Hawaiian restaurants

There are two restaurants that come to mind when I think "memorable" in Kauai.

The first is Duke's at the Westin Hotel and Resort. I had the best piece of Ahi Tuna there that I could have ever dreamed of. The restaurant is on the beach and is "open-air" of course, although there is a roof overhead. The Westin is the most elegant resort I have ever seen (although I am not what you call well-travelled). Complete with golf course, horse carriages and HUGE pools, there are also a lot of other restaurants on the Westin property.

The other restaurant I enjoyed was called the Poipu Beach House and is located on the South shore in Poipu. The view of the sunset was incredible and our table was literally steps from the shore. The view was so memorable I have forgotten what I ate, but I'm sure it was good.

Remember not to order shrimp - these are a cold water fish and that is one thing Hawaii don't have!!

Oh yeah, try the Sunday brunch at the Stouffer Hotel in Poipu. $25 a plate, but you will not need to eat again for days!!

ALoha!!
[email removed]

Dawn E. wrote:
>
>There are two restaurants that come to mind when I think "memorable"
>in Kauai.
>
>The first is Duke's at the Westin Hotel and Resort. I had the best
>piece of Ahi Tuna there that I could have ever dreamed of. The restaurant
>is on the beach and is "open-air" of course, although there is a roof
>overhead. The Westin is the most elegant resort I have ever seen (although
>I am not what you call well-travelled). Complete with golf course,
>horse carriages and HUGE pools, there are also a lot of other restaurants
>on the Westin property.

I was there a few weeks ago.  I wasn't impressed with their food.  My SO had the ahi also--only fair in his book.  I also thought the Westin was nice (I stayed there), but I would have much rather stayed at the Princeville Hotel or the Hyatt Regency.  The Westin had great grounds, but I think cheapened it with cheesy Asian art.

Margaret

This is a repost of an article I posted about a year ago:

----- begin forwarded message -----

I was asked to post more Kauai restaurants, so I brought in the green guide I mention in my previous post to help prod my memory (and provide addresses and phone numbers).  The book, which I found more useful that I thought I would, is "Kauai: A Paradise guide" by Don and Bea Donohugh.  I met Bea at the National Pacific Tropical Botanical Gardens, which I HIGHLY recommend visiting.  But as for restaurants: The ones listed below are the ones my wife and I liked.  If you want more mainstream eating experiences, the hotel restaurants are generally reasonable, if a little pricey.  Our recommendations tend to be offbeat, unusual and (generally) inexpensive.  Your mileage may vary!

In the south (Poipu around to Waimea):

Garden Isle Bake Shop.  In Kiahuna shopping center, open 6:30am Great for breakfast!  Fresh baked rolls, donuts, etc. decent coffee, reasonable prices.  Also for lunch and dessert... Open 'til 9pm

Omoide Bakery and Delicatessen.  In Hanapepe, on Kaumualii Highway. Primarily bentos (hot lunches) for Japanese tourist buses, but great chinese food, good sandwiches, and tempting desserts.  All the atmosphere of a small cafeteria, but the best food we ate on the west side of the island.

The Tamarind.  This is the name of the fancy place in the Waiohai Poipu beach resort that I mentioned in the last post.  High cuisine of the first order, and, for Hawaii, an amazing wine list.  Pricey, but worth it. 742-9511 for reservations.  Best food on the Island....

Taqueria Nortenos.  On Poipu Rd just north of the turnoff to Lawai Rd, in the Poipu plaza.  This is the cheap and wonderful Sonora-style mexican place I mentioned in my previous post.  Very basic, but if you like good, authentic mexican peasant food, you can get it here.

Central (Lihue area)

Casa Italiana.  You asked about Italian; this is the one we tried. Not great.  Pasta was good, but the veal was mediocre. On Haleko Rd.

Dani's.  On Rice St. (the main street in Lihue) past the fire station. The Hawaiian place I mentioned in the first post.  Great authentic Hawaiian food, much cheaper than a luau, although coffee shop atmosphere.  They close after lunch.  See also Ma's Family Restaurant

Hanamaulu Restaurant, Tea House, Sushi Bar and Robatayaki.  This is in Hanamaulu, a couple of miles north of Lihue on Kuhio hwy.  A sprawling establishment was built up over three generations and 70 years (that's very old for Kauai).  It has a beautiful Japanese garden in back, and very good food.  Sushi was top notch (not quite the best I've had, but extraordinarily fresh and varied), and the Robatayaki (grilled meats) was great.  Good for large groups, too.  Worth the trip, even from Poipu.

