Kauai - back with a short review
Sep 9th, 2005, 08:23 AM
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Kauai - back with a short review
Just returned from a week in Kauai. Stayed at Hyatt and loved it. We went back and forth on whether ocean front Sheraton was better than mountain view Hyatt, and we made the right decision. Hyatt is everything you would want in a top resort - fantastic pools, beautiful lobby with an incredible bar overlooking the ocean, hawaiian music, and great service. Beach is very rough, but great to wade in or watch the surfers. Sheraton was old, like it was stuck in the 70's.
Best food: Roys, Donderos (fanstastic italian at the Hyatt), Keoki's Paradise for moderate priced dinner, and Keoki's bar for cheap eats and live music on Thurs-Sat.
Most Overrated: Beach House. Hands down, this place was the most disappointing meal we had on the island. Food was good, but service poor. The hostesses looked about 16 years old and did not make you feel aloha welcome - rather, they waved you to the bar. No smiles, no welcome. The bar (not that crowded) waitress took 10 minutes to great us after we sat down, then 15 for the martini to arrive (warm). The actual waitress was like a robot, repeating in a monotone her favorites. She reminded me of a mediocre waitress you might find in an airport restaurant. Food good, but not blow away. Nice presentation. View there was nice. Overall, an average experience for top dollar. Very limited wine list, with only 2 chardonnays by the glass to chose from (Berringer and one from Santa Barbara, can't remember.)
Next up: Joes at the Green was the absolute worst service we have ever experienced. We were one of only 3 people in the restaurant when we arrived. The waitress tried to seat us in the back (whassup with that?) and when I politely asked if we could have one of the nicer tables near the front, she literally rolled her eyes and then tossed the menus down on the table - and walked away. As others arrived, we heard one table arguing with another waitress after they tried to return a glass of OJ (was told it was fresh squeezed, but was not) and overhearing the owner and her saying that they were trying to get free food. However, the food was very good! I had kalua pork with rice and eggs. We would have gone back, but poor service kept us away.
Everything else was excellent. Donderos was the big surprise. We ate outside and the food was fantastic. I had the black fetticinni with lobster, shrimp, scallops, and it was one of the best dishes ever. Liked it better than Roys, so you know it was good. Exensive - but worth it. And the plate lunch dinner at Keoki's cafe bar (kalbi ribs and rice) was really good.
BTW, we stopped at the banana stand on the way to Waimai Canyon (right outside Poipu) and I chatted with a young lady with a uke. She turned out to be IZ's neice! I'm also a uke player, so we played a bit and it was a nice piece of authentic Hawaii.
Best food: Roys, Donderos (fanstastic italian at the Hyatt), Keoki's Paradise for moderate priced dinner, and Keoki's bar for cheap eats and live music on Thurs-Sat.
Most Overrated: Beach House. Hands down, this place was the most disappointing meal we had on the island. Food was good, but service poor. The hostesses looked about 16 years old and did not make you feel aloha welcome - rather, they waved you to the bar. No smiles, no welcome. The bar (not that crowded) waitress took 10 minutes to great us after we sat down, then 15 for the martini to arrive (warm). The actual waitress was like a robot, repeating in a monotone her favorites. She reminded me of a mediocre waitress you might find in an airport restaurant. Food good, but not blow away. Nice presentation. View there was nice. Overall, an average experience for top dollar. Very limited wine list, with only 2 chardonnays by the glass to chose from (Berringer and one from Santa Barbara, can't remember.)
Next up: Joes at the Green was the absolute worst service we have ever experienced. We were one of only 3 people in the restaurant when we arrived. The waitress tried to seat us in the back (whassup with that?) and when I politely asked if we could have one of the nicer tables near the front, she literally rolled her eyes and then tossed the menus down on the table - and walked away. As others arrived, we heard one table arguing with another waitress after they tried to return a glass of OJ (was told it was fresh squeezed, but was not) and overhearing the owner and her saying that they were trying to get free food. However, the food was very good! I had kalua pork with rice and eggs. We would have gone back, but poor service kept us away.
Everything else was excellent. Donderos was the big surprise. We ate outside and the food was fantastic. I had the black fetticinni with lobster, shrimp, scallops, and it was one of the best dishes ever. Liked it better than Roys, so you know it was good. Exensive - but worth it. And the plate lunch dinner at Keoki's cafe bar (kalbi ribs and rice) was really good.
BTW, we stopped at the banana stand on the way to Waimai Canyon (right outside Poipu) and I chatted with a young lady with a uke. She turned out to be IZ's neice! I'm also a uke player, so we played a bit and it was a nice piece of authentic Hawaii.
Sep 9th, 2005, 08:48 AM
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Hi gnng. Glad to hear you had a nice trip! We're looking into Kauai for September 2006--probably just a week or two later than you. I'm curious how your weather was, as I've heard September can be quite hot. Did you make it over to the North shore at all and, if so, was it rainy? Am also curious about the crowds at this time of year.
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for posting!
Sep 9th, 2005, 09:10 AM
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gnng -
Glad you had a nice trip to Kauai. What did you think of your actual room at the Hyatt? I love the property too - just wondering if the rooms had been updated lately.
Julie304 - I stayed on the north side in Princeville the week before last, and there was not much rain, it was very hot and there were no crowds. Hope that helps!!
Glad you had a nice trip to Kauai. What did you think of your actual room at the Hyatt? I love the property too - just wondering if the rooms had been updated lately.
Julie304 - I stayed on the north side in Princeville the week before last, and there was not much rain, it was very hot and there were no crowds. Hope that helps!!
