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Categories: Seafood, Asian Fusion
2253 Poipu RoadDine here on 11/18/09 and 10% of every bill will…
Mon-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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What a beautiful and romantic place! The setting is unbeatable - an open air dining area set in a plantation house overlooking a tropical garden and fish pond.
The cucumber mojitos were as yummy as everyone said. Service, while friendly, was extremely slow despite it only being half full when we were there for a late dinner.
The food was good. The pupu sampler was on the greasy side (3 of the 4 items being deep fried). I had the seafood curry stew which was very generously portioned. A little salty but perfect with rice (which had to be ordered separately).
On the pricey side, but a must for a romantic night out in Poipu.
My boyfriend and I came here on our first night at Kauai.
The guide book recommended this place and we were close by.
It took awhile for us to get seated but I'd say the food is well worth the wait.
We were first pleasantly surprise by the cocktail.
Cucumber mojito was fabulous and the mai tai was yum.
The waiter recommended the garden island tea.
Both my bf and I were impressed~!!
The high light was my boyfriend's seafood lau lau with fish of the day, ono.
The ono was seasoned perfect.
The scallop was cook to perfection, not too raw, not too well done.
The next high light was the passion fruit cheese cake.
Caramelized sugar on top, with passion fruit flavored cream and cheese cake on the bottom.
Yum yum yum.,... I'd say one of the best cheese cake.
As the guide book "Kauai Revealed", stick to the seafood here and you will be pleasantly surprise.
Food: Tasty and definitely gourmet in nature, but the pupu appetizer was a bit greasy and bland.
Ambience: Orchid garden, which is dimly lit and difficult to enjoy at night. I kinda felt we were overlooking a small minature golf course dotted with tiki lanters. Meh.
Staff: Hostess was charming and gave me an orchid to wear in my hair upon our arrival. However, waitress was stiff and made me a bit uncomfortable.
All told, I probably wouldn't come back again. For the money, I would rather go to Tidepools @ the Hyatt, which is just up the street and offers better food, service, and ambience.
Fabulous food, lovely garden-side ambience, great service -- definitely 5 stars. The best was the fresh fish (caught daily by local fisherman) and served to perfection -- at a reasonable cost for Kauai. Pupus and desserts were good but not as fabulous. We returned to eat here 3 times. 'Nuff said.
Service was slow despite the restaurant being less than half full.
Both my wife and I had food that was overcooked - mahi mahi for me and pork for her. Flavors were just fine. Nothing at all to rave about.
Presentation was nice, but really it's the taste that matters, no?
We decided to go elsewhere for dessert.
On our way out we walked beside to another couple who had just finished dinner, and I overheard the girl say "Let's go get dessert, I'm still hungry..." Guess we weren't the only ones! We ended up running into them again at Tidepools for dessert - a restaurant in the Grant Hyatt hotel just West on Poipu road about a mile.
This rating is based largely on the food prices. For $25 plates, you'd expect very good food and service.
Great Restaurant with an easy walk from the Marriot in Poipu. I had the Lau Lau and it was perfectly prepared. We also had the scallops with a tropical salsa on top as an app.
our waitress left something to be desired but the ambience and food more than made up for her attitude.
The cucumber mojitos were excellent!
Had the Seafood Lau Lua, and it was amazing! Staff was very polite and helpful. Got carry-out tonight...Pork Tenderloin entree...yum, yum! It was a little pricey, but we're on vacation! What the hay! Mahalo Plantation Gardens! Don't forget to walk through the garden; it's lovely.
Overall it was really good.... except for one dish which was AWFUL.
The setting is beautiful... it is in a plantation style house with a big back porch overlooking some nice gardens. Try to ask for a table out on the porch when making your reservation.
The drinks were creative and yummy. They have a signature cucumber mojito which my husband liked. (I don't like cucumber, so no thanks!)
