Dondero’s
Grand Hyatt Kauai,1571 Poipu Rd, Koloa, HI, 96756
Dondero’s Menu
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Diabetics at McDonald's
Most burgers served at McDonald's are low in sugar but there are several burgers which are high in sodium. You must choose burger options which are low in sugar and moderate in sodium content. You can also avoid extra dressings or cheese over your burger to control diabetes at McDonald's.
Foods to Avoid for Diabetics at McDonald's
Diabetics will find many tempting food items at McDonald's but most of these food items are also high in sugar or sodium. Diabetics must skip desserts and shakes at McDonald's to avoid sugar spike. You should also skip all McCafe drinks except a few containing low sugar and fat-free options. Besides the drinks and beverages, you should also avoid bacon-based and sausage-based burgers and sandwiches to limit your sodium intake. Diabetics should also skip the sausage-based salad options available at McDonald's.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at McDonald's
Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 1070mg sodium, 27g carbs, 6g sugar, 6g fiber, 37g Protein
Egg McMuffin®
Nutritional Facts: 300 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 760mg sodium, 30g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 17g Protein
4-piece Chicken McNuggets®
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 340mg sodium, 11g carbs, 0g sugar, 1g fiber, 17g Protein
Kiddie Cone
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 1g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0.5g), 20mg sodium, 8g carbs, 6g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
4-piece Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 340mg sodium, 11g carbs, 0g sugar, 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Iced Latte
Nutritional Facts: 90 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 65mg sodium, 7g carbs, 7g sugar, 0g fiber, 4g Protein
World Famous Fries®
Nutritional Facts: 230 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 160mg sodium, 29g carbs, 0g sugar, 3g fiber, 3g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Koloa for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at McDonald's
Most burgers at fast food joints contain a high amount of sodium. You must keep your sodium intake in check if you are suffering from high blood pressure. McDonald's offers a wide range of burgers based on your diet preferences. Choose the right burger and avoid French fries at all cost while dining at McDonald's.
Foods to Avoid at McDonald's for High Blood Pressure
Avoid Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Burger and Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles at McDonald's as both these burgers are high in sodium. Skip extra cheese and avoid French fries if possible as they are too greasy and can add to your sodium intake. Also, avoid all types of sausage-based burgers or sandwiches at McDonald's to limit your sodium levels.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at McDonald's
Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 10g Protein
Filet-O-Fish®
Nutritional Facts: 390 calories, 19g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 560mg sodium, 38g carbs, 5g sugar, 2g fiber, 17g Protein
Baked Apple Pie
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 95mg sodium, 35g carbs, 16g sugar, 4g fiber, 2g Protein
Vanilla Cone
Nutritional Facts: 200 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 95mg sodium, 32g carbs, 16g sugar, 4g fiber, 2g Protein
Americano
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Coffee
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 20mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Apple Slices
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0 g), 0mg sodium, 4g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Koloa for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at MCDONALD'S
Cholesterol is the biggest concern for people visiting McDonald's, especially people suffering from high cholesterol. You can order chicken or egg burgers instead of ham or cheeseburgers to maintain your cholesterol levels at McDonald's. In addition, you can also try the salads and opt for drinks that low in sugar.
Foods to Avoid at MCDONALD'S for High Cholesterol
Bacon-based items are often too greasy and high in bad cholesterol. If you are concerned about high cholesterol, then you must avoid all bacon-based burgers and salads. Also, skip the Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders to keep your cholesterol levels in check. You must also keep sausage-based items at bay when dining at McDonald's.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at MCDONALD'S
Side Salad
Nutritional Facts: 15 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 15mg sodium, 3g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 1g Protein
Egg White Delight McMuffin®
Nutritional Facts: 260 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4.5g), 780mg sodium, 29g carbs, 3g sugar, 2g fiber, 16g Protein
McChicken®
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 590mg sodium, 39g carbs, 5g sugar, 2g fiber, 15g Protein
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 125mg sodium, 22g carbs, 12g sugar, 1g fiber, 2g Protein
Hamburger Happy Meal
Nutritional Facts: 480 calories, 16g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 680mg sodium, 62g carbs, 21g sugar, 3g fiber, 22g Protein
Cappuccino
Nutritional Facts: 120 calories, 6g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3.5g), 80mg sodium, 9g carbs, 9g sugar, 0g fiber, 6g Protein
Yoplait® GO-GURT® Low Fat Strawberry Yogurt
Nutritional Facts: 45 calories, 0.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 30mg sodium, 9g carbs, 5g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Koloa for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A for McDonald's
When McDonald's first opened?
McDonald's began its operations by converting food and drinks stand called "The Airdrome" into first McDonald's restaurant.
When does McDonald's open?
McDonald's opens daily at 5:30 AM and stays open until 11:00 PM.
Which McDonald's is open 24 hours?
Unfortunately, there are not a single McDonald's which operates 24/7.
Where's McDonald's near me?
There are over 13,905 McDonald's outlets in the United States itself. You can find a McDonald's nearby with the help of our Restaurant Listings directory.
When McDonald's start and stop serving breakfast?
McDonald's starts serving breakfast at 5:30 AM daily until 10:30 AM.
When McDonald's start and stop serving lunch?
McDonald's starts serving lunch at 10:30 AM from Monday to Friday and 11:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy Meals are also served during lunch hours.
Will McDonald's bring back the McRib?
McRib is back at McDonald's since October 2018.
Will McDonald's bring back spicy McChicken?
McDonald's in the United States has no plans currently to bring back the Spicy McChicken.
Will McDonald's bring back the Grand Mac?
McDonald's doesn't serve Grand Mac currently and there are no plans to bring it back anytime sooner. You can always try the Big Mac if you have a large appetite for burgers.
Are McDonald's milkshakes gluten free?
Yes, all flavors of McDonald's milkshakes are gluten-free. Nearly all beverages served at McDonald's are gluten-free.
Are McDonald's burgers gluten-free?
Unfortunately, McDonald's does not serve gluten-free burgers. All the buns and other ingredients such as fried chicken patties, grilled chicken patties, beef patties, sauces, condiments, etc. contain gluten.
Are McDonald's Apple Pies vegan?
Generally, Apple Pies are prepared using shortcrust pastry which contains eggs. However, McDonald's Apple Pie pocket is vegan-friendly as it is both dairy and egg free.
Are McDonald's Veggie Burgers vegan?
Veggie Burgers served at McDonald's are purely vegan. Just remember to skip the sauce as the sandwich sauce contains egg.
Are McDonald's Milkshakes vegetarian?
Yes, McDonald's milkshakes are 100% vegetarian and don't contain any meat product.
When did McDonald's introduce McCafe?
McDonald's McCafe was introduced by McDonald's as a separate coffee chain in 1993. The café also served great bakery and pastry besides offering a great variety of coffee beverages.
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About McDonald's
McDonald's is the largest American fast food company with over 37,855 outlets spread across 100 countries. Primarily known for hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and French fries, McDonald's menu also serves chicken dishes, breakfast products, soft drinks, wraps, milkshakes, and desserts today. The restaurant chain introduced smoothies, salads, fish, and fruits on the menu to offer healthy food options at McDonald's.
The restaurant began its operations in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, United States. The name of the restaurant comes from its founders Richard and Maurice McDonald. The siblings started the food business as a hamburger stand which was later converted into a restaurant franchise in 1953. The first Golden Arches logo was also introduced in the same year.
Healthy Food Options at McDonald's
McDonald's was highly criticized for its unhealthy food options. Being a renowned brand and a popular fast food chain, McDonald's decided to revamp its image and decided to serve healthy food options. Most of these healthy food choices were salads, smoothies, fruits, and fish items.
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Address :
Grand Hyatt Kauai,1571 Poipu Rd
Koloa, HI, 96756 - Phone (808) 240-6456
- Website https://kauai.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/Donderos.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Nat T.
