Love this place. It's really classy, but totally a beach place too. I walked in and asked if I was ok wearing shorts, and the guy up front said totally, you'll probably be more comfortable! I got a super tasty and rich burger (ridiculously rich and ridiculously good)- and my wife really enjoyed her tofu dish. I'd go back here for sure!
(5)
Dan S.
We stopped in for sushi. First we were sat in the main dinning room. When we asked about the sushi menu, and told that it's only served in the lounge (all of 15 feet away), we decided to move. Silly, but whatever. Jaime was a great server, and kept refilling the edamame tray for us. Given the prices on the menu, thinking the sashimi sampler would be a good meal for 2 people. Given that we're from the Bay Area, we know good food and high prices. The 3 tiny piles of sashimi for $35 was even too much for me to handle. If you're looking for sushi on the south shore, skip here, skip Dolphin and get take out from Makai in the grocery store. In summary, good service, poor value for your dollar even by Hawaii standards.
Awesome breakfast! I had the 2 egg breakfast which was a lot of food and very filling. My husband had the lobster Benedict. Omg! So good and had a lot of lobster! Very nice
(5)
Brendon C.
I absolutely love this place! The service is impeccable. the food is exquisite. The atmosphere is refined yet not too snobby. We made reservations here on a random Monday evening at 7 o'clock. the restaurant is small. we were greeted with a great deal of courtesy immediately by the valet and then the maitre d. we were seated in less than a minute by the window. The martinis with gluten free ocean vodka will set you back about $20 however they are well worth it. they are about 50 percent bigger than the average martini. I opted for the 50 dollar hamburger which came with football ah a lobster claw and grass fed Wagyu beef. it also had gold leaf truffle butter for the French fries. If you don't mind dropping a hundred to a hundred fifty dollars a person I highly recommend coming here.
Disappointing. Undersized, over cooked shrimp appetizer, baby romaine salad was only average quality and the blue cheese was bland, and I didn't even think that was possible. Steer clear of the Paella: small, flavorless shrimp, ridiculously tiny bits of Chorizo, etc., etc. Mushroom bisque was very good, but, on the whole, three stars is a generous rating for this restaurant. Premium prices for pretty much average food. Oh yea, the generous portion of fries that came with the tenderloin were warm, not hot. That is inexcusable at these price points. Service is fine, very pleasant staff. Not their fault the chef can't deliver on the concept.
(3)
Michael B.
Great eats, great service. Went for dinner as a first meal in Kauai. Waitress, Shannon, was very personable, but completely progressional at the same time. Told her we were on our honeymoon and she brought us out coconut-flavored cotton candy at the end of the meal. Overall, was pricey, but amazing experience from host to dessert.
(4)
Choo C.
Cute restaurant inside of the lobby of Koa Kea. The food and the drinks were pretty good and so was the service. We tried a few appetizers, the beet/melon salad, the seafood paella and some fish dish. They were all great. The drinks were awesome specially the one called Shiso hot. Our waiters, Chris and Nic, were great even though Nic got "for sure" stuck in our heads since every response from him included "for sure." Had breakfast here daily since it was included with the room. The eggs benedict was good, the omelette was all right, the breakfast burrito was missing a few things including flavor, the coffee was weak and tasteless, the fruits at the continental buffet were delicious. What's awesome is that they prepare breakfast to go if you have plans and don't want to sit down at the restaurant to eat.
(4)
Charlie V.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS Light modern meets dark wood, the restaurant is located inside the Koa Kea hotel lobby. At 9 o'clock, we had a 20 minute wait to be seated. As we walked onto the premises, a few staff members bid us good morning + we stopped to chat a little. Definitely a true Hawaiian welcome. Once seated, our server brought us some fresh blueberry muffins with cinnamon butter, but then immediately asked us what we'd like to order. Felt a little hurried or pushy for an establishment like this. THE EATS We chose to split the Three Egg Omelette with spinach, mushroom, + cheddar. The kitchen actually plated the dish in two portions for us. Each plate came with a side of their home fries + two ramekins with Sriracha + ketchup (two of our favorite condiments). We also received two slices of multigrain wheat toast, soft butter, + strawberry preserves. Overall a delicious plate of food, shared, makes for the perfectly sized breakfast portion. THE VERDICT GO check this place out for the decor, the food, + the wonderful ambiance. Service was mostly pleasant, though I believe our experience was the exception, as the other servers all seemed more genuinely friendly. But all in all, a fantastic first breakfast on my island vacation.
The food here was amazing ! The bread with unsalted butter and red salt added a new something to bread. Huge portions! We had a party of five, ordered appitizers, salad or soup. The prawns were delicious! The salad and soup were large portions! I ate the chicken with spaetzel. It was so tasty! A nice balance of everything! My hubby had the steak and fries, he loved it but had so much fries left over. The soy-ginger dipping sauce was the perfect flavorful sauce that I want to pack up and take home with me. Amazing service! Desserts were perfect but the hidden dessert of cotton candy took us back to our childhood!! Love this place! Hope to make it here again this week!
(5)
Michelle M.
We had a delicious meal here tonight. First the bread which is fresh daily from a local bakery is so good! Served with butter and red salt. Next compliments of the chef were shots of watermelon gazpacho chilled with basil salt on the rim. Unique and very refreshing. Onion saffron soup with sweet corn was warm and comforting. Mixed greens salad with hearts of palm and avocado vinaigrette was good. My daughter ordered the chicken with apples and the chicken was cooked to perfection. I ordered the shrimp fettuccine that had local fresh mushrooms and diced pancetta in it. It was rich and full of flavor. No room for dessert after this tasty meal. The staff was friendly including our waitress Shannon who gave us impeccable service. The grounds are beautiful and the surf was high so we could see the waves from our table.
(5)
Jaque M.
Bar none this is the best breakfast in all Kauai. I had the signature Lemon pineapple Pancakes. They are unbelievable and melt in your mouth. The rest of my family had the banana macadamia nut waffle. It's a treat as well. Coffee is excellent and they start you off with some great little muffins. This place was the highlight of my dining experience in Kauai this vacation.
(5)
Amy M.
Great quality food and service with comparable prices to hotel restaurants in the area. We've tried breakfast and dinner here so far and we are pretty satisfied. The ahi poke for dinner was delicious. We loved the sugar candy for dessert too, brought back childhood memories.
(4)
Sean Y.
We came here because they have great reviews but I have to say it's nothing special. It's higher priced and doesn't seem to be out of the ordinary for a high priced restaurant. I had the lobster Benedict it was pretty good but again what you expect at a high priced restaurant. I wish they were a little more inventive with there menu or had more local type items.
Decided to come here because of the great reviews. We were staying at a hotel down the road, but were pleased to find out that they had complementary valet. I ordered the mac-nut waffle which was the perfect amount of food and my boyfriend ordered an omlette, which was a lot of food but definitely worth it! It was definitely busy but our server was good, even if she was juggling a lot. Beautiful, seaside resort atmosphere. We were in and out in 25 minutes. Only complaint? $7 for two cups of regular coffee.
I never mind paying a lot of $$ for a memorable meal. This was very good but NOT memorable. The Sashimi Pizza was excellent, but $17 is a LITTLE MUCH for a very small portion (4 inches). Had it knocked my socks off with flavor I'd be OK, but it did NOT. I had the RedSalt Burger (Waghu Sirloin, Lobster Claw, Foie Gras), again VERY EXPENSIVE, but NOT MEMORABLE. For $50, I want to be dazzled. The bun was not even buttered or toasted, actually tasted stale. The bright spot was the service. Very attentive and pleasant.
(3)
Lise S.
Red Salt was a new experience for our group. I have been to the island several times, but never knew about this place. A friend had a business breakfast meeting there and said the MacNut pancakes were amazing and that we needed to go back for dinner. They certainly didn't disappoint! Besides a very contemporary lobby/restaurant design, the food was of the same high quality and very creative dishes. Service was friendly, helpful and professional. I wish I could remember the name of the woman who waited on us, but she was such a treat to have as part of our party. We all enjoyed the evening so much we all said we couldn't wait to go back.
Went for a late dinner. The best part of the meal was the free bread. Some food notes: 1. Bread: delicious and "free." The bread + butter + red salt is real good. 2. Lobster Ravioli: I split this with my brother. We were fools. The dish came and it was three pieces + one lil lobster tail on top. As the entree was $38 dollars, I shed a tear with each bite because with every bite cost me $8. It wasn't even good. 3. Kauai Shrimp Carbonara Fettuccine: Probably the best entree 4. Mushroom Bisque: ok 5. Kula Sweet Onion and Saffron Soup: tasted like a poor man's tom yum soup Overall: Not impressed.
Looking for a delicious, beautifully presented dinner? This is your spot! The service is amazing, friendly and knowledgable. We stayed at the Koa Kea and went here frequently. Appetizer of ahi was a work of art. Bread, butter and red salt with all meals, try it it's amazing. Sweet Maui soup was delicious. Salads greens were crisp with a nice house dressing and topped with fresh grilled fish. Pork chop was tender and juicy. Bring your wallet but worth it. Nice wine selection.
(4)
Nish B.
We came here twice for breakfast. It's delicious! They give these muffins to start out with - with a cinnamon butter. OMG SO GOOD! My sister got the waffles that came with a coconut side (some sort of syrup type of thing) - she liked it. I got the veggie eggs and toast. I had ordered a side of biscuit but I wouldn't rec it bc it's cold and not like a typical one you would expect. But yes, def try this place out for breakfast!
(4)
Sandra L.
Red Salt ' s shrimp fettuccine was delicious, arguably the best fettuccine I have tasted! My husband ordered the new york strip wagyu and fries and it failed so I had to go down 1 star. It was not worth $70 and the stomach pains he had afterwards. Other than that, we received a complimentary order of pineapple cotton candy that was delectable. The service was also great.
(4)
Gladys T.
Had breakfast here three times during our 5 day stay. The MacNut pancakes are seriously out of this world especially with a side of Portuguese sausage to add a little saltiness to your meal. "The Works" is delicious too. It's the omelet with everything on it for the same price as their regular omelet. What made our breakfast experience even better was the great service we had all three times. Red Salt is a definite must try while on the south shore in Kauai.
(5)
Erica E.
Awesome experience! My husband and I went our first night in Poipu. We sat down at the bar before our reservation time to grab a drink to be greeted by the friendliest bartender in Poipu, Michael. He made fabulous drinks and was so great that we ended up canceling our dinner reservation in the dining area to have dinner at the bar. We had the sushi chef, Justin, make us a few things (sashimi and a specialty roll) and it was outstanding! Best sushi and sashimi we ever had - thank you Justin! Michael and Justin were great to talk with and gave us excellent service. We even went back another day we knew Michael was bartending. Thanks guys for a great experience!
(5)
Amanda O.
Food was good but not great.. The red salt literally was my favorite thing.. The tuna was good but could have been prepared better.. Seemed dry..
(3)
Heidi B.
Delicious food, generous portions, Seared Ahi with edamame rissoto was cook just right. Ginger creme brulee was feather light & not too sweet. Tip, if you want the chocolate macadamia nut cookie & not the entire root beer float to go with it, ask for it. It alone will feed four people. White glove service, referring to you by name & describing every dish in detail as they place your food is a little over the top but not too ostentatious! :)
(5)
Nicolas H.
Most likely the best restaurant on the island. The menu is varied with lots of choices all of which sounded great. We started with the beet salad and the harvest salad, both of which were good, but the beet salad was a little bit better. The presentation was also outstanding. The warm bread came with the obligatory red salt which was nice. For my entree I had the Ono, which was the first time I'd seen this fish let alone tried it. I'm very happy I chose it as it was amazing, cooked perfectly to medium rare. The service was impressive as well, our server knew the menu backwards and forwards and was helpful with our selections. Definitely recommend if you are on Kauai and looking for a special occasion spot or just a great meal.
(4)
Alana S.
One of the best dining experiences I've had! Start to finish! Beautiful ambience- modern while maintaining an island vibe. Slight sea view, while not "beach side". Service was impeccable, our waiter Chris was outstanding...friendly and attentive yet unobtrusive. Provided honest input. Apps, soup, salad, entrees were all outstanding. Even the house bread & butter served with red salt were fantastic. Hope to return on future visits to the island. Highly recommend!
(5)
Monet B.
Everything about my experience here was absolutely terrible. I came in for breakfast for one as my room was not ready for check in next door at the Marriott. I was told they would clear off a nice window seat overlooking the ocean for me if I would wait. Absolutely! About 7 mins into waiting for someone to clean off the table I was promised, another couple walks in and is immediately seated at the same table I was supposed to go to. I was then seated at a table in the dark back corner. I ordered the avocado toast which is on their entrees menu and was $12. I thought, I make that at home for $2 but hey it's probably a lot of food and super delicious. Nope. Tiny. Ok tasting. AND I waited about 20 mins for it. I was about to go back there and toast my own darn bread! Oh and did I mention they brought the check to my table before my food even came out? Rude. I'm staying here for 2 weeks and they could have had a lot of business if they weren't so awful.
(1)
Mike A.
They didn't have any red salt at any of the tables I sat at when I was here. That was shocking and concerning for me until I realized that I had never seen red salt before and I didn't even know if it exists. I still don't know. This has considerably eased my shock and concern. I ate here four mornings in a row. Four mornings in a row? What was I, in love with this place? Did I want to marry it? Was it going to be my new steady lady friend? I don't want to answer those questions. I feel like I don't owe you an answer. You are, after all, reading my review. You need me. Not the other way around. I don't know what the prices were here. I had a breakfast rate package with my room at the Ko'a Kea. I don't know if they were astronomically high or just like stratospherically high or maybe just mountaintop high. The buffet was alright. The a la carte selections were better. I had the same thing all four mornings. The same thing all four mornings in a row? What was I, in love with that meal? Did I want to marry it? Was it going to be my new steady lady friend? Again, stop asking these type of questions. I feel too pressured right now. You aren't making it any better with all of the badgering. Pro tip...not just for here, but for anywhere: make sure you enunciate when you say that you want PEPPERS in your omelet. Some people mistake the word PEPPER for the three words PEPPER JACK CHEESE. These are two very different things. I don't know how one would order an omelet if one wanted both of these ingredients. There is probably some efficient and smart way to avoid saying pepper twice. I'll think about it and update my review if I come up with any solutions.
Great service, great food. I had a great lobster ravioli and my husband had the Ono. The restaurant was also surprisingly accommodating with kids. But what we were surprised by was the deceptive marketing. This isn't a beachfront restaurant. It's closer to the lobby with a pool view. (They market it as beachfront on their website.)
(3)
Dan D.
I came here with my wife on our honeymoon, thinking it was actually a different restaurant. We got here real early, around 5pm so we could watch the sunset. Well, we ended up having several delicious (but expensive) drinks. These drinks were fantastic takes on some classic mixed drinks. Perfectly refreshing after a day in the sun. We ended up coming on one of the days they had their sushi chef come in, so we decided to have several rolls of sushi and then moved to sit in the dinning area to split an appetizer and entree. We had the poke and a fish entree (i forgot the name). The fish was simply prepared, but the flavor was well balanced and the fish was still soft and juicy (not dried out at all). This meal was quite expensive, but hey, we were having fun on our honeymoon.
(4)
Ron C.
I was staying at the Marriott next door and using a local dive shop who recommended I come here for breakfast. Being a beach lounger, I decided to try both lunch and breakfast here. I was not disappointed. Lunch was actually average. Dining alfresco (Hey, it's Hawaii), my burger was hot, juicy, and did the trick. Breakfast was a good assortment between buffet and menu. I chose the menu since I wanted my food made to order. It was fantastic. Before I close note that Red Salt also has tremendous adult beverages!
(4)
K W.
This place had good food, but CRAZY over-priced!! My husband and I were staying at the attached hotel, so we thought we'd share some plates for dinner. We are more than happy to pay a premium for good quality food, but this was just too much. We literally paid $16 for two scallops. They were well-cooked and seasoned, but very small. We ordered a few other appetizers to share, and we each had a drink. Overall, we paid over $60 for each of us to have 7 bites (literally) and to remain hungry. We returned for breakfast another day, hoping it would be better. The breakfast is slightly more reasonable, but still, we had a better time eating out at some of the nice restaurants nearby.
Great place for a delicious dinner ... Prawns for appetizer and Carmelized Ono. Super good. Maitai is one of the best I've had ... Server Bryan is soo knowledgeable and efficient ., even gave me the recipe for the Maitai ... Hubby had the roast chicken with Apple flavored spatzels which he enjoyed. Chocolate decadence and espresso to top the evening off ... Recommend it highly. The only thing negative hence the 4 stars was the host who seemed cold and arrogant and not friendly at all . Too bad as the rest of the staff at this restaurant and hotel were extremely nice .
After eating here three times for dinner and twice for breakfast, I have concluded that Red Salt's dinner is great and its breakfast is not. My recommendations from the dinner menu: - diver scallops - ahi carpaccio - island prawns - mushroom soup - pan seared ono From the breakfast menu, the omelette is a safe choice - just don't order the breakfast burrito. Also, there's a cocktail called the Kekaha Gold, which is basically an alcoholic milkshake - SO good (although, not very easy on the stomach).
(4)
Foodie S.
Red Salt is one of my top 5 dining experiences of all time. This was the first place we ate on my honeymoon and I'm kicking myself for not going back another night for dinner (we did have breakfast and lunch). We were in Kauai for only 4 nights and we already had reservations at other top restaurants but none of them compare to Red Salt. The only reason we ate hear was because it was in our hotel and we just arrived in Hawaii (24 hours after our wedding with no sleep, maybe a I slept a couple minutes on the plane) and we wanted to quickly eat and get some rest. Well once we started eating, we quickly slowed down because we wanted to cherish every bite. I highly recommend: Apps - Scallops and the Island prawns. The three sauces with the prawns were amazing, each tasted very different, all were good and fresh but the mango salsa was out of this world. Dinner - the shrimp carbonara...I thought only Italians knew how to make carbonara but you can't beat the farm fresh ingredients that they use. Also I had the fish special which the waiter recommended. It was broiled Monchong, a fish I never ate before. It melted in my mouth and crab and yukon gold potatoes it was over was sooo delish. Dessert - we were full but they gave us a free after dinner drink and gelato since it was our honeymoon. We also had lunch/sushi at the pool which tasted just as good, not as fancy but very very fresh. If staying at the hotel, get their hotdog for lunch...I guarantee you will never look at hot dogs the same way again. I can't wait for my 5 year anniversary because I will be back at Red Salt. The day I came back home, I starting searching for farm fresh restaurants in my area in hopes that I would have a similar culinary experience. I was way off, nothing beats the freshness from Red Salt.
(5)
Michelle B.
In a Hotel with only Valet parking! Went for breakfast and food was good, but pricey (even by Hawaii standards). Complimentary mini muffins are tasty! Service was friendly and view beautiful.
(4)
Patricia S.
We came the for dinner with locals. The food is very good, the service was perfect. There were 8 of us and everything was delicious. We shared some scallops and and a poke appetizer, very tasty. The mushroom soup was divine and the salad so fresh and crispy. We also had a few dishes such as filet mignon, Ono, Scallops...the lobster ravioli was such a surprise, there was a full lobster in the middle. Will definitely return.
(5)
Andrea Q.
(note: this was for service in late July 2012 - forgot to hit publish on a draft) Worst meal we had on the entire island on a 12 day trip. The waitress was incredibly friendly until she learned we weren't buying alcohol. Asked us twice. We're not cheap, we just had a few cocktails earlier in the day and didn't feel like having more. J had the pork tenderloin (about 2 oz of super overcooked pork) on a smear of potatoes. I had the lobster ravioli and was so disappointed. We waited forever for our food which would have been fine but both of our meals were horribly overcooked. The 2.5 inch piece of lobster was so rubbery that i struggled to cut it with my knife. The 3 ravioli were supposed to be "filled" with lemon mascarpone, shrimp and lobster. They were completely flat. They weren't "filled" with anything at all. I've seen ravioli from a can have more filling in them (and it's been decades since I ate canned ravioli). I normally would have said something and sent it back but we were both so irritated by the long wait, the cold service and the lack of acceptable food that we just ate it and left. For 34 dollars per entree and that long of a wait that lobster should have melted in my mouth and i should have had something to bite into when i ate the ravioli. I really wish i had taken a photo when it came out- i saw a pic of the same meal on tripadvisor and it looked nothing like my sad anemic dish. We also ate breakfast here on our last day at the resort - only because we needed to grab a bite before leaving for the airport. Breakfast was ok but service was terrible. We had a male waiter this time (didn't catch his name) but he pretty much took our order, dropped it off and never came back until it was time for the check. I expect more from the lone restaurant in a resort like this. It's an attractive restaurant in a beautiful location but I wouldn't eat there again.
(1)
Jane M.
We went to Red Salt for dinner earlier this week and had such a wonderful time that we went and sat at the bar for drinks and appetizers tonight. The food is incredible and the atmosphere is great as well. The service however is beyond compare. Paul was the host and Samdi was our waitress during our first visit. Paul is so friendly and professional. He went above and beyond to make sure my family was comfortable. Samdi was an absolute delight and was very knowledgeable about the menu. She has such a warm smile! The Mango Margarita is too good! Tonight we went in and sat at the bar. The bar tender, Michael, was also very professional and went out of his way to explain various vegetarian options that were not necessarily on the menu- one of which was a vegetarian sushi roll. He also made us two incredible cocktails. I ordered an Avocado roll, but the sushi chef, Justin, came over to ask me what exactly I wanted. I told him a general vegetarian roll would be great, and he made the most delicious sushi roll I have ever had! It had avocado and cucumber inside, with crunchy Shitake mushrooms on top. The presentation was beautiful and there was a creative aspect to the dish that I have never experienced. He is very talented! When I go to a restaurant, the food and atmosphere are important, but the staff and service make the experience memorable. Thank you so much Paul, Samdi, Michael and Justin for two great evenings at Red Salt. We will be back. Thank you! Jane and Laura
(5)
Katie K.
Red Salt is inside the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort, and the windows have nice view of the hotel pool with a small view of the beach beyond. It's super nice to walk here along the beach if you're staying at one of the nearby resorts or hotels. Be warned, this is a "gourmet" Hawaii restaurant, so it is fairly spendy. They had an nice array of special cocktails, and a long beer (bottles) list with a few unusual craft brews from the mainland. During drinks and bread, our server brought tasters of a soup from the kitchen, so that was very nice to sample. I also had a beet salad before dinner, which was very good. I had heard that the cooking style here is for fish to be quickly seared with a raw middle, and that wasn't really my cup of tea for the fish I ordered. So I asked the server for well-done, and the kitchen sent it out exactly as expected.
(4)
Vitaly V.
Arrived here at noon and we're told that restaurant is "closed for lunch". Worker told us to head to the bar which is open however when I asked if bar serves the same food he said no. He also kept repeating that I should give him my car keys because it is valley only parking. The parking lot was empty so why force people to valley park. We turned around and found another place for lunch.
(1)
Bob W.
This pertains to breakfast. The food was "luke warm" and lacking specialness of any sort. No view, mediocre service, not due to the server, but to the staffing. How can you be so mediocre at breakfast and expect patrons to return for other meals? Wanted to like it, but did not.
(2)
Brena D.
As another patron mentioned, I too was expecting to come for a sushi dinner. I believe they only serve sushi options for lunch or at the bar...? Anyway, the meal turned out fabulous. It's unfortunate that others experienced poor service or bland food, because we sure didn't. We did have a later reservation (8:30 pm on a Saturday), so it was pretty quiet by the time we got there - maybe that was a factor? Our server, Brian, was fantastic! Very prompt, knowledgeable and friendly. We kind of went overboard on ordering ($200 for 2 people - included one drink each, app, salads, entrees and deserts), and while I was shocked at the high drink prices ($19 for my martini), it was a generous size and lasted the entire meal. I'm from Alaska, where everything is costly, so I wasn't too shocked by the prices, although they were a little higher than usual. Had I had poor service, this review would be much different. I thought it was interesting how they incorporated the red salt into nearly everything we had. Delicious and not over the top at all. Would definitely return on another trip.
(5)
Gary L.
Came here for breakfast and for dinner while staying here. If coming for dinner, be sure to make reservations. Continental breakfast buffet was good and seemed to include drinks as part of the deal, too. It's probably the best deal if you're looking to eat on a budget. They had salami, cheese, toast, oatmeal, cereal, and anything else you might expect in a continental breakfast. No eggs, though. Their pineapple juice is very good. Their dinner is a bit expensive with portions not being very big. I had the lobster ravioli and it was still very good. It was like 2-3 pieces with a 4 oz lobster tail to go along with it. Yum.
We actually ate here twice, once for dinner and then breakfast. Dinner was great. We loved our server and the steak was great. Breakfast was big and we shared. The prices are a little high but they did not disappoint!
(5)
Stefanie S.
I don't usually write reviews, but felt compelled this time. The food was meh - the worst meal I've had in a long time (I live in SF). Bland - I don't think the chef knew what he/she was doing. Our salad wasn't dressed. And the ravioli was pretty bad (I could only eat one). However, my date said their ahi tuna was good (I think it'd be hard to mess up seared tuna while in Hawaii). We skipped dessert, of course. On top of the meh food, it was overpriced. (And I don't mind paying for overpriced food if it's delicious... But this wasn't.).
(1)
Joseph O.
Had the Red Salt burger... Lobster on top of perfectly cooked sirloin patties. Amazing! Only downside... It cost $50, and a one hour wait while waiting for the rest of the food from our party. Service was 5 star - thanks Brian!
(4)
Jeremy D.
We came to Kauai and stayed at the Koa Kea for 10 days. Red Salt is the restaurant in the Koa Kea. Amazing service and food! The sushi bar is always great. Try chef's choice with Justin. Great sushi and service!. The food was great at Red Salt as well as a great choice of wine and spirits.
(5)
Renn A.
Great food and experience. My wife and I came on a Sunday morning at 9am and were seated immediately. The coffee was excellent and she got a hot chocolate which seemed to be made from a packet but was still good. Complimentary muffins were served quickly and were great. We each ordered the steak and eggs ($17) which were at a good price given the high end ambiance. Portions were a good size and steak prepared as ordered. Service was quick and friendly. Only reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars is the food quality was about average as expected from a hotel restaurant. We're staying at the Sheraton and this was a short pleasant walk and well worth it.
(4)
Jennifer C.
I cannot believe anyone would give this place less than 5 stars. This place exceeded my expectations. The food was whole-heartedly based in the region but with a modern twist. Red Salt also offers red salt as part of your meal experience. We began our meal with cocktails; I ordered a dirty martini and my husband ordered a Hendricks and tonic. They served his cocktail "club style", which came served on a silver tray with the tonic, gin, and ice cubes separated so you can mix it yourself. I love this idea so much. Mine was brought to the table in a shaker with a chilled martini glass and my server shook it - great touch. Bread was served with the butter at the perfect temperature, very thoughtful (not a hard lump that flies off the plate when you try to cut it!). Our server suggested the beet salad and he was right. The beets were fresh and the salad refreshing. My husband ordered the baby romaine and the dressing was out of this world. We ordered steak and all I can say is wow..wow! There are tons of fish items on this menu but dang...that steak was ridiculous. We ended the meal with a some pineapple cotton candy...again...wow. I would never think to put those two things together but they were really beyond anything I have ever tried. I will crave that later in life. The cotton candy is not on the menu but brought out for special occasions. Our server was Chris B. and he was superb. He was so on top of everything: wonderful suggestions, good timing, great food presentation and just all around nice guy. I will go on record as saying he is the best waiter I have ever had!
(5)
Janet P.
Best restaurant on the island never been disappointed with any order. We have been going to Kauai for 35 years and highly recommend it. Best Eggs Benedict can't wait for our next visit !
(5)
Kathy S.
We had a great experience here. The food was excellent and the service was even better, from the valets, the hostess, our server, our busser. They all went the extra mile to make us feel welcome, something we did not encounter often on this trip to Kauai. The shrimp linguini was awesome! And as someone else said, their complimentary bread was very good! We will look forward to coming back next time!
Red Salt is amazing! The food was great, and the service is impeccable. One of my kids ordered a seafood paella and the other ordered the lobster ravioli, which they loved. My wife is lactose intolerant and they were able to easily accommodate her. I have the burger with fois gras and lobster with truffle fries that had real trouble shavings and gold leaf in the aioli! Although we loved this restaurant, we thought it was a little overpriced even by Hawaii standards. But we would definitely come back again!
(5)
Todd G.
First let me say, my wife and I have been visiting Kauai once or twice a year for 15 years, so we are very familiar with the dining choices on the island. My advice: skip this place...there are plenty of dining options in the Poipu/Koloa area with better food. Positives: Service was very good. We had three courses for a party of 8 and all were timed well. Atmosphere is nice. More modern than Hawaiian but that is ok, since there are several island inspired decors in other restaurants. Plating was beautiful on most dishes and common on others. Cons: Yes the prices are ridiculous, but not because of portion size or ingredients. I have no problem paying a premium for the food described on RS's menu. However, the taste was just not there. Two people in our party had the $50 burger. They enjoyed it for the most part, but this menu item is probably not ordered for taste, rather for the experience of ordering an over the top burger. Two in our party had the lobster ravioli. Three small ravioli and a tiny piece of lobster on the plate. Pretty expensive, but worth it if it is a culinary explosion of taste. This was not. Lobster was over done, and the ravioli were blah. Interestingly, we went to Costco the next day for supplies and they were sampling the lobster ravioli...Costco's looked similar and tasted better. That's not good. My wife had the fish, it was too salty. I had the filet, and I've had much better filet in much less expensive restaurants. I also had the poke appetizer. I must say it was plated beautifully. I've never seen anything like it. Perfectly cut cubes arranged in a checkerboard topped with two different types of tobiko, resting on top of seaweed on top of thinly sliced cucumber. It was amazing. However, it tasted bland...very bland. I went back to my usual Hawaiian Style Poke at the Big Save the next day...its about 65% cheaper, but you get 5 times as much poke...just get to the big save early when it is still fresh. Desert was nothing special either, pretty ho-hum, run of the mill stuff. We did get the "off the menu" item desert, which is a island flavored cotton candy swirled around a candle. Makes for a pretty nice presentation, but after all it is just a teaspoon of spun sugar. Summary: We'll never eat here again. Not because of the astronomical pricing, service, or quality of ingredients, but because it just didn't taste very good, was over cooked, and didn't leave us satisfied at all.
(2)
Aaron S.
Breakfast and brunch are fantastic but our dinner there came up very short...and heavy on the bill. Solid breakfast: Eggs Benedict Waffles Breakfast burrito Morning juices Coffee was weak sauce, but that's typical for Hawaii it seems Weak sauce dinner: Prawns were small and more emphasis put on presentation. At $17, you expect more. For entree I had the steak which actually nailed it. Wife was disappointed with the fish, which came out dry and flavorless aside from the warm avocado. Had a bottle of red and our total came out in the low 200s. Overpriced and uninspired flavors. If you're in Poipu, hit up Beach House or Keoki's Paradise instead for dinner. Much more lively and they won't shred your wallet into pieces.
(2)
Jeremy S.
Impeccable service. Amazing attention to detail. We stayed here for our honeymoon and always weary of restaurants in hotels. This place won't disappoint.
(5)
Abby P.
Three excellent dinners and one outstanding breakfast here while visiting. Many of the other restaurants on the island are over done, trying too hard or getting tired. Red Salt finds a beautiful balance in high quality, fine dining but a fair price and great experience. My favorite dish was their Mahi, my husband's was the Ono. Each excellent and let the fish shine. The salads are not over dressed and are fresh as can be. The passion-fruit ginger crem brulee was divine. Excellent and well priced wine offerings. And try their eggs Benedict. Yumm! Try it out.
(5)
Jamon B.
I ate at Red Salt once while staying at the hotel, but only once. I read such great things about the restaurant, so I ate breakfast there the first morning. It was disappointing. The eggs benedict had a nice flavor, but the $28 price tag was supposed to include a buffet. The buffet was weak -- some measly, sad pieces of fruit that looked like they were left over drink garnishes from the night before; mass-produced pastry; little boxes of cereal; yogurt from the grocery store; and kool-aid-like "juice." For $28, I expect a nice selection of fruit, especially in Hawaii(!), and real juice. Honestly, I've seen better buffets at Days Inn. Also, the waitress was not good. She left a pot of coffee so she wouldn't have to come back...and didn't come back, not even to clear my plates, which kept stacking up. My experience at the restaurant was so bad that I didn't go back. Instead, I ate at Kalaheo Coffee. Go there instead.
(2)
Diana K.
My husband and I came here on our first night in Kauai. We were so tired from the plane ride that we decided to just stay in the hotel and eat here for dinner. I had the Bronzed Diver Scallop and he had a mushroom bisque for apps. My scallop had really good flavor and was very filling. My husband LOVED the taste of the bisque. Score! I had a medium rare Prime New York steak which came with red salt fries and 3 different kinds of sauces. The steak came out beautifully and had wonderful flavor. Unfortunately I was so full I only ate like 1/3 of it! There really wasn't a need for the sauces, but I did dip my fries in there. My husband got the Grilled Ono. He loved the sides, but did not love the fish. So they brought him a pan seared mahi and he loved it. :) 4 stars for the great service and for the great food! We came here almost every morning during our stay for breakfast. The breakfast included an entree from the menu (Omelette with 3 sides/toppings, 2 egg (any style) with Polynesian Sausage, Bacon, or Ham, Souffle Pancakes, Belgian Waffle) and a buffet of cold cuts, various cheeses, oatmeal, cereal, fruit, etc. It was delicious but we got kind of tired of it after a few days. :) I think if breakfast is not included it is $25.
(4)
Nathan L.
Excellent decor, good service, and amazing lemon pineapple souffle pancake with coconut syrup. My wife confirms that this is the best breakfast she has had on Kauai since Bali Hai @ HBR burned down. Great alternative to the local hotel buffets.
(4)
Jane M.
maybe it was an off night but I ordered the chicken and it was very bland with a predictable presentation...sliced chicken over mashed potato and green beans. My co diner had the rack of lamb, ordered medium, it came raw. Disappointing since we had eaten there twice before on previous trips . Pricey. Won't be returning anytime soon.
(3)
Bianca T.
All I can say is 'wow'. Husband and I just got back from a week long trip. We stayed just up the road from Koa Kea hotel at the Grand Hyatt. We had some difficulties finding good food in the area, but Red Salt was definitely one of our top 2 (the other being Roy's, but that's another review). First of all, the restaurant and hotel are extremely modern. If you're looking for a true Hawaiian-decorated locale, don't go here. But me - modern is my middle name. LOVED IT! Actually, we weren't entirely sure we wanted to eat here. At first we just stopped in for drinks and an appetizer, and to check out the hotel itself (we were given an impromptu tour of the grounds and a couple of rooms - wowza!). So we plopped ourselves at the bar and ordered some drinks and tidbits from our wonderful bartender, Jim. What a great, attentive guy! He's an old salt (pun intended) in the industry and even mentioned that he was a mentor to several of the bartenders at the Hyatt's Stevenson Library. For apps we ordered the 3-ways Pork Gyoza and 3-ways Baby Yukons. Presentation was immaculate and the taste was delish! For dinner I had the New York Steak (uh-my-guh), and hubs had the Mahi. YUM!!! Steak was out of this world. Finally, we got talked into one of the oddest sounding desserts, but I'm sooo happy we tried it. It was the Root-Beer Float. Don't be fooled, this isn't your typical RB float. This one was root beer ICE CREAM (yes, ice cream) served with cream soda that you pour yourself over the said ice cream. You don't understand how awesome this was. The ice cream was unbelievable on its own. Truly, truly tasted like root beer. I'm extremely happy we came across this place. The atmosphere and staff were tres classy. When we return to Kauai we will definitely go back to Red Salt, and will probably even stay at the Koa Kea.
(5)
Lovely K.
On my fourth visit to Kauai, I had to declare Red Salt my favorite restaurant, toppling The Beachouse. We went back for a second evening. The complex was a hotel destroyed in a hurricane in the early 1990s. Over the years we've walked past the decaying building from the mid-century, hoping something good would happen. It has. Red Salt has delicious food, a great wine list, excellent help and the best bathrooms in the Pacific. We enjoyed their poke, a artsy take on the classic. Instead of the salmon mixed together with the vinegar, it was layed out in a checker board design. The ono with lobster fries is delicious. The ono is an oily, moisy white fish, and the lobster fries was more like hash browns or hash with lobster. Delish! Also loved the cold corn soup. Flavor delight! The host and wait staff were all excellent and seemed happy to be there. On our second return we didn't have reservations but the host welcomed us by name. We weren't even staying in the hotel. After dinner we hung out at the bar staffed by Dan - who also owns The Wine Shop in nearby Koloa Town. See that review if you want. Great wines, great views. I'm a big judge of bathrooms and these were by far the nicest, cleanest, and grooviest in the islands. I do agree with another reviewer that this place needs to get to a tipping point and have the cool crowds it deserves - so bringing in a dj for weekened nights would help. This is definately a place that would make hipsters from NYC to LA happy. I should know, I used to be one.
(5)
Duke N.
Located in the Koa Kea Resort, (formerly the Poipu Beach Hotel) adjacent to the Waiohai, the Red Salt Restaurant is located just inside the lobby area overlooking the pool, court yard, and the beach beyond. Upon reading some of the other reviews I found it interesting that others also noticed something a little funky about the feng shui/arrangement that is otherwise quite modern and very clean. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the overall decor is pleasing and relaxing. The servers were friendly, but I agree with other reviewers that the service was a bit slower than other upscale restaurants in the area. Since we were on our day off and in no particular hurry, it did not matter that much. The eggs benedict were as delicious as they sounded, served with pancheta hash and topped with a paper thin slice of lemon rind and micro greens. One friend also enjoyed the eggs benedict, and the other ordered the steak and eggs. I sampled the steak which was tender and flavorful, not over seasoned but still tasty. One of my friends enjoyed the bloody mary with red salt on the rim. I would like to experience dinner here some time and although I'm neither a morning person nor a breakfast eater, I also hope to return for more of the wonderful eggs benedict.
(4)
Paul H.
Great venue in a nice location. Fun birthday treat for those celebrating (won't ruin the suprise). Shrimp three-ways was delicious and the chef's amuse brioche was fabulous - nice bite! Fancy place, yet kids were welcomed - the keiki menu did not disappoint.
(4)
Claytonian C.
Awesome new place near Poipu (and Poipu needed a place like this). We had dinner consisting of the Wagyu beef and shrimp linguine, both were excellent. Our server was very cool and she helped us pick out some of the right dishes. Everyone will tell you to go to Roy's, but this place is a lot more modern, intimate and less touristy.
(5)
Carla M.
Best restaurant on Kauai and service is also outstanding. Every course was presented beautifully and explained well. Will definitely be back. Lamb and lobster ravioli are the best.
(5)
S H.
We stayed in the Ko'a Kea and didn't really think to try the in-house restaurant until our last night. It was our best dinner on Kauai (followed by Beach House, Tidepools, Plantation Garden). They have good drinks (cocktails are a little pricy at $14) and really good food ($33 per entree, which didn't seem too bad). The decor is nice and there are plenty of windows. I tried the scallop appetizer mentioned in another review and thought it was excellent, perfectly cooked, firm, with a light crust and went well with the garnish and sauce. I had the vanilla seared mahi for a main and it too was excellent: well cooked and paired. I didn't care for the actual red salt though. They bring a little dish of red salt and you're supposed to sprinkle it on the bread and butter they provide. The bread was good; but much better without the salt. See menus: koakea.com/contents/v/Me… The yelp map is currently a little bit wrong, the restaurant is way off the main road past the Marriott timeshares in the K'oa Kea Hotel. At the hotel only valet parking is available.
(5)
Vivian L.
Hmm...I am torn about this place. I wanted to love it. The reviews told me to love it. The decor is very modern and city-like (tucked inside the Koa Kea Resort), and the service was attentive. But other than their signature ahi poke (which really is a work of art and tasted delicious), everything else was sort of just okay. The salad I had was fresh and decent, and the pork belly "kalua" was a bit overcooked and overseasoned (aka salty) to me. This is probably more of an experiential / homesick-for-swanky-city-restaurant type of place, and less for the food. However, it did make me want to stay at this boutique resort next time. I think the attention to detail here was apparent throughout the lobby and the restaurant.
(3)
Laura H.
Great article on Chef Ronnie and Red Salt Pages 60-61 Read on....... media.modernluxury.com/d…
(5)
Ryan D.
went for breakfast while on my honeymoon..... had the lemon souffle pancakes... were very light and tasty.... not much of a breakfast tho..... ordered a side of bacon and eggs to go w/ it,,,,which ended up being charged for another full entree as well..... food was good.....but just way over priced.... typical for hotels in Kauai for breakfast...although I think there are better options for your $$$$
(3)
David C.
Rolled through here for breakfast. Lovely atmosphere, lovely view, and very small for a hotel restaurant. Either way, I ordered the eggs benedict. It was delicious and fluffy. I saw people around me order pancakes and waffles. They all looked very good. My #2 had the breakfast buffet which looked good, but no hot foods. I'd come here for breakfast again, if you're ready to drop a $20 for breakfast per person + $3.50 for a cup of coffee!
(5)
Liv R.
Had breakfast at Red Salt. Overrated and way too expensive. The pancakes were pretty good, but the service was incredibly slow and almost $35 for a breakfast??? Disappointing!
(2)
D B.
Things that were amazing: The waiter, the tofu (best tofu ever), and the bread Less than par: The salad (but it might have just been too healthy and needed more flavorings), and then creme brulee (too much ginger for me but my company enjoyed it). Still 5 stars because the things that were good, were very memorable.
(5)
Rose M.
Excellent service and great food. I had the salmon special and my husband had the Prime New York steak. They were both delicious! We also had breakfast there one morning and the potatoes we sooo good! Kudos to the chef! I can't wait to go back on my next vacation! Strongly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Midnight B.
Good food, I had the ahi tuna something but everyone in our party of 4 liked their food a lot. Good service, located in a very cute boutique hotel.
(5)
Jessica V.
Hands-down the best quality and value restaurant in Kauai! The breakfast, dinner and Friday-Saturday sushi bar are all fantastic. The wait staff is attentive, nice and pleasant. The slow cooked breast of chicken was delicious (the gravy was heavenly), as was the steak and the tuna.
(5)
Mike B.
Only had breakfast here, as we weren't staying at this hotel. Nice location and views, if you get a small table by the window. Muffins they give to each table are awesome and addicting! Omelette and breakfast burrito were both very good, as well as the hash browns. Tough to find great breakfast in Kaua'i, compared to Maui, but Red Salt is definitely worth it.
(5)
CalBear H.
Mostly fish dish, and they sear the fish best (mostly raw in the middle). I ordered the ono and asked them to make sure it's cooked thoroughly, they tried twice and the middle was sitll a bit raw. The appetizer kalua pig is great, somewhat of a twist since it's serviced in a square chuck that's about 1.5" in size.
