surprisingly reasonable prices. ^
The service was fine and the atmosphere touristy yet pleasant.
http://www.keokisparadise.com/
This is technically a chain and the main reason we liked it was the opportunity to eat a rare Certified Angus prime rib one night, and a Prime New York strip loin the next night, at surprisingly reasonable prices. ^
The service was fine and the atmosphere touristy yet pleasant.
http://www.keokisparadise.com/
Feb 24, 2007, 4:39 pm
#10
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I agree that Keoki's is very good. Do you try Gaylords? Old Plantation house. Eating out on the veranda was a wonderful experience. Closet to a Maui type restaurant I have found on Kauhi. www.gaylordskauai.com
Next time - we loved Kauai and plan to return.
Feb 24, 2007, 4:49 pm
#11
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It has been a few years, but I remember a nice meal at Cafe Pacifica. Had some fantastic freshly caught Ahi at a Sushi/Hibachi restaurant north of the airport and a great burger at Ono Burger on the way to Princeville.
Feb 24, 2007, 6:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
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A Pacific Cafe went BK about two years ago. Keokis is like coffee shop fare in the Poipu shopping center. Fair. Roy's is barely okay. Beach house is unacceptably poor food and the only great thing is their location (so suggest pupu's and drinks if you wish to try it out). There's a new restaurant that replaced Charo's that has received high acclaim (that's in Haena). We haven't tried it yet. Some like Kintaro's Japanese - I'd say just okay. Dondero's at Hyatt - okay, sort of hit or miss. Princeville - forget. Postcards - fair. Gaylord's - fair.
Bottom line: Kauai isn't a place to come looking for fine restaurant dining. It does not exist. With that in mind, you should find okay food. Condo cooking of local ingredients definitely yields visitors the most wonderful meals. Otherwise, spend the big bucks on something more interesting.
As for the "also lackluster grocery stores," things have improved in that area, especially since Costco arrived. I'd do the farmer's markets (every day but Sunday) all over the island, and then Fish Express across from Walmart for fresh fish and spiny lobster.
Bottom line: Kauai isn't a place to come looking for fine restaurant dining. It does not exist. With that in mind, you should find okay food. Condo cooking of local ingredients definitely yields visitors the most wonderful meals. Otherwise, spend the big bucks on something more interesting.
As for the "also lackluster grocery stores," things have improved in that area, especially since Costco arrived. I'd do the farmer's markets (every day but Sunday) all over the island, and then Fish Express across from Walmart for fresh fish and spiny lobster.
Feb 24, 2007, 7:59 pm
#13
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Hi,
For less-local readers, would the mods or each poster mind noting the location for each ^ or
?
It seems it is worth driving some distance to decent locations or food providers (restaurant or takeout), so it may be a case of avoiding an entire area if there is better dining elsewhere.
jtkaui, it sounds like Poipu is best suited to self-catering.
Are there differences in sevice seasonally?
Just in case things improve when it is not high season / Spring Break!
For less-local readers, would the mods or each poster mind noting the location for each ^ or
? It seems it is worth driving some distance to decent locations or food providers (restaurant or takeout), so it may be a case of avoiding an entire area if there is better dining elsewhere.
jtkaui, it sounds like Poipu is best suited to self-catering.
Are there differences in sevice seasonally?
Just in case things improve when it is not high season / Spring Break!
Feb 24, 2007, 8:46 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,681
Hi,
For less-local readers, would the mods or each poster mind noting the location for each ^ or?
It seems it is worth driving some distance to decent locations or food providers (restaurant or takeout), so it may be a case of avoiding an entire area if there is better dining elsewhere.
jtkaui, it sounds like Poipu is best suited to self-catering.
Are there differences in sevice seasonally?
Just in case things improve when it is not high season / Spring Break!
For less-local readers, would the mods or each poster mind noting the location for each ^ or
? It seems it is worth driving some distance to decent locations or food providers (restaurant or takeout), so it may be a case of avoiding an entire area if there is better dining elsewhere.
jtkaui, it sounds like Poipu is best suited to self-catering.
Are there differences in sevice seasonally?
Just in case things improve when it is not high season / Spring Break!
there are no differencesin service seasonally, although at peak times you might want to get to places early, or have reservations.
ps: in your case bizibb, save the fine dining for when you get home.
Feb 25, 2007, 8:07 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 369
the whole island is well suited to self-catering. you should easily be able to google up the address and phone for anything that has been referred to. i wouldn't base any of your plans on where you eat -- it sincerely would not be worth it. kauai has great things to offer. i suggest you find those that attract you and let the food fall around it. enjoy!
there are no differencesin service seasonally, although at peak times you might want to get to places early, or have reservations.
ps: in your case bizibb, save the fine dining for when you get home.
there are no differencesin service seasonally, although at peak times you might want to get to places early, or have reservations.
ps: in your case bizibb, save the fine dining for when you get home.
'Self-catering' is a charming phrase for working vacation. Really no one wants to be on the hook for 21meals in 7 days, so eating out at some point just happens to be a necessity. And no matter where you stay, at some time or other you are elsewhere and hungry. Mentioning Costco will help out a lot of people on a first trip or if it's been several years. If all of this has been addressed on another thread, please re-direct. Thanks, jtkauai.