Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [109]
In Poipu Shopping Village, 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr., Poipu. 80 8/742-7534. Reservations recommended. Main courses $8.50–$15 lunch, $18–$35 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 5–9:30pm in the main dining room; cafe menu daily 11am–11pm.
Poipu Beach Broiler STEAK/SEAFOOD Located in the former House of Seafood, this new casual eatery has a relaxing atmosphere, like an old beach house. We love their large appetizer menu. In fact, we recommend that you drop by at sunset, have a drink, and chow down on the great variety of pupu—like vegetable summer rolls, sea scallops, seared ahi sashimi, or tender calamari. You can easily make a meal of these appetizers. Dinner entrees include fresh fish, prime rib, grilled sirloin, and baby back ribs. There’s also a menu for the kids.
1941 Poipu Rd., Poipu. 80 8/742-6433. Dinner $13–$28. AE, DC, DISC, MC. V. Daily 2–9pm. (Bar serves burgers and sandwiches 2–5pm; dining room opens at 5pm.)
Pomodoro ITALIAN Pomodoro is the Italian magnet of the west side, a small, casual, and intimate second-floor dining room with a bar, potted plants, soft lighting, and pleasing Italian music. It’s a warm, welcoming place where Hawaiian hospitality meets European flavors: homemade garlic focaccia, chicken saltimbocca, and homemade pastas (cannelloni, manicotti, and excellent lasagna, the house specialty). Whether you order the veal, chicken, scampi, calamari, or very fresh organic green salads, you’ll appreciate the wonderful home-style flavor and the polite, efficient servers.
In Rainbow Plaza, Kaumualii Hwy. (Hwy. 50), Kalaheo (inland from Poipu). 80 8/332-5945. Reservations recommended. Main courses $16–$27. MC, V. Mon–Sat 5:30–9:30pm.
Tomkats Grille AMERICAN/GRILL Warning: If you are on a low-fat or low-carb diet, this is not the place for you. Fried appetizers, inexpensive New York steak, rotisserie chicken, seafood salad with fresh catch, and sandwiches and burgers are among the offerings at the Grille, in a serene garden setting in Old Koloa Town. Old-fashioned brews are big here—everything from local micro brews to Guinness Stout plus two dozen others, all the better to wash down the kalua pork quesadillas or the seared poke.
5404 Koloa Rd., Old Koloa Town. 80 8/742-8887. Main courses $9–$24. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 10:30am–10pm; happy hour daily 3–6pm; bar daily until midnight.
Yum Cha ASIAN Located in the Poipu Bay Golf Course Clubhouse, Yum Cha (which means “drink tea”) offers families a range of Asian dishes at fairly reasonable prices. Small plate appetizers range from chilled summer rolls ($10) to vegetable tempura ($11) to a grilled chicken satay ($9). My faves were the soups: tom yum (a small bowl is $10) and the yellow coconut curry ($9 for a small bowl). Entrees seem to cover the map of Asia from Korean beef short ribs ($25) to Mandarin chicken ($17) to stir-fried udon noodles ($11). Don’t forget to drink tea; they specialize in a great selection of Chinese loose teas. Pick the jasmine lovers’ ball tea, a great fragrance of orange lily and jasmine.
Poipu Bay Golf Course, 1571 Poipu Rd., Poipu. 80 8/742-1515. Main courses $11–$25. MC, V. Tues–Sat 5:30–9:30pm.
INEXPENSIVE
Brick Oven Pizza PIZZA A Kalaheo fixture for nearly 25 years, Brick Oven Pizza is the quintessential mom-and-pop business. This is the real thing! The pizza is cooked directly on the brick hearth, brushed with garlic butter, and topped with cheeses and long-simmering sauces. You have a choice of whole-wheat or white crust, plus many toppings: house-made Italian sausage, Portuguese sausage, bay shrimp, anchovies, smoked ham, vegetarian combos, and more. The result: very popular pizza. I recommend topping your pie with fresh garlic and enjoying it with an ice-cold beer. The seafood-style pizza-bread sandwiches are big at lunch, and the “super pizza” with everything on it—that’s amore.
2-2555 Kaumualii Hwy. (Hwy. 50), Kalaheo (inland from Poipu). 80 8/332-8561. Sandwiches less than