Mediterranean Gourmet
5-7132 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI, 96714
Mediterranean Gourmet Menu
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Address :
5-7132 Kuhio Hwy
Hanalei, HI, 96714 - Phone (808) 826-9875
- Website https://www.kauaimedgourmet.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Greek Cuisine
Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.
Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.
For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.
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Angela S.
I'm so glad we stopped! The hummus was some of the best I've ever had, and the caprese salad and sangria was fantastic. Great service and very good food (the whole menu looks great)! Also, not bad prices for the island. If definitely come back.
(4)Catherine L.
This is one of the best locations on the north side. Easy to miss but worth the find. Staff is friendly, specialty drinks are amazing. Compared to the rest of the island, the prices aren't bad at all. It's always worth coming back to.
(4)Basti B.
I really enjoyed this place. We only stopped for a couple of drinks but the food on the menu and all the daily specials sounded terrific. The view of the ocean and over to Hanalei Bay are phenomenal and the breeze and sound of waves crashing throughout the restaurant were fantastic. I will definitely be back next time we're on Kauai to try some of the food and have another Kona Brew.
(4)Mel S.
Not bad. Better than the reviews. Limited menus but good for the price, atmosphere, and expectation. Thanks team for making a good meal.
(4)Asha S.
Terrible. Food is super bland and really expensive for what you get. The views and the service were good so maybe stop by for a drink if you really want to check the place out. However I'd skip it all together.
(1)Serena P.
Love going to this restaurant around sunset. Beautiful view of the ocean. It has such fun decor. I love the lanterns! We have always have amazing service. Love Justin and Seth. They are so down to earth and know all about the menu. They have great recommendations. So this time we started with the Greek trio with classic hummus, sun dried tomato hummus, and babaganush and pita bread. Which was so amazing. I love all the different flavors. We also ordered some yummy sangria. For entrees I ordered the vegetarian strew and my date ordered the Mediterranean gyro. His dish looked amazing and filling, while mine was tasty I was felt still hungry. And for $23 I was hoping for more flavor and soup. Or maybe a some pita bread. I was just a little disappointed for the price. Every other time I have come, the food has been great. So maybe it was just an off day. I'm willing to look past it. This place is really worth making the drive out for. Great food. Great service and beautiful view.
(4)Gabe P.
Good food! Had the lamb chops before they started the remodel a few months ago,it washers tasty it came with a nice mint sauce, the drinks were standard, it is a great location for a nice dinner with your significant other. It is right on the beach, only bummer is it is a windy 15 min drive from hanalei to get there other than that I would highly recommend
(4)Dave G.
The Mediterranean Gourmet hosts a luau on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It is a dinner and show package deal for (if memory serves) $65 per person on Tuesday and a bit more on Thursdays. Call ahead for reservations. The show is extraordinary. The troupe's leader is a musician and singer who is dedicated to preserving Hawaiian culture. His wife plays amazing Fijian drums, which most of us have vaguely heard or recall from Fantasy Island. One of his daughters accompanies her. Another of his daughters is the star performer of the dance group. The leader himself is a handsome, congenial fellow. He is the sort of performer who finds that one person in the audience who's not "into it" and gets them into it, a consummate showman. Later in the show he does the traditional fire dancing, and you think not only can he play guitar, but he's a bad ass, too. You will have fun at the luau. Settle in with one of the "free" (meaning included with your prix fixe meal) cocktails and let the show do its work. It will leave you wishing that you could have attended a real family luau with these lovely people on dark beach somewhere with a pig on a spit and a cask of rum and their entire extended family playing guitar and ukelele. The banquet food here is a bit of a racket. They do NOT server traditional cuisine with the luau, but their stuff was decent. Served buffet style, the dishes were an odd mixture of things. None of it was Mediterranean. It was a little bizarre. The service, as I have lamented elsewhere was, eh, mediocre. There is definitely an island-time mentality in most of the service industry folks on the island. Go for the show. It will blow you away.
(3)Stacie A.
About the only good thing this place has going for it is the view. So disappointing in every way. Mediocre food, ridiculously high prices, slow service. We left feeling so disappointed. My husband and I spent the most money on this meal out of all our meals on Kauai and this one tasted the worst. My chicken on my panini was boiled to rubber perfection and the tomato on the caprese salad was hard. Don't waste your time or money here. Unless all you're paying for is the view.
(2)Marie-Line V.
We treated everyone for lunch here for our wedding. Near tunnels beach. Its good, nice staff and sea view, food is ok, some dishes amazing others just average but for a quite steep place. Still, was worth it to have everyone there together but nothing truly amazing.
(3)Amit S.
We went to hanalei bay and stopped at this restaurant. The food was excellent. The gyro wraps are really nice. The vegetable stew specials was extremely tasty. I would highly recommend lunch here if you are visiting Ke beach or hanalei bay
(5)Gabrielle D.
The cook can't cook. Worst dinner in 10 years. We had made a reservation for 8:00 pm on Open Table. We were seated at 8:05 pm. We were very hungry so we ordered right away. At 8:45 pm the appetizer arrived. It was a grilled kafta but you could not taste the meat or the spices. It really tasted more like (bad) frozen pizza. The hummus did not taste like hummus, had no taste and was very liquid. Safeway has better hummus than that, and it's supposed to be homemade. Then the entrees arrived. The Mediterranean Gyro was supposed to have babaganoush and sun dried tomatoes on top of quinoa. In fact there was no babaganoush, the quinoa was dry tasteless couscous and the hummus was still the same horrible liquid something. My entree "poke du jour" was okay. I don't know what the organic greens were. Anyhow, we were done in 20 minutes appetizer + entrees. Also while we were eating a waiter was putting the chairs up... I guess 8:45 pm is past the end of the shift. We were extremely disappointed and felt totally taken by the lack of quality of the food given the high price points.
(1)Andrew R.
This was a great place to have a luau. Come on a Tuesday, and enjoy a great show. It is more intimate and fun that way. Particularly, the fire act at the end is well worth it. Playing with fire indoors - so awesome! The kalua pork is one of the best things here. Just be careful, as it's heavy on the sodium. The rest of the food was pretty standard. And while the mixed drinks are your best bet for getting your money's worth out of that first free drink, they're way too sweet, especially the mai tai. Choose wisely or just get a big glass of wine.
(4)Jess R.
The plusses - what a great location. It takes awhile to drive there, even from Princeville, but what awesome views. As we arrived, a storm loomed over Hanalei, bringing us an absolutely memorable rainbow. Then the storm hit us, chasing all the picture takers back inside for a 5 minute downpour. Then it was all over, all in a ten minute span! Food - super fresh ahi sashimi, delicious (if extremely garlicky) hummus with warm pita, and the gyro plate were all delish. The minuses - we made a res requesting a nice romantic window table - and their first selection, with only 3 other tables occupied at 6 pm, was a tiny table at the back door so small our food and drinks wouldn't have fit on the table. After some negotiation, during which they explained to us that every table was booked for the evening (not by the time we left, btw) we secured a very nice table with great views and breeze, although the table I asked for was refused - another couple had already requested that table! Hmmm. From the start, our server spent her time trying to rush us out the door, as if we were taking up space they wanted to save for other diners (hotel guests?). As we had driven some 25 minutes to get there I was nonplussed at the rush, and I insisted we get our drinks first, then our appetizers, then our entree - not all at once. Even so, we were out in just about an hour, even though we would have preferred lingering to listen to the fine Hawaiian uke player who was very entertaining. Side note - the couple who had reserved the corner table we wanted walked in halfway through our dinner and had what seemed to me to be about double the portion of sashimi we got in their appetizer - did they ask for two orders on one plate? In the end, being rushed through a meal on Kauai is simply offensive to me - and as such I cannot see us returning - if you decide to go, call ahead and be clear you plan to linger if you desire to.
(3)Merritt A.
So disappointing. Went for lunch. View is awesome. Everything else is as mediocre as it gets. With so many great places to eat on the island, why waste your hunger here? We ordered caprese salad after the server assured us the tomatoes were great. Not so. Plus super stingy on the basil, oil, and balsamic. Gyro was sorry. My wife's panini was a joke (they had to make it twice even cause it wasn't toasted first time round). Bad way to spend $65 at lunchtime.
(2)Norm H.
Man, what a bunch of easy graders here on Yelp. This was our second trip here...and our last. The folks that work here are pleasant, but that is about all there is good to say about it. The portions are microscopic. We were there with our two granddaughters, who are not especially big eaters.They both ordered the child's pasta, slurped it down and ordered a second round that also disappeared. My wife is also a light eater...and had to fill up on leftovers after we can home to our condo. The menu is very limited. The preparation is adequate, but surely nothing special. I'm not going to comment on the price; everything in Hawaii is expensive. (The wine prices are reasonable). There are indeed a lot of windows facing the ocean, but don't think you are going to see the sunset; the building doesn't face that angle. I'd really like to give this place three stars, but would just be too high a grade.
(2)Judy F.
The hummus was delicious and presentaion was nice. The sangria was the best we've ever had made with cabernet and fruit purees's. The gyro was very tasty. The stew was a bit disappointing for the price.The waiter was attentive and pleasant .The view was beyond splendid. Our host was disappointed that the menu was still abbreviated due to ongoing remodel.
(4)Rachel Z.
Way over-priced and over-hyped. Came here for Christmas Eve Dinner. Instead of good food, we were served with paella that is bland, with over-cooked fish, and rice with things in it that might break a tooth. We specifically noted to the waiter that we will share the dish, and he would just bring one spoon. Also we had sashimi which is "generous" if you call giving 5 pieces that costs more than $20.
(1)Greg S.
The. Lamb. Is. Delicious. The lamb melts in your mouth. Cooked for perfection. Super friendly and attentive staff. The owner is often found interacting with guests and making the experience great for his customers. If I am ever back this way again, I'll definitely return to this restaurant.
(5)Tarheelfoodmonste R.
The only thing gourmet about this place is the prices. I've never been personally offended before by pricing but I guess there's a first for everything. How a cup of tomato and lima bean soup can cost $15 even on an island is beyond my imagination. The soup was watery and garlic heavy. It could have at least come with a piece of bread. Our other appetizer was a pita bread with a kebab on it and hummus. The pita was definitely from a frozen packet and likely the meat was as well. The hummus was standard. I only ate here because we had not realized how far we would be from other food choices and we just didn't have another option and were very hungry-- that is the only scenario I would recommend eating here.
(1)Shila S.
Friendly service and view was great, but food was overpriced and meh! We loved the chocolate lava cake and enjoyed the fasoulia stew, but it was pretty overpriced for smallish dishes that were not that filling or as fresh and vibrant as I hoped. It's a beautiful location that might be fun for drinks or lunch but disappointing for a nice dinner. recommended: chocolate lava cake!!!, fasoulia, not recommended: baba ganoush, fattoush
(3)Maloos K.
The most tasteless food I have ever had!!!! Garlicy, watery and tasteless!!!! The prices are ridiculously high!!!!! $8.75 for three spoons of hummus!!!! And the chicken wrap was awful!!!! Do not recommend this place!!! No!!!
(1)Richel R.
I went to the Tuesday night Luau with a group of six people. I felt that the money we paid $69 per person was really worth it because of the Luau and not for the food. The food, buffet style, was just average. My favorite dishes were the potato macaroni salad and the fresh island fish. The Luau was a great, spectacular show mostly performed by a family. The singing was very calming and entertaining during our meal. The hula dancers were all very talented and graceful...there's even a part of the show where they let you go up the stage and try to hula! The finale and best part, was the fire show. You need to see it to believe it! The performers made us feel at home and welcomed to their island. Thumbs up to Coppin Colburn and his family for such a unique show!
(4)Gary H.
Had the Ahi sashimi appetizer and it was fresh and delicious. The star of the lunch though was the kale salad with blackened Ono. The kale was served lightly sautéed in coconut oil and tossed with pine nuts, roasted tomatoes, dates, watermelon, feta cheese, and topped with a generously-sized piece of Ono perfectly prepared and with just the right amount of seasoning. What a home run for a light lunch. My wife and I shared both dishes and it was plenty for both of us. Our server was Mariel. She was friendly, sweet, and attentive. The place hasn't changed much over the years and since it used to be Charro's but the view is spectacular and the place was clean. Certaily worth the trip to the North shore.
(4)Laura H.
Visited twice in early May. This review is based solely on the luau and Mother's Day brunch. The luau was great! (Admittedly, I have nothing to compare it to as this was our first luau experience.) However, I expected something different as it is advertised as an "oceanfront luau". The restaurant is "oceanfront", but the luau takes place inside. The show was entertaining. The food was good- excellent kalua pork. The service was good also, island-style, casual, laid-back; not what I would describe as 5-star service, though. The brunch was delicious with one exception: They do not serve bacon. (Who doesn't have bacon?)
(3)Donald M.
Five stars for the luau. I have been to 2 other mass produced luaus and this was hands down fantastic. The show had singing, dancing, hula and fire dancing. At first with all the old people in there I thought I would lose interest but it was just the right amount of everything. Don't miss it. You could tell by the people there that a buffet was on the menu not all but some. The buffet was not bad all luaus have the same buffet. Oh and the drinks were great. So make a reservation the week before you come for Tuesday night, spend the $69 and enjoy the great show One more thing I thought some of the tip would go to show so I probably over tipped for a buffet. Aloha
(5)Richard J.
They forgot to tell us that the kitchen burned down a few months ago and that the only thing they have to cook with is a panini sandwich cooker. Other than that, any fish that they serve is raw as in suchi. The location is a plus as was the service. Period.
(2)Laura C.
The food was tasty & authentic. The prices are steep and portions are unfortunately small. Not worth the price in my opinion unless you are really craving mediterranean food! Great live music the night we dined though.
(3)Sara H.
Food was okay, but who spills garlic goo (mashed potatoes? hummus? something I didn't even order) all over a customer's purse and does not tell the customer about it? Apparently this place. Many dishes we ordered did not show up. Some main courses appeared at the same time as the appetizers. The server was apologetic about the missing food, but for how expensive everything was, I was expecting a nice experience, not a total disaster. I'm really sad about my purse and everything in it, which now reeks of garlic.
(2)Kim K.
Excellent meal last nite...spanikopita delicate, steamed clams perfect, greek salad lovely...rack of lamb & fish wraps yummy...expensive but worth it! Nice music too! What a treat!!!
(4)Nishad J.
Great falafel wraps really different! Come with fries and salad. Also all the vegetarian menu items are marked off which makes it really easy for me and other vegetarians to order!
(4)H K.
Pricey, but most things around here (Haena, Hanalei) are. Greek salad was good with a lot of feta in it. Kafta appetizer not so great. Humus that came with kafta was decent like the kind you get from Costco. Gyro does not look like gyro, it looks more like shawarma. If staying near Heana, this place is convenient for a quick take out when you don't have the energy to go to Hanalei for food. We did not sit down to eat, so I cannot speak to the service. But, inside looked dingy and old.
(4)Monica C.
I've only been here for lunch. It's a great place to bring guests for a sit down as the views are spectacular. Food is fresh and flavorful. Service is friendly. I'm always looking for an excuse to go. Thanks guys and see you soon!
(5)Hillary M.
I read great reviews of this place on Chowhound and was excited when we drove by it on the way to the end of the road to the Napali Coast (and on our way to hike the beginning of the Kalalau Trail). I nearly yelped to my husband - oooh we have to try this place! Everyone says it's amazing! Well, as you can tell by my rating, it wasn't. My rating is based primarily on taste and quantity of food in conjunction with the price. The service wasn't horrible (but it wasn't great either...read on). We decided to split a plate of hummus appetizer ($9) and a gyros wrap ($16). With those price points we thought that would be plenty of food, plus we weren't starved and would be eating soon again. The hummus was horrid in my opinion. I'm used to creamy flavorful hummus - this was gritty INTENSELY raw garlic hummus. I could barely eat it. Now, the wrap. I should note that the before ordering the wrap I confirmed there would be no onions. The menu only said lettuce and tomato but I thought I should doublecheck. The waitress assured me "oh yea, it doesn't come with onions, you're fine". It comes out....and what do you know it's COVERED in red onions? We sent it back. They let my husband keep his half but they swiped the fries so I had to wait to eat anything. It comes back out onion-free this time but the amount of meat on this thing was like non-existent. There were two small pieces of gyros on the entire thing! What did the $16 go to? It had tomatoes and cucumber and a tzatziki sauce that was so watery it leaked all over my plate (and had no flavor). I like tzatziki and hummus almost everywhere else I have it and this was just disappointing. But hey, the cottage fries were awesome! Not making a point to go back there again. Maybe they are better for dinner?
(2)Kami R.
Went there 2 years ago and it was good. Went back excited to show friends the restaurant and not only was everyone's food bland but the service was nothing to write home about. Our waiter seemed like he was done for the day and forgot to even pour the wine for the guy tasting it. Fish and falafel were both way underseasoned. Will not go back again.
(1)Brittany H.
Was skeptical because of some of these reviews...but I can't express enough positivity for the restaurant. Amazing food (we ordered the ahi and gyros). The "perfect margarita" was perfect. The ambiance was wonderful, great live music and hula dancers to go along with it. Would recommend this place to anyone. Very happy we dined here and we will be back. Matt was a fantastic server and the staff was very friendly. 5+ stars in my opinion.
(5)Andrew C.
We stopped in for a drink during rush hour waiting for the traffic to Poipu to die down. The place was completely empty ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ), and at first wouldn't let us sit at a window table in the dining room, but eventually relented ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ). We ended up having a light dinner of beet salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ) & flat bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ) which were both very good. Appetizer pricing is reasonable with both our items less than $10, but, iirc, entrees start @ $24 for Falafel and $25 for Gyro plate and into the $30's for most everything else. Service was good until the end when they rushed us saying they needed our table for a reservation when the place was still only 1/4 full. Booo! :( 4+ stars for the food.
(3)Michael F.
Great view oh Hanalei Bay. Hummus and pita was great. Good drinks and all reasonably priced.
(4)Erika F.
My family and I came here after spending the day at Tunnels. We were looking for something tasty to fill our bellies after a day at the beach. We should not have come here... They had a special sashimi appetizer that was a mix of ahi and mahi. SOLD! 7 tiny slivers of fish come out. Tasty enough, but the portion was super small. Especially when we got the bill. $27 for 8 slivers of fish!! I've never seen sashimi that expensive before. I ordered the "special" ahi salad and my husband ordered the gyros. My seared ahi came out thickly coated in spices and was over cooked on some greens. Thankfully my husband doesn't mind overly seasoned food (you couldn't even taste the fish- what's the point of having fish if you can't taste the flavor of the fish itself??) so he ate it. I ate his gyros which were tasty. My two kids ordered the kids pasta. Simple enough. You cook pasta, add some cream parmesan cheese and butter- how could that come out bad? Pasta was overcooked, bland and super watery. The only reason why my kids ate it was because they were starving- but we had to add some salt, pepper and more parmesan cheese to give it just a little bit of flavor. We ordered a few rounds of beers that took FOREVER to come out. At one point we figured he forget our round since it took so long. 3 minutes later the beers arrived. There was a total of 10 tables in the restaurant- they weren't busy. All together our bill was $160 with tip. Completely overpriced and overhyped. Would never come here again. We should have gone to Dolphin Fish Market for tasty fish and sushi- much better quality and taste with lower prices.
(2)Amara W.
We went for the Tuesday luau on a lark and drank ourselves silly with cocktails! Our server Seth was awesome and just kept on bringing out the drinks, we sampled about 5 each, the gin and cucumber one was my favourite. The food was pretty good considering it was buffet. The show was pretty cool and the fact that the drummer, fire guy and three of the hula dancers were family was awesome. The holding hands in a circle part at the end was a bit weird, but I'm not a random stranger hand holderer kinda gal. If you're cool with that then it'd be a non issue, Overall a fun experience with a beautiful view.
(4)Darci F.
I live in the neighborhood and I love the Mediterranean Gourmet! Their food is delicious, staff are excellent and professional AND they have awesome live entertainment! The tuesday Luau is one of the best Luau that I have ever seen, every week it is packed so get your reservations in early if you want to attend it! My favorite is the beet salad, then of course lamb for dinner, they always cook it to perfection. Thanks guys, year after year excellent food, live entertainment and customer service, what a great contribution to the neighborhood!
(5)Kate J.
The food here is excellent but as of the date of this post, the restaurant is CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. After a long drive out looking forward to the delicious fare (the tabbouleh and bouillabaisse are favorites of mine), we were so disappointed to discover this. A notice of this fact would have been much appreciated, but if you are here when it is open, you will definitely enjoy. The live music also adds to a great ambiance.
(4)Rachel H.
I have just two words for you, "Wine Wednesday." If you make it to the Mediterranean Gourmet on a Wednesday, any bottled wine with dinner is HALF price. I should probably should add another star or two to my review, just because its hard to be objective after ordering a half price bottle of wine on vacation. The Mediterranean Gourmet is the main restaurant in the Hanalei Colony, which was built in the 80s and is tucked back into the gorgeous Na Pali Coast on a windy road north of Hanalei. LIke many spots in Hanalei, its expensive for what you get, but the restaurant was given an award in 2007 for being the best new restaurant on Kauai, so this must be a newer iteration. This is a cozy albeit dated spot, low key and family friendly, which is a plus for us, and dining overlooks the water. Wednesday night was a low key affair complete with tiki lights blowing in the trade winds, locals, families with kids, and several large parties celebrating. Food is not remarkable, but the setting is nice. As a dinner spot, with crashing waves as a backdrop and a cool aging hipster surfer jazz duo playing, kids running outside on the lawn, in all, its a pretty fun place to be. They have a kids menu and mostly Mediterranean food, trying to be fancy but mainly just acceptable food-wise with nice, low key island atmosphere. If you are around on a Wednesday, it's not a bad bet. Our meal (about a three star food-wise) consisted of a "small" Greek salad (honestly, pretty enormous) arriving in a eight inch long boat shaped bowl full of lettuce, feta, lemony dressing, olives, and red onion. We paired this with a side order of homemade babaganoush with extra pita and enjoyed it, although it was oily and heavy on the garlic, and the biggest problem I had with it was the microwaved, chewy pita bread. There is a kids menu, and that checked the box. For our second adult entree, we ordered a local white swordfish fish, hebi, a shortbill spearfish. It was grilled with pistachio panko coating served with a grilled artichoke. The hebi, was slightly overcooked, but was generous and fresh. Its fun getting up here before it gets dark , but it's a little hairy heading back with just starlight to guide you, and one too many one-lane bridges to traverse, so keep that in mind.
(3)Juliet G.
This offbeat, funky restaurant is very charming and well worth a little drive a few miles up the coast from Hanalei (on the grounds of the Hanalei Colony Resort.) The airy, spacious room has some middle eastern touches like candelabras and the floaty panels hanging from the ceilings. Every table has a great ocean view. Food is surprisingly good! I had to keep reminding myself we were in Hawaii. I love their falafels, which are made with fava beans as well as garbanzos and have a fresh, spicy zing to them. Their hummus is good and I think they must bake their own pita--delicious! Romantic and tasty-a defiinite recommend.
(5)Jake J.
This place is unfortunately a poor and overpriced excuse for Mediterranean food... The hummus did not even taste like hummus and in general the food just wasn't tasty. Save your money and skip this place...
(1)Daniel H.
We read good things about this spot. Went for lunch. First impression was that the views of the ocean (in certain parts of the restaurant), were very good. The decor we thought was a little dated and cold and bathrooms were no particularly clean. The whole restaurant had a ammonia/bleach odor to it. Place needs a face lift. The service was neither great or bad and the food (for the price) was just average. Was interested in being able to try some Mediterranean in Hawaii for a change, but it did not pay off. Had Olive appetizer and got about 10 - 12 olives for $6. Falafel wrap (for $12) was just OK and the pita was dry and not fresh. My dining partner had flat bread, which was also nothing special. Expected more and cannot say i would return or recommend.
(2)Will P.
Heard good things about this place but I on the other hand had a bad experience. I'll admit that the view was very nice but other than that everything else was not so great. I had ordered an iced tea and had asked for sugar and a straw. Our waitress Raquel forgot my sugar and straw and I had to ask for it multiple times. We also ordered the triple hummus appetizer only to realize that she forgot to place the order and we received it AFTER the entrees had arrived because the order was out in after. Also, she did not describe to us which hummus flavor was which so I had no idea what which flavor I liked more. Once the entree arrived we realized that we had received the entree for our neighboring table. We could overhear the other table complaining to the manager about the service as well as messing up the order. And the excuse that the waitress used was "I'm new and I'm not used to waitressing so many tables". It was extremely obvious that she couldn't handle the amount of tables because the service reflected that. The food was okay, nothing to boast about. I would say if you're stopping by just stop by for the view and head elsewhere for lunch/dinner.
(2)Joey C.
This is a review for the luau. We paid 69$ per person and really felt we got our money's worth. The restaurant is right on the ocean (a couple were married by a Hawaiian witchdoctor out back) We got there early and enjoyed the view and happy hour pricing. The luau is in the restaurant.I didn't see a bad seat in the house. It was an intimate setting with about 30 tables not Hundreds of people like I've heard about at the luau s in Kauai. The family that put on the show did a great job we felt like we'd known them forever. You got one choice of free drink with the luau. I had the Mai Tai 2 shots of rum in it quite good! The buffet had a decent selection and all the food was good. There was Kalua pig, grilled fish, I don't like fish but ate two pieces,beef stir fry, glass noodles, organic lettuce, and salmon Lomi lomi. This was our first luau and we really enjoyed it. Some one described it as a party in a backyard. I agree. Sadly, I love my desserts and the selection their's wasn't very good.
(5)Julie H.
This was the most overpriced, worst meal and service we had on our entire trip. They nickel and dimed everything. The view is great, but not worth the meal...
(1)Sam R.
We were vacationing and decided to try this place. We loved it, I had the steak, and my mother had the soup and Greek salad, and my father had the gyro. We all enjoyed it and our server was very friendly and helped us with our questions. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)Tony S.
The wait staff here is incredible. The wait staff are the primary reason for the 4 stars. The food was nice but didn't blow me away. Worth another shot next time I'm in the area though.
(4)Mimi K.
Awesome! Very cute place in hanalei that our friends recommended. Service was excellent and patient with our kids. I had the butterfish sandwhich! Yum! My husband had an ahi pita wrap. We had no complaints at our table. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Paul S.
I have one or two five star restaurants in the world, I think both are in Paris. This was a really wonderful four star experience. The staff was friendly and yet was by far the most professional we have had in Hawaii. This includes a few swanky resorts and high end restaurants. It was pleasant, solid, well done, and never detracted from the meal. Nice work to all, thanks! The food was good, the fish was cooked nicely, drinks arrived promptly. The real winner was the ambiance: a jazz duo was playing, the fans were on, it was really a bit of a Bali Hai moment. Everyone in the party enjoyed. The menu had 1/3 gluten free options, they focused on a few local veggies and fish. As a kicker it was 1/2 price wine night, a great Sancerre on the cheap:-) No one comes to Kauai for gourmet food, this place is the exception. I look forward to giving them more business.
(4)Jamfan F.
I'll start out by saying the service was very good and attentive both times. We went for dinner and the Luau. I'll start with dinner: Clam appetizer, bland. Entrees: Fish that night was Hebi? Had never heard of it. Really thick piece of white fish, with a caper butter sauce. Bland. Fish was too thick the center was cold. Husband had a NY strip, he ordered it MR+, came out one steak with varying temps, from well done to rare. Very bizarre. He also said it was cold. It had some kind of blue cheese mushroom sauce, gross. Both entrees had an ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes, hello 1970. And a few string beans. Warm chocolate cake, terrible. The wine was the best part of this meal. The Luau is a bit of a joke. The entertainment was nice, the service very good. The food, absolutely sub par. The only reason we tried this place is b/c we were staying at the adjacent hotel/condo. Which is amazing!! Anyway for those of you that praise this food, I don't know where your from but this was by far anything from good. Skip it!!!
(2)Pam M.
"Happened" upon this place when we drove out this way. .. Great views, delicious drinks (sunsetter. ... yummy) and loved the food. Moistest falafel ever. Got the sampler appetizer and the fish special which was delicious. Waitress was very nice, although a bit slammed. Would recommend!
(4)Russ S.
Second review. Ate here for lunch. Lamb burger and fish lettuce wraps were excellent. We missed our lovely server Jennica but we're taken care of by Justin who was every bit as engaging and friendly. We will eat here again
(4)Julie N.