We ordered the sampler appetizer which was yummy... and perfect for two people since you got two pieces of four items. The spice tuna roll was yummy, the crag ragoon was delicious, the duck spring roll was also great. The only shortfall on that plate was the potsticker... just OK.
We also ordered the tomato salad with goat cheese. It was very good... but as always, I wanted more goat cheese. Nothing against Plantation Gardens, it seems that ALL restaurants skimp on the goat cheese. (Either that or I am a goat cheese fiend!)
Anyhow, my husband ordered the special of the day... the seared ahi on a bed of lettuce, mangos, avocados, etc. He LOVED it.
I was not so hungry so I ordered an appetizer as my entree.... I ordered the lettuce cups. They were GROSS.
Overall, this place is awesome..... just DO NOT order the lettuce cups. Yuck, yuck, yuck. I don't even want to explain why I hated them so much, because I don't want to relive it.
I would say go here, just do not order the pork lettuce cups.
had an odd experience here for dinner. reservations? check! table ready? check! drinks ordered? check! drinks delivered? 40 minutes?!?!?! really!
it didn't seem that busy. i guess it was busy enough. dinner for 7..... 2 1/2 hours.
did i mention that the apps seemed ok. sampler seemed small to me for $21. entree of seafood laulau came out raw.... i do mean raw. fish, scallop, vegetables.
the saving grace was the cucumber mojito.... damn tasty. all 4 of them.
i would probably go back and sit at the bar, drinks were excellent.
Using my Frommer's guide thoroughly, I was recommended with slight reservations to this place. Frommer's said it was a great place, highly recommended, but that it was expensive and that the portions were small. Boy were they wrong.
We had a reservation at 8pm, and arrived at 7:15 knowing we would want to stroll through the gardens, and enjoy the sunset. We did so for a few minutes, took a few photos, and decided to let them know we were there just in case they were able to take us. We walked in and to the right was the chic, super cute bar, to the left a comfy lounge area along with an indoor and outdoor restaurant area, and a room that could hold a large party. We let them know we were there, and they said they could seat us whenever we were ready. We decided to take their offer, were handed fresh orchids, and were seated in the outside porch area. It was adorable--perfectly warm, great atmosphere, and we could hear the bullfrogs! We were greeted by our server, Brandon, who was flawless from start to finish. We ordered a bottle of St. Jean California Chardonnay (very, very reasonably priced). Then we had the lettuce wraps and green bean appetizers. The portions were great, and the flavors bold and delicious. The service was great and unlike all of the other highly recommended restaurants in this area, felt truly Hawaiian. Complete with fresh fish, Hawaiian flavors, and locals, we were so impressed! For entrees, we had the Ono special, and the seafood curry stew. Unlike other yelpers, I didn't think the seafood was overcooked AT ALL, and trust me, I'm picky about that! The curry was delicious, and the seafood of the day was cooked in the traditional Hawaiian style (steamed in the leaf) to perfection.
We enjoyed a long dinner, and were just so happy with everything, we couldn't wait to yelp about it! So get out there and enjoy...but this place has an endearing quality about it that makes you feel like not everyone knows about it...=)
I was just unimpressed. Husband didn't care for his beer (not their fault). I thought my pear cosmo lacked a punch (again could be my fault as I asked for a splash of pineapple instead of the lime as written). My island stir fry was just okay, again can't put my finger on it but it just lacked the taste. Husband ordered the seafood stew in a coconut curry and it lacked something as well. I am sorry I can't be more specific but it just didn't impress me. I have had a better curry at hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurants. The specials sounded good, maybe I would have been better off with one of those.
OH. MY. GOD.
Best meal I had in Kauai. And possibly best meal ever.
I dined here last week to celebrate my 29th birthday and was really glad I had selected the Plantation Gardens to mark the occasion. The restaurant is really low key and casual. Something about the decor and atmosphere gave me a 70s Hawaii vibe (remember when the Brady Bunch vacationed in Hawaii?), which I actually found really cool and authentic. If you're staying at the Sheraton, it is actually right across the street from the beach/ocean wing. The address is actually for the front of the building so if you map it online, it looks much further than it really is.
