iamq

i2,

We eat at the BBQ Inn and then waddle down the street to Hamuras for the Lilikoi pie for dessert! Then we buy a whole pie to take back to the love-shack for later!

-Bill

iceeu2

Oh yum, love that lilikoi pie....if you got any of Aunty Lilikoi's Passion Fruit Juice while you were there, there is a recipe for lilikoi chiffon pie on the back of the bottle. While we were in her shop, I asked who had the best lilikoi pie on the island, and yep you guessed it..."Hammy's" was one of the 3 she recommended. Saying that theirs was probably the best.

I made up own version....graham cracker crust....1 can eagle brand milk, some passion fruit juice..about 1/3 or so cup and 1 container cool whip. You can also use the low fat or not fat versions of stuff..just not as dense...it's good, but not chiffon!

Ah.......memories of Kauai...withdrawals

Alisa, there are sooooooooo many great places to eat on Kauai. You won't have a problem. Another place we liked a whole whole lot was Kauai Pasta!

i'2

Alisa

Thanks for the replies. To further clarify--looking for some place nice to go for a honeymoon kind of dinner. We are staying at the Hyatt for 4 nights and the HBR for 5 nights. I am sure we will eat dinner at the Hyatt.

We would prefer cuisine that is a bit different--not really in to steaks/salad bar. Perhaps more asian-inspired or interesting seafood. Something memorable. Does not have to be overly fancy or chic.

Not concerned with price. Food is the priority.

lvk

Alisa,

Although we didn't get to try it while we were there, Cafe Hanalei in the Princeville Resort sounds like what you are looking for while on the north shore. Check out their (non-buffet menu: http://www.princeville.com/stay/pvdining.html#hanalei

The good thing about this is that after dinner, you just walk outside to the HBR shuttle stop, pick up the phone, and a golf cart will come down to whisk you back up to your condo. You could also walk back, but there are no landscape or overhead lights on the path.

Enjoy. I'm looking forward to reading your trip report!

iamq

alisa,

Postcards Cafe in Hanalei fits the bill perfectly. Very interesting menu items. Request a table on the patio outside.

Have a great trip.

-Bill

connecticut_lady

Consider going to Cafe Hanalei at the Princeville Hotel for breakfast. They have a buffet or you can order from their menu. The food is very good, but the setting is the reason to go, it's just extraordinary. We like it for dinner too...but there is something about starting your day in this stunning setting that we like even better. If you do go there make certain you get an outdoor table, wait for it if you have to.

When Gaylords is good, it's really good, but the service is hit or miss. On our last trip they were "on" each time we went and we enjoyed lunch and dinner there.

As others have said, Roy's has excellent food with no ambiance whatsoever. If I had only one vote for the "best" restaurant on Kauai I would have to say Roy's.

kauai_aka

kintaros.

sit at the bar, get to know arnelle, he'll hook you up.

my favorites, softshell crab handroll, balihai bombs, unagi, seaurchin - ono grinds

iceeu2

Read gyppielou's trip report and you will not want to go at all. I forgot to mention Olympic Cafe in Kapaa. We ate there twice and she and the others ate there several times.

auntiemaria

On the subject of Kaua`i dining, I'm glad to be able to report that Sabella's in Princeville can be recommended again. They had been poor, then great, then poor -- but the menu has been pared back to just the basics (Italian/Mediterranean) and the wait staff appears to be more mature. Ate there last night -- great food, great service, good wine list, nice views of the pali (mountains).

But...it's toooooo hot in there! We went early (5:30-6pm) and the sun hadn't set yet, and we'd daytime high of 85 or so. They need to upgrade their ceiling fans, or (better yet), install A/C. We'll go back anytime it's a cool evening, for sure.

RichinPA

Alisa,
You may want to try Gaylords at Kilohana Plantation just outside of Lihue. No ocean or sunset views, but a well managed old style Hawaiian plantation. You could take a carriage ride around the grounds before dinner and enjoy dinner in an open courtyard setting. Great food, great staff, may be a little pricey, but I think you'd enjoy it.

glowbug

My first time posting, although I have lurked quite a bit. Been to Kauai twice, which is so far from being enough. Here's my recommendation:

Hukilau Lanai

We had dinner there in July and it was the best meal we had on the island. Their calamari (appetizer) was the best we have ever eaten. My husband ordered the Hukilau Grill, and it included marlin & ono. Fantastic. I had a lightly breaded Opah over mashed potatoes and it was to die for. Our 6-year-old daughter ordered Pasta Alfredo with chicken. We had 2 glasses of wine, a fu-fu drink, and a kids' fu-fu drink. For dessert...OMG...you have to order their Warm Chocolate Cake (order it 20 minutes before you want it). It's a fabulous dark chocolate cake that oozes fudge from the middle. They top it with vanilla ice cream. OMG...did I say that already? The whole dinner (appetizer, 4 drinks, 2 adult entrees and 1 child's entree, plus 1 dessert to split) set us back $102. Not bad for Hawaii....or even for California.

We ate at Bali Hai a few nights later, and it didn't even come close to the Hukilau (and cost more $). I wasn't even that impressed with the sunset...we sat at the railing, but the building blocked it. They were borderline rude in the bar there, too.
To be honest, when we first walked up to the hostess counter at the Hukilau, I thought "oh, it's going to be some generic resort food/atmosphere". We got there at about 5:45 and waited less than five minutes for a table at the edge of the restaurant. You can see a tiny bit of the ocean, but it's more of a garden setting. Tiki torches made it even prettier. The service was prompt and courteous.

Do not miss this restaurant!

Of course, from what I've read here, I should say the chickens pecked at us the whole time we were eating that bad food in the rain???

GlowBug

glowbug

PS ~ The Hukilau Lanai is owned by Gaylord's. We only had brunch at Gaylord's but there was no comparison... The HL was completely awesome!

sea_wahine

i heartily agree with kauai aka.. Kintaro
is soooo delicious! How do ya'll say? .. broke da mouth. It is my favorite restaurant on kauai! Go early for less crowds..although the crowds are always happy there!

ET

Alisa
Since you are already staying at the Hyatt, I would really recommend the Plantation Garden at the Kiahuna Plantation. Absolutely wonderful seafood, great service and the amibiance is very romantic. Other than Tidepools at the Hyatt, it is our favorite restaurant in Kauai.