Not sure if they changed their menu since last year, but I was pleasantly surprised! As a vegan, it can be challenging to find accommodating restaurants... But they had so many options: all of their salads are vegetarian and can be made vegan upon request, vegan soup options, and they had delicious lettuce wraps as an entree... The price was expensive, but it can pretty much be expected on Kauai. The lettuce wraps were about $25 but really could have been an appetizer. They seriously hit the spot though so I didn't care! We were also pleased with the bar! Most places on the island used pre made mixes in their drinks, but not here! Best margaritas on the island! Best way to end the day after spending the day swimming, snorkeling, and beach bumming!
(4)Pepper B.
Disappointed. Beautiful setting. Decent menu; lots of healthful choices. Service spotty and they were less than busy. Servers not focused. Fish caught 'fresh that morning' was overcooked and not flavorful. And they charged $35??? Accompanying rice tasteless...
(2)Rob M.
Excellent service. Great view right on the ocean. I saw some one star reviews here, but we had no indication of that in our experience. There are a limited number of menu options, but everything we ordered was very well done. Loved the pesto flat bread appetizer and the ono fish.
(5)Fred H.
We brought a group of four to M.G. a few nights ago. I ordered the Fasoulia Stew which was REALLY GOOD! Unfortunately, the service was sub-par. It was at the end of the evening, 8pm, and I guess the staff was eager to get home. We almost felt rushed. Our waitress was very polite, but you could tell she really didn't give a crap what we ordered or what we needed. Too bad, because the prices are amongst the highest on the island and merit better service!!! Disappointing. The overall food quality, taste and presentation was good. But again, not up the price. I acknowledge they are also charging for their unbelievably gorgeous location and atmosphere. However, we were there at night and could not enjoy the view. And since they have NO OUTDOOR TABLES (at least while were there in Mid-December) we weren't able to enjoy the perfect weather. If you are there during the day, and want a very unique, good quality menu selection and don't mind the so-so presentation and top-shelf prices, you will really love this place. Otherwise, I would stick with the Hanalei restaurants.
(3)Nancy t.
It was ok. Hubby had the veggie stew. It was pretty tasty and pretty expensive. I had the green salad with falafel. I have had many falafel and this was pretty good. It's the only place around this area so not bad for the only choice but I wouldn't seek it out
(3)Igor G.
Really enjoyed the ocean view, food and service. Our waitress Candice was attentive, helpful and offered good suggestions on the menu and about Kauai. I ordered the stew and shared the baba ganoush appetizer. The lima beans in the stew were cooked just right and I could have ordered another. Being vegan I appreciate that all menu items are clearly labeled veggie, vegan, and/or gluten free. Will definitely be back.
(5)Kendal P.
My husband and I tried this place for drinks and appetizers. We had the flatbread with pesto, arugula and pine nuts and it was delish! I had the Tango Mango and it was the perfect frozen tropical chick drink. My husband tried a cucumber jalapeño cocktail and said it didn't taste like there was any booze in it. Our server was very nice and the location was great - good view of the ocean.
(4)Lee Ann M.
Had the best Mediterranean dinner here last night! We ordered the grilled lamb and the gyros. Both were amazing, but the gyros was the bomb! Both my husband and I agreed that it was so moist and tasty. A lot of times, the gyros is sliced thin so it's dry. This was sliced a little thicker. The seasoning was just right too. We also ordered the coconut baklava. These were the best baklava we've ever had too...flaky and light. These guys know what they're doing. The drive down to Hanalei at night is a little challenging because there are few, if any, street lights on the way down and the road is very dark and narrow. You also have to cross a few one-car bridges where you have to yield to the oncoming cars. It's quite an adventure though, for a great meal! We would definitely go here again!
(4)N B.
Being a frequent visitor to Kauai for business/pleasure and checking out the various restaurants and hotels/resort options for clients in my travel agency business I found the Med gourmet in 2008. We have been coming back ever since then. This trip has been no different and the food is just as good as it was the last time. This time around we had Thanksgiving dinner with The Mediterranean Gourment and would have to say that it was very good. The view is good despite the often dirty windows looking out on the Beautiful Hanalei bay and surf and the adjacent Hanalei Colony Resort next door. Service for the most part has been excellent. Although on the most recent visit prior to thanksgiving dinner I ordered Spinach Pie and a Gyro. I guess the girl didn't hear me and just brought the Gyro. The food is well Mediterranean. Service is good and the atmosphere is cozy and the views are excellent if you can score table seating close to the outside windows. Again the view is marred by the often dirty windows. I don't think the dirty windows are a lack of care or cleaning but being in an ocean environment with the salt spray and sand being brutal on the windows. Overall a highly recommended lunch and dinner spot on the north shore. Pay attention to the one lane bridges and the many chickens running around the island.
(5)Tammy S.
We had reservations last night (Christmas Eve), checked in where the hostess told us it will still be a while, and then she forgot about us until she noticed us still sitting at the bar 45 minutes later. She had to come over and ask us what our name was again. Food was good, but the prices are a bit much for mediterranean. Luckily we had 15% off being guests of HCR. The waiter somehow knew we had been overlooked and tried to make up for it, but our food still took a really long time to come out (another 40 minutes). If cost is an issue, I recommend getting a bunch of appetizers and sharing - the hummus, falafel, and other Mediterranean salads looked excellent, and at a more reasonable $10 per. I had the gyro at $25 and husband had the chicken marsala. Oh, and while we waited at the bar, the bartender made our mai tais with the end of his bottle of rum, and didn't top off by opening a new bottle. I guess it just wasn't our night. :( The live music was a definite highlight.
(2)Ellene G.
Excellent service from Jenica!! ! Food was outstanding!! Ordered sashimi appetizer with flatbread!! Had fresh ebby prepared perfectly with a mango sauce!! Ocean view from most tables and bar!!!! 5 star dining experience!!!!!
(5)Rachael L.
Decided to go here on our quick island hopping trip, had heard it was home to a beautiful view and who doesn't love Mediterranean food? The restaurant had a great ambiance, high ceilings, lots of windows to see the ocean, cool breeze blowing through, quiet music, calm energy. The food over all was ok, nothing "wow" worthy. Ordered the humus trio to start, the roasted red pepper was easily our favorite, pesto was a close second, and sadly the original humus left must to be desired. Also ordered the tri-tip kebabs, which I'll be honest we had high hopes for since it's Hawaii and we do know how tri-tip here. Unfortunately this tri-tip was extra chewy, fairly fatty, and was lackluster in taste. What killed the mood for us was the service. Not overall, just our waiter. He wasn't rude per say but he certainly made us feel like he had better places to be and better things to be doing. We hardly saw him aside from when he took our order and took our money. Other servers from other sections brought our food, cleared our dishes and filled our drinks. Yet, I never saw him lending a hand to other tables.
(2)Carrol H.
I seldom review restaurants. However, I recommend that if you're going to eat here, do the appetizers. We did not have those. We had the steak at $49! Really overpriced for what we received. Thinner steak but properly cooked, with mashed potatoes that seemed as though they had been prepared much earlier and a small portion of haricot vert (good) - we also had the fish wrap made with spear fish and came with Mediterranean sides - that was good - it was 36.95. So... the 2 stars are because of the quality of the steak meal and the overpricing. Location: XXXXXX- the restaurant is located in a prime area - it's the only one between Hanalei and the coast. It's also next to a small resort, so they probably do well. I noticed someone said they had the best falafel ever, shoulda, woulda, coulda...
(2)L L.
Overpriced food. Used to be better. Paella had good flavor. The falafel was mushy and flavorless and the hummus was not good. The falafel plate was worse than fast food falafel but 2.5 times the price.
(2)Dick F.
The location is wonderful and the food is very good. There is not much competition for good restaurants on the North Shore - you come here for the seclusion and natural beauty. Prices are a little high, but my wife and I shared appetizers and dinner / desert. A very safe bet for a good meal where the choices are limited.
(3)Nicholas G.
Gourmet prices at less than mediocre food. Sandy clams, small portions, inconsistent presentation, crap salad, and a total crap shoot as to whether the food was going to be good or not. Not cool for a $200 meal. The clams we got for the app (the ones without the sand) were really good though. I will not ever be going back or recommending anyone else goes there.
(1)Salernitana A.
Been to Kauai three (maybe four?) times and we go here every time. Hanalei is really the best place on the island, but on Kauai in general, not too many formalized restaurants-- a dive here, a shack there, a bar there-- all good, but this place is more like a regular restaurant. The food is always very good, the salads and oh my god the saffron arancini balls are the BOMB, and the price is a bit high but hey, it's near Princeville what did you expect? Very relaxing atmosphere and of course, the view. Always seated very quickly and not a lot of &*!@%#$ kids running around (sorry, rugrats me no likey). I think they could improve their bathrooms and sometimes the server, um, takes a break shall we say? Compared to similar places on the island, this is a top three! We'll be back for sure.
(5)Phil C.
We stayed at the Hanalei Colony Resort where this restaurant/bar was located. Reservation was recommended, but we sat at the bar waiting for a table (which didn't take long). Bartender was friendly and funny and told us a couple special drinks that they were happy to make us. Atmosphere: Very laid back, wasn't too busy at the time we went (wed night). island decor. live jazz/island music was very relaxing. Great views of the water. Food: Hummus w/ pita bread - was very tasty they curry hummus was our favorite Seafood tower - this was my main dish and it was satisfying. anything with tower in it, i'd most likely try. enjoyed the fresh fish, shrimp, scallop and fresh salsa with the mashed potatoes. light in taste. the portions were ok. it won't get you too stuffed. Desserts were very tasty also. Prices were a little high, but reasonable. Service was friendly and attentive. Wish we could have come here a couple more times. I'll be back if i'm ever in Kauai again. * Wed night was 50% of wine bottles so we excited to get one. We also had a coupon. Which defeated the 50% off wine deal, but we ended up saving more money. All worked out fine. :)
(4)Patience F.
My son and I had a late lunch at this restaurant during the afternoon we drove the north shore of Kauai. We both ordered the garlic chicken wrap on flatbread with tzatziki sauce. The chicken was nicely cooked, the flatbread warm and chewy, and the sauce seasoned the entire sandwich nicely. My son had the fries with his flatbread wrap and said the portion was a bit too large. I had a green salad with feta, tomatoes, kalamata, and balsamic as a side and that was quite good. Service was attentive and appropriate. We were happy to find a place that served a sensible and tasty portion of food, especially in an area in which there were very few restaurants past Hanalei.
(4)FoodieChic L.
This is NOT Greek food. Not sure why Yelp categorizes it as, a bit misleading - won't hold it against my rating for this restaurant. After reading plenty of Yelp reviews, I encouraged my hubby to drive us to MG. And we got lost. Of course, it doesn't help driving there in the dark where there is no lighting - anywhere! Funny that we drove to Ke'e beach earlier in the day and didn't realize we passed it - but again, it was during the day and better lighting. My hubby was adamant on finding the restaurant and we finally did the next day - and it was average. Definitely overpriced and would recommend going after 6:30pm for the live music. Food: We ordered spanakopita for appetizer (I'm sure it was frozen and re-heated) and a Greek Salad (good - plenty for two). I ordered the gyro (one of the few food items I judge a Mediterranean restaurant by and recommended by the waitor) - and I enjoyed it. It was not a Greek style gyro but it was good quality and abundant. Came with babaganoush, pita bread, tzatziki sauce. Hubby had fish of the day - came out very dry and blahhh. Had to add hot sauce for some flavor. Should've gone with the lamb I guess. Dessert: Macademia nut tart - skeptical at first but my gosh was it delicious! Loved it! I would skip the appetizers, and make room for dessert instead! Overpriced, bad location, but 3.5/5 stars for food.
(3)Sarah B.
I'm still dreaming about that paella.... This is probably the best restaurant on the North Shore of Kauai. Scenic location, excellent food, nice ambiance. The paella for 2 here was FANTASTIC. The shellfish were cooked perfectly, just deliciously tender. And the fresh herbs to top it off were the perfect touch. Take advantage of the half-price wine night on Wednesdays. The wine list is top notch - plenty of great choices. And maybe you'll be lucky to catch some live music here too. Can't wait to come back next year!
(5)Ty T.
Don't let the name fool you, the usage of 'Gourmet' is actually a realized concept within the confines of this restaurant. For starters we shared the Classic Spanikopita, it was a savory baked phyllo delight with spinach and feta filling.. just enough to tease out the warmth of this intimate atmosphere. Which felt perfectly balanced by the soothing live Jazz lightly audibly amidst the background. I rather enjoyed the 2 Mojitos during the meal, they were refreshing and tasted like they were made with high-quality ingredients. The menu offered a large breath of variety as well, I was torn between my Paella and the Lebanese Fasoulia stew. But ultimately for my main, I knew I would simply needed to melt into a hearty plate of seafood Paella. A sautéed assortment of clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops served with Spanish Saffron rice -that was the envy of the sea. It was rich, and the broth was quite aromatic and refreshing. Delicious.
(5)Erin S.
Went here for the Luau on Tuesday night and had a fabulous experience! The buffet was actually very good and the entertainment was over the top fantastic! This is not your impersonal large resort style luau -- but rather a smallish group of approximately 100 or so guests. I loved the band and the hula dancers along with the interesting information about the islands that was shared throughout the evening. The entertainers are a local Hawaiian family who seem to really enjoy what they do while sharing their Hawaiian culture with others. This family defines the meaning of living with Aloha! Don't miss this ...and remember you'll need to make reservations ahead of time. This will definitely be my "go to" luau when family and friends are here visiting me!
(5)D D.
This is a wonderful restaurant with great ambiance. The ocean is right there and the service is excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and informative. He was perfect for our evening! The rack of lamb was the best ever and the desserts awesome! It was great to get a different menu and away from all the tourists! We dined several times and will definitely come back!
(5)Elle C.
Hailed as some of the best dining in Kauai, we put this on our schedule to try as our fancy night out while on a June 2012 trip. First impressions did not shine bright as we found the place a bit in need of a good cleansing. Specifically the windows needed attention as the main feature of the restaurant, the view, was slightly smugged by the dirty windows. Our waiter was friendly and knew the menu. Our meals arrived quicker than island time. The menu selection was nice, but to be honest, I think I was wanting more local flavors, but that was my fault for not realizing sooner that it would be Greek or Mediterranean inspired. Duh. I have had better Mediterranean nonetheless. The portions were large and we had no room left for dessert. Prices were island high. We were lucky to get a table with a view, but not every table has one. Also if you are going for the view, I recommend the resort up in Princeville... You'll know the one.
(3)Danny H.
One of the few *nice* restaurants on Kauai. Great place to go at night if you're sick of eating in surf shorts and a sandy t-shirt. It's not overly fancy, but it's nice. If you're on the North Shore, just go! We went on a Wednesday night, and bottles of wine were half price! The food was absolutely terrific. I got the Frutti De Mar (seafood + cream sauce + linguini) and it was REALLY good. We shared the watermelon bruschetta as an appy, and we loved it! The service was really good too. Friendly, helpful and attentive staff. Prices were reasonable for food this good. Average of $34 for an entrée. They had live music that night too, which was a nice touch. And there was a nice ocean breeze coming through the windows which has refreshing after a day in the sun.
(5)Drew A.
Apparently tzaziki sauce should be runny. Buns should be stale and cold. Drinks should wait up on the bar for 20 mins and be watered down and service should be slow and full of excuses. If it wasn't for the view this is a real dive.
(2)Andrew W.
Went here for the Tuesday Luau . Great show. Buffet was delish for someone who is not big on fish. Cocktails are fantastic too. Who would have thought cucumber could work so well with so many drinks. Wonderful night.
(4)Lauren R.
Tots off the beaten path and well worth the drive. The staff is super friendly and the music is great. The best part of the meal was dessert, but I will get to that in a second. For apps we ordered the Classic Spanakopita, which was so flaky and delicious it left me fighting my fiance for the last bite. We then split the Seafood Paella. This was good. Not great. I've head better, but the saffron rice was unique and added a different take on this dish. Now- the dessert.... YOU MUST ORDER THE MAC NUT TART. MUST. ORDER. IT.
(4)Ken L.
On the way back from Ke'e Beach, went here. A mistake. Reasons: 1) Wait time to order two dishes: too long. It took about 25 minutes for some steamed clams and some vegetarian dish. Unacceptable as there were only 3 other parties there. 2) Clams were not fresh tasting and still had a funky smell to it. The veggie dish was full of lima beans and two pieces of bok choy with garlic. That wasn't the problem though, it tasted like lima beans and grits in tomato sauce. $19 for this dish, what a joke. The worst $40 I have spent in my life. The view of the water was nice though, perhaps THAT was what I paid for.
(1)Jason M.
I wasn't expecting much because there is no competition for nice dining in the area. They earned an honest 5 stars for the food quality. The sashimi and fish is exactly what you would expect with freshness and quality. The only complaint I have is that there's not a place around me that serves food that good, and I live in a metro area. It was a little pricey but worth every cent.
(5)Amy D.
12 of us rented a house on Kauai and selected this place for the dinner outing for the birthday girl we were there to celebrate. With 12 of us we thought it might be a little daunting, but TMG did a great job hosting us. We went on 1/2 off wine Wednesday which was a HUGE bonus as we're all wine drinkers. Our waiter was helpful, friendly and not too pushy - super thumbs up to him. Started with an incredible selection of appetizers - spanakopita was AMAZING! Hummus was really good too! There was also Watermelon Bruschetta (YUM!) and Hand Rolled Spinach Fatayers (very tasty.) I had the gyro plate for dinner - very good though I'm not sure about the potatoes. Not accustomed to having mashed potatoes with that entree and they weren't anything to write home about, but the rest of the meal was great. If I were to order again I'd get the seafood tower - I just didn't have room for it that night but someone else got it and it looked fabulous! Skipped out on dessert for an adult coffee drink, but everyone's looked really good. I'd be interested to try to the coconut baklava, though everyone said their selection was delicious. If you're on the island, check it out - awesome views and some good deals (especially on wine Wednesday.)
(3)Mike E.
When someone in our group found a place right up the beach for our group of 12 to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday we weren't real sure what to expect. After all, most of the places we'd eaten seemed more about the location than any culinary experience. Well the Mediterranean Gourmet exceeded my expections in every way! First off, we were there on a Wine Wednesday so it was half off on all bottles of wine. Hells yeah! The wine selection was well above average and we had no problems finding a great pinot noir. Our waiter was awesome, he said the kitchen could make us a couple of large appetizer plates and we said "Do it!". He brought out two large platters with watermelon bruchetta (wow!), spanakopita, some spinach fatayers, and a couple of types of hummus. It was all very good and was the perfect size for our party, together they ran about a bill and were well worth the price. I went with the seafood paella and loved it. The clams, mussels, scallops, and fish were all cooked perfectly. And the saffron rice might've been the best I've ever had, just the right amount of stickiness with great flavor. They brought the birthday girl out a very rich and creamy serving of chocolate mousse, which she was nice enough to share with me. Depending on what you're looking for the Mediterranean Gourmet might be exactly what you're looking for, they were for us!
(4)Traveler P.
Enjoyable meal during our honeymoon. It's a bit of a hike to get here (about a 15-20 min drive from the St. Regis in Princeville). Setting is right on the water which is nice. Food was good (not our favorite meal) but very good. We enjoyed the Dolphin in Hanalei Bay more for food- but atmosphere is better at the Mediterranean Gourmet
(4)Brian D.
Enjoyed a great weekday lunch here. The food was above average and the seating with a window-view of the ocean was a real pleasure. Didn't have the chance to come for dinner, but will certainly stop by when I'm on the island again.
(4)Cynthia A.
We enjoyed a delicious meal here last night while enjoying a beautiful view at sunset. Mediterranean Gourmet has an extensive wine list and I ordered an Albariño which paired perfectly with the Kale Salad I ordered for my entree. The salad was mixed with pine nuts, dates and goat cheese that was tossed with a light dressing. My dining companion enjoyed the fish of the day that was encrusted with pistachios and cooked to perfection!
(3)Lynea C.
Not my favorite.
(2)Jennifer L.
Luau is authentic and fantastic. Drinks are terrible. Sangria was basically red wine with ice, Mai Tais were awful, and the other two random drinks wouldn't have been drinkable were it not for the Mai Tai.
(2)Matt H.
Mixed reviews from our group on the food, but double thumbs up for the alcohol. We spent 2 weeks in a house just .2 mi up the road from this place so the bar here became my local for awhile. The MaiTai is awesome and delivered with a smile. The bar has a good collection of locals and tourists but is a bit to close to the belly dancer on the weekends. We brought a large group on Wed night for a half-price wine bottle night (maybe they were cleaning out the wine cellar). My pistachio crusted Ahi was awesome as were most of the fresh fish dishes. My wife was unimpressed by her Mediteranean Plate and felt that the hummus was kinda sad. Appetizers of steamed clams and sashimi were perfect. Half price wine is a great idea in theory, but if you start dinner with 2 MaiTais you might just fall asleep at the table like I did.
(4)Dmitry N.
Best restaurant in Kauai we tried. Gorgeous views match great food. Imad, the owner, personally helped us select wine and food -- he obviously cares about customers' experience and is often around to give a suggestion. Babaganush was excellent, steak and grilled fish perfect, and do not miss the baklava with coconut -- it's less sweet and less rich than a conventional one, but this is how I'd rather have it. It is quite amazing to see this sense of taste and perfection thousands of miles from home. Will be back!
(5)Greg E.
One of my favorite dinner spots on Kauai- I like to arrive before 6PM and get a window table- the Ocean is right outside your window. Excellent drinks, particularly Mai Tais, as many reviews have noted. I also can highly recommend the wine list- extremely well chosen, and for the North Shore certainly not overpriced. I've often taken the waiter's recommendations and been very happy to have done so. Often the recommendation is fish, but I've had high quality meals featuring just about every category of food on the menu over the years. Obviously, the views are great at lunch too- but I'm working when I'm on Kauai and don't generally make it out this far towards the end of the road for lunch! One note: there is a Luau on Tuesday night which takes the place of regular dinner service.
(4)Emily M.
This is my favorite restaurant. The ambiance was lovely with live music and a peaceful rustic scene. The coconut baklava is the best I've ever had. It melts in your mouth and is buttery. I wish I could go back soon
(5)V K.
Beware out of town Yelpers - the restaurant is not located in Hanalei, but Han'ea, almost at the end of the Kuhio Highway on the Northside. Otherwise, beautiful location right on the ocean with great food and interesting cocktails.
(4)don M.
Stopped by for lunch today (Monday) so had no problem getting a window table--the view was fabulous. We had both their red-wine and white wine sangrias which were very good. The menu had something for everyone and was reasonably priced for its location--my wife likes Greek food--me not so much, but the steak sandwich was superb as was my wife's salad. Our server, Jona, was charming and attentive without "hovering". Highly recommended.
(4)Marvin K.
After a week of loco mocos, plate lunches, and hotel dining, we decided to go out of town and try some different food. We ventured out to have some Mediterranean food and were immediately disappointed with our decision. The view was definitely great, but the food and service was horrible. We ordered several appetizers which were cold and lacking flavor. We were so disappointed we decided to cut our loses and head back to town. The server was extremely awkward and lacked professionalism to say the least. My recommendation would be to save your time and money, and choose a different restaurant. There are much better options in Hanalei and Princeville if you're on the northern side of the island. Don't let the 4 stars fool you!
(1)Jeanne K.
The food was beyond awful. We ordered the falafel lettuce wraps & the falafel were dark green/ grey hockey pucks. Inedible & extremely expensive ($23.95) for mystery ingredient filled hockey pucks. The sundried tomato hummus was decent & ended up being the main meal because everything else was overly salted & not at all what was expected. My parents ordered the chicken Marsala & chicken kabobs & they said that both were equally awful.
(1)Nicole R.
We had a traditional Turkey Dinner on Thanksgiving; it was very good! I would like to go back and taste their other offerings! Staff was very sweet and received everything in a timely manner. Restaurant was clean.
(4)Lisel S.
Best experience on North Shore hands down. Food is beyond delicious, indescribable and if you are looking for a place that appreciates you, c'mon down. A great experience, superb service with lovely delectable food! Great atmosphere too!
(5)Ben T.
Ambience and view: Awesome Food: Not awesome Price: Way over priced Overall: Would never go here again although view was awesome.
(2)Arch S.
A Luau review: Well let me start by saying that Coppin Colburn and his family were amazing and the only reason to come. Great musicians, great Aloha attitude. I only wished the setting were better, sad to see such a proud family stuck inside an aging sheetrock building using canned lights as inspiration. I would love to see them outside at a casual gathering of friends and locals... that would be transcendent! The only knock here being the caucasian woman who danced with them, I got the feeling she was someone's trophy wife who spent time and money learning the traditional dances. The daughters were both more beautiful and more inspired in their dance, but I guess that just comes with the genes. As for the food... one word, Buffet. Need I say more? The napkins smelled of kitchen grease, the food was mediocre at best and the bathrooms were in need of an overhaul. The irony of Sushi Girl being five minutes down the road was not lost on me. The beauty, sincerity and talent of the Colburn family are the only thing keeping me from giving this place no stars.
(2)Ray D.
Great location, very remote on the road several miles beyond Hanalei Bay, beautiful view. The map linked from Yelp does not show the correct location -- call them for directions. As far as the food, it was solid but average, nothing special as Mediterranean food goes. Sauces did not seem authentic -- where was the tahina? And why mashed potatoes with gyros instead of rice? Service was rather slow even though restaurant was mostly empty.
(3)Jorge G.
Overall it was ok, the views are great, service great; however, the food is over price for the quality you are getting. The Clams were great and the Lamb too.
(4)Fabian M.
We had dinner with 8 people. Food and service was great. Had the Grilled Kafta as appetizer & Mediterranean Gyro as entree. Delicious!
(5)Larry L.
While mostly a good dinner out, there were some flaws. We ordered the Ahi appetizer and it never came out, instead our meals were delivered very quickly and when we asked about the app, the waiter looked confused for a second and asked if we wanted it with our meal. The other flaw was my wife's clams were very "sandy". No way to send them back as the waiter only came by once, and early after dropping the plates off. The drinks were good and reasonably priced. The Kale salad was very good and the Gyro plate was good, but really garlicky. The views are awesome.
(4)Design T.
Okay let's begin... I don't reviews too often... But this calls for it. If you have ever had Mediterranean food or want to try it... Don't go here. Horrible appetizers... We couldn't even eat them to order our meals. Started out with great service and breathtaking views... But the food was plain and absolutely horrible. I myself wanted to get in the kitchen and start adding spices to our appetizers... As they were so bland. Hummus is a staple dish in the Mediterranean world... And to me there's was missing tahini, lemon, cumin and garlic. Pretty sure they blended garbanzo beans and called it hummus.. I will not be going back.
(1)Dave T.
We have eaten here often and think it is fantastic, a bit off the beaten track with incredible location right on the water - great food particularly with whatever fresh food they have in that day - we were lucky with Ahi and Ono sashimi that was extraordinary. Fn live music with two guitarist and a Hawaiian sunset, hard to beat
(5)John M.
Ate here 3 times, had the paella twice and the seafood tower once -- It all was great! The only beach front restaurant in Princeville area. Live music every night was an extra treat.
(5)Chris W.
The loco moco was so bad I had to send it back. The omlett was so greasy it almost slid off the plate. The potatoes were not home made. The were the frozen type wirh no taste. The waiter would not let us sit where we wanted and never came back to see how we were doing till my wife was finished and it was too late for me to reorder. Would never come back.
(1)SL S.
This place continues to be our favorite- for 5 plus years it has maintained its quality, ambiance and value. Well worth the drive. We usually go for lunch- the fish wraps, various flavored humus & pita, Greek salad and stuffed grape leaves are our favorites. We are always too full to try dessert. There are so many tempting items to try- I usually see at least one on someone else's table I am eager to try. The staff and servers are fun, friendly and knowledgable and the view is worth the trip. We did find that one year they were closed for a period around New Years - so you might want to confirm their hours if you are coming from a distance. I would recommend making the trip for lunch and spending time before or after exploring the wonders of Hanalei. I'm pretty sure I heard Puff the Magic Dragon singing in one of the dry caves down the road. ;0) Aloha
(4)John N.
For the price we paid, food should have been higher caliber. $105 with tip, and no alcohol. (wife's pregnant) Look elsewhere to spend this kind of $ on food,
(2)Patrick W.