(3)
Karen C.
This review is for breakfast, which was sub-par. Service was disappointing as well. Breakfast was overpriced, but that's to be expected at a resort restaurant. Had the food and service been commensurate with the pricing, I'd be more inclined to give a better rating. I got an omelet with breakfast potatoes. The breakfast potatoes were undercooked and not crispy. In fact, they were still hard in the middle. When I told the waitress that the potatoes were hard and underdone, she said they were baked in a ring mold and they were supposed to be like that. I pushed the issue a little, but she insisted they were supposed to be hard. Even though I was obviously not happy, she didn't offer to do anything about it. After a few minutes, she must have realized her mistake and came back and offered to have them cooked on the griddle. If I'm going to be paying $15 for an omelet and potatoes, I expect the food to be cooked correctly and not to be arguing with the waitress about how potatoes should be cooked. Won't be coming back.
(2)
Mij Y.
Food is good, but very small portions and rather on the expensive side. They can afford to do that because there is not a lot of options in the area. $14 for one scallop was a bit absurd
(3)
Felicia D.
This is for DINNER ONLY. I wasn't that impressed with breakfast, it was overpriced to the max. The dinner and hotel are AMAZING! A week's stay, couldn't have been happier with everything from location, to staff to bed linens, work out room, and yummy yummy dinner. Definitely the best food we had the whole week. I highly recommend this hotel!
(4)
Zuzzi E.
Breakfast was amateur hour, but dinner was legit. Try the morel soup or souped-up Poke. The place is never busy, so no need for a reservation.
(4)
Amanda S.
One of the few upscale restaurants on the island. It has EXCELLENT service, drinks and food! Dress up for this one!
(5)
Jaime A.
After spending 6 days in Kauai and trying different restaurants all over the island, the Red Salt at the Ko'a Hotel and Resort is by far the best meal on the island. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, the food is phenomenal, and the atmosphere is so relaxing and enjoyable. If you have $100 or more to spend on dinner for two (without drinks, but including pupus), then the Red Salt is the place for you. Check it out and tell Paul that Jaime sent you.
(5)
kahau m.
ate here a couple weeks ago after hearing alot about it and a bunch of reviews. thus...... expectations were pretty high. had the mango margarita to start. very tasty! got a table along the windows, which were closed due to windy conditions. the layout was a little different. a long, horizontal lobby, lots of white. turns into the red salt bar, which happened to have sushi made to order at one end. the restaurant is tucked in at the end of the lobby. very nice, modern furnishings, hepp flatware, schownwald china. nice.... bread was warm and crusty and served with butter...... with red salt of course. ordered the ahi/ walu sashimi app and the kalua pork app with taro gnocchi. sashimi was very creative and tasty. pork seemed a little on the bland side and i was hoping for more than 2 gnocchi, they were tasty though! entrees were the mahi mahi, nice presentation and tasty. also had the new york strip (MR) with truffle fries and 3 sauces (soy, truffle and madeira). Steak was a full 12 oz. for sure and tasty! fries? probably got about 3/4 # of fries!?!?!?! i couldn't finish them! holy crap there were alot of fries! no dessert cuz i had no room! overall a tasty meal. 2 people. 2 rounds of cocktails. 2 glasses of wine. 2 apps and 2 entrees. $200 with tip. service was good. efficient. well informed. and timely.
Wow wow wow!!!! We came here for our 20th wedding anniversary dinner and were simply blown away! The presentation is untouched by any other restaurant on Kauai...we know...we have been coming here for 20 years and now reside here. The food was amazing. My husband and I agreed the filet mignons were the best we have EVER had! Highly recommend!!! It is expensive but worth every penny for an amazing dining experience.
(5)
Jeremy H.
Wonderful atmosphere with excellent service and great menu! The martini's were amazing, and the entrees were delicious with great presentation. Definitely recommend!
Beautiful atmosphere & the hotel is gorgeous, the best looking hotel on the island for sure & love that they utilized the materials from the old Waiohai when building this hotel. The food was pretty good, not excellent but good enough and the presentation was beautiful. Very spendy but that goes without saying on this island... Think the food at Roy's is better but the location is better @ Red Salt.
(4)
Jeremy M.
Great high quality, fresh food. The poke and ahi appetizers were great. The mahi and opah were wonderful and the chocolate Mac nut torte was sublime. Good service. Modern ambiance. Expensive and worth it. Some of the best food on Kauai.
(5)
A C.
I hate to do this, as I had high hopes for this place, but it was just awful. We made a reservation but were given a terrible table on the edge of the semi-circle in the dining room, where I was blinded from admiring the ocean view by the bright kitchen lights in my peripheral view. Many better tables were left empty. Drinks were mixed--mojito was terrible, mai tai OK. Unbearably long wait followed for apps (maybe nearly 40 minutes). waitress apologized, I assumed we would be comped our drinks at least, as people who were seated @ the same time had already left. Not so. Apps mixed, endive salad was very, very nice, ***** presentation. scallop undercooked and unremarkable. Mains were hideously overcooked, like fish taco overcooked. I was served substandard piece of mahi with burnt edges. Hubby's ono was more edible. nothing here to justify $35 a plate by any means, even in Kauai. dessert was amazing, brownie with homemade gelato, though the gelato was hard frozen (should be soft) so that it had to be cut with a knife, lest you shoot a slippery gelato mass @ another guest. in short, only $23 of our $136 tab was even worth eating (1 app and dessert) plus the long, long wait and and only a verbal apology for what amounted to enough time to make 3 apps puts this firmly in 1 star category. try a more established place like something at the GH. even if it was just a horribly off night, not worth the risk.
(1)
Jeff J.
Great breakfast! High quality - excellently prepared food, great service, beautiful setting. This is the benchmark for breakfast in the Poipu area.
(5)
Norman L.
We went there last night based on all the glowing reviews. I thought the food was ordinary. For that price I expect to be stunned by the food. Did not happen. Yeah the drinks are good but at $14 for a martini I expect that. The service was excellent, and the bread was lovely, but at $35 for a small piece of fish I expect more than ordinary. Don't waste your money here.
(2)
Karri U.
Awesome food, fresh fish, great hotel....
(5)
Dana M.
We chose this restaurant over the Beach House, Plantation Gardens, etc for a special dinner after eloping on the beach that morning, and we didn't regret it! The amuse bouche was delicious and appreciated, and helped us pick our main course. The scallop appetizer was delicious. The fish was perfect, and the man who refuses to order anything but a steak wherever he dines (like my husband) will be satisfied with their offerings too. I also greatly appreciated the attentive but casual service for those that want great food without all the fuss.
(4)
Ryan H.
Ultra sleek decor and great food. Really enjoyed our meal at Red Salt. Decent wine list, great steak and fish. Friendly service from valet to waitress. Still pretty unknown so it wasn't very busy when we were there. Atmosphere could be better if there were more people at the tables and louder music. Felt like I was in a museum at times. One of the better meals I had on the island.
(4)
Kyle C.
UNBELIEVABLY GOOD! I ha the Ono which was cooked to perfection and the root beer float desert made with house made root beer ice cream and that was absolutely delicious. The service was also extraordinary!
(5)
Robin A.
Amazing food but very pricey. Fresh tasting and beautiful presentation. Their root beer float dessert is unbelievable! Beautiful place for a romantic meal.
(5)
S N.
delicious food, amazing drinks and excellent customer service. but it all comes with a pr$$$ce.
(5)
W Q.
this is the best high end restaurant on poipu beach. it's inside koa kea hotel. all of the seafood here is fresh/quality. the red salt is a great touch. the breakfast here is great, but dinner is as good as it gets on this side of the island.
(5)
Nibha B.
The food and service were excellent. It's a must visit.
(5)
T D.
We came by for dinner on our last night on the island . We were able to make reservations easily the night before. The restaurant is located in what seems to be the lobby area of the Koa Kea hotel. There are views of the ocean, hotel poolside, and lobby of the hotel. The decor was nice and I'd say contemporary . Our server was friendly and offered suggestions which we appreciated. We each had an appetizer and a salad prior to the meal. The presentation on everything was a 10. As far as our entree s my wife had the Ono and I ordered the rack of lamb. I tasted her Ono ad it was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside and not overdone on the inside. I ordered the lamb med but it came out rare. I'm ok with that and didn't feel a need to say anything. But it might had bothered someone who didn't like it that rare. Our drinks were good and not lacking alcohol. In fact I have to say that the two Mai Tai's I drank at red salt must have had more alcohol in the then the 6 Mai Tai s that I drank the previous night at the Hyatt in Poi Pu. My wife had a couple of martinis and enjoyed them just the same . We shared a rootbeer float at the end of the night. It was good.
(4)
Anon Y.
This review is for their sushi served at the bar Fri and Sat evenings - it's interesting how people claim Sushi in Hawaii is the best - honestly not when you're coming from San Francisco where the quality of every thing you get is almost second to none. However, I will say that the sushi served at red salt this past Friday was the best we have eaten in a very long time - anywhere. Chef Akira is a quiet man with great skills and superb ingredients - the selection is limited to around 6 rolls, but they are all spectacular. We walked away wishing we were there to indulge the next evening, but alas we were heading back home. A must visit if you like Sushi and you're there on the weekends.
(4)
S H.
Wow the food here is great. Yes, it is not cheap, but it's not totally unreasonable either. We stayed at the hotel and found that if you order room service it is a lot cheaper, and the quality is the same. They have very fresh food that is inventive and fun. I also appreciated that they have a tofu option. We also had breakfast here and found it to be great. We did the breakfast buffet which gives you access to a mediocre cold food bar and unlimited access to hot entrees. If you only order one (e.g. eggs) then you probably won't get your moneys worth, but it's great if you want to try a few. My husband and I ordered pancakes, waffles and omelette's in one sitting and didn't feel badly about not eating it all.
(5)
Sarah C.
The food and ambiance were super swank, and the ocean view was lovely, and the service was impeccable, but the food was not nearly as swank as the prices. The $14 diver scallop appetizer (1 scallop) was okay, but the Ono entree ($33) was dreadful -- the fish not fresh and badly overcooked --and the Mahi Mahi entree was merely okay (worth perhaps $15 rather than $33). We went elsewhere for dessert and suggest you let the restaurant find a new chef before giving it a shot.
(1)
Maria B.
Two words for breakfast: eggs benedict. We tried this place for breakfast at the Koa Kea hotel after I'd heard that they served the best eggs benedict on the island. Totally true! I ordered them off the menu and they were SO tasty. Really, really good. Their other egg dishes were tasty as well. It's about $12 per entree if you order the breakfast items a la carte from the menu, otherwise you can do the buffet - but that only includes a continental bar and you could get that anywhere. Stick with ordering off the menu and you won't be disappointed. If I'm ever back on Kauai, I'm coming here for breakfast.
(4)
Mike H.
During our recent dinner, 5/27/10, unlike other reviewers we received excellent service. The service was the best we received on the island right down to the 2 step serving process. The staff, including our lead waiter from New York, understood the fine line between attentive and bothersome. The food while good didn't live up to the service and location. Not that the food was bad, it was well prepared, standard high end resort food, in no way transcendent. At the prices charged the kitchen needs to step up its game. In many ways Red Salt is a first class dining experience. If that is what you're after go. However, if you're after a culinary experience, save your money for your favorite restaurant when you return home.
(3)
Brent V.
This was my second dinner here and I gotta admit it was really, really, really good... Our Server Laura was attentive & very friendly as was the Bartender, Michael :-) It doesn't get any better on Kauai, seriously ! Service A+, Food A+
(5)
Sparkles S.
Food was good, but service was a bit slow. It took a while for our food to come out so that's why I gave it 4 stars. Our table got the Kalua Pork Luau appetizer, lamb chops, and shrimp linguine alfredo. Kalua Pork appetizer- it was good but you really have to LOVE pork fat/bacon to enjoy this one. It was about a 2 inch square that was 2 inches deep and about an inch was pure pork fat on a bed of cooked greens Lamb Chops- was actually very good. My hubby ordered this. I am not a fan of lamp chops but I took a bite and asked for another bite. The meat was very moist and the mango jelly was a perfect complement. Shrimp Pasta- pasta is pasta but what set this apart was the shrimp. I got full from the shrimp that I barely touched the pasta. There were lots of good sized shrimp, all cooked perfectly. Not overcooked like most places. Each bite of shrimp "popped" in my mouth with flavor. We were so full there was no room for dessert. Looked like they serve sushi too. The table next to us had a sashimi platter but we weren't given a sushi menu. You have to valet and the valet staff was great. They saw us leaving the restaurant and our car was waiting for us when we got to the front.
(4)
Kc S.
Best sushi on the island. Dragon roll, red salt roll, seaweed salad, chefs special were all exceptional.
(5)
Chris H.
Walked over to this place while staying next door at the Marriott. The place was sadly pretty empty but it was the middle of November so not exactly high season. I only had a drink and an appetizer but both were great. The boss had the house special mango margarita which got a rave review. The crab cake appetizer was served with three different dipping sauces, each distinct and tasty. The wait staff was very very nice and friendly (they also were not busy so they had time to chat) and gave us some recommendations of places to visit and things to eat. The decor is really well done with a mix of modern with touches of island casual. I will absolutely be back on my next trip. Worth a visit if you are near/in Poipu.
(4)
William F.
My wife and I stayed at the hotel there and had several meals there at Red Salt. We ventured out to several other restaurants in the area, but we felt that the service and food was better at Red Salt. We want to give a special thanks to: Nancy Laura, Jim, Justin, Jamie, Meghin, Paul, Frank, Kai, Stuart, Kat and Darel for making our stay so great!
(5)
A W.
I was a bit disappointed. The food was served in too big of portions and lacked flavor. The best part was the chocolate torte dessert and my glasses of wine. The restaurant was busy but I didn't like how it felt like you were still sitting in the hotel lobby.
(3)
Stephanie F.
My review is between 3 and 4. While my husband and I LOVED our entrees, he had the curry ono and I had the grilled mahi mahi over forbidden rice, our salads and appetizers were not good and the portions were small! For apps, we ordered the ahi tuna (so small!), taro gnocchi (so dry but pork was good!), beet salad and the hearts of palm salad. I think they forgot the dressing on one of the salads b/c was so dry and bland. Also, the service was not great. She never brought us bread and I explained we were in rush to head to an event, and she didnt seem to care that much.
(3)
Sonya S.
Teeny portions of truly incredible food ( the lobster ravioli left me wanting more)! Truly top-notch, Red Salt earns its high pricetag honestly, through quality gourmet food and service. I'd call the style of food fusion--though in my case, it was a fusion of Italian and French and... whatever culture inspired the chef to use a lemon filling in the ravioli. My goodness, that was wonderful. The waiter was attentive, without being snobby or unapproachable. (When I tasted my Riesling and realized it was much closer to a dessert wine than the drier wines I'm used to, he put up no fuss and helped with an alternative.) Dessert--a chocolate macadeamia something, was likewise incredible. With port. Mmm, port.
(5)
Jonathan E.
The fish i had on my most recent visit was excellent. The shrimp and pasta the visit before that was not. Appetizer and entree portion sizes are small for the price. The desserts are more reasonable (the root beer float is very filling). The staff is excellent, which bumps my review up from 2 stars (meh) to 3 (a-ok). Sushi in the lounge on Friday and Saturday is expensive, and not all that great. Portions are small, and the fish is just ok. I get far better sushi, both in quality and quantity, at home in Tucson, AZ. I'd think they could do better 100 yards from the ocean.
(3)
Tara B.
We stayed at the Koa Kea for the first two nights of our honeymoon and ate at Red Salt on the second night. This was definitely my favorite meal of the entire trip. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it lacked some ambiance, but I can over look that when the food is this good. First of all, if you just go there for bread and butter and dessert you'll be in heaven. The entrees are fantastic as well, but the bread and butter is what really shines here. They bring you this fresh, delicious bread with a little dish of unsalted butter and a tiny dish of red salt. You spread the butter on and then add your own salt...OMG, seriously, I'm craving it right now. Anyway...for dinner I had the Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi and it was delicious. I liked that the portion was the perfect size and left me perfectly satisfied. Hubby had the shrimp linguine and said that it was good, but it wasn't his favorite meal of the trip. I really think you have to go with one of the fish entrees here...I mean, you're on Kauai!
(4)
John S.
Red Salt was recommended to us by a few friends for our Kauai vacation. I read the other Yelp reviews and some of them were good but not entirely favorable but we decided to go anyway. In short we LOVE this restaurant!! We went on our first night and loved it so much we went on our last night on the island too! It is a phenomenal place. Service is excellent, food is superb, drinks are outstanding. Not much more to say other than be sure to eat here when you're on Kauai!
(5)
Nali M.
the first time i dined at this restaurant, i took my dad for father's day. it was pretty disappointing. my dad knew the server (it's a small island (the server isn't there anymore)). because he knew the server, i think he thought he could scathe by unnoticed. the service was very, very poor. the entire dinner, he did not clear the table, even though i kept stacking plates for him. also, he wouldn't refill our drinks. the second time we went for mother's day brunch and it was pretty good. service was good and the food choices were great. the last time i went, it was for my one year wedding anniversary with my husband. our server, gabby, was excellent. she paid close attention to us and catered to our every need. i was very impressed by every course. the food was exquisite! excellent in taste and presentation. i definitely would recommend this restaurant to anyone, kama'aina and visitors alike!
(4)
Chris C.
After reading the reviews of Red Salt, we decided to dine her on our final evening on the south shore. The restaurant is in the Koa Kea hotel which tricky to find on foot. To start, I had the ahi poke, which was third of my stay on Kauai and although the presentation was artful, the portion was not commensurate with the $16 price tag. For my main course, I had the vanilla bean mahi served on black rice with an interesting avocado chutney. The fish was perfectly cooked/slightly rare and was much better than the fish I had at Roy's in Poipu but not the best I had on the island. My wife had the New York Strip with fries, which also came with four dipping sauces. The steak was good but she felt it was overpriced at $48 and that the fries were bland. We passed on dessert but were given two housemade dark chocolates that were very interesting, particularly the red salt and cardamom. Overall, service was polite but slow and not up to par with other restaurants in this price range. Also note, they are not open for lunch on weekdays!
(3)
Krystle M.
We stayed at Ko'a Kea Resort so naturally, we decided to eat at the restaurant. Unfortunately, the decor doesn't do justice for the quality of the food. The food and the service was awesome! We loved it so much we ate there 2 of the 3 nights we stayed at the resort. We started off with the diver scallop and the pork belly appetizer. Both were so juicy, flavorful and all around delicious! Next I had the Mahi and my bf had the Opah for our entrees. The Mahi was very light and fresh, just what I wanted and was served over rice. The Opah was more hearty, they topped it with a creamy white sauce over mashed potatoes. For dessert, we had the root beer float. They put an interesting twist using vanilla creme soda and root beer ice cream with the fluffiest, softest, fudge cookie---Yumm!!! Our waitress was awesome! She told us exactly what she loved on the menu and didn't disappoint. She always made sure our glass was full. Everyone at Red Salt was incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make our dining experience that much better. The only reason I gave the restaurant 4 stars is because of the decor. If they had just done a few things differently, the place wouldn't feel so much like a diner. First off, I noticed in Kauai none of the restaurants are indoor/outdoor, it must be because of how often it rains. In Maui, the majority of the restaurants are outdoor. There are windows in the front, they should open them and let the fresh air in. Secondly, the tables and chairs. The tables have shiny silver bottoms--that screams diner! And the chairs were a little cheap looking. If they had wood bottoms on the tables with nice wood chairs and opened up the windows, it would change the whole feeling of the restaurant and raise it to the quality of the food. My only other complaint is the the waiter's outfits! Once again, they scream diner and they are just hideous. They should keep the uniforms professional but make them not so cheesy and dorky. Maybe a khaki skirt for the girls and khaki shorts for the guys with a white polo shirt or something. Overall, the food was amazing and the food was some of the best we had in Kauai. We also loved the resort and would recommend this place to our family and friends. The food and the service is 5 star but they just need to make the ambiance 5 star as well.
(4)
Tammy M.
Food is absolutely amazing. Have not been so excited about every dish presented by a restaurant is a long time.
(5)
Veronica H.
The food is pricey, but it's very much worth it! My husband and I were staying at the Koa Kea on our honeymoon and thought we'd splurge one evening to go to the resort restaurant. He had the Mahi Mahi and I had the special which was fish, but I can't remember just what kind. Our server was especially nice and when we had trouble deciding on which wine we'd like she brought us samples of her favorites. She also described many of the dishes to us and helped us try to keep our meal on the inexpensive side. The next night we went back to the bar to have a Root Beer Float which is a dessert they offer featuring root beer flavored ice cream and cream soda. It also comes with a large, delicious chocolate cookie. We went back the night after that for dinner since our first waitress said they could split a steak for us and sure enough, they gave us each half a steak and a serving of french fries with 3 dipping sauces. The bartender was really great, too!
(5)
Beef E.
We had breakfast here because we had the choice of doing a la carte or breakfast buffet. Great food and choices!
(4)
Gregg H.
Went to Red Salt to celebrate my wife's birthday. Although I had made the reservation and they had asked about any special occasions, that information must not have made it to our waiter. The restaurant is nicely decorated and although we thought it would be loud, we could easily hear each other during dinner. We had the Kalua Pork to start, which was very good with lots of flavor. For dinner I had the Ahi, while my wife had the Ono. Both were delicious. My favorite was actually the crab mashed potatoes that came with my wife's dinner. Dessert was the gelato - vanilla and chocolate chip were good, but the mango and sea salt caramel were outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the valet did actually wish my wife happy birthday as we were leaving, so someone got the message.
(4)
Britt G.
My husband and I went for dinner and it was awesome. (I wish I had realized they are open for breakfast! It sounds yummy!) We both ordered the Poipu Surf Martini and it might be the best drink I've ever had. It was deceptively strong and tasted so fresh. Our waiter, Brian, was great. You get what you pay for here: the food and service definitely live up to the prices. I had the poke that's pictured on the yelp account and it was ridiculously good. Alternating pieces of spicy hamachi and regular ahi. I had the CA beet salad and my husband had the shrimp carbonara linguine. Both were delicious. I highly suggest this restaurant for a special meal - adults only. The hotel is small and quiet so leave the kids at home.
(5)
candy c.
After eating a fantastic breakfast here every morning, we were excited to try dinner. We were very disappointed. The service was poor and the food was both under- and over-seasoned. Quite a let down considering how much we enjoyed our stay at Koa Kea. 2.5 stars for dinner, 4 stars for breakfast.
(2)
Ines C.
So yummy! Very good breakfast! I would love to go here again, I bet their lunch and dinner options are really good.
(5)
Leanne K.
Lemon souffle pancakes were the best and I normally don't eat pancakes...
(4)
Heidi J.
We have several restaurants we've enjoyed in Kauai over the years, but this one was a new experience and well worth it. As we walked and played along the beach, we came across this gorgeous restaurant. The menu was rich with flavor and looked to have something for each member of our family, so we thought we'd give it a try. Everything was well-executed, from the service to the meal. We loved their signature poke appetizer so much we ordered a second. It is perfect for families or a romantic evening. I am not a big fan of cotton candy, but our kids definitely enjoyed this very fun dessert. We will definitely be going back!
(5)
Stasea A.
Had an amazing date night dinner here!! The steak was delicious... A bit pricey but worth it. The mahi dish was cooked to perfection as well. Our server Robert was the right amount of attentiveness and not overwhelming. Nice ambiance. Worth getting dressed up!! Could use a little background music but that's not really a big deal. This place has had it's ups and downs since it opened but its finally found its groove!! Aloha!!
(5)
Matt P.
Excellent, world-class cuisine. But the atmosphere isn't quite right. I really wanted to love Red Salt, but there's something missing. There's no "magic" to the dining experience. Positives: There are no faults to the food. We had surprisingly strong mai tais, which tasted like actual classy drinks, not sickly sweet tourist nectar. For our appetizer, we shared one perfectly-cooked diver scallop. We each ordered the Opa -- set atop a mound of crab and potato cake, with huge, tender nuggets of crab -- which was divine. Dessert was a gelato sampler, made in-house. All four flavors: mango, vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, were delicious. The presentation of the gelato is beautiful. Four ceramic cubes filled with gelato sitting on a ceramic barge. (for bonus fun, play stack-the-block with the ceramic cubes after you're finished eating!) The decor is contemporary, minimalist, and expensive-looking. Also, the restaurant looks out onto the pool area of the Koa Kea hotel (gorgeous place, I'd love to stay there in the future), and a partial ocean view beyond. You really feel that you're in Hawaii. Negatives: As I said earlier, the place doesn't feel quite right. I had trouble putting my finger on it. I think part of the issue is that you're eating a fancy meal in what is essentially the hotel lobby of the Koa Kea hotel. For a dinner this expensive, I think there should be more of a separation from the registration desk. There wasn't a peep of music playing in the restaurant. If we strained our ears, we could faintly hear music playing in the lobby. Also, the waitress's outfits were matronly and unflattering. I felt sorry for these beautiful women every time they walked by in those terrible shirts and skirts. Lastly, I think it was too bright at the tables. I hear that Red Salt is a great place for romantic dinners, but the spotlight above our table was more reminiscent of an interrogation room than a candlelight dinner. Overall, this was a dinner of amazing food in a not-quite-right environment. Some minor sound and lighting changes could make this a must-visit restaurant.
(4)
Tiffany B.
located in the Koa Kea hotel which is a very hard place to find, it's sort of hidden behind the waiohai and kiahuna hotels. Interesting how the security (i think that's their job tittle) do bell service, vallet, almost everything. moving forward, the hotel and restaurant is beautiful. No outside seating but a few window seats and boots. The lounge directly adjacent to the lobby, whote sofas very very contemporary. But as we walked in it was very very quiet, somewhat odd feeling, it's almost as if something was missing, maybe some kind of music or something. other then that, service SUPERB ans dinner delicious. bread- served with unsalted butter with a cute side of RED SALT amuse busche- truffle ahi poke! holly molly broke the mouth app- ahi sashimi with wakame, and this sesame ginger sauce! whooo, i don't eat a lot of raw fish but this was good. especially with that bomb sauce entree(not a lot of choices, which i liked) - i had the tofu he had the steak (huge!) with a side of parmesan fries, and is also comes with three different dipping sauces. too full for dessert, so we both had a port. but they stil give you some home made candies to complete the meal!
(4)
Erin Z.
Our waiter also served as maitre d and busboy so that wasn't a great start. The red salt with the bread basket was tasty but my salad wasn't anything I would order again. My husband liked his filet but I didn't care for my risotto. The gelato was the highlight (other than the butter for me). We heard staff complain about the need to hire more servers so I believe that is an ongoing issue.
(3)
Rob W.
Superb breakfast with amazing lemon souffle pancakes, eggs Benedict, and the bacon/potato hash making a scrumptious combo. The cornbread muffins were also yummy.
(4)
Carl C.
This was the best food on Kauai. We went there twice it was so good. The Opah and Ono were both incredible! The appetizers are small, so don't try to make those pass as a main course...
(5)
Miss T.
This restaurant is fantastic and I would suggest, for couples, splitting the 13 oz NY steak. It was delicious, tender, and served with fries and 4 or 5 different dipping sauces that were very complimentary with the steak. The kitchen also split our plate for us which was nice. Additionally, there is only a $20 corkage fee which is not bad. There is a Living Foods Market 3 miles up the road with a great selection of wines from $15 and up! We picked up a Silver Oak Cab for $80 at the market. We split the kalua pork appetizer (divine) and the endive salad (which I wouldn't recommend as it was too sweet). However, we left very pleased and full for less than $100 and we will definitely return for the food, service and ambience. A note about the service... The host and waiter did not let our water glasses get empty nor our wine glasses. Our waiter, Robert, was prompt and courteous as was the host. When I ordered a coffee after my meal, I immediately heard the beans grinding and enjoyed one of the best cups I have ever had. I may also look into staying at the property as we hated the Hyatt. I reviewed the Hyatt here on yelp if you would like to take a look. Hands down a don't miss property or restaurant while in Kauai!
(5)
Amber B.
From my scallop appetizer with pea tendrils, to their generous bar drinks to the moist fish and amazing flavor combinations, Red Salt is a must! It's just a shame we visited it at the end of our trip. Atmosphere is modern and super clean. Staff was friendly and also accommodating to my husbands gluten allergy. We have one last night in Kauai and we are going to Red Salt one more time.
(5)
Sam O.
Located in the Koa Kea hotel which adjacent to the Marriott Waiohai. Thought that this was the best dinner we had during our week's stay in Kauai. Service was great and the food was very good; both in taste and presentation. I considered a five star rating but feel that I need to have dined at a restaurant more than once and have experienced consistent exceptional service and food. Will definitely go back for dinner on our next trip to Kauai. Looking forward to enjoying additional items on the menu.
(4)
C H.
Absolutely wonderful! The delicious appetizers simply get your palate ready for the main course. For entrees, we had the slow cooked chicken and pan seared Ono. Both dishes were plated beautifully and the flavors were the best we have had on this vacation. The service was impeccable!! Our server was very attentive yet unobtrusive. What an amazing meal and a memorable evening.
Pretty delicious stuff! We got (pics included): Appetizers 1. Red Salt Poke - A 2. Kalua Pork "Luau" - A - Kinda like a pulled pork eggroll. Yummm Dinner 1. Red Salt 7 Spiced Seared Ahi - B+ - would have given an A, but the edamame risotto was a MESS. More like wet green rice. **Recommend sub out for something else** 2. Big Island Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi - B+ Well cooked & very flavorful. 3. Lobster Ravioli - B Creamy & large portions of lobster chunks in sauce! Dessert We were there for a special occasion. 1. They surprised us with a tower of pineapple cotton candy. It was really good. 2. Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Torte - A Standard torte, delicious nonetheless Drinks $$ but strong. Atmosphere Swank hotel, too bad in a sleepy island. heh. Would've been fun to have a lil music & loiter at the bar. ; ) Overall. It's pricey & the portions are small-ish. It's a restaurant in a swanky hotel, so it's to be expected. We got a few other main courses, but I didn't try them so didn't include. But everyone was very happy with their meal. Not extraordinary, but very, very solid. One of the best on the Island?
(4)
elizabeth t.
I loved the atmosphere of this restaurant. The portions were also very generous - I couldn't eat half of the pork they gave me (and it was AMAZINGLY cooked). Also loved the ahi carpaccio - the combination of flavors were amazing. And the mushroom soup? Holy crap - get it. Split it, if you want to get other appetizers - it's worth it.
(4)
Ludwig J.
Red Salt. The name of the single greatest restaurant on Kauai and among the greatest in this little place I like to call "The World." Yesterday I ventured to this eating establishment with one thing on my mind, an exquisite meal; I received just that. As I walked in the door my eyes were flooded with the elegant decor including state of the art "slappy fans" as I like to call them along with servings of red salt surrounding the table. Next came my meal, the vanilla sauced Mahi Mahi, a sure fire hit. The delivery was sensational as my tastebuds rode the tornado of flavor. My father and chef of the finest eating establishment in Chicago even stated, "This is the best preparation of fish I have ever had." To put things lightly I would like to be nourished by this place for every meal of every day. One might recollect this review is coming to an end but NO, next came dessert. Our benevolent waitress brought us state of the art cotton candy without a single request... LEGENDARY is all I have to say. Thank you for your cooperation. Yours Truly, Ludwig
(5)
Adrienne N.
A true gem! We don't often give out 5 star reviews for restaurants, but this was one of our most enjoyable dining experiences. Menu is modern & inventive, and the food was incredible. Staff was attentive without being overbearing. The ambience is romantic w/ modern decor. Not much of an actual view of the beach, but the food more than makes up for it. When we visit Kauai again, we'll definitely be back (and considering staying on the south end of the island just so we can be closer to our beloved Red Salt).
(5)
Bonnie n.
Came out here for the lemon- pineapple souffle pancakes (thankfully I was able to get the pineapple on the side) These were so light and fluffy. Yum.. Wish it came with something else, because after awhile it became a bit bland and boring. (i should have ordered some bacon) Breakfast burrito- nothing special The service was spotty even though they were empty besides us and one other table.
(3)
Anne M.
We tried a few other well rated restaurants as we chalked Red Salt up to another hotel restaurant, so not expecting much. After grabbing a great cocktail (spiked lemonade) at the beach bar and talking to the wonderful bar tender, Jamie, she recommended the sushi at Red Salt. Loving sushi, we decided to give it a go. We sat down at the bar and met Justin, the sushi chef, right away. He had some great beer recommendations and after discussing the menu, decided we wanted the "chefs choice" of sushi options. Justin is amazing. His flavor combinations with the freshest fish available, lead to the best sushi we have ever had. The sashimi cuts of fish were generous and the ingredients Justin added were so good! So good in fact, that we came back the following night as well. We didn't order sushi off the menu at all, we just let Justin lead the meal. This is the way to go to experience some amazing fish! We also ordered the onion soup and the beet salad...both were tasty. Justin works Tuesday-Saturday, so plan accordingly. We have been to the Big Island, Maui and Kauai on this trip and this was our best meal...both times! Yes, it's pricey, but so worth it!
(5)
Chip S.
Very busy but great service. The food is good overall. Would recommend to everyone. The drinks are excellent.
(4)
Roxy R.
This was BY FAR my most favorite place to eat my entire [1 week] trip. Luckily I was staying in the hotel! We ate there three times [2 room service and one dine in]. The bread and butter [and red salt] are delicious. Especially when dipped into the mushroom bisque. I also ordered the fettucine - SO GOOD. I wish I had ordered it the last time I ate there, too. We tried the marinated tofu - very bland. And the seared mahi was delicious, but not as good as that dang fettucine. :) The service was amazing, and the atmosphere is great. Pretty dark, but kinda makes it romantic. Oh! We had breakfast there a few times, too. Loved the coffee, service was great! Didn't order anything special, food wise. My husband ordered a "burrito" and seemed to enjoy it. :)
Amazing. Went here with the wife on a date night during our family vacation. Service was attentive and knowledgable. Our server, Samdi, had some great suggestions and was on top of the fact that my wife is gluten-free. The decor is modern stylish and comfortable. Cocktails were fun, tasty and generous; I didn't know exactly what I wanted but I knew I wanted gin, so the bartender mixed gin with lilikoi and St. Germaine and served it like a martini. It hit the spot! We split the scallops appetizer, which was the best scallop I've ever had, then we got the ono & the ahi and traded off. Lots of foodgasming. The desserts, chocolate torte (GF) and lilikoi creme brulee were excellent, and the coffee was exceptional. I also had a Hitachino ginger ale (alcoholic) that I'd never seen before and I really enjoyed that. Yes, it's expensive, but no more so than any of the gourmet places in & around Los Angeles, and unlike some of them, it was worth every penny. By the way, the Yelp map for this place and that area in general is not accurate. Check the google map.
(5)
Jeff C.
Came here for breakfast and dinner since we were staying at Koa Kea and we were impressed both times even with high expectations from good yelp reviews. For breakfast, they started us off with some mini muffins with some awesome super creamy butter. I ordered the lemon chiffon pancakes and my wife ordered the eggs benedict. The lemon souffle pancakes were amazing, so light and fluffy with just the right amount of lemony tang. Note that they do take about 30 minutes to make, so you might want to order this as soon as you sit down. The eggs benedict was great as well. The eggs were cooked well and the hollandaise sauce was very tasty with a hint of citrus flavor. My wife loves her eggs benedict and she thought this one was a winner. For dinner we ordered the bronzed diver scallops, the pan seared pork tenderloin, and the pan seared ono. The scallops were cooked perfectly and were tasty. The ono was good as well, we loved the king crab and yukon gold hash it came with. I thought the pork was very good- tender and the guava bbq sauce gave it a little distinct flavor. My wife thought it tasted very much like Chinese bbq pork- it does a little but I thought the guava gives it some subtle differences. Overall, a very good dinner with an awesome breakfast... 5 stars! The service here was very attentive as well.
(5)
Monty B.
The restaurant is located inside a hotel, which is fine. I didn't realize it at first. The waiter was very attentive and actually told us his name. We started out with the Bay Scallops and shared (2 bowls) of the mushroom soup. Both were delicious. The scallops were some of the best I'd had. My wife felt the same way. She had a tofu dish w sweet rice (I believe it was a vegan dish) and I had the lobster raviolis. Both were top notch. The lobster plate came w the tail, and 3 raviolis. The presentation was fantastic, and so was the taste of each dishes. We finished w the Root Beer Float, which was done up and not what I expected. If you're looking for a very nice place to have a quiet dinner with someone, this would be it.
(5)
Shawn B.
We had breakfast here several times. It was the Mac-nut waffles that kept us coming back. However, it's not cheap; although it's not horrid for Kauai. We spent about $45 each time for breakfast. What we ate: Macadamia nut waffles - At least one of us ordered this on each of our trips. The waffle is light and fluffy and served with thick whipped cream and a sliced banana. The banana really puts it over the top. This dish is basically a dessert, so order some protein on the side. Eggs Benedict with pancetta hash - Not your typical eggs benedict, as there is no English muffin. But yummy. Lemon souffle pancakes - These were also basically a dessert. The menu says "served with creme fraiche," so when they showed up with a drizzle of white stuff on them I was puzzled. I was expecting a dollop of creme fraiche, which I think would have been a great counterpoint to the sweetness. These were interesting more than delicious. Chipolata sausage - Tasted kind of like hot dogs. Not a fan. Portuguese sausage - Good flavor, but has huge chunks of fat. Also, you get six 1/4" slices for $4.50. In summary, if you're coming here for the Mac-nut waffles I definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Tracy V.
Had a fantastic meal at Red Salt. We all had different dishes and it was all delicious. Topped off by fabulous service. Our waiter Bryan was excellent. Attentive, knowledgeable and not intrusive. Went back on our last night because we had such a great previous experience. Another fabulous night. The soups are stand-outs. Had the Ono and Ahi and both had a delicious mix of flavors. Even the roasted chicken is wonderful. The desserts are also unique. The root beer float has a fun twist! Its expensive but most nicer restaurants in Hawaii are. This one of the few that is worth the price. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Gianna N.
The food is good, but the portions are TINY, especially considering they're charging the same entree prices as other restaurants that give much greater portions. We were underwhelmed by the service as well. Our server was nice, but she seemed very uninformed about the menu. This place seems quite pretentious. It's not worth the cost.
(2)
Anders D.
What a great place. My wife and I stayed at the Koa Kea resort for a few days. The breakfast here was great and reasonably priced for the area. We also had dinner here a couple times. The ahi/Ono appetizer was awesome. We asked for a side of spicy mayo to go with it and I think it finished it off well. Both of our meals were great. My wife ordered the tortellini with 4oz lobster. The lobster was great and fit well with the three different tortellini. I ordered the shrimp fettuccini which was very good as well. The cocktails seemed a little pricy to us so we split a bottle of red wine instead. The service was great and atmosphere was relaxing.
(5)
Chris G.
I was excited to eat at my hotel, especially because the reviews for Red Salt were good. Well, my experience was good also, certainly not out of this world. The speed to get the food to my table was very slow, which was more annoying because the tables that sat after me got their food first. I understand a slow pacing at a nice restaurant, but it seemed like my order got lost in the kitchen or something. Just as I was about to complain my food came out, Murphy's Law. Anyway, that aside, the restaurant is very nice, good ambiance, and nice wait staff, all very friendly. As for food, we had the signature appetizer, Red Salt Poke, which was good (solid B), but not amazing. I felt it lacked some needed zest. It had a complex and refreshing taste, but the finish in my mouth was lacking, but it was good and worth a try. For the main course, I split the Pan Seared Tenderloin of Pork (B+) and the Lobster Ravioli (A). The pork was tender and on a great tasting bed of potatoes, the ravioli had a nice chunk of lobster and was realllllly good. So, overall the food was a B/B+, the setting was an A, the wait staff was an A, but the annoying pace to get my food prevents me from giving more than 4 stars.
(4)
Cat D.
Located in the Koa Ke'a hotel, this modern, casual, yet elegant restaurant was a pleasure to dine in. Parking was not available, or for a cost. so we parked outside and walked in. The trolley took us to our car when we departed. The hostess was kind and seated us promptly. Our waiter was there at all the right times and the food was delicious. Started with warm hamakua mushroom bisque, which was subtle, light creaminess and very good. The unique red salt poke dish was different, but i would rather have regular Hawaiian style poke, this was a little too fancy for my take, but overall it tasted good. Main dish for me was the Red salt 7 spiced Seared ahi with edamame risotto. Anniversary treat included lilikoi cotton candy- made fresh just for us and was so fabulous!! Dessert included this yummy licious root beer float with Wailua Ice cream and this decant warm chocolate cookie that just melted in your mouth----oh my! Met a famous persons' parents, when this particular Company went public. They were so sweet.
(4)
Emily H.
Our food at Red Salt - breakfast, lunch at the pool, dinner in the restaurant - was aces. Everything was well prepared and delicious, and most food was terribly interesting. Dinner especially was inventive and wonderful, with terrific service. Service at breakfast, on the other hand, was slow and erratic, though provided by very friendly and nice folks.
(5)
Amol P.
I have lost count of how many times we went to poipu for dinner during our stay in kauai .. we were staying in lihue and poipu has all the dining options that can satisfy your palate, so we made the 25 minute trip each night to find a new place to dine. Red salt ranked high on our shortlist .. we walked around the koa kea resort before our dinner since we had arrived early well before our reservation time.. the dining room is not directly on the oceanfront .. I was quite impressed with the tropical old style fans, nice touch ! I had the martini sampler to start with since that was a house specialty .. definitely worth it !! For appetizer we had the much hyped Red Salt Poke - Ahi/Walu sashimi, wakame, Tobiko, Thin cucumber, Ginger Soy Reduction .. We were so disappointed with this .. the cucumbers definitely added a refreshing touch but everything else had a stamp of blandness.. we love sashimi and it was beautifully presented though We shared the pan seared ahi with sake spiced coconut broth .. the broth has the makings of divinity but there was so little of it on the plate that we ran out of it .. they were out of the ono that night so we substituted ahi for it .. the ahi was very mild and fresh but the overall dish lacked the punch once we ran out of broth. Lobster ravioli was definitely the worst dish of the night .. the texture of the ravioli itself was off and the inside wasn't great either .. This was one of the recommendations from our server, so we definitely accounted for that while tipping the server :) The service was very friendly though so take nothing away from it ! The valet parking service was very friendly and they even had recommendations for us to dine at other restaurants in kauai .. We left with an uninspired feeling that this place promised so much but did not deliver the goods.
(3)
Jory S.
Best meal we had on Kauai! Service was warm, engaging, thoughtful, and attentive. Food was out of this world! Original twists to some old favorites and some classic offerings as well. Not kid friendly which was exactly what we were looking for! Drink menu was great as well. Those Mai Tais were the real deal!! Yum! Two big thumbs up!