We ate at a few high end places in Kauai and this one stood out. Contrast it with Casa di Amici, which is nice, but the same kind of prices without the high end quality. An example: The Caprese Salad at Donderos is to die for. Exquisite cheese, and super flavorful, succulent tomatoes. Even the "dressing" was perfect. (And for the vegetarian, they are happy to remove the odd addition of meat to this traditional favorite.) Compare this with the bland caprese at Casa, which is roughly the same high price, and you'll have a study in extremes. While resort locations can be a pain, and mask some flaws in a restaurant, in this case that isn't the situation. The chef really seems to know how to combine flavors and choose fresh ingredients. The risotto, for example, was one of the best we've ever had. Subtle flavors, perfectly prepared. So what wasn't perfect? Our waiter was a little inattentive, and didn't know I hadn't received my salad until the main course arrived. But he was very apologetic, removed the salad from the bill, and comped a dessert.
(5)Chris F.
Had a weird, pastel-hued layout though. I felt like I was in a bad episode of Golden Girls in that way. But the food is vetty nice. Yes.
(3)Brandon A.
I was teetering between 4 and 5 stars but my new wife (we just got married, she is my first and last wife) loved this place so much that they deserve my highest respects. Damn, we needed a great restaurant experience and some good food and we got it here. (this was shortly after my "Beach House" fiasco *see beach house review). I saw in one of the other yelp reviews that Alejandro was the server to have and I certainly agree. What a charming fella. spot on. And the other staff was equally awesome. Note to restaurants - GOOD SERVICE EQUALS HAPPY BRANDON. period. Not sure why I decided to say this now, but service followed by table location is (sadly) often more important than the food. I HOPE you have good food. I'm not that hard to impress as long as it's not bad food. But I come to restaurants for an experience (most of the time) and it's a package. Lastly, waiting tables is a job, tipping is just that, a tip. If the bellman throws my bag at me after I get in a cab, he gets no tip. If the cabbie goes in circles and drops me off late, he gets no tip. If the service is good, you get 15%, you did your job. If it's great -20%+ but if you take forever and give me attitude, please don't expect 15%, you didn't earn it, so why should I give it to you? You can't just show up to work and expect 15%. I work in the salt mines and earn my keep, I'm not giving it away to you for not earning yours. Period. Okay, sorry for the rant. Anyhow, back to Donderos. I can't really remember everything we had, lot's of sun and Mai Tai's but I'll do my best. The apps are very reasonably priced and it's worth getting several. The carpaccio was tasty, the calamari was good (thank goodness), salads were great, pizza was great, Risotto was good, Ossobuco was out of this world as my nanny (my grandma) likes to say. Desert was good, wine and cocktails were great. Decor seemed nice at the time, didn't look 80's to me. If you don't order entrees, you can easily eat here reasonably with the prices of apps, pizzas, etc. Definately worth a try. Aloha
(5)Kathy L.
An absolutely superb restaurant Our waiter Rodger and busboy Eric provided superb service. The osso bucco was by far the best veal my husband ever had. The Lobster Rigatoni was amazing. The Grand Hyatt resort is amazing and I can't wait for my next meal
(5)sean o.
This resort style Italian restaurant is first class all the way. This is the kind of place you go on your honeymoon, or when you are on the expense account. It's not particularly hawaiian, not authentically italian, but the food is good and the service is outstanding if you can choke down the high prices.
(3)Javier O.
You definitely need to know this is a tapas style restaurant before making the leap to dine. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is a little different. You want to be aware that the price range is relatively high, but what do you expect when in the luxurious Hyatt Resort! Overall we had a wonderful dinner and the wait staff was very accomodating, attentive and friendly.
(3)Ange W.
Dinner for 2 here was a great experience. Walked in shortly after 6 with no reservation, seated within 10 minutes. Attentive waiter and food runner. Shared the 1) ahi tuna carpaccio, 2) ceasar salad (which came with real anchovies!), 3) pepperoni pizza and the 4) lemon garlic shrimp linguine. The linguine was perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious - a little creamy but not heavy. The pizza was thin crust (Italian style), we preferred the pizza at the steveston library (the boar pie) which was fluffier and thicker but personal tastes. Would definitely go back and order the linguine again.
(4)Vicki L.
Great service. Sit on the outdoor patio. Nice chicken picatta. Romance or fun - whatever the mood.
(4)Melissa N.
Excellent service, and wonderful food! My only complaint....other people who look like they just walked in from the pool to have dinner at Donderos, the only thing missing was their inner tubes and beach towels. It has the potential for having a wonderful ambience because of the killer views, but if there is no dress code, then it will look like a divey place to eat albeit very expensive.
(3)Gene B.
Nice view. You will likely eat here if you stay at the Hyatt, but have low expectations for the food. Mushroom soup was glue like. Salad was overdressed. Pasta were also glue like. Lemon ricotta doughnuts were best part of the meal. If you like heavy, greasy, glue like meals, you will love this place.
(2)David R.
Ok... the food is excellent but the service was probably the best waitress I have ever had the pleasure of serving my wife and I. Thank you Vanessa you truly made our experience a magnificent one. The food probably only really deserves 4 stars but because of Vanessa and the Lemon donuts w/cherry Carmel sauce it gets 5 stars.
(5)Arti B.
We are vegetarian, so there were not to many options, but what we got was definitely good. They suggested a few things for us, and it was definitely good. It was a nicer formal dinner location. We enjoyed it.
(4)Lindsey S.
This is not my first time to Dondero's, but we don't get here often! Partly because they are in the Grand Hyatt hotel and partly because it can get expensive! We went for Mother's Day and had a party of 9 plus a high chair and we were able to get the 6:00 reservation! The view is absolutely gorgeous, even from the middle and not a window seat all you can see is Palm trees and ocean and landscape. The waitstaff are very friendly and know the menu well! For Mother's Day there were roses given out to all the mothers in our group, very sweet! They start off with focaccia bread and oil and vinegar at your table, so Ono! Especially when Eric brought around fresh Parmesan to dip it in! Calamari was delicious, great seasoning, not chewy, and good dipping sauce! The artichoke bruschetta was also amazing, the currants really added a pop of flavor! Our table ordered a couple beet salads which were served with giant slices of goat cheese! Not sure why they had the rinds left on, I guess it makes it fancier. I had the artichoke pizza which was the best! Too bad I had already eaten so much and could only finish half! It was still good reheated the next day! The wife had crab and lobster pasta, rich but really good as well! Two people had the spaghetti and meatball (which is one giant meatball with a mix of beef, veal, and pork) and both agreed it was salty. The mushroom and duck risotto was the tables favorite! Desserts, I loved the pana cotta, but I really don't get popcorn on top of desserts. The gelato was delish and I recommend the toasted banana and the rich chocolate! All in all great service and worth the price!
(4)Madison L.
Amazing. My favorite restaurant at the Hyatt. My husband and I had a romantic dinner for two with a gorgeous view of the sunset.
(4)Tim L.
The ribeye steak here is delicious and was cooked to a perfect medium rare as requested. Every bite was tender and flavorful. The lobster and crab pasta came with considerable chunks of lobster, not langoustines. The sauce was good (for us) but we could definitely see where it may be considered too rich for some people's taste.
(4)Gail B.
Sit outside if you get the chance, the inside needs updating. The lemon shrimp pasta was really good, but the 3 other people were not impressed with their dinners. Avoid buying a cocktail as mine was $14.00 and it was half a martini glass. I ended up leaving feeling cheated.
(3)Erin Y.
