Travel

JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai. Even if you’re not a sport enthusiast, you can still get a healthy meal with an oceanfront view of Kalapaki Bay. Portions are generous, so sharing is encouraged. Order several menu items for a taste explosion of flavor. For starters, Crispy Won Tons with two dipping sauces is amazing: salty soy or hot mustard. Double-dipping allowed, as long as your partner doesn’t mind. The Cobb Salad is practically a vegetable garden on a platter. Crispy romaine lettuce provides a bed for chunks of turkey, ham, and bacon. Add avocado slices, chopped tomatoes, sliced eggs, and bleu cheese crumbles. Now you’re talking. Smother it with salad dressing, toss, and eat. Life doesn’t get any better than this.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Koloa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Koloa, Kauai! Just because this restaurant is known for its sizzling, butter-topped beef doesn’t mean you have to order it. Especially if you love seafood. The best-kept secret is Ruth’s Chris has outstanding seafood selections that can make your head spin. Don’t believe me? Order the Chilled Seafood Tower. It has everything from succulent lobster to jumbo shrimp and crab legs. The presentation is incredible! Want to save room for dinner? The Ahi Poke Martini is perfect for two. The fresh Ahi chunks are tossed with soy sauce, onions, and toasted sesame seeds. The kick of chili is amazing! Entrees are served on a 500° platter that keeps food hot until the very last bite. Whether it’s a celebration or not, dining here turns every meal into a special occasion.

Art Café Hemingway in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Art Café Hemingway in Kapaa, Kauai. Living life in true island-style comes easy as you step over the threshold into an atmosphere that is both rustic European and casual charm. Choose a cozy table for two on the edge of the room to appreciate the artistic ambience, natural light, and blend of pleasing aromas in the air. Natural ingredients, locally grown, make every dish unique. For breakfast order The Nest, for instance, served in a vintage bowl. Multigrain bread cubes fill the bottom. Then a layer of alfalfa sprouts cradle a poached egg smothered in hollandaise sauce. Appreciate its beauty before gently piercing the egg. Watch the thick yellow yolk ooze forth. Try not to drool. Now enjoy every bite. “Time is the least thing we have of,” said Ernest Hemingway long ago. Perhaps it is the secret of a good life.

Coconut’s Fish Café in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Coconut’s Fish Café in Kapaa, Kauai. Anyone who likes coconut shrimp will absolutely flip over this Happy Hour appetizer: Half price Coconut Shrimp with a fiery sweet chili pineapple dipping sauce. A generous portion count of six batter fried fan-tailed shrimp is enough to share or make a substantial meal for one. Don’t judge me. Another winner is the Ahi Poke: raw tuna chunks marinated in soy, garlic, and green onions. Try not to drool. Long story short, if you like to save money and don’t mind a late lunch or early supper, spend more time at the beach and then head over to Coconut’s Fish Café for a great taste of seafood.

Lilikoi Bar and Grill in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Lilikoi Bar and Grill in Lihue, Kauai. Happy Hour let’s you start the night off right. The drinks go down easy and the Kalua Pork Nachos are the ultimate in taste. Pulled pork is tender, a bit smoky, and seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt. Add it to layers of of crispy-fried corn tortilla chips, gooey cheddar cheese, and spicy-kicked jalapeños for the best platter of specialty nachos you’ve ever eaten. Lilikoi Bar and Grill not only offers an all-star menu, the unparalleled view of the ocean sets the tone for a truly satisfying dining experience. Grab a cozy seat, sit back, and watch the surfers “catch a wave”.

The Garden Grille at Wailua Bay in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: The Garden Grille at Wailua Bay in Kapaa, Kauai. “Hang Loose” in an open-air setting with the Pacific Ocean as a scenic backdrop. Life doesn’t get any better than this. Go Hawaiian with traditional long grain rice topped with succulent grilled shrimp. These are foods that are healthy but filling. Consider it lesson one to ease into island life. Never mind the speckled wild chicken that fluttered out of reach from the cocktail waitress. It practically teased her into playing a game of “Tag”. Later on, after eating, meander down to the bay to dip your toes in the sand.

The Lanai Restaurant and Bar in Koloa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: The Lanai Restaurant And Bar in Koloa, Kauai. Avocado croquettes, sweet watermelon salad, crunchy sea salt macadamia nuts, grilled shrimp. If you strive for healthy options, local ingredients, and aloha flavor, rest easy at The Lanai. Escape to the garden isle where open-air ambience meets great tasting food. People-watching is a bonus, especially among gentle sea breezes. Adjacent to a gourmet market makes it a plus for top-notch quality. Take it slow, savor each bite. Then think about the next time you plan to come back.

Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa, Kauai. Tradition is served with local ingredients. It’s that simple. Here’s a place where breakfast is known as the most important meal of the day. Spam fried rice is a hit among locals. Carrot slivers and green onion snips work well with crispy fried Spam, cut-up into bite size pieces. Not your style? No worries. Omelettes, Loco Moco, Benedicts, or Pancakes and Waffles make a delicious substitute. There’s something for everyone. Aloha!