(5)
Sara M.
Best (and nearly only) breakfast in Poipu! We walked down from the Hyatt along the beach. It was a nice morning walk that was rewarded with a great breakfast and great service. An omelet with all the fixings and one of the best eggs benedict I've ever had (the sauce was light and delicious). While we waited we snacked on delightful corn muffins with whipped cinnamon butter. Coming from San Francisco, I don't mean to be a food snob, but most all of Hawaii's restaurants are lack luster and expensive, this holds up to the price of the meal. Atmosphere: 5 stars (modern beachy) Food: 5 stars (good ingredients expertly prepared) Service: 5 starts (our waiter was very attentive and gave us some great tips - thanks Guy) Value: 5 stars (for Hawaiian standards)
(5)
Angie H.
The hubby and I stayed at Koa Kea for our anniversary, so naturally we chose to dine at the Red Salt since its convenient location and the raving reviews on yelp. We came for breakfast twice, ordered room service once, ordered lunch at pool side once, and had dinner here once. Overall, it was a bit of a disappointment. There was dirty silverware at breakfast, followed next day by moldy fruit platter, which was sent back, only to be replaced by another plate of not so fresh fruit(probably at least day old..if not more),they did not even bother to take it off our bill. Lunch was decent but the panini was way too dry and salty. Saving grace is the fruit smoothie at the bar was quite delicious Dinner service was OK, I enjoyed my grilled tofu dish, my hubby loved his lobster; that was a plus. We didn't eat sushi at the bar but did enjoy our drinks & conversation with the bar tenders, both where very friendly. Lastly we ordered room service for breakfast on our last morning, I wanted the traditional and hubby wanted the "American" or something, I can't recall, but they sent us both the traditional.... I would want to stay at the hotel again, but probably won't eat here next time.
(2)
Amanda S.
Absolutely our favorite dining experience on Kauai...Prompt seating, impeccable decor, top-notch service! We fell in love with the hotel the moment we walked in. The restaurant experience only enhanced our feelings. Each small course generously added to our experience of the flavors of Kauai. All personnel with whom we came into contact exceeded our expectations. When we mentioned my gluten allergy, immediate provisions were made. The entire meal was fabulous!
(5)
Kara L.
We had breakfast at Red Salt this morning. My husband and I had the eggs Benedict, and it was the best we have ever had. I'd give 5 stars if it hadn't taken so long for the food to come out.
(4)
Eric R.
We ate here for my mother in law birthday. It's a fine dining experience. We brought our 2 kids (1&3) . The yelp reviews says kids are ok. They had a really nice high chair! The kids menu has cheesey Risotto! I love that for a kids meal instead of mac and cheese. The service was great. The wine list was horrifically expensive, but there were a few gems on their list for a decent markup. The daily fresh fish option was great. I think this place is great for special to semi special occasions. The total tab for 4 adults and 2 kids meals, 20% tip, and a bottle of wine was $400.
(5)
Deborah P.
First time at red salt. Excellent!!! We are from New York City and very use to great restaurants. This is right up there. Excellent food and service. Will eat there again on this trip.
(5)
John S.
The food at dinner was fine, the service was friendly, but the restaurant was unbelievably loud, to the point that we could barely hear each other over dinner. This is NOT a romantic or intimate restaurant; at dinnertime, the atmosphere is more like TGI Friday's -- just way too loud. Breakfast is decent, especially since it was included in our room rate. If we had paid the full price for breakfast here, we would have been very disappointed by the "buffet" (some cold cuts, Swiss cheese cubes, pastries, cereal and juices) and by the $14 price for most breakfast entrees.
(2)
rachel k.
Excellent food quality, presentation and service. Accomodating for any changes to dishes you may need. Tiny, INCREDIBLY tiny portions. Be prepared to spend a lot to feel full. E.g. the poke, delicious and beautifully presented, is about 1/4 the amount of fish as anywhere else on the island for a similar price. Mushroom bisque was great. Lobster was a bit overcooked but again well presented and seasoned perfectly. If you are on kauai, definitely a fine dining choice to check out for the food, but make sure your expectations are set in terms of value for money, something you will not find here.
(3)
Angela B.
One night at The Feral Pig in Lihue, we had the good fortune of making friends with the bartender & staying past closing, which afforded us a) a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of his skills and b) a chance encounter with Red Salt Chef de Cuisine Adam Watten. We talked cocktails, then seafood, then island food in general, & then in the most subtle & graceful way possible he delicately suggested that, although he was clearly biased, if we had the time during our trip, he had a hunch that we might enjoy what they had going on at Red Salt. We read a few reviews, felt confident, found an open night, & made a reservation. So. Having tried just about every "fancy" restaurant on Kauai that's not a resort embarrassment (and at least a couple that are), I feel I can say with authority that Red Salt is the best food there is, bar none, on Kaua. Period. You just will not find anything else even remotely in the same league. Every dish was party-in-your-mouth amazing. For starters, we split the Bronzed Diver Scallops, the Kalua Pork, & the Kailani Farms Mixed Greens. All were perfect; every time we finished the last bite of one, I think I wept a little. For mains I had their signature Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi (best fish of the trip, bar none) & my BF had the Rack of Lamb, which was perfectly cooked and accompanied by some fun & interesting accouterments. No, neither were cheap, but they did consist of hearty portions, to the point that we were both nearly too full to finish them. So I'd say you get your money's worth in that department. An excellent wine selection that we were both pleased with. Also, trust the server on recommendations. I was thinking of having a chard with the vanilla bean mahi, but the server suggested one of their Sauv Blancs instead. I was skeptical, thinking vanilla bean & mahi would overpower it, but decided to trust. So glad I did. The sauv was actually a bigger-bodied, more flavorful wine than the grenache blanc I was already drinking, & the bold grapefruit pithe notes perfectly balanced the mahi. (Also, no hint of sweetness in the vanilla bean mahi, AT ALL, so don't be afraid.) My bf had a lovely Shiraz that went with the lamb very nicely The dining room is fairly small for a resort restaurant, & there are even fewer tables than there might be given how enormous each one is and how far apart their spaced. The decor is sleek & modern. Our service was quite good, though it did seem like they might have been a bit understaffed (maybe 3 servers for ~20 tables? That seems like a lot when you're expected to provide such a high level of service). Still, our server did everything he could to be attentive & helpful. The only real ding I have is on the cocktails. My bf ordered one made with Zaya dark rum because it seemed like the least sweet & sugary of the list, but it was still so sweet that neither of us enjoyed it much. Unless you like that kind of thing, you might want to steer clear of the cocktails. But everything else was *spot on*. I'd recommend to anyone who wants a really, really excellent meal on Kauai (&...y'know. Doesn't mind paying accordingly).
(5)
Chris F.
very good service. Really cool setting/ambiance at a small resort in Poipu (it's a little challenging to find sort of behind the Marriott Vaca club on a private road). The food was very good (we were there for dinner) and spendy as you might expect @ an upscale eatery in the islands. I took two 14 year olds there and it might be a little upscale for the avg teen unless he/she is really a budding foody. I had Paella and it was good, not a home run, but good. 1 of my companions had the caramelized Ono. I had a bite and it WAS a home run so I know what to order if/when I get back there. IF you have desert try their version of a root beer float; very very good. They also offer a $50 hamburger I may try next time if I'm hungry enough (has lobster and foie gras as 2 of the "condiments"). I saw at least a few people (guys) order it while we were there.
(4)
Teri K.
We were pleasantly surprised at the inventive, delicious food and the warm friendly service really made it a fun evening. The sleek modern design of the restaurant makes you expect stiff formal service, but all of the people there were cheerful and welcoming, so you feel very relaxed & ready to have a good time. The food was beautifully presented and the flavor combinations so interesting. I had the Ahi carpaccio appetizer and the bf had their evening special: a Venison foie gras terrine with lilikoi jam & pickled mustard seeds. Both were excellent. We both had fish for dinner. He tried their signature vanilla seared Mahi. It sounds weird, but the combination of the fish, black rice, and "guacamole" was fantastic. I had the Ono in coconut broth with crab & potato Hash. Smell & taste were delicious & I wanted more of that Hash for breakfast! I was surprised that my creme brulee dessert was rather plain compared to what we'd seen & tasted for dinner, but there was nothing wrong with the the yummy lilikoi flavor. Not sure if they make their own bread, but it was also delicious with their butter & red salt. Dinner portions were totally satisfying, but we couldn't help asking for more bread! The only reason I couldn't put 5 stars was that the service was a tad slow, but really, our server, Nancy, was so lovely & kind that we didn't mind waiting. I would highly recommend red salt to visitors or locals. I'm looking forward to our next time!
The food here was great and the service is what really is cause for writing this review. Chris was our server that evening and my wife and I agreed he was one of the best servers we have ever had, in any restaurant, ever. Michael (host/manager) was also great about getting us a table on late notice and was very accommodating. Thanks to the team at Red Salt for a great dining experience.
(5)
Richard G.
We ate here 2 years ago, excellent, ate there last night same thing! Service is sublime! Kuala Pork (cheek meat) followed by Warm Mushroom Bisque, entree Lobster Ravioli. Expect to pay $100 per person but worth it
This was a tasty find. The food was very good and the service friendly and informative. The setting in a hotel was a little bit of a let down but the food made up for it.
(4)
Jay E.
Ok so the best eggs Benedict ever! Knocked my socks off! Great breakfast and super service! We can't wait to come back and try dinner!
I stayed at the Ko'a Kea Hotel and Resort and Red Salt is located right past the guest lobby. We had breakfast there every morning before we went out for the day and let me tell you, they never disappointed me. From the chocolate chip pancakes to the delicious omelettes everything was outstanding. For our anniversary dinner we also ate at Red Salt. We had the honeymoon package through the Ko'a Kea which included dinner there so we crossed our fingers that it would be awesome and it was. We started with the poke and split the mixed green salad. Both of which were really good but the complimentary bread with red salt and chilled gazpacho shooter were divine. My entree was the Madagascar Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi Mahi and my hubby got the Pan Seared Ono. Both were really good but I would like a little more flavor. Season a little more with that housemade red salt and it would have been top notch. As for dessert, I was teetering on the verge of full but our meal included dessert. So twist my arm, I ordered the Root Beer Float. I know what you are thinking. Of all the things that's what you pick but it really peeked my interest and I was not disappointed. It was deconstructed in a way that was so delicious I was blown away. Homemade root beer ice cream and locally made vanilla soda blended so effortlessly it was really special. And then to top it off they serve it with this ooey-gooey chocolate macadamia nut cookie served warmed and almost under cooked that each bite just melts in your mouth! I'm still salivating over that cookie! Spot on, Red Salt! Way to cap off my stay at the Ko'a Kea with an amazing anniversary dinner.
(4)
Joe E.
Food was meticulously prepared and presented. We were particularly impressed with the ono appetizer, essentially a fancy sashimi. (Ono is better raw than cooked, IMO.) Service was cordial, but erratic; drinks, for example, were a long time coming, then came out one at a time. (We were a party of 10, and I understand the problems that big tables present to servers; but why not make ALL the drinks and bring them all at once?) Prices, for Hawaii, were also quite reasonable -- less than $100/person, including one drink each, excluding tip. Recommended.
(4)
Michelle H.
This place was fabulous! We werent even staying at this hotel and still came twice for breakfast. The food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. The servers here were all incredibly kind and made for an excellent dining experience. Not to mention, the prices were really great considering were at a resort in Hawaii! We will be back!
Fantastic dining experience. The rack of lamb was perfectly prepared! They even accommodated my gluten allergy. Delicious food and strong drinks! What else do you need? Swanky atmosphere. Casual is ok but you'll feel better dressing up a little bit. We were told that this is the new local favorite and we can see why!
(5)
Gabriel S.
We have been at Red Salt many times in the last years. Five stars is truly well-deserved, but before I start to sing the praises, let's get the "hum...may be not so good after all" out of the way: -PAELLA is a well known dish, what you get there is a RISOTTO, change the name and be truthful, instead of misrepresenting a dish. They are VERY DIFFERENT DISHES, and by the way, paella is a much better and refined dish...but alas, requires more time, skills and more ingredients. A rose by any other name...is not always a rose. -We had the $50 burger. DO NOT GO FOR IT, is an ok $20 burger, at best, nothing but a total failure for a place like Red Salt, trying to get on the wave of HyperBurgers sweeping the restaurant scene. And the fries are served in a PLASTIC CONTAINER! puajjj! gold leaf? unimpressed, not to mention unnecessary. -There are no healthy/light dishes other than salads. -The desserts are good...if you like the sort of boring choices. Too much of the classic flavors, nothing really inspiring there. But well prepared and plated, and good flavors, it is just that there is no imagination...or much variety. And with that out of the chest, we can focus on what it is good: -IMPECCABLE SERVICE and attention, throughout the entire staff, starting with Paul and Michael as hosts to all of the people working there (well done, Shannon!) -Excellent plating/presentation -Well timed sequences when multiple plates are ordered -Refreshing amuse-bouches -Nice setting -Broad menu, good wine list -Superb bread+salt So, why five starts after detailing those little shortcomings? because they bloody well deserve them :-), especially compared to the other "big fish" (pun intended) restaurants, which are a total disappointment, especially at the Kukui'ula mall and the other nearby old mall. To the people from the Marriott that complained about Red Salt: please, stay in the Marriott, and get there what you truly deserve. To the people wanting fake/cheesy/vulgar/for-tourists "Hawaiian" flavor: there are plenty of places like that, please, by my guest and remain there. I think Red Salt is Hawaiian, but definitely (and most fortunately) not in vulgar, "pretend", postcard/calendar way.
(5)
Rick B.
We had breakfast here each morning of our 5 day stay at the Koa Kea, as well as dinner on our last night. Service for breakfast was generally good, and for dinner it was great. Food selection for breakfast was good, with lots of fresh fruit options as well as cooked-to-order items. Dinner menu also has a nice range of selections. Overall the food was very good and we would recommend this restaurant without hesitation. Others have complained about price, but we did not feel the prices here were out of line with what we saw elsewhere on Kauai. Finally, the ambiance of the restaurant is fine, but nothing extraordinary once the sun goes down and you can no longer see the ocean.
(4)
Maggie L.
Come here for their Kobe steak and attentive staff. It was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The price tag wasn't bad either. There aren't a lot great dining choices on Kawaii. Red salt is definitely a stand out.
(4)
H H.
PLEASE NOTE: You will go on a wild goose chase trying to find this place thru the given address. It is NOT in Koloa. It is in POIPU at the Ko'a Kea Hotel as mentioned. Just type in the hotel to find it... Fine food. Clean. Good service. Good view. No complaints.
(4)
Patricia B.
I can't believe I forgot to leave a review of this place. I absolutely LOVE it!! I've been here on two separate trips to Kauai and both times they blew me away! Every detail is perfection, seriously, right down to the little fabric coaster for my water glass! So this time I started with the shrimp appetizer with the different sauces. It was delightful, light and tasty. Next I had to-die-for mushroom bisque that was served with a little potato croquette in the center of the bowl and the soup was poured over it, filling the bowl with the most mouth-water taste imaginable! I know I gush, but seriously, I would go out of my way to have that soup again! As I write this I now hunger for that soup again! For my entree I had the Wagyu beef filet with Bearnaise and some other sauces served on the side. It was a somewhat over-cooked and dry, which was, to be honest, a bit disappointing having ordered medium rare, but it was still tasty. However, my boyfriend order the grass-fed American filet and that was divine!! I mean, DIVINE!! It was juicy and tender and flavorful, coupled with the Bearnaise sauce it was perfect! The maitai is unparalleled well, it's as good as the Royal Hawaiian. Truly a testament to a remarkable cocktail. Our service throughout the meal was 6-star, for sure!! When I remember or server's name, I'll come back and include it. I regularly dine at 5-star restaurants and this was on par with the finest of the finest. And yet, there is no pretentious stuffiness, the details are all there but it still feels relaxed and comfortable. This is true aloha dining at its finest!! Kudos to the team at Red Salt! Exceptional service, exceptional cuisine, exceptional restaurant!!
(5)
Makena K.
We decided to walk to this restaurant from the Sheraton. Bad idea. We went thru a jungle and the beach in the dark just to get here. I thought that I was going to get swept away while walking on the beach. NOTE: It isn't a flat beach!!! I digress. But please do heed the warning. Leave the adventure during daylight hours. ;) I wanted to love this restaurant. But I gave it 3 stars because, to me, it truly was just average. I liked it, but did not love it. I ordered an acai /blueberry mojito. It tasted like Robitussin cough syrup. I sent it back. For appetizer, I had the mushroom soup. It came with a the most delicious mushroom croquet. But my soup was cool. I ate it and didn't complain about it. The Red Salt Poke was so good and beautifully presented. But don't be fooled. It is a small serving, enough poke that would probably fit in a tablespoon. My husband and I split the Ono. It was perfectly cooked and season. Lastly, we had the root beer float for dessert. The root beer wasn't root beer, it was creme soda. It should have been called creme soda float. It was just meh. It did come with the most decadent chocolate chip cookie. Maybe I shouldn't have read the reviews before dining here. Maybe all the hype revved up my expectations. In the end, it was just average. I expected so much more... :( BTW, service was to be expected in a restaurant this caliber. I might give it one more try. Maybe, if there was no other choice.
(3)
Kathy H.
Simply extraordinary. After a number of over-priced, disappointing dinners on this lovely island (Tidepools, Beach House) we were really hoping this one would live up to the billing. WAAAAYYYY beyond lived up. The room itself is beautifully spare, right-sized and overlooking the pool, grounds and ocean. The server was attentive, very knowledgeable and just the right amount of funny while still very professional. Started with the sweet onion and saffron soup, SO had the ahi carpaccio. Both were wonderful and unlike anything we've had before. Entrees were the 7 spiced ahi wrapped in Serrano ham over edamame risotto (me) and the Kurubato pork loin chop with carrots and roasted beets (SO). Hard to describe how good both were. Even the two types of bread, with unsalted butter and a little box of red salt to sprinkle on top, was special. Anyone complaining about small portion sizes must be eating regularly at Country Buffet. Red Salt provided just the special setting, meal, service and evening we were envisioning. Thank you to the restaurant staff. No more pricey than any other top restaurant on the island, but SOOOOOOOO much better. Don't miss this one.
(5)
Angus S.
Staying at Koa Kea hotel and frequented red salt. Breakfast is very good. Buffet has nice euro-like selection each day - meats, cheeses, fruit, breads, pasteies, oatmeal, cereals, etc. Made to order eggs, waffles, etc. asked for an egg white omelet each morning. Came fluffy and tasty. Best I have ever had...service is very accommodating and friendly. Dinner was pretty good. Best we had was the seared ahi and the maui onion soup. We also had red salt. Which if you did not know is just evaporated ocean water with volcanic clay and lots of other minerals. Overall we like red salt. Restaurant is good and a nice alternative in poipu. We'll be back.
(4)
Shuji K.
Good food. Bad service.
(1)
jane k.
My husband and I stayed at the Koa Kea, which was wonderful. Upon several recommendations, we decided to try Red Salt since it was just downstairs. It was not bad, just not great, especially considering the prices. Plus, there was a really loud party that talked over everyone which was pretty distracting. Not what I want to hear when I pay $$$. Overall, kind of an overpriced Cheesecake Factory experience.
(3)
Janeen H.
The food was excellent. We each ordered a different entree on the menu to taste. I had the ahi with the cilantro risotto. Everything was fresh, full of flavor, and the service was excellent too. It was a bit pricy but if you are looking for a fine dining restaurant, I highly recommend.
(5)
Lauren V.
Breakfast was great. Tasty muffins to start. French toast was great. Bacon was great though a bit greasy. The waffle machine was broken so they made us macadamia nut pancakes instead. They were amazing. We were served both maple and coconut syrup. Yum! Service was 5 star. We should have gone back for dinner, next time!
(4)
neil m.
Great interior, excellent service. The food was not on par to other options in Kauai.
(2)
Malcolm C.
This place offered upscale dining. After spending a few days on the island and having subpar dining experiences we decided to go hard (spend alot of money). Red Salt didn't disappoint. I had the Red salt 7 spice seared ahi. Serrano ham (like a thin bacon) wrapped around the seared ahi (cooked medium-well). It was so flavorful & cooked to perfection. It was accompanied by cilantro edamame risotto & steamed bok choy. The risotto was tasty. The bok choy was bland and slightly over cooked. The coconut cloud was very good (savory with a hint of coconut). My wife had the Lobster ravioli. Saffron pasta filled with lobster & lemon mascarpone. Served with a basil buerre blanc & 4oz lobster tail. She only gave me one bite. It was so good. Seasoned & flavored to perfection. Ravioli was aldente. The lobster tail was prepared beautifully. Our waitress was very attentive & very knowledgeable about the menu. This was a great dining experience
(5)
Dana B.
Reviews we had come across for Red Salt had been very good, especially for breakfast, but we went for dinner. It was an easy walk from Kiahuna Plantation, where we were staying. Make sure to make reservations! We dined here at the start of dinner and ended up with probably the best seats in the house, right in front of the windows looking out on the pool and the ocean in the distance. I had one of the best drinks I have ever had (macnut liquor, Kaluha, pineapple, and coconut...can't remember the name). The appetizer (tortellini) and entree (Madagascar vanilla fish and shrimp) portions were not overly large, but they were very good. The root beer float dessert came with a HUGE mac nut cookie (could pass for a brownie)...a great way to end a meal. The service was fantastic and we never felt rushed to enjoy our meal.
(5)
Raych D.
Whenever I go back home, me and my girls always does a night out of dining and drinking. This past trip in May was for my graduation gift to visit my fam and friends. As always I always get to chose where we eat and I decided to have my graduation dinner here. Although, it is a bit far from where we normally go, It was worth the drive since we only have these expensive dinners. They are located in Poipu in the Ko'a Kea Hotel....be sure to go all the way down and turn right to the next hotel over because we got lost looking for that hotel and their valet service. The place is really clean, crisp, simple but beautifully decorated. Everyone looked really polish and so did their furniture's and silver wear. The staff is very friendly and the view outside is just magnificent...no wonder this hotel is voted one of the most beautiful/romantic hotels in the world. For starters me and a girlfriend got the blueberry acai martini which was BOMB! It's one of those creeper drinks where it taste so good that you don't realize how much you just drank. The martini itself was about $15 for one, kinda pricey but very good...I totally recommend that drink. For appetizers my friend got this pork dish, I took a bite of it and it tasted pretty good considering I don't like pork. For her dinner she got the wagyu new york steak ($48) which I so happened to take a bite off and it was AWESOME! For my dinner I got the big island seared vanilla bean mahi ($33) which was even better than the steak. It came with assorted vegetables and on top there was a avocado ginger salsa. Other friend of mine had the pan seared red salt 7 spiced ahi ($36), which she said was good. The preparation was beautiful and the taste was great! Definitely coming back here again!
(4)
Kris S.
Red Salt is tucked away in a hotel off Poipu Beach, deep in tourist country of south shore Kauai. However, it's a gem. I was slightly disappointed in my husband's Ono, which was a little bland. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was perfectly cooked with a tasty sauce. We didn't have drinks but we enjoyed the house-made bread and the tiny bits of red salt on everything. (Yes, I had to buy some...) There is a bar, with some TVs, and it was slightly busy but the sound did not affect the dining - it's actually laid out very comfortably and quietly, even for a Friday night. Dessert was probably the star of the meal - small square containers of yummy gelato in island fruit flavors and deep chocolate. Pretty good with coffee. The atmosphere is a little sterile but that was okay - the whole hotel seems to have a very austere Asian feel. Pleasant host, great servers - just an overall good experience.
(4)
Kris Kayla P.
Husband loved his steak breakfast. Food was great and the mini blueberry muffins in the beginning our delish.
(5)
Erica W.
My husband and I love food! Red Salt satisfied all of our senses. The presentation of food was impeccable. The aromas of each dish were amazing. The texture of each dish was perfect. In a very fun and pleasant atmosphere. Kudos to the chief and staff at Red Salt.
(5)
Leah L.
My husband and I stayed at the Koa Kea for our weddingmoon, and ate at Red Salt for breakfast a couple of times during our stay. The food was just good for breakfast, but what really wowed us was our wedding dinner, which we had set up on our private balcony. Fist of all, they did an outstanding job of setting things up with flameless candles, table linens, etc. and they put my wedding bouquet in a nice vase. We both had the shrimp appetizers, which were delicious, and we both had the steak frites. The steak was totally worth the $67 price tag. They did a great job of keeping everything warm and our wine cold. They came to the bar to let us know when everything was set up. They also provided a complimentary bottle of champagne as a wedding present. It really was the perfect ending to our wedding day.
(5)
Cari B.
We decided to go here after reading the reviews on yelp. So glad that we checked yelp before going to one of our usual dinner places. Red salt is amazing. Yes it's pricey but for the service and ambiance it's totally worth it in my book. Our waitress Samdi, was exceptional. She made sure we were well taken care of. We loved the drinks...super strong that you'll only need one! The food was tasty and the desserts delectable. We celebrated our anniversary so we got the complimentary pineapple cotton candy which was yummy! Definitely ask your waiter what they recommend...that's how we decided what to eat. If you're not too full try the deconstructed root beer float. Loved the presentation! We'll definitely be back here again!
(5)
Wende G.
We were lucky enough to be touted on the Red Salt restaurant by a local. Wow. What a fabulous meal! The Ono was a religious experience, the service fantastic. We will be back for sure.
(5)
Jessica W.
Decided to check this place out after reading yelp reviews and was impressed with is in-resort restaurant. We came here for dinner and was the best dining experience we had during our stay in Kauai. Service was excellent and the food was fantastic. This is definitely a fine dining place so portions are just right, although the salads were quite large! Some of the favorites from the menu were the Kalua pork rolls, kailani mixed greens, carpaccio, mahi with the forbidden rice and the chocolate torte. Only complaints was that the acoustics of the room was loud. Minus one star for overlooking my lobster tail and how loud it was in there. I think they could improve on their dessert menu options-- does no one make lilkoi cheesecake?
(4)
Nami S.
Finest sushi in Poipu.
(5)
Anna Y.
BEST RESTAURANT ON ISLAND. If you're looking for something modern with local ingredients, come here! I came here one night after being tired of Rumfire, Tidepools, Yum Cha, etc. and wanted to try something new. We ended up splitting 5 appetizers and 1 entree. They will gladly split your entree for you at no additional cost! Spiffy! Appetizers: Kauai Shrimp Trio - 3 different beurre blancs, my favorite was the champagne, and the avocado with mango salsa was out of this world! Seared scallop - was perfectly cooked, but I thought it was a bit of a ripoff at $14. Beet salad with goat cheese fondue - the beets were perfectly roasted and the goat cheese deeeeeelicious! Mushroom bisque - TO DIE FOR. They do that awesome presentation with a beautifully decorated bowl that has an incredible potato croquette, and come out with a pot of the soup, and the pour the soup into your bowl. This was my favorite dish of the night and will definitely order this one again. It was worth every cream laden calorie. Poke - beautifully presented soy marinated ahi and hamachi. It wasn't $16 worth of fish on seaweed salad, but man, it was $16 worth of labor to prepare! Entree: Ono on king crab potato hash in a lemongrass broth. This dish was a bit too sweet for me, but stealing the lemon of my iced tea to add to the tiny lemon wedge made it better. I think I'll try the mahi next time which has black rice, or the steak which comes with fries and 4 different sauces (peppercorn, jus, bernaise, and something else which I can't remember, because I kept trying to listen to the waiters at the other tables where people had ordered them haha) Dessert: Backwards Root Beer Float - WOW. This was root beer gelato, served in an ice cold glass, with a bottle of cream soda, and a warm ooey gooey chocolate macadamia nut cookie. HEAVEN. Get this and you won't regret it. I cannot wait to come back here. This was the most incredible meal I've had on island. I feel like my senses were awakened by this meal. Great job!
(5)
O-Shen C.
I have since eaten dinner here while staying 6 dinners and let me tell you best dinners on Kauai!! Everything was Devine !! Staff is fab Melissa the day manager is the best and Samdhi and Jessica, Erin, Marlina, Tom,Pail, Chris all amazing servers!!! fettuccine Alfredo with Kauai Shrimp and Hamakua mushrooms best ever
(5)
Beach Bum W.
One should always be careful in speaking of superlatives; however, as one of my favorite movie quotes is from "Coal Miners Daughter." It is when Sissy Spacek says "no matter how good it gets, it don't get no better than this." This continues to be the best restaurant on the island of Kauai. To begin with, the blueberry acai martini is nothing like I have ever had in my life. My eyes rolled backwards. The Ahi tuna was beyond good. My wife had a shrimp dish that had wonderful flavors that we have never experienced. The service by Chris is the absolute best and most attentive I have had. Yes it is pricey but worth it. The host Paul, is absoutely there to meet your every need. This is NOT a place for children. We have a younger child, but it would be wasted. The best meal we have had on Kauai. bar none.
Very mediocre food, poor drinks, awkward service. Restaurant skews older and is upscale but stuffy. We ordered fish that was adequate but our server had no personality. We were disappointed to spend $200 on a very average dinner at a stuffy restaurant this place has no character. Would not revisit.
(2)
Samantha M.
After reading the reviews I decided to come here. Based on the reviews and prices I expected a lot better. I started with the mixed green salad for $12, it was flavorless and had very few types of veggies in it. For my main course I got the staff recommended Ono fish price point of $37, again lack of flavor as well as over cooked. When the waiter came to collect our plates which still had ample amounts of food on them, we weren't asked how everything was/ if we wanted things wrapped the plates were just collected. I would recommend trying other places as this is overpriced for the quality.
(2)
Hilary B.
My husband and I came for our 10th anniversary and were all set to be impressed, but came out being underwhelmed. Maybe the problem is the area we live in has lots of fine dining? We can go to a restaurant back home for the same price that is better. The food was good, but we weren't blown away for the price. We got the scallop appetizer and while it was cooked to perfection, we got 2 scallops for $16. Really? $8 per scallop when you can get them locally? I had the ono and my husband got the ahi. Again, good but not great. Cooked nicely but flavors not amazing. Ambiance was underwhelming. Live music such as a piano would be nice. In short, food was solid but not worth the prices they are charging.
(3)
avalon e.
Great atmosphere, dishes well thought out and impeccably executed. We started dinner late, tired, thirsty, and slightly grouchy after being stuck in traffic in Waimea for an hour. Kailua pork is nothing we've seen before. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and the cherry bbq sauces mates with it perfectly. Had the Ono and white snapper for main courses. The former on a coconut broth and the latter on a corn puree each paired with the right kindsof veggies. This is not your ahi tuna tartare and whatever protein over shitake and bok choy kind of place. They dishes all show complexity of flavors and thought in matching the ingredients. Service was also remarkable. Knowledge, courtesy, and patience without any pretense. All thumbs up,
(5)
Brett B.
Great service and amazing views. It's definitely a beautiful resort and restaurant. Problem? You pay a ton of money for their sushi and they barely give you any fish. It's like you can see through the layer of fish on top. Disappointed!
(2)
Jim H.
Red Salt is a good, tho expensive restaurant. Definitely worth the price if you are looking for a "Special Occasion" dining experience. Service, atmosphere, menu, wine list were all we expected at a restaurant of this caliber. While I could oh and ah about this place, the reality is that it was one of, if not the best, meals we have had on the island (over 10 years). No rock and roll, just good dining.
(5)
Moo S.
This was the best meal we had on the island. Cocktails were delicious (and passed the size+stiffness test...most "signature" drinks are either diminutive or weak). Service was attentive, decor was very chic. Their bread basket was scrumptious, and the red salt they serve with the butter added a nice kick to the warm, buttery goodness. We ordered a multitude of plates for a tapas-style dinner: diver scallop, island prawns, kalua pork, endive salad, mushroom bisque, shrimp carbonara...each one was perfectly composed and delighted our taste buds. The red salt poke was a visual and gustatory treat! To top it all off, for the quality of the food, service, and ambiance, the total bill was very reasonable (or we're just used to San Francisco prices). Red salt is definitely worth its salt!
(5)
Mrs. S.
This is NOT a Japanese/sushi restaurant as we had expected. It's simply a super expensive regular restaurant with the typical filet ($40), fish and pasta ($30) options. Granted, the food was good...as it should be for those prices. Has a dress code. No tank tops allowed. Hubby has to go back and change first. Anyway, we had a good dinner but we were wanting a chill sushi dinner not a super fancy and $$$$$$$ dinner. Over $200 for 3 people who only ordered 1 drink each. Oh, and expect a cocktail to cost a whopping $17!
(4)
Clogozm C.
Food: 4 Ambience: 3 Service: 3 I had high expectations for this place given the reviews. The food was good - I had the seared mahi, but our waiter seemed to be in such a rush and barely had time to take our order. It was also very loud that I felt like I had to shout to talk. Someone mentioned that this place was "upscale and stuffy" but it wasn't. We saw a few people wearing flip flops. Overall, given what they charge for their food I expect a whole lot more.
(3)
Chris R.
Breakfast here is ok but over priced. Didn't realize it was part of a hotel so your price goes up and I just don't like paying $50 dollars for 2 at breakfast. We went there because of the reviews and it was so so. I wouldn't give it 5 stars.. The eggs Benedict were not the rave every review said it was. There was little pancetta and the potatoes and English muffin came out cold. We got a side of pancakes which were amazing but again there are a lot better places for breakfast on the island than here..
(2)
Kevin P.
We went to this place to take a friend who lives in Kauai that wanted to try it. It sucked. The NY Steak was 70.00. The food was bland and way over priced. They have No View of Kauai and the service was average. The waitperson was very nice. But other than her this place was a waste of a dinner on Kauai. I would never go to this place again. Marriott much better right next door.
(1)
Kristen M.
My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at Red Salt during our recent trip to Kauai and the entire experience surpassed our expectations (which were already high from the word of mouth and good reviews!). We started with a drink at the bar where the bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly. The ambiance of the restaurant is modern and clean, and the staff is extremely detail oriented with each place setting regarding the atmosphere. Our server was a great balance of professional, friendly and informal. Not too informal or casual, but not at all snotty or uppity which I would have expected for a nice restaurant of this caliber. It was refreshing. The food, each course, was wonderful. We started with the scallops and a salad. The scallops were perfectly cooked, which is not always easy to find. The salad was fresh and the salad dressing was clearly local and tasty. We loved the surprise lilikoi squash gazpacho-type shooter between courses. It was unexpected and really good! For our entrees, my husband had the lamb and says it was the best lamb he has ever had. I had the fettucine which was perfectly cooked, on the al dente side, and the cream sauce wasn't overly creamy, but still incredibly tasty. Very well done on both dishes. We strongly recommend Red Salt if you're looking for a quality dining experience on Kauai.
(5)
Kimo S.
Spending a few days at the Koa Kea Hotel & Resort left me nervous since this was the only restaurant on hotel grounds. Rest assured, we were eating/drinking here all four nights of our stay because it was just THAT good. This may turn out to be a little lengthy so bear with me as I break down the various meals we had here: late night meal, sushi experience, drinks at the bar and room service (breakfast/dinner). Late night snack - They have these amazing sandwiches they serve late in the evening (not the Panini's) and we absolutely loved and devoured their fish sandwich and chicken sandwich that evening. Each came with a choice of fries or a salad for about $20 each. All of the condiments were presented beautifully and everything tasted amazing. It was really one of the best late night snacks/meals I've had in quite some time. Sushi Experience - Available only Tuesday - Saturday from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. This is a MUST if you're on the island and enjoy sushi. This was absolutely one of the best meals I have had at a sushi restaurant in ages and you should know... this boy eats sushi every week. The cuts of fish were stellar, I haven't had premier cuts of fish like this in quite some time. It is not a large menu but Justin does an amazing job. Trust me, go here. You'll want to go back the next night. Drinks - I love me a good Mai Tai and they make an excellent classic but if you prefer something a little sweeter and have an itch for some local fruit, order yourself a Shark Proof. One of my new favorite drinks: Guava Nectar, Captain Morgan, Malibu Coconut Rum and club soda. You can even get this blended, it's delicious. On a side note, the corkage fee here is very reasonable ($10-15, depending) and they have a deal if you bring in a bottle from the Koloa Wine Shop that they'll waive the corkage. Love it! Room Service - We split the American breakfast for two mornings and this was plenty of food for two people to start the day. The pastry basket is the winner, they have these amazing biscuits and mini muffins that are just DELICIOUS. You can also make substitutions since we didn't want breakfast meats they gave us fruit and yogurt instead but we still got the eggs and potatoes. Very accommodating and very delicious. Lastly, we ordered dinner in one night and enjoyed the Spice Seared Ahi and Pan Seared Ono along with a Mixed Greens Salad and the Island Prawns. The Ono was amazing, if you order this (and you should) ask for extra sauce because it is delicious but they are light on the saucing. The Seared Ahi was excellent too but I would have probably ordered the Mahi Mahi instead because the Edamame-Cilantro Risotto that came with this dish didn't have much flavor. The Island Prawns were a little disappointing because they were the small shrimp you get in a scampi. I was expecting a little larger shrimp, like in a shrimp cocktail or a shrimp tempura. They should definitely upgrade the shrimp because they were, well... shrimpy. All in all, this is a great restaurant and they performed consistently well each and every night we dined in or out. I would highly recommend this restaurant and HIGHLY recommend you go for the SUSHI night.
(5)
Alter K.
Really enjoyed our dinner at Red Salt. We were seated along the windows looking out to the ocean and an area illuminated with tiki torches, a very romantic ambience. We ordered the scallops with a beurre blanc sauce for our appetizer. The sauce was so good, we had to ask the waitress for more bread so we could mop it all up. For entrees we got the Ono with a coconut sauce and the shrimp fettuccine. Everything was great, but definitely get the Ono if you're looking for something different - the fish with a little lemon and the coconut sauce were amazing.
(5)
Miguel L.
Greatest experience of our Honeymoon was dinner - seated us right away on time with our reservation for 7:30pm, perfect table for two. Great waiter and great service - menu options were easy and well described! - wonderful atmosphere - It was the guy to our left's birthday, and he started offering us their "Coconut Cotton Candy" ! - wonderful mixed drinks - we had mocktails! Excellent all around! Parking is tight - valet only. Great hotel - in KOA KEA HOTEL & RESORT in Poipu! .. we'll be back
(5)
Anne M.
We ate there three times during our stay. The first two times we had great service and the third was a joke. We had a waiter who had very few tables. He would leave for extended periods of time and you had no idea where the guy was. Wait for him to take your order, wait for the food, I asked if I could have bread and again he disappears ... ... ..... finally, funny, he shows up with a basket of bread to go with my completely finished dinner. I think at that time there were three other tables with another waiter. I got mad and they ended up comping the meal but...... what the heck? If I am on vacation and I am paying for an expensive meal I really do expect a very high level of service. You want those vacation moments to be special and when a lousy wait staff doesn't make it happen it is very annoying.
(2)
Dolores W.
Went for my birthday. Service, food, & ambience were outstanding. I had the paella and the mushroom bisque. Excellent. I'm gluten free and the waitress was very knowledgeable with options for gluten free including excellent bread. Served the gingerbread cloud (ginger flavored cotton candy) compliments of the restaurant for my birthday. Surprisingly not very sweet, but very delicious. Definitely one of our two favorite nice restaurants on Kauai.
(5)
Nicole F.
The diver scallops and salad were really good. These appetizers are pricey but worth it. The main entree tuna was ok and the mahi was good, but I couldn't detect the crabmeat. Wonderful ambience and service is stellar. Would return if staying nearby. (sushi the next night in the bar is tasty although pricey)
(4)
Kyle K.
I'm not going to spend my time writing some flowery review, there are plenty of other yelp reviewers who have already described their meals / the awesomeness of this restaurant in great detail. Simply put, this restaurant is a must if you are looking for fine dining in Kauai. Stop wasting your time reading about this place and just get a reservation here.
(5)
M M.
Justin the sushi chef gave us the meal of a lifetime!!! Impeccable food and service. Great specialty drinks. Simply amazing.
(5)
Laura H.
Is it expensive? Yes. It's Kauai, though. We had the pleasure of staying at the Koa Kea for 8 days for our honeymoon before we headed to Maui and this restaurant never disappointed during our entire stay. Dinner was always special. We ventured out for a lot of meals, but the breakfast here was always good and the servers knew us by name. The muffins they brought out while you are drinking your coffee are delicious. However, $4 for a coffee at the table seems silly when the complimentary lobby coffee is 25 feet away. Easy way to save a few bucks by getting it there and spend your money on the food. We loved this resort and restaurant and hope to return some day!
(4)
Shazeen N.
I've had better food.. I heard so much about this place but the place and food was just average. Try other places instead.
(3)
Albie D.
Red Salt is in the hotel we were staying in, Koa Kea. It was probably one of the better dining experiences on the island, but objectively, it wasn't the best. Go for it, especially if you're staying here. It's worth it - also, the drinks are very fun and the bartender was a hoot. Although it was only so-so, still, you're in Hawaii, so who cares!?
(3)
Stacy W.
Really beautiful meal. The red rice with the Ono was amazing! Very pricey, but enjoyed the meal.
(4)
Alyson B.
This was the best meal I had on Kauai. We were 45 minutes early for our 7:30pm reservation, but were seated immediately. The dining room is small, which is nice. The servers were prompt and friendly. Nancy, our main server, was outstanding. She brought a wonderful combination of relaxed and formal. Red Salt here in DC would be considered fine dining, with a matching stuffy waitstaff. Not here. We smiled and laughed a lot. We had ahi carpaccio and seared scallops for apps. Dad had the filet mignon and switched out the sides for the fries and dips that come with the NY strip (he hates mushrooms and leeks). Good choice. The dips are great, and he said the filet was the best he's ever had (and he's hard to please). I had seared ono in a coconut-sake broth, which was delicious. Mom had the special, a fish I can't remember with vanilla carrot puree and a green bean salad. The plate was gorgeous, and I'll definitely be trying to replicate the carrot puree. For dessert, we ordered the macadamia nut dark chocolate torte and the lilikoi creme brulee. Both were exquisite. Oh! And definitely try one of their cocktails. The special mojito and the cucumber cocktail are both fantastic. Overall, this place is a gem. We visited after dark, and the next time I'm on the island, I'll be going during the day to see more of the resort. If you're on Kauai, go here.
(5)
Ford R.