The service was great and the food was amazing and meticulously well-presented. The portion sizes were a bit too huge, though. I had the island stir fry, which came with really fresh and tasty swordfish and prawns. For dessert, I had the Baked Hawaiian, which was AWESOME (see photos). I can't wait to go back to Kauai just to have another meal here.
Upscale dining in Kauai. If you were doing Kauai on a moderate budget, like us, this is a good opportunity to splurge.
The portions are well prepared and very generous... even the seafood! Yay! I loved my Lau lau, and dinner buddy had the Ahi special (which was rare seared and was delicious).
The dessert list is pretty standard (something chocolate, something fruity, something creamy) and wish they could have incorporated more of the local fruits.
If my cocktail wasn't so bloody strong, to the point where the liquored fruits were bitter - and I'm not a light weight by any means - they would have gotten a 5 star.
They have a really beautiful garden but alas, it was all dark and rainy(?) at 730pm when we were here for dinner. We requested for outdoor seating and were taking the night breeze in as we sipped our drinks. I think I had the lychee and pear cosmo?
For my entree, I went with the seafood lau lau which blew my mind and was just oooh so good! Actually this was one of the first meals we had in Hawaii... later on I realized that the lau lau is usually a pork dish and boy was I glad to have had the seafood version here. It came in a wonderful presentation and you uncover a variety of seafood within the wrapped leaf that contained all the aroma and flavor within.
Guess I lucked out with my seafood lau lau because apparently my friends thought their entrees were only ok. One of them went with the fresh fish of the day and the other tried swapping the fresh fish into one of the other dishes (and as you can guess, the taste wasn't fab)... lesson learnt... when in Hawaii, leave it to the chef to decide how best to prepare a fish ;p
What an awesome meal! The lanai is beautiful and looks out over amazing orchid gardens and manicured ponds. Our waitress, Laena, was perfection. She was polite, interested but not overbearing, and knew everything about anything.
We started with the shrimp tempura which was roughly 400 degrees and burned both our mouths, but hey, it was fresh right? The shrimp were so plump and tasty, and the tempura battered shitake mushrooms were a nice touch.
My boyfriend had the braised ribs and he loved them. He said they fell off the bone and the flavor was perfect.
I had the curry-coconut seafood stew. It looked just like a cioppino and contained the same basic ingredients except they were in the most amazing soup. I could smell it coming down the hall and it was honestly one of the most flavorful dishes I have had in a while. The curry and coconut milk blended effortlessly and the scallops were the best dressed in the sauce.
We sadly didn't have room for dessert because we both inhaled our meals. Highly recommended because of their staff and their food.
People thought this was:
So I came to Kauai ready to completely suffer (as far as dining) and to my suprise, it wasnt so bad, it was actually even good!
This was the first place on the island we ate (not counting the Lihue farmers market) and I was quite impressed. When your in Kauai you have to train yourself not to look at menu prices and just hope your credit card doesnt bounce when its time to pay the bill.
I got the stir fry which came with a wonderful mix of vegetables, ono, and a very generous amount of shrimp. The sauce it was cooked in was great and was in just the right amount, just enough to be tasteful but not dripping or soggy at all! The only thing I could've asked for was brown rice instead of white but w/e it was really really good!
Definitely our favorite dining experience while in Kauai. We had no particular expectations, which may have allowed more room to be impressed, but nonetheless we were impressed.
First and foremost, fantastic service. The best we had on the island. Just the right amount of attention, great attitudes and very helpful with recommendations.
The grounds were pleasant and provided a nice view from our outdoor veranda table. As with many places in Kauai, we had some geckos visit which is always entertaining.
Drinks were pretty impressive. They have some house specialties that the waiter recommended and we both enjoyed quite a bit. I had the Sweet Li Hing Mui Margarita and my wife had the Cucumber Mojito.