We had a very inconsistent meal here. As a tourist, I wouldn't recommend coming here unless you're really craving non-seafood/Hawaiian food. At the end of the day, it's just decent Italian food, and being from Chicago, I've had so much better. We started with the artichoke bruschetta which was probably the best thing I ate that night. It was delicious, refreshing, and balanced. Would highly recommend. Other appetizers we had were the calamari and the mushroom "neopolitan" pizza. Calamari was meh. A little on the chewy side, I've had better for sure. The pizza was tasty but not really neopolitan. It resembles more of a flatbread/pizza hybrid. I won't dwell too much because it did taste good, though not neopolitan as advertised. For entrees, we had the shrimp scampi, ribeye, and lobster and crab pasta. Shrimp scampi was fine and the ribeye was very good. It was a well-cooked steak and the sides were tasty. The lobster and crab pasta was yummy for a few bites but got very rich very fast. I would highly recommend a half portion of this entree, because otherwise you may end up hating it by the end of the meal. It needed less sauce or something to cut the richness. Otherwise, it had a good amount of crab and lobster and the pasta was al dente. Tasted very good but it was just too rich. I also had a problem with the bacon ring garnish. It tasted like unfired ceramic pottery, kind of gross. For dessert, we shared the special pineapple crepe, the pineapple panna cotta, and the lemon ricotta doughnuts. I just have to put it out there, the pineapple crepe was one of the worst desserts I've ever had, period. It wasn't sweet at all and left a bitter aftertaste, presumably from the orange in the filling. I wonder how the pineapple wasn't sweet though? Also, the crepe was coated in some kind of crust that ruined it and defeated the purpose of a crepe. Very disappointing, makes me wonder if the chefs even tasted it. The panna cotta was tasty, could have been richer, but good anyway. And lastly, the doughnuts were the best dessert, but when has a piece of fried dough ever not tasted good? Overall, there were pros and cons to our meal but I wouldn't come back. I've had much better Italian food.
(3)Eric Y.
I'm torn here. This place has a spectacular setting overlooking the ocean at Shipwreck's beach. The food however, left much to be desired. There were some things that were good and some that were just terrible. Terrible food items usually rate 1 or two stars, but having a special setting, nice views and good service usually improve the overall star rating, hence 3 stars. The good: Our appetizer of artichoke bruschetta was excellent. Fresh artichoke, white bean puree and burrata over perfectly toasted Itailian bread. Our meal was starting off really well. The bad: Other appetizer of "Neopolitan" pizza was tasty enough but was it a "Neopolitan" pizza? NO! Our calamari fritti (fried calamari) was a terrible, overfried mess. The good: Ribeye steak was prepared well and was paired nicely with a creamy mustard sauce, a demi-glace and prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Shrimp scampi over linguine was competently done. The bad: The lobster and crab pasta with saffron marscapone sauce was rich but lacking balance so that the richness was too overpowering and by 4-5 bites, it stopped being enjoyable. The good: The cafe Dondero's was a nice way to finish the meal; espresso with amaretto and whipped cream - nicely alcoholic like me ;-) The bad: Special-of-the-day pineapple crepes were bad, really bad. Not sweet, too bitter, and where's the pineapple? Our other desserts were also just meh - coconut panna cotta was too thin and lacked proper texture. Overall: 3 stars. Come for Italian classics in a beautiful setting. Just don't expect too much from the food.
(3)Tim J.
The girlfriend and I decided to try Dondero's during our stay at the Grand Hyatt since going out to a restaurant is a little bit of a hassle due to the Grand Hyatt being isolated. The interior I will say needs some updating. It looks outdated and cheesy. We shared a Caesar Salad which tasted like any other Caesar Salad. I ordered the Pasta Bolognese. The meat was flavorful but the pasta itself was a little tough and chewy. It seemed as if they didn't boil the pasta in water long enough. My Girlfriend ordered the Lobster & Crab pasta and she did not enjoy it. She said Olive Garden could have done better. The service was terrible. Our waiter did not check up on us at all. For example. we had to call a busboy to help refill our water. For the price, this is NOT WORTH IT. (Very below average Italian restaurant. Maggiano's blows this place out of the water) The food and service was so bad...which was surprising since we expected the food at the "Grand Hyatt" to at least be decent. Don't eat here!
(1)Colleen S.
We had a party of seven and EVERYONE loved the food. We shared appetizers and salads which included bruschetta, ahi carpaccio, Caesar salad and the beet salad. Oh, the beet salad...red and golden beets, raspberries, arugula, and 2 generous slices of Humboldt Fog. For those of you that aren't familiar with this delectable cheese, just bow your heads. Mmmmmmmm. Notable entrees consisted of lobster and crab pasta, cioppino and filet mignon. But wait, there's more...dessert! If I could eat the lemon ricotta doughnuts everyday, I would be the happiest lil chubber alive. My date had the flourless chocolate cake which was a lil too rich for me, but perfect for a choco-lover. They serve many flavors of gelato. All of which were beyond amazing. Our server, Koko was amazing. Very patient, gave excellent recommendations and his attention to detail was spot on. With 3 days left in Kauai, I plan to hit Dondero's again...tonight, and hopefully again after that.
(5)E G.
We dined there yesterday after a day of adventure. They were accommodating and our server was very nice. Since we decided to go with light dinner, we ordered salads, soups and a pizza. I can say one word "salty". Everything was way to salty even kids soup!!!! You could not taste any other flavor except salt
(3)Katie L.
Solid food. Service was slow even if you are on laid back Hawaii time. Great views though.
(4)Candy P.
We had a wonderful dinner here. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The chef has the staff taste dishes as they should. The food was very tasty! We had a beet salad, bolognese, sweet potato agnolotti and the chocolate bread pudding. All terrific! Also made reservations easily through opentable. When making our reservations I wrote in the notes it was our honeymoon and we were greeted with a warm congratulations. No sunset watching at this restaurant but still a beautiful view of one the grand hyatt's many beautiful gardens.
(5)Mesrop B.
Had dinner here one of the nights here while staying at the Grand Hyatt. Very average Italian food here but I guess it's convenient if you are staying at the hotel to stop by here at least once. Sit outside if available because the interior really needs a refresh. It's really a hit or miss with the dishes and I can't say anything was a highlight. It's probably the cheapest place for dinner in the resort excluding the terrace.
(3)Parul G.
Quite disappointed with the food and the decor at this restaurant....especially considering it is part of the Hyatt! I just expected more! The decor is well....something out of the 80's, it gives you an older, stuffy feeling....which I guess they were trying to equate with "fancy smancy" but it just looks dated. If you do go there, insist on sitting on the terrace because than you're not stuck inside staring at the wall to wall decor which would make me claustrophobic. The terrace is nice, especially at night with torches and a nice big green lawn in front. Service is impeccable with the server being very nice and attentive to all our needs....but it just doesn't make up for the food and the price! On to the food!! The drinks (I had Lychee Martini) excellent!! It was really really good! After that though things went downhill. Thankfully we only ordered entrees....I had the Cacio e Pepe which was pasta with toasted black pepper. This dish was decent, but I would never order it again, it was filled with heavy cream and was just too heavy a dish for the summer. It also lacked flavor....no amount of cheese and butter is going to make the dish taste good if you don't put any other flavor in it!!! My husband had the chicken parmigiano.....a dish he loves!! Well they managed to make it so oily, soggy and so full of cheese that he couldn't eat it. Come on Hyatt....soggy chicken parmigiano!!!! Shame on you!! Dessert was tiramisu and that was great.....so my conclusion is....come here only for dessert and drinks, not the food!!! For the insane prices, the food doesn't even come close!! So save your money on the food and go somewhere else!
(2)Ken V.
We come back here every year, and I'm a little saddened to say that I'm downgrading Dondero's one notch this year. They've downscaled somewhat. A little less fine dining and a little more casual. To me, it's Hyatt quality, not Grand Hyatt quality now. The wine list has been pared WAY back. Just 8 Italian reds and 3 Italian whites (2 pinot grigios and a chardonnay). For an Italian restaurant at a Grand Hyatt, this is just not right. That said, I had a tagliatelle ai ragù Bolognese, which was superb. Still, much of what attracted us to Dondero's in the first place has now been eroded. You can still get good food here, but it's not any longer the Dondero's we fell in love with.