From the moment you step into the lobby of the hotel which hosts Red Salt Restaurant, you know that each and every detail has been thought of. It can be a little difficult to find as the resort is tucked away from the main road, but know that it's worth the hunt. The macadamia nut waffle is large, soft, features a large sprinkling of crushed macadamia nuts served with coconut and maple syrups. The satisfying crispy layer of batter is a toasty perfection, and when broken gently with your fork allows the syrup to penetrate the waffle. The coconut syrup is definitely on the sweet side, so use it sparingly, but the maple syrup is spot on. Try a combination of the two. I also had the pleasure of having an omelette with mushrooms, cheddar cheese and Portuguese sausage. The generous chunks of meat feature a nice spice without enough heat to scare off people with sensitive taste buds. The egg comes out perfectly folded in half oozing of the toppings of your choice. The restaurant is very clean, and as I mentioned before there was great care taken in the ambiance of the room. The service was a little slow, but pleasant and attentive. The chairs can become a little uncomfortable as the hard wood seats will prevent you from hanging out too long, but not leave you yearning for a seat cushion during breakfast. Parking is valet so make sure to have a few bucks handy to tip the valet as their very fast retrieving your car. This was my favorite breakfast while I was on the island of Kauai, and I'd definitely return.
(5)
Ellen C.
I ordered the grilled tofu with rice. The only "entree" that seemed fulfilling for vegetarians at this pricy restaurant. Not bad. The macadamia nut pieces gave the rice a nice texture. Nuts with rice always enhances the meal! :) Unfortunately I was hungry within a few hours. My hubs and friend both ordered the lomi lomi salmon and enjoyed it. For dessert we enjoyed the root beer float and dark chocolate macadamia nut torte. If u like chocolate go for the dark choc torte. The gelato was more tempting. Next time:) Ambiance was nice. Laura our waitress was super sweet and helpful. All in all, for vegetarians there are several options thankfully.... Unlike the plantations owner Luau Kalamaku.
(4)
Hunter C.
Skeptics, be warned, do not avoid this place, RED SALT is EXCELLENT! Now keep in mind, there aren't that many eating options on Kauai, next to knowing a local's aunt who can whip you up a good home cooked meal, which obviously every tourist doesn't necessarily have or have access too. The wife and I were skeptical about Red Salt considering restaurants within Hotels were like Russian roulette, you won't know unless you try them out, and even then it's a game of musical chairs to diarrhea or mouth nirvana. While thankfully it was not the former, Red Salt was the ladder, and THEN SOME! In one word: Gratifying My wife ordered the lobster ravioli, and not knowing that she was getting a full lobster tail, the ravioli was scrumptious , infused with the right amount of herbs, and the lobster I think was butter poached and cooked perfectly. My Ahi was done so well, in paired well with my potato hash and coconut cream sauce , which indeed I hate to admit, wanted to go full obesity mode in eating two or three more servings. Oh and their ahi/ono poke? artistically beautifully, yet wonderfully refreshing. Probably the cleanest poke i've tried, it was a bit more like sashimi, but on the deconstructed poke side of things. And their cold maui onion soup? i'd probably get that and eat it every day. The waitress gave us some shooters (and ended up giving us more ) and it was to die for. Never had such a great tasting cold soup that elevated onion and cream to a whole new level. The waitress and wait staff there are great, and they were very accommodating and kind to take us 10 minutes after the last table call (which is 9pm btw). I can agree this can be one of the best on the island, especially how contemporary and clean the restaurant is. When the wife and I return, we are going to definitely come back and eat here plenty more times to our hearts content. I recommend this place to even those who don't stay at Koa Kea hotel, as you won't regret it (and i recommend staying at Koa Kea too!)
(5)
Wyatt H.
Went here for breakfast several times. The buffet was a let down. Bread wasn't great and not many options in the buffet. The eggs benedict was pretty good, but i've had better and the souffle pancakes were very good. It was over priced, but so is everywhere else. If you want a good breakfast, I don't know where else you'd go. Apart from the expense, there was some negatives about the service. The first visit, we waited a long time for a waiter, and when they finally came, we said we were ready to order, and the waitress told us "can I put down these ... first?" that was a bit insulting. I've never had a waitress/waiter say that to me. We didn't say anything in a tone that merited that response, even in a slow island style. If you want a good breakfast, and don't mind paying extra and waiting extra and skipping a buffet, then this is not a bad place. Being insulted though, is not good thought. However, the breakfast we had at the sheraton was so bad, that it redeemed this place. it can get worst, but there's no great restaurant deals that we were able to find.
(3)
Charlie B.
A dinner here is worth the trip to see the cute Koa Kea hotel and for really good seafood. It just didn't feel really special to us, and we said we were honeymooners on the reservation and when we sat down and the server barely batted an eye. I suggest hitting up Red Salt if you want to take a break from the whole Hawaii-feel you get other places. The decor is hip and modern which I expected to love, but honestly could have used a few more touches to remind me I was in Kauai. We had a couple of seafood dishes, and we ate so much seafood that I can't even remember which ones we had. I heard raves about the root beer float, and it was just OK...just tasted like every other root beer float I've made at home. Based on other reviews I sort of wish I would have just come by for breakfast to check out the decor and the space.
(3)
Michael H.
We had a plan - try the appetizers, avoid the entrees. We weren't very hungry and it seemed the appetizers got better reviews on yelp. We began with cocktails. The Mai tai was terrific, but the mojito was not worth $16. Beet salad was fresh. Bread delicious. Mushroom soup was rich, with good flavor of mushrooms. Both our sushi appetizers were unique. The salmon martini came with baby pancakes and house cured salmon. The poke came as a gorgeous checkerboard presentation with good flavor, although the white fish was chewy. Liked our waitress. Prices plenty high, though our plan held down the bill. Good spot for a special night out, but not a place I will dream about.
(4)
Lisa D.
My boyfriend and I frequent Red Salt. We also did a stay and play at Koa Kea. The food is delicious. Sushi is good but selection of fish are slim pickings. Fresh but well let's just say it's a mini sushi bar. Everyone who works there are pleasant and professional. However our favorite person is Jim one of the bartenders. He makes the very best Mai Tai's on Kauai hands down. Oh and please, please try the deconstructed root beer float. To die for!!!
(5)
Judy B.
Based on reading yelp reviews we couldn't resist dining at Red Salt, and we're so glad that we did. The scallop appetizer was prepared to perfection. The lobster ravioli was inventive and delicious. But our favorite entree was the shrimp pasta, laced with exotic mushrooms and tossed in a lovely cream sauce. We couldn't decide between the entrees so we asked that they be split in the kitchen and presented as two separate courses. This was done without hesitation, with thoughtful presentation and perfect timing. Our favorite meal in our 10 day stay on Kauai!
(5)
Jimmy A.
A small, intimate, but not too stuffy place for a nice dinner. Among all the "fancy" options in the area I thought Red Salt was the only one worth the money. I had the scallops appetizer and the lobster ravioli. Both dishes were far better than expected and for the first time in a while I was hoping for seconds at a place like this. Also very convenient if you are staying at the Koa Kea.
(5)
Steph C.
After checking out of the Grand Hyatt, Matt B. and I decided to pay a visit to Ko'a Kea for brunch. We were curious about this alternate resort down the road, and we got to check out the pool and the layout while we ate at Red Salt, which had a view of the resort area. We decided we preferred the grounds at the Hyatt, but Ko'a Kea definitely won for its lack of children and its great hotel breakfast. The free valet was also a bonus. I gather that Red Salt is the hotel restaurant and that it does a lot more than breakfast, but we didn't have the pleasure of visiting more than once. It was actually pretty empty a little after 10 AM, and we shared the attention of our waitress with just two other couples. The space was cheerful, calm and well lit, and we enjoyed our last meal in Kauai at our leisure. Our waitress was very nice, friendly and particularly attentive. I had a Bloody Mary with my breakfast, and it was strong and tasty, if not the best I've had. It was garnished with olives stuffed with what must have been tuna, which were an interesting touch. There's something luxurious about drinking with breakfast in any setting, but it felt especially pleasant in the relaxed sunny dining room of Red Salt. The food was delicious, so much better than anything we ate at our hotel. We got started with a basket of mini muffins with a sweet whipped cinnamon sugar butter. These were tasty little baked bites that worked well as a breakfast bread basket. For my meal, I had the eggs Benedict which came with a pancetta hash and chive hollandaise. The eggs were poached perfectly, so that the yolk melded into the sauce, and the English muffin underneath soaked it up just right. The pancetta hash was great, too, salty and savory, and with a dab of hot sauce here and there, this was an excellent breakfast. Matt had the French toast, which was made with a soft Hawaiian bread, served with maple and coconut syrups. It was a lovely sweet dish. Red Salt might be the best option for breakfast food in Poipu. It certainly kicked Grand Hyatt dining in the ass with a very pointed toe. The experience was pleasant and the food delicious - it was a great last meal for our Kauai vacation.
(4)
Cheryl K.
We almost missed this place driving but finally found the Ko`a Kea Hotel. Phew! We needed to find a breakfast place or the hungry mean me would come out. Walked in and I thought I was under dressed in my beach clothes but to our delight everyone was using shorts, slippers, sandals, yay! The hostess immediately sat us. We ordered their Kauai coffee and I got their French Toast and my husband ordered the Breakfast Burrito. While we waited they served us these little cornbread muffins with a chocolate butter spread thing. We got our food and I loved that my French Toast came with a coconut syrup or maple. I like options with my food. My husband's burrito was really good too. It came with a spicy sauce which we think was Sriracha sauce but the burrito was super nicely presented. We were really happy with our meals as well as the pleasant service. I like the ambiance as you can see the pool area and the beach. Maybe one day we'll come back for dinner. The restaurant is really classy and chic but still chill probably because everyone that eats there is on vacation. The service is great and the prices are decent. If you are in the Poipu area you gotta try this place. Amaze-balls!
(4)
Diana L.
We were shocked by the bad service @ breakfast especially since we were staying at the resort. From the time we sat down, it took 5 min before our sever finally came to greet us with waters and menus. His demeanor was not warm and welcoming at all - just the opposite. He seemed surprised that "we" or "us types" would be dining there. All the other tables(all caucasian patrons) around us were greeted very friendly and right as they sat down. Not sure if it was the server assigned to our table or if it was because we looked young and more like locals. Either way, food cost way too much for this type of service. In comparison, all the other lunch plate spots, fish markets and restaurants we ate at on the island gave us very warm and welcoming service.
(1)
Janet S.
This restaurant is within walking distance of the place the hubby and I were staying. We didn't have reservations and were seated in the bar area. OK. Our server, who was flaky, took our drink orders and scooted off. When she came back, she had the hubby's beer order wrong, bringing a Kona Longboard instead of the Fire Rock Pale Ale that he ordered. (Hubby doesn't like to make waves -- on vacation after all -- so he stuck with the Longboard.) Hubby ordered a mixed greens salad, and she said she'd bring an extra plate.She did not. She offered fresh ground pepper for his salad. She didn't bring that either. It was just as well. I tasted the salad and it was bland like there was no dressing on it. She brought our bread, two different kinds, and that was good at least, Our entrees, opah for him and mahi for me, were pretty good. I can't even remember what the fish were served with, but I believe mine had Thai black rice. The sauce the grilled fish were laid on was tasty. She suggested a selection of gelato for dessert because I asked whether or not they had ice cream. We decided to go with her suggestion. Then she brought our bill instead of the two orders of gelato. She promptly turned around, remembering suddenly that we ordered dessert. Glad we stuck with the gelato which came in four small square bowls on a square ceramic dish. There were two fruit, a Kona coffee-flavored one with tiny bits of ground coffee in it, and an intense, vanilla-flavored.gelato. Excellent! In retrospect, Red Salt's food was better than the restaurant we went to the next evening. Food pesentation was nice. Only wish the service and the salad was up to par for the prices we paid. Edited to correct beer name & up the rating for the food.
(4)
Saminda W.
Ate here our first night as we were staying at the Koa Kea. Service was quite good as well as the food. They were flexible on the menu, too, making adjustments as needed.
(4)
Natalie K.
The best meal we had on the island. Everything was delicious and had great local flavors. We ordered the scallops, mahi mahi, ono, root beer float, and gelato. I would highly recommend this place...totally worth the money.
(5)
Anita S.
I would give service here a 2 and food 3.5. We got here around 7:45, so can't rate the view, except that it was dark. The decor, certainly tasteful, but nothing special. Service started great, but deteriorated as the night went on, asked more than once but they forgot more bread, butter, and an additional pile of red salt, since everything was under salted. The entire check process took atleast 20 minutes. I am assuming because our waitress was helping to close up the restaurant by 10 pm so she got busy she forgot to take our credit card, until we hollered for her. The mushroom bisque, was our favorite dish of the night. Creamy, mushroomy, what more would one ask from a bisque? We also got the signature Red Salt Poke, beautiful checkerboard presentation of alternating red ahi, white walu over thinly sliced cucumber slices, topped with wakame seaweed, and tobiko, spritz with a ginger soy reduction, but overall it was bland, even adding red salt could not enhance this dish, but maybe that is why they still give wasabi and soy sauce on the side. Still, the fish was undeniably fresh. For my meal I got the appetizer of Togarashi Crusted Seared Ahi....my poor menu selection on my part because it was very similar in flavor red poke, having the same ginger soy reduction, wakame seaweed. While I normally avoid starches like bread, I did have a bread which is just average, but it was the perfect vehicle for devouring that delicious creamy butter topped with crunchy course red salt. Fish is so fresh that a little more seasoning could have enhanced it and made it more memorable. Valet was quick and professional, but that is because we were the last ones out of the restaurant due to the slow check service. Wow, dinner which consisted of 3 appetizers all ordered in the beginning took 2.5 hours. Even on vacation, I consider that service too slow.
(3)
John F.
We ate here every morning for breakfast and once for dinner. We should have come here more often, as the restaurants in Kauai leave something to be desired. Breakfast was awesome. Trust me when I say everything on the menu is delicious. Pancakes were awesome, omelets are delicious, and that banana waffle? C'mon man. Dinner is equally outstanding. Seared Ahi Tuna is as good as any we had in Hawaii. I had the rack of lamb, which was awesome. Service was very good and the atmosphere was super romantic. They had all the torches lit outside. Loved it. Considering the somewhat disappointing cuisine in Poipu, I wish we would have dined here more. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Bill C.
Great Hendricks gin martini at the bar! Wonderful setting and attentive staff Tofu entree was nice, but needed more of the sauce, and I would have preferred a crispier crust. Beet salad was tasty.
(4)
Tom V.
Over priced is an understatement. The place is called Red Salt but the food could've actually used some salt.
(2)
Justin E.
The restaurant feels like a hotel lounge that was converted into a restaurant. The service was friendly, but our waiter seemed like he was in the middle of running a marathon. The place is loud, and a bit hot despite the palm frawn fans they had doing one rotation a minute. The "kalua pork" appetizer I had was good, I like the little smoky smoke that emerges as the glass top is removed. The bread was great, especially when topped with the extra creamy butter and the namesake red salt. My fish, Ono was in a delicious sauce, but the fish itself was bland. The bottom line is if I'm gonna pay mass amounts of money for a piece of fish, it should be great, or at least I should have a nice view.
(3)
Jill D.
The ambiance is beautiful, as is the decor. The service is friendly and not overly solicitous. The food just wasn't that great. I was very excited to have brunch here with some out of town guests but I just wasn't impressed. I had the much-touted pineapple souffle pancakes and was left feeling like a deflated souffle after eating them. They are literally the TOPS of a lemon souffle with pineapple sauce. They are NOT pancakes by any stretch of a definition. They were very light and airy and made me feel like I basically ate a bunch of lemony/pineapple flavored meringues. NOT satisfying. I would have two-starred this review but the mini-muffin tower that came with our meal was yummy and so was the coffee. The other diners with me were also unimpressed or wowed. The quest for a decent brunch spot on Kauai continues...
(3)
Christine L.
Red Salt was amazing. I'd say it was the best meal I had on the island. The ambiance and decor were perfect, and our waiter was attentive and very courteous. My husband and I got the Island Prawns - taste of three, the Pan Seared Ono, the Red Salt 7 spiced Seared Ahi, the Quattro Gelato for dessert, and 2 martinis that I cannot recall. Everything was excellent. Both martinis were pricey but very, very good. The flavors were on point. I especially loved the ono. It was perfectly cooked, and the hash/broth it's sitting on top of was excellent. I really liked the gelato as well - especially the li hing mui flavor. Very unique and interesting. After tax, I believe we spent about $150 on the whole thing - not bad for fine dining. I was stuffed at the end. Note that if you're having a hard time finding the restaurant, it is inside the Koa Kea hotel and you have to do valet parking. Incidentally, my valet guy was super friendly and nice.
My experience at Red Salt was not the best. I was already hesitant going in based on how expensive the menu is and was disappointed pretty early on which set the tone for the rest of our dinner. Server was very nice although forgot one of the appetizers we ordered and by the time we figured that out our entrees had arrived. Drinks were overpriced, but strong enough that we only needed one each for the duration of our meal. Chef provided complimentary taster of poke, which we ordered for an appetizer so we got one more bite than normal, the servings here are small. We also had the mushroom bisque which was delicious. That was pretty much the highlight of the meal. My lobster ravioli was not al dente and you only get three small pieces. My fiancee ordered the filet medium rare and received rare. Neither of us enjoyed the main part of the meal. The restaurant area is nicely set up, although the huge one leaf fans swaying above are distracting and useless in terms of providing cool air. Red Salt is too expensive for the food, drink and surroundings. I would not recommend this unless you can afford a few different expensive dinners during your trip.
(3)
Lily N.
We had just landed on Kauai for the second leg of our honeymoon and I wanted to have a "fancy" dinner with our close friends who were also on the island for vacation. By a recommendation from another friend, we decided to try Red Salt for a late dinner. It was packed when we got there at 8:00pm, so it seemed like a good sign. The waiter was super nice and attentive. The red salt/butter combo was delicious. But, this is where all the goodness ends. We had a red salt poke to share for the table. The presentation was pretty cool, the sashimi pieces were made into a checkerboard. But, that did not help the fact that the sashimi was extremely fishy. Not so fresh for a a $$$ restaurant. I had the warm mushroom bisque. This was also a cute presentation, with a small mushroom croquette in the middle before the poured and served the bisque. But, when they say warm, they mean that the bowl was warm when the poured in the cold bisque. Now, I maybe a total idiot and not understand fine dining as much and perhaps this is how a "warm" bisque is supposed to be served. Nonetheless, it was not warm enough for my taste, and the bisque was not very special. The husband had the island prawns, which he said were very small bites of rubber. For my entree, I ordered the lobster ravioli. I was surprised to see a whole lobster tail on top of the ravioli and was so excited to eat it. But, it was overcooked and dry. Bad choice on my part. The husband had the rack of lamb, which again had a very nice presentation, however was nothing to write home about. We didn't even get dessert, because there was no point. I do have to give a nice shout out to their cocktails though. These were the favorite of the meal, strong and refreshing! I had the martini flight, of which the Wipe Out was my favorite. The husband had the Cucumber Collins and our friend had the Zaya Mojito. Overall, I would say the second to worst meal I had on my two week honeymoon in Hawaii. Come here for cocktails, but spend the rest of the night elsewhere.
(2)
Eric L.
Excellent food and service. I got the continental breakfast...fantastic fruit.
(5)
Todd C.
I don't know how anyone could give less than 5 stars. The service is impeccable (I especially like how the waiter describes what you about to eat as each dish is brought to the table). The ambiance is relaxed with mellow lighting. Best mai tai in Hawaii. And the food is excellent. Note this review is based on visit for dinner only. Valet parking produces seemless start and finish to your evening.
(5)
Jill M.
We stayed at the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort and had breakfast twice at Red Salt as well as their room service option. We were very pleased with all the meals. The macadamia waffles were divine! The Eggs Benedict was also very good, as were the Lemon Souffle pancakes. Service in the dining room was generally good, though sometimes a little slow, but hey, you're in paradise, so slow down and enjoy the view. For our final night, we were tired of eating big meals and ordered two of their dinner salads via room service. We weren't expecting much but both salads exceeded our expectations and my husband still talks about his. He had the salad with avocado, and I had the salad with ahi lollipops (I forget the actual names of the salads). We ate every bite and what's nice is that you are full without regretting eating the entire meal. We'd stay at the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort and eat at Red Salt again.
(4)
Katie A.
Eggs Benedict is a win here! Love the atmosphere, more up scale. Service is alittle slow, but we had a server named Marlina she was very attentive and alert when it came to providing us with the service we needed. We requested for her section the rest of the time we stayed at the resort. I would Highly recommend this place
(5)
Jenny T.
Cheryl: "this is just another glorified hotel restaurant" ..and she was right :/ I really wanted to like Red Salt. I really wanted to enjoy a fantastic seafood meal in a charming resort and yelp about how lovely it was.. but that's not the case here. My friend Cheryl ordered the seared Ono and said it was okay. Actually, she said "it's pretty good, I guess.." with a sour look on her face. Poor girl. This is our first time in Kauai and we were both looking forward to some outrageously delicious seafood. We have yet to find it. I ordered the Ahi and basically had the same reaction as Cheryl. "It's pretty good, I guess.." After two bites, I was ready for dessert. Luckily, the Quattro Gelato saved the day. Four cute little squares of gelato - chocolate, strawberry, mango & coconut - for only $9 and it was the best part of the meal.
(3)
Matthew P.
The food was delicious. A unique take on some standards. Our favorites were the waffles, bennies, and breakfast burrito. Great atmosphere, and very accommodating for our party of 6's special event.
(5)
Bill K.
As good as it gets. Amazing food and service. The breakfast is fantastic (i recommend the macadamia nut waffles.) We also had both their Thanksgiving dinner special menu and another dinner this week and couldn't have been more pleased. Great wine selections as well. If you are considering staying at the Koa Kea Resort, let this on-site restaurant tip the scales in that direction. Top shelf!
(5)
Samantha A.
We had a fantastic dinner at Red Salt! 5 star food and service! The blueberry acai martini is perfection! I recommend as a starter the roasted beet salad with goat cheese fondue followed by the pan seared ono with king crab hash in sake coconut broth. And for desert the house made gelato and root beer float with a warm chocolate macadamia nut cookie! My husband had the seared ahi which was also crazy good!
(5)
Anton E.
Pricey But Good Red Salt was my favorite restaurant in Kauai. I had breakfast there every morning (part of my lodging package), and loved the breakfast burrito. For dinner one night, I had the rack of lamb, which was moist, flavorful, and tender. There was also a mango gelatin next to the lamb which was super awesome. I loved it. Another night, I ordered a hamburger, which came with a ton of fixins' on the side. The burger was perfectly cooked, and I loved all the toppings I was able to put on it. Although the food is good, the menu is pricey. It may not be the best deal on the island, but I enjoyed my time eating at this restaurant. Service is fine, and ambiance is great (although one night I went when some gigantic group had a bachelorette party that was too loud and annoying). But the food really never disappointed me here, which is why you may want to consider this place.
Let me start by saying / reminding everyone that this review is about my particular experience at 'Red Salt'. I believe they are a much better restaurant than the two stars I'm giving them but as this was my first and only time there I can not score them based on expectation. My wife and I went here for dinner while on our honeymoon based on what we saw on yelp. The place is fairly nice but is located in a mid-range hotel (we were lucky enough to be staying at the Grand Hyatt for comparison). We both had the mushroom bisque soup which was excellent. Unfortunately neither of us completely loved our entrees as aspects of both dishes were both incredibly salty. I had the pork loin which was excellent but the mashed potatoes and vegetables it came with were inedibly salty. My wife had the shrimp linguini with mushrooms and it was tasty but mushrooms were again extremely salty. Nothing on the desert menu caught our eye as most of the yelp recommendations for appetizers and desserts no longer appear to be on the menu. I think I'd be willing to give this place another try but based on the fact that we are on vacation, i probably wouldn't waste another meal here. For the price...I expect better. Everyone is entitled to an off day, and hopefully that is was this was. So i don't want to give an unfair review but...we were disappointed.
(2)
Ren O.
Delicious food, excellent service. As already pointed out, there is something wrong with the design or setting of the dining room. Maybe too many tables? Anyway, we highly recommend the ahi (tuna) with edamame risotto and serrano ham. The poke with ahi (tuna) and walu ("white tuna") sashimi stands out as the best dish on the menu. On another dinner, we had the mahi with vanilla sauce (good but not outstanding) and the opah (really tasty). Mega-thanks to our waitress Nancy.
(4)
Sarah D.
Four stars for the excellent food and service. Unfortunately, no views! I need ambiance as much as quality food. The Green Flash martini with local Hawaiian Ocean vodka is outstanding. Bryan was our server and not only excellent with service, but also as a tour guide! He gave us great recommendations for our time heading over to the North Shore. If you want to request him, please do- but I request that you tip him well!
(4)
Barb V.
Dr. Linda Paul and I had dinner tonight at this wonderful restaurant "Red Salt". Our waiter was just superb, I wish I could remember his name but, he was just great and went beyond great service. We both had the Kauai greens salad and the filet of beef. I just want to tell you that you could have cut that beef with a butter knife, it was so tender I could not believe it, no fat, just pure heaven. It is the best steak I have ever had. It comes with four different sauces to dip the filet in. My GOD, it was too good. The bread was delicious, with red salt on the side. The waiter also surprised us with an drink, in between the courses, squash/coconut purred with a dash of oil on the top........fantastic. I asked where they got this wonderful beef and it is from Idaho. I can hardly wait to go back. Thank-you Red Salt, all the staff and especially the chefs.
(5)
Ty T.
I had dinner here my 2nd to last night, before leaving Poi'pu and checking out of the Grand Hyatt (about 1mi away) The Poke was impeccably plated; perfectly plump and symmetrical squares of both Sashimi grade Ahi and Hamachi all lain in a checkered pattern, on a bed of wakame, tobiko, and ginger soy cucumber. It was like a re-imagined, livelier and more delicious version of the Mica tiles in the kitchen of my Mid-century apartment. I had a refreshing bubbling flute of Mumms for a taste of home while in Paradise, it complimented the fish rather nicely. For my main, I enjoyed the 7 Spiced Seared Ahi. It was flaky and the Serrano Ham, brown butter and Edamame-cilantro Risotto with a slight hint of coconut just simply melted on my tongue. A minimal set-up, situated in the beautiful Koa Kea, with an attractive wait-staff, and highly refined/tasty menu.
(5)
Riza T.
Great dinner for one fancy night out. Worth it the price tag. It is a good experience. A change in the "island" experience. We stayed at the hotel in which the restaurant is located. We are pretty happy with the service and the quality of the breakfast food.
(4)
Brett C.
This place is well worth the money. The menu/food was awesome. Service was perfect. Don't waste your time at Dukes or The Beach House. If you are going to spend $20-40 a main dish, get some food that will give you a foodgasem. They had my car ready when we came out of the restaurant, I thought I was a celebrity except that I was driving a Malibu.
(5)
H H.
We had a breakfast and a dinner here as we were staying at the hotel.SO glad we did. It's a wonderful place with staff that really cares. The food was really excellent and delicious. The amuse bouche we had between courses was a shot glass of intensely flavored cold soup. It's upscale foodie but NOT fussy..very relaxing atmosphere. Organic and local is stressed and translates to such tasty food.You feel like you are luxuriating and winding down well after a day of activity on Kauai. Highly recommend this place. It's NOT typical hotel food, rather a restaurant you'd want to go to.
(5)
Jennifer O.
The BF and I had breakfast here the other day and it was superb! They start by bringing out delicious mini muffins with cinnamon butter....rich and flavorful. The BF got the macnut waffle, which was one of the best waffles he or I had ever tasted. The waffle was the perfect consistency paired with the delicious coconut syrup and thick whipped cream. I had the benny. It was such a good play on it. I usually don't like traditional bennys because I don't like ham, but this did not have ham, it had a potato and pancetta hash. Ohhhh soooo good. The hollandaise was wonderful...so light, with just a hint of lemony flavor. This is a must for breakfast.
(5)
Guy N.
More butter, bread, and hawaiian salt please. That's all I need. The location is tucked away from the beach but the view to the ocean is pretty much unobstructed. The pool and the loungers are the only thing between you and the beautiful Pacific. What was a little deceiving was the conversation we had with the lady on the phone saying that this was a good place to enjoy the sunset, which is not true because the hotel wing blocks the direct view to the sunset. You have to walk towards the beach a little bit in order to enjoy the sunset in all it's glory. What a sight but it definitely wasn't viewable from our table. We walked from the Sheraton to here via the sand strip. It was a nice little stroll. If you go at the right time, it's beautiful with minimal tourist obstable course. The beach is not that wide, especially at high tide so it can be tricky at times. At night, certain parts are pretty dark except for the occasional torch along the way. If the moon is out, it's perfect. As far as the food is concerned, nothing five-star, but it was tasty. I'm not sure if the chef has changed between 2010 and now but at that time, it was okay. Good concept but the concept seemed to stop at the bread bowl where the red salt lay. The diver scallop was the star of the show if we were to choose one. It was cooked perfectly and the sauce (beurre-blanc I believe) was very tasty. It's hard to go wrong with a diver scallop app and there was no exception here. The dinner was not too memorable I guess because I don't remember what I had. The bottle of wine and 3 maitais obviously attributed to the memory loss. I think I had the steak and wife had the rack of lamb??? I would remember if it were bad so I'm guessing it was good. This was a 2 years ago so forgive my procrastination on this review. I do remember the fries though and again the red salt was enough but the sauces served with it were okay as well. This is definitely a great place to have a nice dinner. I do not remember exactly but the wine list was pretty good and not too expensive. Everything is Poipu is pretty close to each other, tourist hotels speaking. We walked to Keoki's, Red Salt, etc. Enjoy and if Red Salt is in the books, you will have a great time.
(4)
Robert W.
I live and work on Kauai and have found that the Red Salt Restaurant provides great food, in a very lovely environment. Their prices are reasonable and the service has been great. I am usually hesitant to write reviews on restaurants, but Red Salt is consistently one of my favorite places to go out with family, friends, and business associates.
(5)
Valerie R.
Gorgeous! And the best breakfast I've had in the state of Hawaii so far. We found Red Salt from the Yelp reviews and walked along the beach from the Sheraton until we came to some rocks, then climbed up a small hill to the boardwalk fronting the Ko'a Kea. The lobby of the Ko'a Kea is a glamorous combination of black and white with shell detailing. Made me feel posh just walking in there - thank goodness I wasn't overly scruffy! Breakfast is open seating. There are a couple tables by the window so you can look out onto the grounds with the ocean in the distance. The first day we had the eggs Benedict - Hollandaise was lemony and perfect. The second day (yes, we came back!) I tried the souffle pancakes while my husband had the breakfast burrito. The pancakes were incredibly light and airy, but I think I liked the burrito more - there's just something fantastic about meat in the morning!!
(5)
Melissa D.
Based on great Yelp reviews, the boyfriend and I went to Red Salt for breakfast while vacationing. Parking is valet only, which is slightly annoying, but the valets were all very nice. The restaurant overlooks the pool/garden area of the Ko'a Kea Hotel and the beach- such a beautiful view to start the day! The food was amazing but the service was a bit slow. We ordered breakfast items a la carte, though I saw that there were other options (buffet, a hotel guest breakfast package). I ordered the veggie omelet sans onions (served with hashbrowns) and the boyfriend had the lemon souffle pancakes. The omelet was perfect, though I had to send it back because it had onions in it. I know accidents happen and the server handled it with grace, so that didn't perturb me. I had a lemon souffle pancake off of my boyfriend's plate and it was absolutely amazing - a must-have for those who have a thing for breakfast sweets! Red Salt was very impressive and should I return to Kauai, I will be back for a plate of my own pancakes!
(4)
Mrs. A.
This was the best service I have received on the Island. I think the waitresses name was Marlina, but all the staff was friendly. The restaurant is beautiful. The food is four star but the whole experience is five. We were there for breakfast and it was pretty good and pretty good portions as well.
Since we were staying at Koa Kea, we ate breakfast here almost every day. And it was awesome. MacNut waffle, lemon souffle pancakes.... and just the bread you receive upon sitting down is so freakin good! For dinner, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. From signature drinks and tasty appetizers (the vichyssoise is a must) to the INCREDIBLE main dishes (any sort of fish!) to sumptuous desserts...even their decaf coffee was good. I'm not exaggerating! Also, Bryan, who took care of our table that night, was impeccable. His "timing" (I don't know if there's an official term for it) is so good I had to write about it here: He knows what we need and exactly when without interrupting our long animated conversations. And my husband and I can talk all night, so this means our server was there during our nanosecond-pauses. Psychic! All in all, the experince was lovely. Our final bill was about $200 with tip, but it was so worth it. I am coming back.
(5)
Angela L.
Hubby and I wanted to eat somewhere fancy foo-fooey on the island. After much research, we decided on this restaurant. At first I wanted to go to Tidepools but noting that there are no more koi's, I passed. I made reservation for 8pm. We got to the restaurant 15 minutes early. The experience already started out crappy as it was valet parking only. The hotel was nice, very modern. I checked-in with the hostess and she informed me that my table is not ready yet even though I saw plenty of empty tables. So hubby & I sat in the lobby area & ordered Mai Tais - they were actually a pretty decent size & delicious. Finally at 10 after 8pm, the hostess said there was a table ready but that it "wasn't the best seat in the house". Now the restaurant website said it was oceanfront dining, I didn't see anything as it was dark. I guess you got a good view of the pool if you sat by the large windows. Food: 2/3 as it was overpriced and not very good. The menu changed so I can't remember exactly what I had but I remember the red sea salt & beet salad as they were the highlight of this expensive meal. I enjoyed sprinkling the red salt onto the bread. The beet salad was delicious - the beet was sweet & refreshing. As far as entree goes, it was disappointing. I can't even remember what I had. I remember having a pasta dish possibly with either scallops or shrimp. It was a creamy sauce and it was good but I've had better. Hubby ordered the Ono with king crab crab cake. He didn't like it much stating the fish was bland and the crab cake tasted mushy not flaky. Not worth the price. If you want to try the red salt, I suggest just ordering drinks from the bar and then ask for the bred & red salt as complimary appetizer.
(2)
Markus G.
My wife and I had chosen this place for a nice dinner, and it sure is lovely, but it's also really expensive. When the cheapest entree on the menu is $24, you know you're in trouble. After a couple of drinks, entrees and a salad, the bill was $110. However, the ambience is great, the service snappy, and the food is exceptional. Just be prepared to pay for it.
(4)
Samantha Y.
Go to the bar -- straight to the bar -- ask for Jim and order a martini. Pure happiness. The food was delicious, the bread and butter as good as everyone describes on Yelp. Can't really explain what I had (fish special of the evening). Loved this place.
(5)
Douglas F.
This place deserves 20 stars! I'm a chef and I was blown away! The best place to eat on any of the islands!!! This is a must! I will come back to the island just so we can eat here!!! I cant wait for breakfast next time- I heard it is awesome!!! Awesome valet service also!
(5)
M M.
Had a really great dinner here on our recent vacation. The Pan Seared Ono entree was amazing and Vanilla Bean Mahi Mahi also great. The Koa Kea Gold was a sinfully delicious cocktail, too good. Great service too, left happy! Had a burger from the Red Salt menu at the pool bar for lunch, it was delicious and yummy fries :)
(4)
Kelli H.
This place has great atmosphere, very ritzy! My ahi entree was perfect! My favorite fish of the trip. Unfortunately, David's pork was dry and over cooked. The bread they give you with the salt was very tasty. Drinks were a little pricey, and I think the food was over-priced. I mean, really? Almost $50 for a steak...I could understand $38, but $48 seemed way too high. Salads were good but a little under-dressed. Our server was very good. I would come back if I were back on the island.
(4)
Luis M.
Came here for breakfast. Food was good, and the view of the ocean is nice, but honestly it's a bit overpriced. $15 for a Bloody Mary is just a little bit over the top.
(3)
Larissa D.
Not as exciting as other reviewers said, and gluten free options are limited (potatoes are tossed in flour and they don't offer rice). Pretty formal, we had very slow service.
(2)
Jason M.
We enjoyed a pork special, a salad, the mushroom bisque, the blueberry martini, and gelato for dessert. Food, service, and drinks were all truly first rate! We are very glad we were able to make a stop here during our visit to Kauai.
(5)
Toni M.
The Ko'a Kea Hotel is the reincarnation of the Poi'pu Beach Hotel, which has been derelict since Hurricane Iniki in 1992. The Poi'pu Beach Hotel was a beloved institution. We'd never stayed there but have friends who have. They built the Ko'a Kea on the footprint of the Poi'pu Beach, partly because the ability to build so close to the ocean was grandfathered in since the foundation remained and partly because so many have a sentimental attachment to the place. Red Salt is the restaurant in the Ko'a Kea and it's been getting very good reviews so we wanted to check it out. It was difficult to find the place. Signage is still in process. There was a sign on Poi'pu Road indicating a right turn into the driveway shared by the Waiohai, Ko'a Kea and the Kiahuna Plantation. Once you got into the driveway your next move is unclear, but w/ perseverance and dumb luck, Alan found it. I was mightily impressed. The property is valet parking only, so once we confirmed that we were in the right spot we turned the car over and went in. The lobby and bar were empty. There were a few people in the restaurant and the number grew as the evening progressed. The architecture is simple, modern and beautiful. One wall of the restaurant consists of a bow of black framed floor to ceiling windows. It was a beautiful, graceful line. We sat at a two top against that wall, looking out. One waitress took care of the entire room and she was well trained, professional and gave excellent information about the menu and the wine list. She made recommendations and gave her personal opinions as another source of information. We listened as she spoke to other patrons and were very impressed by her presence. We both ordered iced tea. It's been unusually hot and humid this week and that's what we've been drinking for the most part. One of few complaints we had were w/ the size and shape of the glasses. They were small, graceful but small and the slice of lemon on the edge of the glass made them difficult to drink from. Form over function, style over substance. Removing the lemon helped, but larger glasses would be even better. The tea was good and was refilled. I almost forgot to mention the square of cloth under the glass to absorb the liquid. It was about 3 inches to a side and was an elegant touch I hadn't seen before. I ordered the salad of Kalaheo baby greens w/ Big Island hearts of palm, macadamia nuts and Hamakua tomatoes dressed in an avocado vinaigrette. Alan ordered the chilled corn soup w/ a goat cheese croquette. Before our appetizers arrived we were presented w/ an amuse bouche, seared ahi. I forget what adorned it, but it was perfectly prepared and tasty. We were also brought a basket of warm bread and some butter. A small dish of red salt was placed on the table, but the food was well seasoned and we didn't need it. The bread was multigrain and complex w/o being terribly dense. They bake it on the premises, although the dough is sent from Oahu. It was the best bread we've had since we've been here. Both the soup and salad were excellent. We traded our plates back and forth and Alan, who contends he dislikes goat cheese, finished it all except for the bites I had. It told him this must be his goat cheese trip. We pored over the menu. I decided on the grilled ono, served w/ Maui onion, king crab home fries, haricots verts and an olive chardonnay beurre blanc. Alan ordered a 14 oz Wagyu beef steak served w/ red salt fries and three dipping sauces, a truffle butter, a ginger-shoyu sauce and a Madagascar pepper reduction. The steak was huge. It looked much larger than 14 oz. It was tender and flavorful. The fries were good. My ono was a large portion. The onions and the other seasonings enhanced its natural flavor. The crab home fries were flavorful, but a little rich for me. The haricots verts were al dente and wonderful. We had no room for dessert, but w/ the bill came two shell shaped dark chocolates w/ creamy, not too sweet centers. The perfect end to such a meal. This was an excellent dining experience and we will return here the next time we're on Kauai. It hasn't been discovered yet but I have no doubt that w/ time and better signage it will be. The only recommendation I would make, aside from new iced tea glasses, is that the music have a more coherent theme. It was pretty random. I'm fond of slack key and other Hawaiian music and that would be my preference, but good jazz would also provide an elegant soundscape that a restaurant like this deserves.
(5)
Gabriel S.
Located inside the exceptional Koa Kea resort. In spite of being a "hotel" restaurant, which we usually shun, we tried it. The best, by far, on the island. We tried them all. Exquisite defines it. We kept coming back, especially after trying the other restaurants in the area. We also tried their sushi bar. Delightful. Paul, Chris, Nancy, Rebecca, oh dear, charming, refined, warm, educated, informative, attentive...sorry, got carried away. We tried a large variety of items on the menu, never a miss. Presentation, plating, freshness, balance, flavors, aromas, superb ambiance, all there at the very top, what else can be said. Looking forward to the next time.
(5)
Marty M.
Tried the Pan Seared Ono and Seared Ahi. The Ahi was OK, not as fresh as you would expect on the island. The Ono was fantastic, perfectly cooked and fresh - great atmosphere and friendly staff
(4)
Larry S.
On our recent trip to the Big Island and Kua'i we found that recommended restaurants are either local shacks or super fine dining. This is the latter. Expensive but very worth it. Excellent bar. I recommend the Mai Tai and the Martini flights. Comprehensive wine list. We had the Beet and Mixed Green salads, the Ahi tuna, the Wahoo and the Pork. All were excellent. Nice ambiance in Koa Kea beach resort with complimentary valet parking. Excellent staff. Dressy.
The restaurant is located in the Koa Kea resort, where we stayed for a week. We were there for both breakfast and dinner. Overall, we had a nice experience. Breakfast The breakfast offers a continental buffet and/or a selection of hot entrees. The buffet has a decent selection of cheese and cold meats. The breads are OK as well. There is oatmeal and a selection of fruit: pineapple, papaya, blood oranges and blueberries were a regular. Strawberries showed up twice and watermelon once. The downside is that in Hawaii i expected a slightly greater selection of fruits. The hot entrees we tried were a fantastic veggie omellette. It was extremely good with great local vegetables. No need to waste space with meats. Hawaii's veggies are exceptional. The macademia pancakes, waffle and lemon-pineapple souffle pancakes were also very good. The staff was very nice and helpful throughout our stay. Notable were Samdi and Marilda, who served us more than once and were great. Dinner A couple of dinners featured excellent salads and a fabulous mushroom soup. The pork tenderloin was just OK.
(4)
Philip S. L.
Went for dinner last night, started with a Mai Tai, wonderful. Then a small bread basket was delivered with unsalted butter again very good. Lobster ravioli was next,(3 of them) with a small part of the lobster tail, excellent. Very noisy acoustics, not helped by a table of loud children which the parents refused to control. Definitely worth a visit. Nice ambiance.
(4)
Raymond W.
Food didn't offer the value that was expected. While the portions of a fine dining restaurant are small, the lack of quantity is supposed to be made up with exceptional quality. That is not what was experienced here. Food was mediocre and service was slow, not worth the money.
(2)
Michael D.
Awesome food here!! We stayed at Koa Kea so we ate here several times and every meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) was absolutely delicious. What a treat! Must visit if you're in the Poipu area, it is worth the trip.
(5)
Sea P.
Perhaps the best restaurant in Hawaii when considering all the factors in a fine dining experience. Ambience and service stand out at this restaurant. The food is fantastic too. Of course there are other restaurants that have great cuisine in Hawaii, but this restaurant has it all. Highly recommended.
