Description: During our first trip to Kauai with a group of friends, we stumbled across the Beach House Restaurant ("Beach House") which was located directly across from our lodging. Later on, we discovered that this delicious dining establishment was a "must visit" restaurant in Kauai. When we returned as a married couple a few years later, we were determined to re-visit the Beach House restaurant for a romantic meal. The Beach House did not disappoint.
Location: The Beach House is located on the south shore of Kauai in Koloa, just west of the fabulous Poipu Beach. The restaurant has a rather non-descript entrance that faces Lawai Road; however, the back side of the building overlooks a rocky cove with westward and southward views of the gorgeous blue Pacific Ocean. The Beach House is easily accessible from anywhere in Kauai and is a short drive from most locations on the south shore.
Atmosphere: The Beach House is famous for its stunning views at sunset, and it does not disappoint. The dining room is a large open space with glass windows from floor to ceiling on the westward and southward side of the building. On pleasant days, the windows are designed to fully open, creating an entirely open-air dining experience. Each table is given a low profile which allows guests sitting farthest from the windows to enjoy stunning views of the sunset and ocean. The interior of the restaurant is simple and contemporary with tan walls and subtle Hawaiian décor touches. The exterior of the restaurant is clean and fresh with a large grass lawn, stone walkway, and tiki torches which are lit during the evening hours. Diners are welcome to leave their table during a meal to stroll across the lawn and take in the ocean views.
The atmosphere at the Beach House restaurant is arguably the best on the island, especially during the evening hours. Why? Well, because of the views. We strategically timed our reservation for dinner to take place during sunset. As we were escorted to our table, which was located on the southwest corner of the main dining room (a great spot), the sun began its descent, commencing our entertainment for the evening. As we dined, the colors in the sky gradually turned from blue to green to orange to red and then darkened. It was an amazing site and one that cannot be compared to any other dining establishment we enjoyed during our vacation to Hawaii.
Service: When reviewing the Beach House, one might imagine that the owners rely solely on the sunset views to maintain a crowd. However, service at the Beach House is top notch and designed strategically around the restaurant’s sunset entertainment. After being immediately seated, our server warmly welcomed us to the restaurant. He was helpful in explaining the menu and pleased to see that we were repeat diners. He met our expectations in all of the standard criteria – glasses kept full, detailed explanation of the menu, well-paced meal, timely delivery of the check, etc. What the Beach House does exceptionally well is timing the meal – for the entire restaurant. As we ordered, our appetizer arrived when the sky began to turn pink. We enjoyed our appetizer, but I suddenly became worried that the main course would arrive during the time when the sky was at its most stunning. I strongly desired to leave the table and watch the full burst of color from the setting sun take place. As the sun slowly glided downward to the horizon, we noted many people had the same idea as us and stood up from their table and went out to the lawn to take photos. So, we followed their lead. Instead of delivering food to diners during this time – which would leave those away from the table (like us) with a cold plate of food when they returned – the Beach House stopped table service for those who left their seat. This was an excellent idea! With tiki torches lit, most of the diners were outside taking photos and snuggling with loved ones. After the sun set, we returned to our table and our server immediately delivered hot entrees. In fact, the waiters were in full motion when the sun had set and bustled around the main dining room with entrées and next courses for most, if not all, patrons. I’m not sure how they manage to time this so perfectly, but it was an amazing feat! The service at the Beach House far exceeded our expectations!
Menu: Beach House’s menu offers Pacific Rim cuisine which consists of mostly seafood and fish options with some chicken or beef. The menu has not changed very much over the years, but what they cook, they cook well. Prices are typical for a fine dining experience, ranging from $20-$30 per entrée.
Food: We ordered the Togarashi Fried Calamari with Hawaiian Guava Cocktail Sauce for an appetizer. The calamari was fresh and tasty and the light guava sauce was tangy and perfectly complimented the squid. For entrée’s, I had the Fire Roasted Sashimi Grade Ahi served with Furikake Mashed Potato, Ginger Lime Beurre Blanc and a Black Bean Sauce and my husband ordered the Black Truffle Crusted Hawaiian Mahi Mahi & Grilled Tiger Prawns. Both entrées were tasty, hot, and fresh. My only comment on my entrée was that the sauce on the Ahi was slightly overpowering and limited my ability to taste the fresh Ahi. On our prior trip, our group ordered all of the desserts offered on the menu – each one was delicious. This time, my husband and I opted to split the banana’s foster, which was topped with caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. The dessert was light and sweet and perfectly complimented our wonderful meal.
Overall: Our first visit to the Beach House evoked memories of delightful food and fun times with close friends. Our second visit created a romantic setting for a young married couple seeking gorgeous views and delicious food. Overall, the Beach House exceeds expectations for any traveler seeking a special dining experience. We would very highly recommend this restaurant to any traveler visiting Kauai.
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