Sep 9th, 2005, 01:18 PM
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Hi gnng
It seems food and drinks were your priority !!
We were there last year and really loved the north Na Pali coast by helicopter which I strongly recommend to everybody on each post on this forum !!
Julie304
We were there in June.
As all hawaiian islands, more or less, the east coasts are lush, wet and rainy while west coasts are dry. As the size of Kauai is small you might change beach locations according to weather changes in a relatively short time !
It seems food and drinks were your priority !!
We were there last year and really loved the north Na Pali coast by helicopter which I strongly recommend to everybody on each post on this forum !!
Julie304
We were there in June.
As all hawaiian islands, more or less, the east coasts are lush, wet and rainy while west coasts are dry. As the size of Kauai is small you might change beach locations according to weather changes in a relatively short time !
Sep 9th, 2005, 01:49 PM
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gnng,
We were at the Hyatt last month. Where are the mountain view rooms located? We had ocean view, and I know there were many garden view on the Poipu wing but no rooms there faced the back. Were you in the Shipwreck wing?
We too feel the same about the Beach House, too much money for average food and service, though we were there with the family, and got a great photo on the lawn.
Love Dondaros, better atmosphere than Roys, but still love the food at Roys.
We had gread food and service at Joe's on the Green, no complaints there. The entertainment was really good, too.
8-)
We were at the Hyatt last month. Where are the mountain view rooms located? We had ocean view, and I know there were many garden view on the Poipu wing but no rooms there faced the back. Were you in the Shipwreck wing?
We too feel the same about the Beach House, too much money for average food and service, though we were there with the family, and got a great photo on the lawn.
Love Dondaros, better atmosphere than Roys, but still love the food at Roys.
We had gread food and service at Joe's on the Green, no complaints there. The entertainment was really good, too.
8-)
Sep 9th, 2005, 01:50 PM
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What a great story about meeting Iz's niece and playing ukelele!!
As for comments about some restaurant service: sigh--too true. I think in the last few yrs, the "attitude" factor is waaayy up-but I find that here in Californai too.
And like you, I LOVE the Hyatt, and for all the same reasos. To walk into that stunning open air lobby framing the view of the Pacific--waht a great way to start a stay on Kauai!
As for comments about some restaurant service: sigh--too true. I think in the last few yrs, the "attitude" factor is waaayy up-but I find that here in Californai too.
And like you, I LOVE the Hyatt, and for all the same reasos. To walk into that stunning open air lobby framing the view of the Pacific--waht a great way to start a stay on Kauai!
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Sep 13th, 2005, 08:23 AM
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Let me try to reply to some of the questions...
Weather: Nice and warm, with a few overhead clouds now and then. No issues. We liked the occasional shower. North shore was perfect weather. We expected showers based on other comments, but it was not much different from Poipu in early Sept. when we were there (no guarantees!)
Crowds: Low to moderate up until Labor Day, then nice and quiet right after. The pool went from occasional screaming kids to peaceful and mellow. But it was not dead in the sense of wanting others around (as in dead restaurants).
Hyatt: It actually seems to be the same building as The Fairmont Orchid on Big Island. Orchid is 5 star, Hyatt is 4. Main difference was in the details, such as the rooms at the Hyatt are very good, but the rooms at the Orchid feature upgraded art, nicer comforters, better baths. We stayed Mountain view (when you face the resort front it was to the left) and it was great. There is a huge green mountain that looks a bit like "Bali Hai" and the clouds would frame it each morning. Some rooms can get very far away, so make sure you ask to see the room before you accept it. The ocean suites across the hallway (they would be directly above the pool) were awesome with new bathrooms (marble and glass shower doors, versus tile and curtain) and plasma TVs. They appear to be refurbishing the hotel (floor 3 was closed off when we were there), so I bet by next year it will be near 5 star.
We love good resorts and looked at them all, and the Hyatt wins hands down.
Food: A friend of mine was there right after me and was not too happy with Roys. We went twice and the first time was awesome (opah), the second time average (opakapaka). But I am a Roys fan so I give them a break. He said Coconuts was his favorite dinner.
Weather: Nice and warm, with a few overhead clouds now and then. No issues. We liked the occasional shower. North shore was perfect weather. We expected showers based on other comments, but it was not much different from Poipu in early Sept. when we were there (no guarantees!)
Crowds: Low to moderate up until Labor Day, then nice and quiet right after. The pool went from occasional screaming kids to peaceful and mellow. But it was not dead in the sense of wanting others around (as in dead restaurants).
Hyatt: It actually seems to be the same building as The Fairmont Orchid on Big Island. Orchid is 5 star, Hyatt is 4. Main difference was in the details, such as the rooms at the Hyatt are very good, but the rooms at the Orchid feature upgraded art, nicer comforters, better baths. We stayed Mountain view (when you face the resort front it was to the left) and it was great. There is a huge green mountain that looks a bit like "Bali Hai" and the clouds would frame it each morning. Some rooms can get very far away, so make sure you ask to see the room before you accept it. The ocean suites across the hallway (they would be directly above the pool) were awesome with new bathrooms (marble and glass shower doors, versus tile and curtain) and plasma TVs. They appear to be refurbishing the hotel (floor 3 was closed off when we were there), so I bet by next year it will be near 5 star.
We love good resorts and looked at them all, and the Hyatt wins hands down.
Food: A friend of mine was there right after me and was not too happy with Roys. We went twice and the first time was awesome (opah), the second time average (opakapaka). But I am a Roys fan so I give them a break. He said Coconuts was his favorite dinner.
