Do most nicer restaurants have a dress code? Are collared shirts, dress shorts, and leather sandals ok for places like The Beach House, Dukes etc...

There is no reason to "dress up" (jackets/ties/slacks), at any Kauai restaurants. Shorts, polos/t-shirts, leather sandals, are appropriate attire at most all restaurants on the Island. Even Roy's and Pacific Cafe are casual.

Have fun!!!

John,
Agree with Gigi. Been over there 10x and never ran into a real dressy situation...but Mrs Kal continues to bring the proper accouterments "just in case". Maybe for "high tea" at Princeville Hotel?
We've seen people come out of the water from the beach in front of the Beach House, towel off and come in for dinner.
So....
Kal

Thanks for the info! Has anyone been to Gaylords? Is it worth dinner? Kal, your stories are great, I would love to meet up with you all at a bar in Kauai!!!

John, Been to Gaylord's on one of our first trips over. Nice place and probably too for a morlock like me!

Mrs Kal has been back a few times with her island friends and seems to enjoy it.

Very nice building and very well kept grounds.

As for the Kauai bar meeting, what are you guys doing in 282.5 days?
My ultimate goal is to buy The Whaler Brew Pub, so you never know, the drinks may be on me!
Kal

John:

Gaylord's is DEFINITELY worth it. Great atmostphere, very good food. Went there two years ago and loved it, have reservations there in a week!!!!

Sportcoats are not needed anywhere. We had good dinners at the Beach House, Casa Di Amici, Kioki's Paradise, and A Pacific Cafe and a real loser at the House of Seafood.

Hi, Kal et al -

John -

You've received good information re "dress code" for Kauai. We have been going for 14 years and even the nicest restaurants are very casual. There may be a restaurant at the Princeville Hotel that still requires a coat for guys, but I'm not even certain they haven't relaxed their dress code.

Msg. for Mark - We don't know how the House of Seafood continues to stay in business. Haven't been there in several years and it was a horrendous dining experience - frozen fish with all the wonderful fresh catches the island offers as well as terrible service despite the lack of clientele not to mention how pricey it all was. Add to your list Pomodoro's in Kalaheo if you haven't been there. Very good good and delightful owners from NYC. Absolutely love Casa di Amici - wonderful presentation and excellent entree and appetizer choices.

Kal - how in the heck are you? Counting down the days, I'm sure.

Karen couldn't agree with you more about the House of Seafood. While our food was rather tasty, actually DH raved about his, we felt trapped after the entree as we were virtually ignored and couldn't get the bill.

The hostess needs training on seating guests at the best available tables. Instead of walking past a row of empty tables to seat a nicely-dressed couple next to a huge party with kids, perhaps stop at one of the empty ones on the way to the back of the restaurant. What's with that? Nobody else was there and they weren't coming!

Karen,
167 but who's counting? ;-D

Suuuz,
I talked to a few business owners on Kauai the past few trips and they all mention, good, consistent help is pretty hard to find and keep.
Kal

Just came back yesterday - no need to be concerned at any of the nicer restaurants except perhaps the very fanciest at the couple of hi-end hotels. Everywhere we went, shorts with a nice (non-tee) shirt for men, shoes without socks or sandals, was OK. We ate at Roy's (twice - fantastic), Pomodoro's, Gaylord's (also fantastic), Plantation Garden, and Duke's Canoe Club at the Marriott. Would recommend them all.

Aloha,
We just came back yesterday from Kauai.
It is casual there men polo shirt or Hawaiian shirt shorts and sandals. We loved The Beach House, Kintaros, The Tidepools( the Hyatt), La Cascata(the Princeville), Roy's,Hanalei Dolphin Resturant, and Dondoros(the Hyatt). Enjoy!