(5)
Chris T.
Bottom line: breakfast is where it's at. We had the continental breakfast, eggs benedict, omelet, eggs/meat, and the steak and eggs. Everything was absolutely great except for the steak/eggs. The filet was small, tasteless, and overcooked. Even IHOP steak doesn't need A1 and this one did. The coffee is BOMB as are the "muffin scraps" that come with breakfast. You seat yourself when you arrive and smiling faces come promptly to help you out. Dinner was typical for $$$ restaurants in the Hawaii area. Tasted great, looked great, but nothing memorable. The pool bar is connected to this restaurant and had many good options. I liked the Mahi sandwich and salads. The drinks are KILLER.
(4)
Aimee P.
Red Salt was a surprising find along the shores of Poipu. The restaurant is located in the newly constructed, incredibly modern Koa Kea, a small but gorgeously modern hotel tucked just behind the Marriott. This was my only meal in Kauai that I'd consider 'fine dining' - not that that's what I was seeking when I set out for the islands - but it was a pleasant detour nonetheless. They use red salt in many of their dishes - and it inspires the restaurant's chic, contemporary decor, as well. It has a milder flavor than regular sea salt, which has a more crisp, clean profile. There was red salt along the rim of my mango daiquiri (forgive me for the girly drink, please, but c'mon - it's Hawaii! Plus, their beer selection was lacking...or nonexistant). Red salt is also served alongside the unsalted butter, which was served at room temperature with nice, fresh bread for easy spreading. The cocktails were wonderful, the service was the best I had in Kauai, and the food was fantastic. I had the poke appetizer, which was beautifully presented in a checkerboard of poke and hamachi atop a bed of cucumber strips with a seaweed salad hidden between the two layers. I also had the beet salad: fresh and simple, with gorgeous red and yellow beets and a goat cheese fondue dressing. My friends had the pork tenderloin, seared ahi, and the Wagyu New York strip, which was perfectly cooked and accompanied by a pile of perfectly crispy, red salted fries and four dipping sauces. This is recommended if you're in the mood for a nice, classy meal along the shores of Poipu.
(5)
Nathan J.
This restaurant was highly recommended but in my opinion, not the best option on the island and definitely over priced for what you get. The Mai Tai was definitely the strongest I had in two weeks on the islands, one will get you tipsy, two can get you wasted. The pork belly was a delicious starter. Everything else... Just ok. I would reccomend Josselin's or Merriman's over Red Salt. I did hear they have a great breakfast, didn't get a chance to try that however.
(2)
Brian S.
I'd heard that Red Salt was one of the best restaurants on Kauai and after eating here I have no reason to doubt that assertion. The staff was gracious and attentive and the food was delicious. Highlights for me were the green salad (I was actually disappointed that I didn't get to have another since we missed the last seating on our final night since we'd gone to see the sunset at the St. Regis), the grilled ono, and especially the bread with butter and a little red salt. So basically the entire meal. If you don't wish to sit in the dining area you can grab a seat or a small table in the lounge area and order off the restaurant menu as well as the lounge menu. We did this on a separate night and the bartender--Jim M--took care of us. A very nice guy and very good service. I've seen a couple complaints about the price of a meal here, but if you compare it to, say, a meal at the St. Regis or Hyatt, and consider the quality and inventiveness of the food at Red Salt, it kind of seems like a steal.
(5)
Ben K.
Great fish and seafood and a nice atmosphere. Wait staff was perfect and had an overall good experience. Nothing that outrageous about the menu but its done well. Should consider adding the sashimi from the sushi chef in the bar.
(4)
Summer S.
We had breakfast there. We arrived late, probably 5 minutes before the actual breakfast time ended. The restaurant was empty. The service was very good. Hubby had the Egg Benedict and I had the Oatmeal. The Egg Benedict was average. The Oatmeal didn't come with pecans, but strawberries instead, which were not ripe. The ambiance was nice.
(3)
A S.
Our family had breakfast here earlier this week and would most certainly recommend this to others. Great food - great service - and great atmosphere. The dining room was made up mostly of couples, so it's not a place I would suggest bringing screaming children. The beach in front of the property is beautiful and definitely something that should be seen prior to leaving the grounds.
(4)
Brooke H.
Unless you wipe your butt with $100 bills, don't eat here. It's way overpriced for what you get! We were told this place was a nice, casual, laid back restaurant but I guess that depends on how you define "casual and laid" back because in my opinion it was far from that. It was upscale and stuffy. I was wearing a sundress and my husband was wearing khaki shorts, neither one of us is sloppy or lazy about our appearance but it seemed as though we were snubbed due to our attire. We were asked by the hostess if we were guests of the hotel but we weren't. Not sure if it was our "casual" attire at a so-called, "casual" restaurant or if it was because we were not hotel guests but, we were asked to sit outside of the restaurant and we were seated in the lobby furniture for dinner!!!! I was a little taken back but went with the flow. The waitress was nice and gave us her sales pitch and recommendation for the most expensive things in the menu. I ordered an appetizer since paying $40-60 for an entre that did not include any sides is outrageous. I ordered the Kailua pork spring roll appetizer expecting it to be an appetizer for us but it was a 3" spring roll cut into 2 pieces served on a saucer for $15. Don't get me wrong it was tasty but ridiculously expensive for what you got. My husband's chicken was pretty good but nothing I'd keep going back for. Overall, it was good, knowledgable and friendly waitress, clean and modern atmosphere but I left here pissed off and hungry. I went to Keoki's across the street and got twice the amount of good food for 1/3 of the price and I was not asked to sit outside in the lobby!
(3)
David E.
*****Refined, needs to close the gap to perfection***** Red Salt was one of the best meals we had on the island, but let's start at the bar. I ordered the Mai Tai after our server professed it to be the BEST. My wife ordered a Dirty South martini (vodka, juice from cocktail onions and pepporincini) which was not on their menu, but they did their best to accommodate. My Mai Tai was probably the worst, but with the addition of a little pineapple juice, it was fine. Dinner was great! I had the 7 spice Ahi and my wife had the seared Ono. Both had wonderful flavors. The dishes are well conceived and mostly well executed. I say mostly because my risotto should have been cooked a bit longer. It was not aldente, but it didn't have time to release all of its starches to give it that "creamy" feel. I'm nitpicking here. Great food, great service. We'll be back.
(4)
Roy A.
We came here for brunch and was not disappointed. My wife got the eggs Benedict and I got the buttermilk pancakes. Both were top notch, especially since we were looking to take a break from the local fare. The view to the ocean is nice and the staff was very friendly.
(4)
Gwyneth C.
THEIR MAI TAIS ARE AWESOME!! ORDER IT! I went there on a Saturday night and every Friday and Saturday nights are Sushi Nights. i went there with a couple friends and they picked up the tab so im not quite sure on the final bill but i would assume it was pretty pricey. They also ordered for us as well so i don't know what the name of the rolls we got were (and they don't have a sushi menu on their website) so i wouldn't be able to give you specific reviews on each roll, but they were all amazing. one dish i LOVED was a hamachi sashimi with mushrooms drizzled with truffle oil dish. it was soooo goood we got multiple orders of that. we also got a steak dish that came with red salt fries. it was also delicious. i would definitely go back and see what their dinner menu is like. UPDATE: Lobster Ravioli & Waguy entree are delicious and recommended
(5)
Allison L.
This place was so good for breakfast, we came back for dinner in our mere 3 days on the island... Ono- crispy, light, meaty. Potato/crab hash was delish! Ahi- seared perfectly.. Served with cilantro/edamame risotto and a coconut cloud - it even sounds dreamy, doesn't it? We had been torn between what we got and something that came with black forbidden rice in coconut milk---- we weren't as interested in the actual entree, but the side sounded amazing, so the waiter brought us a little dish of it to try :-) The only thing that could have been better was the green salad with hearts of palm. It could have had more palm.... all in all, a wonderful place. Hard to find, but once you do, you just might go back like we did :)
(5)
Jennifer F.
Wonderful dinner! We started with a nice bottle of wine, with fresh bread! They bring red salt with the bread, too salty, could hardly handle the tiniest amount. We both started with salads, as usual I had plate envy...husband always orders what I want:) Beet salad was delicious, the garden salad a little bland. Then onto entree's: I opted for just a bowl of the mushroom soup! Incredible! My husband had the Ono, once again plate envy, thank goodness he shares. No dessert, just coffee. The service was very good, Alex was our waiter, the Maitre D was also very nice came around to refill wine, water. Nice touch. Not the most romantic view on the island, but nice view of the pool with the ocean in the distance. We would definitely come back. Really want to try the breakfast!!
(4)
don M.
We arrived on time for our 7.00 pm reservation which I had made by telephone two nights before. They did not have our reservation, even though the maitre d' was the same person who took my reservation. I couldn't make a reservation through YELP or Open Table--my preferred way of making reservations. Nevertheless, we were seated without a wait--it makes me wonder what would have happened if they had been busy. We ordered a bottle of chardonnay which arrived at the table with an ice bucket--but as was our experience at Merriman's two nights earlier the bottle had not been previously chilled. What is it with these high-priced restaurants? The restaurant ambience and decor was outstanding. The food was excellent, as one would expect for the prices charged. I had the Ono and my wife had the Mahi Mahi. Service was impeccable, although we did get tired of being asked about every five minutes "how are things so far"?
(4)
Rob B.
Red Salt is beautiful and stylish too! It's kind of W 'esque, and the greeting from valet to host could not have been more pleasant! But something is just not quite right. When we confirmed our reservation, they could not find it, and were told they had no openings till 8:45. But no worries they would squeeze us in! Whew! Our starters shrimp with 3 sauces were nice and the checker board Pok'e beautiful! But what caught my attention from the time we arrived till we left, was all the empty tables? Dinner was less successful, Jeff's bleu cheese mash potatoes on his pork filet were so salty that they had to be ejected into his napkin. This cleared the giggle we had to contain from the overly suggestive presentation. Shall we just say, a very manly presentation! My Ono was just that, delicious perfectly cooked, though the "hash" below it ate the sake coconut broth before I could. The crowd was as beautiful as the setting though the frugal vegan honeymooners next to us found pancetta at the bottom of the shared fettuccini with local vegetables. Red Salt is trying hard but it seems they are in need of a strong F&B manager to get them to the next level. Unfortunately, I am afraid they think they are already there.
(3)
Morgan S.
Loved everything about Red Salt. We ate at the bar, which we love to do, and were so happy we did. Their bartender Jim is amazingly nice and knowledgeable. We loved talking to him. We ate tapas style, just selecting our way through the appetizers. We had the potatoes three ways, as well as the crab cakes three ways. Both DELICIOUS! We also got the pork belly app and the pork gyotas. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong. Even the bread and butter (with red salt) was yummy. Definitely try Red Salt if you're in the area. Best place we had dinner in Kauai!
(5)
LeAnna C.
BEST breakfast on the entire island of Kauai! If you like eggs benedict you will go crazy for their version. One of the best I've had. The soufle pancakes were to die for as well! It's a very modern and beautiful place. The decor is stunning! We didn't make it to dinner there unfortunately but came back a few times for breakfast. LOVE LOVE LOVE Red Salt for breakfast.
(5)
Allison K.
Food here is stellar. Service is friendly and warm. Surroundings are lovely. Not to be missed.
(5)
Philip H.
My wife had breakfast and dinner here during our 3 night stay at the resort. Our stay was at the tail end of our 2 week honeymoon, so we had several meals from the Big Island and Kauai to compare to. Red Salt was one of the priciest restaurants we ate at for dinner, similar in price to Beach House and Merriman's. I would rank Merriman's #1, Red Salt #2, and Beach House #3. For dinner we had the beet salad, the mixed greens, and the mushroom bisque. Both salads were well prepared but they went a little happy on the red salt. The mushroom bisque presented well, but I found it a bit bland taste-wise. Also, it only had 1/2 of a Hamakua mushroom. The rest was puree. We contemplated ordering the $48 Wagyu Prime New York Steak but decided against it due to doubts that it would be worth $48. See next paragraph. On a side note, I've only had two pieces of good New York Steak, one at Angelica's in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the second that came from a local butcher shop in Wellesley, MA. I tried the $42 New York steak at the Oak Room at the Boston Fairmont Copley, but even at medium rare it was really tough and dry. Anyway, back to Red Salt. We enjoyed breakfast. We shared a Continental breakfast and the Eggs Benedict. We confirmed the Eggs Benedict to be as good as everyone on Yelp and the hotel employees claimed it to be. Continental breakfast had a lot of fresh fruit and cured meat and cheeses. It was a good deal for $12. One warning, which is why Red Salt gets 3 stars rather than 4 stars, is that they sanitize the tables after they clear them with this spray bottle of some kind of chemical. While I appreciate their meticulous care of killing the germs on each table for guests, the proximity of the tables causes ventilation issues, and I found myself getting a whiff of Windex's cousin in between my croissant and oatmeal and during dinner between mushroom bisque and beet salad. I think I lost a few brain cells at the Red Salt.
Awesome meal! Diver Sea Scallops, Pork tenderloin (so tender you don't need a knife), Mushroom bisque....I will miss Kauai. Also great host and server! Valet service was also stellar.
(5)
Missy V.
Pregnant women and those with seafood allergies beware!!! We wanted to eat someplace special for my hubby's birthday so after reading all the great reviews we decide on Red Salt. Things started off well, but my mahi came to me undercooked. I had told the server I was pregnant prior to ordering, and when I told her my fish was not cooked all the way she said that it was the way it came and that the chef was aware that I was pregnant. For me this is unacceptable, so I traded my dish with my husbands, but I think the way the server handled the situation was not right. She should have taken the fish back, no comment and should have warned me prior to ordering that this is how they prepared the dish. Later that night my poor husband got sick- was it from the undercooked mahi- we won't know. But I suspect it was and I am so sad that this had to happen to him on his birthday. Additionally, I think this place is also WAY over-priced for the amount and quality of the food. IMO you're better off trying Joseline's or one of the other top-rated restaurants. If a server disregards a persons health condition and doesn't assist with navigating the menu then she or he is not doing there job very well. I don't care how much they recommend a dish- if the person who orders it cannot eat it for health reasons then it's not in the best interest of the customer. I am disappointed in this restaurant and would NEVER recommend it to anyone.
(2)
Jolyn H.
Some of the best food we had on the island. The pork luau appetizer is incredible and the mahi and ahi entrees were delicious. We even loved the bread and butter! The mixed green salad was just OK. It's pricey, but that's pretty much par for the course on Kauai. The waitress was sweet and attentive. We were so sad we didn't save room for dessert, but two housemade chocolates came with the bill and they were unbelievable. Be sure to get the blended mango margarita with li hing mui rim! Best margarita on Kauai!
(4)
Tim V.
Poke was great. 7 spice seared Ahi was best on island. Went back for breakfast after reading reviews and wasn't disappointed - great Macadamia but waffle and Benedict was outstanding.
(4)
Bryan W.
The best restaurant we found in Kauai during our 8 day trip!! We recently stayed at Ko'a Kea and the breakfast and dinners were amazing. The ambiance is very modern / cool and service was always excellent. Breakfast: I travel a lot for work and the breakfast buffet and hot entrees were a level above most nice hotels. The macadamia nut waffle was great, the omelletes were perfect, the smoked applewood bacon was excellent and the service great. Dinner: Amazing! Diver scallop appetizer was awesome. The ahi poke appetizer while small was delicious / fresh. The ahi entree with edamame risotto was amazing. The mahi mahi was excellent. The chocolate torte dessert was great too. Good wine list, excellent service and the prices were better or a better value than lesser restaurants on the island. Red Salt was so much better than the Beach House or Roy's. If you are staying in Poipu go to Red Salt. You won't be dissapointed ~ BW and KL
(5)
Scott G.
As experienced diners we were eagerly anticipating our meal at this frequently raved-about restaurant. Unfortunately we found it disappointing and overrated. Whenever we eat at a restaurant new to us we always ask for the house recommendations. In this case that was the vanilla bean Mahi and the 7-Spiced Ahi. Both were dissatisfying - bland and completely unremarkable. The risotto that accompanied the Ahi tasted as if it came from a box and the bok choy was limp and overcooked. Why this restaurant gets such rave reviews is a mystery to us. There are so many other superior places to dine in Kauai that, comparatively, I've only given Red Salt two stars and feel that that's generous. Service was acceptable but not special (although the waitress really didn't seem to react much when we replied "Just okay" to her query about the dinner)and the decor was interesting. Living proof that not every dining experience can be a hit. We won't be going back.
(2)
Joshua S.
This is the one place in Kauai you should eat breakfast or dinner. I've done all the typical "tourist spots" including (but not limited to)... The BeachHouse Gaylords 22 North Some swanky place I don't remember in Princeville RED SALT beats them all -- hands down. Awesome food. Modern decor. Oceanfront. I suggest you order a Mai Thai and get their Ahi Tuna.
(5)
Greg and Ann P.
Glamorous restaurant with delicious food and polished--yet friendly--service. We each had the poke--artful presentation--the beet salad, a Caesar for hubby, and split the shrimp carbonara (perfect for two!). Beautiful island modern decor. Highly recommended!
(5)
John B C.
No other restaurant on the island that we tried matched our experience here. Our server was outstanding and while clearly very busy he was attentive, professional and knowledgable. But it was the delicious, sophisticated food that made Red Salt so memorable. All 3 courses held surprises and reflected creativity and originality not otherwise found on the island. The room is nice with a Japanese/mid century modern thing going. Terrific experience on par with what we would expect to find in our favorite spots back home in L.A.
(5)
pete k.
My wife and I stayed at the amazing Ko'a Kea where Red Salt is housed. We gorged ourselves on the breakfast here daily (pineapple pancake souffle, holy!), but Red Salt is really about dinner. Top notch food - amazingly fresh fish and stunningly artistic presentations. We also ate at Merrimans and Roys, and felt very underwhelmed at both, especially given their reputations. Red Salt did not underwhelm - it wowed. It was very busy on the nights we went - and you can see why. And yes, they have a nice touch of using said Red Salt, which comes from the northern side of the island. Service was top, top notch - well prepared to answer any question you had - including "how do you pronounce this one?". While busy, the dining area is not huge - so noise not bad and service can easily keep up.
(5)
Daphne J.
Stiff drinks (one drink goes a long way), delicious entrees, great service, soothing atmosphere. I have been eating vegan, so I ordered the tofu entree. It was simple, delicious, and filling. I appreciate it so much when tofu is given the same amount of flavor respect as meat is. I was skeptical when I got here, but I left satisfied (and a little tipsy) ;)
(4)
Nuntiya K.
Fantastic restaurant located in the Koa Kea resort on Poipu Beach and probably the best seafood meal my husband and I had while on Kauai. Red Salt is definitely upscale, both in terms of quality and ambiance. The dining area looks sophisticated and modern, consistent with the rest of the resort. Another yelper mentioned that the restaurant felt a little too close to the lobby and I agree, but really, it was the only fault I could find. Service was impeccable and more importantly, the food was delicious and a cut above. I had the seared ahi wrapped in serrano ham with cilantro edamame risotto. My husband had the grilled ono with king crab home fries. Both dishes were creative and well executed. Excellent wine selection, as well. Best to stay at the Koa Kea, so that you can roll out of the restaurant and straight into bed.
(5)
Hòa P.
We were staying at the Waiohai and after exhausting the various other restaurants on the island we found Red Salt in the trendy Koa Kea resort right next door to us. First let me say that I totally dig the design at the Koa Kea. It's modern and stylish, but still has a nice island feel to it. The Red Salt restaurant is located just past the main lobby/lounge and has a nice view of the garden/pool/courtyard area. As for the food, it was really good compared to the other "fancy" restaurants that we tried. We started off with the poke and the kalua pork. Both were delicious and nicely plated. For our mains we had the rack of lamb, the grilled ono (wahoo) and the pork chop. The rack of lamb was perfectly cooked with a nice demi-glace...yum! The ono was perfectly cooked as well. Let me just say that most of the other restaurants that we tried sadly overcooked our fish entrees so it was nice to see someone get it right. As for the pork chop, it was great and we knocked it out in a heartbeat. For desert we got the ginger creme brulee which was awesome and also the yummy chocolate torte. I live in LA where there's no shortage of upscale/trendy restaurants and Red Salt is on par with what I've come to enjoy and expect from these types of places. Yes the portions aren't huge and the prices are a little higher, but the food was spot on and that's more than I can say for the other places where my pricey dinner was a total waste of money.
(4)
Amit P.
Red Salt is a very chic restaurant in one of the best hotels in Kauai. We went here for dinner. We had the Opah and Mahi entree's both of which were $33. The entree's were good but not worth the price. The cocktails were even more pricey. We got the Mango margaritas which were $13 each! These were also nothing special. I would give this a miss and go to Josselin's down the road which is as upscale and has incredible food.
(2)
Dan D.
Had 4 people here for breakfast. I had steak and eggs and my medium rare came out decidedly medium. Location is nice but a bit sterile. Food value was good and service was very good. Could do worse!
(3)
No B.
Red Salt is in a very attractive room and has a very nice, solicitous staff. Our party enjoyed the lamb and pork meat entrees, but not the accompanying side items, which were creative yet lacking in flavor. The fresh island fish entree and three salads were unremarkable too. The defining quality of most of what was served was blandness and much less than the menu prose would lead one to anticipate. The chef seems to have an aversion to flavorful dishes. Everything was quite bland, except the sauce with the flash seared ahi appetizer, which was very assertive. Our $100 Chardonnay was quite good and should have been. Also the brown and white breads were quite good, especially with butter and the optional red salt added. They were brought out "free" and by far better than most of the menu items we ordered. One does not mind paying a lot in an upscale venue, but the food should be at least average, hopefully better. Considering the rather expensive menu prices and being located in an upscale bear resort hotel, it was a quite disappointing, boring meal. I wish it were not so because I'd love to return to the physical location. Good points: Quiet dining room with very good, caring service. Quite attractive bar (with TV behind) and sumptuously furnished lounge. Valet parking is free, except for tip.
(2)
D G.
The chef here knows what he's doing! From the bread basket, to the mushroom soup, to the seafood, I thought they did above & beyond a good job. There weren't many dessert choices, and none that tempted me, but they were willing to bring out some fresh fruit from the back.
(4)
Chris L.
This place is a gem on Kauai! We stayed at Koa Kea and had a package that included breakfast every morning and a 3-course dinner for one night of our stay. BREAKFAST: The breakfast menu, while not extensive, is pretty good. They have an eggs benedict, two eggs served any way, three egg omelet, souffle pancakes, and waffles. The eggs benedict is very good, eggs cooked perfectly. The other eggs dishes are also good served with potatoes and ketchup/sriracha. The souffle pancakes are huuuuuuge and pretty tasty. Didn't have the waffles, so I can't offer a take on those. DINNER: Dinner at Red Salt was a very pleasant surprise. We made our reservation for the last night of our stay because we wanted to spend some quality time at our resort before we went on our way back to reality. I have to say, it was by far the best meal that we had on the island. - We were offered an amuse-bouche which was a croquette made out of breadfruit. It was nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. A good way to start our meal. - One of our appetizers was a bronzed diver scallop with lilikoi buerre blanc, and sweet potato chips on top. The scallop was cooked very well and the buerre blanc and chips were a very nice touch for flavor and texture. - Another appetizer was a Kalua pork "Luau" which was pared with taro gnocchi. I've never had taro gnocchi before, and I have to say it was pretty damn good. - Mushroom bisque was very flavorful without being too salty, with a nice little croquette in the middle. - We had a salad that escapes me right now. It wasn't that great, which is why I can't remember what it was. Probably the only disappointment of the meal. - One main course was the rack of lamb with mango chutney, cauliflower couscous, and a mango gelee topped with Hawaiian red salt. The lamb was prepared very well and the flavor of the mango chutney went well with the flavors of the meat. The cauliflower couscous was made with Israeli couscous mixed with cauliflower. Delicious! The mango gelee and the red salt were paired excellently together as well. - The other main course was the 7 spiced seared ahi. This was wrapped in Serrano ham with an edamame/cilantro risotto, brown butter sauce, and a coconut foam. The ahi was seared perfectly and the ham on the outside was a nice touch. The risotto was creamy and tasty and the coconut foam added a nice subtle sweetness to the dish. Overall, Red Salt was a pleasant surprise during our stay. If we had known how good the dinner was earlier, we probably would have had another meal there. Kudos to the chef for a standout meal!
(5)
Sophie M.
I had the breakfast buffet and my husband had the macadamia nut waffle. Everything was great. His waffle was delicious and I loved the continental buffet. There were nuts and fruit to put in my oatmeal. The mango and papaya were perfect and there were cheeses and juices. It really hit the spot.
(5)
Paul G.
Dined here earlier this week and had a great meal. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful - very unique for Kauai. Nice view overlooking the pool and ocean. Not a huge menu but good variety. I had the mahi mahi and it was cooked perfectly. Before that I had a mushroom bisque and that was a good starter. The only downside was the service. Really, it was just our server - everyone else was very helpful. He seemed to have too much going on and wasn't the most personable. Also, somewhat odd that he took orders from the men before the one lady in our party - don't see that much! Overall, enjoyed the meal and will return when back in Kauai.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Daniel S.
Love this place. It's really classy, but totally a beach place too. I walked in and asked if I was ok wearing shorts, and the guy up front said totally, you'll probably be more comfortable! I got a super tasty and rich burger (ridiculously rich and ridiculously good)- and my wife really enjoyed her tofu dish. I'd go back here for sure!
(5)Dan S.
We stopped in for sushi. First we were sat in the main dinning room. When we asked about the sushi menu, and told that it's only served in the lounge (all of 15 feet away), we decided to move. Silly, but whatever. Jaime was a great server, and kept refilling the edamame tray for us. Given the prices on the menu, thinking the sashimi sampler would be a good meal for 2 people. Given that we're from the Bay Area, we know good food and high prices. The 3 tiny piles of sashimi for $35 was even too much for me to handle. If you're looking for sushi on the south shore, skip here, skip Dolphin and get take out from Makai in the grocery store. In summary, good service, poor value for your dollar even by Hawaii standards.
(3)Michael K.
My wife and I walked next door to our resort to have something different for breakfast and we found it at Red Salt. After being seated along the large windows overlooking the pool area, our server Jessica appeared and warmly welcomed us and took our drink order. The two page menu offered quite a selection of options for breakfast beyond their buffet. My wife picked the Eggs Benedict while I opted for the lemon pineapple soufflé pancakes. We were warned about the pancakes taking 20 minutes to prepare but we pressed on not having any place to be for a while. The dining room is large and spacious with big windows letting in a bunch of light. Before 8am on a Sunday morning, we almost had the place to ourselves with only being two other couples there. My wife had to wonder into the lobby to find a morning paper to help pass the time as none were available in the restaurant while the pancakes were rising in the oven. Right on schedule everything appeared. Both dishes were well presented and looked yummy. The Eggs Benedict has a bit of lemon juice added to take the bite off of the somewhat spicy pancetta leaving just enough heat to make it interesting. My pancakes were very light and fluffy and offered with a coconut style syrup along with a more traditional one. I found the former a little too much when added to this already sweet dish and went old school. We loved our breakfast and enjoyed the change of pace from our home resort.
(3)Lisa A.
Awesome breakfast! I had the 2 egg breakfast which was a lot of food and very filling. My husband had the lobster Benedict. Omg! So good and had a lot of lobster! Very nice
(5)Brendon C.
I absolutely love this place! The service is impeccable. the food is exquisite. The atmosphere is refined yet not too snobby. We made reservations here on a random Monday evening at 7 o'clock. the restaurant is small. we were greeted with a great deal of courtesy immediately by the valet and then the maitre d. we were seated in less than a minute by the window. The martinis with gluten free ocean vodka will set you back about $20 however they are well worth it. they are about 50 percent bigger than the average martini. I opted for the 50 dollar hamburger which came with football ah a lobster claw and grass fed Wagyu beef. it also had gold leaf truffle butter for the French fries. If you don't mind dropping a hundred to a hundred fifty dollars a person I highly recommend coming here.
(5)Amber B.
The service was wonderful. You'll get complimentary muffins with a cinnamon butter to go with them. I ordered the Pineapple Soufflé and they told me it would take 20 mins to order. Well, after reading all the reviews I was not impressed. The coconut syrup was amazing, and made eating the dish so much better. I guess you have to know that the soufflé will be moist and like an undercooked pancake, and that is partly my fault for having different expectations. My hubby got an omelet and he loved it. I tasted it and agree it was yummy! The server was very sweet and took very good care of us. She also sent us with some freshly baked muffins to go. So she gets 5's herself.
(4)David C.
Disappointing. Undersized, over cooked shrimp appetizer, baby romaine salad was only average quality and the blue cheese was bland, and I didn't even think that was possible. Steer clear of the Paella: small, flavorless shrimp, ridiculously tiny bits of Chorizo, etc., etc. Mushroom bisque was very good, but, on the whole, three stars is a generous rating for this restaurant. Premium prices for pretty much average food. Oh yea, the generous portion of fries that came with the tenderloin were warm, not hot. That is inexcusable at these price points. Service is fine, very pleasant staff. Not their fault the chef can't deliver on the concept.
(3)Michael B.
Great eats, great service. Went for dinner as a first meal in Kauai. Waitress, Shannon, was very personable, but completely progressional at the same time. Told her we were on our honeymoon and she brought us out coconut-flavored cotton candy at the end of the meal. Overall, was pricey, but amazing experience from host to dessert.
(4)Choo C.
Cute restaurant inside of the lobby of Koa Kea. The food and the drinks were pretty good and so was the service. We tried a few appetizers, the beet/melon salad, the seafood paella and some fish dish. They were all great. The drinks were awesome specially the one called Shiso hot. Our waiters, Chris and Nic, were great even though Nic got "for sure" stuck in our heads since every response from him included "for sure." Had breakfast here daily since it was included with the room. The eggs benedict was good, the omelette was all right, the breakfast burrito was missing a few things including flavor, the coffee was weak and tasteless, the fruits at the continental buffet were delicious. What's awesome is that they prepare breakfast to go if you have plans and don't want to sit down at the restaurant to eat.
(4)Charlie V.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS Light modern meets dark wood, the restaurant is located inside the Koa Kea hotel lobby. At 9 o'clock, we had a 20 minute wait to be seated. As we walked onto the premises, a few staff members bid us good morning + we stopped to chat a little. Definitely a true Hawaiian welcome. Once seated, our server brought us some fresh blueberry muffins with cinnamon butter, but then immediately asked us what we'd like to order. Felt a little hurried or pushy for an establishment like this. THE EATS We chose to split the Three Egg Omelette with spinach, mushroom, + cheddar. The kitchen actually plated the dish in two portions for us. Each plate came with a side of their home fries + two ramekins with Sriracha + ketchup (two of our favorite condiments). We also received two slices of multigrain wheat toast, soft butter, + strawberry preserves. Overall a delicious plate of food, shared, makes for the perfectly sized breakfast portion. THE VERDICT GO check this place out for the decor, the food, + the wonderful ambiance. Service was mostly pleasant, though I believe our experience was the exception, as the other servers all seemed more genuinely friendly. But all in all, a fantastic first breakfast on my island vacation.
(4)Sean B.
The pineapple soufflé pancakes were amazing! We tried to go twice but couldn't make it since they close breakfast at 11:00.
(4)Sara M.
The food here was amazing ! The bread with unsalted butter and red salt added a new something to bread. Huge portions! We had a party of five, ordered appitizers, salad or soup. The prawns were delicious! The salad and soup were large portions! I ate the chicken with spaetzel. It was so tasty! A nice balance of everything! My hubby had the steak and fries, he loved it but had so much fries left over. The soy-ginger dipping sauce was the perfect flavorful sauce that I want to pack up and take home with me. Amazing service! Desserts were perfect but the hidden dessert of cotton candy took us back to our childhood!! Love this place! Hope to make it here again this week!
(5)Michelle M.
We had a delicious meal here tonight. First the bread which is fresh daily from a local bakery is so good! Served with butter and red salt. Next compliments of the chef were shots of watermelon gazpacho chilled with basil salt on the rim. Unique and very refreshing. Onion saffron soup with sweet corn was warm and comforting. Mixed greens salad with hearts of palm and avocado vinaigrette was good. My daughter ordered the chicken with apples and the chicken was cooked to perfection. I ordered the shrimp fettuccine that had local fresh mushrooms and diced pancetta in it. It was rich and full of flavor. No room for dessert after this tasty meal. The staff was friendly including our waitress Shannon who gave us impeccable service. The grounds are beautiful and the surf was high so we could see the waves from our table.
(5)Jaque M.
Bar none this is the best breakfast in all Kauai. I had the signature Lemon pineapple Pancakes. They are unbelievable and melt in your mouth. The rest of my family had the banana macadamia nut waffle. It's a treat as well. Coffee is excellent and they start you off with some great little muffins. This place was the highlight of my dining experience in Kauai this vacation.
(5)Amy M.
Great quality food and service with comparable prices to hotel restaurants in the area. We've tried breakfast and dinner here so far and we are pretty satisfied. The ahi poke for dinner was delicious. We loved the sugar candy for dessert too, brought back childhood memories.
(4)Sean Y.
We came here because they have great reviews but I have to say it's nothing special. It's higher priced and doesn't seem to be out of the ordinary for a high priced restaurant. I had the lobster Benedict it was pretty good but again what you expect at a high priced restaurant. I wish they were a little more inventive with there menu or had more local type items.
(3)Sara G.
My fiancé and I went to Red Salt during our visit to the island to run the Kauai Marathon. We loved our first dinner there so much that we went back a few days later. Red Salt is a truly gourmet restaurant. The portions are small, but the food is of superb quality. The ono is absolutely to die for! So flavorful. The mai tais are the best that we had on the island. The atmosphere is contemporary, stylish and enticed us to consider staying at the hotel in the future.
(5)Maria L.
Decided to come here because of the great reviews. We were staying at a hotel down the road, but were pleased to find out that they had complementary valet. I ordered the mac-nut waffle which was the perfect amount of food and my boyfriend ordered an omlette, which was a lot of food but definitely worth it! It was definitely busy but our server was good, even if she was juggling a lot. Beautiful, seaside resort atmosphere. We were in and out in 25 minutes. Only complaint? $7 for two cups of regular coffee.
(4)Cassie P.
The best food and service we had on the island ! We went there for breakfast and was warmly greeted! Our server Ben was amazing and very tentative to our every need. I had the lemon-pineapple soufflé which melted in my mouth and my husband had the lobster Benedict which he said was the best he's ever had! We will definitely be back when we return to Kaua'i
(5)Pat F.
I never mind paying a lot of $$ for a memorable meal. This was very good but NOT memorable. The Sashimi Pizza was excellent, but $17 is a LITTLE MUCH for a very small portion (4 inches). Had it knocked my socks off with flavor I'd be OK, but it did NOT. I had the RedSalt Burger (Waghu Sirloin, Lobster Claw, Foie Gras), again VERY EXPENSIVE, but NOT MEMORABLE. For $50, I want to be dazzled. The bun was not even buttered or toasted, actually tasted stale. The bright spot was the service. Very attentive and pleasant.
(3)Lise S.
Red Salt was a new experience for our group. I have been to the island several times, but never knew about this place. A friend had a business breakfast meeting there and said the MacNut pancakes were amazing and that we needed to go back for dinner. They certainly didn't disappoint! Besides a very contemporary lobby/restaurant design, the food was of the same high quality and very creative dishes. Service was friendly, helpful and professional. I wish I could remember the name of the woman who waited on us, but she was such a treat to have as part of our party. We all enjoyed the evening so much we all said we couldn't wait to go back.
(5)Julia S.
My mom and I went here for breakfast and it was alright. My meal which was the pancake soufflés with some diced pineapple on top was delicious (side of coconut sauce and maple syrup), however, my moms meal of eggs, sausage and potatoes was mediocre. They were also rushing us to order since we came in when they were ending breakfast. All together, beautiful place and ok food but not some where we will go again.
(3)Sara L.
Went for a late dinner. The best part of the meal was the free bread. Some food notes: 1. Bread: delicious and "free." The bread + butter + red salt is real good. 2. Lobster Ravioli: I split this with my brother. We were fools. The dish came and it was three pieces + one lil lobster tail on top. As the entree was $38 dollars, I shed a tear with each bite because with every bite cost me $8. It wasn't even good. 3. Kauai Shrimp Carbonara Fettuccine: Probably the best entree 4. Mushroom Bisque: ok 5. Kula Sweet Onion and Saffron Soup: tasted like a poor man's tom yum soup Overall: Not impressed.
(3)Carlton A.
Took my fiancé and future in-laws here last night to celebrate their 27th wedding anniversary. An enjoyable experience you will never forget. Feel free to call to make a reservation, mention dietary restrictions and pre-order drinks to be ready upon arrival for your special occasion. The staff was extremely professional and accommodating based on your taste and allergies. Both the manager (Paul) and our waiter (Chris) provided great recommendations and 5 Star service. I would recommend the Mai Tai (strong) as well as the Poke and Prawns to start with. For your main dish I highly suggest the Rack of Lamb with Cauliflower Couscous garnished with mango. Finally to finish off your meal try either the home made Gelato (sampler of 4 flavors) or the Passion Fruit Creme Brûlée. Trust me I will be back in the near future.
(5)Jules T.
Looking for a delicious, beautifully presented dinner? This is your spot! The service is amazing, friendly and knowledgable. We stayed at the Koa Kea and went here frequently. Appetizer of ahi was a work of art. Bread, butter and red salt with all meals, try it it's amazing. Sweet Maui soup was delicious. Salads greens were crisp with a nice house dressing and topped with fresh grilled fish. Pork chop was tender and juicy. Bring your wallet but worth it. Nice wine selection.
(4)Nish B.
We came here twice for breakfast. It's delicious! They give these muffins to start out with - with a cinnamon butter. OMG SO GOOD! My sister got the waffles that came with a coconut side (some sort of syrup type of thing) - she liked it. I got the veggie eggs and toast. I had ordered a side of biscuit but I wouldn't rec it bc it's cold and not like a typical one you would expect. But yes, def try this place out for breakfast!
(4)Sandra L.
Red Salt ' s shrimp fettuccine was delicious, arguably the best fettuccine I have tasted! My husband ordered the new york strip wagyu and fries and it failed so I had to go down 1 star. It was not worth $70 and the stomach pains he had afterwards. Other than that, we received a complimentary order of pineapple cotton candy that was delectable. The service was also great.
(4)Gladys T.
Had breakfast here three times during our 5 day stay. The MacNut pancakes are seriously out of this world especially with a side of Portuguese sausage to add a little saltiness to your meal. "The Works" is delicious too. It's the omelet with everything on it for the same price as their regular omelet. What made our breakfast experience even better was the great service we had all three times. Red Salt is a definite must try while on the south shore in Kauai.
(5)Erica E.
Awesome experience! My husband and I went our first night in Poipu. We sat down at the bar before our reservation time to grab a drink to be greeted by the friendliest bartender in Poipu, Michael. He made fabulous drinks and was so great that we ended up canceling our dinner reservation in the dining area to have dinner at the bar. We had the sushi chef, Justin, make us a few things (sashimi and a specialty roll) and it was outstanding! Best sushi and sashimi we ever had - thank you Justin! Michael and Justin were great to talk with and gave us excellent service. We even went back another day we knew Michael was bartending. Thanks guys for a great experience!
(5)Amanda O.
Food was good but not great.. The red salt literally was my favorite thing.. The tuna was good but could have been prepared better.. Seemed dry..
(3)Heidi B.
Delicious food, generous portions, Seared Ahi with edamame rissoto was cook just right. Ginger creme brulee was feather light & not too sweet. Tip, if you want the chocolate macadamia nut cookie & not the entire root beer float to go with it, ask for it. It alone will feed four people. White glove service, referring to you by name & describing every dish in detail as they place your food is a little over the top but not too ostentatious! :)
(5)Nicolas H.
Most likely the best restaurant on the island. The menu is varied with lots of choices all of which sounded great. We started with the beet salad and the harvest salad, both of which were good, but the beet salad was a little bit better. The presentation was also outstanding. The warm bread came with the obligatory red salt which was nice. For my entree I had the Ono, which was the first time I'd seen this fish let alone tried it. I'm very happy I chose it as it was amazing, cooked perfectly to medium rare. The service was impressive as well, our server knew the menu backwards and forwards and was helpful with our selections. Definitely recommend if you are on Kauai and looking for a special occasion spot or just a great meal.
(4)Alana S.
One of the best dining experiences I've had! Start to finish! Beautiful ambience- modern while maintaining an island vibe. Slight sea view, while not "beach side". Service was impeccable, our waiter Chris was outstanding...friendly and attentive yet unobtrusive. Provided honest input. Apps, soup, salad, entrees were all outstanding. Even the house bread & butter served with red salt were fantastic. Hope to return on future visits to the island. Highly recommend!
(5)Monet B.
Everything about my experience here was absolutely terrible. I came in for breakfast for one as my room was not ready for check in next door at the Marriott. I was told they would clear off a nice window seat overlooking the ocean for me if I would wait. Absolutely! About 7 mins into waiting for someone to clean off the table I was promised, another couple walks in and is immediately seated at the same table I was supposed to go to. I was then seated at a table in the dark back corner. I ordered the avocado toast which is on their entrees menu and was $12. I thought, I make that at home for $2 but hey it's probably a lot of food and super delicious. Nope. Tiny. Ok tasting. AND I waited about 20 mins for it. I was about to go back there and toast my own darn bread! Oh and did I mention they brought the check to my table before my food even came out? Rude. I'm staying here for 2 weeks and they could have had a lot of business if they weren't so awful.
(1)Mike A.
They didn't have any red salt at any of the tables I sat at when I was here. That was shocking and concerning for me until I realized that I had never seen red salt before and I didn't even know if it exists. I still don't know. This has considerably eased my shock and concern. I ate here four mornings in a row. Four mornings in a row? What was I, in love with this place? Did I want to marry it? Was it going to be my new steady lady friend? I don't want to answer those questions. I feel like I don't owe you an answer. You are, after all, reading my review. You need me. Not the other way around. I don't know what the prices were here. I had a breakfast rate package with my room at the Ko'a Kea. I don't know if they were astronomically high or just like stratospherically high or maybe just mountaintop high. The buffet was alright. The a la carte selections were better. I had the same thing all four mornings. The same thing all four mornings in a row? What was I, in love with that meal? Did I want to marry it? Was it going to be my new steady lady friend? Again, stop asking these type of questions. I feel too pressured right now. You aren't making it any better with all of the badgering. Pro tip...not just for here, but for anywhere: make sure you enunciate when you say that you want PEPPERS in your omelet. Some people mistake the word PEPPER for the three words PEPPER JACK CHEESE. These are two very different things. I don't know how one would order an omelet if one wanted both of these ingredients. There is probably some efficient and smart way to avoid saying pepper twice. I'll think about it and update my review if I come up with any solutions.
