What do you do with a lofty wooden building surrounded by sugarcane and pineapple fields that was a tiny town's camp store in the 1920s? If you're Bev and Joe Gannon, you invent a legendary restaurant. The Szechuan barbecued salmon and Hunan-style rack of lamb are classics, as is the sashimi napoleon appetizer: a tower of crispy wontons layered with ahi and salmon. The back room houses a rotating art exhibit, courtesy of some of the island's top artists. The restaurant even has its own cookbook.
Posted by gehmana from New York/ Philadelphia on 2/17/08
We found our Hali'maile General Store experience so incredibly awful
we are shocked it is rated at such a high referral. Our experience was seasoned by the staff experience and the atmosphere.
We came across so many restaurant nightmares in our evening that it
was laughable.
We had every restaurant faux pas in the book occur at the table: miscommunication as to seating arrangement, frequent
mix up with seat numbers and waiters putting the wrong beverage, knife,
plate, appetizer and dessert in front of the wrong guest not once...but EVERYTIME.
We were being served by a waiter who had little to no knowledge of the menu.
AROUND us, waiters were dropping ramekins, glasses and at one point a full tray
of sugar packets and glass ramekins!
Dropping the occasional plate or a minor fumble happens in restaurants, every
15minutes is unacceptable. To be perfectly blunt we found that engaging with
the staff was similar to trying to get service from butter fingered oafs.
We were VERY impressed with our food, we had several courses, sampled
the beverage menu and ended with some lovely desserts. AMAZING food!
The atmosphere is the worst I have seen in any four star? reviewed restaurant...
ever!! The 'banquet hall' of a hotel is more accommodating than the interior design of this restaurant. We feel that if they have secret shoppers or up for a new review in Zagat...the atmosphere and service is sure to catch a snag.
Posted by auntiemaria from Kaua`i on 2/6/07
Loved our first meal at Hali`imaile so much (dinner), that we moved our lunch reservations later that week -- sending us back to Hali`imaile again.
Fresh, innovative food served in a very unique environment by cheerful, informed, efficient waithelp. Not cheap -- but not overpriced for what you get.
I'd give this place a higher score, if Fodor's would permit!
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