GREAT FOOD AND A GREAT VIEW!!! The espresso in the small boutique on your way out is delightful too!
(5)Cat K.
My husband bought a coffee next door at Na Pali Art Gallery so the hostess would not seat us. She was adamant, unapologetic & uncompromising. He was going to put the coffee in the car but I thought this was such a ridiculous rule that we decided to grab a bite in Hanalei instead.
(1)Jessica M.
Very good Mediterraneanfood and a decent kids menu (that includes grilled fish or chicken kabobs as well as the usual fare). Excellent cocktails, an amazing view, friendly staff and fun belly dancing.
(4)Lola B.
Awesome location, great lil beach front vibe, great service, groovy surfer live music....but the food wasn't on par with the rest sadly :(
(3)Mihir M.
Food: The watermelon bruschetta was creative & good. The hummus trio was creative but not exceptional individually. The artichoke was good. The spanikopita was outstanding. The eggplant napolean was good. The fasoulia was creative & tasty. Overall, the food was very good, but not outstanding or poor. Service: Our waitress Jessica was outstanding. We had a problem getting seated around 530pm. Views: Great ocean views. We came there after doing part of the Kalalau trail which is nearby, so this was the closest nice place to eat. Be sure to make your booking earlier!
(4)Lindsay H.
Really nice bc it was next door to the house we rented :) Good atmosphere, actually had some live music when we went. The sashimi was to die for, kale salad was just okay. The entree was pretty good, but I think this place was a tiny bit pricey for the food and atmosphere.
(4)Cathi M.
Spectacular ocean views and great food. The paella is great--we had it twice. Third time was seafood tower. Great service, too. Our favorite place on Kauai.
(5)Jason R.
Went here with my family while on vacation from LA. We're not food critics, but we know a good meal from a bad one. Chose this place because of the good reviews I saw on Yelp. Summary: not particularly tasty, quite overpriced (this restaurant is easily $$$, not $$). The upside: Watermelon bruschetta was pretty flavorful. Greek salad was also quite good. Great live guitarist as well. Beyond that, we weren't impressed with the hummus trio at all. Kinda bland. Needed more salt. The eggplant papanetta was also pretty boring. The fish was bland--needed the mashed potatoes and a healthy squeeze of lemon to be worth eating. Nothing of the melt-in-your-mouth experience that I would expect for $34 an entree. One more note: two dollar signs is NOT appropriate for this place. We had 3 entrees, 4 appetizers, and 3 glasses of wine. $200 out the door. Overall, I think this place suffers from the same affliction as so many other oceanfront destinations: the view takes attention off the quality of the food, and the prices get jacked up beyond reason (even for Hanalei).
(2)sharbo e.
The setting was amazing and some of the staff was friendly but some of the staff was very aloof. The food is nice not great and everything is sitting on top of red cabbage, so the portions are small and the food is quite overpriced. I would say go there for a drink, but they are very weak! MG is overrated.
(2)Ryan N.
Went for the Luau and had a great time and food. The performers were great, very good show they put on, not the Las Vegas style but more real and down to earth Hawaiian show. Food was good, really liked the lomi Lomi and luau pork. If your in the north try it out you won't be disappointed.
(4)gerard f.
Great place for lunch. Fantastic views. Inexpensive . Try the lamb burgers or anything with a Lebanese theme. You won't be disappointed .
(4)Xeekster d.
We had a great meal and a good time. Went back. Food was still great.
(3)Meliza V.
I actually went here about six months ago... so this is a little late! But our experience was nonetheless memorable! My family and I were on vacation in north Kauai, and we had gone past Hanalei to check out the beaches and go snorkeling in the morning. Tragically, there was an fatal accident on Kuhio Hwy that closed the entire highway, and everyone west of Hanalei were stranded for about four hours as officials cleared the scene. One of the only places open for lunch in the area was this restaurant, and we were fortunate enough to discover it early and go in for lunch before the rush. The staff was very welcoming, the bar was stocked, and there was a good selection of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean food. The food and drinks were very good, and they accommodated as many patrons as they could in their dining and performance areas. Unfortunately, they had to turn people away later in the afternoon because they were running out of food to serve! Overall, good service, good food, and their management really rocked it in a pinch!
(5)Sharon M.
The hummus was good, but it was all downhill from there. Pistachio crusted ahi did not have any pistachio flavor or crunch. The bed of taboule was just a mass of parsley. My new husband took one bite from each of the vegetarian sampler dishes and said it was all inedible. Baklava was not rich and syrupy. Given the location (end of the road near a famous hiking trail and snorkeling beaches) and the state of the facility (a bit run down and dated), I think the restaurant's marketing position is off-base. It would better to aim for bohemian casual theme with more reasonable prices...and get a chef that can actually cook. We were highly disappointed.
(1)Michael C.
Great Luau. One of the best we have been too. Not over the top, and many of the same family in the band. A lot of fun.
(5)Bob K.
Good: wine list, location, staff Bad: Luau is BORING, $70/plate, crammed with the Walmart crowd Definitely poor recommendation by our hotel next door. Thankfully we had lots of drinks to help us get through the three hour Tuesday Luau (which was two hours too long). Gladly paid $70 for a 2009 Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot and would have been happy to pay for good food and entertainment. Just didn't get the latter. Wednesday is half off bottles: every bottle. Go then. Or just show up for the last hour of Tahitian dancing which is energetic and entertaining.
(2)Tesia J.
***THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE TUESDAY NIGHT LUAU ONLY**** Ok, so I'd actually give a rating of 3.5 stars if it were possible. I have to admit that I don't have any reference for any other kind of Luau but this seemed really cozy and personal. It is a family run Luau and they made a point of mentioning that they wanted to bring the family run luau back and get away from the commercialization of their culture that is going on in other places. The music was awesome...sometimes a little cheesy and contrived, but MOSTLY very charming and definitely talented. The dancers were the three daughters of the musicians and they were totally cute and also very talented with beautiful costumes. There was one fire dancer and he was also very entertaining...however, his portion of the show was VERY short. I would have liked a little more. Also, they have a lovely outdoor area...would have loved to seen the whole performance outside instead of inside, The food was pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but considering the other food experiences we had on the island...it almost made it GREAT!!!! But yeah, nothing to complain about but nothing spectacular either. We WERE bummed b/c we heard that the Smith's family Luau gave you free drinks the whole night, this place gave us the first drink for free and after that we had to pay. For a one time experience this was ok, but for $169 (2 people, with drinks) I wouldn't say it was worth doing again.
(3)Milan G.
Great food, savory spices and a great blend. Really enjoyable and the Friday music entertainment was awesome. Loved it! I had the chicken tawook, would recommend it.
(5)Kyle W.
Excellent seafood... worth the drive, worth the price.
(5)Chuck K.
Located near the end of route 560 on the north shore of Kauai, this Med/Greek restaurant Is a rare find. It is located on the beach offering magnificent view. Staff is very pleasant and helpful if you want extras with your meal or wish to order off the menu. The waitress made suggestions to our meal which made a good lunch a really great lunch. Pitas are flakey and oh, so good. Incredible wine list and full bar with happy hour. When you're on your way to nowhere this is definitely where you want to end up. Great walk on the beach afterward.
(5)C W.
After waiting for a table despite having reservations a 25% full restaurant , we were greeted by a pleasant waiter who made up for the wait. The food , so-so with a bit over cooked rice and no crispy rice goodness you'd find in a traditional paella but the flavor was good but not $67 for two good. This meal was a three star until we realized the owner (or manager) started to greet all the tables making sure their meals were ok, until he skipped ours , ( African Americans) , after spending over $150 bucks, added insult to injury.
(2)Nyapet S.
Excellent location; right on the water between Hanalei and Ha'ena. Good food except I wasn't too fond of the traditional and sun dried tomato hummus. The pita and pesto hummus was good and so was my beet salad. It was nice to sit by the window and watch the waves crashing. I was surprised there weren't really any restaurants on the bay in Hanalei so this was a great find. (It was recommended by a local.) It was fun to walk down the beach afterwards. It was one of the few good beaches for finding shells.
(3)Tom T.
great little spot on the ocean. food was very good service was great. watermelon bruschetta was.a must have. gyro was ok, burger need a bit more spice, fish was exveptional. worth stopping for on the north shore. the service took it from a 3 to a 4 star
(3)David K.
Great food! Awkward bus boys...most likely learning the trade. lol. Owners/manager are very attentive. Amazing views of a sick surf break!
(4)T.K. S.
This was our favorite meal on Kauai. Great food, drinks and service. Highly recommend. Just a side note: it is about a 20 minute drive from the main part of Hanalei, but it is worth it.
(5)J R.
The first time we came to Kauai we also stayed at Hanalei Colony Resorts and dined here. It was so-so. This time, wow! Everything was amazing. Don't kid yourself, you'll spend a shiny penny here! But the seafood paella, frutti de mare, seafood tower, and steak gorgonzola were to die for. And for dessert we shared the coconut baklava and lava cake. Both rich and delicious. Wed night 50% wine is the way to go. If you're not a drinker, drink water and skip the appetizers to save a little. This is a place to splurge, however, and it is very good. I don't think I'd bring small children here but 8+ would be ok.
(5)Shannon F.
Besides being one of the only (if not the only) place to get a gyro or Mediterranean food at all, it is also one of the best! Especially if you can go on a night Jeff Caldwell is playing music there, he's always amazing, just at sunset... AH gorgeous! The ambiance of this place really comes alive at night. The gyros are pretty dang good and the lamb was very well seasoned. Wish the "rack" of lamb plate was a little bigger for the price but it was all good. They have a great wine list and the service was outstanding. We went for an anniversary and they were so amazing and went all out for us. As far as the time goes, just relax! Food this delicious takes time to make. It's definitely one of those meals you take your time with, relax and enjoy your life.
(5)TJ C.
Mediterranean is awesome! Right on the beach, amazing food, great drinks, & "Bossy" is so cool. They will even build a sweet private palapa dining area for special occasions. Definitely a place to check out on Kauai. Another amazing meal @MediterraneanGrill in Haena. Place never fails! Amazingly fresh and dazzling salads. So ono!
(4)Betsy H.
Great service and wonderful menu. The wine selection was also well chosen. We had a goat cheese appetizer that was good. We all started with a greek salad that was huge and fantastic and felt the price was extremely reasonable for the size of the salad. They had a pistachio crusted ahi on the menu that night and it was extremely flavorful and well prepared. The quinoa was a nice change of pace. Wasn't the best quinoa salad I've had, but not bad. Some vegetables on the plate would have been nice. Had the chocolate cake for dessert that was also good.
(4)Justin C.
Eating here was one of the highlights of our trip. The ambience is beautiful, despite the lack of outdoor seating. You won't miss it, thanks to generous windows and an expansive view of the beach. We were there on Wednedsay to enjoy a jazz guitar duo and 50% off bottles of wine, which applies to the majority of the comprehensive wine list. Our group downed a couple bottles of Bernardus pinot noir for $26 a piece. Nice. The food was a epic. We opened with watermelon bruschetta, spanikopita and hummus. All delicious, but the bruschetta was the clear favorite. For entrees, our group ordered the beef kabob (beautifully moist meat), the Harissa (white fish in a punchy tomato sauce), paella and the gorgonzola filet minion, which was my personal favorite. For dessert, we shared mango sorbet, coconut baklava and lava cake. While the baklava had an interesting texture, it was on the dry side and was thoroughly outshined by the other dishes. Every time I ate a bit of the lava cake, it was inevitably followed by a "damn, that's good," before I went in for another bite. And I don't even like chocolate. This place isn't the cheapest on the island, but cost-wise it's on par with all the other nice places. Put it on the top of your list. You won't regret it.
(5)Rachael B.
We popped in to the Mediterranean Gourmet for lunch after hiking the Kalalau Trail - needless to say we were hungry. It was about 2 pm so there weren't many people there. The decor is really...interesting here. I had to laugh reading other reviews, there is fabric kind of slathered all over the place and it tries a bit too hard to mix Mediterranean with Hawaiiana... I ordered the Greek Salad and added Gyro meat, my mom had a chicken wrap and my vegan Alex had the falafel wrap. Our server was really sweet, our food came out fast. My salad was pretty good, the gyro meat left something to be desired (like Pete's Gyro Place in Denver :/ ) but everything tasted fresh and yummy (mostly because I had just hiked 8 miles me thinks). One thing that was epic? Waffle fries. Goddamnit were they tasty. Overall, I would come back because it's the closest restaurant to our beach but I wouldn't come for dinner OR the Luau...
(3)Tim H.
Meh. This was recommended during our stay by our hosts at our accommodations. I think it was recommended because it was one of the only places close by. It was extermely over-priced and not incredible food. Add to that the annoying belly-dancer. Seriously, entertainment is fine, but the adult equivalent of the baloon animal guy coming to my table seeking tips is annoying on a vacation. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(2)Roy C.
We've been wanting to try this for a few years. The location and the views are nice. Since the point gets a lot of wind, you see a lot of large waves and whitewater. The Hummus Trio appetizer ($11) comes with regular, cumin and pesto flavored hummus topped with a kalamata olives. The flavor of the hummuses were pretty good. However, the dish could have tasted so much better if the pita had been warmed up, or freshly baked. The pita just tasted like store bought pita sliced into wedges. The Spanikopita appetizer ($10) was tasty. We each had the grilled ono special for $34. The grilled ono came on a bed of buttered rice with bok choy on the side. You had your choice of 3 sauces; lemon and capers, tropical fruit salsa (not spicy), and sort of a pesto cream sauce. We got the fruit and pesto sauces and both liked them. I could have used a little more sauce on my pesto plate. The best part of the meal was sharing a big slice of Kauai Pie. It's a delicious mocha ice cream type pie with I think an Oreo cookie crust. So far, it's the best tasting dessert I've had in Kauai. Overall, it was a good meal and we'd go back.
(4)G C.
Very, very good! My wife and I found this fantastic restaurant thanks to yelp, and so I felt it necessary to return the favor and hopefully help others find it as well. No reservation needed, we simply walked in and they sat us at a perfect two top right next to the window. Amazing view, great service and the food was outstanding. I had the paella and I highly recommend it. Also of note was the live guitarist playing soft rock songs that really made for a nice atmosphere. And last but not least, very good cocktails as well. Simply a very good restaurant and one I will recommend to anyone visiting the garden isle.
(5)Brski B.
You can get a lovely view of the ocean in a charming dining area. A bit of a reach to get here unless you're staying in the north shore area. For the cost per entree I'd say this was not a cheap place to eat. But the date and I decided to eat something other than a fish sandwich and here is where we arrived. The hummus and warmed pita bread were both nice. I liked the hummus more with the salt that I added myself; but it was classic, creamy, and nice and garlicky. The following are the entrees cut and pasted from their on-line menu: Pan Seared Harrisa: Pan seared fresh island white fish in a Harrisa (spicy) tomato sauce, served on a bed of mashed potatoes with fresh sautéed seasonal vegetable. $31.95 Mediterranean Gyro: Roasted and thinly sliced lamb & beef gyro meat accompanied by babaganush, tzatziki sauce, mashed potatoes, and fresh sautéed seasonal vegetable. $24.95 The fish of the day was ono, but regrettably, it was slightly overcooked - which would have been more forgivable but for the fact that the tomato sauce was tomato sauce, with that straight out of the processed can taste, and there was absolutely no heat, despite our waitress warning about the heat in this dish and my date telling her how much she liked spicy food. The seasonal veg was the same for both entrees - pan seared bok choy in a butter garlic sauce (only okay). The gyro, however, was a nice surprise - just deep with all the right notes and flavors that you expect in well prepared gyro meat. I really didn't think I'd ever try this on my 1st scan of the menu but I love gyros, I'd eaten a lot of fish that week, and what the hell, I love gyros. It's a plate, not a wrap, and everything it came with (listed above) was fine (if slightly under-salted) - but the meat was delish enough to satisfy me as a diner. My date, not so much - she agreed about my gyro, but she did not like her fish at all. You'll have to take my word for it - she's not picky and always roots for the chef/cook. My taste did not impress or repel me, but for her the whole plate was a disappointment because of that tinny tomato sauce.
(3)Nicky P.
This was one of the best meals I had on Kaua'i. The price was higher than I would have liked to spend, however, it is to be expected in a tourist location. We went on a Friday for early dinner. A live musician, Meghan Dowdy, was playing acoustic guitar and signing. Meghan was great and we would have bought a CD if she was selling any. Great atmosphere and nice view. Our waitress brought us complimentary house hummus and pita. I do not usually like hummus but it was delicious! I ordered the New York Steak. It was cooked perfectly. The garlic mashed potatoes were heavenly but there was not enough! My husband had the Mediterranean Gyro and said it was OK but did not come with enough pita. Overall, very good and one of the better places on Kaua'i.
(4)Alexandra F.
Watermelon bruschetta! Just do it, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Ian H.
Best restaurant on the island. Had a ton of apps. Highly recommend the spanikopta and the hummus. Great salads. Had the gyro plate and was very happy with it. Went with a big group and everyone enjoyed their dinners!
(5)Elizabeth S.
Came with my husband on a saturday night. Got a table with a view of the ocean and the pleasant acoustic guitar jazz singer. I highly recommend the gorgonzola filet minon, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My husband was a little surprised by how the gyro was served reconstructed without a pita , but the meat was delicious. Tzatziki was tasty but a little runny for his liking. Tried the hummus trio. Liked the pesto the best. The cumin was also good, but the traditional WA pretty bland. Ended a very pleasant meal with the Kauai pie. Mmm!
(4)Zynette C.
It was rather comical in how we found out about this place. We were sightseeing near Princeville and we met a man who makes turtles out of shells. He told us to keep driving and we will see a Greek/Mediterranean Gourmet on our right. He also told us that it was good and to mention his name when we get there to get discount. We were very pleased. We had the Watermelon bruschetta, caprese and pita with humus. I should have written what we ate for main course, but I forgot. Let's just say we were pleased with our meal.
(4)Robert W.
Went there for lunch. Beautiful view. A little dated all around. Service a little slow even thought there were only 6-7 tables in there. But, very good food. Wife and I split a fish sandwich and a Greek salad. Found a good Mai Tai here as well. Gotta come back for dinner. Coffee shop next door in same building not too bad either....picked up a ham and cheese croissant and coffee there another morn on the way to Ke'e Beach. A double yum experience at this property in Hanalei Colony Resort.
(4)Craig C.
After a long and twisting and amazing drive to the North Shore there are usually only 2 things on your mind as the daylight and energy within start to fade: where are we going to eat, and where are we going to sleep? Fear not-your food selection has been made. The Mediterranean Cafe is a splendid restaurant offering top notch fare with very sustained levels of service with 'to be expected' Kauai pricing. To be honest, I think that they could charge more money and still sustain the business volume because the property's compelling ocean front location is over the top amazing. Just sitting near one of the windows and nibbling on appetizers and drinks for an afternoon could easily become my second job. The wait staff is polished and wont rush you. The drinks are cold and frosty and they keep them coming. You're literally sitting inside an old plantation style building which feels more like your grandmother's beach cottage (that you wish grandma always had--but she didnt) than any swanky restuarant venue. The white water breaking wave views are mesmorizing in their own right--and the ocean views are pure, with no obstruction from locals, tourists or surfers because the break is too strong for anyone to venture out into that water to begin with. Food--- if you can swing it, stick with the appetizers only. The portions are enormous and my wife and I had 3 separate app plates are were bulging at the sides when we left the venue. I cannot imagine layering another full entree onto that mix. Then again, if you prefer a full meal, all the other patrons were there eating full plates and appeared fully satisfied. Kauai has hits, and misses. The North Short is surely a 'must see' and anchoring a visit to this restaurant in conjunction therewith is a 'must eat'. Maholo.
(5)Dan H.
My wife and I ate here after we renewed our wedding vows at the fern Grotto. We enjoyed everything about the meal. Our waiter was attentive, but not trying to be our best friend. They had a singer with a guitar who was very talented, sort of a younger Sheryl Crow. My wife ordered a fruity margarita which was blended, colorful, tasty and overflowed the glass and I helped her finish it. We had a babaganoush appetizer with pita bread which was perfect with just the right amount of garlic, I had the Mediterranean Gyro which was tender and spicey, with enough for leftovers the next day. My wife had Ahi Ahi which was perfectly cooked and nice sized piece, again, enough for leftovers. We finished with the coconut baklava. If it was not such a nice place we would have licked the plate. It was light, maybe 9 layers of phyllo or more, with a dab of whipcream and a strawberry that was how strawberries used to taste when you picked them fresh out of the fields. The setting is lovely past civilization just before the start of the Napali Coast. The road is a bit scary with multiple one lane bridges, but it all added to the fun of finding such a great restaurant at the end of the road. I wish we could have arrived a bit earlier in the evening to enjoy the view more. I would recommend it highly for a special evening, or any evening for that matter.
(5)Dave H.
My family ate here Christmas Eve, 2012. Found it to be overpriced, $24 for Falafel, $26 for chicken breast, $34 for fish, as another reviewer said just order a bunch of appetizers and share. My pan seared fish of the day may have been pan seared at one time, but had been kept warm and ended of being pan seared and dried out at the same time. Should have known they were pre heating a lot because our meal was delivered about 10 min after we ordered. I was surprised because we ordered pan seared fish and lamb chops, which usually take longer. Definitely not special enough to warrant the mid $30 price range of most entrees.
(2)Laura Lee B.
Ate at Meditrrranean Gourmet 2x while vacationing in Northshore, Kauai. The drive alone from Princeville to MedGourmet is five stars....and food was some of the best we had during our 12 day holiday. We enjoyed: watermelon bruschetta, steamed clams, warm pita w/ fresh hummus, lamb fatayers and one other lamb dish (name escapes me)...all were very generous portions, wonderfully seasoned and fresh. Nice wine and beer selection (we missed out on the 1/2 price Wednesdays). Service first evening we went was stellar....lunch the next time was average..but a good average. Recommend dining during lunch or sunset to enjoy what you can see of the views...very good, although inside w/ big windows(an open patio would be devine). The -1 star is for the decor...floors, seating, etc could use an update. It's not quite a 'funky find' or 'funky cool' ... just a bit funky. Bottom line, highly recomend!
(4)Scott W.
Actually 4.5 stars. Lost a half point from me for service. It was good, just a few touches that would have made it on par with price. My wife and I are both foodies and we live in a resort town, so I feel pretty good about my reviews in Kauai. This restaurant is on the more expensive side since everything is a la carte, but this restaurants portions are designed fro you to go through the courses and enjoy the meal. If you are a big eater, don't be afraid to order too much, you probably won't. My wife and I went there with our two boys (4 & 8). The reviews about the place being dingy or run down are off base in my opinion. It looks like the rest of Kauai to me. I have yet to see anything I would call opulent here. It is quaint and different, which is actually refreshing to the cookie cutter world a lot of the country has become. All food items were very good to excellent. We ordered 3 appetizers, 2 kids dinners, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 premium cocktail, and 3 sodas. OTD with 18% tip for $205. Cheap? No, but I wouldn't say anything in Kauai is. I guess it's just like everything else on Yelp, just depends on your expectations.
(4)Michelle J.
Ok. The view is nice and if you are starving after a long hike in Na Pali or surfing up a storm, anything tastes great. For the price this is a very mediocre restaurant. Terrible wine list. Food was okay. Nice view. The service was excellent. Very pedestrian for the price. No problem dropping $125 for dinner...but the Dolphin blows this away. Sorry Med. Gourmet, we were hoping for more. All and all - again - ok - but ONO it is not.
(2)Mandy B.
My husband and I love this place. We really enjoy going in early evening and sitting at the bar. The bartenders are always nice and fun to talk to...typically the people sitting at the bar are cool too! One of the only places right on the ocean. unfortunitly they do not have outside seating BUT its not their fault. They have tried repeatedly to get the permit but have not been successful. They do, however, have tons of windows to watch the waves and the sunset. Drinks and apps are great. Live music everytime I have gone in (Megan is great!) I have not had any entrees there yet but when I do I will update my review. the entrees are pricey but from what I have seen have looked fabulous-like cover of magazine status. Great place all in all.
(5)Thomas B.
Absolutely phenomenal - was on Kauai for a week and came here twice - once for lunch and one Thursday night for the belly dancing show with dinner. The cuisine seems eastern Mediterranean - and everything I tried from our group's order was among the best I've ever had from the region (and I've been there).
(5)James L.
Loved the beet and goat cheese salad. Great service!
(4)BnT B.
Tasty Ono Special, Gracious Hosts, efficient Staff!!!
(4)Maura S.
The location and interior was beautiful. Well placed with ocean view and sky lights. Even the iced tea was beautiful. We only had appetizers and felt that the pricing was more towards $$$ then $$. Though definitely one of the top bits of food we've had on the island yet.
(5)Doug R.
You can't beat the setting but you sure can beat the food for the price. The music was great but a little loud. We just had dinner not the Luau. We had the special which was the seafood tower which was more like a minimall: a piece of bland Ahi and 3 very small underwhelming shrimp on mash potatoes. Meh. My wife was right the frozen shrimp from Trader Joe's are better. The Spanakopita was Ok I have had better and the clams were blah.
(2)Lorraine Y.
For the view alone.... This restaurant was great. I've had better mediterranean food at other restaurants. And not sure why.... But only one server working for lunch.
(3)Aron L.
If you're looking to get away from the typical hawaiian meal, this is the spot for you. Started with the hummus, had the gyro and seafood tower along with a watermelon mojito. Staff was friendly and the Thursday evening belly dancing was a special surprise. Good food, about $25 a plate and drinks at $10. Nice ocean view and rec reservations for sure.
(4)Mike W.
Glad to see this place was still open after we were here when they first opened like five years ago. Great food and quick friendly service. It is Greek/Mediterranean but kind of with a Hawaiian twist. Not just a true Greek joint. Everything we had was delicious. All their specialty drinks were good too except that lime in a coconut one. Blech. That was like drinking coconut scented shampoo.
(4)Stacie S.
This was the first "real" food we managed to have on Kauai after a nightmare experience on Hawaiian Airlines. The restaurant overlooks a gorgeous view, and is tucked next to a small art gallery and some beach condo rentals--it's easy to miss the sign as you navigate one lane bridges and almost flooding roadways. We tried the Spanokopita as an appetizer--it was a different presentation than we experienced, two large pieces filled with a tangy combo of finely chopped spinach and onion. There was a pleasant lull between this and the arrival of our entrees, allowing us to admire the view. My husband ordered the gyro, and I had the falafel wrap. He absolutely despises horseradish or wasabi, but found himself really enjoying the "Lebanese style" tzatziki sauce, which had a kick but wasn't overly shocking. The falafel wrap was amazing--the patties were flat, rather than rounded, which helped them crisp all the way through, and melded with fresh tomato and the same tzatziki on the gyro, it was absolutely delicious. Our appetites returned after being dulled with airport food and air over a 24 hour period. Our server was young, enthusiastic without being annoying, and careful to check on us as our meal progressed. If you see comments on "prices", you shouldn't expect sticker shock; the food here is unbelievably reasonable, with quality, depth of flavor, and service all thrown in. It is absolutely worth the drive and I'd go again in a heart beat.
(4)Linda L.
View: Good, probably much better when it's light out. Ambience: I could do without the fussy children and silly tourists (I was a tourist but not silly?), but the decor was tasteful enough. The space is big and felt that way until it got totally dark out and the lit candle - that warmed it up. Food: Ranged from ok to great. The Macadamia Nut Tart (sort of a macadamia based pecan pie derivation) was AMAZING. Like the best thing I ate in Kauai! Service: Average
(3)Michael S.
Stopped in for dinner tonight as we learned they have Hawaiian music and hula dancing on Sundays. We didn't know what to expect from Mediterranean food on Kauai, but the food was excellent and service the same. We loved that the menu clearly marked items that were veggie and gluten free. Amazing ocean views as well. Ditto the entertainment!
(5)Lila T.
The food is decent albeit expensive but the atmosphere was definitely FUNKY, especially after dark when there's no view as the interior is just your average, out-of-date restaurant. Then when the sword-balancing belly dancer started with her own music on top of the house funk, it got really weird. I'd say worth it for a decent lunch when you have different expectations but not so much for dinner.
(3)Shaylyn K.
Being a Kaua'i resident, I normally don't think of Ha'ena as a dinner choice. Loved the food (I had the paella), the service and the view (oceanfront dining at its best). So worth the drive!