Food was delicious. Perfectly sized portions, well cooked and quite tasty. We started with the Kalua Pork Lettuce Wraps - phenomenal. My wife had the Curry-Coconut Seafood Stew for her entree and I had the fresh fish daily special. Both were fantastic.
Highly recommended if you are in the area for dinner. Not as well known or obvious as some of the other locations, so use your map.
Plantation Gardens is step into upscale tourist paradise - good food, nice food servers, and lots of tourists shouting "pupu," "pupu," "pupu." Okay, I made that last part up, but it might have made the atmosphere slightly more tolerable or at least entertaining.
We started with the Roasted Duck Spring Rolls with Shiitake Mushrooms, Napa Cabbage and Sweet Chili Sauce, an appetizer that was pretty tasty, but not really filled with much flavor of duck. I didn't expect Daffy to jump out of the roll, but a little of his essence would have been okay. The sauce and accompaniments were full of flavor - maybe too much.
For dinner, I had Braised Baby Back Ribs with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Baby Vegetables and House Made Barbeque Sauce and the best friend had Miso Glazed Tiger Prawns with Risotto, Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms, Soy Beans and Lemon-Thyme Cream.
The ribs were pretty tasty, sauce sweet with a nice, spicy kick. The meat fell off the bone. $24.95? Hmm. The Tiger prawns were just okay. Lacking a lot of layers of flavor and only 4 measly tiger prawns, I think we would have fared better trying the local garlic shrimp truck.
The true highlight of the meal was dessert: Tropical Crème Brûlée Sampler Kaffir Lime, Butterscotch, Passion Fruit, and Coconut with a Layer of Caramelized Sugar. Small spoonfuls of delicious Crème Brûlées, a delectable, tropical, Hawaiian dessert treat for two.
Don't get me wrong, the food here isn't horrible - it's actually pretty good. But for the price and the ambiance, I know I would be just as happy eating $9 fish tacos in Hanapepe, then blowing the rest on tacky souvenirs.
5+ stars for the orchid gardens - stunningly beautiful!
This is a true experience of great food and drinks in a beautiful "Old Hawaii" setting. "Big house" of former sugarcane plantation, huge porch for outdoor dining looking out on unbelievably huge and gorgeous orchid garden. We were in Poipu two weeks September 2009, and returned many times to try the whole menu. Fresh local fish, different preparation each night -- contemporary cuisine. Try the sampler appetizer plate or at least the Crab Rangoon to start. Also tender pork ribs, a coconut-curry seafood stew -- unforgettable. Great bar drinks (my favorite the Plantation Breeze).
I ate here for my birthday and was very happy with the choice that my girlfriend had made. We picked it based on the reviews here and it just happened to be in the same complex that we were staying in. The food was excellent and very fresh. Our service was very good too. As with anywhere that can be hit or miss on any night or with any server so I try not to base too much of any review on service. Based on the reviews here I'm sure it's good a lot more often than it's bad.
I would have liked to give it 4.5 stars but couldn't quite give it 5 stars because the food just wasn't quite there. That's not to say it wasn't very good. We've eaten at Roy's and Casablanca and It's probably as good or better than either of those. We got the the sampler app and the pot stickers and rangoons were fantastic. The sushi roll was a bit mushy and the spring roll was a bit greasy but still tasty. Both our entrees were very good but not quite worthy of 5 stars. The desert was a bit plain too.
I'm hoping to get back before we leave to try another item on their menu I was interested in.
People thought this was:
Awesome place to dine. Great atmosphere on the patio and great service. The hostess had a bit of a "tude" in the beginning when we got there but then turned out very nice later when she seated us. You have to go to this place during the sunlight hours so you can see the hundreds of beautiful orchid plants out front.
