klalaw

My fiance and I are getting married in Kauai next Friday, and had hoped to attend a luau after the ceremony, as it will just be the two of us, with no "reception" until we get back home. In talking with our wedding coordinator today, however, we realized that this probably won't be feasible, given the time of our ceremony (4pm) and the travel time back to our hotel in Kapaa - we're told that seating generally starts around 5:30, and we probably won't be back until around 7:00. So, moving on to Plan B, we're looking for a nice restaurant to have our wedding dinner. Not looking for absolutely top-of-the-line or the most expensive place, but someplace memorable, ideally with a unique or interesting ambiance, good food, and a celebratory and/or romantic atmosphere. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!

Suzie

I think a pond side table at Tidepools (Hyatt) would be romantic. We got close for our anniversary and we wished we had one of the tables right at the edge. Seemed really private and romantic.

Let the reservation agent know you want a certain table location and why. Happy Wedding!

makai1

Aloha klalaw,

Congratulations! Where is your wedding ceremony being held? That may help with restaurant suggestions.

klalaw

Our ceremony is at Shipwreck Point, but we've already arranged for a limosine to take us to and from our hotel in Kapaa (Courtyard Marriott at Waipouli Beach) - our thought was that we could take the limo back, do a quick clothes change, and head out in our rental car or on foot, if there's something close enough, for a 7:30 or 8:00 dinner reservation...

vivi

Can't think of any place special enough in Kapaa for a wedding dinner. By 7:15 the sun will have set so driving back to Poipu or up to Hanalei for a restaurant with an sunset view seems kind of pointless.

You may want to consider Gaylord's, it is romantic; call ahead and reserve at table at the end of the porch area which will give you privacy.

Duke's at the Marriott in Lihue is nice, lots of tiki torches, gentle waves crashing, strolling Hawaiian musicians. Call ahead, tell them it is your wedding day and specifically ask for a corner table on the deck.

Or change your limo reservations and dine on the south shore during the sunset.

CajunStorm

Here's another vote for Tidepools or even Gaylords. Tidepools is fantastic and I think they may even have the live musicians there on Friday nights.

klalaw

I've found web sites for Gaylords and Tidepools, and they both look beautiful, although I'm not sure about trying to mess around with the transportation at this point - will have to give that some more thought. In the meantime, our wedding coordinator suggested Coconts, the Lemongrass Grill, and Kintaro's - thoughts on any of these??

vivi

None of these restaurants your coordinator recommended have any kind of view; none has much tropical ambience.

Kintaro is wildly popular with locals, very good sushi, has a somewhat hip atmosphere without trying to be hip.

Coconuts is cute, the food is OK. It has vastly improved since it first opened.

Lemongrass is right smack on the highway (as are the above mentioned) the patio dining is right next to the traffic.

I have been to all these places, none are special enough for a wedding dinner , in my opinion.

A thought- if you are dead-set against driving to Tidepools, Dukes, Gaylords then check out in advance the Hukilau Lanai at the Kauai Coast Resort. There is outdoor dining in a pretty garden with tiki torches, it may be possible to hear the waves from there. It is run by the same folks who own Gaylords. and has the most tropical feel of any restaurant in Kapaa.

Suzie

Isn't Shipwrck Point near the Hyatt? Couldn't you get married and then go from there to dinner or do I understand that changing your clothes is an important step before catching dinner?

auntiemaria

klalaw:

As a Kaua`i resident, I've gotta jump in on this discussion...

If you're expecting to return to your hotel in Kapa`a around 7pm and don't want to drive far for a nice dinner, here are some suggestions:

Kintaro's (Kapa`a) - recently renovated and expanded, it's got great traditional Japanese food as well as teppanyaki (like Benihana) and sushi. Only problem is, it's sooooooo popular, that your wait for a table could be an hour or more (reservations accepted only for large parties)

Coconuts (Kapa`a) - very tropical atmosphere (ask to sit indoors), excellent menu, great service. It'll be dark by the time you head to dinner, so the fact that this one's on the 2-lane road, won't be a factor.

Lemongrass Grill (Kapa`a) - Asian atmosphere, great variety of food, good service. Also on the 2-lane road, but who cares at night???

Wahoooo (Kapa`a) - open air dining next to a large stand of cocoanut palms, tropical atmosphere, excellent fresh fish (plus other entrees), slow service (but worth the wait IMHO), and it's on the 2-lane road also.

While there are many other restaurants in the area, these are the better ones -- unless you want McDonalds????

klalaw

Thanks for all the replies. And yes - swinging by the hotels and changing into a less "poufy" dress is part of the logistical problem. We're leaning towards Duke's at this point, based on the atmosphere and menu, and figuring we should be able to do a quick change and make it to dinner around 8pm...

iceeu2

klalaw, you know Portofino's is in the Marriott now. It may be more approriate for the "wedding night" than Duke's...check out the website.