(4)John H.
Menu looks good but food did not taste good. Pretty salty. Too much sauce on all the items. Not good for a Hyatt Hotel, especially one in Kauai.
(3)Peter G.
The food was fairly good for a Hawaiian Italian Restaurant. This was a fluke, but the kitchen was really slow because they had substitute chefs in who apparently had to cook things twice before they were good enough to be served. Kind of weird and it took an hour to get our entrees after the appetizers. (Got free drinks and dessert as compensation.) Good to try once if you're staying at the Hyatt (really convenient). Otherwise, try somewhere else.
(3)Kathleen W.
Service and outside dining were great. Interior design is out of date, but who cares if the food is good. The scallops and sweet potato pasta were cold. Lobster and crab pasta was good. Overall, was disappointed since it was to be a "high end" restaurant.
(3)Maureen e.
We were celebrating our 27 Wedding Anniversary. We really wanted to table for two sitting outside the restaurant on the veranda. Rhonda, the person at the welcome counter made it happen for us. She was great, friendly, sincere, and really focused on getting our wish accomplished. Rhonda was great and she's still waiting for her millionaire husband to walk down the stairs:) Now to the food. We had great salads and the Oso Bucco special. Juan was our waiter and did a great job of attending to our needs. Great evening.
(5)Ruby J.
Love this place! The food was great comfort Italian food. We ate here twice while on our honeymoon. The service wasn't anything amazing but it wasn't bad. Also, the decor inside needs some serious updating but who cares since it was way more pleasant to eat out on the patio anyways. Overall, I thought the ambiance, wine and food made for a lovely dinner.
(4)Pam M.
Ahi carpaccio appetizer was good, caprese was skimpy, but good. Pasta bolognese was dry...my husband said he could have gotten better at Olive Garden. I had the linguine arrabbiata special and thought it was tasty. The decor is ridiculously outdated, but in good repair. The waitress was slammed, so didn't get to our table like she wanted to ( ie: didn't bet a chance to see how the entrees were), but she was very nice, and made efforts to get to us when she could. I wouldn't go back for the price that was charged.
(2)Local G.
When you walk in this restaurant you think to yourself "what the hell?!" The decor is awful, especially if you have walked through the beautiful Grand Hyatt lobby to get there. I can't even explain it accurately. Get past the decor- the food is very tasty! I had the risotto which was amazing. My husband had chicken wrapped in prosciutto. We also had the minestrone soup and a house salad to start which was delicious. Recommend the trip here! Added bonus- every menu on the Grand Hyatt resort is labeled for gluten free, gluten free option, vegan.... Mind boggling and so impressive!
(4)Matt F.
Food was good, but not the best Italian I've ever had. The service is excellent. The decor is ugly and dated inside, but beautiful on the terrace - make sure you request outdoor seating in your reservation.
(4)W. T.
We went again. UGH... what happened. The food was mediocre The service was mediocre. I'm so disappointed. The view was still spectacular but we were all kind of shell shocked at the nose dive. Bummer.
(2)S A.
Would like to give a 3.5 rating. Great location in the Hyatt. We walked in at 6:30pm with no reservation and got a table right away which was great. Our server (Juan) was fantastic. Food very good too. Only downside of evening was feeling rushed. We started off with a cocktail and within a few sips in our salad starter showed up. Plates were taken before we finished chewing our last bite and check came before we had our last cup of coffee. At the end if the day worth a visit. Hopefully others won't feel rushed.
(3)Patti F.
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(3)Mike C.
While the food was excellent, the service was poor. We saw our waitress three times all night - once to take our order, once to see if things were ok and once, after we asked to see her, to bring us our check. It really spoiled what could have been an excellent evening.
(4)FoodCritic F.
The food and service are impeccable. I had the sweet potato ravioli with side dishes of creamy Parmesan polenta and asparagus and everything was amazing. The prices are reasonable which was a shock to us. Delicious food with reasonable prices. You can't go wrong with that and the ambience and décor are nice too.
(5)Petra L.
Pretty much everything is gluten free. The bread pudding is horrible. Waste of money.
(1)Matt S.
First time here and the best meal we had on the island. We had a 6 o' clock reservation and were the first ones in the restaurant. Be sure to request a seat outside, it's beautiful! The service was great, the food was awesome (bruschetta, scampi, and lobster/crab pasta), and it was priced right for the area. Our server seemed truly interested in finding about our stay on the island and what we have done. Besides the fact that you can't actually see the sunset from the restaurant, everything was perfect!
(5)Howard L.
Just ok. Nothing great about this restaurant. We would not come back again. Hyatt should of closed this restaurant and kept yum cha open. Or better yet move yum cha to this location.
(2)A. M.
What a beautiful dining experience! Incredibly friendly staff, especially Eric who told us all about the local surf spots and best places to hear live music. The atmosphere was incredibly calm and relaxing, the service was exceptional and the food was delicious. Thank you!
(5)Angela C.
This place is a nice resort option for Italian food if you need a break from all the seafood restaurants. The squid ink pasta is good, the bread is fresh and the husband's fish was awesome. They had been closed for a menu renovation and the new eats are nice. However, the decor is dated and the music soundtrack kept repeating the same song over and over for at least 40 minutes until we said something and they fixed it.
(3)Rami D.
Still a 5! If I could I would give this place a 10! We had a bad experience with a meal and we saw our favorite restaurant as we were passing through the Hyatt, Kauai. We had the most incredible dessert- dynamic in flavor! The Gelato was Marjoram Raisin and Rum Raisin. This made our evening and they always greet us like we are old friends. Fantastic intimate dining and the most beautiful view on the island. Our favorite restaurant on Kauai!
(5)Jimmy T.
This is 1 of 3 restaurants you must visit while in Kauai. It's at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu. The others are Tidepools (Grand Hyatt) and the Beach House. We sat outside, which I recommend. everything was awesome. I love spaghetti bolognese, so I had to try it. Some reviews I've read said that the meat was stringy. They were obviously thinking that it should've been made with ground beef. This was better, 10-hour braised beef for the bolognese. I asked for a side of mizithra cheese, which they use in a chicken entree, and it was amazing. Even the pasta was homemade.
(5)Jonathan Y.
Took my wife here for our second anniversary. The service was not bad, the waitress wasn't overly engaged and even forgot that she had already asked us some basic information a couple times like where we were from. It was late though, so we don't mind. The appetizers (caprese salad, fried mozzarella) were quite good, easily the highlight of the meal. The prawn scampi was forgettable. The prawns were good, but overcooked, and the angel hair pasta that it came with was bland...had almost no taste except for the capers that were covering it. Really disappointing. My wife had the bolognase and wide noodles, but she barely touched hers. It was also bland, not very flavorful, and overcooked pasta to boot. We had a lava cake for dessert, but only ended up eating about 1/3 of it since it, too, had almost no flavor. My wife had ordered a fruity cocktail, but didn't drink it as it was far too sweet, even though she asked for a recommendation on a drink that wasn't sweet. My vodka martini was well made. All in all, a very disappointing dinner for our 2nd anniversary from one of the 'best' restaurants that the Grand Hyatt has to offer. I would highly recommend avoiding this place unless you want to pay $30 for pasta dishes that wouldn't stand up to even an Olive Garden.
(2)Noel J.
Delicious and excellent finale to our kauai trip. We easily made a reservation via open table and it's a good thing because the first thing they ask you for is the reservation name (not whether we had one or not) the best seats are outside which we luckily got- inside looked drab and very outdated. But the food and service were top notch and a little pricey but not outrageous for good food.
(4)Kevin K.
The Yelpers are right - make sure you get a table outside where you can watch the sun go down. The service is great and the food is good. But there's a little known fact Dondero is Italian for "exorbitantly overpriced". Be careful with your wallet.
(3)Kristina K.
