The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook - Restaurant Reviews

Bar Acuda
5-5161 Kuhio Hwy. • 826-7081
A pretty unusual concept, it's called tapas food. (Yeah, we didn't know what that meant, either. It's Spanish food served in small, communally-shared portions.) In this case, you order lots of small entrées and share them. This includes items like smoked trout, braised short ribs, mesclun salad, garlic green beans or chorizo sausage with chickpea stew (particularly good). The food is pricey (and the drinks seriously overpriced), but the flavors are unusual and very effective and you'll sample a number of them. The molten chocolate cake is incredibly earthy and wonderful--tiny but ono. And the atmosphere, sort of a contemporary jazzy feel, works for us. $20–$45 for dinner. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Polynesia Cafe
5-5190 Kuhio Hwy. • 826-1999
They've slipped a lot since our last edition. A mix of American, Mexican, Asian and local food served on paper plates (without, however, the paper plate prices). Their best attributes are their killer homemade baked goods. Try anything with chocolate, especially the praline caramel chocolate bars or the caramel chocolate cheesecake. Some tables outside or take-out. $5-$10 for breakfast, $10-$20 for lunch and dinner. In Hanalei in Ching Young Village.

Tahiti Nui
5-5134 Kuhio Hwy. • 826-6277
A legendary local establishment whose reputation is far grander than the present reality. Now it's basically a watering hole with overpriced food, spotty service and a dark atmosphere. (Pretty good mai tais, though.) People watching is the main reason to come here. Colorful local characters keep it interesting. Foodwise, their sizzling kobe is their best item. $10-$25.

Caffé Coco
4-369 Kuhio Hwy. • 822-7990
Tucked away and hard to find, they serve some very delicious food along with some unusual recipes. Sort of a vegetarian/Pacific Rim/fish menu with other items, as well. Specials and regular items change on a whim--you may hear them debate or invent what to fix on the spot. But many items are clever and tasty such as the fish with a mango grilling sauce on organic greens and spaghetti noodles with killer potstickers filled with tofu and chutney. Or try the various vegetarian items or the seafood gumbo. Flavor combinations seem well-chosen here. Relaxing ambiance with tables sprinkled about on gravel under various umbrellas and awnings with plants all around. (Sometimes mosquitoes are a problem.) Service is so relaxed that it's easy to feel ignored or unwelcome at first. You're not; it's just that they're profoundly laid back. But once you order your food, you are served well. $15-$25 for dinner. Across the street from Kintaro Restaurant on Hwy 56 in Wailua (north of 6 mile marker); head toward the back. Closed Monday. For sale at press time, so things may change.

Eggbert's
4-484 Kuhio Hwy. • 822-3787
Breakfast (served till 3 p.m.) is the specialty, but they do have lunch and dinner items. Service can be unresponsive. The signature item, eggs Benedict, may not live up to your expectations, but the banana pancakes are the fluffiest you'll find. All in all, it's an ok pick for breakfast (though portions could be a bit bigger), unnecessary for lunch or dinner. $7-$13 for breakfast and lunch (the latter is burgers and sandwiches), $10-$17 for dinner. Located in the Coconut Marketplace by the movie theater in Kapa'a off Hwy 56. Park in the part of the lot closest to the highway.

Ono Family Restaurant
4-1292 Kuhio Hwy. • 822-1710
A wonderful breakfast selection and fairly reasonable prices. One of the reasons for reviewing a restaurant multiple times is to discern patterns. This is a good example. We may come here one day and be seated by a grumpy greeter and receive bad food. Another two times we’ll arrive and get good food (but with the same grumpy greeter). Most of the breakfasts are good (though the hash browns need work, as does the sausage--consider the sweet Chinese sausage for a different experience). The tropical stack of pancakes is also good. We had to pull their ono recently. It's getting harder and harder to overlook how unkempt they are. If you do go, however, do it for the breakfast. Lunch is average burgers. $7-$11 for breakfast and lunch. On ocean side of Hwy 56 in Kapa‘a south of 581.

Cafe Portofino
3481 Hoolaulea Way • 245-2121
Their view alone creates a very tasty atmosphere for those fortunate enough to get a railing table. Kalapaki Bay waves creates a background hum that can enhance any food. The owner is Italian, and some of the flavors smack of the real Italy, for good and bad. (After spending a month in Italy, we came to expect good wine and bad bread--just like this restaurant.) Some items may disappoint, but on the whole, the overall experience gets them an ono. At the Kaua'i Marriott. $25-$50 for dinner.

Barefoot Burgers
9643 Kaumualii Hwy. • 338-2082
Unremarkable 1/4 pound burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs and soft serve ice cream. Not bad, but not worth rushing back for. (Good fries, though.) In Waimea on mauka side of the highway. $6-$10 for lunch.

Puka Dogs
2360 Kiahuna Plantation • 635-6354
Hard to believe we'd give an ono for a $6 hot dog. Granted, it's overpriced. But these are very good hot dogs served in an unusual way. The dogs are roasted (giving them the slightly crunchy skin), then embedded in a wraparound bun served with a choice of sauces inside. Get some of their mango relish to smear on the tip each time you bite. Only two dogs--a Polish sausage and a veggie dog. But with their sauces and fixin's you'll be pleased. For a beverage get their lemonade...or bring your drink. In the Po'ipu Shopping Village. $7-$9.