(4)Hillary M.
I can't believe I skipped over reviewing Red Salt, home to my favorite dish we had on our entire trip in Hawaii. Unfortunately that dish is a special, so not on the menu all the time, but it was butter poached Red Snapper served atop a avocado and papaya terrine with a beet reduction and watermelon radish. It was cooked to perfection, and the perfect appetizer for our amazing meal. For the entrées, I had the seared mahi mahi, served atop coconut black rice and a mango sauce that was addictive. My husband ordered the serrano ham wrapped ahi tuna, that looked so delicate and divine. We split the deconstructed root beer float (you Yelpers influenced me ;) ) and that cookie that comes with it is magnificent. But like the waitress said, the cookie is the main attraction - the root beer gelato, and the crème soda is just ok. All in all, this was a meal for the books both in food quality and service. Our waitress was the friendliest we had in the entire island, preserving a high quality dining experience with a friendly, instead of snooty, touch. I highly recommend!
(4)Elizabeth J.
Great service, great food. I had a great lobster ravioli and my husband had the Ono. The restaurant was also surprisingly accommodating with kids. But what we were surprised by was the deceptive marketing. This isn't a beachfront restaurant. It's closer to the lobby with a pool view. (They market it as beachfront on their website.)
(3)Dan D.
I came here with my wife on our honeymoon, thinking it was actually a different restaurant. We got here real early, around 5pm so we could watch the sunset. Well, we ended up having several delicious (but expensive) drinks. These drinks were fantastic takes on some classic mixed drinks. Perfectly refreshing after a day in the sun. We ended up coming on one of the days they had their sushi chef come in, so we decided to have several rolls of sushi and then moved to sit in the dinning area to split an appetizer and entree. We had the poke and a fish entree (i forgot the name). The fish was simply prepared, but the flavor was well balanced and the fish was still soft and juicy (not dried out at all). This meal was quite expensive, but hey, we were having fun on our honeymoon.
(4)Ron C.
I was staying at the Marriott next door and using a local dive shop who recommended I come here for breakfast. Being a beach lounger, I decided to try both lunch and breakfast here. I was not disappointed. Lunch was actually average. Dining alfresco (Hey, it's Hawaii), my burger was hot, juicy, and did the trick. Breakfast was a good assortment between buffet and menu. I chose the menu since I wanted my food made to order. It was fantastic. Before I close note that Red Salt also has tremendous adult beverages!
(4)K W.
This place had good food, but CRAZY over-priced!! My husband and I were staying at the attached hotel, so we thought we'd share some plates for dinner. We are more than happy to pay a premium for good quality food, but this was just too much. We literally paid $16 for two scallops. They were well-cooked and seasoned, but very small. We ordered a few other appetizers to share, and we each had a drink. Overall, we paid over $60 for each of us to have 7 bites (literally) and to remain hungry. We returned for breakfast another day, hoping it would be better. The breakfast is slightly more reasonable, but still, we had a better time eating out at some of the nice restaurants nearby.
(3)Susan C.
We had the lemon pineapple soufflé pancakes (takes about 20 min) and the Mac nut waffle, both were good but not amazing. I like that they serve mini muffins while you wait for your food. The service is not good. Also, it's mandatory valet parking and the guys will move your seat and not return to the original position; a pet peeve of mine.
(3)Karen E.
Great place for a delicious dinner ... Prawns for appetizer and Carmelized Ono. Super good. Maitai is one of the best I've had ... Server Bryan is soo knowledgeable and efficient ., even gave me the recipe for the Maitai ... Hubby had the roast chicken with Apple flavored spatzels which he enjoyed. Chocolate decadence and espresso to top the evening off ... Recommend it highly. The only thing negative hence the 4 stars was the host who seemed cold and arrogant and not friendly at all . Too bad as the rest of the staff at this restaurant and hotel were extremely nice .
(4)Paras P.
Pancake soufflé? Horray! So freaking light, fluffy and delish. Eggs Benedict were a hair overdone, but taste made up for subpar execution. Portuguese sausage was yummy. Mimosa and coffee were very good. Jessa was a solid waitress. Will go back.
(5)Juliana K.
After eating here three times for dinner and twice for breakfast, I have concluded that Red Salt's dinner is great and its breakfast is not. My recommendations from the dinner menu: - diver scallops - ahi carpaccio - island prawns - mushroom soup - pan seared ono From the breakfast menu, the omelette is a safe choice - just don't order the breakfast burrito. Also, there's a cocktail called the Kekaha Gold, which is basically an alcoholic milkshake - SO good (although, not very easy on the stomach).
(4)Foodie S.
Red Salt is one of my top 5 dining experiences of all time. This was the first place we ate on my honeymoon and I'm kicking myself for not going back another night for dinner (we did have breakfast and lunch). We were in Kauai for only 4 nights and we already had reservations at other top restaurants but none of them compare to Red Salt. The only reason we ate hear was because it was in our hotel and we just arrived in Hawaii (24 hours after our wedding with no sleep, maybe a I slept a couple minutes on the plane) and we wanted to quickly eat and get some rest. Well once we started eating, we quickly slowed down because we wanted to cherish every bite. I highly recommend: Apps - Scallops and the Island prawns. The three sauces with the prawns were amazing, each tasted very different, all were good and fresh but the mango salsa was out of this world. Dinner - the shrimp carbonara...I thought only Italians knew how to make carbonara but you can't beat the farm fresh ingredients that they use. Also I had the fish special which the waiter recommended. It was broiled Monchong, a fish I never ate before. It melted in my mouth and crab and yukon gold potatoes it was over was sooo delish. Dessert - we were full but they gave us a free after dinner drink and gelato since it was our honeymoon. We also had lunch/sushi at the pool which tasted just as good, not as fancy but very very fresh. If staying at the hotel, get their hotdog for lunch...I guarantee you will never look at hot dogs the same way again. I can't wait for my 5 year anniversary because I will be back at Red Salt. The day I came back home, I starting searching for farm fresh restaurants in my area in hopes that I would have a similar culinary experience. I was way off, nothing beats the freshness from Red Salt.
(5)Michelle B.
In a Hotel with only Valet parking! Went for breakfast and food was good, but pricey (even by Hawaii standards). Complimentary mini muffins are tasty! Service was friendly and view beautiful.
(4)Patricia S.
We came the for dinner with locals. The food is very good, the service was perfect. There were 8 of us and everything was delicious. We shared some scallops and and a poke appetizer, very tasty. The mushroom soup was divine and the salad so fresh and crispy. We also had a few dishes such as filet mignon, Ono, Scallops...the lobster ravioli was such a surprise, there was a full lobster in the middle. Will definitely return.
(5)Andrea Q.
(note: this was for service in late July 2012 - forgot to hit publish on a draft) Worst meal we had on the entire island on a 12 day trip. The waitress was incredibly friendly until she learned we weren't buying alcohol. Asked us twice. We're not cheap, we just had a few cocktails earlier in the day and didn't feel like having more. J had the pork tenderloin (about 2 oz of super overcooked pork) on a smear of potatoes. I had the lobster ravioli and was so disappointed. We waited forever for our food which would have been fine but both of our meals were horribly overcooked. The 2.5 inch piece of lobster was so rubbery that i struggled to cut it with my knife. The 3 ravioli were supposed to be "filled" with lemon mascarpone, shrimp and lobster. They were completely flat. They weren't "filled" with anything at all. I've seen ravioli from a can have more filling in them (and it's been decades since I ate canned ravioli). I normally would have said something and sent it back but we were both so irritated by the long wait, the cold service and the lack of acceptable food that we just ate it and left. For 34 dollars per entree and that long of a wait that lobster should have melted in my mouth and i should have had something to bite into when i ate the ravioli. I really wish i had taken a photo when it came out- i saw a pic of the same meal on tripadvisor and it looked nothing like my sad anemic dish. We also ate breakfast here on our last day at the resort - only because we needed to grab a bite before leaving for the airport. Breakfast was ok but service was terrible. We had a male waiter this time (didn't catch his name) but he pretty much took our order, dropped it off and never came back until it was time for the check. I expect more from the lone restaurant in a resort like this. It's an attractive restaurant in a beautiful location but I wouldn't eat there again.
(1)Jane M.
We went to Red Salt for dinner earlier this week and had such a wonderful time that we went and sat at the bar for drinks and appetizers tonight. The food is incredible and the atmosphere is great as well. The service however is beyond compare. Paul was the host and Samdi was our waitress during our first visit. Paul is so friendly and professional. He went above and beyond to make sure my family was comfortable. Samdi was an absolute delight and was very knowledgeable about the menu. She has such a warm smile! The Mango Margarita is too good! Tonight we went in and sat at the bar. The bar tender, Michael, was also very professional and went out of his way to explain various vegetarian options that were not necessarily on the menu- one of which was a vegetarian sushi roll. He also made us two incredible cocktails. I ordered an Avocado roll, but the sushi chef, Justin, came over to ask me what exactly I wanted. I told him a general vegetarian roll would be great, and he made the most delicious sushi roll I have ever had! It had avocado and cucumber inside, with crunchy Shitake mushrooms on top. The presentation was beautiful and there was a creative aspect to the dish that I have never experienced. He is very talented! When I go to a restaurant, the food and atmosphere are important, but the staff and service make the experience memorable. Thank you so much Paul, Samdi, Michael and Justin for two great evenings at Red Salt. We will be back. Thank you! Jane and Laura
(5)Katie K.
Red Salt is inside the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort, and the windows have nice view of the hotel pool with a small view of the beach beyond. It's super nice to walk here along the beach if you're staying at one of the nearby resorts or hotels. Be warned, this is a "gourmet" Hawaii restaurant, so it is fairly spendy. They had an nice array of special cocktails, and a long beer (bottles) list with a few unusual craft brews from the mainland. During drinks and bread, our server brought tasters of a soup from the kitchen, so that was very nice to sample. I also had a beet salad before dinner, which was very good. I had heard that the cooking style here is for fish to be quickly seared with a raw middle, and that wasn't really my cup of tea for the fish I ordered. So I asked the server for well-done, and the kitchen sent it out exactly as expected.
(4)Vitaly V.
Arrived here at noon and we're told that restaurant is "closed for lunch". Worker told us to head to the bar which is open however when I asked if bar serves the same food he said no. He also kept repeating that I should give him my car keys because it is valley only parking. The parking lot was empty so why force people to valley park. We turned around and found another place for lunch.
(1)Bob W.
This pertains to breakfast. The food was "luke warm" and lacking specialness of any sort. No view, mediocre service, not due to the server, but to the staffing. How can you be so mediocre at breakfast and expect patrons to return for other meals? Wanted to like it, but did not.
(2)Brena D.
As another patron mentioned, I too was expecting to come for a sushi dinner. I believe they only serve sushi options for lunch or at the bar...? Anyway, the meal turned out fabulous. It's unfortunate that others experienced poor service or bland food, because we sure didn't. We did have a later reservation (8:30 pm on a Saturday), so it was pretty quiet by the time we got there - maybe that was a factor? Our server, Brian, was fantastic! Very prompt, knowledgeable and friendly. We kind of went overboard on ordering ($200 for 2 people - included one drink each, app, salads, entrees and deserts), and while I was shocked at the high drink prices ($19 for my martini), it was a generous size and lasted the entire meal. I'm from Alaska, where everything is costly, so I wasn't too shocked by the prices, although they were a little higher than usual. Had I had poor service, this review would be much different. I thought it was interesting how they incorporated the red salt into nearly everything we had. Delicious and not over the top at all. Would definitely return on another trip.
(5)Gary L.
Came here for breakfast and for dinner while staying here. If coming for dinner, be sure to make reservations. Continental breakfast buffet was good and seemed to include drinks as part of the deal, too. It's probably the best deal if you're looking to eat on a budget. They had salami, cheese, toast, oatmeal, cereal, and anything else you might expect in a continental breakfast. No eggs, though. Their pineapple juice is very good. Their dinner is a bit expensive with portions not being very big. I had the lobster ravioli and it was still very good. It was like 2-3 pieces with a 4 oz lobster tail to go along with it. Yum.
(4)Angelica Z.
This place was certainly a surprise! We thought it would be a typical average tasting expensive surf and turf hotel meal, but it was a legit meal at a restaurant that could be a stand alone restaurant in SF or LA (where we're from). Deco was very romantic. Our server Samdi was fantastic - this word does not do her justice; she was perhaps one of the best servers we've had of all time. So friendly and great at her job. Food was delicious. Loved the Red Sea salt that came with complimentary bread and the chef's cantaloupe gazpacho. The soup with sweet Maui onion was so creamy and yummy, especially with the roasted corn. The seared Ono was perfectly cooked and slightly sweet. Fettuccine had huge pieces of juicy shrimp. Didn't have room for dessert but they had a lot of things I would try, such as the lillikoi creme brûlée. Next time! Definitely on the pricy side, but a good place to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Merritt V.
We actually ate here twice, once for dinner and then breakfast. Dinner was great. We loved our server and the steak was great. Breakfast was big and we shared. The prices are a little high but they did not disappoint!
(5)Stefanie S.
I don't usually write reviews, but felt compelled this time. The food was meh - the worst meal I've had in a long time (I live in SF). Bland - I don't think the chef knew what he/she was doing. Our salad wasn't dressed. And the ravioli was pretty bad (I could only eat one). However, my date said their ahi tuna was good (I think it'd be hard to mess up seared tuna while in Hawaii). We skipped dessert, of course. On top of the meh food, it was overpriced. (And I don't mind paying for overpriced food if it's delicious... But this wasn't.).
(1)Joseph O.
Had the Red Salt burger... Lobster on top of perfectly cooked sirloin patties. Amazing! Only downside... It cost $50, and a one hour wait while waiting for the rest of the food from our party. Service was 5 star - thanks Brian!
(4)Jeremy D.
We came to Kauai and stayed at the Koa Kea for 10 days. Red Salt is the restaurant in the Koa Kea. Amazing service and food! The sushi bar is always great. Try chef's choice with Justin. Great sushi and service!. The food was great at Red Salt as well as a great choice of wine and spirits.
(5)Renn A.
Great food and experience. My wife and I came on a Sunday morning at 9am and were seated immediately. The coffee was excellent and she got a hot chocolate which seemed to be made from a packet but was still good. Complimentary muffins were served quickly and were great. We each ordered the steak and eggs ($17) which were at a good price given the high end ambiance. Portions were a good size and steak prepared as ordered. Service was quick and friendly. Only reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars is the food quality was about average as expected from a hotel restaurant. We're staying at the Sheraton and this was a short pleasant walk and well worth it.
(4)Jennifer C.
I cannot believe anyone would give this place less than 5 stars. This place exceeded my expectations. The food was whole-heartedly based in the region but with a modern twist. Red Salt also offers red salt as part of your meal experience. We began our meal with cocktails; I ordered a dirty martini and my husband ordered a Hendricks and tonic. They served his cocktail "club style", which came served on a silver tray with the tonic, gin, and ice cubes separated so you can mix it yourself. I love this idea so much. Mine was brought to the table in a shaker with a chilled martini glass and my server shook it - great touch. Bread was served with the butter at the perfect temperature, very thoughtful (not a hard lump that flies off the plate when you try to cut it!). Our server suggested the beet salad and he was right. The beets were fresh and the salad refreshing. My husband ordered the baby romaine and the dressing was out of this world. We ordered steak and all I can say is wow..wow! There are tons of fish items on this menu but dang...that steak was ridiculous. We ended the meal with a some pineapple cotton candy...again...wow. I would never think to put those two things together but they were really beyond anything I have ever tried. I will crave that later in life. The cotton candy is not on the menu but brought out for special occasions. Our server was Chris B. and he was superb. He was so on top of everything: wonderful suggestions, good timing, great food presentation and just all around nice guy. I will go on record as saying he is the best waiter I have ever had!
(5)Janet P.
Best restaurant on the island never been disappointed with any order. We have been going to Kauai for 35 years and highly recommend it. Best Eggs Benedict can't wait for our next visit !
(5)Kathy S.
We had a great experience here. The food was excellent and the service was even better, from the valets, the hostess, our server, our busser. They all went the extra mile to make us feel welcome, something we did not encounter often on this trip to Kauai. The shrimp linguini was awesome! And as someone else said, their complimentary bread was very good! We will look forward to coming back next time!
(5)Leigh C.
The breakfast was amazing! It's a must try. The soufflé pancakes are exceptional, the macadamia nut waffle was the best I have ever had. We were so pleased with everything including the service. Thank you Red Salt we will be back.
(5)Gabriel B.
Red Salt is amazing! The food was great, and the service is impeccable. One of my kids ordered a seafood paella and the other ordered the lobster ravioli, which they loved. My wife is lactose intolerant and they were able to easily accommodate her. I have the burger with fois gras and lobster with truffle fries that had real trouble shavings and gold leaf in the aioli! Although we loved this restaurant, we thought it was a little overpriced even by Hawaii standards. But we would definitely come back again!
(5)Todd G.
First let me say, my wife and I have been visiting Kauai once or twice a year for 15 years, so we are very familiar with the dining choices on the island. My advice: skip this place...there are plenty of dining options in the Poipu/Koloa area with better food. Positives: Service was very good. We had three courses for a party of 8 and all were timed well. Atmosphere is nice. More modern than Hawaiian but that is ok, since there are several island inspired decors in other restaurants. Plating was beautiful on most dishes and common on others. Cons: Yes the prices are ridiculous, but not because of portion size or ingredients. I have no problem paying a premium for the food described on RS's menu. However, the taste was just not there. Two people in our party had the $50 burger. They enjoyed it for the most part, but this menu item is probably not ordered for taste, rather for the experience of ordering an over the top burger. Two in our party had the lobster ravioli. Three small ravioli and a tiny piece of lobster on the plate. Pretty expensive, but worth it if it is a culinary explosion of taste. This was not. Lobster was over done, and the ravioli were blah. Interestingly, we went to Costco the next day for supplies and they were sampling the lobster ravioli...Costco's looked similar and tasted better. That's not good. My wife had the fish, it was too salty. I had the filet, and I've had much better filet in much less expensive restaurants. I also had the poke appetizer. I must say it was plated beautifully. I've never seen anything like it. Perfectly cut cubes arranged in a checkerboard topped with two different types of tobiko, resting on top of seaweed on top of thinly sliced cucumber. It was amazing. However, it tasted bland...very bland. I went back to my usual Hawaiian Style Poke at the Big Save the next day...its about 65% cheaper, but you get 5 times as much poke...just get to the big save early when it is still fresh. Desert was nothing special either, pretty ho-hum, run of the mill stuff. We did get the "off the menu" item desert, which is a island flavored cotton candy swirled around a candle. Makes for a pretty nice presentation, but after all it is just a teaspoon of spun sugar. Summary: We'll never eat here again. Not because of the astronomical pricing, service, or quality of ingredients, but because it just didn't taste very good, was over cooked, and didn't leave us satisfied at all.
(2)Aaron S.
Breakfast and brunch are fantastic but our dinner there came up very short...and heavy on the bill. Solid breakfast: Eggs Benedict Waffles Breakfast burrito Morning juices Coffee was weak sauce, but that's typical for Hawaii it seems Weak sauce dinner: Prawns were small and more emphasis put on presentation. At $17, you expect more. For entree I had the steak which actually nailed it. Wife was disappointed with the fish, which came out dry and flavorless aside from the warm avocado. Had a bottle of red and our total came out in the low 200s. Overpriced and uninspired flavors. If you're in Poipu, hit up Beach House or Keoki's Paradise instead for dinner. Much more lively and they won't shred your wallet into pieces.
(2)Jeremy S.
Impeccable service. Amazing attention to detail. We stayed here for our honeymoon and always weary of restaurants in hotels. This place won't disappoint.
(5)Abby P.
Three excellent dinners and one outstanding breakfast here while visiting. Many of the other restaurants on the island are over done, trying too hard or getting tired. Red Salt finds a beautiful balance in high quality, fine dining but a fair price and great experience. My favorite dish was their Mahi, my husband's was the Ono. Each excellent and let the fish shine. The salads are not over dressed and are fresh as can be. The passion-fruit ginger crem brulee was divine. Excellent and well priced wine offerings. And try their eggs Benedict. Yumm! Try it out.
(5)Jamon B.
I ate at Red Salt once while staying at the hotel, but only once. I read such great things about the restaurant, so I ate breakfast there the first morning. It was disappointing. The eggs benedict had a nice flavor, but the $28 price tag was supposed to include a buffet. The buffet was weak -- some measly, sad pieces of fruit that looked like they were left over drink garnishes from the night before; mass-produced pastry; little boxes of cereal; yogurt from the grocery store; and kool-aid-like "juice." For $28, I expect a nice selection of fruit, especially in Hawaii(!), and real juice. Honestly, I've seen better buffets at Days Inn. Also, the waitress was not good. She left a pot of coffee so she wouldn't have to come back...and didn't come back, not even to clear my plates, which kept stacking up. My experience at the restaurant was so bad that I didn't go back. Instead, I ate at Kalaheo Coffee. Go there instead.
(2)Diana K.
My husband and I came here on our first night in Kauai. We were so tired from the plane ride that we decided to just stay in the hotel and eat here for dinner. I had the Bronzed Diver Scallop and he had a mushroom bisque for apps. My scallop had really good flavor and was very filling. My husband LOVED the taste of the bisque. Score! I had a medium rare Prime New York steak which came with red salt fries and 3 different kinds of sauces. The steak came out beautifully and had wonderful flavor. Unfortunately I was so full I only ate like 1/3 of it! There really wasn't a need for the sauces, but I did dip my fries in there. My husband got the Grilled Ono. He loved the sides, but did not love the fish. So they brought him a pan seared mahi and he loved it. :) 4 stars for the great service and for the great food! We came here almost every morning during our stay for breakfast. The breakfast included an entree from the menu (Omelette with 3 sides/toppings, 2 egg (any style) with Polynesian Sausage, Bacon, or Ham, Souffle Pancakes, Belgian Waffle) and a buffet of cold cuts, various cheeses, oatmeal, cereal, fruit, etc. It was delicious but we got kind of tired of it after a few days. :) I think if breakfast is not included it is $25.
(4)Nathan L.
Excellent decor, good service, and amazing lemon pineapple souffle pancake with coconut syrup. My wife confirms that this is the best breakfast she has had on Kauai since Bali Hai @ HBR burned down. Great alternative to the local hotel buffets.
(4)Jane M.
maybe it was an off night but I ordered the chicken and it was very bland with a predictable presentation...sliced chicken over mashed potato and green beans. My co diner had the rack of lamb, ordered medium, it came raw. Disappointing since we had eaten there twice before on previous trips . Pricey. Won't be returning anytime soon.
(3)Bianca T.
All I can say is 'wow'. Husband and I just got back from a week long trip. We stayed just up the road from Koa Kea hotel at the Grand Hyatt. We had some difficulties finding good food in the area, but Red Salt was definitely one of our top 2 (the other being Roy's, but that's another review). First of all, the restaurant and hotel are extremely modern. If you're looking for a true Hawaiian-decorated locale, don't go here. But me - modern is my middle name. LOVED IT! Actually, we weren't entirely sure we wanted to eat here. At first we just stopped in for drinks and an appetizer, and to check out the hotel itself (we were given an impromptu tour of the grounds and a couple of rooms - wowza!). So we plopped ourselves at the bar and ordered some drinks and tidbits from our wonderful bartender, Jim. What a great, attentive guy! He's an old salt (pun intended) in the industry and even mentioned that he was a mentor to several of the bartenders at the Hyatt's Stevenson Library. For apps we ordered the 3-ways Pork Gyoza and 3-ways Baby Yukons. Presentation was immaculate and the taste was delish! For dinner I had the New York Steak (uh-my-guh), and hubs had the Mahi. YUM!!! Steak was out of this world. Finally, we got talked into one of the oddest sounding desserts, but I'm sooo happy we tried it. It was the Root-Beer Float. Don't be fooled, this isn't your typical RB float. This one was root beer ICE CREAM (yes, ice cream) served with cream soda that you pour yourself over the said ice cream. You don't understand how awesome this was. The ice cream was unbelievable on its own. Truly, truly tasted like root beer. I'm extremely happy we came across this place. The atmosphere and staff were tres classy. When we return to Kauai we will definitely go back to Red Salt, and will probably even stay at the Koa Kea.
(5)Lovely K.
On my fourth visit to Kauai, I had to declare Red Salt my favorite restaurant, toppling The Beachouse. We went back for a second evening. The complex was a hotel destroyed in a hurricane in the early 1990s. Over the years we've walked past the decaying building from the mid-century, hoping something good would happen. It has. Red Salt has delicious food, a great wine list, excellent help and the best bathrooms in the Pacific. We enjoyed their poke, a artsy take on the classic. Instead of the salmon mixed together with the vinegar, it was layed out in a checker board design. The ono with lobster fries is delicious. The ono is an oily, moisy white fish, and the lobster fries was more like hash browns or hash with lobster. Delish! Also loved the cold corn soup. Flavor delight! The host and wait staff were all excellent and seemed happy to be there. On our second return we didn't have reservations but the host welcomed us by name. We weren't even staying in the hotel. After dinner we hung out at the bar staffed by Dan - who also owns The Wine Shop in nearby Koloa Town. See that review if you want. Great wines, great views. I'm a big judge of bathrooms and these were by far the nicest, cleanest, and grooviest in the islands. I do agree with another reviewer that this place needs to get to a tipping point and have the cool crowds it deserves - so bringing in a dj for weekened nights would help. This is definately a place that would make hipsters from NYC to LA happy. I should know, I used to be one.
(5)Duke N.
Located in the Koa Kea Resort, (formerly the Poipu Beach Hotel) adjacent to the Waiohai, the Red Salt Restaurant is located just inside the lobby area overlooking the pool, court yard, and the beach beyond. Upon reading some of the other reviews I found it interesting that others also noticed something a little funky about the feng shui/arrangement that is otherwise quite modern and very clean. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the overall decor is pleasing and relaxing. The servers were friendly, but I agree with other reviewers that the service was a bit slower than other upscale restaurants in the area. Since we were on our day off and in no particular hurry, it did not matter that much. The eggs benedict were as delicious as they sounded, served with pancheta hash and topped with a paper thin slice of lemon rind and micro greens. One friend also enjoyed the eggs benedict, and the other ordered the steak and eggs. I sampled the steak which was tender and flavorful, not over seasoned but still tasty. One of my friends enjoyed the bloody mary with red salt on the rim. I would like to experience dinner here some time and although I'm neither a morning person nor a breakfast eater, I also hope to return for more of the wonderful eggs benedict.
(4)Paul H.
Great venue in a nice location. Fun birthday treat for those celebrating (won't ruin the suprise). Shrimp three-ways was delicious and the chef's amuse brioche was fabulous - nice bite! Fancy place, yet kids were welcomed - the keiki menu did not disappoint.
(4)Claytonian C.
Awesome new place near Poipu (and Poipu needed a place like this). We had dinner consisting of the Wagyu beef and shrimp linguine, both were excellent. Our server was very cool and she helped us pick out some of the right dishes. Everyone will tell you to go to Roy's, but this place is a lot more modern, intimate and less touristy.
(5)Carla M.
Best restaurant on Kauai and service is also outstanding. Every course was presented beautifully and explained well. Will definitely be back. Lamb and lobster ravioli are the best.
(5)S H.
We stayed in the Ko'a Kea and didn't really think to try the in-house restaurant until our last night. It was our best dinner on Kauai (followed by Beach House, Tidepools, Plantation Garden). They have good drinks (cocktails are a little pricy at $14) and really good food ($33 per entree, which didn't seem too bad). The decor is nice and there are plenty of windows. I tried the scallop appetizer mentioned in another review and thought it was excellent, perfectly cooked, firm, with a light crust and went well with the garnish and sauce. I had the vanilla seared mahi for a main and it too was excellent: well cooked and paired. I didn't care for the actual red salt though. They bring a little dish of red salt and you're supposed to sprinkle it on the bread and butter they provide. The bread was good; but much better without the salt. See menus: koakea.com/contents/v/Me… The yelp map is currently a little bit wrong, the restaurant is way off the main road past the Marriott timeshares in the K'oa Kea Hotel. At the hotel only valet parking is available.
(5)Vivian L.
Hmm...I am torn about this place. I wanted to love it. The reviews told me to love it. The decor is very modern and city-like (tucked inside the Koa Kea Resort), and the service was attentive. But other than their signature ahi poke (which really is a work of art and tasted delicious), everything else was sort of just okay. The salad I had was fresh and decent, and the pork belly "kalua" was a bit overcooked and overseasoned (aka salty) to me. This is probably more of an experiential / homesick-for-swanky-city-restaurant type of place, and less for the food. However, it did make me want to stay at this boutique resort next time. I think the attention to detail here was apparent throughout the lobby and the restaurant.
(3)Laura H.
Great article on Chef Ronnie and Red Salt Pages 60-61 Read on....... media.modernluxury.com/d…
(5)Ryan D.
went for breakfast while on my honeymoon..... had the lemon souffle pancakes... were very light and tasty.... not much of a breakfast tho..... ordered a side of bacon and eggs to go w/ it,,,,which ended up being charged for another full entree as well..... food was good.....but just way over priced.... typical for hotels in Kauai for breakfast...although I think there are better options for your $$$$
(3)David C.
Rolled through here for breakfast. Lovely atmosphere, lovely view, and very small for a hotel restaurant. Either way, I ordered the eggs benedict. It was delicious and fluffy. I saw people around me order pancakes and waffles. They all looked very good. My #2 had the breakfast buffet which looked good, but no hot foods. I'd come here for breakfast again, if you're ready to drop a $20 for breakfast per person + $3.50 for a cup of coffee!
(5)Liv R.
Had breakfast at Red Salt. Overrated and way too expensive. The pancakes were pretty good, but the service was incredibly slow and almost $35 for a breakfast??? Disappointing!
(2)D B.
Things that were amazing: The waiter, the tofu (best tofu ever), and the bread Less than par: The salad (but it might have just been too healthy and needed more flavorings), and then creme brulee (too much ginger for me but my company enjoyed it). Still 5 stars because the things that were good, were very memorable.
(5)Rose M.
Excellent service and great food. I had the salmon special and my husband had the Prime New York steak. They were both delicious! We also had breakfast there one morning and the potatoes we sooo good! Kudos to the chef! I can't wait to go back on my next vacation! Strongly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Midnight B.
Good food, I had the ahi tuna something but everyone in our party of 4 liked their food a lot. Good service, located in a very cute boutique hotel.
(5)Jessica V.
Hands-down the best quality and value restaurant in Kauai! The breakfast, dinner and Friday-Saturday sushi bar are all fantastic. The wait staff is attentive, nice and pleasant. The slow cooked breast of chicken was delicious (the gravy was heavenly), as was the steak and the tuna.
(5)Mike B.
Only had breakfast here, as we weren't staying at this hotel. Nice location and views, if you get a small table by the window. Muffins they give to each table are awesome and addicting! Omelette and breakfast burrito were both very good, as well as the hash browns. Tough to find great breakfast in Kaua'i, compared to Maui, but Red Salt is definitely worth it.
(5)CalBear H.
Mostly fish dish, and they sear the fish best (mostly raw in the middle). I ordered the ono and asked them to make sure it's cooked thoroughly, they tried twice and the middle was sitll a bit raw. The appetizer kalua pig is great, somewhat of a twist since it's serviced in a square chuck that's about 1.5" in size.
(3)Karen C.
This review is for breakfast, which was sub-par. Service was disappointing as well. Breakfast was overpriced, but that's to be expected at a resort restaurant. Had the food and service been commensurate with the pricing, I'd be more inclined to give a better rating. I got an omelet with breakfast potatoes. The breakfast potatoes were undercooked and not crispy. In fact, they were still hard in the middle. When I told the waitress that the potatoes were hard and underdone, she said they were baked in a ring mold and they were supposed to be like that. I pushed the issue a little, but she insisted they were supposed to be hard. Even though I was obviously not happy, she didn't offer to do anything about it. After a few minutes, she must have realized her mistake and came back and offered to have them cooked on the griddle. If I'm going to be paying $15 for an omelet and potatoes, I expect the food to be cooked correctly and not to be arguing with the waitress about how potatoes should be cooked. Won't be coming back.
(2)Mij Y.
Food is good, but very small portions and rather on the expensive side. They can afford to do that because there is not a lot of options in the area. $14 for one scallop was a bit absurd
(3)Felicia D.
This is for DINNER ONLY. I wasn't that impressed with breakfast, it was overpriced to the max. The dinner and hotel are AMAZING! A week's stay, couldn't have been happier with everything from location, to staff to bed linens, work out room, and yummy yummy dinner. Definitely the best food we had the whole week. I highly recommend this hotel!
(4)Zuzzi E.
Breakfast was amateur hour, but dinner was legit. Try the morel soup or souped-up Poke. The place is never busy, so no need for a reservation.
(4)Amanda S.
One of the few upscale restaurants on the island. It has EXCELLENT service, drinks and food! Dress up for this one!
(5)Jaime A.
After spending 6 days in Kauai and trying different restaurants all over the island, the Red Salt at the Ko'a Hotel and Resort is by far the best meal on the island. The staff is super friendly and accommodating, the food is phenomenal, and the atmosphere is so relaxing and enjoyable. If you have $100 or more to spend on dinner for two (without drinks, but including pupus), then the Red Salt is the place for you. Check it out and tell Paul that Jaime sent you.
(5)kahau m.
ate here a couple weeks ago after hearing alot about it and a bunch of reviews. thus...... expectations were pretty high. had the mango margarita to start. very tasty! got a table along the windows, which were closed due to windy conditions. the layout was a little different. a long, horizontal lobby, lots of white. turns into the red salt bar, which happened to have sushi made to order at one end. the restaurant is tucked in at the end of the lobby. very nice, modern furnishings, hepp flatware, schownwald china. nice.... bread was warm and crusty and served with butter...... with red salt of course. ordered the ahi/ walu sashimi app and the kalua pork app with taro gnocchi. sashimi was very creative and tasty. pork seemed a little on the bland side and i was hoping for more than 2 gnocchi, they were tasty though! entrees were the mahi mahi, nice presentation and tasty. also had the new york strip (MR) with truffle fries and 3 sauces (soy, truffle and madeira). Steak was a full 12 oz. for sure and tasty! fries? probably got about 3/4 # of fries!?!?!?! i couldn't finish them! holy crap there were alot of fries! no dessert cuz i had no room! overall a tasty meal. 2 people. 2 rounds of cocktails. 2 glasses of wine. 2 apps and 2 entrees. $200 with tip. service was good. efficient. well informed. and timely.
(4)Mary L.
We went for dinner. Food was good, but either it was all about the salt or was totally bland. Creme brûlée was not made to order, which gave dessert a wedding buffet feeling. Our serve was great, but the food was not as awesome as we hoped it would be.
(3)Cathy B.
Wow wow wow!!!! We came here for our 20th wedding anniversary dinner and were simply blown away! The presentation is untouched by any other restaurant on Kauai...we know...we have been coming here for 20 years and now reside here. The food was amazing. My husband and I agreed the filet mignons were the best we have EVER had! Highly recommend!!! It is expensive but worth every penny for an amazing dining experience.
(5)Jeremy H.
Wonderful atmosphere with excellent service and great menu! The martini's were amazing, and the entrees were delicious with great presentation. Definitely recommend!
(5)Michael K.
The ambiance greets you warmly as you enter into the ultra-modern restaurant that is Red Salt. The food is amazing and the service excellent. From the second that you enter into Red Salt, you feel as if you are in your own home. If you are looking for unique ways to serve fish, then this is the restaurant for you. For an appetizer I had the sashimi and it was the freshest of any places on my trip. For an entree I had the 7 spices ahi, also the freshest. For dessert, the creme brûlée and a root bear float. If you like to find new and exciting ways to change up an old favorite, the root bear float is for you. It is root beer ice cream with vanilla cream soda. Absolutely amazing experience and I will go back to Red Salt every time that I am in Kauai.
(5)G R.
Beautiful atmosphere & the hotel is gorgeous, the best looking hotel on the island for sure & love that they utilized the materials from the old Waiohai when building this hotel. The food was pretty good, not excellent but good enough and the presentation was beautiful. Very spendy but that goes without saying on this island... Think the food at Roy's is better but the location is better @ Red Salt.
(4)Jeremy M.
Great high quality, fresh food. The poke and ahi appetizers were great. The mahi and opah were wonderful and the chocolate Mac nut torte was sublime. Good service. Modern ambiance. Expensive and worth it. Some of the best food on Kauai.
(5)A C.
I hate to do this, as I had high hopes for this place, but it was just awful. We made a reservation but were given a terrible table on the edge of the semi-circle in the dining room, where I was blinded from admiring the ocean view by the bright kitchen lights in my peripheral view. Many better tables were left empty. Drinks were mixed--mojito was terrible, mai tai OK. Unbearably long wait followed for apps (maybe nearly 40 minutes). waitress apologized, I assumed we would be comped our drinks at least, as people who were seated @ the same time had already left. Not so. Apps mixed, endive salad was very, very nice, ***** presentation. scallop undercooked and unremarkable. Mains were hideously overcooked, like fish taco overcooked. I was served substandard piece of mahi with burnt edges. Hubby's ono was more edible. nothing here to justify $35 a plate by any means, even in Kauai. dessert was amazing, brownie with homemade gelato, though the gelato was hard frozen (should be soft) so that it had to be cut with a knife, lest you shoot a slippery gelato mass @ another guest. in short, only $23 of our $136 tab was even worth eating (1 app and dessert) plus the long, long wait and and only a verbal apology for what amounted to enough time to make 3 apps puts this firmly in 1 star category. try a more established place like something at the GH. even if it was just a horribly off night, not worth the risk.
(1)Jeff J.
Great breakfast! High quality - excellently prepared food, great service, beautiful setting. This is the benchmark for breakfast in the Poipu area.
(5)Norman L.
We went there last night based on all the glowing reviews. I thought the food was ordinary. For that price I expect to be stunned by the food. Did not happen. Yeah the drinks are good but at $14 for a martini I expect that. The service was excellent, and the bread was lovely, but at $35 for a small piece of fish I expect more than ordinary. Don't waste your money here.
(2)Karri U.
Awesome food, fresh fish, great hotel....
(5)Dana M.
We chose this restaurant over the Beach House, Plantation Gardens, etc for a special dinner after eloping on the beach that morning, and we didn't regret it! The amuse bouche was delicious and appreciated, and helped us pick our main course. The scallop appetizer was delicious. The fish was perfect, and the man who refuses to order anything but a steak wherever he dines (like my husband) will be satisfied with their offerings too. I also greatly appreciated the attentive but casual service for those that want great food without all the fuss.
(4)Ryan H.
Ultra sleek decor and great food. Really enjoyed our meal at Red Salt. Decent wine list, great steak and fish. Friendly service from valet to waitress. Still pretty unknown so it wasn't very busy when we were there. Atmosphere could be better if there were more people at the tables and louder music. Felt like I was in a museum at times. One of the better meals I had on the island.
(4)Kyle C.
UNBELIEVABLY GOOD! I ha the Ono which was cooked to perfection and the root beer float desert made with house made root beer ice cream and that was absolutely delicious. The service was also extraordinary!
(5)Robin A.
Amazing food but very pricey. Fresh tasting and beautiful presentation. Their root beer float dessert is unbelievable! Beautiful place for a romantic meal.
(5)S N.
delicious food, amazing drinks and excellent customer service. but it all comes with a pr$$$ce.
(5)W Q.
this is the best high end restaurant on poipu beach. it's inside koa kea hotel. all of the seafood here is fresh/quality. the red salt is a great touch. the breakfast here is great, but dinner is as good as it gets on this side of the island.
(5)Nibha B.
The food and service were excellent. It's a must visit.
(5)T D.
We came by for dinner on our last night on the island . We were able to make reservations easily the night before. The restaurant is located in what seems to be the lobby area of the Koa Kea hotel. There are views of the ocean, hotel poolside, and lobby of the hotel. The decor was nice and I'd say contemporary . Our server was friendly and offered suggestions which we appreciated. We each had an appetizer and a salad prior to the meal. The presentation on everything was a 10. As far as our entree s my wife had the Ono and I ordered the rack of lamb. I tasted her Ono ad it was cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside and not overdone on the inside. I ordered the lamb med but it came out rare. I'm ok with that and didn't feel a need to say anything. But it might had bothered someone who didn't like it that rare. Our drinks were good and not lacking alcohol. In fact I have to say that the two Mai Tai's I drank at red salt must have had more alcohol in the then the 6 Mai Tai s that I drank the previous night at the Hyatt in Poi Pu. My wife had a couple of martinis and enjoyed them just the same . We shared a rootbeer float at the end of the night. It was good.
(4)Anon Y.
This review is for their sushi served at the bar Fri and Sat evenings - it's interesting how people claim Sushi in Hawaii is the best - honestly not when you're coming from San Francisco where the quality of every thing you get is almost second to none. However, I will say that the sushi served at red salt this past Friday was the best we have eaten in a very long time - anywhere. Chef Akira is a quiet man with great skills and superb ingredients - the selection is limited to around 6 rolls, but they are all spectacular. We walked away wishing we were there to indulge the next evening, but alas we were heading back home. A must visit if you like Sushi and you're there on the weekends.
(4)S H.
Wow the food here is great. Yes, it is not cheap, but it's not totally unreasonable either. We stayed at the hotel and found that if you order room service it is a lot cheaper, and the quality is the same. They have very fresh food that is inventive and fun. I also appreciated that they have a tofu option. We also had breakfast here and found it to be great. We did the breakfast buffet which gives you access to a mediocre cold food bar and unlimited access to hot entrees. If you only order one (e.g. eggs) then you probably won't get your moneys worth, but it's great if you want to try a few. My husband and I ordered pancakes, waffles and omelette's in one sitting and didn't feel badly about not eating it all.
(5)Sarah C.
The food and ambiance were super swank, and the ocean view was lovely, and the service was impeccable, but the food was not nearly as swank as the prices. The $14 diver scallop appetizer (1 scallop) was okay, but the Ono entree ($33) was dreadful -- the fish not fresh and badly overcooked --and the Mahi Mahi entree was merely okay (worth perhaps $15 rather than $33). We went elsewhere for dessert and suggest you let the restaurant find a new chef before giving it a shot.
(1)Maria B.
Two words for breakfast: eggs benedict. We tried this place for breakfast at the Koa Kea hotel after I'd heard that they served the best eggs benedict on the island. Totally true! I ordered them off the menu and they were SO tasty. Really, really good. Their other egg dishes were tasty as well. It's about $12 per entree if you order the breakfast items a la carte from the menu, otherwise you can do the buffet - but that only includes a continental bar and you could get that anywhere. Stick with ordering off the menu and you won't be disappointed. If I'm ever back on Kauai, I'm coming here for breakfast.