DON'T-dare-o's. Decor: Takes you back to the ambiance of the Titanic in present time: tacky and outdated. Service: The worst we've ever had. Our server introduced himself to begin with then did not come over to see how we were doing at all. He was wrapped up in a larger party and we waited for 15 minutes after our appetizer arrived until the "apprentice" finally came over to take our order. There were times when the server was taking a glance at all of his tables, but never once bothered to come over to take our order or fill our wine glasses. Not only that, but our server's breath could have cooked the meal itself! Food: I ordered the crab & lobster pasta and my husband got the bolognese. His was delicious and mine was very fishy. We will never be back. This place just sums up the entire aura of this hotel with its lack of customer service. If you're expecting great food, service, and ambiance, steer clear of this place!
(1)Mike W.
****NOT WORTH IT**** Maybe the Hyatt can't afford good chefs? My GF and I were guest at the Hyatt from 3/2/13-3/8/13. Some of the local reviews say this is the spot to eat when you are in Kauai. Not really. I may not have eaten at all of the "Fine Food restaurants" that the Hyatt says they offer, maybe on a good day? But not on 3/3/13. If you decide to try it, I strongly suggest being seated out on the terrace, at least there you can see a bunch of palm trees and glimpses of the ocean. THE DECOR: Wow! Lets take a trip back to the movie "Summer Rental" with John Candy and pretend you are entering Scully's Restaurant. Very 80's and some sort of aqua green colors with sea shells glued all over the walls. And everything is so out dated ( not being picky, but hopefully you will understand that the Hyatt is very updated, the rooms are updated, and the hallways etc...) SERVICE AND FOOD: It was ok. As we entered the lower floor from the hotel, in the back corner Is the hostess counter. There was three hostess standing there and we were not sure who was greeting us or why there was three hostess, we get seated withot a reservation and no wait. Our waitress was pleasant and the bread was good. We ordered our drinks, shrimp scampi and the penne alla bolognese. Very bland and tasteless the shrimp was boring, the bolognese almost tasted like hamburger helper and the pasta was extremely al dente. After a bill of over $100.00 we should have gone somewhere else, we were not impressed.
(2)Kurt C.
We decided to try this restaurant for a late Valentine's dinner after a few recommendations from people at work. The location is in the Hyatt Resort at Po'ipu facing the ocean. We were there after dark, so it is hard to say what exactly could be seen in the light but a lot of the ocean view would be blocked by trees. The staff was very friendly to us and were pretty quick to meet our needs. The atmosphere was very calm and romantic; however, we were very unhappy that most of the people there did not see the need to wear more than khaki shorts and tee-shirts considering the quality of the establishment. What is happening to respectability in this country? The food was VERY pricey, but we did expect that. Overall, it was a very good meal. Drink: Lemonade - Very tart, but amazing flavor. May need to use a sugar packet. Drink: Iced Tea - Good flavor, not just brown water that I am used to getting. Complimentary Bread - Fresh and Tasty Appetizer: Eggplant ($8) - This dish was incredibly good; however, don't be surprised when it comes to the table. The serving size is tiny. It was basically three one-inch sized pieces in sauce. Dinner: Tortellini ($20) - This was a pretty safe meal for my wife. The pasta and sauce both had a very good flavor, and the serving size was decent; however, don't expect to be taking home any leftovers. Dinner: Grilled Swordfish ($38) - I have had similar dishes many times, but this was probably the best swordfish I have had. It came on a bed of mixed, roasted vegetables which was OK, but the fish itself was cooked perfectly (no pink for this guy, but not dry either). Also, there wasn't that fishy sea flavor that keeps my wife from trying and enjoying fish. The size was also just about right for a meal with no leftovers. Dessert: Gelato ($10) - We had three tablespoon sized scoops of goodness, one each of chocolate brownie, raspberry, and honey flavored. Although I could have definitely eaten more, this sweet finish was a great ending to our meal. The only bad thing is that you could easily get just as good (and a lot more) of a treat at the store for half the price. All in all, we would recommend this place to anyone, just so long as they can afford the meal!
(4)Gretchen D.
This was not what we expected. Everything I read about Donderos was an ONO! Dress code of resort wear and closed toe for men. I expected a higher standard of classiness. But look around to see flip flops and board shorts. Aside from dress code the food is marginal at best. The ahi carpaccio has no flavor but nice presentation. The roasted peach salad was not about peaches and I don't even know what that one ingredient was. Boring and weird and not Italian. Shell pasta with crab and lobster tasted ok but I think they forgot the saffron cream. The kicker ordered a double espresso and it came in a regular coffee cup!! You just don't do that at a gourmet real restaurant. Very disappointing for our last night in Kauai. And the bill was $238 bucks for two. Waiter was bored and not intune with us. But we still tipped him 20%. Find a cuter more romantic place to go.
(3)E L.
If you want the best homemade pasta and great service, this is the place to be! I had the Chef special pasta black pepper carbonara. OMG, never tasted anything like that, it's as good as in Italy ;). My husband had the bolognese. He told me is the best in 20 years. Must try it for yourself!!
(5)Jaimin V.
5 star for service & 4 star for food. Kauai has limited options for fine dinning & this is I believe one of the best you can get in Poipu area. Great food & great location. If get a chance, have table on a patio & will enjoy the food with surreal view.
(4)Lindsay S.
An absolutely PERFECT meal. Never felt rushed. Excellent food and service. Our best experience in eight days of eating all over the south shore.
(5)Celeste T.
Definitely eat outside, the dining room seems to be a touch crowded. The service is very pleasant, and the food is outstanding, and well priced for the quality. The lobby/waiting area is kind of lame, so I went upstairs to the bar. Dinner was excellent, I tried the soup of the day (creamed cauliflower,) and the excellent risotto. I was so full after that, the wonderful buttered bread, and several bites of my husband's Caesar salad that I didn't try dessert. I don't regret missing it - dinner was great!
(4)Bob N.
We stayed at the Grand Hyatt and had the best meal of our trip here. The ambiance, especially outside at sunset is amazing and our service was outstanding. The salads were remarkably fresh and my steak was perfect (and I am very fussy about meat). Portion size was perfect. We also ate at Merriman's on this trip but this was far better. Be aware that it is EXPENSIVE. Experience was 5/5. Price was $325 for 5 adults, 1 glass of wine, no deserts.
(5)Michelle R.
We try a new fine dining restaurant once a month, and Donderos is on the top of my favorites list. The food was amazing! We had two appetizers and two entrees and everything we had was just awesome! Service was wonderful. The only downsides for me were the price and the ambience. A meal for the two of us easily came out to $100 without drinks. We didn't get an outdoor seat, which was fine as we live on Kauai, but the inside felt a little dated...with this weird dividing wall between the upper and lower levels that blocked the view.
(4)Marieanne G.
Celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary tonight at this beautiful restaurant, they have a gorgeous patio that is quiet and peaceful. The food was delicious, my husband had spaghetti and meatball, which was YUMMY! I had lobster and crab pasta, good but on the rich side, I also had the caprese salad with fresh yummy mozzarella. Service was sensational and everyone was over the top nice!!!! This is definately a place to go back to!!!!
(5)CS W.
We chose this restaurant based on the menu, the location and some yelp reviews. We made a reservation and told them our friends were celebrating their anniversary so thought the evening would be special. It was a complete disappointment. We arrived on time and sat down promptly. We asked to taste two different red wines so we could make our selection yet ordered a white selection at the outset. We made our red selection and ordered calamari. The calamari came in about 15 minutes but it took a full hour before our server brought us two bottles of wine! We watched our server take other orders, serve other tables and basically ignore us. If not for our bus boy Rory, we would have walked out. Food was average but the service doesn't even deserve one star. On our way out we shared this story with the Manager who only thanked us for the feedback and coaching opportunity. We spent over $300 and weren't offered anything for the poor experience. I would expect more from a Grand Hyatt restaurant therefore do not recommend this restaurant.
(1)Ellen J.
