Fodor's Expert Review JO2 Restaurant

This creation of Jean-Marie Josselin, the renowned chef who brought Hawaii Regional Cuisine to Kauai in 1990, reflects his culinary growth. The food is imaginative, with its French, Japanese, and Islands influences, and it's served with flair in a chic yet casual dining room that's tucked away in a nondescript strip mall. The menu is created daily to emphasize seasonal offerings and fresh fish, typically seared and topped with a delectable sauce. Vegetarians will find much to like on the creative appetizer menu, and it's extensive enough for other diners to create a small plates meal from such delights as lamb dumplings, poach scallop ravioli, and Korean-style short ribs. Save room for dessert, especially the vegan mango cheesecake and local banana cream pie.