The Kalua pork lettuce wrap appetizers were awesome, the shredded pork strips are placed in a lettuce cup along with onions, carrots, unidentified greens and some kind of spicy vinegary sauce that left me licking not just my fingers but my whole hand. (dont know how I can complain that the portions are too big but it was the size of an entree). The sashimi platter had pieces of regular ahi, seared lava spice ahi and a spicy tuna roll, all excellent.
For the main course, we had the seafood lau lau which had fresh local fish, scallops, prawns, and veggies stewed in it juices and all wraped in a Ti leaf. The curry-coconut seafood stew was also scrumptious, with fresh local fish, prawns, scallps, mussels, potatoes and tomatoes all in a tasty curry-coconut broth. I was going to ask for a straw to finish off the rest of the broth that I couldnt mop up with the grilled crostinis that comes with but thought better of it.
The appetizers were about $15 each and the main courses were about $30. I would definitely make reservations.
I had my wedding reception here with 20 guests. It was magical, beautiful, and perfect. Mona, the coordinator, listened to our needs and followed through perfectly. The service was professional and on top of it! My father in law who grew up on the island said that he had not had Ono this good since he was a little kid. Try the seseme encrusted shrimp. The whole party was so impressed. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone with a large party. It is worth every penny!
Gorgeous setting.
Inconsistent service.
Good food.
EIGHT mosquito bites. I'm scarred for life.
We're running out of places to eat on Kauai, and somehow keep forgetting about the Plantation Gardens even though it's right on the property where we're staying. We booked tonight, after vaguely recalling it being tasty last year, and after reading reviews here.
It was actually quite good. We got there right when they opened at 5:30 and had our pick of tables on the porch. The grounds are beautiful to look at while eating. We knew from the reviews here to skip all the pupus, so instead we ordered the pear salad to split. It was delicious. Great pear and really good blue cheese. The bread was also very nice, a crispy baguette (although the butter was very cold and hard to spread).
I had the special: ono with truffle mashed potatoes, a seared scallop, and a few snap peas in an orange tarragon sauce. Overall the dish was very tasty (although it's hard to screw up ono :). I passed on the scallop since I don't like 'em anyway, but the peas were great and the potatos damn tasty. Downsides? The ono was a teensy bit overcooked, and one of the peas still had its top on.
Our other dish was the ribs, again based on reviews here. It's the third ribs we've had on the island (Scotty's and Duke's being the others). The best of the bunch in terms of the ribs themselves, but the worst of the bunch for the BBQ sauce applied. Still, very tasty overall. And they came with brussel sprouts!
Service was actually excellent, the best we've had on the island. Our server (Cherisse) was quick, attentive, and friendly.
i would give this place a 4 except for one little thing.
this is a very pretty restaurant. it has a great laid back ambiance and the servers are all really friendly. i ate outside and everything was great. my bf had an amazing seared ahi tuna salad. it was HUGE and really really fresh.
only thing is, we got the sampler and our "duck spring rolls" didn't contain any duck. probably a fluke but it was pretty strange. otherwise, this place is really lovely and i will probably go back one day.
*sad face.
People thought this was:
Plantation Gardens' ambiance is perfectly tropical. The restaurant's located in an old plantation building surrounded by cacti, orchids, and other foliage. We sat on the porch, in front of a set of small ponds around a plumeria tree, enjoying the cicadas and geckos.
As I'd already consumed several cocktails earlier in the day, I didn't indulge again, although many of the libations looked downright tasty. The salad was good, nothing special by San Francisco standards, kinda "gourmet" by Kauai ones. Likewise, the green beans weren't any better than those we'd get at our local Cal-Chinese joint, but they provided some much-needed fiber after days of rice and meat. The stir-fry, alas, was middle-of-the-road -- not bad, not great. Two thumbs up, though, for the Baked Hawaiian, the layered crust/ice cream/meringue dessert.
Go for the atmosphere. It's gorgeous.
I really like the Plantation Gardens.
I docked it a star for mediocre service. It also wasn't busy and it took close to 20 minutes to get a drink after ordering it(this happened for all 3 rounds of drinks we had).
