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Beautiful atmosphere - the tables are directly above the koi pond with an adjoining waterfall. I would definitely recommend going before dark.
Our delicious dinner consisted of:
- Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
- Macadamia Crusted MahiMahi - I have had this dish almost everywhere, and it was definitely on par with some of the best. The seller was that it was stuffed with crab meat!
- Wasabi Crusted Ahi - My boyfriend is very picky about his ahi steak, and he enjoyed this rendition.
- Bananas Foster Bread Pudding - Light, and not overbearingly sweet. Just the perfect blend of fruit and chocolate (brownie bits).
Delicious food, great service, fine dining at its best -- at fine dining prices. If you are from San Francisco or any other metropolitan city, the bill will be the usual. Highly recommended for a romantic dinner.
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ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
We made reservations, were promptly seated at a fantastic table, got a wonderful waiter who had worked there for 18 years and knew the entire menu inside and out, and had absolutely wonderful food.
The crabcakes were phenomenal. I've had crabcakes at almost every restaurant I go to, including many 5 star restaurants and some great places in New Orleans that you would think would have great crabcakes. These were, by far, the greatest. The lumps of crab were fresh - never canned or frozen - and in great big lumnps. I don't know how they formed these perfect crabcakes without handling them so much that they turned to paste. There was practically no filler and they were seasoned to perfection.
I had the macadamia crusted mahi mahi and it was excellent. My husband had the Ono and was very pleased. The dessert was also FANTASTIC. I got the Bananas Foster Bread Pudding, which was - according to the waiter - essentially bread pudding made from banana bread. IT was delicious and came from a house made caramel sauce that actually tasted like caramelized sugar - a little bit like burnt sugar rather than like corn syrup and artificial flavoring. I would highly recommend it.
So far on our honeymoon we have had three $125 dinners. Gaylord's, Tidepools, and Kintaro Japanese. Of these, Tidepool takes the cake. If I could do it over again, I would gladly have driven all the way here to eat at this place three times rather than shopping around and only eating here once.
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Amazing ambiance sitting on the koi ponds, in the gardens, near a waterfall. This really is an amazing hotel all in all.
Food and price were standard. Nothing too great and didn't disappoint. I had lobster and my wife had the macadamia crusted mahi mahi. They made me a lobster sans the surf and turf which was nice but it should be on the menu.
Bread was nothing special, but they didn't complain that we were feeding the birds and the fish with it (which is pretty much our favorite pastime on the island).
$120 for the 2 of us with 2 drinks and entrees and amazing surroundings. Good deal.
Cheers
The setting was romantic. GO before dark because all they use to light the table is little candles. We enjoyed our meals of surf and turf and the i loved loved the mahi mahi stuffed with crab. The triple chocolate dessert was only ok.
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After ordering room service two nights in a row at the Hyatt, the husband and I decided to venture out for dinner on our last night in Kauai. I'm really glad we did.
First of all, the staff at the Hyatt is amazing. Friendly, easy-going, and quick to offer any kind of assistance, I really never wanted to leave the resort. Their level of service extended over to Tidepools. The hostesses and servers were beyond amazing and very affable.
Second, wow. The location is ideal for a romantic, intimate dinner. We had a table in a bungalow above the water, and it offered us a very spectacular view of the water. Below us, koi swam happily in their pond.
Now, the food. For starters, I had the vanilla corn soup with crab. I could probably eat a gallon of this stuff. It was sweet, crisp, creamy, and yet, very summery and light.
For my entree, I ordered the opah, a white fish that falls somewhere in between swordfish and mahi mahi. It was incredilby buttery soft and so flavorful. There was a sweetness to the dish, not only from the fish itself, but from the carmelization on the fish. I still dream about the tiny bits of carmelization....
And finally, dessert: the banana fosters bread pudding. Yes, it really was as good as it sounds.
Yes, it's pricey, but it's a resort. And compared to the other "fine" dining options in the area, it's comparable. So, whether you're a guest at the Hyatt,or just spending the day in Poipu, I'd definitely recommend swinging by Tidepools for a dinner you'll never forget.
People thought this was:
Very beautiful ambiance, super romantic. Koi pond is hypnotic.
Very average food. It looks pretty, but is not cooked well. Local fish dishes are overcooked and bland. I mean, It was a nice evening, but it just tastes like resort food, you know? I've had MUCH better meals in my life.
Beautiful, romantic, and... expensive.
If you want to go "all out" on a meal, you will get what you pay for: great, delicious food.
What other restaurant has their own black swan?
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We are here in Kauai on our honeymoon.
We ate here two nights ago... Very romantic! (Expensive, but you are paying for the beautiful & peaceful setting.)
Anyhow, no regrets! Ok, ask me again when I see my credit card statement!
Cocktails were like $14 each... I think dessert was about $11 or so. You don't even want to know how much the entrees were. But like I said, it was super romantic. The tables are very spread out, and it is on their koi pond and very dark ... lit only by tiki torches and candles.
