Our famiy of five (inc. kids ages 21, 18 and 16) are going to Kauai for 7 nights in June -- 5 nights in Poipu area, then 2 nights at Marriott Beach Club in Lihue (with points).

Part of the fun for us is eating our dinners outside. Breakfasts will probably in room, and we'll have picnics for lunches. Any restaurant ideas? Thanks!!

Any ideas?

We like Keoiki's Paradise in the Poipu area. Very Tropical aetting. There are usually coupons for free Mud Pie Dessert in the local paper or hotels.

Hi Samsaf,
We really liked having breakfast and an early dinner at Joe's on the Green at the Kiahuna Golf Course in Poipu. They have a nice, large patio that overlooks the golf course with distant ocean vistas. The tables all have large umbrellas. They have a "small plate" special one night a week (I can't remember which one). It is not a cheap place, but I would call it reasonable by Kaua`i standards. We liked their breakfasts also. One of the managers is a hoot and kept us entertained with her saucy manner.
-Bill

No outside dining but you have to do the BULL SHED. Great food, especially steaks. Reasonably priced also.

Thanks so much for the replies. I'm copying them onto my Kauai document, and I'll take it with us!

we ate at coconuts. it is really reasonable, however, i cannot remember if there is outside dining.

Coconuts has a patio for dining. Try the seafood cigars and crispy fried ono! Deeeeelishus!
-Bill

Is Brennecke's still good? We ate there about 7 years ago and liked it, and it was on an outside porch overlooking the beach.

I thought that there was a patio, was not too sure though.

I agree, the fried ono is really good. It is not even like fried becasue it is so light.

I ate at Brenecke's for the first time last summer and had a horrible experience. Expensive and the louiest food I have ever had in the islands. Our waitress was on another planet. What made it worse was that a tenant of one the people we went with was working there that night,so we felt uncomfortable complaining or refusing to pay. It was a disaster. I love my t-shirt that I bought downstairs though.

I must say though that the little deli downstairs made us great fish sandwiches that we ate at the beach a week later.
-Bill

I think Brennecke's has terrible service and food, too bad becuase it's a nice setting.

Duke's at the Marriott has open air dining. The downstairs Barefoot Bar is cute, the food is just so-so. The upstairs dining area is open for dinner and consistently good though not totally gourmet.

Near Dukes is JJ's which serves lunch outdoors and the KAlapaki Beach Hut which is dilapidated but charming in a rustic way.

Dont get fooled into eating at Bubba's- YUCK.

Keoki's PAradise in Poipu has tons of tropical ambience.

Cafe Hanalei's outdoor patio dining at the Princeville Hotel has the best view, hands-down. But is probably too pricey for a family of five.

Waimea Brewpub is cute if you are on the westside, they have an outdoor patio.

Caffe Coco is very funky, located in Wailua sorta across from the Shell Station, hidden down at the end of a long parking lot. It is really charming, there is outdoor patio dining, you can take your own beer and wine. Truly a unique spot.

One question I have is, what do you consider to be "reasonably-priced"? For some folks, it's McDonalds...

When you arrive, pick up a MENU magazine (free) at the info kiosk in baggage claim at Lihu`e Airport. It gives menus for many of our restaurants, with prices included.

All of the hotels on Kaua`i offer open-air dining areas....some pricey, some not; some good, some not...
In addition to hotel restaurants, we like:

Hanalei Gourmet
CJs Steakhouse (Princeville)
Coconuts (Kapa`a)
Wahoo's (Kapa`a)
Keoki's Paradise (Po`ipu)
Duke's @ Marriott
Cafe Portofino @ Marriott

Too often, the oceanview restaurants figure that if they give you the view, they can slack on the food/service -- which is why I no longer recommend Brennecke's or Beach House (Po`ipu), Bullshed (Kapa`a), Cafe Hanalei (Princeville Hotel -- with the exception of their fab Sunday brunch!). Take away the view, and you've just got a mediocre restaurant...

We think Brennecke's is too pricey but enjoy the view. Good place for happy hour. Our experience with Coconuts was so bad we left a tiny tip and vowed never to return. Poor service, lousy location, meals priced very high (can't say if they were worth it because we were in the bar). We stopped for drinks and were virtually ignored while the wait staff chit-chatted at the bar. The outside dining is a strip of tables alongside a driveway into the back of the parking lot alongside the busy Kapa'a road, not great for ambience. If I'm spending that much for a meal, I'd rather look at something more appealing.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I guess what I meant by 'reasonable' was about $60 to $80 for the 5 of us. I realize that there will be nights when we spend more than that, but I'm also hoping there are nights when we'll spend less than that. We don't drink alcoholic drinks, so that always helps with the cost of restaurants.