(4)Mike H.
During our recent dinner, 5/27/10, unlike other reviewers we received excellent service. The service was the best we received on the island right down to the 2 step serving process. The staff, including our lead waiter from New York, understood the fine line between attentive and bothersome. The food while good didn't live up to the service and location. Not that the food was bad, it was well prepared, standard high end resort food, in no way transcendent. At the prices charged the kitchen needs to step up its game. In many ways Red Salt is a first class dining experience. If that is what you're after go. However, if you're after a culinary experience, save your money for your favorite restaurant when you return home.
(3)Brent V.
This was my second dinner here and I gotta admit it was really, really, really good... Our Server Laura was attentive & very friendly as was the Bartender, Michael :-) It doesn't get any better on Kauai, seriously ! Service A+, Food A+
(5)Sparkles S.
Food was good, but service was a bit slow. It took a while for our food to come out so that's why I gave it 4 stars. Our table got the Kalua Pork Luau appetizer, lamb chops, and shrimp linguine alfredo. Kalua Pork appetizer- it was good but you really have to LOVE pork fat/bacon to enjoy this one. It was about a 2 inch square that was 2 inches deep and about an inch was pure pork fat on a bed of cooked greens Lamb Chops- was actually very good. My hubby ordered this. I am not a fan of lamp chops but I took a bite and asked for another bite. The meat was very moist and the mango jelly was a perfect complement. Shrimp Pasta- pasta is pasta but what set this apart was the shrimp. I got full from the shrimp that I barely touched the pasta. There were lots of good sized shrimp, all cooked perfectly. Not overcooked like most places. Each bite of shrimp "popped" in my mouth with flavor. We were so full there was no room for dessert. Looked like they serve sushi too. The table next to us had a sashimi platter but we weren't given a sushi menu. You have to valet and the valet staff was great. They saw us leaving the restaurant and our car was waiting for us when we got to the front.
(4)Kc S.
Best sushi on the island. Dragon roll, red salt roll, seaweed salad, chefs special were all exceptional.
(5)Chris H.
Walked over to this place while staying next door at the Marriott. The place was sadly pretty empty but it was the middle of November so not exactly high season. I only had a drink and an appetizer but both were great. The boss had the house special mango margarita which got a rave review. The crab cake appetizer was served with three different dipping sauces, each distinct and tasty. The wait staff was very very nice and friendly (they also were not busy so they had time to chat) and gave us some recommendations of places to visit and things to eat. The decor is really well done with a mix of modern with touches of island casual. I will absolutely be back on my next trip. Worth a visit if you are near/in Poipu.
(4)William F.
My wife and I stayed at the hotel there and had several meals there at Red Salt. We ventured out to several other restaurants in the area, but we felt that the service and food was better at Red Salt. We want to give a special thanks to: Nancy Laura, Jim, Justin, Jamie, Meghin, Paul, Frank, Kai, Stuart, Kat and Darel for making our stay so great!
(5)A W.
I was a bit disappointed. The food was served in too big of portions and lacked flavor. The best part was the chocolate torte dessert and my glasses of wine. The restaurant was busy but I didn't like how it felt like you were still sitting in the hotel lobby.
(3)Stephanie F.
My review is between 3 and 4. While my husband and I LOVED our entrees, he had the curry ono and I had the grilled mahi mahi over forbidden rice, our salads and appetizers were not good and the portions were small! For apps, we ordered the ahi tuna (so small!), taro gnocchi (so dry but pork was good!), beet salad and the hearts of palm salad. I think they forgot the dressing on one of the salads b/c was so dry and bland. Also, the service was not great. She never brought us bread and I explained we were in rush to head to an event, and she didnt seem to care that much.
(3)Sonya S.
Teeny portions of truly incredible food ( the lobster ravioli left me wanting more)! Truly top-notch, Red Salt earns its high pricetag honestly, through quality gourmet food and service. I'd call the style of food fusion--though in my case, it was a fusion of Italian and French and... whatever culture inspired the chef to use a lemon filling in the ravioli. My goodness, that was wonderful. The waiter was attentive, without being snobby or unapproachable. (When I tasted my Riesling and realized it was much closer to a dessert wine than the drier wines I'm used to, he put up no fuss and helped with an alternative.) Dessert--a chocolate macadeamia something, was likewise incredible. With port. Mmm, port.
(5)Jonathan E.
The fish i had on my most recent visit was excellent. The shrimp and pasta the visit before that was not. Appetizer and entree portion sizes are small for the price. The desserts are more reasonable (the root beer float is very filling). The staff is excellent, which bumps my review up from 2 stars (meh) to 3 (a-ok). Sushi in the lounge on Friday and Saturday is expensive, and not all that great. Portions are small, and the fish is just ok. I get far better sushi, both in quality and quantity, at home in Tucson, AZ. I'd think they could do better 100 yards from the ocean.
(3)Tara B.
We stayed at the Koa Kea for the first two nights of our honeymoon and ate at Red Salt on the second night. This was definitely my favorite meal of the entire trip. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it lacked some ambiance, but I can over look that when the food is this good. First of all, if you just go there for bread and butter and dessert you'll be in heaven. The entrees are fantastic as well, but the bread and butter is what really shines here. They bring you this fresh, delicious bread with a little dish of unsalted butter and a tiny dish of red salt. You spread the butter on and then add your own salt...OMG, seriously, I'm craving it right now. Anyway...for dinner I had the Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi and it was delicious. I liked that the portion was the perfect size and left me perfectly satisfied. Hubby had the shrimp linguine and said that it was good, but it wasn't his favorite meal of the trip. I really think you have to go with one of the fish entrees here...I mean, you're on Kauai!
(4)John S.
Red Salt was recommended to us by a few friends for our Kauai vacation. I read the other Yelp reviews and some of them were good but not entirely favorable but we decided to go anyway. In short we LOVE this restaurant!! We went on our first night and loved it so much we went on our last night on the island too! It is a phenomenal place. Service is excellent, food is superb, drinks are outstanding. Not much more to say other than be sure to eat here when you're on Kauai!
(5)Nali M.
the first time i dined at this restaurant, i took my dad for father's day. it was pretty disappointing. my dad knew the server (it's a small island (the server isn't there anymore)). because he knew the server, i think he thought he could scathe by unnoticed. the service was very, very poor. the entire dinner, he did not clear the table, even though i kept stacking plates for him. also, he wouldn't refill our drinks. the second time we went for mother's day brunch and it was pretty good. service was good and the food choices were great. the last time i went, it was for my one year wedding anniversary with my husband. our server, gabby, was excellent. she paid close attention to us and catered to our every need. i was very impressed by every course. the food was exquisite! excellent in taste and presentation. i definitely would recommend this restaurant to anyone, kama'aina and visitors alike!
(4)Chris C.
After reading the reviews of Red Salt, we decided to dine her on our final evening on the south shore. The restaurant is in the Koa Kea hotel which tricky to find on foot. To start, I had the ahi poke, which was third of my stay on Kauai and although the presentation was artful, the portion was not commensurate with the $16 price tag. For my main course, I had the vanilla bean mahi served on black rice with an interesting avocado chutney. The fish was perfectly cooked/slightly rare and was much better than the fish I had at Roy's in Poipu but not the best I had on the island. My wife had the New York Strip with fries, which also came with four dipping sauces. The steak was good but she felt it was overpriced at $48 and that the fries were bland. We passed on dessert but were given two housemade dark chocolates that were very interesting, particularly the red salt and cardamom. Overall, service was polite but slow and not up to par with other restaurants in this price range. Also note, they are not open for lunch on weekdays!
(3)Krystle M.
We stayed at Ko'a Kea Resort so naturally, we decided to eat at the restaurant. Unfortunately, the decor doesn't do justice for the quality of the food. The food and the service was awesome! We loved it so much we ate there 2 of the 3 nights we stayed at the resort. We started off with the diver scallop and the pork belly appetizer. Both were so juicy, flavorful and all around delicious! Next I had the Mahi and my bf had the Opah for our entrees. The Mahi was very light and fresh, just what I wanted and was served over rice. The Opah was more hearty, they topped it with a creamy white sauce over mashed potatoes. For dessert, we had the root beer float. They put an interesting twist using vanilla creme soda and root beer ice cream with the fluffiest, softest, fudge cookie---Yumm!!! Our waitress was awesome! She told us exactly what she loved on the menu and didn't disappoint. She always made sure our glass was full. Everyone at Red Salt was incredibly friendly and went out of their way to make our dining experience that much better. The only reason I gave the restaurant 4 stars is because of the decor. If they had just done a few things differently, the place wouldn't feel so much like a diner. First off, I noticed in Kauai none of the restaurants are indoor/outdoor, it must be because of how often it rains. In Maui, the majority of the restaurants are outdoor. There are windows in the front, they should open them and let the fresh air in. Secondly, the tables and chairs. The tables have shiny silver bottoms--that screams diner! And the chairs were a little cheap looking. If they had wood bottoms on the tables with nice wood chairs and opened up the windows, it would change the whole feeling of the restaurant and raise it to the quality of the food. My only other complaint is the the waiter's outfits! Once again, they scream diner and they are just hideous. They should keep the uniforms professional but make them not so cheesy and dorky. Maybe a khaki skirt for the girls and khaki shorts for the guys with a white polo shirt or something. Overall, the food was amazing and the food was some of the best we had in Kauai. We also loved the resort and would recommend this place to our family and friends. The food and the service is 5 star but they just need to make the ambiance 5 star as well.
(4)Tammy M.
Food is absolutely amazing. Have not been so excited about every dish presented by a restaurant is a long time.
(5)Veronica H.
The food is pricey, but it's very much worth it! My husband and I were staying at the Koa Kea on our honeymoon and thought we'd splurge one evening to go to the resort restaurant. He had the Mahi Mahi and I had the special which was fish, but I can't remember just what kind. Our server was especially nice and when we had trouble deciding on which wine we'd like she brought us samples of her favorites. She also described many of the dishes to us and helped us try to keep our meal on the inexpensive side. The next night we went back to the bar to have a Root Beer Float which is a dessert they offer featuring root beer flavored ice cream and cream soda. It also comes with a large, delicious chocolate cookie. We went back the night after that for dinner since our first waitress said they could split a steak for us and sure enough, they gave us each half a steak and a serving of french fries with 3 dipping sauces. The bartender was really great, too!
(5)Beef E.
We had breakfast here because we had the choice of doing a la carte or breakfast buffet. Great food and choices!
(4)Gregg H.
Went to Red Salt to celebrate my wife's birthday. Although I had made the reservation and they had asked about any special occasions, that information must not have made it to our waiter. The restaurant is nicely decorated and although we thought it would be loud, we could easily hear each other during dinner. We had the Kalua Pork to start, which was very good with lots of flavor. For dinner I had the Ahi, while my wife had the Ono. Both were delicious. My favorite was actually the crab mashed potatoes that came with my wife's dinner. Dessert was the gelato - vanilla and chocolate chip were good, but the mango and sea salt caramel were outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the valet did actually wish my wife happy birthday as we were leaving, so someone got the message.
(4)Britt G.
My husband and I went for dinner and it was awesome. (I wish I had realized they are open for breakfast! It sounds yummy!) We both ordered the Poipu Surf Martini and it might be the best drink I've ever had. It was deceptively strong and tasted so fresh. Our waiter, Brian, was great. You get what you pay for here: the food and service definitely live up to the prices. I had the poke that's pictured on the yelp account and it was ridiculously good. Alternating pieces of spicy hamachi and regular ahi. I had the CA beet salad and my husband had the shrimp carbonara linguine. Both were delicious. I highly suggest this restaurant for a special meal - adults only. The hotel is small and quiet so leave the kids at home.
(5)candy c.
After eating a fantastic breakfast here every morning, we were excited to try dinner. We were very disappointed. The service was poor and the food was both under- and over-seasoned. Quite a let down considering how much we enjoyed our stay at Koa Kea. 2.5 stars for dinner, 4 stars for breakfast.
(2)Ines C.
So yummy! Very good breakfast! I would love to go here again, I bet their lunch and dinner options are really good.
(5)Leanne K.
Lemon souffle pancakes were the best and I normally don't eat pancakes...
(4)Heidi J.
We have several restaurants we've enjoyed in Kauai over the years, but this one was a new experience and well worth it. As we walked and played along the beach, we came across this gorgeous restaurant. The menu was rich with flavor and looked to have something for each member of our family, so we thought we'd give it a try. Everything was well-executed, from the service to the meal. We loved their signature poke appetizer so much we ordered a second. It is perfect for families or a romantic evening. I am not a big fan of cotton candy, but our kids definitely enjoyed this very fun dessert. We will definitely be going back!
(5)Stasea A.
Had an amazing date night dinner here!! The steak was delicious... A bit pricey but worth it. The mahi dish was cooked to perfection as well. Our server Robert was the right amount of attentiveness and not overwhelming. Nice ambiance. Worth getting dressed up!! Could use a little background music but that's not really a big deal. This place has had it's ups and downs since it opened but its finally found its groove!! Aloha!!
(5)Matt P.
Excellent, world-class cuisine. But the atmosphere isn't quite right. I really wanted to love Red Salt, but there's something missing. There's no "magic" to the dining experience. Positives: There are no faults to the food. We had surprisingly strong mai tais, which tasted like actual classy drinks, not sickly sweet tourist nectar. For our appetizer, we shared one perfectly-cooked diver scallop. We each ordered the Opa -- set atop a mound of crab and potato cake, with huge, tender nuggets of crab -- which was divine. Dessert was a gelato sampler, made in-house. All four flavors: mango, vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, were delicious. The presentation of the gelato is beautiful. Four ceramic cubes filled with gelato sitting on a ceramic barge. (for bonus fun, play stack-the-block with the ceramic cubes after you're finished eating!) The decor is contemporary, minimalist, and expensive-looking. Also, the restaurant looks out onto the pool area of the Koa Kea hotel (gorgeous place, I'd love to stay there in the future), and a partial ocean view beyond. You really feel that you're in Hawaii. Negatives: As I said earlier, the place doesn't feel quite right. I had trouble putting my finger on it. I think part of the issue is that you're eating a fancy meal in what is essentially the hotel lobby of the Koa Kea hotel. For a dinner this expensive, I think there should be more of a separation from the registration desk. There wasn't a peep of music playing in the restaurant. If we strained our ears, we could faintly hear music playing in the lobby. Also, the waitress's outfits were matronly and unflattering. I felt sorry for these beautiful women every time they walked by in those terrible shirts and skirts. Lastly, I think it was too bright at the tables. I hear that Red Salt is a great place for romantic dinners, but the spotlight above our table was more reminiscent of an interrogation room than a candlelight dinner. Overall, this was a dinner of amazing food in a not-quite-right environment. Some minor sound and lighting changes could make this a must-visit restaurant.
(4)Tiffany B.
located in the Koa Kea hotel which is a very hard place to find, it's sort of hidden behind the waiohai and kiahuna hotels. Interesting how the security (i think that's their job tittle) do bell service, vallet, almost everything. moving forward, the hotel and restaurant is beautiful. No outside seating but a few window seats and boots. The lounge directly adjacent to the lobby, whote sofas very very contemporary. But as we walked in it was very very quiet, somewhat odd feeling, it's almost as if something was missing, maybe some kind of music or something. other then that, service SUPERB ans dinner delicious. bread- served with unsalted butter with a cute side of RED SALT amuse busche- truffle ahi poke! holly molly broke the mouth app- ahi sashimi with wakame, and this sesame ginger sauce! whooo, i don't eat a lot of raw fish but this was good. especially with that bomb sauce entree(not a lot of choices, which i liked) - i had the tofu he had the steak (huge!) with a side of parmesan fries, and is also comes with three different dipping sauces. too full for dessert, so we both had a port. but they stil give you some home made candies to complete the meal!
(4)Erin Z.
Our waiter also served as maitre d and busboy so that wasn't a great start. The red salt with the bread basket was tasty but my salad wasn't anything I would order again. My husband liked his filet but I didn't care for my risotto. The gelato was the highlight (other than the butter for me). We heard staff complain about the need to hire more servers so I believe that is an ongoing issue.
(3)Rob W.
Superb breakfast with amazing lemon souffle pancakes, eggs Benedict, and the bacon/potato hash making a scrumptious combo. The cornbread muffins were also yummy.
(4)Carl C.
This was the best food on Kauai. We went there twice it was so good. The Opah and Ono were both incredible! The appetizers are small, so don't try to make those pass as a main course...
(5)Miss T.
This restaurant is fantastic and I would suggest, for couples, splitting the 13 oz NY steak. It was delicious, tender, and served with fries and 4 or 5 different dipping sauces that were very complimentary with the steak. The kitchen also split our plate for us which was nice. Additionally, there is only a $20 corkage fee which is not bad. There is a Living Foods Market 3 miles up the road with a great selection of wines from $15 and up! We picked up a Silver Oak Cab for $80 at the market. We split the kalua pork appetizer (divine) and the endive salad (which I wouldn't recommend as it was too sweet). However, we left very pleased and full for less than $100 and we will definitely return for the food, service and ambience. A note about the service... The host and waiter did not let our water glasses get empty nor our wine glasses. Our waiter, Robert, was prompt and courteous as was the host. When I ordered a coffee after my meal, I immediately heard the beans grinding and enjoyed one of the best cups I have ever had. I may also look into staying at the property as we hated the Hyatt. I reviewed the Hyatt here on yelp if you would like to take a look. Hands down a don't miss property or restaurant while in Kauai!
(5)Amber B.
From my scallop appetizer with pea tendrils, to their generous bar drinks to the moist fish and amazing flavor combinations, Red Salt is a must! It's just a shame we visited it at the end of our trip. Atmosphere is modern and super clean. Staff was friendly and also accommodating to my husbands gluten allergy. We have one last night in Kauai and we are going to Red Salt one more time.
(5)Sam O.
Located in the Koa Kea hotel which adjacent to the Marriott Waiohai. Thought that this was the best dinner we had during our week's stay in Kauai. Service was great and the food was very good; both in taste and presentation. I considered a five star rating but feel that I need to have dined at a restaurant more than once and have experienced consistent exceptional service and food. Will definitely go back for dinner on our next trip to Kauai. Looking forward to enjoying additional items on the menu.
(4)C H.
Absolutely wonderful! The delicious appetizers simply get your palate ready for the main course. For entrees, we had the slow cooked chicken and pan seared Ono. Both dishes were plated beautifully and the flavors were the best we have had on this vacation. The service was impeccable!! Our server was very attentive yet unobtrusive. What an amazing meal and a memorable evening.
(5)Joanna K.
To date, this is the best restaurant experience that I've had on island. The food is pretty amazing (some might say it's salty, but the place is called "Red Salt" after all). Service is superb. Agree with the previous yelper - your server will know the best item on the menu. We went with the server's recommendation for entree (mon'chong fish with pumpkin) and it was divine. So flavorful. On the other hand, we ordered some "old faithfuls", you know, safer bets for appetizers, such as poke, etc. Our selection of 'safer bets' were not as memorable as the server's recommendations. Food presentation is phenomenal. I don't necessarily recommend the pork appetizer (get the prawns!); however, it was the best presentation I've ever seen from an aroma-standpoint. The pork was sent to our table under a glass cover. When the cover was removed by the server, your nose goes wild! I regret opting out of the cotton candy (I ordered creme brûlée - yum yum). I guess it's a good reason to visit again when I return to Kauai.
(5)CatwomanRoar M.
Pretty delicious stuff! We got (pics included): Appetizers 1. Red Salt Poke - A 2. Kalua Pork "Luau" - A - Kinda like a pulled pork eggroll. Yummm Dinner 1. Red Salt 7 Spiced Seared Ahi - B+ - would have given an A, but the edamame risotto was a MESS. More like wet green rice. **Recommend sub out for something else** 2. Big Island Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi - B+ Well cooked & very flavorful. 3. Lobster Ravioli - B Creamy & large portions of lobster chunks in sauce! Dessert We were there for a special occasion. 1. They surprised us with a tower of pineapple cotton candy. It was really good. 2. Dark Chocolate Macadamia Nut Torte - A Standard torte, delicious nonetheless Drinks $$ but strong. Atmosphere Swank hotel, too bad in a sleepy island. heh. Would've been fun to have a lil music & loiter at the bar. ; ) Overall. It's pricey & the portions are small-ish. It's a restaurant in a swanky hotel, so it's to be expected. We got a few other main courses, but I didn't try them so didn't include. But everyone was very happy with their meal. Not extraordinary, but very, very solid. One of the best on the Island?
(4)elizabeth t.
I loved the atmosphere of this restaurant. The portions were also very generous - I couldn't eat half of the pork they gave me (and it was AMAZINGLY cooked). Also loved the ahi carpaccio - the combination of flavors were amazing. And the mushroom soup? Holy crap - get it. Split it, if you want to get other appetizers - it's worth it.
(4)Ludwig J.
Red Salt. The name of the single greatest restaurant on Kauai and among the greatest in this little place I like to call "The World." Yesterday I ventured to this eating establishment with one thing on my mind, an exquisite meal; I received just that. As I walked in the door my eyes were flooded with the elegant decor including state of the art "slappy fans" as I like to call them along with servings of red salt surrounding the table. Next came my meal, the vanilla sauced Mahi Mahi, a sure fire hit. The delivery was sensational as my tastebuds rode the tornado of flavor. My father and chef of the finest eating establishment in Chicago even stated, "This is the best preparation of fish I have ever had." To put things lightly I would like to be nourished by this place for every meal of every day. One might recollect this review is coming to an end but NO, next came dessert. Our benevolent waitress brought us state of the art cotton candy without a single request... LEGENDARY is all I have to say. Thank you for your cooperation. Yours Truly, Ludwig
(5)Adrienne N.
A true gem! We don't often give out 5 star reviews for restaurants, but this was one of our most enjoyable dining experiences. Menu is modern & inventive, and the food was incredible. Staff was attentive without being overbearing. The ambience is romantic w/ modern decor. Not much of an actual view of the beach, but the food more than makes up for it. When we visit Kauai again, we'll definitely be back (and considering staying on the south end of the island just so we can be closer to our beloved Red Salt).
(5)Bonnie n.
Came out here for the lemon- pineapple souffle pancakes (thankfully I was able to get the pineapple on the side) These were so light and fluffy. Yum.. Wish it came with something else, because after awhile it became a bit bland and boring. (i should have ordered some bacon) Breakfast burrito- nothing special The service was spotty even though they were empty besides us and one other table.
(3)Anne M.
We tried a few other well rated restaurants as we chalked Red Salt up to another hotel restaurant, so not expecting much. After grabbing a great cocktail (spiked lemonade) at the beach bar and talking to the wonderful bar tender, Jamie, she recommended the sushi at Red Salt. Loving sushi, we decided to give it a go. We sat down at the bar and met Justin, the sushi chef, right away. He had some great beer recommendations and after discussing the menu, decided we wanted the "chefs choice" of sushi options. Justin is amazing. His flavor combinations with the freshest fish available, lead to the best sushi we have ever had. The sashimi cuts of fish were generous and the ingredients Justin added were so good! So good in fact, that we came back the following night as well. We didn't order sushi off the menu at all, we just let Justin lead the meal. This is the way to go to experience some amazing fish! We also ordered the onion soup and the beet salad...both were tasty. Justin works Tuesday-Saturday, so plan accordingly. We have been to the Big Island, Maui and Kauai on this trip and this was our best meal...both times! Yes, it's pricey, but so worth it!
(5)Chip S.
Very busy but great service. The food is good overall. Would recommend to everyone. The drinks are excellent.
(4)Roxy R.
This was BY FAR my most favorite place to eat my entire [1 week] trip. Luckily I was staying in the hotel! We ate there three times [2 room service and one dine in]. The bread and butter [and red salt] are delicious. Especially when dipped into the mushroom bisque. I also ordered the fettucine - SO GOOD. I wish I had ordered it the last time I ate there, too. We tried the marinated tofu - very bland. And the seared mahi was delicious, but not as good as that dang fettucine. :) The service was amazing, and the atmosphere is great. Pretty dark, but kinda makes it romantic. Oh! We had breakfast there a few times, too. Loved the coffee, service was great! Didn't order anything special, food wise. My husband ordered a "burrito" and seemed to enjoy it. :)
(5)E. M.
Just came here for the pineapple soufflé pancake, OMG it's a must have! Don't expect that it's density is the same as traditional pancakes. It's pluffy and light and yummy!
(5)Greg Y.
Amazing. Went here with the wife on a date night during our family vacation. Service was attentive and knowledgable. Our server, Samdi, had some great suggestions and was on top of the fact that my wife is gluten-free. The decor is modern stylish and comfortable. Cocktails were fun, tasty and generous; I didn't know exactly what I wanted but I knew I wanted gin, so the bartender mixed gin with lilikoi and St. Germaine and served it like a martini. It hit the spot! We split the scallops appetizer, which was the best scallop I've ever had, then we got the ono & the ahi and traded off. Lots of foodgasming. The desserts, chocolate torte (GF) and lilikoi creme brulee were excellent, and the coffee was exceptional. I also had a Hitachino ginger ale (alcoholic) that I'd never seen before and I really enjoyed that. Yes, it's expensive, but no more so than any of the gourmet places in & around Los Angeles, and unlike some of them, it was worth every penny. By the way, the Yelp map for this place and that area in general is not accurate. Check the google map.
(5)Jeff C.
Came here for breakfast and dinner since we were staying at Koa Kea and we were impressed both times even with high expectations from good yelp reviews. For breakfast, they started us off with some mini muffins with some awesome super creamy butter. I ordered the lemon chiffon pancakes and my wife ordered the eggs benedict. The lemon souffle pancakes were amazing, so light and fluffy with just the right amount of lemony tang. Note that they do take about 30 minutes to make, so you might want to order this as soon as you sit down. The eggs benedict was great as well. The eggs were cooked well and the hollandaise sauce was very tasty with a hint of citrus flavor. My wife loves her eggs benedict and she thought this one was a winner. For dinner we ordered the bronzed diver scallops, the pan seared pork tenderloin, and the pan seared ono. The scallops were cooked perfectly and were tasty. The ono was good as well, we loved the king crab and yukon gold hash it came with. I thought the pork was very good- tender and the guava bbq sauce gave it a little distinct flavor. My wife thought it tasted very much like Chinese bbq pork- it does a little but I thought the guava gives it some subtle differences. Overall, a very good dinner with an awesome breakfast... 5 stars! The service here was very attentive as well.
(5)Monty B.
The restaurant is located inside a hotel, which is fine. I didn't realize it at first. The waiter was very attentive and actually told us his name. We started out with the Bay Scallops and shared (2 bowls) of the mushroom soup. Both were delicious. The scallops were some of the best I'd had. My wife felt the same way. She had a tofu dish w sweet rice (I believe it was a vegan dish) and I had the lobster raviolis. Both were top notch. The lobster plate came w the tail, and 3 raviolis. The presentation was fantastic, and so was the taste of each dishes. We finished w the Root Beer Float, which was done up and not what I expected. If you're looking for a very nice place to have a quiet dinner with someone, this would be it.
(5)Shawn B.
We had breakfast here several times. It was the Mac-nut waffles that kept us coming back. However, it's not cheap; although it's not horrid for Kauai. We spent about $45 each time for breakfast. What we ate: Macadamia nut waffles - At least one of us ordered this on each of our trips. The waffle is light and fluffy and served with thick whipped cream and a sliced banana. The banana really puts it over the top. This dish is basically a dessert, so order some protein on the side. Eggs Benedict with pancetta hash - Not your typical eggs benedict, as there is no English muffin. But yummy. Lemon souffle pancakes - These were also basically a dessert. The menu says "served with creme fraiche," so when they showed up with a drizzle of white stuff on them I was puzzled. I was expecting a dollop of creme fraiche, which I think would have been a great counterpoint to the sweetness. These were interesting more than delicious. Chipolata sausage - Tasted kind of like hot dogs. Not a fan. Portuguese sausage - Good flavor, but has huge chunks of fat. Also, you get six 1/4" slices for $4.50. In summary, if you're coming here for the Mac-nut waffles I definitely recommend this place.
(4)Tracy V.
Had a fantastic meal at Red Salt. We all had different dishes and it was all delicious. Topped off by fabulous service. Our waiter Bryan was excellent. Attentive, knowledgeable and not intrusive. Went back on our last night because we had such a great previous experience. Another fabulous night. The soups are stand-outs. Had the Ono and Ahi and both had a delicious mix of flavors. Even the roasted chicken is wonderful. The desserts are also unique. The root beer float has a fun twist! Its expensive but most nicer restaurants in Hawaii are. This one of the few that is worth the price. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Gianna N.
The food is good, but the portions are TINY, especially considering they're charging the same entree prices as other restaurants that give much greater portions. We were underwhelmed by the service as well. Our server was nice, but she seemed very uninformed about the menu. This place seems quite pretentious. It's not worth the cost.
(2)Anders D.
What a great place. My wife and I stayed at the Koa Kea resort for a few days. The breakfast here was great and reasonably priced for the area. We also had dinner here a couple times. The ahi/Ono appetizer was awesome. We asked for a side of spicy mayo to go with it and I think it finished it off well. Both of our meals were great. My wife ordered the tortellini with 4oz lobster. The lobster was great and fit well with the three different tortellini. I ordered the shrimp fettuccini which was very good as well. The cocktails seemed a little pricy to us so we split a bottle of red wine instead. The service was great and atmosphere was relaxing.
(5)Chris G.
I was excited to eat at my hotel, especially because the reviews for Red Salt were good. Well, my experience was good also, certainly not out of this world. The speed to get the food to my table was very slow, which was more annoying because the tables that sat after me got their food first. I understand a slow pacing at a nice restaurant, but it seemed like my order got lost in the kitchen or something. Just as I was about to complain my food came out, Murphy's Law. Anyway, that aside, the restaurant is very nice, good ambiance, and nice wait staff, all very friendly. As for food, we had the signature appetizer, Red Salt Poke, which was good (solid B), but not amazing. I felt it lacked some needed zest. It had a complex and refreshing taste, but the finish in my mouth was lacking, but it was good and worth a try. For the main course, I split the Pan Seared Tenderloin of Pork (B+) and the Lobster Ravioli (A). The pork was tender and on a great tasting bed of potatoes, the ravioli had a nice chunk of lobster and was realllllly good. So, overall the food was a B/B+, the setting was an A, the wait staff was an A, but the annoying pace to get my food prevents me from giving more than 4 stars.
(4)Cat D.
Located in the Koa Ke'a hotel, this modern, casual, yet elegant restaurant was a pleasure to dine in. Parking was not available, or for a cost. so we parked outside and walked in. The trolley took us to our car when we departed. The hostess was kind and seated us promptly. Our waiter was there at all the right times and the food was delicious. Started with warm hamakua mushroom bisque, which was subtle, light creaminess and very good. The unique red salt poke dish was different, but i would rather have regular Hawaiian style poke, this was a little too fancy for my take, but overall it tasted good. Main dish for me was the Red salt 7 spiced Seared ahi with edamame risotto. Anniversary treat included lilikoi cotton candy- made fresh just for us and was so fabulous!! Dessert included this yummy licious root beer float with Wailua Ice cream and this decant warm chocolate cookie that just melted in your mouth----oh my! Met a famous persons' parents, when this particular Company went public. They were so sweet.
(4)Emily H.
Our food at Red Salt - breakfast, lunch at the pool, dinner in the restaurant - was aces. Everything was well prepared and delicious, and most food was terribly interesting. Dinner especially was inventive and wonderful, with terrific service. Service at breakfast, on the other hand, was slow and erratic, though provided by very friendly and nice folks.
(5)Amol P.
I have lost count of how many times we went to poipu for dinner during our stay in kauai .. we were staying in lihue and poipu has all the dining options that can satisfy your palate, so we made the 25 minute trip each night to find a new place to dine. Red salt ranked high on our shortlist .. we walked around the koa kea resort before our dinner since we had arrived early well before our reservation time.. the dining room is not directly on the oceanfront .. I was quite impressed with the tropical old style fans, nice touch ! I had the martini sampler to start with since that was a house specialty .. definitely worth it !! For appetizer we had the much hyped Red Salt Poke - Ahi/Walu sashimi, wakame, Tobiko, Thin cucumber, Ginger Soy Reduction .. We were so disappointed with this .. the cucumbers definitely added a refreshing touch but everything else had a stamp of blandness.. we love sashimi and it was beautifully presented though We shared the pan seared ahi with sake spiced coconut broth .. the broth has the makings of divinity but there was so little of it on the plate that we ran out of it .. they were out of the ono that night so we substituted ahi for it .. the ahi was very mild and fresh but the overall dish lacked the punch once we ran out of broth. Lobster ravioli was definitely the worst dish of the night .. the texture of the ravioli itself was off and the inside wasn't great either .. This was one of the recommendations from our server, so we definitely accounted for that while tipping the server :) The service was very friendly though so take nothing away from it ! The valet parking service was very friendly and they even had recommendations for us to dine at other restaurants in kauai .. We left with an uninspired feeling that this place promised so much but did not deliver the goods.
(3)Jory S.
Best meal we had on Kauai! Service was warm, engaging, thoughtful, and attentive. Food was out of this world! Original twists to some old favorites and some classic offerings as well. Not kid friendly which was exactly what we were looking for! Drink menu was great as well. Those Mai Tais were the real deal!! Yum! Two big thumbs up!
(5)Sara M.
Best (and nearly only) breakfast in Poipu! We walked down from the Hyatt along the beach. It was a nice morning walk that was rewarded with a great breakfast and great service. An omelet with all the fixings and one of the best eggs benedict I've ever had (the sauce was light and delicious). While we waited we snacked on delightful corn muffins with whipped cinnamon butter. Coming from San Francisco, I don't mean to be a food snob, but most all of Hawaii's restaurants are lack luster and expensive, this holds up to the price of the meal. Atmosphere: 5 stars (modern beachy) Food: 5 stars (good ingredients expertly prepared) Service: 5 starts (our waiter was very attentive and gave us some great tips - thanks Guy) Value: 5 stars (for Hawaiian standards)
(5)Angie H.
The hubby and I stayed at Koa Kea for our anniversary, so naturally we chose to dine at the Red Salt since its convenient location and the raving reviews on yelp. We came for breakfast twice, ordered room service once, ordered lunch at pool side once, and had dinner here once. Overall, it was a bit of a disappointment. There was dirty silverware at breakfast, followed next day by moldy fruit platter, which was sent back, only to be replaced by another plate of not so fresh fruit(probably at least day old..if not more),they did not even bother to take it off our bill. Lunch was decent but the panini was way too dry and salty. Saving grace is the fruit smoothie at the bar was quite delicious Dinner service was OK, I enjoyed my grilled tofu dish, my hubby loved his lobster; that was a plus. We didn't eat sushi at the bar but did enjoy our drinks & conversation with the bar tenders, both where very friendly. Lastly we ordered room service for breakfast on our last morning, I wanted the traditional and hubby wanted the "American" or something, I can't recall, but they sent us both the traditional.... I would want to stay at the hotel again, but probably won't eat here next time.
(2)Amanda S.
Absolutely our favorite dining experience on Kauai...Prompt seating, impeccable decor, top-notch service! We fell in love with the hotel the moment we walked in. The restaurant experience only enhanced our feelings. Each small course generously added to our experience of the flavors of Kauai. All personnel with whom we came into contact exceeded our expectations. When we mentioned my gluten allergy, immediate provisions were made. The entire meal was fabulous!
(5)Kara L.
We had breakfast at Red Salt this morning. My husband and I had the eggs Benedict, and it was the best we have ever had. I'd give 5 stars if it hadn't taken so long for the food to come out.
(4)Eric R.
We ate here for my mother in law birthday. It's a fine dining experience. We brought our 2 kids (1&3) . The yelp reviews says kids are ok. They had a really nice high chair! The kids menu has cheesey Risotto! I love that for a kids meal instead of mac and cheese. The service was great. The wine list was horrifically expensive, but there were a few gems on their list for a decent markup. The daily fresh fish option was great. I think this place is great for special to semi special occasions. The total tab for 4 adults and 2 kids meals, 20% tip, and a bottle of wine was $400.
(5)Deborah P.
First time at red salt. Excellent!!! We are from New York City and very use to great restaurants. This is right up there. Excellent food and service. Will eat there again on this trip.
(5)John S.
The food at dinner was fine, the service was friendly, but the restaurant was unbelievably loud, to the point that we could barely hear each other over dinner. This is NOT a romantic or intimate restaurant; at dinnertime, the atmosphere is more like TGI Friday's -- just way too loud. Breakfast is decent, especially since it was included in our room rate. If we had paid the full price for breakfast here, we would have been very disappointed by the "buffet" (some cold cuts, Swiss cheese cubes, pastries, cereal and juices) and by the $14 price for most breakfast entrees.
(2)rachel k.
Excellent food quality, presentation and service. Accomodating for any changes to dishes you may need. Tiny, INCREDIBLY tiny portions. Be prepared to spend a lot to feel full. E.g. the poke, delicious and beautifully presented, is about 1/4 the amount of fish as anywhere else on the island for a similar price. Mushroom bisque was great. Lobster was a bit overcooked but again well presented and seasoned perfectly. If you are on kauai, definitely a fine dining choice to check out for the food, but make sure your expectations are set in terms of value for money, something you will not find here.
(3)Angela B.
One night at The Feral Pig in Lihue, we had the good fortune of making friends with the bartender & staying past closing, which afforded us a) a fantastic opportunity to take advantage of his skills and b) a chance encounter with Red Salt Chef de Cuisine Adam Watten. We talked cocktails, then seafood, then island food in general, & then in the most subtle & graceful way possible he delicately suggested that, although he was clearly biased, if we had the time during our trip, he had a hunch that we might enjoy what they had going on at Red Salt. We read a few reviews, felt confident, found an open night, & made a reservation. So. Having tried just about every "fancy" restaurant on Kauai that's not a resort embarrassment (and at least a couple that are), I feel I can say with authority that Red Salt is the best food there is, bar none, on Kaua. Period. You just will not find anything else even remotely in the same league. Every dish was party-in-your-mouth amazing. For starters, we split the Bronzed Diver Scallops, the Kalua Pork, & the Kailani Farms Mixed Greens. All were perfect; every time we finished the last bite of one, I think I wept a little. For mains I had their signature Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi (best fish of the trip, bar none) & my BF had the Rack of Lamb, which was perfectly cooked and accompanied by some fun & interesting accouterments. No, neither were cheap, but they did consist of hearty portions, to the point that we were both nearly too full to finish them. So I'd say you get your money's worth in that department. An excellent wine selection that we were both pleased with. Also, trust the server on recommendations. I was thinking of having a chard with the vanilla bean mahi, but the server suggested one of their Sauv Blancs instead. I was skeptical, thinking vanilla bean & mahi would overpower it, but decided to trust. So glad I did. The sauv was actually a bigger-bodied, more flavorful wine than the grenache blanc I was already drinking, & the bold grapefruit pithe notes perfectly balanced the mahi. (Also, no hint of sweetness in the vanilla bean mahi, AT ALL, so don't be afraid.) My bf had a lovely Shiraz that went with the lamb very nicely The dining room is fairly small for a resort restaurant, & there are even fewer tables than there might be given how enormous each one is and how far apart their spaced. The decor is sleek & modern. Our service was quite good, though it did seem like they might have been a bit understaffed (maybe 3 servers for ~20 tables? That seems like a lot when you're expected to provide such a high level of service). Still, our server did everything he could to be attentive & helpful. The only real ding I have is on the cocktails. My bf ordered one made with Zaya dark rum because it seemed like the least sweet & sugary of the list, but it was still so sweet that neither of us enjoyed it much. Unless you like that kind of thing, you might want to steer clear of the cocktails. But everything else was *spot on*. I'd recommend to anyone who wants a really, really excellent meal on Kauai (&...y'know. Doesn't mind paying accordingly).
(5)Chris F.
very good service. Really cool setting/ambiance at a small resort in Poipu (it's a little challenging to find sort of behind the Marriott Vaca club on a private road). The food was very good (we were there for dinner) and spendy as you might expect @ an upscale eatery in the islands. I took two 14 year olds there and it might be a little upscale for the avg teen unless he/she is really a budding foody. I had Paella and it was good, not a home run, but good. 1 of my companions had the caramelized Ono. I had a bite and it WAS a home run so I know what to order if/when I get back there. IF you have desert try their version of a root beer float; very very good. They also offer a $50 hamburger I may try next time if I'm hungry enough (has lobster and foie gras as 2 of the "condiments"). I saw at least a few people (guys) order it while we were there.
(4)Teri K.
We were pleasantly surprised at the inventive, delicious food and the warm friendly service really made it a fun evening. The sleek modern design of the restaurant makes you expect stiff formal service, but all of the people there were cheerful and welcoming, so you feel very relaxed & ready to have a good time. The food was beautifully presented and the flavor combinations so interesting. I had the Ahi carpaccio appetizer and the bf had their evening special: a Venison foie gras terrine with lilikoi jam & pickled mustard seeds. Both were excellent. We both had fish for dinner. He tried their signature vanilla seared Mahi. It sounds weird, but the combination of the fish, black rice, and "guacamole" was fantastic. I had the Ono in coconut broth with crab & potato Hash. Smell & taste were delicious & I wanted more of that Hash for breakfast! I was surprised that my creme brulee dessert was rather plain compared to what we'd seen & tasted for dinner, but there was nothing wrong with the the yummy lilikoi flavor. Not sure if they make their own bread, but it was also delicious with their butter & red salt. Dinner portions were totally satisfying, but we couldn't help asking for more bread! The only reason I couldn't put 5 stars was that the service was a tad slow, but really, our server, Nancy, was so lovely & kind that we didn't mind waiting. I would highly recommend red salt to visitors or locals. I'm looking forward to our next time!
(4)Pam W.
This place was recommended by a "local" and we were not disappointed. I had the beet salad which was fabulous. The cheese dressing was amazing. My entrée was the seared ahi with edamame risotto and a coconut "cloud"---which was a very fluffy, delightful sauce. Hubby had tortellini with 4 oz. of lobster. We both loved what we ordered and topped it off with the gelato dessert--4 delicious flavors, all unique. Kudos to the chef(s)! The presentation of everything was very classy and well done. We also were treated to their homemade cotton candy, hazelnut in flavor. Apparently they make all sorts of unique flavors of this and serve it for anniversaries, birthdays, etc. Our waiter was Robert, and he was one of the best waiters I think we have ever encountered---anywhere. I can't wait to return to Kauai and eat here again. 5 star all the way!
(5)J M.
The food here was great and the service is what really is cause for writing this review. Chris was our server that evening and my wife and I agreed he was one of the best servers we have ever had, in any restaurant, ever. Michael (host/manager) was also great about getting us a table on late notice and was very accommodating. Thanks to the team at Red Salt for a great dining experience.
(5)Richard G.