Average of food (3 star), service (4 star) and ambiance (5 star). Admittedly, I had very high expectations for Dondero's at the Grand Hyatt. At least it hit the high mark in one category -- the ambiance couldn't have been better. At dusk, we were seated at what we asked for when we made our reservation - the best seat in the house, front and center, facing the ocean, the property lined with exquisite flora, and recently lit tiki torches. Our server Jeremy was courteous and personable, making recommendations as to what the most popular choices are. By the way, he is the BEST waiter photographer, and took a perfect picture of us to commemorate the occasion. Absolutely loved that they didn't clear plates until both my husband and I finished. On the other hand, the busser was always looking over our shoulders to see when we finished our plates. My husband loved his sautéed calamari antipasti. The calamari was very tender and cooked perfectly. He also raved about his Bistecca - 14 divine ounces of well-seasoned steak, done medium rare. On the other hand, I found my eggplant involtini to be bland with the Parmesan crisp on top a little too crisped and tasting a little burnt. For my entree, I had the appetizer veal meatballs which were extremely dense and not flavorful at all. My lychee martini was heavenly, though. For a romantic dining experience, I would highly recommend Dondero's, but go in with reasonable expectations. A couple next to us at the pool raved about their meals. Maybe I should have ordered what our waiter Jeremy recommended because that's what the other couple at the pool had for dinner!
(4)Nali M.
this was the first time i dined at this fine establishment. cindi, the matrie 'd was very nice and sat us promptly. our server, rosemary was excellent as well. she was very knowledgeable about the menu, and could recommend her favorites. there was a group of seven of us, and they sat us at a nice table near the window. we shared several antipasto and even some of our entrees & deserts. presentation was beautiful!! chef ben (usually it's chef patrick) did an excellent job. price was okay if you stuck to antipasto and some of the smaller entrees. i would recommend this for a very fancy diner/night out as a romantic date or something. pictures of food to follow..
(4)Julie P.
I suppose it was my fault for trying to eat Italian food while in Hawaii. The taste of the food did not match up to the high prices. The restaurant is located in the Grand Hyatt which I love. It's too bad the food was not tasty... considering the meal for two was over $150.00... the most we spent for a meal while in Kauai. We did not make reservations, so we had to wait 45 minutes. We toured the lovely Hyatt grounds for a bit, and in 45 minutes we sat down waiting to be called. No one else was waiting. The girl then looked over at us, and said 'Can I help you?' We just stared at her and said 'We just talked to you 45 minutes ago, we are waiting for a table' as to which she giggled and apologized. Mmm' kay. I had the Fonduta Alla Valdostana as an appetizer, which was basically cheese and bread baked. This was my favorite dish, but with creamy bread and cheese, that's pretty hard to screw up. I then ordered the Spaghetti Alla Bolognese. The pasta part was fine, but there were huge chucks of shredded meat in it, which grossed me out a bit. The shredded meat texture was just all sorts of wrong for spaghetti. They also had bread and butter on the table, so I filled up on that. Sadly I wasn't thinking and ordered the Petto Di Pollo instead of fresh fish for the main entree. The chicken juice was bitter, and the skin was on, and it was pretty disgusting. If you go there, you are much better off ordering some fresh fish and not the chicken. The inside decor looked a bit roman, and had sort of a stuffy beach resort vibe... which is sad, because the Hyatt Resort itself is beautiful. I guess the inside of this resturant is stylish if you consider sea shells hot glue gunned to the wall fashionable... If you go here, avoid the chicken, eat the fresh fish, steer clear of the spaghetti, fill up on the bread, have plenty of $$ on hand, and ask to be seated outside on the balcony... and not next to the sea shells glued on the walls. :P
(2)Tran N.
Not great. Food was mediocre and overpriced. Ambiance and decor is outdated. Service was friendly but I felt it was a bit fake - I guess that's how hotel employees are trained.
(2)Greg G.
Great food! Great atmosphere! I ha a medium rib-eye steak and the wife had the butternut tortellini. We ordered the wild mushroom risotto and it was amazing! The servers are knowledgeable and polite. Oh we also had the fonduta which was super creamy! and dessert is a MUST!!! any of them!!
(5)Nicole F.
Reviews are pretty accurate that the portions are tapa size. Didn't really bother us as we were too full from appetizers at the club level of the Hyatt. That said, if you are hungry, you will need to order several courses and it probably will set you back a pretty penny. I think the food at most of these Hyatt restaurants is really good....my only complaint is that drinks are consistantly way overpriced. The pool bars do have daily specials which are not watered down - so definitely take advantage of those. The food at Donderos is pretty good but I personally didn't care for the decor, which seemed southern belle frilly - more like an upscale tearoom.
(3)Sherry S.
I keep reading good reviews for restaurants that leave me disappointed. Either the bar is set too low or the reviewers are too kind on their vacations! I was so excited to find an Italian restaurant with gluten free options on Kauai. Hyatt does a great job of working with guests who have food allergies to make accommodations. I spoke to the waiter about my situation and he let me know my options. We were offered focaccia bread and asked the food runner if there was any gluten free options. The gentlemen said yes and brought out four slices of toasted gluten free sandwich bread. It was a nice gesture, a little underwhelming on the execution. I would have expected something more along the lines of the dinner rolls at Legal Seafood. I ordered the gluten free fettuccine alfredo as my entree. My dish was served with penne, the gluten free pasta of the night. There isn't much that can be said of the pasta - it is what it is, a typical commercial bought pasta. The sauce - therein lies much of the disappointment. Alfredo sauce is a commitment of calories and fat only to be enjoyed sparingly. On vacation I like to splurge, but at least make it worth my while. This meal left a lot to be desired. The consistency was satisfactory but off-put by a bland taste. Alfredo is an art that has yet to be mastered at Dondero's.
(2)Libbi K.
We had a lovely all adults dinner at Dondero's during our recent stay in Kauia. Since my husband and I are getting to be Italian snobs, we appreciated their well made cuisine. The staff was professional, friendly and helpful with suggestions. The food was very good and we wish we had a chance to return during our stay, which was much too brief!! All the pasts were excellent, and so was the fish course!
(4)Kevin R.
Food was absolutely amazing. Best meal we had in Kauai, however I can't believe they present that decor to the public. If you eat there make sure you request terrace seating. The inside decor can only be described as "island grandma". It is flat out hideous. That by itself kept me from giving 5 stars.
(4)Tony N.
The food is very descriptive on the menu...almost misleading.. When I received my food, i was surprised to see that my whole salad could fit on a fork and my steak was the thinly cut filet. I love fine dining however I like to be full when I'm done eating so I won't be coming back. my bill was about 160 for two including 20 percent tip.
(3)Rod R.
Great ambience but overpriced, Mahi mahi was overcooked.Bread was excellent and servive was good. Better to try Merriman's
(2)Eugene L.
Relative to the other restaurants in the Grand Hyatt, Dondero's prices were average. But in the "real world" this place was too expensive. I ordered their chef's special risotto for $14, and it was about the size of can of tuna. Same for my $11 bolognese. My wife and I were left with a sense of disappointment at this place that is advertised as the way Italian cuisine on Kauai. On arriving, they put us in a "waiting area" with another couple, which consisted of two couches and nothing to read or do. We waited for several inexplicable minutes before we were seated. Two things left us frustrated. First, the place was nearly empty. So why did we have to wait? Second, they seated us at a table that had a huge windowless wall blocking the view from one side of seats, even though thru the end of dinner much better tables remained empty. The waiter recommended three courses, which would have cost upward of $60 for each of us. Partway thru dinner I asked the waiter which shaker was salt and which was pepper since they were totally unmarked. He answered, and I proceeded to douse my dinner in SALT because he was wrong! The food was actually quite tasty and the service from the "main dish waiter" (mr condiment mixer was the "water and other stuff waiter") was very attentive and professional. However, I am only giving this place three stars because a) the portions and prices are ridiculous, b) the hostess service was slow and seated us poorly, and c) the décor is really, really horrible. For a $100+ meal, I expect a fancy schmancy place. You know Las Vegas casinos? You know the restaurant in the casino? Not the buffet, but the place that serves cheeseburgers and fried chicken that's open until midnight? Dondero's décor looks like that. It's an awful pastel-green assault of seashells and checkered tiles that belongs in a Marie Callenders, not in a $500/night luxury hotel. That said, the food was quite tasty. Like the other reviews also reflect, for the price, I can't say the food alone was worth it.