The place is uniquely done and the gardens are awesome. Check out the orchid gardens and the really old cacti in back. Kids love it.
Food is consistently very good. The menu is very short, but covers a nice range. I like that. I've been here twice now and both times the fish i had were prepared fabulously. Appetizers are great also.
Check this place out.
I have been here twice now and continue to look forward to going back. The servers are friendly, especially since pretty much everyone there is on vacation!
You have to sit on the veranda to get the full experience. When we went it was pouring buckets outside and we never felt a drop, because the veranda is covered. It's such an experience!
Everyone's food was very good, curry, tuna, fish, lau lau.
The menu is short, but it definitely gives you a little of everything.
Someone complained about mosquito bites, and they should go to Maui and eat on the strip of restaurants they have there. Kauai is about being outside, with everything it has to offer, even if it's a few bugs!
We went here for a bachelorette party for my cousins wedding 15 ladies, it was beautiful and the food was perfect! Cocktails are good, the grounds are beautiful!!!
would recomend this to ANYONE!
The lack of mention of Plantation Gardens in the Kauai Guidebook, The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed now comes as no surprise given the consistently inaccurate judgments this book offers. (Except the author is right - Jo-Jos is a shack, but makes the best Shave Ice on the Island of Kauai).
Back to PG. This is a Piatti under the hood, which I have eaten at quite a bit in Palo Alto (before the location at the Stanford Shopping Mall closed) and it was decent, upscale bistro food.
On Kauai, all things being relative, this isn't decent, it's the BOMB! It is a Foodie Oasis, or Foodasis in a sea of generic, mediocre grub washing over the island.
Given this is Kauai, Hawaii, you have to have the Hoisen-Glazed Pork Tenderloin. It is Kiawe (Hawaiian version of 'Mesquite' wood)-grilled, and incredibly succulent.
We had a delectable Luau at Smith' s Family Lua (supposedly the best on the Island per guidebooks), but the kalua pig could not match the incredible roasted, succulent, delicate flavor of this tender morsel at PG. As per my other review - Umami!!
You cannot miss out on the other Hawaiian specialty, the Seafood Lau Lau - outstanding. This is local mahi-mahi, jumbo scallops, large shrimp, and julienne veggies, wrapped in a Ti leaf and steamed, with rice and wasabi aoli.
The lanai dining in the garden setting, the hardwood floors and open bay windows, the slow-spinning overhead fans, and the best table service (we ate there a lot) on the island conspire to make this the best restaurant we ate at (by a long stretch) during our lengthy stay on this small island.
Per the PG website:
"Plantation Gardens is located in a beautifully restored 1930 Plantation Manor House which is a sprawling historical marvel surrounded by the world famous Moir Gardens. The gardens include several koi ponds, shade-giving coconut and kou trees and an extensive collection of rare orchids."
This is not hyperbole. Make reservations if you go on Fri or Sat and enjoy!
People thought this was:
AMAZING place in every way! Everything was as fresh as it could get, and tasted great!! If you are in the area and you don't come here, you are missing out! Sure it may be a little expensive, but you definitely get your money's worth. Even the desserts tasted amazing! Everyone that works there is so nice, attentive, and always smiling! We were lucky that we were staying in the Kiahuna Plantation resort. We could walk to this lovely restaurant! I loved this place! I will definitely go back to this restaurant when I go to Kauai again. Even if I end up staying on the other side of the island!
The chefs here really know how to cook, but I think we went on an off night. The bread that was offered when we ordered arrived half way through the entrees AFTER we had asked for it 3 times. The actual taste of the food, however, was terrific. The green bean salad: yummy. Miso scallops: delish! Fish of the day: great! But somewhere between the head chef and our table something fell apart. The rice and sauce that came with the fish was cold (it's not suppose to be). We also ordered a seafood lau lau that lasted about 2 minutes on the table before it was sent back. It looked like it was sitting under the heat lamp for about the entire 40 minutes it took between the time we order to the time the food actually arrived. No doubt this place has the ambiance and ability to provide a 5 star Yelp experience. Alas, tonight was simply not the night.
