restaurant

Dining Outside the Home: Skull Creek Boathouse on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 

Dining Outside the Home: Skull Creek Boathouse on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina!  Nestled along the waterfront, on the banks of Skull Creek bordering the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, sits a landmark restaurant known for its ultimate Seafood Extravaganza! You name it, it’s there: snow crab legs, shrimp, mussels, clams, and shellfish. But that’s not all. Fresh seafood is featured daily. Don’t take my word for it. You may have already recognized Skull Creek Boathouse from its exposure on the Food Network, the Travel Channel, or National Geographic’s televised programming. Magnificent oak trees dripping in Spanish moss along the marina create a charming backdrop for casual outdoor dining and live music. Whether it’s a sunset dinner or midday meal, one visit and you’ll understand this “Boathouse State of Mind.”

Dining Outside the Home: Duke’s Canoe Club on Kalapaki Beach in Lihue, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Duke’s Canoe Club on Kalapaki Beach in Lihue, Kauai.  Sometimes the biggest challenge of being on vacation can be resisting all those tempting foods that lead us away from our daily diet. No worries here. Duke’s Canoe Club has included gluten-free menu items that satisfy those vacation cravings. Take, for example, the Caramelized Beet Salad loaded with savory roasted beets, pickled red onion, crumbled goat cheese, and farm-fresh arugula. It’s topped off with a macadamia nut brittle that is out of this world. Not only is the salad bursting with flavor, it comes with that rewarding feeling at the end of the meal. You know what I’m talking about; the one where you can still slip into that bathing suit afterwards and walk the beach like a seasoned athlete. Well done, Duke’s Canoe Club!

Dining Outside the Home: Bobby V’s Italian Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Bobby V’s Italian Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai!  Change is constant on the tropical island of Kauai. But change is often for the better. If you ask the staff at Bobby V’s about their new location in the Coconut Market Place, you’ll get a hearty laugh and a cheerful nod. Not only is the new location more spacious, to accommodate its growing customer base, but the outdoor garden seating offers the island atmosphere with free entertainment. Don’t be surprised if you catch sight of an ancient hula dance or Hawaiian singer performing on the Coconut Market Place center stage. But back to the menu at Bobby V’s. Italian appetizers get things started while deciding between stuffed calzones, antipasto salads, hand-tossed pizzas, or dinner entrees. My opinion? I’m glad you asked. The Bianca Pizza loaded with three cheeses and drizzled with olive oil was superb. The husband added pepperoni for good measure. See what I mean about customer service? That’s why at Bobby V’s they say, “The best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.” Buon Appetito!

Dining Outside the Home: Sushi Bushido in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Sushi Bushido in Kapaa, Kauai!  Is it a Japanese art gallery in a restaurant or a Japanese restaurant in an art gallery? Take a peek inside and see. You will be amazed! Located in the center of Old Kapaa Town in a place known as the “Dragon Building”, Sushi Bushido is a blend of everything traditional in local-style sushi through contemporary creations in dinner entrées. And the art, you wonder? The artist has a tiny studio next door, which is why an entire red wall inside Sushi Bushido is dedicated to her paintings. That’s what I call a “Win! Win!” for both parties. Check out the Sushi Bar, specialty rolls, and Tempura dishes along with a nice selection of beer and Sake. Trust me, you’ll be in good company. 

Dining Outside the Home: Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai!  Twice the taste, second to none. Mariachi’s Mexican Restaurant is a very popular place on Kauai. Perhaps that is why there are two convenient locations on the East Shore. On the main drag of Old Town Kapaa, Mariachi’s is at the center of activity. You can’t miss the brightly colored building. Grab a window seat for people-watching and open air. Pay no attention to the birds that flap their wings. They know how to behave. Before the tortilla chips and tomato salsa disappear, a sizzling platter of crazy fajitas arrives to take its place. No worries. There’s plenty of food to share at a table for two. Bienvenidos!

Dining Outside the Home: Oasis on the Beach in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Oasis on the Beach in Kapaa, Kauai!  A restaurant with an ocean view may hold you spellbound and lure you back for a return visit. Oasis on the Beach is like that, especially when coupled with live entertainment. It wouldn’t be Hawaii without the jangly sounds of ukulele music, breathtaking sunsets, and food so fresh you expect to see it growing next door. With a master chef at the helm, expect creative dishes beyond imagination. This is Paradise. 

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Sam’s Ocean View Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai!  Fling open the doors for an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see. Look closely. You may see the water spouts of a humpback whale or two on the horizon. Feel the cool breezes as you bask in the glorious sunshine. Glance around the room. Pay attention to the hanging art inside, which captures a peaceful easy feeling. Now order a meal with a beverage to match. Sam’s Ocean View fits the bill for coastal-living. Today’s special: Seared Ahi Eggs Benedict with a hollandaise sauce; a perfect blend of rich, creamy butter and lemon citrus. Mahalo. 

Dining Outside the Home: Bubba Burgers in Kapaa, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Bubba Burgers in Kapaa, Kauai!  The sign at the cash register says, “We Cheat Tourists, Drunks, and Attorneys.” Now you know there’s a story to be told. But that’s not why hoards of people stop by this burger shack in Old Kapaa Town to sit on the front porch and gape at the flurry of activity with an unbelievable ocean view. The fresh-ground “grass fed” beef, from cattle ranches on Kauai, produces the best and juiciest, chin-wiping burgers around. Perhaps that is why they’re known as the Slopper or Double Slopper, on a menu that features everything from a Big Bubba to Chili Fries. Go crazy. Add a thick Chocolate Milkshake made with real cream. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you walk away hungry, it’s your own fault.