(3)Steph C.
We are staying at the Grand Hyatt for our honeymoon and decided to try out Dondero's. Overall it was a great dinner! We originally asked for a nice view, outdoors, and when we got there they gave us two choices of tables inside and a 30+ minute wait for an outdoor table. I was a little bummed about sitting inside but I was so hungry I just wanted to order so we went with the indoor table. Service was great and food was delicious!! I had the spaghetti and loved it!! With a bottle of wine, a soup and salad, 2 entrees, and espresso our bill was $150 without tip which wasn't too too expensive. Wonderful place to eat just make sure you're outside for the view :)
(4)David F.
So i've never been there before, so this visit there was a tester. And yes i said visit, which means i'll be going back. The Tsunami warning had us leaving early. Food was great, portions a little small, but lots of flavor, our server was very attentive, even apologizing for taking a while to get back to us. Other than that we had a good time. We'll be back.
(5)Michael S.
Maybe it was because we'd just kayaked the Na Pali Coast and were thoroughly exhausted when we ate there, but the food didn't blow us away. Nothing wrong with it, and the service and ambience were all great; we had better meals on the island, though.
(3)James K.
I've been visiting the Hyatt Poipu (now called the Grand Hyatt) for many years. Dondero's used to be a VERY expensive restaurant. With the new economy, Hyatt has dropped the prices on their meals. That makes this restaurant a decent choice despite some shortcomings. The decor of the place could definitely use some upgrading. The chairs and tables are old. The overall look of the place is dated. A nice remodel taking advantage of the Hyatt's unique and beautiful location on the island would be welcome. I had the lamb shank (Osso Bucco). It was a medium size piece of shank with minimal fat. The flavor was good. My wife had a so so Ceasar Salad. Her entree was linguine with clams. It was good, but kind of pricey for what it is. Desserts were ok. Nothing special. Overall, it's a decent choice if you don't want to leave the resort. The place could do with some updating and a more imaginative menu however.
(3)gregory t.
My wife and I had 6 PM dinner on 3/7. Very pleasant staff, very nice setting w/ a beautiful terrance table overlooking Shipwreck Beach! Everything was great except for the food! Odered Mushroom Risotto and it was so over salted it was not eidible! Next the Bolognese, completely over sauced and the sauce was over cooked( had a brunt taste)- it was a shame because the pasta was well made but was ruined. My wife's Pesto was over sauced-swimming in sauce, again the pasta was ruined. It was very clear that the "Chef " did NOT taste the food before it was sent out and has zero concept of what Italian cooking is to send food out to customers like that ! There was no Manager on site to share our experiance with! This was the worst meal I have ever had with Hyatt! Go for a drink but go somewhere else for the food!
(2)Morgan S.
Ate here our first night in Kauai because we were tired and didn't want to leave the hotel. I'd give it a solid 3 stars. The decor is definitely lacking....it looks like my grandma's 1985's sun room in Florida. Once you get past the lack of ambiance however.... You can enjoy the food. We got the cheesy bread to begin which was good but not great. My husband got the bolongnese and said it was great. I got the rigatoni vodka which was good But I've definitely had better. Our waiter seemed a bit new so the service couldn't have been better. That said, he and the bus boy were really nice which made a difference. Feel free to try this place but I'm guessing there are better dinner spots on the island.
(3)PJ M.
A little cheesy on the decor, but the food was excellent. We even took the leftover bread for breakfast the next morning! We had the mushroom soup, flat bread pizza and pasta bolognese - all of it was incredible... Staff was excellent as well - professional and accommodating. Definitely perfect if you've had an active day and need a good Italian dinner.
(4)V A.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. Friends of ours suggested we try this restaurant, saying it was one of the best on the island. I beg to differ. The fish was dry and pretty hard to eat. We also had some mushroom risotto there. It was OK, but definitely not something that I would get again. All in all, it wasn't worth the money we spent, but at least the chairs were cushy.
(2)Michael C.
Sorry but this isn't Italian food. And for the price I feel like I was robbed. Should be .5. I had my reservations trying Hawaiin Italian food, and my fears were justified. Coming from the NYC area I'm spoiled with great Italian on almost every corner. I just didn't want another ahi tuna dinner and needed to change it up for a night on my honeymoon. The atmosphere was 2 stars, we sat outside thankfully. Inside needs a lot of updating, looked like an old spa with bathroom tiles on the walls. The wine list is good, but overpriced just like every other restaraunt. I paid $52 for a bottle i buy for $12. For the food: I had the soup of the day : roasted tomato in a creamy Parmesan broth, and my wife had the Cesar salad. The soup was basically a can of chopped whole tomatoes heated up to lukewarm , and sprinkled with basil and Parmesan cheese. You ever had the tomato soup at Panera bread? Well that is 100 times better than this "soup." My wife had the Caesar salad which she said was good, but the serving size was the size of my fist. $12? C'mon man! I knew they would probably slaughter tomato sauce, and switched my entree from penne bolognese to the fresh Mahi Mahi over risotto. My wife had shrimp scampi. My fish was ok, prob not fresh and a little dry with little flavor. The risotto was horrible, tasted like rice boiled in a beef broth, had zero flavor. Oh, and another extremely small portion. My wife's scampi was worse. Way too spicy, red pepper flakes everywhere, and the sauce was watery and taste like lemon juice. No hint of garlic. The shrimp were a good size, but chewy. I had the " fresh gelato" and it tasted like it had freezer burn. Then I got to pay $150 plus tip. The worst meal that I've spent over $100 in my life. It makes me want o reconsider trying Tidepools in the resort during my stay. We just came from the hyatt in Mauii and Japengo was excellent, as well as their lunch restaraunt Umalo. surprised this was so bad. C'mon Hyatt you can do better!
(1)Chascona A.
Excellent food, excellent service, beautiful calm setting. Had dinner the night before at a place nearby with the same prices but easily worst meal of the trip so made me appreciate Dondero's that much more. Had the cappelini with ink sauce and lobster - delicious!! Calamari appetizer excellently prepared. Date had linguini with clams - good although outdone by others. Even the bread was irresistible. And we NEVER go to Italian restaurants because we are never wowed. Would definitely recommend this place. All the restaurants seem to be pricy but this is the only one I thought deserved it. And coming from NY this was the only one I think is memorable. Would go again for sure.
(5)Kayla H.
Nothing less than Perfect! Service was great, prices were awesome & the food was the best food I had on the island. Veryyyy Romantic & worth ever penny. We will be back again soon. We ordered: Calamari Manila Clams (loved!) Pesto Pizza Wild Mushroom Risotto (comfort!) Braised Veal (the star of the night)
(5)Sean D.
3-4 stars if you sit inside, 4+ if you sit outside I will go out on a limb and say that the dining experience at Dondero's will likely hinge on where you're sitting. As you walk from the Hyatt interior down to the entranceway and start to make your way through the restaurant, there is definitely a dated, cheesy interior decor with so-so lighting. Not romantic. Step out back to one of the small patio tables, though, and you get a lovely view, breeze, and really, what ultimately feels like a different restaurant. In short, the table defines the experience. Ask for one outside. The servers I noticed outside were all quite good as well. Wine: several glasses of a 2007 Mount Veeder Cab Sav ($14) that was just lovely. Apps: one pomodoro pizelle and a beef carpaccio, both about $10 and both quite good. The carpaccio was on the small side. Entrees, a duck risotto and a gnocchi with fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, and pancetta, both around $20. Both were pretty good. Dessert, freshly made lavender gelato (wow!) and some coffee for dessert. All in all, a solid meal in a very romantic, peaceful setting. Bill for 2 under $150. I'd go back, but only if I could sit outside (is there an underlying theme here...?)