(4)Dan G.
Unbelievable service, never showed up. My family and I arrived for lunch at 1:45 PM. We were seated within 2 minutes of our arrival (big plus). When seated, we were asked if we wanted bottled or tap water and we said tap. That was the only communication we had in the following 15 minutes until we got up and left. During the 15 minutes no one asked us for a drink order, list of specials or acknowledge we were there. From our brief experience here (our opinion), we would never visit or recommend this place to anyone. We ended up going to Kalypso's for a wonderful lunch. The service was excellent, the food delicious and the experience awesome. The review for Kalypso's will be posted later today.
(1)Dave H.
"Good food, great view, excellent ambiance with live music to accompany the meal on a Friday night. 5 people. 5 diff choices, all prepared excellently. I had the seafood paella, really enjoyed the saffron rice. Resort pricing, good value."
(5)Roger J.
We had a wonderful dinner. The food was prepared perfectly, service very friendly and right on. We were surprised they had a Belly Dancer that performed thru-out the evening- a great add-on! This type of food is as good as what we found in Berlin! Don't miss this hide-away!
(5)Kathy H.
We attended last nights weekly luau...and this review is about that experience. Due to a snafu somewhere between our concierge and the restaurant (no one is claiming any responsibility) we arrived w/o reservations. Although the restaurant was booked, the staff gracioiusly accomodated us w/a small discount for some tables they offered to arrange in the back for us. The luau is NOT what you would typically expect for a Hawaiian (they referred to it as Bali-wood style) experience. The food was good (buffet style) but we had virtually NO view of the entertainment. The decor is interesting....and didn't seem to capitalize on the GREAT ocean front view. We left as soon as our bill was presented. Again I'd like to say the staff was gracious...but I want other yelper's (something we rely upon when making decisions) to go "eyes wide open".
(1)Pat S.
Service was very good. Location is wonderful. Sangria was very good. Food itself is very mediocre. Dessert was wonderful.. Had the Mac nut pie. Definetly not the best restaurant on the island.
(2)Linda D.
We just attended the Tues evening luau and it was great. The luau was intimate and the music and dance authentic. The food was excellent. I highly recommend the luau if you are in the Northshore. You will really enjoy it.
(4)Chris D.
Favorite restaurant on Kauai. Fair prices for above average food. Interior was large and comfortable. Nightly entertainment was more obnoxious than interesting. Staff seemed annoyed with anyone under the age of 50. Closes early. Long drive from anywhere on the island (have a DD).
(4)Simon G.
My family and I ate here twice during our stay in Kuaia and loved it. The first was a great Luau which these guys host every Tuesday. It was very intimate with only 80 of so guests , the food was great and plentiful and the entertainment was excellent, by a family run set of musicians and dancers. We had a great time and would recommend this as an alternative to the big south shore Luaus.
(5)Candace O.
We've been going to Kaua'i for many years but just discovered the Mediterranean Gourmet. We went there for the Tuesday night luau. The food, served buffet style, and entertainment were great even for a small venue. We liked it so much we went back another night for their regular dinners. We had awesome, fresh Ono, that was just caught that morning and creatively prepared. The location is great, too - right by the crashing waves. Go before dark to enjoy the view.
(4)Gina M.
Wonderful Greek dishes in an ideal setting......north shore of Kauai, but leave the ordering of steaks to a place that specializes in steaks. It was tough and wasn't all that tasty. Mojitos are a bit different....they use Sprite instead of a club soda. Watermelon bruschetta very good.
(4)Janet D.
This restaurant is part of the Hanalei Colony Resort and feels a teeny bit like a "hotel restaurant". Even though I stayed a week, I only managed to go here twice...once for soup & salad and once for just a drink, so I'm not qualified to give a solid review. However, I do know from experience, that if this were a 5-star restaurant, I would have experienced that even in the limited time I spent here. I ate my soup & salad in the bar so I could best hear the jazz duo playing that night (I'm not big on jazz, but these guys were pretty good). The soup (potato leek) was average, the salad (beet) was above average, and my rum drink (a Bali Hi, I think) was kind of disappointing (seeing that I was in a tropical paradise bursting with delectable fruits). My second visit I came for a free Mai Tai for resort guests and a belly dancer. The bartender sure didn't skimp on the alcohol (seems like half of the 16 oz drink was straight rum), but I'm not one to appreciate that...once again, I missed the fresh fruit juices that could have dazzled me. (I had to request more of the bottled juice they used in order to get the drink down.) My compliments to the very attentive staff who go out of their way to make sure you're happy. The view from the restaurant is great. They have a great variety of quality entertainment. Again, I can't speak for much of the food, but I would guess that it's best to have mid-level expectations to avoid any significant disappointment. & a darn strong free mai tai, variety of low-key entertainment (sedate jazz, belly dancing, contemporary & classical music), attentive staff
(3)Amy E.
This was pretty good. Nice location near our hotel. Salads were good. We didn't have high expectations so were pleasantly surprised.
(3)Anne L.
Our server was attentive/helpful. The food was fresh, healthy, and a good alternative to the usual burgers/fish tacos. Make a reservation if you want a table by the windows, although you can't see anything after dark.
(4)Aloha M.
...amazingly overpriced and very mediocre. We tried to eat there twice, as the location and atmosphere are rather lovely. The staff was very friendly. The food and prices were laughable, though. I had a pretty good gyro and REALLY good waffle fries. In our two visits, we sampled about 2/3 of the menu and found that everything else was just NOT GOOD FOOD. Don't make the extra drive. Stay in Hanalei and eat at Baracuda....you'll spend less and have a much better experience. (this message is in no way endorsed by Baracuda)
(2)Beth G.
Great atmosphere... even had a belly dancer for entertainment. Beautiful view of the ocean if you are smart enough to get there early and get a window seat. One of the best dinners we had on the north side of the Island. We had the artichoke appetizer (which was too pricey and not worth it) but our main course,the rack of lamb for two, was excellent. I had a mai tai and it was delicious. Service was really good and we left feeling satisfied. If we were staying longer on the Island, we would have gone back for another meal.
(5)Joe B.
Wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this gem of a place. They could use another server - our waiter was competent, but just overwhelmed. The food was served with great presentation and tasted amazing. We had the trio of hummus, greek salads and shared the rack of lamb, which was the star of the show. Stay away from the average creme brulee and opt for the mango sorbet, which was out of this world. Along with a stellar view and live music, a great night.
(4)Steven C.
Had a large party for a wedding. It seemed like the management took advantage of my family by forcing everyone have three courses as well as a strict no sharing rule turned a 50 dollar plate to a hundred dollar plate. The steak was mediocre at best. The sever did a great job
(2)Michael W.
The menu leans heavily to Greek but the food we had was very good. Yellowtail sashimi appetizer was very fresh and well cut. Salads were delicious. This place used to be called Charo's and she still owns the building. Other musicians play here now because she has left the island.
(3)Rich R.
Nice place. Went there on basis of Yelp reviews. Friendly and casual atmosphere. Very friendly service. Great burgers. Beers tasted like ambrosia on a hot day. Perfect stop after arduous hike. Good lunch stop.
(4)Shannon B.
Good but not quite great. As another reviewer indicated this I essentially a hotel restaurant which serves the nearby rental units. We stopped by for cocktails at the bar one evening during the week and the bartender was quite the character. Entrees were $25-$35 which seems about on par for a hotel restaurant when you add the 30% markup for being in Hawaii.
(3)Michelle P.
Just back for a second time to Haena and thought we'd try Mediterranean Gourmet again. It was pretty good when we ate there two years ago and we were interested in trying the luau this time around, but won't due to their unfortunate infant policy. Our son is 11 mos. old and we called to make a reservation for three adults and an infant. I was told that even if our baby doesn't eat a thing we need to pay 35 dollars for the space of a high chair. I asked if we'd have a separate table whether three or four people and was told we would - so it's not as if the high chair would take the place of another paying costumer. So, I am left with two conclusions - they really do 't want infants at the luau and can't exclude - so they just charge a ridiculous fee to discourage kids, or they are being greedy. Don't mean to be harsh, but I am really disappointed with this policy and think this is bad customer service - after working in the restaurant industry for years. So no luau at The Mediterranean for us and we will take our business elsewhere.
(1)Peter Y.
If you're looking for a restaurant to wine and dine your significant other then this is the place for you. Great view of the ocean and the service was excellent. Mindy was taking cared of us and she was very pleasant. The food is fantastic!! We started off with the artichoke as an appetizer and that set the stage on what's to come. Sooo goooood! I had the mediterranean Gyro and that was delightful! The pita bread was like butter. So soft and tasty that it makes you beg for more. The shawarma was just as good and it's nice that they throw in what looks and taste like Bok Choy or Mustard Green. The garlic dip could be thicker in my book but still good nonetheless. My wife had the Filet Pepper Gordandola (med rare) and wow.... I'm like... Is that meat that I'm eating? So delicious. A great way to end our day with a fantastic meal. 5 stars to this establishment.
(5)Rae M.
Both our rehearsal dinner and wedding reception were held at the Mediterranean Gourmet. Beautiful views. Great food and drinks (chicken marsala, shrimp paella, macademia nut-encrusted mahi mahi, and mango margaritas were all hits!) and very friendly, attentive waitstaff and bartenders. However, service from the viewpoint of a regular patron could be different!
(4)Mitch S.
After having several disappointing meals at well reviewed North Shore Kauai restaurants, I was really happy to have finally made it the Mediterranean Gourmet on our last night on the island. The venue is pretty, the view and location are stunning and there was surprisingly good live music. The best part (thankfully for a restaurant) was the food! The portions were very generous and every bite was bursting with flavor. The Mediterranean Gourmet makes, without a doubt, the BEST falafel I have ever tasted. Everything we had was delicious and I would agree with the rewards that it is the best restaurant on Kauai.
(5)Drew O.
Ok food not fabulous nor like mother used to make. Different for Hawaii so must stand out here. Unless you are staying nearby, not really worth the drive to the "end of the road".
(2)Jane V.
I loved this place. Location is great if you are coming back from Ke'e Beach "beach at the end of the road" and want a late lunch or early dinner. It is about 10 miles from Princeville and so worth the trek. Ingredients were fresh, food was very tasty and the menu a refreshing change from Island fare. The restaurant manager seems genuinely interested in pleasing the customer. he made the rounds of the dining room more than once while were there. 5 stars for the food -- setting is ok --restaurant space nothing special. The waitress was very attentive. Can't wait to go back. Also for Hawaii, prices are very reasonable. I so hope this restaurant makes it in this out of the way locale.
(4)Fannie Z.
This place is right on the beach next to the ocean. It has a great view and nightly local entertainment. The food is good, I highly recommend the Gyro, the meat is roasted to perfection, juicy and tender with lots of favor. The owner is super friendly, he personally found a table for us and will walk around the place to chat up everyone. The bartenders are very nice, for the first time I tried a drink called a "chiquita banana", it doesn't have any banana in it, but it has a long list of tropical fruity hard liquor, which makes the drink taste like a fruit punch but with a hick of a kick in about 10 minutes after you finish it. It made my night a blast. And they do have Luau for Tuesday and Friday, but you should make reservations because they usually sell out. According to the Bartender, it's best to sit at the bar, you get a discount on the price and also a good view.
(4)Mr M.
Great spot! Kabobs, salad, dessert were all fantastic.
(5)Jim C.
This was our third time to dine - we are 14 year annual visitors to Princeville, and this time did not compare to the last two. Positives - we made our reservation for Wednesday night (50% off bottles of wine) early and they have a nice selection of wines on the list - our choice Bernardus Pinot Noire - all three times there - great stuff if you haven't had it. Service was good as usual, but very noisy (kids - out of the restaurant's control) - requested a perimeter table (made the reservation 10 days out but didn't get one) We all (4) had the New York Strip (been eating seafood 5 nights in a row) based on the incredible flavor of the chefs special Gargonzola filet last visit. Big mistake - it wasn't tender or up to par. In fairness, in the past we have had harissa, ono, paella, and the filet and all were absolutely delicious. To top it off they didn't have the lava cake for dessert which we were all pining for, so we went , and I don't even like dessert. All in all, disappointed, but we will return next year. When we were leaving (early 8:30) a couple requested to be seated and they were told that te restaurant was closed - hours posted are to10:00 PM. That is really bush league and as a business owner I was incensed - but this isn't my business.
(4)Joyce L.
This was by far the best meal on Kauai during our 6 day stay. They were very welcoming and set up a nice table for us and our pre-toddler son. Most importantly, the food was excellent - we shared the half order of the paella (YUM) and two appetizers--the fresh ahi sashimi and kafta. The pita was excellent as was the hummus that has a special ingredient--ginger! I also had the tango mango margarita, which was yummy, too. We had no tummy space left for dessert. The view is beautiful.
(5)Ziggy S.
First off, this is a $$$ and not a $$ restaurant (the average price was $30+ per plate). Good view of the ocean but this place is for tourists. The food was fine, but not worth the price.
(3)Dave C.
HCR and the Mediterranean Gourmet hosted the pre-wedding dinner and wedding reception dinner for two friends of mine who were married last weekend at the resort. I had the chance to sample many of the dishes that this place puts out, and I came away very impressed with the freshness and taste of all of the items served. The waitstaff are extremely friendly and attentive. I will always hold a fondness for this spot not only due to the wedding locale, but also for the fact that it was my first pig roast where they cooked that bad boy in the traditional island style.
(5)John K.
Fabulous views, and even better burger. All the food being served around us looked great and the menu was a perfect mix of local and Mediterranean flavors. A bit of a drive down the coast from the St. Regis Princeville (if that's where you're staying), but highly recommended as the drive is cool and the food is great.
(4)Sam E.
This place is amazing!!! Food is unique and really fresh.... Servers are friendly and the ambiance is warm with a great view!! If we lived on the island we would go all the time!!
(5)Bryce R.
Had lunch here on a Thursday. The location is beautiful, with our booth overlooking the ocean. Our wraps and salad were good, but a bit overpriced, even for Kaua'i.
(4)Sid S.
If you dare spend more than 3 days on Kauai and don't have dinner here, you have desecrated an amazing opportunity for true gastronomical bliss. Ambiance amazing, food beyond description , service unexpectedly great. We had great food, phenom service, owner/exec chef talked to us about the best cioppino ever. We have been to all the better rated places on the island and this one rocks!
(5)Rick S.
Yeah, this is pretty good food. It is a helluva trip to get there which is a testament to the chef after five years. But I find the room to be very odd. Very little charm. Certainly not a place one would want to linger. The ceiling fans pelt you, the lighting is poorly done and there are these odd fabrics seemingly attached to the ceiling. Tables are oddly (have i over used the word?) placed with most too close. I'd go back again but not for the ambience. Four stars for food on an island with poor choices and two stars for the room.
(3)Drew S.
This place was awesome!!! We went here onour first and last nights in Hanalei and were greatly satisfied each time! On the first night we ordered a couple of appetizers...cant remember the names but one was Greek inspired and the other was the tapas choice. Both were fantastic and the mai tai was unforgettable. On the last night I got the pistachio crusted ahi which was to die for! As for the service...it was first class all the way. We had the same waitress and bartender both nights...her name is Valerie and you should absolutely ask for her by name as she is the best and will make your dining experience that much more enjoyable! Bottom line is that theplace comes HIGHLY recommended!
(5)Steve D.
Excellent Hawaiian Luau. Wonderful show, very entertaining. Food was good. Nice location but all indoors with only views of the beach. Would have liked to have been outside.
(4)Sharon G.
Feels very much like a hotel restaurant, no locals eating here when we were there! Food was good but not great, and lots of items on the menu are not mediterranean nor mediterranean-inspired. Still, it is the closest restaurant to the surf line of any on the north shore of hanalei and the setting alone is worth a lot. Not a good view for sunset, however, since it faces mostly north (better at Princeville Hotel). Coconut baklava was great.
(4)Claytonian C.
Excellent food here all around. We ordered way too much this time but ate it all. Saffron arancini, cucumber salad, and chicken dishes were all fresh and tasty. The view from the patio is very cool. Great place to go if you're tired of eating all of the "thick" vacation food and want something lighter -- you won't be disappointed!
(5)Jennifer S.
Absolutely loved our meal at Mediterranean Gourmet. Wine served at the correct temperature, tasty food including the best steaks two of our party has ever had. Our service was beyond excellent and the ambiance was very nice/ cleaner restrooms would have been an added bonus. Very nice to have the owners check in with our table....we were all very happy with our experience and happily recommend this restaurant!
(5)Karl H.
Great food, beautiful views, but kinda ditzy service. We had lunch here in Sept. 2008. The food was ok, I had Chicken Souvlaki, which was tasty and a welcome break from a steady diet of seafood and steak in Hawaii. The view is very special, overlooking the ocean - a nice spot for a romantic dinner perhaps? The service was a bit lacking, our waitress brought the wrong food to our table, and forgot to bring us our drinks. I got the impression she was exactly enthused by her job. 3/5 stars, I will go back and try it again.
(3)Cathy L.
We spent our best meal on Kauai at The Mediterranean Gourmet restaurant. Very attentive wait staff - I love how they work as a team, so you don't have to get the attention of just one waiter. Food was excellent - my "upgrade" to a greek salad side was worth the added $3. My recommendation for dessert is between the kahlua/chocolate mousse, and the volcano cake. I can't really recall the official title for either of these desserts, just go with what sounds close. The view is spectacular - right on the ocean, not really a bad seat in the house. It is however a bit pricey, even for Kauai, but then again you get what you pay for.
(5)Andy M.
Overall GREAT restaurant. Lots of flavors and super sweet and friendly service from server as well as owner. It's a little bit far and hard to get to...but worth the drive. Make sure you are a garlic lover bc it's in EVERYTHING...but again so much flavor and strong drinks served as well. The baklava was totally unexpected and delicious...and the mango sorbet just melted in our mouths. I had the filet w gorgonzola and habeneros...and boy was it spicy and flavorful. We finished every bite of our food and left very happy. Would definitely go back
(4)Susan L.
We were really disappointed in the food.....hummus was bland! Bread on lamb burger was old (or toasted too long) and asked for Harissa and they brought out what was basically ketchup. More blandness... If you want a nice experience (just nice ... Not exceptional) on the water, then make the trip. Staff is friendly.
(1)Candace B.
Great, healthy meal. Fresh fish, well prepared. Great view. I loved that everything tasted fresh and healthy. Not a carb on the plate! In a good way. Had the Grilled Fresh Fish Lettuce Wraps. Yummy hummus, baba ganoush and tasty tabouleh. Worth a trip.
(4)Rod R.
Best restaurant in Kauai on par with Merriman's.
(4)Mimi D.
Location was nice - overlooking the ocean. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. The menu had some decent Mediterranean food that was a tad overpriced, but I guess we are in HI. The spanakopita was excellent. The Greek salads were mediocre. The meat dishes were good. The coconut baklava was different and yummy. There was a singer /guitar player added to the ambiance. Service was excellent and the hummus and pita that came free with the meal was a nice touch.
(3)seankor W.
Ate lunch here and it was lovely! Food was good, view was great (need to clean the windows but still amazing views). I got the vegetarian plate lunch and it was all amazing. Boyfriend had an ono fish sandwich made on their pita bread which was good an the fish he said was very fresh! They let him special order it, the fish sandwich I think usually comes on a bun or in lettuce wraps and he wanted to have it on their amazing pita bread, we like it when they let us special order without making a fuss! Good service too!
(5)Ryan B.
I took my mom out to lunch here for her birthday. We loved the fact that this place is literally yards from the ocean, but is pretty casual and not expensive. In fact, the bill came out to just under $50, including a $9 glass of chardonnay. We had the watermelon and feta cheese bruschetta to start, followed with a vegetarian panini with arugula salad for my mom and a lamb gyro wrap with greek salad for myself. We enjoyed the food and the fact that the dishes weren't overwhelmingly large or rich. The decor was kinda funky, and the service slightly slower than I would have liked, but the view is fantastic and the price is right. Overall it's a great place to grab a bite when out in Haena!
(4)M D.
This is a very good restaurant. But it is not inexpensive with entree's starting at about $28. The view is spectacular (on the Ocean) which every seat enjoys. But don't expect a view in the evening (especially in winter when sun sets about 6:45pm) - if you want the view eat early or have lunch here. I ate the Pan Seared Harissa which was one of the best meals I have ever eaten - it was that good. Service was also marvelous.
(4)Emily Y.
3 1/2 stars. Good. fish, but a bit over cooked both times we ate there. But the flavorings were yummy and tasty. Tried the fire roasted artichoke! Yum! If you're staying at Hanalei Colony Resort, look for the discount coupons and free drink vouchers!
(4)Lisa J.
We were married in Hanalei and came here for our after wedding dinner. We had a party of 15, so I called about 3 weeks before our trip to make a reservation. We drove up there a couple of days before the wedding to verify the reservation, and they didn't have it. It wasn't a problem, though, we were able to make another reservation at that time. I'm just glad we decided to check on it. We arrived on time and they were ready on time. We opted to let everyone order off of the menu rather than create a set menu, and that worked out fine. The drinks, appetizers, salads and main courses were good. What brought the review down a star were the desserts. I was sitting at one end of the long table, so really only saw the desserts around me. Two of us had the pineapple upside down cake. The cake was supposed to be sponge cake. It was SO dense, it was difficult to cut into with a spoon. My husband and mother had the lava cake. There was no "lava." It was more like a little bit of pudding in the middle. Also, the two cakes looked nothing alike for being the same dessert. They did remove the two pineapple upside down cakes from the bill. I also overheard that the ice cream was good. All in all we'd come back here for dinner if we were on the north shore again, but we'd definitely go elsewhere for dessert.
(4)Connie J.
Nice place, right by the water on the north shore. Good food. My husband had the paella which was excellent. I had the mouthwatering Shwarma beef kabobs. Finished it off with 150 year old Grand Marnier and pistachio bread pudding, simply delicious. So good we went back the next evening
(5)ben A.
The wife and I tried this place out casue it was one of the only things open. We ordered the drinks a Mojito and a Mango tango sub rum. Both were very good. I ordered the Pistachio Ahi it was good but it gets a star withheld. All i tasted was pistachio it had a strong nut oil taste which really takes away from the 30 dollar piece of fish. The fish was secondary in this dish which sucks. The wife had the gorgonzola filet which was incredible the potatoes were amazing the sauce was flavorfull and had a punch and the gorgonzola had a strong spicy kick to it which really made it good. The best steak she has ever eaten. This place is pretty spendy easily over hundred bucks for dinner and drinks. But its a nice place to grab a meal. But skip the ahi. and get the filet. There was also live music on friday night and she had a beautiful voice.
(4)Tina K.
Really nice place for a good meal. service was fabulous as was location. would go back if life takes me back to Kauai
(5)Molly H.
We ate lunch here after a morning snorkeling at Tunnels Beach. My "special" sangria wasn't very good, and neither was the white wine I ordered (however I've should have heeded my own adivice to never order wine in a tropical location -- it never meets expectations. Nevertheless, our food was great -- this place defintely isn't "Greek" and doesn't claim to be -- but a lot of the Mediterranean specialties were right on. Hubby had the Falafel wrap and I had the garlic chicken, substituting tabouli for fries. All was excellent. You can't beat the views/atmosphere here and the service was good. The only thing I didn't love, aside from the drinks, was the hummus. I think they forgot the tahini... PS: Someone was telling me that the restaurant and the hotel it is part of are owned by the performer Charo (of Surreal Life fame)
(4)Mary Ellen T.
Wow just left. Artichoke and clam amazing! Caprese salad fresh and presenting beautifully. Would go back again and again !
(5)Carole M.
My husband had the seafood pasta while I had grilled ono. Both were good. I wouldn't say this place is GREAT especially considering the prices, but definitely one of the better places to eat on the North Shore.
(3)Christiana H.
The only reason why my husband and I ate @ the Mediterranean Gourmet was because Red Hot Mama's was closed and the lady in the General Store recommended it. It was okay, not even good. I would not call this a GREEK place, more like Persian food. The Pita Bread was warm but the Hummus was way too garlicky. We had the Kafta to start out with and it tasted like hamburger meat on pita bread. Hubby and I shared the Paella (they spelled it Pailla). Rice was overly mushy and the fish (Ono) was incredibly dry. There was a belly dancer performing that evening and it was somewhat uncomfortable eating and having someone pulsate their hips in your face while doing so.
(2)Paul S.
Excellent food at a reasonable price (for gourmet) . . . we stopped by twice at our most recent visit to the island . . . The only downside is that the interior decor hasn't been upgraded since before Charo sold the location.
(4)Melissa C.
This restaurant was the best restaurant of my trip. The presentation was beautiful, the ingredients were well put together, the fish cooked perfectly, the price was right, the wait staff friendly & knowledgeable.
(4)Suren N.
First lamb burger I've ever had, definitely won't be my last. It was insanely juicy and stuffed with feta cheese. The meat had to have been ground fresh on site and it was seasoned perfectly. Go for the Greek salad substitute for fries, the dressing and the toppings were perfect. My wife ordered the garlic chicken pita wrap, I believe she used the word "heaven" several times during that meal. For dessert we had coconut baklava, not your standard baklava, which was a nice departure for me being the son of the worlds best baklava chef. We finished the meal with their French press coffee that they bring to the table for you to press, simple and deliciously strong flavored. The atmosphere was really nice, especially with the ocean view and the cool breeze. The staff was friendly and inviting, the man that was greeting everybody must have owned or managed the place and he had an attitude like he enjoyed being at work. We will definitely be back for their food and wine tasting menu.
(5)Smoothie M.
One of the best lunches we had in Hanalei. The fatoush salad was a bit different than I've had elsewhere, very chopped and spicy with a pungent lemon and habanero dressing. Nice people, good views and mai tais.
(4)kahau m.
ok..... so i have eaten here once, but have had drinks here several times. food(lunch) was meeehhh. drinks were very good and tasty...... mango margarita (blended), johnny jito are both perfect after a day at the beach or a hike or whatevas..... just make sure you can drive over all the one way bridges on your way out of wainiha!!!! bumbai you get stuck den you gotta sleep on da beach in deep country!!!
(4)bob f.
Just came back from Kauai. This review is for the Luau only and simply put they did a great job creating an intimate setting with a Laua that had a family, cozy, personal flavor. If you want a big production, 400 people, stage way over there, heads in your way and free watered down drinks - go to another venue and pay more money. As far as the food - this was a lot better than many of the luau's we have been to over the past 20 years on most of the islands. Pork tender and juicy, fish was moist and tasty, salads, fresh fruit and deserts were more than adequate. There were probably 50 people total and the dancers (3 daughters & beautiful) danced up front and one dancer would move to the middle of the seating area so we all had a very good view of the show. Again if you want a big production, lots of people and lines go to anudda place. You want small, solid, intimate good food - come here. PS: Lastly, if you want a great sunset picture with an ocean background - this is also the place.
(4)Heather N.
We had lunch here last week. The service was very attentive and the food was very good. I had the kafta and my SO had an ono sandwich. Both dishes were delicious and cooked perfectly. Even the iced tea was great. One drawback was the coconut baklava. I was expecting coconut in all the layers, but it was just like one piece of baklava split horizontally with some coconut added. I would absolutely dine here again. They have a tasting menu at night that looked interesting and very reasonable.
(4)K. S.
We've eaten here three years in a row and just love the place. It gets better and better each year - which blows our minds. The food is by far the star of the show. Some complain that it's inside, but who cares when you have an amazing beach front view and some of the best food you can find on Kauai. The staff is excellent and the owner is very helpful / gracious. I'm trying to find the words to describe how amazing the food is and I just can't - you have to go and experience it for yourself.
(5)Valerie T.
My best meal on this trip was at the Mediterranean Gourmet. This used to be Charo's long ago I think. We had lunch and the people and the food was great. Not to mention the only beachfront dining in the area. Worth the drive to the end of the road. You can tell the people really care about good service and food.
(4)Yogini R.
We visited Mediterranean Gourmet while vacationing in Kauai. We were enticed by the ads showing "Best Restaurant in Kauai 2008" and "Best New Restaurant 2007." This wasn't even the best restuarant we ate at during our trip, so I doubt it is genuinely the best restaurant on the whole island. I had the special, Paella, the first bite of which was crunchy, unfresh rice. The seafood was no where near fresh--and not at all worth the $50 price tag. I agree with a previous poster who stated that the hummus was way too garlic-y. Also, the pita, though warm, was not fresh either.