Disclaimer: The management and the waiter were INCREDIBLY nice and apologetic. They really tried to make us happy but by that point we were tired and just wanted to be done.
The food here had great flavors.
We may have gone on an off night, from reading all the other good reviews here. But from the moment we sat until we ordered (a long time) and from the moment we were promised bread until we got it (after we asked multiple times) and from the fact that my fish was hot but the sides were cold and my friend's dish looked like it had sat under the heat lamp for at least 30 minutes... our night was ruined.
The wait staff really tried to make it up, the manager came out and really worked on making everything better (re cooked the dishes, gave us extra drinks, etc.) Definitely with a 5 star attitude, but still, at this point, I would have rather had a perfect night out.
I'd like to believe that it was an off night. We may try them again.
We wanted to like this place - actually expected to like it based on the favorable comments here. However, it was not a wonderful experience. Granted, once a few things happen that move things downward, it's hard to be optimistic about the remainder of the meal even if it's not awful.
Our waiter was our biggest concern. (Alfred? or similar name.) A young man, not very Hawaiian in a stereotypical manner of speaking. He was not laid back, not friendly, no/few smiles - I actually made it a personal challenge of mine to get a smile from him when I'd gotten none, but only at the end upon check presentation, was there a smile. Coincidence?
We arrived through the garden as another writer noted, from the Sheraton nearby. It's a beautiful garden scene, and a very attractive building. The were several torches burning in the garden - pretty - but also several were out probably due to the high winds. The result was a gas smell as you approached. The interior of the restaurant was very attractive - the small bar, the restrooms, the entry, the private dining room, the interior common dining area, and the porch - all attractive. Even the areas where one can see the kitchen - very nice looking, and clean - cleaner than Roy's even, (and Roy's wasn't bad - this was just cleaner).
We were first offered a table on the side walkway of the porch, but asked for another more in amongst others. The side tables might be nice for a more isolated dinner.
The cocktail list was interesting and very appealing. I had a cucumber mojito - very good, simple but refreshing.
The waiter's first hello was quick, unsmiling, rushed - but helpful w/ the drink order recommendation.
Bread seems to be something you ask for. Some tables had it, some didn't - so when our pupu of duck spring rolls arrived - not very warm, but good, we asked the runner (or was he another waiter? or manager? - don't know who he was) for bread. He said he'd get it, then disappeared. Later, the waiter checked on us, and we mentioned we'd requested bread from another. He said that then it must be on its way, but apparently didn't follow up - still no bread for some time. Then our pupu plates were cleared, still no bread. So we grabbed a busboy and asked him, and he finally brought it.
My husband had an iced tea. The waiter said he'd get a refill. It didn't come, and didn't come, so he asked the busboy who refilled it immediately. Finally, the waiter came over to refill it - but too little too late. Sounds minor, but this took a long time.
Shiitake mushrooms and mushrooms in general appear on this menu a little more than most. Good if you like them. I'm not so fond of them - but I realize they're a pricey mushroom, liked by many.
My husband had the Garden Isle Bouillabaisse - the mild curry flavor was the only flavor according to him. Only 2 shrimp. He would have liked a little more fish/seafood in it. The presentation was attractive, but he wouldn't get it again. He said it was bland overall.
I had the hoison glazed pork tenderloin. Another nice presentation, but the hoison sauce, which I like, was WAY too overpowering. I wiped off each piece of pork on the plate so as to have a more balanced taste experience. The fried rice with it was great - I could have eaten a bowl of that alone - skip the pork. Although, to be honest, it wasn't very fried. Some of the rice was still very white. But, I liked the flavor a lot.