(4)Carey M.
The food here was good but not as good as Beach House or Roy's. The Gnocchi was dry. I don't remember what my wife thought, but I know it wasn't good. My Bistecca was ok. However the service and view were great.
(3)Erin Z.
Disappointing. Our server was excellent but the food was unremarkable. If you are used to even decent Italian food I expect you will not be impressed. The bananas foster ice cream was the best part of the meal.
(2)alan c.
the best food we had in Kauai! Service was also excellent. It is worth the price as other places with much lower quality of food and service charged almost as much.
(5)Stan W.
I loved Donderos. Staying in Kauai for 10 days and having eaten just about everything this little island had to offer both high end and low end local, this was easily the best meal I had the entire trip (one of the best values too). We were told they had just revamped the menu, and that was pretty apparent. The prices were all over the place, but generally cheaper than I had expected staying at the Hyatt. Starters were all in the $5 to $6 range, which was silly cheap compared to what I was expecting (and what I saw from their previous menu). We got the meatballs and eggplant cabrese - both excellently prepared dishes. Back home in Chicago most chef's would've charged closer to $8-10 for each of these dishes. We followed these with solid $6 salads (again, I'm used to paying closer to $8 for salads like these), risotto and pasta, which were all just perfect. I had the ahi papardelle, which was one of my favorite pasta preparations I've ever ordered anywhere. The only thing lacking was the dessert, a trio of OK gelato that was overpriced at $9. The service was also impeccable - attentive, informative, and very warm & pleasant. The great service was typically of every part of our stay at the Hyatt, but our server, Deva was especially good. He was so relaxed and friendly...knew the menu top to bottom and recommended a great wine to go with my tastes that I immediately went to go find when I got home. Overall, great food, great service, great environment at very, very reasonable prices. Get in here before they up the prices because I'm sure they will soon.
(5)Lisa L.
Truly an excellent dining experience! We were there in June to celebrate our anniversary (we were staying at the Hyatt). The service was absolutely outstanding -- when the hostess overheard me say I was going to go back to my room to get a sweater to wear over my sundress, she brought me a cardigan! For dessert, the waiter brought us each a tray of petit fours with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate script on the plate. And the food was wonderful too -- both the risotto and the seafood pasta. I had to laugh when I saw the previous review complaining that the portions were too small -- if you want quantity, you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet. If you want quality, with absolutely appropriate portion sizes -- you go to a restaurant like Dondero's.
(5)Shaked B.
The food was nice but the décor is a dated and some people were in bathing suit which made the whole experience odd for a fairly expensive restaurant. We had better Italian food but probably our fault to be trying Italian instead of local or seafood. If you decide to go - make sure to sit outside...
(2)Jon N.
Overall we were very pleased. Service was particularly friendly and attentive. The Capellini was quite tasty, as was the Opa over Fregola pasta. Prices are very high, no surprise for a restaurant in the Grand Hyatt. Outside seating looks very pleasant, unfortunately we were inside where the setting is nothing special.
(4)Summer P.
This place was great! We came here to celebrate your engagement and the staff was amazing and the food was to die for. I would highly recommend if you want to treat yourself to a great dinner and experience!!!
(5)Arsham H.
Mediocre food, actually disappointing food with weak service
(2)Lexie V.
Five Star restaurant! Great food! Great atmosphere! We ordered the wild mushroom risotto and it was amazing, we ordered a second risotto (Seafood) and it was DOUBLE AMAZING, The servers are knowledgeable and polite. The Lamb dish is a must try and dessert is aMUST!!! any of them!!
(5)Andy S.
We have visited this restaurant on two separate trips, and both meals were very good but 'missable'. Physically nice, with a beautiful outside section which we did not sit in unfortunately. This time, I dined on their nightly fish special, monchong, and it was excellent. My wife had a tasty but not 'amazing' fish dish. We also had a pizza flat-bread, which was good but not amazing. I recall an excellent risotto on our previous visit as well. I think we're spoiled with too much excellent Italian food in San Francisco, so maybe I am punishing this place a bit unnecessarily. It is quite expensive, however, but if you want a 'change up' from islandy seafood heavy menus, this is a nice choice. But for the same price range I'd probably opt next time for a night at Tidepools (the Hyatt's other 'big hitter' restaurant which we did not try) or Merriman's or the Beach House (both minutes away from the hotel and outstanding), or Red Salt, which I have not tried but has great reviews. I'd probably suggest Roy's if we didn't have one in SF as well. To summarize- on my next trip to the Poipu area- I won't be planning a night here ahead of time- but could dine there if we feel like being lazy at the hotel.
(3)Lynne V.
Excellent food, great wine selection & amazing service. The pastas are appetizer size portions, which the waiter tells you, so you can try a couple to share or they can make a dinner size portion if that's what you want. I started out with a martini, which was not only perfectly mixed but actually served properly (waiter brings chilled glass & shaker to table & pours). I am so tired of getting sloppy spilled half empty martinis poured at the bar & brought on a tray, which is all too often the case. Fried calamari appetizer was tender & tasty, baby romaine salad with endive & fried artichokes was as well. Fresh warm ciabatta bread is delicious too, be careful not to eat too much so you'll have room for dinner. We got the squid ink rigatoni with lobster & the risotto of the day which was incredible- pesto, mascarpone & asparagus. I love getting really good risotto as this is tricky to make at home- takes time & practice. Both pasta dishes amazing. For the entree we were going to get shrimp scampi, but our server instead brought us beautiful huge broiled sea scallops with crispy prosciutto & even gave us an extra scallop so we could split it evenly. When we told him it wasn't what we ordered he apologized profusely but we said it was fine as the scallops looked outstanding, & they were! Served on a thin layer of finely sliced potatoes with garlic. Our server, Alejandro, was a real sweetheart & could not have been more attentive. Everyone who spoke to us knew our names, its that extra attention to service that makes places like Donderos stand above the rest. Because of the entree mixup (which was truly a happy accident) they gave us dessert on the house. We had fresh berries with white chocolate custard (the fruit in Hawaii is always fresher & more flavorful than what you get anywhere else, & the custard was just rich enough to balance the berries) & molten chocolate cake with coconut mousse (delicate & beautifully presented). One funny thing we noticed is the decor- sort of 1980s throwback with shell motif tiles & green flowered upholstery like you would expect to see in someone's grandmother's house- but with the gorgeous ocean view, excellent service & amazing food, who cares about the upholstery! If anything it lent charm and complemented the warmth of the place- if you're looking for the typical pretentious upscale eatery where wannabe models & actors congregate to pose for each other, skip this place. Likewise, if you consider Olive Garden to be an 'Italian restaurant' then this is not for you. The bill was not outrageous at all, but rather on the lower end of what you would expect for fine dining. As for people dining in shorts & aloha shirts, it's Hawaii for crying out loud. I find that much less aesthetically offensive than, say, an otherwise wonderful high end Vegas steakhouse filled with loud mouth hipsters in t shirts sporting scraggly goatees. It's all about sincerity. Five stars for Dondero's!
(5)Melissa C.
I expected more from this restaurant. The menu had on it " 100% organic corn fed beef", cows are not meant to eat corn, I think the chef is very disconnected to his food if he does not know this by now. Also, they were very proud about their house made pasta, that had a inconsistent texture as if the ingredients did not bind right. Also, the waitress was very snooty and when asked questions about the food, had no answers. The only thing I can say good about Dondero's is the oceanview setting is beautiful and relaxing. The chef needs to go visit more farms and keep his experiments in the test kitchen until he has mastered making pasta.
(3)