I decided before leaving for Kauai that I wouldn't blog about my travels, partly because I didn't want any stalker/thief robbing my house's pantry (and like, jewelry and stuff) and also because I didn't want to make my local bay area readers jealous of all my happy eating (see, I'm compassionate!)
However, now i've decided to make up for some lost blogging time and go over a couple of restaurants my family dined at in Kauai, just in case some of you are traveling to the beautiful island and need some dining ideas.
Because my family stayed in Poipu, Kauai, most of the restaurants i've included in this review/list are in the South Shore, where Poipu is located.
2100 Hoone Road
Poipu Beach
Koloa, HI 96756
This place has a relaxing, beach-y ambiance to it. Its very casual and family-friendly, a great place to watch a baseball game and chill out. They have a good amount of food options like fresh organic salads, clam chowder, fish and juicy steaks. I ordered their ceviche over fresh salad greens, which was excellent. It had the perfect lemon-y tang and the mahi-mahi and ahi tuna fish were tender and meaty. Fruity drinks are the perfect accompaniment. http://www.brenneckes.com.
JOSSELIN'S TAPAS BAR & GRILL
Josselin's Taps Bar & GrillKukui'ula Village Shopping Center
2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St.
Poippu, Kauai, HI 96756
We ate at Josselin's on our first night in Kauai; it did not disappoint. Tapas are small plates of hot or cold food in Spain, typically snacks or appetizers. Josselin's only serves many small plates to be eaten as a whole meal, however they range from Asian to Spanish to classic American cuisines. My family of three ordered six small plates out of perhaps the thirty on the menu. Each were beautifully presented and were always a little surprising and unconventional (avocado mousse?). A must try is the "Deconstructed Ahi Roll" with marinated tuna, avocado, cucumber and sushi rice, all beautifully layered on a plate under smoky dry ice. Also the "36 Hours Braised Pork Belly" with apple kimchee, rosemary, orange and lehua honey (above). The pork was perfectly tender, our forks sliding into the meat like butter. Parental units say sangrias were amazing. http://josselins.com/
KEOKI'S PARADISE2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive
Koloa, HI 96756
Keoki's Paradise is a chain food restaurant on all of the Hawaiian islands, but it is a million x better than McDonalds or any other American chain i've ever eaten at. The ambiance at Keoki's is outlandish, every square foot is tropical island themed (EX: rainforest and pond inside the restaurant, with live chirping birds, toads and other fun creatures). Best of all, the food is pretty good! My mom and I ordered the roasted chicken (we missed bird meat) while my dad ordered the flaky, parmesan and macadamia nut crusted opah fish. We got a free Hula Pie coupon from our hotel for dessert too. The hula pie was this huge chocolate fudge-macadamia nut ice cream-cookie-whipped cream extravaganza, which looked slightly gross and intimidating but ended up being deliciously tame (we ate it all). Best thing of all though? THOSE PINEAPPLE-CARROT MUFFINS THEY GAVE US WITH THE BREAD ROLLS!!! The were so moist and tasted like carrot cake. After the first bite of one I hoarded them on my plate. I love bread; they were the highlight of my trip. http://www.keokisparadise.com/.
* We also went to Duke's restaurant in Lihue, Kauai which was very similar to Keoki's in that
they had an almost identical menu (had my carrot cake muffins!! YEAH) and ambiance. Duke's had a spectacular view of Kalapaki Beach and a great "all you can eat" salad bar. http://www.dukeskauai.com/.
Photos courtesy of each restaurants' websites with the exception of the two pics above (click on captions for links)
No comments:
Post a Comment