(2)Angela S.
I'm so glad we stopped! The hummus was some of the best I've ever had, and the caprese salad and sangria was fantastic. Great service and very good food (the whole menu looks great)! Also, not bad prices for the island. If definitely come back.
(4)Catherine L.
This is one of the best locations on the north side. Easy to miss but worth the find. Staff is friendly, specialty drinks are amazing. Compared to the rest of the island, the prices aren't bad at all. It's always worth coming back to.
(4)Basti B.
I really enjoyed this place. We only stopped for a couple of drinks but the food on the menu and all the daily specials sounded terrific. The view of the ocean and over to Hanalei Bay are phenomenal and the breeze and sound of waves crashing throughout the restaurant were fantastic. I will definitely be back next time we're on Kauai to try some of the food and have another Kona Brew.
(4)Mel S.
Not bad. Better than the reviews. Limited menus but good for the price, atmosphere, and expectation. Thanks team for making a good meal.
(4)Asha S.
Terrible. Food is super bland and really expensive for what you get. The views and the service were good so maybe stop by for a drink if you really want to check the place out. However I'd skip it all together.
(1)Serena P.
Love going to this restaurant around sunset. Beautiful view of the ocean. It has such fun decor. I love the lanterns! We have always have amazing service. Love Justin and Seth. They are so down to earth and know all about the menu. They have great recommendations. So this time we started with the Greek trio with classic hummus, sun dried tomato hummus, and babaganush and pita bread. Which was so amazing. I love all the different flavors. We also ordered some yummy sangria. For entrees I ordered the vegetarian strew and my date ordered the Mediterranean gyro. His dish looked amazing and filling, while mine was tasty I was felt still hungry. And for $23 I was hoping for more flavor and soup. Or maybe a some pita bread. I was just a little disappointed for the price. Every other time I have come, the food has been great. So maybe it was just an off day. I'm willing to look past it. This place is really worth making the drive out for. Great food. Great service and beautiful view.
(4)Gabe P.
Good food! Had the lamb chops before they started the remodel a few months ago,it washers tasty it came with a nice mint sauce, the drinks were standard, it is a great location for a nice dinner with your significant other. It is right on the beach, only bummer is it is a windy 15 min drive from hanalei to get there other than that I would highly recommend
(4)Dave G.
The Mediterranean Gourmet hosts a luau on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It is a dinner and show package deal for (if memory serves) $65 per person on Tuesday and a bit more on Thursdays. Call ahead for reservations. The show is extraordinary. The troupe's leader is a musician and singer who is dedicated to preserving Hawaiian culture. His wife plays amazing Fijian drums, which most of us have vaguely heard or recall from Fantasy Island. One of his daughters accompanies her. Another of his daughters is the star performer of the dance group. The leader himself is a handsome, congenial fellow. He is the sort of performer who finds that one person in the audience who's not "into it" and gets them into it, a consummate showman. Later in the show he does the traditional fire dancing, and you think not only can he play guitar, but he's a bad ass, too. You will have fun at the luau. Settle in with one of the "free" (meaning included with your prix fixe meal) cocktails and let the show do its work. It will leave you wishing that you could have attended a real family luau with these lovely people on dark beach somewhere with a pig on a spit and a cask of rum and their entire extended family playing guitar and ukelele. The banquet food here is a bit of a racket. They do NOT server traditional cuisine with the luau, but their stuff was decent. Served buffet style, the dishes were an odd mixture of things. None of it was Mediterranean. It was a little bizarre. The service, as I have lamented elsewhere was, eh, mediocre. There is definitely an island-time mentality in most of the service industry folks on the island. Go for the show. It will blow you away.
(3)Stacie A.
About the only good thing this place has going for it is the view. So disappointing in every way. Mediocre food, ridiculously high prices, slow service. We left feeling so disappointed. My husband and I spent the most money on this meal out of all our meals on Kauai and this one tasted the worst. My chicken on my panini was boiled to rubber perfection and the tomato on the caprese salad was hard. Don't waste your time or money here. Unless all you're paying for is the view.
(2)Marie-Line V.
We treated everyone for lunch here for our wedding. Near tunnels beach. Its good, nice staff and sea view, food is ok, some dishes amazing others just average but for a quite steep place. Still, was worth it to have everyone there together but nothing truly amazing.
(3)Amit S.
We went to hanalei bay and stopped at this restaurant. The food was excellent. The gyro wraps are really nice. The vegetable stew specials was extremely tasty. I would highly recommend lunch here if you are visiting Ke beach or hanalei bay
(5)Merritt A.
So disappointing. Went for lunch. View is awesome. Everything else is as mediocre as it gets. With so many great places to eat on the island, why waste your hunger here? We ordered caprese salad after the server assured us the tomatoes were great. Not so. Plus super stingy on the basil, oil, and balsamic. Gyro was sorry. My wife's panini was a joke (they had to make it twice even cause it wasn't toasted first time round). Bad way to spend $65 at lunchtime.
(2)Gabrielle D.
The cook can't cook. Worst dinner in 10 years. We had made a reservation for 8:00 pm on Open Table. We were seated at 8:05 pm. We were very hungry so we ordered right away. At 8:45 pm the appetizer arrived. It was a grilled kafta but you could not taste the meat or the spices. It really tasted more like (bad) frozen pizza. The hummus did not taste like hummus, had no taste and was very liquid. Safeway has better hummus than that, and it's supposed to be homemade. Then the entrees arrived. The Mediterranean Gyro was supposed to have babaganoush and sun dried tomatoes on top of quinoa. In fact there was no babaganoush, the quinoa was dry tasteless couscous and the hummus was still the same horrible liquid something. My entree "poke du jour" was okay. I don't know what the organic greens were. Anyhow, we were done in 20 minutes appetizer + entrees. Also while we were eating a waiter was putting the chairs up... I guess 8:45 pm is past the end of the shift. We were extremely disappointed and felt totally taken by the lack of quality of the food given the high price points.
(1)Andrew R.
This was a great place to have a luau. Come on a Tuesday, and enjoy a great show. It is more intimate and fun that way. Particularly, the fire act at the end is well worth it. Playing with fire indoors - so awesome! The kalua pork is one of the best things here. Just be careful, as it's heavy on the sodium. The rest of the food was pretty standard. And while the mixed drinks are your best bet for getting your money's worth out of that first free drink, they're way too sweet, especially the mai tai. Choose wisely or just get a big glass of wine.
(4)Jess R.
The plusses - what a great location. It takes awhile to drive there, even from Princeville, but what awesome views. As we arrived, a storm loomed over Hanalei, bringing us an absolutely memorable rainbow. Then the storm hit us, chasing all the picture takers back inside for a 5 minute downpour. Then it was all over, all in a ten minute span! Food - super fresh ahi sashimi, delicious (if extremely garlicky) hummus with warm pita, and the gyro plate were all delish. The minuses - we made a res requesting a nice romantic window table - and their first selection, with only 3 other tables occupied at 6 pm, was a tiny table at the back door so small our food and drinks wouldn't have fit on the table. After some negotiation, during which they explained to us that every table was booked for the evening (not by the time we left, btw) we secured a very nice table with great views and breeze, although the table I asked for was refused - another couple had already requested that table! Hmmm. From the start, our server spent her time trying to rush us out the door, as if we were taking up space they wanted to save for other diners (hotel guests?). As we had driven some 25 minutes to get there I was nonplussed at the rush, and I insisted we get our drinks first, then our appetizers, then our entree - not all at once. Even so, we were out in just about an hour, even though we would have preferred lingering to listen to the fine Hawaiian uke player who was very entertaining. Side note - the couple who had reserved the corner table we wanted walked in halfway through our dinner and had what seemed to me to be about double the portion of sashimi we got in their appetizer - did they ask for two orders on one plate? In the end, being rushed through a meal on Kauai is simply offensive to me - and as such I cannot see us returning - if you decide to go, call ahead and be clear you plan to linger if you desire to.
(3)Norm H.
Man, what a bunch of easy graders here on Yelp. This was our second trip here...and our last. The folks that work here are pleasant, but that is about all there is good to say about it. The portions are microscopic. We were there with our two granddaughters, who are not especially big eaters.They both ordered the child's pasta, slurped it down and ordered a second round that also disappeared. My wife is also a light eater...and had to fill up on leftovers after we can home to our condo. The menu is very limited. The preparation is adequate, but surely nothing special. I'm not going to comment on the price; everything in Hawaii is expensive. (The wine prices are reasonable). There are indeed a lot of windows facing the ocean, but don't think you are going to see the sunset; the building doesn't face that angle. I'd really like to give this place three stars, but would just be too high a grade.
(2)Judy F.
The hummus was delicious and presentaion was nice. The sangria was the best we've ever had made with cabernet and fruit purees's. The gyro was very tasty. The stew was a bit disappointing for the price.The waiter was attentive and pleasant .The view was beyond splendid. Our host was disappointed that the menu was still abbreviated due to ongoing remodel.
(4)Rachel Z.
Way over-priced and over-hyped. Came here for Christmas Eve Dinner. Instead of good food, we were served with paella that is bland, with over-cooked fish, and rice with things in it that might break a tooth. We specifically noted to the waiter that we will share the dish, and he would just bring one spoon. Also we had sashimi which is "generous" if you call giving 5 pieces that costs more than $20.
(1)Greg S.
The. Lamb. Is. Delicious. The lamb melts in your mouth. Cooked for perfection. Super friendly and attentive staff. The owner is often found interacting with guests and making the experience great for his customers. If I am ever back this way again, I'll definitely return to this restaurant.
(5)Tarheelfoodmonste R.
The only thing gourmet about this place is the prices. I've never been personally offended before by pricing but I guess there's a first for everything. How a cup of tomato and lima bean soup can cost $15 even on an island is beyond my imagination. The soup was watery and garlic heavy. It could have at least come with a piece of bread. Our other appetizer was a pita bread with a kebab on it and hummus. The pita was definitely from a frozen packet and likely the meat was as well. The hummus was standard. I only ate here because we had not realized how far we would be from other food choices and we just didn't have another option and were very hungry-- that is the only scenario I would recommend eating here.
(1)Shila S.
Friendly service and view was great, but food was overpriced and meh! We loved the chocolate lava cake and enjoyed the fasoulia stew, but it was pretty overpriced for smallish dishes that were not that filling or as fresh and vibrant as I hoped. It's a beautiful location that might be fun for drinks or lunch but disappointing for a nice dinner. recommended: chocolate lava cake!!!, fasoulia, not recommended: baba ganoush, fattoush
(3)Maloos K.
The most tasteless food I have ever had!!!! Garlicy, watery and tasteless!!!! The prices are ridiculously high!!!!! $8.75 for three spoons of hummus!!!! And the chicken wrap was awful!!!! Do not recommend this place!!! No!!!
(1)Richel R.
I went to the Tuesday night Luau with a group of six people. I felt that the money we paid $69 per person was really worth it because of the Luau and not for the food. The food, buffet style, was just average. My favorite dishes were the potato macaroni salad and the fresh island fish. The Luau was a great, spectacular show mostly performed by a family. The singing was very calming and entertaining during our meal. The hula dancers were all very talented and graceful...there's even a part of the show where they let you go up the stage and try to hula! The finale and best part, was the fire show. You need to see it to believe it! The performers made us feel at home and welcomed to their island. Thumbs up to Coppin Colburn and his family for such a unique show!
(4)Gary H.
Had the Ahi sashimi appetizer and it was fresh and delicious. The star of the lunch though was the kale salad with blackened Ono. The kale was served lightly sautéed in coconut oil and tossed with pine nuts, roasted tomatoes, dates, watermelon, feta cheese, and topped with a generously-sized piece of Ono perfectly prepared and with just the right amount of seasoning. What a home run for a light lunch. My wife and I shared both dishes and it was plenty for both of us. Our server was Mariel. She was friendly, sweet, and attentive. The place hasn't changed much over the years and since it used to be Charro's but the view is spectacular and the place was clean. Certaily worth the trip to the North shore.
(4)Laura H.
Visited twice in early May. This review is based solely on the luau and Mother's Day brunch. The luau was great! (Admittedly, I have nothing to compare it to as this was our first luau experience.) However, I expected something different as it is advertised as an "oceanfront luau". The restaurant is "oceanfront", but the luau takes place inside. The show was entertaining. The food was good- excellent kalua pork. The service was good also, island-style, casual, laid-back; not what I would describe as 5-star service, though. The brunch was delicious with one exception: They do not serve bacon. (Who doesn't have bacon?)
(3)Donald M.
Five stars for the luau. I have been to 2 other mass produced luaus and this was hands down fantastic. The show had singing, dancing, hula and fire dancing. At first with all the old people in there I thought I would lose interest but it was just the right amount of everything. Don't miss it. You could tell by the people there that a buffet was on the menu not all but some. The buffet was not bad all luaus have the same buffet. Oh and the drinks were great. So make a reservation the week before you come for Tuesday night, spend the $69 and enjoy the great show One more thing I thought some of the tip would go to show so I probably over tipped for a buffet. Aloha
(5)Richard J.
They forgot to tell us that the kitchen burned down a few months ago and that the only thing they have to cook with is a panini sandwich cooker. Other than that, any fish that they serve is raw as in suchi. The location is a plus as was the service. Period.
(2)Laura C.
The food was tasty & authentic. The prices are steep and portions are unfortunately small. Not worth the price in my opinion unless you are really craving mediterranean food! Great live music the night we dined though.
(3)Sara H.
Food was okay, but who spills garlic goo (mashed potatoes? hummus? something I didn't even order) all over a customer's purse and does not tell the customer about it? Apparently this place. Many dishes we ordered did not show up. Some main courses appeared at the same time as the appetizers. The server was apologetic about the missing food, but for how expensive everything was, I was expecting a nice experience, not a total disaster. I'm really sad about my purse and everything in it, which now reeks of garlic.
(2)Hillary M.
I read great reviews of this place on Chowhound and was excited when we drove by it on the way to the end of the road to the Napali Coast (and on our way to hike the beginning of the Kalalau Trail). I nearly yelped to my husband - oooh we have to try this place! Everyone says it's amazing! Well, as you can tell by my rating, it wasn't. My rating is based primarily on taste and quantity of food in conjunction with the price. The service wasn't horrible (but it wasn't great either...read on). We decided to split a plate of hummus appetizer ($9) and a gyros wrap ($16). With those price points we thought that would be plenty of food, plus we weren't starved and would be eating soon again. The hummus was horrid in my opinion. I'm used to creamy flavorful hummus - this was gritty INTENSELY raw garlic hummus. I could barely eat it. Now, the wrap. I should note that the before ordering the wrap I confirmed there would be no onions. The menu only said lettuce and tomato but I thought I should doublecheck. The waitress assured me "oh yea, it doesn't come with onions, you're fine". It comes out....and what do you know it's COVERED in red onions? We sent it back. They let my husband keep his half but they swiped the fries so I had to wait to eat anything. It comes back out onion-free this time but the amount of meat on this thing was like non-existent. There were two small pieces of gyros on the entire thing! What did the $16 go to? It had tomatoes and cucumber and a tzatziki sauce that was so watery it leaked all over my plate (and had no flavor). I like tzatziki and hummus almost everywhere else I have it and this was just disappointing. But hey, the cottage fries were awesome! Not making a point to go back there again. Maybe they are better for dinner?
(2)Kami R.
Went there 2 years ago and it was good. Went back excited to show friends the restaurant and not only was everyone's food bland but the service was nothing to write home about. Our waiter seemed like he was done for the day and forgot to even pour the wine for the guy tasting it. Fish and falafel were both way underseasoned. Will not go back again.
(1)Brittany H.
Was skeptical because of some of these reviews...but I can't express enough positivity for the restaurant. Amazing food (we ordered the ahi and gyros). The "perfect margarita" was perfect. The ambiance was wonderful, great live music and hula dancers to go along with it. Would recommend this place to anyone. Very happy we dined here and we will be back. Matt was a fantastic server and the staff was very friendly. 5+ stars in my opinion.
(5)Andrew C.
We stopped in for a drink during rush hour waiting for the traffic to Poipu to die down. The place was completely empty ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ), and at first wouldn't let us sit at a window table in the dining room, but eventually relented ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ). We ended up having a light dinner of beet salad ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ) & flat bread ( yelp.com/biz_photos/8YUS… ) which were both very good. Appetizer pricing is reasonable with both our items less than $10, but, iirc, entrees start @ $24 for Falafel and $25 for Gyro plate and into the $30's for most everything else. Service was good until the end when they rushed us saying they needed our table for a reservation when the place was still only 1/4 full. Booo! :( 4+ stars for the food.
(3)Kim K.
Excellent meal last nite...spanikopita delicate, steamed clams perfect, greek salad lovely...rack of lamb & fish wraps yummy...expensive but worth it! Nice music too! What a treat!!!
(4)Nishad J.
Great falafel wraps really different! Come with fries and salad. Also all the vegetarian menu items are marked off which makes it really easy for me and other vegetarians to order!
(4)H K.
Pricey, but most things around here (Haena, Hanalei) are. Greek salad was good with a lot of feta in it. Kafta appetizer not so great. Humus that came with kafta was decent like the kind you get from Costco. Gyro does not look like gyro, it looks more like shawarma. If staying near Heana, this place is convenient for a quick take out when you don't have the energy to go to Hanalei for food. We did not sit down to eat, so I cannot speak to the service. But, inside looked dingy and old.
(4)Monica C.
I've only been here for lunch. It's a great place to bring guests for a sit down as the views are spectacular. Food is fresh and flavorful. Service is friendly. I'm always looking for an excuse to go. Thanks guys and see you soon!
(5)Michael F.
Great view oh Hanalei Bay. Hummus and pita was great. Good drinks and all reasonably priced.
(4)Erika F.
My family and I came here after spending the day at Tunnels. We were looking for something tasty to fill our bellies after a day at the beach. We should not have come here... They had a special sashimi appetizer that was a mix of ahi and mahi. SOLD! 7 tiny slivers of fish come out. Tasty enough, but the portion was super small. Especially when we got the bill. $27 for 8 slivers of fish!! I've never seen sashimi that expensive before. I ordered the "special" ahi salad and my husband ordered the gyros. My seared ahi came out thickly coated in spices and was over cooked on some greens. Thankfully my husband doesn't mind overly seasoned food (you couldn't even taste the fish- what's the point of having fish if you can't taste the flavor of the fish itself??) so he ate it. I ate his gyros which were tasty. My two kids ordered the kids pasta. Simple enough. You cook pasta, add some cream parmesan cheese and butter- how could that come out bad? Pasta was overcooked, bland and super watery. The only reason why my kids ate it was because they were starving- but we had to add some salt, pepper and more parmesan cheese to give it just a little bit of flavor. We ordered a few rounds of beers that took FOREVER to come out. At one point we figured he forget our round since it took so long. 3 minutes later the beers arrived. There was a total of 10 tables in the restaurant- they weren't busy. All together our bill was $160 with tip. Completely overpriced and overhyped. Would never come here again. We should have gone to Dolphin Fish Market for tasty fish and sushi- much better quality and taste with lower prices.
(2)Amara W.
We went for the Tuesday luau on a lark and drank ourselves silly with cocktails! Our server Seth was awesome and just kept on bringing out the drinks, we sampled about 5 each, the gin and cucumber one was my favourite. The food was pretty good considering it was buffet. The show was pretty cool and the fact that the drummer, fire guy and three of the hula dancers were family was awesome. The holding hands in a circle part at the end was a bit weird, but I'm not a random stranger hand holderer kinda gal. If you're cool with that then it'd be a non issue, Overall a fun experience with a beautiful view.
(4)Darci F.
I live in the neighborhood and I love the Mediterranean Gourmet! Their food is delicious, staff are excellent and professional AND they have awesome live entertainment! The tuesday Luau is one of the best Luau that I have ever seen, every week it is packed so get your reservations in early if you want to attend it! My favorite is the beet salad, then of course lamb for dinner, they always cook it to perfection. Thanks guys, year after year excellent food, live entertainment and customer service, what a great contribution to the neighborhood!
(5)Kate J.
The food here is excellent but as of the date of this post, the restaurant is CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS. After a long drive out looking forward to the delicious fare (the tabbouleh and bouillabaisse are favorites of mine), we were so disappointed to discover this. A notice of this fact would have been much appreciated, but if you are here when it is open, you will definitely enjoy. The live music also adds to a great ambiance.
(4)Rachel H.
I have just two words for you, "Wine Wednesday." If you make it to the Mediterranean Gourmet on a Wednesday, any bottled wine with dinner is HALF price. I should probably should add another star or two to my review, just because its hard to be objective after ordering a half price bottle of wine on vacation. The Mediterranean Gourmet is the main restaurant in the Hanalei Colony, which was built in the 80s and is tucked back into the gorgeous Na Pali Coast on a windy road north of Hanalei. LIke many spots in Hanalei, its expensive for what you get, but the restaurant was given an award in 2007 for being the best new restaurant on Kauai, so this must be a newer iteration. This is a cozy albeit dated spot, low key and family friendly, which is a plus for us, and dining overlooks the water. Wednesday night was a low key affair complete with tiki lights blowing in the trade winds, locals, families with kids, and several large parties celebrating. Food is not remarkable, but the setting is nice. As a dinner spot, with crashing waves as a backdrop and a cool aging hipster surfer jazz duo playing, kids running outside on the lawn, in all, its a pretty fun place to be. They have a kids menu and mostly Mediterranean food, trying to be fancy but mainly just acceptable food-wise with nice, low key island atmosphere. If you are around on a Wednesday, it's not a bad bet. Our meal (about a three star food-wise) consisted of a "small" Greek salad (honestly, pretty enormous) arriving in a eight inch long boat shaped bowl full of lettuce, feta, lemony dressing, olives, and red onion. We paired this with a side order of homemade babaganoush with extra pita and enjoyed it, although it was oily and heavy on the garlic, and the biggest problem I had with it was the microwaved, chewy pita bread. There is a kids menu, and that checked the box. For our second adult entree, we ordered a local white swordfish fish, hebi, a shortbill spearfish. It was grilled with pistachio panko coating served with a grilled artichoke. The hebi, was slightly overcooked, but was generous and fresh. Its fun getting up here before it gets dark , but it's a little hairy heading back with just starlight to guide you, and one too many one-lane bridges to traverse, so keep that in mind.
(3)Juliet G.
This offbeat, funky restaurant is very charming and well worth a little drive a few miles up the coast from Hanalei (on the grounds of the Hanalei Colony Resort.) The airy, spacious room has some middle eastern touches like candelabras and the floaty panels hanging from the ceilings. Every table has a great ocean view. Food is surprisingly good! I had to keep reminding myself we were in Hawaii. I love their falafels, which are made with fava beans as well as garbanzos and have a fresh, spicy zing to them. Their hummus is good and I think they must bake their own pita--delicious! Romantic and tasty-a defiinite recommend.
(5)Jake J.
This place is unfortunately a poor and overpriced excuse for Mediterranean food... The hummus did not even taste like hummus and in general the food just wasn't tasty. Save your money and skip this place...
(1)Daniel H.
We read good things about this spot. Went for lunch. First impression was that the views of the ocean (in certain parts of the restaurant), were very good. The decor we thought was a little dated and cold and bathrooms were no particularly clean. The whole restaurant had a ammonia/bleach odor to it. Place needs a face lift. The service was neither great or bad and the food (for the price) was just average. Was interested in being able to try some Mediterranean in Hawaii for a change, but it did not pay off. Had Olive appetizer and got about 10 - 12 olives for $6. Falafel wrap (for $12) was just OK and the pita was dry and not fresh. My dining partner had flat bread, which was also nothing special. Expected more and cannot say i would return or recommend.
(2)Will P.
Heard good things about this place but I on the other hand had a bad experience. I'll admit that the view was very nice but other than that everything else was not so great. I had ordered an iced tea and had asked for sugar and a straw. Our waitress Raquel forgot my sugar and straw and I had to ask for it multiple times. We also ordered the triple hummus appetizer only to realize that she forgot to place the order and we received it AFTER the entrees had arrived because the order was out in after. Also, she did not describe to us which hummus flavor was which so I had no idea what which flavor I liked more. Once the entree arrived we realized that we had received the entree for our neighboring table. We could overhear the other table complaining to the manager about the service as well as messing up the order. And the excuse that the waitress used was "I'm new and I'm not used to waitressing so many tables". It was extremely obvious that she couldn't handle the amount of tables because the service reflected that. The food was okay, nothing to boast about. I would say if you're stopping by just stop by for the view and head elsewhere for lunch/dinner.
(2)Joey C.
This is a review for the luau. We paid 69$ per person and really felt we got our money's worth. The restaurant is right on the ocean (a couple were married by a Hawaiian witchdoctor out back) We got there early and enjoyed the view and happy hour pricing. The luau is in the restaurant.I didn't see a bad seat in the house. It was an intimate setting with about 30 tables not Hundreds of people like I've heard about at the luau s in Kauai. The family that put on the show did a great job we felt like we'd known them forever. You got one choice of free drink with the luau. I had the Mai Tai 2 shots of rum in it quite good! The buffet had a decent selection and all the food was good. There was Kalua pig, grilled fish, I don't like fish but ate two pieces,beef stir fry, glass noodles, organic lettuce, and salmon Lomi lomi. This was our first luau and we really enjoyed it. Some one described it as a party in a backyard. I agree. Sadly, I love my desserts and the selection their's wasn't very good.
(5)Julie H.
This was the most overpriced, worst meal and service we had on our entire trip. They nickel and dimed everything. The view is great, but not worth the meal...
(1)Sam R.
We were vacationing and decided to try this place. We loved it, I had the steak, and my mother had the soup and Greek salad, and my father had the gyro. We all enjoyed it and our server was very friendly and helped us with our questions. I would definitely eat here again.
(5)Tony S.
The wait staff here is incredible. The wait staff are the primary reason for the 4 stars. The food was nice but didn't blow me away. Worth another shot next time I'm in the area though.
(4)Mimi K.
Awesome! Very cute place in hanalei that our friends recommended. Service was excellent and patient with our kids. I had the butterfish sandwhich! Yum! My husband had an ahi pita wrap. We had no complaints at our table. I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Paul S.
I have one or two five star restaurants in the world, I think both are in Paris. This was a really wonderful four star experience. The staff was friendly and yet was by far the most professional we have had in Hawaii. This includes a few swanky resorts and high end restaurants. It was pleasant, solid, well done, and never detracted from the meal. Nice work to all, thanks! The food was good, the fish was cooked nicely, drinks arrived promptly. The real winner was the ambiance: a jazz duo was playing, the fans were on, it was really a bit of a Bali Hai moment. Everyone in the party enjoyed. The menu had 1/3 gluten free options, they focused on a few local veggies and fish. As a kicker it was 1/2 price wine night, a great Sancerre on the cheap:-) No one comes to Kauai for gourmet food, this place is the exception. I look forward to giving them more business.
(4)Jamfan F.
I'll start out by saying the service was very good and attentive both times. We went for dinner and the Luau. I'll start with dinner: Clam appetizer, bland. Entrees: Fish that night was Hebi? Had never heard of it. Really thick piece of white fish, with a caper butter sauce. Bland. Fish was too thick the center was cold. Husband had a NY strip, he ordered it MR+, came out one steak with varying temps, from well done to rare. Very bizarre. He also said it was cold. It had some kind of blue cheese mushroom sauce, gross. Both entrees had an ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes, hello 1970. And a few string beans. Warm chocolate cake, terrible. The wine was the best part of this meal. The Luau is a bit of a joke. The entertainment was nice, the service very good. The food, absolutely sub par. The only reason we tried this place is b/c we were staying at the adjacent hotel/condo. Which is amazing!! Anyway for those of you that praise this food, I don't know where your from but this was by far anything from good. Skip it!!!
(2)Pam M.
"Happened" upon this place when we drove out this way. .. Great views, delicious drinks (sunsetter. ... yummy) and loved the food. Moistest falafel ever. Got the sampler appetizer and the fish special which was delicious. Waitress was very nice, although a bit slammed. Would recommend!
(4)Russ S.
Second review. Ate here for lunch. Lamb burger and fish lettuce wraps were excellent. We missed our lovely server Jennica but we're taken care of by Justin who was every bit as engaging and friendly. We will eat here again
(4)Julie N.