Ma Family Restaurant.  Looks pretty run down from the outside, and not much better from the inside, but this is Hawaiian food made by and for Hawaiians.  If you want authenticity, skip the luau and come here. Open for breakfast and lunch only  Try the Lomi Salmon, Lau Lau, or the Kalua pig.  Or just go for the special combination.  The grey haired woman dishing out food and banter is, indeed, Ma.  It's a bit hard to find.  Go down Rice St. from the highway until you see BJ's furniture; take a right, go for a block and take a left on Halenani St, and Ma's is right there.  Coffee is good and it's free, too.

We didn't eat much in the East and North, but we did stop at Duane's Ono-burgers, probably the most famous "restaurant" on Kauai; well known to surfers, and has a letter from Walter Cronkite on the wall. Basically a burger stand.  Burgers are pretty good, but you have to order everything you want on it separately....

OK, enough, I have to get back to work.  Enjoy your trip!

                                    Larry
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Jen wrote:
>     My parents are travelling to Hawaii for three weeks to celebrate
>their 35th anniversary.  As part of their gift, I would like to include
>a list of restaurants to try or avoid.  This is their first time there.
>They will be in Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai(sp?).  Replies by

I don't know about restaurants to avoid, but there is one restaurant that they _have_ to go to on the Big Island: The Golden Chopsticks in Kona. The decor is lousy. There isn't a Maitre d'Hotel. You won't even get a fake Hawian dancing show. But the food is superb. The portions are ample, the service is great, and the locals all go there. Tell them to ask for Tom's scallops with whatever else they order.

A couple of more thoughts on Hawaii restaurants:

Longhi's in Lahina on Maui.  Best Italian I've had in Hawaii.  Very relaxed & pleasant atmosphere for such high-falutin' cuisine.

Kanazawa-Tei, in Kailua-Kona (on the Big Island).  Best sushi you are likely to find outside of Japan.  Unbelievably fresh fish, high turnover, and great chefs.  The unagi is great (for those who are a bit uneasy with the raw stuff -- it's grilled), and the uni (macho sushi -- sea urchin roe) is so good you have to order early because they sell out most every night (wouldn't want to have to serve day old uni  now would you?)...

Jen wrote:
> Hi!
>     My parents are travelling to Hawaii for three weeks to celebrate
> their 35th anniversary.  As part of their gift, I would like to include
> a list of restaurants to try or avoid.  This is their first time there.
> They will be in Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai(sp?).  Replies by
> either post or e-mail would be greatly appreciated.
>
>                       Thanks in advance!
>
>                             Jen
I have a very strong recommendation for Mama's Fish House in Paia, Maui.  This is one on the very best restaurants I have ever tried.  The ambience is wonderful and I'm sure the menu will please them whether or not they enjoy fish.

Mike D. wrote:
>Jen wrote:
>|>   My parents are travelling to Hawaii for three weeks to celebrate
>|> [stuff deleted]
>|> They will be in Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai(sp?). [stuff deleted]
>On Maui, the Swan Court at the Marriott on Kaanapali is pretty nice, about
>$50/person for main course.
>-Mike

The Swan Court is at the HYATT on Kaanapali.  I've never been there for dinner, but the Sunday Brunch is very good.  I've had good luck at the Chart House in Lahaina, and for a fantastic view (on a clear day), the Kula Lodge & Restaurant on the way up to Haleakala is great.

On Kauai, for a good and not-too-expensive lunch, try Sharky's at the Westin Kauai.  One other restaurant that I have had a good _and_ bad experience at was the Plantation Restaurant (at Poipu beach).  The first time we were there was fantastic, but the last (last July) was not to be raved about (we had to send two bottles of wine back before finally switching to another variety -- all the manager had to say was that it was a little "sharp" -- tasted more like 30-year old Scotch to me - and that was _supposed_ to be a Poully Fuisse [sp?]).

I haven't been to the Big Island for 10 years, so I can't make any suggestions there.

M. A. Pasek                 Software Support                    NCR NPG (612) 638-7668            Development  Support            2700 N. Snelling Ave. [email removed]                               Roseville, MN  55113