The service has been called 'slow', but I think they are honestly just trying to be nice and not make you feel rushed. I think that is part of the charm. Our waiter, Rob, was super cool and friendly.
Reservations: Required.
Service: Impeccable. Water glasses constanly full, waiter was warm and gracious.
Food: Gourmet and elegantly served. Do try the pupu platter appetizer.
Ambience: Lovely. Restaurant is situated on stilts ON TOP OF a large man-made koi pond, and the fish have a tendancy to swim right up to the tables, which are perched in open archways right on the water's edge. Killer place to take a date.
Great ambience. Good food.
Our waiter was great too - put up with my dad and I chattin real loud and laughin and all that.
My girlfriend and I ate here as part of her company function. We ended up getting a private area for our group and a set menu to select from as we had a large party. We had a choice of the crab cake or the sashimi for a starter and I must say, the sashimi was right on. Next was the option for a asian styled chicken salad or a tomato with maui onion & bacon salad. Both were pretty good. Entrees consisted of fish or beef in assorted styles. I opted for the peppered Ahi (on the spicy side but I like it that way) and the GF got the Opah. Both were excellent! Hands down, great preparation and presentation. Flavors were perfect and portions were generous. Dessert options were a chocolate mouse type dessert with hard shell or fresh sorbet.
The little known thing about the desserts are that they do not make the desserts onsite except for the sorbet. Hence, why the sorbet is the better of the two and is fresh. It was a combo of Gauva, Lychee, and Mango with fresh berries. Awesome!
It's pricey, but worth it for that dinner to splurge on. Especially if you are stuck in the resort and not venturing off. The service staff is also very good and attentive. The only thing I didn't like, was the watered down Tai Chi drinks they kept bringing me.
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Wow.
Ultra romantic vibe. Beautiful place.
-especially liked the openness, not far from the beach, nearly surrounded by a koi pond (also, man, the Hyatt is palatial).
Excellent service. I used to work as a server. I know.
Fantastic food and presentation.
-creative and tasty
My wife and I went there as a "date" on our honeymoon. It was a beautiful night. So glad we went.
We recommend it.
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OMG!! such a beautiful setting. Right onthe koi pond next to the waterfalls. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! Wine list-great, menu items were standard- poke, steak,fish, meat nothing too special. The setting just takes the cake all together.
My husband and I ate here during our honeymoon while we stayed at the Hyatt in late 2005. We had a reservation right by the pond there. I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. We both had the Seafood Mixed Grill and then we split the Apple Pie for dessert.
As we walked to Tidepools from the back of the hotel, we passed the backside of Donderos, the Italian restaurant, for the first time. I found myself wishing we made reservations there instead. Our meal at Tidepools was good, but if I did it again, I'd go to Donderos instead, as it looked like the terrace of a mansion from the rear and was nice and romantic with all the tiki torches.
By the way, to follow-up from one of the previous poster's comments, the electric car is far from dead. I'll disclose that I work for GM, and encourage you to check out http://www.chevrolet.c... to learn about the Chevy Volt.
People thought this was:
Is it expensive? Are the portions small? Is the setting unbeatable? Yes to all so why the complaining? Food is fantastic and I come up with five stars when I compare this to expensive bay area places like Alexanders or One Market. There is no comparison. The food quality is better for the same price as all the bay area restaurants but you have a setting that they cannot offer.
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If you're celebrating your anniversary or you're on your honeymoon (like everyone else at the Grand Hyatt Kauai), you won't want to miss this romantic spot. It's pricey, for sure, but the food is delicious and you're supposed to be celebrating anyway! My wife and I both ordered the exact same thing (which is rare for us). We started it off with the flavorful sweet corn and Hawaiian vanilla bean soup, which soup-eaters will want to try. Our main course(s) was the macadamia nut crusted mahimahi, which was fresh and especially tasty. Our helpful server said that at least one person at every table usually orders this... and I can see why. We capped the evening with the Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with brownie chunks on top - this was the best bread pudding I've ever had. I highly recommend Tidepools. PS Make a reservation and ask to be seated by the water.
First of all, the setting is gorgeous. It is a very open restaurant that is surrounded by a monster koi pond.
Service was ok, food was ok but very pricey. This is the second time i have been here and the food came out luke warm both times(7 months apart mind you). For the price, this is unacceptable. Unfortunately, the restaurant choices at the Grand Hyatt are limited, so this and Dondero's the italian restaurant are the go to places on property. (i refuse to go high end italian in hawaii!!)
They do have some meat options for the non fish eaters.
Eat somewhere else and have dessert here....
Unbelieveable on all levels!