Not sure if they changed their menu since last year, but I was pleasantly surprised! As a vegan, it can be challenging to find accommodating restaurants... But they had so many options: all of their salads are vegetarian and can be made vegan upon request, vegan soup options, and they had delicious lettuce wraps as an entree... The price was expensive, but it can pretty much be expected on Kauai. The lettuce wraps were about $25 but really could have been an appetizer. They seriously hit the spot though so I didn't care! We were also pleased with the bar! Most places on the island used pre made mixes in their drinks, but not here! Best margaritas on the island! Best way to end the day after spending the day swimming, snorkeling, and beach bumming!
(4)Pepper B.
Disappointed. Beautiful setting. Decent menu; lots of healthful choices. Service spotty and they were less than busy. Servers not focused. Fish caught 'fresh that morning' was overcooked and not flavorful. And they charged $35??? Accompanying rice tasteless...
(2)Rob M.
Excellent service. Great view right on the ocean. I saw some one star reviews here, but we had no indication of that in our experience. There are a limited number of menu options, but everything we ordered was very well done. Loved the pesto flat bread appetizer and the ono fish.
(5)Fred H.
We brought a group of four to M.G. a few nights ago. I ordered the Fasoulia Stew which was REALLY GOOD! Unfortunately, the service was sub-par. It was at the end of the evening, 8pm, and I guess the staff was eager to get home. We almost felt rushed. Our waitress was very polite, but you could tell she really didn't give a crap what we ordered or what we needed. Too bad, because the prices are amongst the highest on the island and merit better service!!! Disappointing. The overall food quality, taste and presentation was good. But again, not up the price. I acknowledge they are also charging for their unbelievably gorgeous location and atmosphere. However, we were there at night and could not enjoy the view. And since they have NO OUTDOOR TABLES (at least while were there in Mid-December) we weren't able to enjoy the perfect weather. If you are there during the day, and want a very unique, good quality menu selection and don't mind the so-so presentation and top-shelf prices, you will really love this place. Otherwise, I would stick with the Hanalei restaurants.
(3)Nancy t.
It was ok. Hubby had the veggie stew. It was pretty tasty and pretty expensive. I had the green salad with falafel. I have had many falafel and this was pretty good. It's the only place around this area so not bad for the only choice but I wouldn't seek it out
(3)Igor G.
Really enjoyed the ocean view, food and service. Our waitress Candice was attentive, helpful and offered good suggestions on the menu and about Kauai. I ordered the stew and shared the baba ganoush appetizer. The lima beans in the stew were cooked just right and I could have ordered another. Being vegan I appreciate that all menu items are clearly labeled veggie, vegan, and/or gluten free. Will definitely be back.
(5)Kendal P.
My husband and I tried this place for drinks and appetizers. We had the flatbread with pesto, arugula and pine nuts and it was delish! I had the Tango Mango and it was the perfect frozen tropical chick drink. My husband tried a cucumber jalapeño cocktail and said it didn't taste like there was any booze in it. Our server was very nice and the location was great - good view of the ocean.
(4)Lee Ann M.
Had the best Mediterranean dinner here last night! We ordered the grilled lamb and the gyros. Both were amazing, but the gyros was the bomb! Both my husband and I agreed that it was so moist and tasty. A lot of times, the gyros is sliced thin so it's dry. This was sliced a little thicker. The seasoning was just right too. We also ordered the coconut baklava. These were the best baklava we've ever had too...flaky and light. These guys know what they're doing. The drive down to Hanalei at night is a little challenging because there are few, if any, street lights on the way down and the road is very dark and narrow. You also have to cross a few one-car bridges where you have to yield to the oncoming cars. It's quite an adventure though, for a great meal! We would definitely go here again!
(4)N B.
Being a frequent visitor to Kauai for business/pleasure and checking out the various restaurants and hotels/resort options for clients in my travel agency business I found the Med gourmet in 2008. We have been coming back ever since then. This trip has been no different and the food is just as good as it was the last time. This time around we had Thanksgiving dinner with The Mediterranean Gourment and would have to say that it was very good. The view is good despite the often dirty windows looking out on the Beautiful Hanalei bay and surf and the adjacent Hanalei Colony Resort next door. Service for the most part has been excellent. Although on the most recent visit prior to thanksgiving dinner I ordered Spinach Pie and a Gyro. I guess the girl didn't hear me and just brought the Gyro. The food is well Mediterranean. Service is good and the atmosphere is cozy and the views are excellent if you can score table seating close to the outside windows. Again the view is marred by the often dirty windows. I don't think the dirty windows are a lack of care or cleaning but being in an ocean environment with the salt spray and sand being brutal on the windows. Overall a highly recommended lunch and dinner spot on the north shore. Pay attention to the one lane bridges and the many chickens running around the island.
(5)Tammy S.
We had reservations last night (Christmas Eve), checked in where the hostess told us it will still be a while, and then she forgot about us until she noticed us still sitting at the bar 45 minutes later. She had to come over and ask us what our name was again. Food was good, but the prices are a bit much for mediterranean. Luckily we had 15% off being guests of HCR. The waiter somehow knew we had been overlooked and tried to make up for it, but our food still took a really long time to come out (another 40 minutes). If cost is an issue, I recommend getting a bunch of appetizers and sharing - the hummus, falafel, and other Mediterranean salads looked excellent, and at a more reasonable $10 per. I had the gyro at $25 and husband had the chicken marsala. Oh, and while we waited at the bar, the bartender made our mai tais with the end of his bottle of rum, and didn't top off by opening a new bottle. I guess it just wasn't our night. :( The live music was a definite highlight.
(2)Ellene G.
Excellent service from Jenica!! ! Food was outstanding!! Ordered sashimi appetizer with flatbread!! Had fresh ebby prepared perfectly with a mango sauce!! Ocean view from most tables and bar!!!! 5 star dining experience!!!!!
(5)Rachael L.
Decided to go here on our quick island hopping trip, had heard it was home to a beautiful view and who doesn't love Mediterranean food? The restaurant had a great ambiance, high ceilings, lots of windows to see the ocean, cool breeze blowing through, quiet music, calm energy. The food over all was ok, nothing "wow" worthy. Ordered the humus trio to start, the roasted red pepper was easily our favorite, pesto was a close second, and sadly the original humus left must to be desired. Also ordered the tri-tip kebabs, which I'll be honest we had high hopes for since it's Hawaii and we do know how tri-tip here. Unfortunately this tri-tip was extra chewy, fairly fatty, and was lackluster in taste. What killed the mood for us was the service. Not overall, just our waiter. He wasn't rude per say but he certainly made us feel like he had better places to be and better things to be doing. We hardly saw him aside from when he took our order and took our money. Other servers from other sections brought our food, cleared our dishes and filled our drinks. Yet, I never saw him lending a hand to other tables.
(2)Carrol H.
I seldom review restaurants. However, I recommend that if you're going to eat here, do the appetizers. We did not have those. We had the steak at $49! Really overpriced for what we received. Thinner steak but properly cooked, with mashed potatoes that seemed as though they had been prepared much earlier and a small portion of haricot vert (good) - we also had the fish wrap made with spear fish and came with Mediterranean sides - that was good - it was 36.95. So... the 2 stars are because of the quality of the steak meal and the overpricing. Location: XXXXXX- the restaurant is located in a prime area - it's the only one between Hanalei and the coast. It's also next to a small resort, so they probably do well. I noticed someone said they had the best falafel ever, shoulda, woulda, coulda...
(2)L L.
Overpriced food. Used to be better. Paella had good flavor. The falafel was mushy and flavorless and the hummus was not good. The falafel plate was worse than fast food falafel but 2.5 times the price.
(2)Dick F.
The location is wonderful and the food is very good. There is not much competition for good restaurants on the North Shore - you come here for the seclusion and natural beauty. Prices are a little high, but my wife and I shared appetizers and dinner / desert. A very safe bet for a good meal where the choices are limited.
(3)Nicholas G.
Gourmet prices at less than mediocre food. Sandy clams, small portions, inconsistent presentation, crap salad, and a total crap shoot as to whether the food was going to be good or not. Not cool for a $200 meal. The clams we got for the app (the ones without the sand) were really good though. I will not ever be going back or recommending anyone else goes there.
(1)Salernitana A.
Been to Kauai three (maybe four?) times and we go here every time. Hanalei is really the best place on the island, but on Kauai in general, not too many formalized restaurants-- a dive here, a shack there, a bar there-- all good, but this place is more like a regular restaurant. The food is always very good, the salads and oh my god the saffron arancini balls are the BOMB, and the price is a bit high but hey, it's near Princeville what did you expect? Very relaxing atmosphere and of course, the view. Always seated very quickly and not a lot of &*!@%#$ kids running around (sorry, rugrats me no likey). I think they could improve their bathrooms and sometimes the server, um, takes a break shall we say? Compared to similar places on the island, this is a top three! We'll be back for sure.
(5)Phil C.
We stayed at the Hanalei Colony Resort where this restaurant/bar was located. Reservation was recommended, but we sat at the bar waiting for a table (which didn't take long). Bartender was friendly and funny and told us a couple special drinks that they were happy to make us. Atmosphere: Very laid back, wasn't too busy at the time we went (wed night). island decor. live jazz/island music was very relaxing. Great views of the water. Food: Hummus w/ pita bread - was very tasty they curry hummus was our favorite Seafood tower - this was my main dish and it was satisfying. anything with tower in it, i'd most likely try. enjoyed the fresh fish, shrimp, scallop and fresh salsa with the mashed potatoes. light in taste. the portions were ok. it won't get you too stuffed. Desserts were very tasty also. Prices were a little high, but reasonable. Service was friendly and attentive. Wish we could have come here a couple more times. I'll be back if i'm ever in Kauai again. * Wed night was 50% of wine bottles so we excited to get one. We also had a coupon. Which defeated the 50% off wine deal, but we ended up saving more money. All worked out fine. :)
(4)Patience F.
My son and I had a late lunch at this restaurant during the afternoon we drove the north shore of Kauai. We both ordered the garlic chicken wrap on flatbread with tzatziki sauce. The chicken was nicely cooked, the flatbread warm and chewy, and the sauce seasoned the entire sandwich nicely. My son had the fries with his flatbread wrap and said the portion was a bit too large. I had a green salad with feta, tomatoes, kalamata, and balsamic as a side and that was quite good. Service was attentive and appropriate. We were happy to find a place that served a sensible and tasty portion of food, especially in an area in which there were very few restaurants past Hanalei.
(4)FoodieChic L.
This is NOT Greek food. Not sure why Yelp categorizes it as, a bit misleading - won't hold it against my rating for this restaurant. After reading plenty of Yelp reviews, I encouraged my hubby to drive us to MG. And we got lost. Of course, it doesn't help driving there in the dark where there is no lighting - anywhere! Funny that we drove to Ke'e beach earlier in the day and didn't realize we passed it - but again, it was during the day and better lighting. My hubby was adamant on finding the restaurant and we finally did the next day - and it was average. Definitely overpriced and would recommend going after 6:30pm for the live music. Food: We ordered spanakopita for appetizer (I'm sure it was frozen and re-heated) and a Greek Salad (good - plenty for two). I ordered the gyro (one of the few food items I judge a Mediterranean restaurant by and recommended by the waitor) - and I enjoyed it. It was not a Greek style gyro but it was good quality and abundant. Came with babaganoush, pita bread, tzatziki sauce. Hubby had fish of the day - came out very dry and blahhh. Had to add hot sauce for some flavor. Should've gone with the lamb I guess. Dessert: Macademia nut tart - skeptical at first but my gosh was it delicious! Loved it! I would skip the appetizers, and make room for dessert instead! Overpriced, bad location, but 3.5/5 stars for food.
(3)Sarah B.
I'm still dreaming about that paella.... This is probably the best restaurant on the North Shore of Kauai. Scenic location, excellent food, nice ambiance. The paella for 2 here was FANTASTIC. The shellfish were cooked perfectly, just deliciously tender. And the fresh herbs to top it off were the perfect touch. Take advantage of the half-price wine night on Wednesdays. The wine list is top notch - plenty of great choices. And maybe you'll be lucky to catch some live music here too. Can't wait to come back next year!
(5)Ty T.
Don't let the name fool you, the usage of 'Gourmet' is actually a realized concept within the confines of this restaurant. For starters we shared the Classic Spanikopita, it was a savory baked phyllo delight with spinach and feta filling.. just enough to tease out the warmth of this intimate atmosphere. Which felt perfectly balanced by the soothing live Jazz lightly audibly amidst the background. I rather enjoyed the 2 Mojitos during the meal, they were refreshing and tasted like they were made with high-quality ingredients. The menu offered a large breath of variety as well, I was torn between my Paella and the Lebanese Fasoulia stew. But ultimately for my main, I knew I would simply needed to melt into a hearty plate of seafood Paella. A sautéed assortment of clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops served with Spanish Saffron rice -that was the envy of the sea. It was rich, and the broth was quite aromatic and refreshing. Delicious.
(5)Erin S.
Went here for the Luau on Tuesday night and had a fabulous experience! The buffet was actually very good and the entertainment was over the top fantastic! This is not your impersonal large resort style luau -- but rather a smallish group of approximately 100 or so guests. I loved the band and the hula dancers along with the interesting information about the islands that was shared throughout the evening. The entertainers are a local Hawaiian family who seem to really enjoy what they do while sharing their Hawaiian culture with others. This family defines the meaning of living with Aloha! Don't miss this ...and remember you'll need to make reservations ahead of time. This will definitely be my "go to" luau when family and friends are here visiting me!
(5)D D.
This is a wonderful restaurant with great ambiance. The ocean is right there and the service is excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and informative. He was perfect for our evening! The rack of lamb was the best ever and the desserts awesome! It was great to get a different menu and away from all the tourists! We dined several times and will definitely come back!
(5)Elle C.
Hailed as some of the best dining in Kauai, we put this on our schedule to try as our fancy night out while on a June 2012 trip. First impressions did not shine bright as we found the place a bit in need of a good cleansing. Specifically the windows needed attention as the main feature of the restaurant, the view, was slightly smugged by the dirty windows. Our waiter was friendly and knew the menu. Our meals arrived quicker than island time. The menu selection was nice, but to be honest, I think I was wanting more local flavors, but that was my fault for not realizing sooner that it would be Greek or Mediterranean inspired. Duh. I have had better Mediterranean nonetheless. The portions were large and we had no room left for dessert. Prices were island high. We were lucky to get a table with a view, but not every table has one. Also if you are going for the view, I recommend the resort up in Princeville... You'll know the one.
(3)Danny H.
One of the few *nice* restaurants on Kauai. Great place to go at night if you're sick of eating in surf shorts and a sandy t-shirt. It's not overly fancy, but it's nice. If you're on the North Shore, just go! We went on a Wednesday night, and bottles of wine were half price! The food was absolutely terrific. I got the Frutti De Mar (seafood + cream sauce + linguini) and it was REALLY good. We shared the watermelon bruschetta as an appy, and we loved it! The service was really good too. Friendly, helpful and attentive staff. Prices were reasonable for food this good. Average of $34 for an entrée. They had live music that night too, which was a nice touch. And there was a nice ocean breeze coming through the windows which has refreshing after a day in the sun.
(5)Drew A.
Apparently tzaziki sauce should be runny. Buns should be stale and cold. Drinks should wait up on the bar for 20 mins and be watered down and service should be slow and full of excuses. If it wasn't for the view this is a real dive.
(2)Andrew W.
Went here for the Tuesday Luau . Great show. Buffet was delish for someone who is not big on fish. Cocktails are fantastic too. Who would have thought cucumber could work so well with so many drinks. Wonderful night.
(4)Lauren R.
Tots off the beaten path and well worth the drive. The staff is super friendly and the music is great. The best part of the meal was dessert, but I will get to that in a second. For apps we ordered the Classic Spanakopita, which was so flaky and delicious it left me fighting my fiance for the last bite. We then split the Seafood Paella. This was good. Not great. I've head better, but the saffron rice was unique and added a different take on this dish. Now- the dessert.... YOU MUST ORDER THE MAC NUT TART. MUST. ORDER. IT.
(4)Ken L.
On the way back from Ke'e Beach, went here. A mistake. Reasons: 1) Wait time to order two dishes: too long. It took about 25 minutes for some steamed clams and some vegetarian dish. Unacceptable as there were only 3 other parties there. 2) Clams were not fresh tasting and still had a funky smell to it. The veggie dish was full of lima beans and two pieces of bok choy with garlic. That wasn't the problem though, it tasted like lima beans and grits in tomato sauce. $19 for this dish, what a joke. The worst $40 I have spent in my life. The view of the water was nice though, perhaps THAT was what I paid for.
(1)Jason M.
I wasn't expecting much because there is no competition for nice dining in the area. They earned an honest 5 stars for the food quality. The sashimi and fish is exactly what you would expect with freshness and quality. The only complaint I have is that there's not a place around me that serves food that good, and I live in a metro area. It was a little pricey but worth every cent.
(5)Amy D.
12 of us rented a house on Kauai and selected this place for the dinner outing for the birthday girl we were there to celebrate. With 12 of us we thought it might be a little daunting, but TMG did a great job hosting us. We went on 1/2 off wine Wednesday which was a HUGE bonus as we're all wine drinkers. Our waiter was helpful, friendly and not too pushy - super thumbs up to him. Started with an incredible selection of appetizers - spanakopita was AMAZING! Hummus was really good too! There was also Watermelon Bruschetta (YUM!) and Hand Rolled Spinach Fatayers (very tasty.) I had the gyro plate for dinner - very good though I'm not sure about the potatoes. Not accustomed to having mashed potatoes with that entree and they weren't anything to write home about, but the rest of the meal was great. If I were to order again I'd get the seafood tower - I just didn't have room for it that night but someone else got it and it looked fabulous! Skipped out on dessert for an adult coffee drink, but everyone's looked really good. I'd be interested to try to the coconut baklava, though everyone said their selection was delicious. If you're on the island, check it out - awesome views and some good deals (especially on wine Wednesday.)
(3)Mike E.
When someone in our group found a place right up the beach for our group of 12 to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday we weren't real sure what to expect. After all, most of the places we'd eaten seemed more about the location than any culinary experience. Well the Mediterranean Gourmet exceeded my expections in every way! First off, we were there on a Wine Wednesday so it was half off on all bottles of wine. Hells yeah! The wine selection was well above average and we had no problems finding a great pinot noir. Our waiter was awesome, he said the kitchen could make us a couple of large appetizer plates and we said "Do it!". He brought out two large platters with watermelon bruchetta (wow!), spanakopita, some spinach fatayers, and a couple of types of hummus. It was all very good and was the perfect size for our party, together they ran about a bill and were well worth the price. I went with the seafood paella and loved it. The clams, mussels, scallops, and fish were all cooked perfectly. And the saffron rice might've been the best I've ever had, just the right amount of stickiness with great flavor. They brought the birthday girl out a very rich and creamy serving of chocolate mousse, which she was nice enough to share with me. Depending on what you're looking for the Mediterranean Gourmet might be exactly what you're looking for, they were for us!
(4)Traveler P.
Enjoyable meal during our honeymoon. It's a bit of a hike to get here (about a 15-20 min drive from the St. Regis in Princeville). Setting is right on the water which is nice. Food was good (not our favorite meal) but very good. We enjoyed the Dolphin in Hanalei Bay more for food- but atmosphere is better at the Mediterranean Gourmet
(4)Brian D.
Enjoyed a great weekday lunch here. The food was above average and the seating with a window-view of the ocean was a real pleasure. Didn't have the chance to come for dinner, but will certainly stop by when I'm on the island again.
(4)Cynthia A.
We enjoyed a delicious meal here last night while enjoying a beautiful view at sunset. Mediterranean Gourmet has an extensive wine list and I ordered an Albariño which paired perfectly with the Kale Salad I ordered for my entree. The salad was mixed with pine nuts, dates and goat cheese that was tossed with a light dressing. My dining companion enjoyed the fish of the day that was encrusted with pistachios and cooked to perfection!
(3)Lynea C.
Not my favorite.
(2)Jennifer L.
Luau is authentic and fantastic. Drinks are terrible. Sangria was basically red wine with ice, Mai Tais were awful, and the other two random drinks wouldn't have been drinkable were it not for the Mai Tai.
(2)Matt H.
Mixed reviews from our group on the food, but double thumbs up for the alcohol. We spent 2 weeks in a house just .2 mi up the road from this place so the bar here became my local for awhile. The MaiTai is awesome and delivered with a smile. The bar has a good collection of locals and tourists but is a bit to close to the belly dancer on the weekends. We brought a large group on Wed night for a half-price wine bottle night (maybe they were cleaning out the wine cellar). My pistachio crusted Ahi was awesome as were most of the fresh fish dishes. My wife was unimpressed by her Mediteranean Plate and felt that the hummus was kinda sad. Appetizers of steamed clams and sashimi were perfect. Half price wine is a great idea in theory, but if you start dinner with 2 MaiTais you might just fall asleep at the table like I did.
(4)Dmitry N.
Best restaurant in Kauai we tried. Gorgeous views match great food. Imad, the owner, personally helped us select wine and food -- he obviously cares about customers' experience and is often around to give a suggestion. Babaganush was excellent, steak and grilled fish perfect, and do not miss the baklava with coconut -- it's less sweet and less rich than a conventional one, but this is how I'd rather have it. It is quite amazing to see this sense of taste and perfection thousands of miles from home. Will be back!
(5)Greg E.
One of my favorite dinner spots on Kauai- I like to arrive before 6PM and get a window table- the Ocean is right outside your window. Excellent drinks, particularly Mai Tais, as many reviews have noted. I also can highly recommend the wine list- extremely well chosen, and for the North Shore certainly not overpriced. I've often taken the waiter's recommendations and been very happy to have done so. Often the recommendation is fish, but I've had high quality meals featuring just about every category of food on the menu over the years. Obviously, the views are great at lunch too- but I'm working when I'm on Kauai and don't generally make it out this far towards the end of the road for lunch! One note: there is a Luau on Tuesday night which takes the place of regular dinner service.
(4)Emily M.
This is my favorite restaurant. The ambiance was lovely with live music and a peaceful rustic scene. The coconut baklava is the best I've ever had. It melts in your mouth and is buttery. I wish I could go back soon
(5)V K.
Beware out of town Yelpers - the restaurant is not located in Hanalei, but Han'ea, almost at the end of the Kuhio Highway on the Northside. Otherwise, beautiful location right on the ocean with great food and interesting cocktails.
(4)don M.
Stopped by for lunch today (Monday) so had no problem getting a window table--the view was fabulous. We had both their red-wine and white wine sangrias which were very good. The menu had something for everyone and was reasonably priced for its location--my wife likes Greek food--me not so much, but the steak sandwich was superb as was my wife's salad. Our server, Jona, was charming and attentive without "hovering". Highly recommended.
(4)Marvin K.
After a week of loco mocos, plate lunches, and hotel dining, we decided to go out of town and try some different food. We ventured out to have some Mediterranean food and were immediately disappointed with our decision. The view was definitely great, but the food and service was horrible. We ordered several appetizers which were cold and lacking flavor. We were so disappointed we decided to cut our loses and head back to town. The server was extremely awkward and lacked professionalism to say the least. My recommendation would be to save your time and money, and choose a different restaurant. There are much better options in Hanalei and Princeville if you're on the northern side of the island. Don't let the 4 stars fool you!
(1)Jeanne K.
The food was beyond awful. We ordered the falafel lettuce wraps & the falafel were dark green/ grey hockey pucks. Inedible & extremely expensive ($23.95) for mystery ingredient filled hockey pucks. The sundried tomato hummus was decent & ended up being the main meal because everything else was overly salted & not at all what was expected. My parents ordered the chicken Marsala & chicken kabobs & they said that both were equally awful.
(1)Nicole R.
We had a traditional Turkey Dinner on Thanksgiving; it was very good! I would like to go back and taste their other offerings! Staff was very sweet and received everything in a timely manner. Restaurant was clean.
(4)Lisel S.
Best experience on North Shore hands down. Food is beyond delicious, indescribable and if you are looking for a place that appreciates you, c'mon down. A great experience, superb service with lovely delectable food! Great atmosphere too!
(5)Ben T.
Ambience and view: Awesome Food: Not awesome Price: Way over priced Overall: Would never go here again although view was awesome.
(2)Arch S.
A Luau review: Well let me start by saying that Coppin Colburn and his family were amazing and the only reason to come. Great musicians, great Aloha attitude. I only wished the setting were better, sad to see such a proud family stuck inside an aging sheetrock building using canned lights as inspiration. I would love to see them outside at a casual gathering of friends and locals... that would be transcendent! The only knock here being the caucasian woman who danced with them, I got the feeling she was someone's trophy wife who spent time and money learning the traditional dances. The daughters were both more beautiful and more inspired in their dance, but I guess that just comes with the genes. As for the food... one word, Buffet. Need I say more? The napkins smelled of kitchen grease, the food was mediocre at best and the bathrooms were in need of an overhaul. The irony of Sushi Girl being five minutes down the road was not lost on me. The beauty, sincerity and talent of the Colburn family are the only thing keeping me from giving this place no stars.
(2)Ray D.
Great location, very remote on the road several miles beyond Hanalei Bay, beautiful view. The map linked from Yelp does not show the correct location -- call them for directions. As far as the food, it was solid but average, nothing special as Mediterranean food goes. Sauces did not seem authentic -- where was the tahina? And why mashed potatoes with gyros instead of rice? Service was rather slow even though restaurant was mostly empty.
(3)Jorge G.
Overall it was ok, the views are great, service great; however, the food is over price for the quality you are getting. The Clams were great and the Lamb too.
(4)Fabian M.
We had dinner with 8 people. Food and service was great. Had the Grilled Kafta as appetizer & Mediterranean Gyro as entree. Delicious!
(5)Larry L.
While mostly a good dinner out, there were some flaws. We ordered the Ahi appetizer and it never came out, instead our meals were delivered very quickly and when we asked about the app, the waiter looked confused for a second and asked if we wanted it with our meal. The other flaw was my wife's clams were very "sandy". No way to send them back as the waiter only came by once, and early after dropping the plates off. The drinks were good and reasonably priced. The Kale salad was very good and the Gyro plate was good, but really garlicky. The views are awesome.
(4)Design T.
Okay let's begin... I don't reviews too often... But this calls for it. If you have ever had Mediterranean food or want to try it... Don't go here. Horrible appetizers... We couldn't even eat them to order our meals. Started out with great service and breathtaking views... But the food was plain and absolutely horrible. I myself wanted to get in the kitchen and start adding spices to our appetizers... As they were so bland. Hummus is a staple dish in the Mediterranean world... And to me there's was missing tahini, lemon, cumin and garlic. Pretty sure they blended garbanzo beans and called it hummus.. I will not be going back.
(1)Dave T.
We have eaten here often and think it is fantastic, a bit off the beaten track with incredible location right on the water - great food particularly with whatever fresh food they have in that day - we were lucky with Ahi and Ono sashimi that was extraordinary. Fn live music with two guitarist and a Hawaiian sunset, hard to beat
(5)John M.
Ate here 3 times, had the paella twice and the seafood tower once -- It all was great! The only beach front restaurant in Princeville area. Live music every night was an extra treat.
(5)Chris W.
The loco moco was so bad I had to send it back. The omlett was so greasy it almost slid off the plate. The potatoes were not home made. The were the frozen type wirh no taste. The waiter would not let us sit where we wanted and never came back to see how we were doing till my wife was finished and it was too late for me to reorder. Would never come back.
(1)SL S.
This place continues to be our favorite- for 5 plus years it has maintained its quality, ambiance and value. Well worth the drive. We usually go for lunch- the fish wraps, various flavored humus & pita, Greek salad and stuffed grape leaves are our favorites. We are always too full to try dessert. There are so many tempting items to try- I usually see at least one on someone else's table I am eager to try. The staff and servers are fun, friendly and knowledgable and the view is worth the trip. We did find that one year they were closed for a period around New Years - so you might want to confirm their hours if you are coming from a distance. I would recommend making the trip for lunch and spending time before or after exploring the wonders of Hanalei. I'm pretty sure I heard Puff the Magic Dragon singing in one of the dry caves down the road. ;0) Aloha
(4)John N.
For the price we paid, food should have been higher caliber. $105 with tip, and no alcohol. (wife's pregnant) Look elsewhere to spend this kind of $ on food,
(2)Patrick W.
GREAT FOOD AND A GREAT VIEW!!! The espresso in the small boutique on your way out is delightful too!
