Fine dining in South shore area of Kauai
 

Hi..
currently planning a trip to Kauai and looking for dinner recommendations for a nice restaurant in the south shore area. Thanks!

Lots of options for you:

Most spectacular view: The Beach House.Their food used to be mediocre, but Merriman's has taken it over and I hear it is much improved.

Red Salt is located in the Koa Kea hotel. The dining room looks out at the ocean. Very good food and service. They have an agreement with the wine shop in Koloa. If you buy a bottle of wine there, they will serve it to you with no corkage fee.

Merriman's in the Kukui'ula shopping center. Excellent fish.

Plantation Gardens is lovely, the (covered) outdoor dining overlooks a private botanical garden. Lost of options on their menu, but we almost always opt for one of their fish specials. You can buy a bottle of wine at the Wine Shop in Koloa, and the restaurant will not charge you any corkage. (Dan will give you a card)

There is a new place in the Kukui'ula shopping center, Lanai. It serves mostly small plates. The food is excellent and inventive.

Enjoy!

Very informative recommendations. Thanks so much!

You are welcome. All of these restaurants are on OpenTable, and you can access their menus there.

good to hear about the Beach House because it was "chain" food for awhile. great area but food was so so Roy's just opened a new place in the Hukuiula Shopping Center too. Most romantic I would say Red Salt, atmosphere love Merriman's in the Kukuiula Shopping Center. Going in a few months. Can't wait.

Star, yes, the food at the new Roy's 1849 Eating House is excellent. I'm just home from a month on Kauai, and a few nights ago we ate at Red Salt in the Koa Kea Hotel. We usually eat there once each time we are in Kauai. They have a new chef and they are gradually adding to the menu and we had the best meal we've ever had there. I recommend it. We didn't make it to the Beach House this trip, but plan to do so next year. Heard from others that the food is much improved under the management of Merriman's.

While we try avoiding So'side/Poipu like the plague, La Spezia was a nice dine in Koloa. A bit of Napa/Sonoma Valley in Kauai.