This was one of the most special meals I have ever had. My husband and I visited Tidepools on the last night of our honeymoon and we were not disappointed. The drinks, appetizers, food, and desserts were all amazing. Both of us got a fish special for dinner and our meals were both delicious. Also their creme brulee dessert is worth noting because you get 5 different tiny brulees ranging from coffee to macademia... it's really a cool experience. The atmosphere and scenery was perfect, especially when a guy dressed in a grass skirt outfit ran around and lit the torches at sunset. There were tons of Koi in the lagoon and we had fun watching them... they were some of the biggest I have ever seen. Our waiter was on-point and really made our dinner nice. I wanna go back!
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The fist time we dined at Tidepools we thought we got an off night. The company who killed the electric car - GM General Motors - were at the resort and a bit on the grumpy side so they brought a heavy aura to the entire place that maybe influenced the service here also. So when GM did not take over large parts of the resort anymore we went back to Tidepools and service was still below par, drinks never came and wine never came paired with the meals as designed.
The meals were small and overpriced. The menu descriptions were better than the actual meals and needed to be rescued by a hot sauce. Compared to what we had at the other restaurants and even room service we expected more since this was highly recommended by the concierge.
Our advice is to go to the Golf Course asian restaurant for a fraction of the price and a much better service, food, and view of the sun going behind the mountains and spreading light over the golf course.
Bummer, I was looking forward to eating more at the resort but I agree with Mari K. - go down the road a bit for a better experience overall. Heck even the brick over place was better than this.
I remember this as being one of my favorite meals ever.
I went for dinner after sunset, and the interior lighting was really low, with tiki torches sparkling off the koi pond. It felt magical. The waiter was spectacular, and the food was delicious. Honestly, it's been awhile since I went so I don't remember many particulars. But I'd still recommend it to anyone in the area.
Tidepools is one of my family's favorite south shore restaurants. The food is terrific, the views are beautiful and the service is very good.
The atmosphere is casual but nice and the restaurant is surrounded by a koi pond (if you have kids ask for some fish food). It's a good place to take kids. Parking isn't a problem.
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Normally I'm not big on ridiculously expensive hotel restaurants, but we all loved the food here and the building is like something out of a storybook. Each room is like a little island floating in a koi pond, which is surrounded by little bridges and tiki torches.
I had a seafood sampler which came with a breaded fish fillet, one piece of shrimp, and one scallop. Not as small as it sounds. Everything was well prepared.
For drinks, try a "tai chi." It's a strong mai tai with a pineapple flavor. It will make you move slow.
My only complaint is the shrimp cocktail has to be the worst deal of all time. I think it worked out to about $5 per shrimp. Skip the appetizers and get an extra drink instead.
Lovely restaurant, we had a great time. The place was pretty deserted, and we couldn't figure out why. It looked slightly busier as we were leaving (we ate early, to watch the sunset as we ate, so around 6:30pm), but still not packed by any means.
Our waiter was very attentive, and the food was great. We were able to sit right at a window on the koi pond (the "windows" are floor to ceiling, and completely open), and the fish would come up begging for food (seriously), and splash our feet while we ate, it was pretty funny. I think we saw some people feeding them fish food (not Phish Food) that they got from their server, but we didn't ask, or get any.
For dinner we had the Pupu platter to start, and the seared opah and surf & turf for meals. All was really good, I think the best part was when our server dropped off our meals, and said "enjoy...and have FUN". We both cracked up. Dessert we had the chocolate lava cake, again, yum. The one at the Beach House was better, but warm chocolate...vanilla ice cream...you can't really go wrong.
Definitely a fun night for us, the atmosphere was great, food was terrific, service was spot on.
wow. what an amazing location...and even more amazing food to match it.
i'm currently staying at the grand hyatt on business and we ate here last night. what a treat. just the whole ambiance of your dining experience takes your breath away. we really are in paradise here.
we ate....everything.
highlights of the night:
-macadamia nut ice cream (we had to get a second serving cuz we all loved it so much!)
-pancetta wrapped scallops
-crab cakes
the restaurant was full of couples (honeymooners, anniversary, you name it). it's definitely a romantic place to spend with that special someone.
Have to give it a ONE star. Boo to the server who wouldn't allow my husband and I to sit at one of their PREMIER spots by the window- it was 830pm (and pitch black outside AND it was on a Monday night)....not busy at all. This all occurred when we stated we were there for dessert only. I guess you are treated as a second class citizen at Tidepools if you only want to partake in their dessert. Don't waste your time on a snooty restaurant. Try Roy's or Keoki's, only a 5 minute drive from there and much better service AND food.
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My husband and I went here twice for dinner during our honeymoon last year. First off; the setting is beautiful. You sit in little huts on the water and koi fish swim all around you. We threw some bread out to them and all of the fishes came sworming to our area. It was amazing. The food was quite good. We had the Grilled Peppered Ahi one night and split a dessert. The wine was delicious and the setting romantic. I recommend this place to anyone visiting Kauai! Just to walk around the Hyatt too is a sight in itself. That hotel is gorgeous. We hope to one day be able to afford to stay there.
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