(5)Cat K.
My husband bought a coffee next door at Na Pali Art Gallery so the hostess would not seat us. She was adamant, unapologetic & uncompromising. He was going to put the coffee in the car but I thought this was such a ridiculous rule that we decided to grab a bite in Hanalei instead.
(1)Jessica M.
Very good Mediterraneanfood and a decent kids menu (that includes grilled fish or chicken kabobs as well as the usual fare). Excellent cocktails, an amazing view, friendly staff and fun belly dancing.
(4)Lola B.
Awesome location, great lil beach front vibe, great service, groovy surfer live music....but the food wasn't on par with the rest sadly :(
(3)Mihir M.
Food: The watermelon bruschetta was creative & good. The hummus trio was creative but not exceptional individually. The artichoke was good. The spanikopita was outstanding. The eggplant napolean was good. The fasoulia was creative & tasty. Overall, the food was very good, but not outstanding or poor. Service: Our waitress Jessica was outstanding. We had a problem getting seated around 530pm. Views: Great ocean views. We came there after doing part of the Kalalau trail which is nearby, so this was the closest nice place to eat. Be sure to make your booking earlier!
(4)Lindsay H.
Really nice bc it was next door to the house we rented :) Good atmosphere, actually had some live music when we went. The sashimi was to die for, kale salad was just okay. The entree was pretty good, but I think this place was a tiny bit pricey for the food and atmosphere.
(4)Cathi M.
Spectacular ocean views and great food. The paella is great--we had it twice. Third time was seafood tower. Great service, too. Our favorite place on Kauai.
(5)Jason R.
Went here with my family while on vacation from LA. We're not food critics, but we know a good meal from a bad one. Chose this place because of the good reviews I saw on Yelp. Summary: not particularly tasty, quite overpriced (this restaurant is easily $$$, not $$). The upside: Watermelon bruschetta was pretty flavorful. Greek salad was also quite good. Great live guitarist as well. Beyond that, we weren't impressed with the hummus trio at all. Kinda bland. Needed more salt. The eggplant papanetta was also pretty boring. The fish was bland--needed the mashed potatoes and a healthy squeeze of lemon to be worth eating. Nothing of the melt-in-your-mouth experience that I would expect for $34 an entree. One more note: two dollar signs is NOT appropriate for this place. We had 3 entrees, 4 appetizers, and 3 glasses of wine. $200 out the door. Overall, I think this place suffers from the same affliction as so many other oceanfront destinations: the view takes attention off the quality of the food, and the prices get jacked up beyond reason (even for Hanalei).
(2)sharbo e.
The setting was amazing and some of the staff was friendly but some of the staff was very aloof. The food is nice not great and everything is sitting on top of red cabbage, so the portions are small and the food is quite overpriced. I would say go there for a drink, but they are very weak! MG is overrated.
(2)Ryan N.
Went for the Luau and had a great time and food. The performers were great, very good show they put on, not the Las Vegas style but more real and down to earth Hawaiian show. Food was good, really liked the lomi Lomi and luau pork. If your in the north try it out you won't be disappointed.
(4)gerard f.
Great place for lunch. Fantastic views. Inexpensive . Try the lamb burgers or anything with a Lebanese theme. You won't be disappointed .
(4)Xeekster d.
We had a great meal and a good time. Went back. Food was still great.
(3)Meliza V.
I actually went here about six months ago... so this is a little late! But our experience was nonetheless memorable! My family and I were on vacation in north Kauai, and we had gone past Hanalei to check out the beaches and go snorkeling in the morning. Tragically, there was an fatal accident on Kuhio Hwy that closed the entire highway, and everyone west of Hanalei were stranded for about four hours as officials cleared the scene. One of the only places open for lunch in the area was this restaurant, and we were fortunate enough to discover it early and go in for lunch before the rush. The staff was very welcoming, the bar was stocked, and there was a good selection of Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean food. The food and drinks were very good, and they accommodated as many patrons as they could in their dining and performance areas. Unfortunately, they had to turn people away later in the afternoon because they were running out of food to serve! Overall, good service, good food, and their management really rocked it in a pinch!
(5)Sharon M.
The hummus was good, but it was all downhill from there. Pistachio crusted ahi did not have any pistachio flavor or crunch. The bed of taboule was just a mass of parsley. My new husband took one bite from each of the vegetarian sampler dishes and said it was all inedible. Baklava was not rich and syrupy. Given the location (end of the road near a famous hiking trail and snorkeling beaches) and the state of the facility (a bit run down and dated), I think the restaurant's marketing position is off-base. It would better to aim for bohemian casual theme with more reasonable prices...and get a chef that can actually cook. We were highly disappointed.
(1)Michael C.
Great Luau. One of the best we have been too. Not over the top, and many of the same family in the band. A lot of fun.
(5)Bob K.
Good: wine list, location, staff Bad: Luau is BORING, $70/plate, crammed with the Walmart crowd Definitely poor recommendation by our hotel next door. Thankfully we had lots of drinks to help us get through the three hour Tuesday Luau (which was two hours too long). Gladly paid $70 for a 2009 Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot and would have been happy to pay for good food and entertainment. Just didn't get the latter. Wednesday is half off bottles: every bottle. Go then. Or just show up for the last hour of Tahitian dancing which is energetic and entertaining.
(2)Tesia J.
***THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE TUESDAY NIGHT LUAU ONLY**** Ok, so I'd actually give a rating of 3.5 stars if it were possible. I have to admit that I don't have any reference for any other kind of Luau but this seemed really cozy and personal. It is a family run Luau and they made a point of mentioning that they wanted to bring the family run luau back and get away from the commercialization of their culture that is going on in other places. The music was awesome...sometimes a little cheesy and contrived, but MOSTLY very charming and definitely talented. The dancers were the three daughters of the musicians and they were totally cute and also very talented with beautiful costumes. There was one fire dancer and he was also very entertaining...however, his portion of the show was VERY short. I would have liked a little more. Also, they have a lovely outdoor area...would have loved to seen the whole performance outside instead of inside, The food was pretty good. Nothing spectacular, but considering the other food experiences we had on the island...it almost made it GREAT!!!! But yeah, nothing to complain about but nothing spectacular either. We WERE bummed b/c we heard that the Smith's family Luau gave you free drinks the whole night, this place gave us the first drink for free and after that we had to pay. For a one time experience this was ok, but for $169 (2 people, with drinks) I wouldn't say it was worth doing again.
(3)Milan G.
Great food, savory spices and a great blend. Really enjoyable and the Friday music entertainment was awesome. Loved it! I had the chicken tawook, would recommend it.
(5)Kyle W.
Excellent seafood... worth the drive, worth the price.
(5)Chuck K.
Located near the end of route 560 on the north shore of Kauai, this Med/Greek restaurant Is a rare find. It is located on the beach offering magnificent view. Staff is very pleasant and helpful if you want extras with your meal or wish to order off the menu. The waitress made suggestions to our meal which made a good lunch a really great lunch. Pitas are flakey and oh, so good. Incredible wine list and full bar with happy hour. When you're on your way to nowhere this is definitely where you want to end up. Great walk on the beach afterward.
(5)C W.
After waiting for a table despite having reservations a 25% full restaurant , we were greeted by a pleasant waiter who made up for the wait. The food , so-so with a bit over cooked rice and no crispy rice goodness you'd find in a traditional paella but the flavor was good but not $67 for two good. This meal was a three star until we realized the owner (or manager) started to greet all the tables making sure their meals were ok, until he skipped ours , ( African Americans) , after spending over $150 bucks, added insult to injury.
(2)Nyapet S.
Excellent location; right on the water between Hanalei and Ha'ena. Good food except I wasn't too fond of the traditional and sun dried tomato hummus. The pita and pesto hummus was good and so was my beet salad. It was nice to sit by the window and watch the waves crashing. I was surprised there weren't really any restaurants on the bay in Hanalei so this was a great find. (It was recommended by a local.) It was fun to walk down the beach afterwards. It was one of the few good beaches for finding shells.
(3)Tom T.
great little spot on the ocean. food was very good service was great. watermelon bruschetta was.a must have. gyro was ok, burger need a bit more spice, fish was exveptional. worth stopping for on the north shore. the service took it from a 3 to a 4 star
(3)David K.
Great food! Awkward bus boys...most likely learning the trade. lol. Owners/manager are very attentive. Amazing views of a sick surf break!
(4)T.K. S.
This was our favorite meal on Kauai. Great food, drinks and service. Highly recommend. Just a side note: it is about a 20 minute drive from the main part of Hanalei, but it is worth it.
(5)J R.
The first time we came to Kauai we also stayed at Hanalei Colony Resorts and dined here. It was so-so. This time, wow! Everything was amazing. Don't kid yourself, you'll spend a shiny penny here! But the seafood paella, frutti de mare, seafood tower, and steak gorgonzola were to die for. And for dessert we shared the coconut baklava and lava cake. Both rich and delicious. Wed night 50% wine is the way to go. If you're not a drinker, drink water and skip the appetizers to save a little. This is a place to splurge, however, and it is very good. I don't think I'd bring small children here but 8+ would be ok.
(5)Shannon F.
Besides being one of the only (if not the only) place to get a gyro or Mediterranean food at all, it is also one of the best! Especially if you can go on a night Jeff Caldwell is playing music there, he's always amazing, just at sunset... AH gorgeous! The ambiance of this place really comes alive at night. The gyros are pretty dang good and the lamb was very well seasoned. Wish the "rack" of lamb plate was a little bigger for the price but it was all good. They have a great wine list and the service was outstanding. We went for an anniversary and they were so amazing and went all out for us. As far as the time goes, just relax! Food this delicious takes time to make. It's definitely one of those meals you take your time with, relax and enjoy your life.
(5)TJ C.
Mediterranean is awesome! Right on the beach, amazing food, great drinks, & "Bossy" is so cool. They will even build a sweet private palapa dining area for special occasions. Definitely a place to check out on Kauai. Another amazing meal @MediterraneanGrill in Haena. Place never fails! Amazingly fresh and dazzling salads. So ono!
(4)Betsy H.
Great service and wonderful menu. The wine selection was also well chosen. We had a goat cheese appetizer that was good. We all started with a greek salad that was huge and fantastic and felt the price was extremely reasonable for the size of the salad. They had a pistachio crusted ahi on the menu that night and it was extremely flavorful and well prepared. The quinoa was a nice change of pace. Wasn't the best quinoa salad I've had, but not bad. Some vegetables on the plate would have been nice. Had the chocolate cake for dessert that was also good.
(4)Justin C.
Eating here was one of the highlights of our trip. The ambience is beautiful, despite the lack of outdoor seating. You won't miss it, thanks to generous windows and an expansive view of the beach. We were there on Wednedsay to enjoy a jazz guitar duo and 50% off bottles of wine, which applies to the majority of the comprehensive wine list. Our group downed a couple bottles of Bernardus pinot noir for $26 a piece. Nice. The food was a epic. We opened with watermelon bruschetta, spanikopita and hummus. All delicious, but the bruschetta was the clear favorite. For entrees, our group ordered the beef kabob (beautifully moist meat), the Harissa (white fish in a punchy tomato sauce), paella and the gorgonzola filet minion, which was my personal favorite. For dessert, we shared mango sorbet, coconut baklava and lava cake. While the baklava had an interesting texture, it was on the dry side and was thoroughly outshined by the other dishes. Every time I ate a bit of the lava cake, it was inevitably followed by a "damn, that's good," before I went in for another bite. And I don't even like chocolate. This place isn't the cheapest on the island, but cost-wise it's on par with all the other nice places. Put it on the top of your list. You won't regret it.
(5)Rachael B.
We popped in to the Mediterranean Gourmet for lunch after hiking the Kalalau Trail - needless to say we were hungry. It was about 2 pm so there weren't many people there. The decor is really...interesting here. I had to laugh reading other reviews, there is fabric kind of slathered all over the place and it tries a bit too hard to mix Mediterranean with Hawaiiana... I ordered the Greek Salad and added Gyro meat, my mom had a chicken wrap and my vegan Alex had the falafel wrap. Our server was really sweet, our food came out fast. My salad was pretty good, the gyro meat left something to be desired (like Pete's Gyro Place in Denver :/ ) but everything tasted fresh and yummy (mostly because I had just hiked 8 miles me thinks). One thing that was epic? Waffle fries. Goddamnit were they tasty. Overall, I would come back because it's the closest restaurant to our beach but I wouldn't come for dinner OR the Luau...
(3)Tim H.
Meh. This was recommended during our stay by our hosts at our accommodations. I think it was recommended because it was one of the only places close by. It was extermely over-priced and not incredible food. Add to that the annoying belly-dancer. Seriously, entertainment is fine, but the adult equivalent of the baloon animal guy coming to my table seeking tips is annoying on a vacation. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here.
(2)Roy C.
We've been wanting to try this for a few years. The location and the views are nice. Since the point gets a lot of wind, you see a lot of large waves and whitewater. The Hummus Trio appetizer ($11) comes with regular, cumin and pesto flavored hummus topped with a kalamata olives. The flavor of the hummuses were pretty good. However, the dish could have tasted so much better if the pita had been warmed up, or freshly baked. The pita just tasted like store bought pita sliced into wedges. The Spanikopita appetizer ($10) was tasty. We each had the grilled ono special for $34. The grilled ono came on a bed of buttered rice with bok choy on the side. You had your choice of 3 sauces; lemon and capers, tropical fruit salsa (not spicy), and sort of a pesto cream sauce. We got the fruit and pesto sauces and both liked them. I could have used a little more sauce on my pesto plate. The best part of the meal was sharing a big slice of Kauai Pie. It's a delicious mocha ice cream type pie with I think an Oreo cookie crust. So far, it's the best tasting dessert I've had in Kauai. Overall, it was a good meal and we'd go back.
(4)G C.
Very, very good! My wife and I found this fantastic restaurant thanks to yelp, and so I felt it necessary to return the favor and hopefully help others find it as well. No reservation needed, we simply walked in and they sat us at a perfect two top right next to the window. Amazing view, great service and the food was outstanding. I had the paella and I highly recommend it. Also of note was the live guitarist playing soft rock songs that really made for a nice atmosphere. And last but not least, very good cocktails as well. Simply a very good restaurant and one I will recommend to anyone visiting the garden isle.
(5)Brski B.
You can get a lovely view of the ocean in a charming dining area. A bit of a reach to get here unless you're staying in the north shore area. For the cost per entree I'd say this was not a cheap place to eat. But the date and I decided to eat something other than a fish sandwich and here is where we arrived. The hummus and warmed pita bread were both nice. I liked the hummus more with the salt that I added myself; but it was classic, creamy, and nice and garlicky. The following are the entrees cut and pasted from their on-line menu: Pan Seared Harrisa: Pan seared fresh island white fish in a Harrisa (spicy) tomato sauce, served on a bed of mashed potatoes with fresh sautéed seasonal vegetable. $31.95 Mediterranean Gyro: Roasted and thinly sliced lamb & beef gyro meat accompanied by babaganush, tzatziki sauce, mashed potatoes, and fresh sautéed seasonal vegetable. $24.95 The fish of the day was ono, but regrettably, it was slightly overcooked - which would have been more forgivable but for the fact that the tomato sauce was tomato sauce, with that straight out of the processed can taste, and there was absolutely no heat, despite our waitress warning about the heat in this dish and my date telling her how much she liked spicy food. The seasonal veg was the same for both entrees - pan seared bok choy in a butter garlic sauce (only okay). The gyro, however, was a nice surprise - just deep with all the right notes and flavors that you expect in well prepared gyro meat. I really didn't think I'd ever try this on my 1st scan of the menu but I love gyros, I'd eaten a lot of fish that week, and what the hell, I love gyros. It's a plate, not a wrap, and everything it came with (listed above) was fine (if slightly under-salted) - but the meat was delish enough to satisfy me as a diner. My date, not so much - she agreed about my gyro, but she did not like her fish at all. You'll have to take my word for it - she's not picky and always roots for the chef/cook. My taste did not impress or repel me, but for her the whole plate was a disappointment because of that tinny tomato sauce.
(3)Nicky P.
This was one of the best meals I had on Kaua'i. The price was higher than I would have liked to spend, however, it is to be expected in a tourist location. We went on a Friday for early dinner. A live musician, Meghan Dowdy, was playing acoustic guitar and signing. Meghan was great and we would have bought a CD if she was selling any. Great atmosphere and nice view. Our waitress brought us complimentary house hummus and pita. I do not usually like hummus but it was delicious! I ordered the New York Steak. It was cooked perfectly. The garlic mashed potatoes were heavenly but there was not enough! My husband had the Mediterranean Gyro and said it was OK but did not come with enough pita. Overall, very good and one of the better places on Kaua'i.
(4)Alexandra F.
Watermelon bruschetta! Just do it, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Ian H.
Best restaurant on the island. Had a ton of apps. Highly recommend the spanikopta and the hummus. Great salads. Had the gyro plate and was very happy with it. Went with a big group and everyone enjoyed their dinners!
(5)Elizabeth S.
Came with my husband on a saturday night. Got a table with a view of the ocean and the pleasant acoustic guitar jazz singer. I highly recommend the gorgonzola filet minon, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My husband was a little surprised by how the gyro was served reconstructed without a pita , but the meat was delicious. Tzatziki was tasty but a little runny for his liking. Tried the hummus trio. Liked the pesto the best. The cumin was also good, but the traditional WA pretty bland. Ended a very pleasant meal with the Kauai pie. Mmm!
(4)Zynette C.
It was rather comical in how we found out about this place. We were sightseeing near Princeville and we met a man who makes turtles out of shells. He told us to keep driving and we will see a Greek/Mediterranean Gourmet on our right. He also told us that it was good and to mention his name when we get there to get discount. We were very pleased. We had the Watermelon bruschetta, caprese and pita with humus. I should have written what we ate for main course, but I forgot. Let's just say we were pleased with our meal.
(4)Robert W.
Went there for lunch. Beautiful view. A little dated all around. Service a little slow even thought there were only 6-7 tables in there. But, very good food. Wife and I split a fish sandwich and a Greek salad. Found a good Mai Tai here as well. Gotta come back for dinner. Coffee shop next door in same building not too bad either....picked up a ham and cheese croissant and coffee there another morn on the way to Ke'e Beach. A double yum experience at this property in Hanalei Colony Resort.
(4)Craig C.
After a long and twisting and amazing drive to the North Shore there are usually only 2 things on your mind as the daylight and energy within start to fade: where are we going to eat, and where are we going to sleep? Fear not-your food selection has been made. The Mediterranean Cafe is a splendid restaurant offering top notch fare with very sustained levels of service with 'to be expected' Kauai pricing. To be honest, I think that they could charge more money and still sustain the business volume because the property's compelling ocean front location is over the top amazing. Just sitting near one of the windows and nibbling on appetizers and drinks for an afternoon could easily become my second job. The wait staff is polished and wont rush you. The drinks are cold and frosty and they keep them coming. You're literally sitting inside an old plantation style building which feels more like your grandmother's beach cottage (that you wish grandma always had--but she didnt) than any swanky restuarant venue. The white water breaking wave views are mesmorizing in their own right--and the ocean views are pure, with no obstruction from locals, tourists or surfers because the break is too strong for anyone to venture out into that water to begin with. Food--- if you can swing it, stick with the appetizers only. The portions are enormous and my wife and I had 3 separate app plates are were bulging at the sides when we left the venue. I cannot imagine layering another full entree onto that mix. Then again, if you prefer a full meal, all the other patrons were there eating full plates and appeared fully satisfied. Kauai has hits, and misses. The North Short is surely a 'must see' and anchoring a visit to this restaurant in conjunction therewith is a 'must eat'. Maholo.
(5)Dan H.
My wife and I ate here after we renewed our wedding vows at the fern Grotto. We enjoyed everything about the meal. Our waiter was attentive, but not trying to be our best friend. They had a singer with a guitar who was very talented, sort of a younger Sheryl Crow. My wife ordered a fruity margarita which was blended, colorful, tasty and overflowed the glass and I helped her finish it. We had a babaganoush appetizer with pita bread which was perfect with just the right amount of garlic, I had the Mediterranean Gyro which was tender and spicey, with enough for leftovers the next day. My wife had Ahi Ahi which was perfectly cooked and nice sized piece, again, enough for leftovers. We finished with the coconut baklava. If it was not such a nice place we would have licked the plate. It was light, maybe 9 layers of phyllo or more, with a dab of whipcream and a strawberry that was how strawberries used to taste when you picked them fresh out of the fields. The setting is lovely past civilization just before the start of the Napali Coast. The road is a bit scary with multiple one lane bridges, but it all added to the fun of finding such a great restaurant at the end of the road. I wish we could have arrived a bit earlier in the evening to enjoy the view more. I would recommend it highly for a special evening, or any evening for that matter.
(5)Dave H.
My family ate here Christmas Eve, 2012. Found it to be overpriced, $24 for Falafel, $26 for chicken breast, $34 for fish, as another reviewer said just order a bunch of appetizers and share. My pan seared fish of the day may have been pan seared at one time, but had been kept warm and ended of being pan seared and dried out at the same time. Should have known they were pre heating a lot because our meal was delivered about 10 min after we ordered. I was surprised because we ordered pan seared fish and lamb chops, which usually take longer. Definitely not special enough to warrant the mid $30 price range of most entrees.
(2)Laura Lee B.
Ate at Meditrrranean Gourmet 2x while vacationing in Northshore, Kauai. The drive alone from Princeville to MedGourmet is five stars....and food was some of the best we had during our 12 day holiday. We enjoyed: watermelon bruschetta, steamed clams, warm pita w/ fresh hummus, lamb fatayers and one other lamb dish (name escapes me)...all were very generous portions, wonderfully seasoned and fresh. Nice wine and beer selection (we missed out on the 1/2 price Wednesdays). Service first evening we went was stellar....lunch the next time was average..but a good average. Recommend dining during lunch or sunset to enjoy what you can see of the views...very good, although inside w/ big windows(an open patio would be devine). The -1 star is for the decor...floors, seating, etc could use an update. It's not quite a 'funky find' or 'funky cool' ... just a bit funky. Bottom line, highly recomend!
(4)Scott W.
Actually 4.5 stars. Lost a half point from me for service. It was good, just a few touches that would have made it on par with price. My wife and I are both foodies and we live in a resort town, so I feel pretty good about my reviews in Kauai. This restaurant is on the more expensive side since everything is a la carte, but this restaurants portions are designed fro you to go through the courses and enjoy the meal. If you are a big eater, don't be afraid to order too much, you probably won't. My wife and I went there with our two boys (4 & 8). The reviews about the place being dingy or run down are off base in my opinion. It looks like the rest of Kauai to me. I have yet to see anything I would call opulent here. It is quaint and different, which is actually refreshing to the cookie cutter world a lot of the country has become. All food items were very good to excellent. We ordered 3 appetizers, 2 kids dinners, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 premium cocktail, and 3 sodas. OTD with 18% tip for $205. Cheap? No, but I wouldn't say anything in Kauai is. I guess it's just like everything else on Yelp, just depends on your expectations.
(4)Michelle J.
Ok. The view is nice and if you are starving after a long hike in Na Pali or surfing up a storm, anything tastes great. For the price this is a very mediocre restaurant. Terrible wine list. Food was okay. Nice view. The service was excellent. Very pedestrian for the price. No problem dropping $125 for dinner...but the Dolphin blows this away. Sorry Med. Gourmet, we were hoping for more. All and all - again - ok - but ONO it is not.
(2)Mandy B.
My husband and I love this place. We really enjoy going in early evening and sitting at the bar. The bartenders are always nice and fun to talk to...typically the people sitting at the bar are cool too! One of the only places right on the ocean. unfortunitly they do not have outside seating BUT its not their fault. They have tried repeatedly to get the permit but have not been successful. They do, however, have tons of windows to watch the waves and the sunset. Drinks and apps are great. Live music everytime I have gone in (Megan is great!) I have not had any entrees there yet but when I do I will update my review. the entrees are pricey but from what I have seen have looked fabulous-like cover of magazine status. Great place all in all.
(5)Thomas B.
Absolutely phenomenal - was on Kauai for a week and came here twice - once for lunch and one Thursday night for the belly dancing show with dinner. The cuisine seems eastern Mediterranean - and everything I tried from our group's order was among the best I've ever had from the region (and I've been there).
(5)James L.
Loved the beet and goat cheese salad. Great service!
(4)BnT B.
Tasty Ono Special, Gracious Hosts, efficient Staff!!!
(4)Maura S.
The location and interior was beautiful. Well placed with ocean view and sky lights. Even the iced tea was beautiful. We only had appetizers and felt that the pricing was more towards $$$ then $$. Though definitely one of the top bits of food we've had on the island yet.
(5)Doug R.
You can't beat the setting but you sure can beat the food for the price. The music was great but a little loud. We just had dinner not the Luau. We had the special which was the seafood tower which was more like a minimall: a piece of bland Ahi and 3 very small underwhelming shrimp on mash potatoes. Meh. My wife was right the frozen shrimp from Trader Joe's are better. The Spanakopita was Ok I have had better and the clams were blah.
(2)Lorraine Y.
For the view alone.... This restaurant was great. I've had better mediterranean food at other restaurants. And not sure why.... But only one server working for lunch.
(3)Aron L.
If you're looking to get away from the typical hawaiian meal, this is the spot for you. Started with the hummus, had the gyro and seafood tower along with a watermelon mojito. Staff was friendly and the Thursday evening belly dancing was a special surprise. Good food, about $25 a plate and drinks at $10. Nice ocean view and rec reservations for sure.
(4)Mike W.
Glad to see this place was still open after we were here when they first opened like five years ago. Great food and quick friendly service. It is Greek/Mediterranean but kind of with a Hawaiian twist. Not just a true Greek joint. Everything we had was delicious. All their specialty drinks were good too except that lime in a coconut one. Blech. That was like drinking coconut scented shampoo.
(4)Stacie S.
This was the first "real" food we managed to have on Kauai after a nightmare experience on Hawaiian Airlines. The restaurant overlooks a gorgeous view, and is tucked next to a small art gallery and some beach condo rentals--it's easy to miss the sign as you navigate one lane bridges and almost flooding roadways. We tried the Spanokopita as an appetizer--it was a different presentation than we experienced, two large pieces filled with a tangy combo of finely chopped spinach and onion. There was a pleasant lull between this and the arrival of our entrees, allowing us to admire the view. My husband ordered the gyro, and I had the falafel wrap. He absolutely despises horseradish or wasabi, but found himself really enjoying the "Lebanese style" tzatziki sauce, which had a kick but wasn't overly shocking. The falafel wrap was amazing--the patties were flat, rather than rounded, which helped them crisp all the way through, and melded with fresh tomato and the same tzatziki on the gyro, it was absolutely delicious. Our appetites returned after being dulled with airport food and air over a 24 hour period. Our server was young, enthusiastic without being annoying, and careful to check on us as our meal progressed. If you see comments on "prices", you shouldn't expect sticker shock; the food here is unbelievably reasonable, with quality, depth of flavor, and service all thrown in. It is absolutely worth the drive and I'd go again in a heart beat.
(4)Linda L.
View: Good, probably much better when it's light out. Ambience: I could do without the fussy children and silly tourists (I was a tourist but not silly?), but the decor was tasteful enough. The space is big and felt that way until it got totally dark out and the lit candle - that warmed it up. Food: Ranged from ok to great. The Macadamia Nut Tart (sort of a macadamia based pecan pie derivation) was AMAZING. Like the best thing I ate in Kauai! Service: Average
(3)Michael S.
Stopped in for dinner tonight as we learned they have Hawaiian music and hula dancing on Sundays. We didn't know what to expect from Mediterranean food on Kauai, but the food was excellent and service the same. We loved that the menu clearly marked items that were veggie and gluten free. Amazing ocean views as well. Ditto the entertainment!
(5)Lila T.
The food is decent albeit expensive but the atmosphere was definitely FUNKY, especially after dark when there's no view as the interior is just your average, out-of-date restaurant. Then when the sword-balancing belly dancer started with her own music on top of the house funk, it got really weird. I'd say worth it for a decent lunch when you have different expectations but not so much for dinner.
(3)Shaylyn K.
Being a Kaua'i resident, I normally don't think of Ha'ena as a dinner choice. Loved the food (I had the paella), the service and the view (oceanfront dining at its best). So worth the drive!
(4)Dan G.