Throughout this, interaction with our waiter was absent when we needed him, and indifferent when he was around. His biggest fault - EYE CONTACT - almost none. We're nice, friendly people who eat out a lot. We don't mind a chatty server, or a good friendly but professional one who goes about his business but doesn't chat - either way. But, this guy was aloof (not stuck up - just would rather be elsewhere I think), and not on top of things.
Oh - when we paid the bill, he brought back another table's credit card slip, not ours - it belonged to another server too. Don't know if that was our server's mistake, someone elses. He rectified that.
To be fair, we overheard an older couple commend our waiter for his service. (We looked at each other wide eyed and mouths agape.) Do they not dine out much? Was he better and nicer with them for whatever reason? We don't know. We were not impressed. We would have returned to this restaurant to try other dishes, but the negative service experience really set us off. Too bad, 'cause the chef(s) deserve better representation. We would be more forgiving overall of the place if the service had been better.
Oh - my husband wanted to give it just two stars - he *really* couldn't stand the waiter, but I felt the surroundings and food took it up a notch.
Cocktails were delish if you don't mind fruity stuff. I agree with Jen, the server was cool. Appetizers were mostly bleah but entrees were pretty good, which is weird as usually there is a better correlation. Oh well. Pretty gardens too.
Went back here for our last meal on Kauai and it was great. We were able to sit on the porch overlooking the gardens. Started w/ pork potstickers which were just ok; then v. good pear and lettuce salad. Both of us had the seafood lau-lau --shrimp, mahi-mahi, scallops, veggies all steamed in a ti leaf. It was wonderful! Service attentive. Good way to end our Kauai vacation
People thought this was:
Top notch spot. Great menu with plenty of diversity. The sauce on the pork was first rate with just the right mixture of savory and spice. Attentive service with very accomodating host for our special occassion. Trendy drinks from the bar. If you can get a patio/deck table you'enjoy one of the best views of any restaurant around. Don't let the location near a hotel fool you into thinking this is a hotelish restaurant. Couldn't be further from it. Definitely a must try for a special night out. Lastly, the prices aren't casual cheap, but are certainly reasonable given the ambiance and quality of food.
everything seems to close early around near where we stayed at. but we managed to schwoop in here on time, before they closed, and thank god 'cause this place is beeeeauuutiful. we sat at the outdoor patio, and it overlooks this gorgeous garden. plus, in hawaii, all warm with the moon right above us, it's absolutely perfect.
i had some kind of japanese eggplant thing. verrry good, and displayed very nicely. probably the only vegetarian entree, but they did it perfectly.
for dessert, we had to try a baked hawaiian: chocolate and macadamia nut ice cream on a brownie crust with a toasted meringue. oh yes. it tastes as good as it sounds.
great service, great atmosphere, great food, although not quite a cheap eat. everything else makes up for it though.
The food is mostly a hit with some misses. In general, I didn't like the appetizer sampler featuring 4 of their appetizers. Their lobster fried ravioli had a pretty nice taste. The duck eggroll was meh. The sushi "thing" was TERRIBLE. It was premade and served cold and mushy. The fourth appetizer was completley unmemorable. For over $20 for that plate, I expected better. The main entrees were better, rainging from good to heavenly. The veggie udon was al dente and hearty. The seafood curry was flavourful. The ono fish special was fabulous. The fish was in a cauliflower sauce and was a perfectly balanced in terms of flavour.
The liliqoi cheesecake rocked! The passionfruit is a great balance to the sweet cheese flavour. The tri of creme brûlée was too small--too much sugar crust to creme base as they were cooked on porceline spoons. This also made this dessert too warm. Entrees were in the $25-35 range.
The server was great with a good pallet and good description of dish tastes. She could probably work as a food critic.
Koloa, HI
Category: Hawaiian
Koloa, HI
Category: Restaurants
Koloa, HI
Category: American (Traditional)
Koloa, HI
Category: Food Stands
Koloa, HI
Category: Seafood
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