Unbelievable service, never showed up. My family and I arrived for lunch at 1:45 PM. We were seated within 2 minutes of our arrival (big plus). When seated, we were asked if we wanted bottled or tap water and we said tap. That was the only communication we had in the following 15 minutes until we got up and left. During the 15 minutes no one asked us for a drink order, list of specials or acknowledge we were there. From our brief experience here (our opinion), we would never visit or recommend this place to anyone. We ended up going to Kalypso's for a wonderful lunch. The service was excellent, the food delicious and the experience awesome. The review for Kalypso's will be posted later today.
(1)Dave H.
"Good food, great view, excellent ambiance with live music to accompany the meal on a Friday night. 5 people. 5 diff choices, all prepared excellently. I had the seafood paella, really enjoyed the saffron rice. Resort pricing, good value."
(5)Roger J.
We had a wonderful dinner. The food was prepared perfectly, service very friendly and right on. We were surprised they had a Belly Dancer that performed thru-out the evening- a great add-on! This type of food is as good as what we found in Berlin! Don't miss this hide-away!
(5)Kathy H.
We attended last nights weekly luau...and this review is about that experience. Due to a snafu somewhere between our concierge and the restaurant (no one is claiming any responsibility) we arrived w/o reservations. Although the restaurant was booked, the staff gracioiusly accomodated us w/a small discount for some tables they offered to arrange in the back for us. The luau is NOT what you would typically expect for a Hawaiian (they referred to it as Bali-wood style) experience. The food was good (buffet style) but we had virtually NO view of the entertainment. The decor is interesting....and didn't seem to capitalize on the GREAT ocean front view. We left as soon as our bill was presented. Again I'd like to say the staff was gracious...but I want other yelper's (something we rely upon when making decisions) to go "eyes wide open".
(1)Pat S.
Service was very good. Location is wonderful. Sangria was very good. Food itself is very mediocre. Dessert was wonderful.. Had the Mac nut pie. Definetly not the best restaurant on the island.
(2)Linda D.
We just attended the Tues evening luau and it was great. The luau was intimate and the music and dance authentic. The food was excellent. I highly recommend the luau if you are in the Northshore. You will really enjoy it.
(4)Chris D.
Favorite restaurant on Kauai. Fair prices for above average food. Interior was large and comfortable. Nightly entertainment was more obnoxious than interesting. Staff seemed annoyed with anyone under the age of 50. Closes early. Long drive from anywhere on the island (have a DD).
(4)Simon G.
My family and I ate here twice during our stay in Kuaia and loved it. The first was a great Luau which these guys host every Tuesday. It was very intimate with only 80 of so guests , the food was great and plentiful and the entertainment was excellent, by a family run set of musicians and dancers. We had a great time and would recommend this as an alternative to the big south shore Luaus.
(5)Candace O.
We've been going to Kaua'i for many years but just discovered the Mediterranean Gourmet. We went there for the Tuesday night luau. The food, served buffet style, and entertainment were great even for a small venue. We liked it so much we went back another night for their regular dinners. We had awesome, fresh Ono, that was just caught that morning and creatively prepared. The location is great, too - right by the crashing waves. Go before dark to enjoy the view.
(4)Gina M.
Wonderful Greek dishes in an ideal setting......north shore of Kauai, but leave the ordering of steaks to a place that specializes in steaks. It was tough and wasn't all that tasty. Mojitos are a bit different....they use Sprite instead of a club soda. Watermelon bruschetta very good.
(4)Janet D.
This restaurant is part of the Hanalei Colony Resort and feels a teeny bit like a "hotel restaurant". Even though I stayed a week, I only managed to go here twice...once for soup & salad and once for just a drink, so I'm not qualified to give a solid review. However, I do know from experience, that if this were a 5-star restaurant, I would have experienced that even in the limited time I spent here. I ate my soup & salad in the bar so I could best hear the jazz duo playing that night (I'm not big on jazz, but these guys were pretty good). The soup (potato leek) was average, the salad (beet) was above average, and my rum drink (a Bali Hi, I think) was kind of disappointing (seeing that I was in a tropical paradise bursting with delectable fruits). My second visit I came for a free Mai Tai for resort guests and a belly dancer. The bartender sure didn't skimp on the alcohol (seems like half of the 16 oz drink was straight rum), but I'm not one to appreciate that...once again, I missed the fresh fruit juices that could have dazzled me. (I had to request more of the bottled juice they used in order to get the drink down.) My compliments to the very attentive staff who go out of their way to make sure you're happy. The view from the restaurant is great. They have a great variety of quality entertainment. Again, I can't speak for much of the food, but I would guess that it's best to have mid-level expectations to avoid any significant disappointment. & a darn strong free mai tai, variety of low-key entertainment (sedate jazz, belly dancing, contemporary & classical music), attentive staff
(3)Amy E.
This was pretty good. Nice location near our hotel. Salads were good. We didn't have high expectations so were pleasantly surprised.
(3)Anne L.
Our server was attentive/helpful. The food was fresh, healthy, and a good alternative to the usual burgers/fish tacos. Make a reservation if you want a table by the windows, although you can't see anything after dark.
(4)Aloha M.
...amazingly overpriced and very mediocre. We tried to eat there twice, as the location and atmosphere are rather lovely. The staff was very friendly. The food and prices were laughable, though. I had a pretty good gyro and REALLY good waffle fries. In our two visits, we sampled about 2/3 of the menu and found that everything else was just NOT GOOD FOOD. Don't make the extra drive. Stay in Hanalei and eat at Baracuda....you'll spend less and have a much better experience. (this message is in no way endorsed by Baracuda)
(2)Beth G.
Great atmosphere... even had a belly dancer for entertainment. Beautiful view of the ocean if you are smart enough to get there early and get a window seat. One of the best dinners we had on the north side of the Island. We had the artichoke appetizer (which was too pricey and not worth it) but our main course,the rack of lamb for two, was excellent. I had a mai tai and it was delicious. Service was really good and we left feeling satisfied. If we were staying longer on the Island, we would have gone back for another meal.
(5)Joe B.
Wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this gem of a place. They could use another server - our waiter was competent, but just overwhelmed. The food was served with great presentation and tasted amazing. We had the trio of hummus, greek salads and shared the rack of lamb, which was the star of the show. Stay away from the average creme brulee and opt for the mango sorbet, which was out of this world. Along with a stellar view and live music, a great night.
(4)Steven C.
Had a large party for a wedding. It seemed like the management took advantage of my family by forcing everyone have three courses as well as a strict no sharing rule turned a 50 dollar plate to a hundred dollar plate. The steak was mediocre at best. The sever did a great job
(2)Michael W.
The menu leans heavily to Greek but the food we had was very good. Yellowtail sashimi appetizer was very fresh and well cut. Salads were delicious. This place used to be called Charo's and she still owns the building. Other musicians play here now because she has left the island.
(3)Rich R.
Nice place. Went there on basis of Yelp reviews. Friendly and casual atmosphere. Very friendly service. Great burgers. Beers tasted like ambrosia on a hot day. Perfect stop after arduous hike. Good lunch stop.
(4)Shannon B.
Good but not quite great. As another reviewer indicated this I essentially a hotel restaurant which serves the nearby rental units. We stopped by for cocktails at the bar one evening during the week and the bartender was quite the character. Entrees were $25-$35 which seems about on par for a hotel restaurant when you add the 30% markup for being in Hawaii.
(3)Michelle P.
Just back for a second time to Haena and thought we'd try Mediterranean Gourmet again. It was pretty good when we ate there two years ago and we were interested in trying the luau this time around, but won't due to their unfortunate infant policy. Our son is 11 mos. old and we called to make a reservation for three adults and an infant. I was told that even if our baby doesn't eat a thing we need to pay 35 dollars for the space of a high chair. I asked if we'd have a separate table whether three or four people and was told we would - so it's not as if the high chair would take the place of another paying costumer. So, I am left with two conclusions - they really do 't want infants at the luau and can't exclude - so they just charge a ridiculous fee to discourage kids, or they are being greedy. Don't mean to be harsh, but I am really disappointed with this policy and think this is bad customer service - after working in the restaurant industry for years. So no luau at The Mediterranean for us and we will take our business elsewhere.
(1)Peter Y.
If you're looking for a restaurant to wine and dine your significant other then this is the place for you. Great view of the ocean and the service was excellent. Mindy was taking cared of us and she was very pleasant. The food is fantastic!! We started off with the artichoke as an appetizer and that set the stage on what's to come. Sooo goooood! I had the mediterranean Gyro and that was delightful! The pita bread was like butter. So soft and tasty that it makes you beg for more. The shawarma was just as good and it's nice that they throw in what looks and taste like Bok Choy or Mustard Green. The garlic dip could be thicker in my book but still good nonetheless. My wife had the Filet Pepper Gordandola (med rare) and wow.... I'm like... Is that meat that I'm eating? So delicious. A great way to end our day with a fantastic meal. 5 stars to this establishment.
(5)Rae M.
Both our rehearsal dinner and wedding reception were held at the Mediterranean Gourmet. Beautiful views. Great food and drinks (chicken marsala, shrimp paella, macademia nut-encrusted mahi mahi, and mango margaritas were all hits!) and very friendly, attentive waitstaff and bartenders. However, service from the viewpoint of a regular patron could be different!
(4)Mitch S.
After having several disappointing meals at well reviewed North Shore Kauai restaurants, I was really happy to have finally made it the Mediterranean Gourmet on our last night on the island. The venue is pretty, the view and location are stunning and there was surprisingly good live music. The best part (thankfully for a restaurant) was the food! The portions were very generous and every bite was bursting with flavor. The Mediterranean Gourmet makes, without a doubt, the BEST falafel I have ever tasted. Everything we had was delicious and I would agree with the rewards that it is the best restaurant on Kauai.
(5)Drew O.
Ok food not fabulous nor like mother used to make. Different for Hawaii so must stand out here. Unless you are staying nearby, not really worth the drive to the "end of the road".
(2)Jane V.
I loved this place. Location is great if you are coming back from Ke'e Beach "beach at the end of the road" and want a late lunch or early dinner. It is about 10 miles from Princeville and so worth the trek. Ingredients were fresh, food was very tasty and the menu a refreshing change from Island fare. The restaurant manager seems genuinely interested in pleasing the customer. he made the rounds of the dining room more than once while were there. 5 stars for the food -- setting is ok --restaurant space nothing special. The waitress was very attentive. Can't wait to go back. Also for Hawaii, prices are very reasonable. I so hope this restaurant makes it in this out of the way locale.
(4)Fannie Z.
This place is right on the beach next to the ocean. It has a great view and nightly local entertainment. The food is good, I highly recommend the Gyro, the meat is roasted to perfection, juicy and tender with lots of favor. The owner is super friendly, he personally found a table for us and will walk around the place to chat up everyone. The bartenders are very nice, for the first time I tried a drink called a "chiquita banana", it doesn't have any banana in it, but it has a long list of tropical fruity hard liquor, which makes the drink taste like a fruit punch but with a hick of a kick in about 10 minutes after you finish it. It made my night a blast. And they do have Luau for Tuesday and Friday, but you should make reservations because they usually sell out. According to the Bartender, it's best to sit at the bar, you get a discount on the price and also a good view.
(4)Mr M.
Great spot! Kabobs, salad, dessert were all fantastic.
(5)Jim C.
This was our third time to dine - we are 14 year annual visitors to Princeville, and this time did not compare to the last two. Positives - we made our reservation for Wednesday night (50% off bottles of wine) early and they have a nice selection of wines on the list - our choice Bernardus Pinot Noire - all three times there - great stuff if you haven't had it. Service was good as usual, but very noisy (kids - out of the restaurant's control) - requested a perimeter table (made the reservation 10 days out but didn't get one) We all (4) had the New York Strip (been eating seafood 5 nights in a row) based on the incredible flavor of the chefs special Gargonzola filet last visit. Big mistake - it wasn't tender or up to par. In fairness, in the past we have had harissa, ono, paella, and the filet and all were absolutely delicious. To top it off they didn't have the lava cake for dessert which we were all pining for, so we went , and I don't even like dessert. All in all, disappointed, but we will return next year. When we were leaving (early 8:30) a couple requested to be seated and they were told that te restaurant was closed - hours posted are to10:00 PM. That is really bush league and as a business owner I was incensed - but this isn't my business.
(4)Joyce L.
This was by far the best meal on Kauai during our 6 day stay. They were very welcoming and set up a nice table for us and our pre-toddler son. Most importantly, the food was excellent - we shared the half order of the paella (YUM) and two appetizers--the fresh ahi sashimi and kafta. The pita was excellent as was the hummus that has a special ingredient--ginger! I also had the tango mango margarita, which was yummy, too. We had no tummy space left for dessert. The view is beautiful.
(5)Ziggy S.
First off, this is a $$$ and not a $$ restaurant (the average price was $30+ per plate). Good view of the ocean but this place is for tourists. The food was fine, but not worth the price.
(3)Dave C.
HCR and the Mediterranean Gourmet hosted the pre-wedding dinner and wedding reception dinner for two friends of mine who were married last weekend at the resort. I had the chance to sample many of the dishes that this place puts out, and I came away very impressed with the freshness and taste of all of the items served. The waitstaff are extremely friendly and attentive. I will always hold a fondness for this spot not only due to the wedding locale, but also for the fact that it was my first pig roast where they cooked that bad boy in the traditional island style.
(5)John K.
Fabulous views, and even better burger. All the food being served around us looked great and the menu was a perfect mix of local and Mediterranean flavors. A bit of a drive down the coast from the St. Regis Princeville (if that's where you're staying), but highly recommended as the drive is cool and the food is great.
(4)Sam E.
This place is amazing!!! Food is unique and really fresh.... Servers are friendly and the ambiance is warm with a great view!! If we lived on the island we would go all the time!!
(5)Bryce R.
Had lunch here on a Thursday. The location is beautiful, with our booth overlooking the ocean. Our wraps and salad were good, but a bit overpriced, even for Kaua'i.
(4)Sid S.
If you dare spend more than 3 days on Kauai and don't have dinner here, you have desecrated an amazing opportunity for true gastronomical bliss. Ambiance amazing, food beyond description , service unexpectedly great. We had great food, phenom service, owner/exec chef talked to us about the best cioppino ever. We have been to all the better rated places on the island and this one rocks!
(5)Rick S.
Yeah, this is pretty good food. It is a helluva trip to get there which is a testament to the chef after five years. But I find the room to be very odd. Very little charm. Certainly not a place one would want to linger. The ceiling fans pelt you, the lighting is poorly done and there are these odd fabrics seemingly attached to the ceiling. Tables are oddly (have i over used the word?) placed with most too close. I'd go back again but not for the ambience. Four stars for food on an island with poor choices and two stars for the room.
(3)Drew S.
This place was awesome!!! We went here onour first and last nights in Hanalei and were greatly satisfied each time! On the first night we ordered a couple of appetizers...cant remember the names but one was Greek inspired and the other was the tapas choice. Both were fantastic and the mai tai was unforgettable. On the last night I got the pistachio crusted ahi which was to die for! As for the service...it was first class all the way. We had the same waitress and bartender both nights...her name is Valerie and you should absolutely ask for her by name as she is the best and will make your dining experience that much more enjoyable! Bottom line is that theplace comes HIGHLY recommended!
(5)Steve D.
Excellent Hawaiian Luau. Wonderful show, very entertaining. Food was good. Nice location but all indoors with only views of the beach. Would have liked to have been outside.
(4)Sharon G.
Feels very much like a hotel restaurant, no locals eating here when we were there! Food was good but not great, and lots of items on the menu are not mediterranean nor mediterranean-inspired. Still, it is the closest restaurant to the surf line of any on the north shore of hanalei and the setting alone is worth a lot. Not a good view for sunset, however, since it faces mostly north (better at Princeville Hotel). Coconut baklava was great.
(4)Claytonian C.
Excellent food here all around. We ordered way too much this time but ate it all. Saffron arancini, cucumber salad, and chicken dishes were all fresh and tasty. The view from the patio is very cool. Great place to go if you're tired of eating all of the "thick" vacation food and want something lighter -- you won't be disappointed!
(5)Jennifer S.
Absolutely loved our meal at Mediterranean Gourmet. Wine served at the correct temperature, tasty food including the best steaks two of our party has ever had. Our service was beyond excellent and the ambiance was very nice/ cleaner restrooms would have been an added bonus. Very nice to have the owners check in with our table....we were all very happy with our experience and happily recommend this restaurant!
(5)Karl H.
Great food, beautiful views, but kinda ditzy service. We had lunch here in Sept. 2008. The food was ok, I had Chicken Souvlaki, which was tasty and a welcome break from a steady diet of seafood and steak in Hawaii. The view is very special, overlooking the ocean - a nice spot for a romantic dinner perhaps? The service was a bit lacking, our waitress brought the wrong food to our table, and forgot to bring us our drinks. I got the impression she was exactly enthused by her job. 3/5 stars, I will go back and try it again.
(3)Cathy L.
We spent our best meal on Kauai at The Mediterranean Gourmet restaurant. Very attentive wait staff - I love how they work as a team, so you don't have to get the attention of just one waiter. Food was excellent - my "upgrade" to a greek salad side was worth the added $3. My recommendation for dessert is between the kahlua/chocolate mousse, and the volcano cake. I can't really recall the official title for either of these desserts, just go with what sounds close. The view is spectacular - right on the ocean, not really a bad seat in the house. It is however a bit pricey, even for Kauai, but then again you get what you pay for.
(5)Andy M.
Overall GREAT restaurant. Lots of flavors and super sweet and friendly service from server as well as owner. It's a little bit far and hard to get to...but worth the drive. Make sure you are a garlic lover bc it's in EVERYTHING...but again so much flavor and strong drinks served as well. The baklava was totally unexpected and delicious...and the mango sorbet just melted in our mouths. I had the filet w gorgonzola and habeneros...and boy was it spicy and flavorful. We finished every bite of our food and left very happy. Would definitely go back
(4)Susan L.
We were really disappointed in the food.....hummus was bland! Bread on lamb burger was old (or toasted too long) and asked for Harissa and they brought out what was basically ketchup. More blandness... If you want a nice experience (just nice ... Not exceptional) on the water, then make the trip. Staff is friendly.
(1)Candace B.
Great, healthy meal. Fresh fish, well prepared. Great view. I loved that everything tasted fresh and healthy. Not a carb on the plate! In a good way. Had the Grilled Fresh Fish Lettuce Wraps. Yummy hummus, baba ganoush and tasty tabouleh. Worth a trip.
(4)Rod R.
Best restaurant in Kauai on par with Merriman's.
(4)Mimi D.
Location was nice - overlooking the ocean. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. The menu had some decent Mediterranean food that was a tad overpriced, but I guess we are in HI. The spanakopita was excellent. The Greek salads were mediocre. The meat dishes were good. The coconut baklava was different and yummy. There was a singer /guitar player added to the ambiance. Service was excellent and the hummus and pita that came free with the meal was a nice touch.
(3)seankor W.
Ate lunch here and it was lovely! Food was good, view was great (need to clean the windows but still amazing views). I got the vegetarian plate lunch and it was all amazing. Boyfriend had an ono fish sandwich made on their pita bread which was good an the fish he said was very fresh! They let him special order it, the fish sandwich I think usually comes on a bun or in lettuce wraps and he wanted to have it on their amazing pita bread, we like it when they let us special order without making a fuss! Good service too!
(5)Ryan B.
I took my mom out to lunch here for her birthday. We loved the fact that this place is literally yards from the ocean, but is pretty casual and not expensive. In fact, the bill came out to just under $50, including a $9 glass of chardonnay. We had the watermelon and feta cheese bruschetta to start, followed with a vegetarian panini with arugula salad for my mom and a lamb gyro wrap with greek salad for myself. We enjoyed the food and the fact that the dishes weren't overwhelmingly large or rich. The decor was kinda funky, and the service slightly slower than I would have liked, but the view is fantastic and the price is right. Overall it's a great place to grab a bite when out in Haena!
(4)M D.
This is a very good restaurant. But it is not inexpensive with entree's starting at about $28. The view is spectacular (on the Ocean) which every seat enjoys. But don't expect a view in the evening (especially in winter when sun sets about 6:45pm) - if you want the view eat early or have lunch here. I ate the Pan Seared Harissa which was one of the best meals I have ever eaten - it was that good. Service was also marvelous.
(4)Emily Y.
3 1/2 stars. Good. fish, but a bit over cooked both times we ate there. But the flavorings were yummy and tasty. Tried the fire roasted artichoke! Yum! If you're staying at Hanalei Colony Resort, look for the discount coupons and free drink vouchers!
(4)Lisa J.
We were married in Hanalei and came here for our after wedding dinner. We had a party of 15, so I called about 3 weeks before our trip to make a reservation. We drove up there a couple of days before the wedding to verify the reservation, and they didn't have it. It wasn't a problem, though, we were able to make another reservation at that time. I'm just glad we decided to check on it. We arrived on time and they were ready on time. We opted to let everyone order off of the menu rather than create a set menu, and that worked out fine. The drinks, appetizers, salads and main courses were good. What brought the review down a star were the desserts. I was sitting at one end of the long table, so really only saw the desserts around me. Two of us had the pineapple upside down cake. The cake was supposed to be sponge cake. It was SO dense, it was difficult to cut into with a spoon. My husband and mother had the lava cake. There was no "lava." It was more like a little bit of pudding in the middle. Also, the two cakes looked nothing alike for being the same dessert. They did remove the two pineapple upside down cakes from the bill. I also overheard that the ice cream was good. All in all we'd come back here for dinner if we were on the north shore again, but we'd definitely go elsewhere for dessert.
(4)Connie J.
Nice place, right by the water on the north shore. Good food. My husband had the paella which was excellent. I had the mouthwatering Shwarma beef kabobs. Finished it off with 150 year old Grand Marnier and pistachio bread pudding, simply delicious. So good we went back the next evening
(5)ben A.
The wife and I tried this place out casue it was one of the only things open. We ordered the drinks a Mojito and a Mango tango sub rum. Both were very good. I ordered the Pistachio Ahi it was good but it gets a star withheld. All i tasted was pistachio it had a strong nut oil taste which really takes away from the 30 dollar piece of fish. The fish was secondary in this dish which sucks. The wife had the gorgonzola filet which was incredible the potatoes were amazing the sauce was flavorfull and had a punch and the gorgonzola had a strong spicy kick to it which really made it good. The best steak she has ever eaten. This place is pretty spendy easily over hundred bucks for dinner and drinks. But its a nice place to grab a meal. But skip the ahi. and get the filet. There was also live music on friday night and she had a beautiful voice.
(4)Tina K.
Really nice place for a good meal. service was fabulous as was location. would go back if life takes me back to Kauai
(5)Molly H.
We ate lunch here after a morning snorkeling at Tunnels Beach. My "special" sangria wasn't very good, and neither was the white wine I ordered (however I've should have heeded my own adivice to never order wine in a tropical location -- it never meets expectations. Nevertheless, our food was great -- this place defintely isn't "Greek" and doesn't claim to be -- but a lot of the Mediterranean specialties were right on. Hubby had the Falafel wrap and I had the garlic chicken, substituting tabouli for fries. All was excellent. You can't beat the views/atmosphere here and the service was good. The only thing I didn't love, aside from the drinks, was the hummus. I think they forgot the tahini... PS: Someone was telling me that the restaurant and the hotel it is part of are owned by the performer Charo (of Surreal Life fame)
(4)Mary Ellen T.
Wow just left. Artichoke and clam amazing! Caprese salad fresh and presenting beautifully. Would go back again and again !
(5)Carole M.
My husband had the seafood pasta while I had grilled ono. Both were good. I wouldn't say this place is GREAT especially considering the prices, but definitely one of the better places to eat on the North Shore.
(3)Christiana H.
The only reason why my husband and I ate @ the Mediterranean Gourmet was because Red Hot Mama's was closed and the lady in the General Store recommended it. It was okay, not even good. I would not call this a GREEK place, more like Persian food. The Pita Bread was warm but the Hummus was way too garlicky. We had the Kafta to start out with and it tasted like hamburger meat on pita bread. Hubby and I shared the Paella (they spelled it Pailla). Rice was overly mushy and the fish (Ono) was incredibly dry. There was a belly dancer performing that evening and it was somewhat uncomfortable eating and having someone pulsate their hips in your face while doing so.
(2)Paul S.
Excellent food at a reasonable price (for gourmet) . . . we stopped by twice at our most recent visit to the island . . . The only downside is that the interior decor hasn't been upgraded since before Charo sold the location.
(4)Melissa C.
This restaurant was the best restaurant of my trip. The presentation was beautiful, the ingredients were well put together, the fish cooked perfectly, the price was right, the wait staff friendly & knowledgeable.
(4)Suren N.
First lamb burger I've ever had, definitely won't be my last. It was insanely juicy and stuffed with feta cheese. The meat had to have been ground fresh on site and it was seasoned perfectly. Go for the Greek salad substitute for fries, the dressing and the toppings were perfect. My wife ordered the garlic chicken pita wrap, I believe she used the word "heaven" several times during that meal. For dessert we had coconut baklava, not your standard baklava, which was a nice departure for me being the son of the worlds best baklava chef. We finished the meal with their French press coffee that they bring to the table for you to press, simple and deliciously strong flavored. The atmosphere was really nice, especially with the ocean view and the cool breeze. The staff was friendly and inviting, the man that was greeting everybody must have owned or managed the place and he had an attitude like he enjoyed being at work. We will definitely be back for their food and wine tasting menu.
(5)Smoothie M.
One of the best lunches we had in Hanalei. The fatoush salad was a bit different than I've had elsewhere, very chopped and spicy with a pungent lemon and habanero dressing. Nice people, good views and mai tais.
(4)kahau m.
ok..... so i have eaten here once, but have had drinks here several times. food(lunch) was meeehhh. drinks were very good and tasty...... mango margarita (blended), johnny jito are both perfect after a day at the beach or a hike or whatevas..... just make sure you can drive over all the one way bridges on your way out of wainiha!!!! bumbai you get stuck den you gotta sleep on da beach in deep country!!!
(4)bob f.
Just came back from Kauai. This review is for the Luau only and simply put they did a great job creating an intimate setting with a Laua that had a family, cozy, personal flavor. If you want a big production, 400 people, stage way over there, heads in your way and free watered down drinks - go to another venue and pay more money. As far as the food - this was a lot better than many of the luau's we have been to over the past 20 years on most of the islands. Pork tender and juicy, fish was moist and tasty, salads, fresh fruit and deserts were more than adequate. There were probably 50 people total and the dancers (3 daughters & beautiful) danced up front and one dancer would move to the middle of the seating area so we all had a very good view of the show. Again if you want a big production, lots of people and lines go to anudda place. You want small, solid, intimate good food - come here. PS: Lastly, if you want a great sunset picture with an ocean background - this is also the place.
(4)Heather N.
We had lunch here last week. The service was very attentive and the food was very good. I had the kafta and my SO had an ono sandwich. Both dishes were delicious and cooked perfectly. Even the iced tea was great. One drawback was the coconut baklava. I was expecting coconut in all the layers, but it was just like one piece of baklava split horizontally with some coconut added. I would absolutely dine here again. They have a tasting menu at night that looked interesting and very reasonable.
(4)K. S.
We've eaten here three years in a row and just love the place. It gets better and better each year - which blows our minds. The food is by far the star of the show. Some complain that it's inside, but who cares when you have an amazing beach front view and some of the best food you can find on Kauai. The staff is excellent and the owner is very helpful / gracious. I'm trying to find the words to describe how amazing the food is and I just can't - you have to go and experience it for yourself.
(5)Valerie T.
My best meal on this trip was at the Mediterranean Gourmet. This used to be Charo's long ago I think. We had lunch and the people and the food was great. Not to mention the only beachfront dining in the area. Worth the drive to the end of the road. You can tell the people really care about good service and food.
(4)Yogini R.
We visited Mediterranean Gourmet while vacationing in Kauai. We were enticed by the ads showing "Best Restaurant in Kauai 2008" and "Best New Restaurant 2007." This wasn't even the best restuarant we ate at during our trip, so I doubt it is genuinely the best restaurant on the whole island. I had the special, Paella, the first bite of which was crunchy, unfresh rice. The seafood was no where near fresh--and not at all worth the $50 price tag. I agree with a previous poster who stated that the hummus was way too garlic-y. Also, the pita, though warm, was not fresh either.
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