We ate here 2 years ago, excellent, ate there last night same thing! Service is sublime! Kuala Pork (cheek meat) followed by Warm Mushroom Bisque, entree Lobster Ravioli. Expect to pay $100 per person but worth it
(5)Adam W.
Went to this place based on yelp and was very disappointed. People who rate this high have no idea what good food is or tastes like. While the food was poor at best, service and drinks are in fact good. My fiancée and I wanted a lighter dinner so we ordered four apps: tuna, prawns, scallops, and sweet onion soup. Tuna had clearly been seared sometime earlier and refrigerated; was not seared a la minute as I would have expected. Sauce tasted like watered down bottled hoisin. Prawns were a joke. They were u25 shrimp at best (ie small shrimp). Nowhere near the size of a prawn. Sauces were gross, including a brown avocado sauce served with it that needed more acid to stop it from oxidizing. Scallops were ok but had a poor sear on them and again were not hot. Sweet onion soup had no taste of saffron as advertised and was literally liquid cream. Overall, I recommend fellow yelpers save their money from this place and eat at one of the hole in the wall places that sell fresh poke and lau lau over the island. Way better food for much less $$.
(1)AJ S.
This was a tasty find. The food was very good and the service friendly and informative. The setting in a hotel was a little bit of a let down but the food made up for it.
(4)Jay E.
Ok so the best eggs Benedict ever! Knocked my socks off! Great breakfast and super service! We can't wait to come back and try dinner!
(5)Sophia C.
The waitress was overworked, inattentive and frustrated. The pineapple soufflé was very eggy..and the eggs were bland and cold .. The potatoes were cold and tasted like 3 days old ...
(1)Heather M.
I stayed at the Ko'a Kea Hotel and Resort and Red Salt is located right past the guest lobby. We had breakfast there every morning before we went out for the day and let me tell you, they never disappointed me. From the chocolate chip pancakes to the delicious omelettes everything was outstanding. For our anniversary dinner we also ate at Red Salt. We had the honeymoon package through the Ko'a Kea which included dinner there so we crossed our fingers that it would be awesome and it was. We started with the poke and split the mixed green salad. Both of which were really good but the complimentary bread with red salt and chilled gazpacho shooter were divine. My entree was the Madagascar Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi Mahi and my hubby got the Pan Seared Ono. Both were really good but I would like a little more flavor. Season a little more with that housemade red salt and it would have been top notch. As for dessert, I was teetering on the verge of full but our meal included dessert. So twist my arm, I ordered the Root Beer Float. I know what you are thinking. Of all the things that's what you pick but it really peeked my interest and I was not disappointed. It was deconstructed in a way that was so delicious I was blown away. Homemade root beer ice cream and locally made vanilla soda blended so effortlessly it was really special. And then to top it off they serve it with this ooey-gooey chocolate macadamia nut cookie served warmed and almost under cooked that each bite just melts in your mouth! I'm still salivating over that cookie! Spot on, Red Salt! Way to cap off my stay at the Ko'a Kea with an amazing anniversary dinner.
(4)Joe E.
Food was meticulously prepared and presented. We were particularly impressed with the ono appetizer, essentially a fancy sashimi. (Ono is better raw than cooked, IMO.) Service was cordial, but erratic; drinks, for example, were a long time coming, then came out one at a time. (We were a party of 10, and I understand the problems that big tables present to servers; but why not make ALL the drinks and bring them all at once?) Prices, for Hawaii, were also quite reasonable -- less than $100/person, including one drink each, excluding tip. Recommended.
(4)Michelle H.
This place was fabulous! We werent even staying at this hotel and still came twice for breakfast. The food was phenomenal and the service was top notch. The servers here were all incredibly kind and made for an excellent dining experience. Not to mention, the prices were really great considering were at a resort in Hawaii! We will be back!
(5)Paula M.
Great breakfast. Loved the lemon pineapple soufflé. The view of the waves breaking off shore and a tranquil garden/pool created a perfect vacation atmosphere. The hotels gift shop had great sarongs that were reasonably priced.
(5)Josie D.
Fantastic dining experience. The rack of lamb was perfectly prepared! They even accommodated my gluten allergy. Delicious food and strong drinks! What else do you need? Swanky atmosphere. Casual is ok but you'll feel better dressing up a little bit. We were told that this is the new local favorite and we can see why!
(5)Gabriel S.
We have been at Red Salt many times in the last years. Five stars is truly well-deserved, but before I start to sing the praises, let's get the "hum...may be not so good after all" out of the way: -PAELLA is a well known dish, what you get there is a RISOTTO, change the name and be truthful, instead of misrepresenting a dish. They are VERY DIFFERENT DISHES, and by the way, paella is a much better and refined dish...but alas, requires more time, skills and more ingredients. A rose by any other name...is not always a rose. -We had the $50 burger. DO NOT GO FOR IT, is an ok $20 burger, at best, nothing but a total failure for a place like Red Salt, trying to get on the wave of HyperBurgers sweeping the restaurant scene. And the fries are served in a PLASTIC CONTAINER! puajjj! gold leaf? unimpressed, not to mention unnecessary. -There are no healthy/light dishes other than salads. -The desserts are good...if you like the sort of boring choices. Too much of the classic flavors, nothing really inspiring there. But well prepared and plated, and good flavors, it is just that there is no imagination...or much variety. And with that out of the chest, we can focus on what it is good: -IMPECCABLE SERVICE and attention, throughout the entire staff, starting with Paul and Michael as hosts to all of the people working there (well done, Shannon!) -Excellent plating/presentation -Well timed sequences when multiple plates are ordered -Refreshing amuse-bouches -Nice setting -Broad menu, good wine list -Superb bread+salt So, why five starts after detailing those little shortcomings? because they bloody well deserve them :-), especially compared to the other "big fish" (pun intended) restaurants, which are a total disappointment, especially at the Kukui'ula mall and the other nearby old mall. To the people from the Marriott that complained about Red Salt: please, stay in the Marriott, and get there what you truly deserve. To the people wanting fake/cheesy/vulgar/for-tourists "Hawaiian" flavor: there are plenty of places like that, please, by my guest and remain there. I think Red Salt is Hawaiian, but definitely (and most fortunately) not in vulgar, "pretend", postcard/calendar way.
(5)Rick B.
We had breakfast here each morning of our 5 day stay at the Koa Kea, as well as dinner on our last night. Service for breakfast was generally good, and for dinner it was great. Food selection for breakfast was good, with lots of fresh fruit options as well as cooked-to-order items. Dinner menu also has a nice range of selections. Overall the food was very good and we would recommend this restaurant without hesitation. Others have complained about price, but we did not feel the prices here were out of line with what we saw elsewhere on Kauai. Finally, the ambiance of the restaurant is fine, but nothing extraordinary once the sun goes down and you can no longer see the ocean.
(4)Maggie L.
Come here for their Kobe steak and attentive staff. It was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The price tag wasn't bad either. There aren't a lot great dining choices on Kawaii. Red salt is definitely a stand out.
(4)H H.
PLEASE NOTE: You will go on a wild goose chase trying to find this place thru the given address. It is NOT in Koloa. It is in POIPU at the Ko'a Kea Hotel as mentioned. Just type in the hotel to find it... Fine food. Clean. Good service. Good view. No complaints.
(4)Patricia B.
I can't believe I forgot to leave a review of this place. I absolutely LOVE it!! I've been here on two separate trips to Kauai and both times they blew me away! Every detail is perfection, seriously, right down to the little fabric coaster for my water glass! So this time I started with the shrimp appetizer with the different sauces. It was delightful, light and tasty. Next I had to-die-for mushroom bisque that was served with a little potato croquette in the center of the bowl and the soup was poured over it, filling the bowl with the most mouth-water taste imaginable! I know I gush, but seriously, I would go out of my way to have that soup again! As I write this I now hunger for that soup again! For my entree I had the Wagyu beef filet with Bearnaise and some other sauces served on the side. It was a somewhat over-cooked and dry, which was, to be honest, a bit disappointing having ordered medium rare, but it was still tasty. However, my boyfriend order the grass-fed American filet and that was divine!! I mean, DIVINE!! It was juicy and tender and flavorful, coupled with the Bearnaise sauce it was perfect! The maitai is unparalleled well, it's as good as the Royal Hawaiian. Truly a testament to a remarkable cocktail. Our service throughout the meal was 6-star, for sure!! When I remember or server's name, I'll come back and include it. I regularly dine at 5-star restaurants and this was on par with the finest of the finest. And yet, there is no pretentious stuffiness, the details are all there but it still feels relaxed and comfortable. This is true aloha dining at its finest!! Kudos to the team at Red Salt! Exceptional service, exceptional cuisine, exceptional restaurant!!
(5)Makena K.
We decided to walk to this restaurant from the Sheraton. Bad idea. We went thru a jungle and the beach in the dark just to get here. I thought that I was going to get swept away while walking on the beach. NOTE: It isn't a flat beach!!! I digress. But please do heed the warning. Leave the adventure during daylight hours. ;) I wanted to love this restaurant. But I gave it 3 stars because, to me, it truly was just average. I liked it, but did not love it. I ordered an acai /blueberry mojito. It tasted like Robitussin cough syrup. I sent it back. For appetizer, I had the mushroom soup. It came with a the most delicious mushroom croquet. But my soup was cool. I ate it and didn't complain about it. The Red Salt Poke was so good and beautifully presented. But don't be fooled. It is a small serving, enough poke that would probably fit in a tablespoon. My husband and I split the Ono. It was perfectly cooked and season. Lastly, we had the root beer float for dessert. The root beer wasn't root beer, it was creme soda. It should have been called creme soda float. It was just meh. It did come with the most decadent chocolate chip cookie. Maybe I shouldn't have read the reviews before dining here. Maybe all the hype revved up my expectations. In the end, it was just average. I expected so much more... :( BTW, service was to be expected in a restaurant this caliber. I might give it one more try. Maybe, if there was no other choice.
(3)Kathy H.
Simply extraordinary. After a number of over-priced, disappointing dinners on this lovely island (Tidepools, Beach House) we were really hoping this one would live up to the billing. WAAAAYYYY beyond lived up. The room itself is beautifully spare, right-sized and overlooking the pool, grounds and ocean. The server was attentive, very knowledgeable and just the right amount of funny while still very professional. Started with the sweet onion and saffron soup, SO had the ahi carpaccio. Both were wonderful and unlike anything we've had before. Entrees were the 7 spiced ahi wrapped in Serrano ham over edamame risotto (me) and the Kurubato pork loin chop with carrots and roasted beets (SO). Hard to describe how good both were. Even the two types of bread, with unsalted butter and a little box of red salt to sprinkle on top, was special. Anyone complaining about small portion sizes must be eating regularly at Country Buffet. Red Salt provided just the special setting, meal, service and evening we were envisioning. Thank you to the restaurant staff. No more pricey than any other top restaurant on the island, but SOOOOOOOO much better. Don't miss this one.
(5)Angus S.
Staying at Koa Kea hotel and frequented red salt. Breakfast is very good. Buffet has nice euro-like selection each day - meats, cheeses, fruit, breads, pasteies, oatmeal, cereals, etc. Made to order eggs, waffles, etc. asked for an egg white omelet each morning. Came fluffy and tasty. Best I have ever had...service is very accommodating and friendly. Dinner was pretty good. Best we had was the seared ahi and the maui onion soup. We also had red salt. Which if you did not know is just evaporated ocean water with volcanic clay and lots of other minerals. Overall we like red salt. Restaurant is good and a nice alternative in poipu. We'll be back.
(4)Shuji K.
Good food. Bad service.
(1)jane k.
My husband and I stayed at the Koa Kea, which was wonderful. Upon several recommendations, we decided to try Red Salt since it was just downstairs. It was not bad, just not great, especially considering the prices. Plus, there was a really loud party that talked over everyone which was pretty distracting. Not what I want to hear when I pay $$$. Overall, kind of an overpriced Cheesecake Factory experience.
(3)Janeen H.
The food was excellent. We each ordered a different entree on the menu to taste. I had the ahi with the cilantro risotto. Everything was fresh, full of flavor, and the service was excellent too. It was a bit pricy but if you are looking for a fine dining restaurant, I highly recommend.
(5)Lauren V.
Breakfast was great. Tasty muffins to start. French toast was great. Bacon was great though a bit greasy. The waffle machine was broken so they made us macadamia nut pancakes instead. They were amazing. We were served both maple and coconut syrup. Yum! Service was 5 star. We should have gone back for dinner, next time!
(4)neil m.
Great interior, excellent service. The food was not on par to other options in Kauai.
(2)Malcolm C.
This place offered upscale dining. After spending a few days on the island and having subpar dining experiences we decided to go hard (spend alot of money). Red Salt didn't disappoint. I had the Red salt 7 spice seared ahi. Serrano ham (like a thin bacon) wrapped around the seared ahi (cooked medium-well). It was so flavorful & cooked to perfection. It was accompanied by cilantro edamame risotto & steamed bok choy. The risotto was tasty. The bok choy was bland and slightly over cooked. The coconut cloud was very good (savory with a hint of coconut). My wife had the Lobster ravioli. Saffron pasta filled with lobster & lemon mascarpone. Served with a basil buerre blanc & 4oz lobster tail. She only gave me one bite. It was so good. Seasoned & flavored to perfection. Ravioli was aldente. The lobster tail was prepared beautifully. Our waitress was very attentive & very knowledgeable about the menu. This was a great dining experience
(5)Dana B.
Reviews we had come across for Red Salt had been very good, especially for breakfast, but we went for dinner. It was an easy walk from Kiahuna Plantation, where we were staying. Make sure to make reservations! We dined here at the start of dinner and ended up with probably the best seats in the house, right in front of the windows looking out on the pool and the ocean in the distance. I had one of the best drinks I have ever had (macnut liquor, Kaluha, pineapple, and coconut...can't remember the name). The appetizer (tortellini) and entree (Madagascar vanilla fish and shrimp) portions were not overly large, but they were very good. The root beer float dessert came with a HUGE mac nut cookie (could pass for a brownie)...a great way to end a meal. The service was fantastic and we never felt rushed to enjoy our meal.
(5)Raych D.
Whenever I go back home, me and my girls always does a night out of dining and drinking. This past trip in May was for my graduation gift to visit my fam and friends. As always I always get to chose where we eat and I decided to have my graduation dinner here. Although, it is a bit far from where we normally go, It was worth the drive since we only have these expensive dinners. They are located in Poipu in the Ko'a Kea Hotel....be sure to go all the way down and turn right to the next hotel over because we got lost looking for that hotel and their valet service. The place is really clean, crisp, simple but beautifully decorated. Everyone looked really polish and so did their furniture's and silver wear. The staff is very friendly and the view outside is just magnificent...no wonder this hotel is voted one of the most beautiful/romantic hotels in the world. For starters me and a girlfriend got the blueberry acai martini which was BOMB! It's one of those creeper drinks where it taste so good that you don't realize how much you just drank. The martini itself was about $15 for one, kinda pricey but very good...I totally recommend that drink. For appetizers my friend got this pork dish, I took a bite of it and it tasted pretty good considering I don't like pork. For her dinner she got the wagyu new york steak ($48) which I so happened to take a bite off and it was AWESOME! For my dinner I got the big island seared vanilla bean mahi ($33) which was even better than the steak. It came with assorted vegetables and on top there was a avocado ginger salsa. Other friend of mine had the pan seared red salt 7 spiced ahi ($36), which she said was good. The preparation was beautiful and the taste was great! Definitely coming back here again!
(4)Kris S.
Red Salt is tucked away in a hotel off Poipu Beach, deep in tourist country of south shore Kauai. However, it's a gem. I was slightly disappointed in my husband's Ono, which was a little bland. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was perfectly cooked with a tasty sauce. We didn't have drinks but we enjoyed the house-made bread and the tiny bits of red salt on everything. (Yes, I had to buy some...) There is a bar, with some TVs, and it was slightly busy but the sound did not affect the dining - it's actually laid out very comfortably and quietly, even for a Friday night. Dessert was probably the star of the meal - small square containers of yummy gelato in island fruit flavors and deep chocolate. Pretty good with coffee. The atmosphere is a little sterile but that was okay - the whole hotel seems to have a very austere Asian feel. Pleasant host, great servers - just an overall good experience.
(4)Kris Kayla P.
Husband loved his steak breakfast. Food was great and the mini blueberry muffins in the beginning our delish.
(5)Erica W.
My husband and I love food! Red Salt satisfied all of our senses. The presentation of food was impeccable. The aromas of each dish were amazing. The texture of each dish was perfect. In a very fun and pleasant atmosphere. Kudos to the chief and staff at Red Salt.
(5)Leah L.
My husband and I stayed at the Koa Kea for our weddingmoon, and ate at Red Salt for breakfast a couple of times during our stay. The food was just good for breakfast, but what really wowed us was our wedding dinner, which we had set up on our private balcony. Fist of all, they did an outstanding job of setting things up with flameless candles, table linens, etc. and they put my wedding bouquet in a nice vase. We both had the shrimp appetizers, which were delicious, and we both had the steak frites. The steak was totally worth the $67 price tag. They did a great job of keeping everything warm and our wine cold. They came to the bar to let us know when everything was set up. They also provided a complimentary bottle of champagne as a wedding present. It really was the perfect ending to our wedding day.
(5)Cari B.
We decided to go here after reading the reviews on yelp. So glad that we checked yelp before going to one of our usual dinner places. Red salt is amazing. Yes it's pricey but for the service and ambiance it's totally worth it in my book. Our waitress Samdi, was exceptional. She made sure we were well taken care of. We loved the drinks...super strong that you'll only need one! The food was tasty and the desserts delectable. We celebrated our anniversary so we got the complimentary pineapple cotton candy which was yummy! Definitely ask your waiter what they recommend...that's how we decided what to eat. If you're not too full try the deconstructed root beer float. Loved the presentation! We'll definitely be back here again!
(5)Wende G.
We were lucky enough to be touted on the Red Salt restaurant by a local. Wow. What a fabulous meal! The Ono was a religious experience, the service fantastic. We will be back for sure.
(5)Jessica W.
Decided to check this place out after reading yelp reviews and was impressed with is in-resort restaurant. We came here for dinner and was the best dining experience we had during our stay in Kauai. Service was excellent and the food was fantastic. This is definitely a fine dining place so portions are just right, although the salads were quite large! Some of the favorites from the menu were the Kalua pork rolls, kailani mixed greens, carpaccio, mahi with the forbidden rice and the chocolate torte. Only complaints was that the acoustics of the room was loud. Minus one star for overlooking my lobster tail and how loud it was in there. I think they could improve on their dessert menu options-- does no one make lilkoi cheesecake?
(4)Nami S.
Finest sushi in Poipu.
(5)Anna Y.
BEST RESTAURANT ON ISLAND. If you're looking for something modern with local ingredients, come here! I came here one night after being tired of Rumfire, Tidepools, Yum Cha, etc. and wanted to try something new. We ended up splitting 5 appetizers and 1 entree. They will gladly split your entree for you at no additional cost! Spiffy! Appetizers: Kauai Shrimp Trio - 3 different beurre blancs, my favorite was the champagne, and the avocado with mango salsa was out of this world! Seared scallop - was perfectly cooked, but I thought it was a bit of a ripoff at $14. Beet salad with goat cheese fondue - the beets were perfectly roasted and the goat cheese deeeeeelicious! Mushroom bisque - TO DIE FOR. They do that awesome presentation with a beautifully decorated bowl that has an incredible potato croquette, and come out with a pot of the soup, and the pour the soup into your bowl. This was my favorite dish of the night and will definitely order this one again. It was worth every cream laden calorie. Poke - beautifully presented soy marinated ahi and hamachi. It wasn't $16 worth of fish on seaweed salad, but man, it was $16 worth of labor to prepare! Entree: Ono on king crab potato hash in a lemongrass broth. This dish was a bit too sweet for me, but stealing the lemon of my iced tea to add to the tiny lemon wedge made it better. I think I'll try the mahi next time which has black rice, or the steak which comes with fries and 4 different sauces (peppercorn, jus, bernaise, and something else which I can't remember, because I kept trying to listen to the waiters at the other tables where people had ordered them haha) Dessert: Backwards Root Beer Float - WOW. This was root beer gelato, served in an ice cold glass, with a bottle of cream soda, and a warm ooey gooey chocolate macadamia nut cookie. HEAVEN. Get this and you won't regret it. I cannot wait to come back here. This was the most incredible meal I've had on island. I feel like my senses were awakened by this meal. Great job!
(5)O-Shen C.
I have since eaten dinner here while staying 6 dinners and let me tell you best dinners on Kauai!! Everything was Devine !! Staff is fab Melissa the day manager is the best and Samdhi and Jessica, Erin, Marlina, Tom,Pail, Chris all amazing servers!!! fettuccine Alfredo with Kauai Shrimp and Hamakua mushrooms best ever
(5)Beach Bum W.
One should always be careful in speaking of superlatives; however, as one of my favorite movie quotes is from "Coal Miners Daughter." It is when Sissy Spacek says "no matter how good it gets, it don't get no better than this." This continues to be the best restaurant on the island of Kauai. To begin with, the blueberry acai martini is nothing like I have ever had in my life. My eyes rolled backwards. The Ahi tuna was beyond good. My wife had a shrimp dish that had wonderful flavors that we have never experienced. The service by Chris is the absolute best and most attentive I have had. Yes it is pricey but worth it. The host Paul, is absoutely there to meet your every need. This is NOT a place for children. We have a younger child, but it would be wasted. The best meal we have had on Kauai. bar none.
(5)T G.
Great place for our special end-of-vacation meal. A touch of ambience lost due to being a bit too close to the hotel bar/lobby, but very chic setting overall. Who knew that beets go well with melon? Kitchen split this starter with no fuss and perfect presentation. Vegetarian crispy tofu also a balanced blend of texture and flavors. Caramelized Ono was a tad disappointing, as I think it was overdone and so it tasted like salty chicken (-1 Star) ... but on nice veggies and lemongrass thai spiced sauce. Dessert choices all tempting... Velvety creme brulée with tropical liliko`i essence! Four pastel cubes of home made gelato... superb even if ice crystals reminded us this was all natural.
(4)jay d.
Very mediocre food, poor drinks, awkward service. Restaurant skews older and is upscale but stuffy. We ordered fish that was adequate but our server had no personality. We were disappointed to spend $200 on a very average dinner at a stuffy restaurant this place has no character. Would not revisit.
(2)Samantha M.
After reading the reviews I decided to come here. Based on the reviews and prices I expected a lot better. I started with the mixed green salad for $12, it was flavorless and had very few types of veggies in it. For my main course I got the staff recommended Ono fish price point of $37, again lack of flavor as well as over cooked. When the waiter came to collect our plates which still had ample amounts of food on them, we weren't asked how everything was/ if we wanted things wrapped the plates were just collected. I would recommend trying other places as this is overpriced for the quality.
(2)Hilary B.
My husband and I came for our 10th anniversary and were all set to be impressed, but came out being underwhelmed. Maybe the problem is the area we live in has lots of fine dining? We can go to a restaurant back home for the same price that is better. The food was good, but we weren't blown away for the price. We got the scallop appetizer and while it was cooked to perfection, we got 2 scallops for $16. Really? $8 per scallop when you can get them locally? I had the ono and my husband got the ahi. Again, good but not great. Cooked nicely but flavors not amazing. Ambiance was underwhelming. Live music such as a piano would be nice. In short, food was solid but not worth the prices they are charging.
(3)avalon e.
Great atmosphere, dishes well thought out and impeccably executed. We started dinner late, tired, thirsty, and slightly grouchy after being stuck in traffic in Waimea for an hour. Kailua pork is nothing we've seen before. Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and the cherry bbq sauces mates with it perfectly. Had the Ono and white snapper for main courses. The former on a coconut broth and the latter on a corn puree each paired with the right kindsof veggies. This is not your ahi tuna tartare and whatever protein over shitake and bok choy kind of place. They dishes all show complexity of flavors and thought in matching the ingredients. Service was also remarkable. Knowledge, courtesy, and patience without any pretense. All thumbs up,
(5)Brett B.
Great service and amazing views. It's definitely a beautiful resort and restaurant. Problem? You pay a ton of money for their sushi and they barely give you any fish. It's like you can see through the layer of fish on top. Disappointed!
(2)Jim H.
Red Salt is a good, tho expensive restaurant. Definitely worth the price if you are looking for a "Special Occasion" dining experience. Service, atmosphere, menu, wine list were all we expected at a restaurant of this caliber. While I could oh and ah about this place, the reality is that it was one of, if not the best, meals we have had on the island (over 10 years). No rock and roll, just good dining.
(5)Moo S.
This was the best meal we had on the island. Cocktails were delicious (and passed the size+stiffness test...most "signature" drinks are either diminutive or weak). Service was attentive, decor was very chic. Their bread basket was scrumptious, and the red salt they serve with the butter added a nice kick to the warm, buttery goodness. We ordered a multitude of plates for a tapas-style dinner: diver scallop, island prawns, kalua pork, endive salad, mushroom bisque, shrimp carbonara...each one was perfectly composed and delighted our taste buds. The red salt poke was a visual and gustatory treat! To top it all off, for the quality of the food, service, and ambiance, the total bill was very reasonable (or we're just used to San Francisco prices). Red salt is definitely worth its salt!
(5)Mrs. S.
This is NOT a Japanese/sushi restaurant as we had expected. It's simply a super expensive regular restaurant with the typical filet ($40), fish and pasta ($30) options. Granted, the food was good...as it should be for those prices. Has a dress code. No tank tops allowed. Hubby has to go back and change first. Anyway, we had a good dinner but we were wanting a chill sushi dinner not a super fancy and $$$$$$$ dinner. Over $200 for 3 people who only ordered 1 drink each. Oh, and expect a cocktail to cost a whopping $17!
(4)Clogozm C.
Food: 4 Ambience: 3 Service: 3 I had high expectations for this place given the reviews. The food was good - I had the seared mahi, but our waiter seemed to be in such a rush and barely had time to take our order. It was also very loud that I felt like I had to shout to talk. Someone mentioned that this place was "upscale and stuffy" but it wasn't. We saw a few people wearing flip flops. Overall, given what they charge for their food I expect a whole lot more.
(3)Chris R.
Breakfast here is ok but over priced. Didn't realize it was part of a hotel so your price goes up and I just don't like paying $50 dollars for 2 at breakfast. We went there because of the reviews and it was so so. I wouldn't give it 5 stars.. The eggs Benedict were not the rave every review said it was. There was little pancetta and the potatoes and English muffin came out cold. We got a side of pancakes which were amazing but again there are a lot better places for breakfast on the island than here..
(2)Kevin P.
We went to this place to take a friend who lives in Kauai that wanted to try it. It sucked. The NY Steak was 70.00. The food was bland and way over priced. They have No View of Kauai and the service was average. The waitperson was very nice. But other than her this place was a waste of a dinner on Kauai. I would never go to this place again. Marriott much better right next door.
(1)Kristen M.
My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at Red Salt during our recent trip to Kauai and the entire experience surpassed our expectations (which were already high from the word of mouth and good reviews!). We started with a drink at the bar where the bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly. The ambiance of the restaurant is modern and clean, and the staff is extremely detail oriented with each place setting regarding the atmosphere. Our server was a great balance of professional, friendly and informal. Not too informal or casual, but not at all snotty or uppity which I would have expected for a nice restaurant of this caliber. It was refreshing. The food, each course, was wonderful. We started with the scallops and a salad. The scallops were perfectly cooked, which is not always easy to find. The salad was fresh and the salad dressing was clearly local and tasty. We loved the surprise lilikoi squash gazpacho-type shooter between courses. It was unexpected and really good! For our entrees, my husband had the lamb and says it was the best lamb he has ever had. I had the fettucine which was perfectly cooked, on the al dente side, and the cream sauce wasn't overly creamy, but still incredibly tasty. Very well done on both dishes. We strongly recommend Red Salt if you're looking for a quality dining experience on Kauai.
(5)Kimo S.
Spending a few days at the Koa Kea Hotel & Resort left me nervous since this was the only restaurant on hotel grounds. Rest assured, we were eating/drinking here all four nights of our stay because it was just THAT good. This may turn out to be a little lengthy so bear with me as I break down the various meals we had here: late night meal, sushi experience, drinks at the bar and room service (breakfast/dinner). Late night snack - They have these amazing sandwiches they serve late in the evening (not the Panini's) and we absolutely loved and devoured their fish sandwich and chicken sandwich that evening. Each came with a choice of fries or a salad for about $20 each. All of the condiments were presented beautifully and everything tasted amazing. It was really one of the best late night snacks/meals I've had in quite some time. Sushi Experience - Available only Tuesday - Saturday from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. This is a MUST if you're on the island and enjoy sushi. This was absolutely one of the best meals I have had at a sushi restaurant in ages and you should know... this boy eats sushi every week. The cuts of fish were stellar, I haven't had premier cuts of fish like this in quite some time. It is not a large menu but Justin does an amazing job. Trust me, go here. You'll want to go back the next night. Drinks - I love me a good Mai Tai and they make an excellent classic but if you prefer something a little sweeter and have an itch for some local fruit, order yourself a Shark Proof. One of my new favorite drinks: Guava Nectar, Captain Morgan, Malibu Coconut Rum and club soda. You can even get this blended, it's delicious. On a side note, the corkage fee here is very reasonable ($10-15, depending) and they have a deal if you bring in a bottle from the Koloa Wine Shop that they'll waive the corkage. Love it! Room Service - We split the American breakfast for two mornings and this was plenty of food for two people to start the day. The pastry basket is the winner, they have these amazing biscuits and mini muffins that are just DELICIOUS. You can also make substitutions since we didn't want breakfast meats they gave us fruit and yogurt instead but we still got the eggs and potatoes. Very accommodating and very delicious. Lastly, we ordered dinner in one night and enjoyed the Spice Seared Ahi and Pan Seared Ono along with a Mixed Greens Salad and the Island Prawns. The Ono was amazing, if you order this (and you should) ask for extra sauce because it is delicious but they are light on the saucing. The Seared Ahi was excellent too but I would have probably ordered the Mahi Mahi instead because the Edamame-Cilantro Risotto that came with this dish didn't have much flavor. The Island Prawns were a little disappointing because they were the small shrimp you get in a scampi. I was expecting a little larger shrimp, like in a shrimp cocktail or a shrimp tempura. They should definitely upgrade the shrimp because they were, well... shrimpy. All in all, this is a great restaurant and they performed consistently well each and every night we dined in or out. I would highly recommend this restaurant and HIGHLY recommend you go for the SUSHI night.
(5)Alter K.
Really enjoyed our dinner at Red Salt. We were seated along the windows looking out to the ocean and an area illuminated with tiki torches, a very romantic ambience. We ordered the scallops with a beurre blanc sauce for our appetizer. The sauce was so good, we had to ask the waitress for more bread so we could mop it all up. For entrees we got the Ono with a coconut sauce and the shrimp fettuccine. Everything was great, but definitely get the Ono if you're looking for something different - the fish with a little lemon and the coconut sauce were amazing.
(5)Miguel L.
Greatest experience of our Honeymoon was dinner - seated us right away on time with our reservation for 7:30pm, perfect table for two. Great waiter and great service - menu options were easy and well described! - wonderful atmosphere - It was the guy to our left's birthday, and he started offering us their "Coconut Cotton Candy" ! - wonderful mixed drinks - we had mocktails! Excellent all around! Parking is tight - valet only. Great hotel - in KOA KEA HOTEL & RESORT in Poipu! .. we'll be back
(5)Anne M.
We ate there three times during our stay. The first two times we had great service and the third was a joke. We had a waiter who had very few tables. He would leave for extended periods of time and you had no idea where the guy was. Wait for him to take your order, wait for the food, I asked if I could have bread and again he disappears ... ... ..... finally, funny, he shows up with a basket of bread to go with my completely finished dinner. I think at that time there were three other tables with another waiter. I got mad and they ended up comping the meal but...... what the heck? If I am on vacation and I am paying for an expensive meal I really do expect a very high level of service. You want those vacation moments to be special and when a lousy wait staff doesn't make it happen it is very annoying.
(2)Dolores W.
Went for my birthday. Service, food, & ambience were outstanding. I had the paella and the mushroom bisque. Excellent. I'm gluten free and the waitress was very knowledgeable with options for gluten free including excellent bread. Served the gingerbread cloud (ginger flavored cotton candy) compliments of the restaurant for my birthday. Surprisingly not very sweet, but very delicious. Definitely one of our two favorite nice restaurants on Kauai.
(5)Nicole F.
The diver scallops and salad were really good. These appetizers are pricey but worth it. The main entree tuna was ok and the mahi was good, but I couldn't detect the crabmeat. Wonderful ambience and service is stellar. Would return if staying nearby. (sushi the next night in the bar is tasty although pricey)
(4)Kyle K.
I'm not going to spend my time writing some flowery review, there are plenty of other yelp reviewers who have already described their meals / the awesomeness of this restaurant in great detail. Simply put, this restaurant is a must if you are looking for fine dining in Kauai. Stop wasting your time reading about this place and just get a reservation here.
(5)M M.
Justin the sushi chef gave us the meal of a lifetime!!! Impeccable food and service. Great specialty drinks. Simply amazing.
(5)Laura H.
Is it expensive? Yes. It's Kauai, though. We had the pleasure of staying at the Koa Kea for 8 days for our honeymoon before we headed to Maui and this restaurant never disappointed during our entire stay. Dinner was always special. We ventured out for a lot of meals, but the breakfast here was always good and the servers knew us by name. The muffins they brought out while you are drinking your coffee are delicious. However, $4 for a coffee at the table seems silly when the complimentary lobby coffee is 25 feet away. Easy way to save a few bucks by getting it there and spend your money on the food. We loved this resort and restaurant and hope to return some day!
(4)Shazeen N.
I've had better food.. I heard so much about this place but the place and food was just average. Try other places instead.
(3)Albie D.
Red Salt is in the hotel we were staying in, Koa Kea. It was probably one of the better dining experiences on the island, but objectively, it wasn't the best. Go for it, especially if you're staying here. It's worth it - also, the drinks are very fun and the bartender was a hoot. Although it was only so-so, still, you're in Hawaii, so who cares!?
(3)Stacy W.
Really beautiful meal. The red rice with the Ono was amazing! Very pricey, but enjoyed the meal.
(4)Alyson B.
This was the best meal I had on Kauai. We were 45 minutes early for our 7:30pm reservation, but were seated immediately. The dining room is small, which is nice. The servers were prompt and friendly. Nancy, our main server, was outstanding. She brought a wonderful combination of relaxed and formal. Red Salt here in DC would be considered fine dining, with a matching stuffy waitstaff. Not here. We smiled and laughed a lot. We had ahi carpaccio and seared scallops for apps. Dad had the filet mignon and switched out the sides for the fries and dips that come with the NY strip (he hates mushrooms and leeks). Good choice. The dips are great, and he said the filet was the best he's ever had (and he's hard to please). I had seared ono in a coconut-sake broth, which was delicious. Mom had the special, a fish I can't remember with vanilla carrot puree and a green bean salad. The plate was gorgeous, and I'll definitely be trying to replicate the carrot puree. For dessert, we ordered the macadamia nut dark chocolate torte and the lilikoi creme brulee. Both were exquisite. Oh! And definitely try one of their cocktails. The special mojito and the cucumber cocktail are both fantastic. Overall, this place is a gem. We visited after dark, and the next time I'm on the island, I'll be going during the day to see more of the resort. If you're on Kauai, go here.
(5)Ford R.
From the moment you step into the lobby of the hotel which hosts Red Salt Restaurant, you know that each and every detail has been thought of. It can be a little difficult to find as the resort is tucked away from the main road, but know that it's worth the hunt. The macadamia nut waffle is large, soft, features a large sprinkling of crushed macadamia nuts served with coconut and maple syrups. The satisfying crispy layer of batter is a toasty perfection, and when broken gently with your fork allows the syrup to penetrate the waffle. The coconut syrup is definitely on the sweet side, so use it sparingly, but the maple syrup is spot on. Try a combination of the two. I also had the pleasure of having an omelette with mushrooms, cheddar cheese and Portuguese sausage. The generous chunks of meat feature a nice spice without enough heat to scare off people with sensitive taste buds. The egg comes out perfectly folded in half oozing of the toppings of your choice. The restaurant is very clean, and as I mentioned before there was great care taken in the ambiance of the room. The service was a little slow, but pleasant and attentive. The chairs can become a little uncomfortable as the hard wood seats will prevent you from hanging out too long, but not leave you yearning for a seat cushion during breakfast. Parking is valet so make sure to have a few bucks handy to tip the valet as their very fast retrieving your car. This was my favorite breakfast while I was on the island of Kauai, and I'd definitely return.
(5)Ellen C.
I ordered the grilled tofu with rice. The only "entree" that seemed fulfilling for vegetarians at this pricy restaurant. Not bad. The macadamia nut pieces gave the rice a nice texture. Nuts with rice always enhances the meal! :) Unfortunately I was hungry within a few hours. My hubs and friend both ordered the lomi lomi salmon and enjoyed it. For dessert we enjoyed the root beer float and dark chocolate macadamia nut torte. If u like chocolate go for the dark choc torte. The gelato was more tempting. Next time:) Ambiance was nice. Laura our waitress was super sweet and helpful. All in all, for vegetarians there are several options thankfully.... Unlike the plantations owner Luau Kalamaku.
(4)Hunter C.
Skeptics, be warned, do not avoid this place, RED SALT is EXCELLENT! Now keep in mind, there aren't that many eating options on Kauai, next to knowing a local's aunt who can whip you up a good home cooked meal, which obviously every tourist doesn't necessarily have or have access too. The wife and I were skeptical about Red Salt considering restaurants within Hotels were like Russian roulette, you won't know unless you try them out, and even then it's a game of musical chairs to diarrhea or mouth nirvana. While thankfully it was not the former, Red Salt was the ladder, and THEN SOME! In one word: Gratifying My wife ordered the lobster ravioli, and not knowing that she was getting a full lobster tail, the ravioli was scrumptious , infused with the right amount of herbs, and the lobster I think was butter poached and cooked perfectly. My Ahi was done so well, in paired well with my potato hash and coconut cream sauce , which indeed I hate to admit, wanted to go full obesity mode in eating two or three more servings. Oh and their ahi/ono poke? artistically beautifully, yet wonderfully refreshing. Probably the cleanest poke i've tried, it was a bit more like sashimi, but on the deconstructed poke side of things. And their cold maui onion soup? i'd probably get that and eat it every day. The waitress gave us some shooters (and ended up giving us more ) and it was to die for. Never had such a great tasting cold soup that elevated onion and cream to a whole new level. The waitress and wait staff there are great, and they were very accommodating and kind to take us 10 minutes after the last table call (which is 9pm btw). I can agree this can be one of the best on the island, especially how contemporary and clean the restaurant is. When the wife and I return, we are going to definitely come back and eat here plenty more times to our hearts content. I recommend this place to even those who don't stay at Koa Kea hotel, as you won't regret it (and i recommend staying at Koa Kea too!)
(5)Wyatt H.
Went here for breakfast several times. The buffet was a let down. Bread wasn't great and not many options in the buffet. The eggs benedict was pretty good, but i've had better and the souffle pancakes were very good. It was over priced, but so is everywhere else. If you want a good breakfast, I don't know where else you'd go. Apart from the expense, there was some negatives about the service. The first visit, we waited a long time for a waiter, and when they finally came, we said we were ready to order, and the waitress told us "can I put down these ... first?" that was a bit insulting. I've never had a waitress/waiter say that to me. We didn't say anything in a tone that merited that response, even in a slow island style. If you want a good breakfast, and don't mind paying extra and waiting extra and skipping a buffet, then this is not a bad place. Being insulted though, is not good thought. However, the breakfast we had at the sheraton was so bad, that it redeemed this place. it can get worst, but there's no great restaurant deals that we were able to find.
(3)Charlie B.
A dinner here is worth the trip to see the cute Koa Kea hotel and for really good seafood. It just didn't feel really special to us, and we said we were honeymooners on the reservation and when we sat down and the server barely batted an eye. I suggest hitting up Red Salt if you want to take a break from the whole Hawaii-feel you get other places. The decor is hip and modern which I expected to love, but honestly could have used a few more touches to remind me I was in Kauai. We had a couple of seafood dishes, and we ate so much seafood that I can't even remember which ones we had. I heard raves about the root beer float, and it was just OK...just tasted like every other root beer float I've made at home. Based on other reviews I sort of wish I would have just come by for breakfast to check out the decor and the space.
(3)Michael H.
We had a plan - try the appetizers, avoid the entrees. We weren't very hungry and it seemed the appetizers got better reviews on yelp. We began with cocktails. The Mai tai was terrific, but the mojito was not worth $16. Beet salad was fresh. Bread delicious. Mushroom soup was rich, with good flavor of mushrooms. Both our sushi appetizers were unique. The salmon martini came with baby pancakes and house cured salmon. The poke came as a gorgeous checkerboard presentation with good flavor, although the white fish was chewy. Liked our waitress. Prices plenty high, though our plan held down the bill. Good spot for a special night out, but not a place I will dream about.
(4)Lisa D.
My boyfriend and I frequent Red Salt. We also did a stay and play at Koa Kea. The food is delicious. Sushi is good but selection of fish are slim pickings. Fresh but well let's just say it's a mini sushi bar. Everyone who works there are pleasant and professional. However our favorite person is Jim one of the bartenders. He makes the very best Mai Tai's on Kauai hands down. Oh and please, please try the deconstructed root beer float. To die for!!!
(5)Judy B.
Based on reading yelp reviews we couldn't resist dining at Red Salt, and we're so glad that we did. The scallop appetizer was prepared to perfection. The lobster ravioli was inventive and delicious. But our favorite entree was the shrimp pasta, laced with exotic mushrooms and tossed in a lovely cream sauce. We couldn't decide between the entrees so we asked that they be split in the kitchen and presented as two separate courses. This was done without hesitation, with thoughtful presentation and perfect timing. Our favorite meal in our 10 day stay on Kauai!
(5)Jimmy A.
A small, intimate, but not too stuffy place for a nice dinner. Among all the "fancy" options in the area I thought Red Salt was the only one worth the money. I had the scallops appetizer and the lobster ravioli. Both dishes were far better than expected and for the first time in a while I was hoping for seconds at a place like this. Also very convenient if you are staying at the Koa Kea.
(5)Steph C.
After checking out of the Grand Hyatt, Matt B. and I decided to pay a visit to Ko'a Kea for brunch. We were curious about this alternate resort down the road, and we got to check out the pool and the layout while we ate at Red Salt, which had a view of the resort area. We decided we preferred the grounds at the Hyatt, but Ko'a Kea definitely won for its lack of children and its great hotel breakfast. The free valet was also a bonus. I gather that Red Salt is the hotel restaurant and that it does a lot more than breakfast, but we didn't have the pleasure of visiting more than once. It was actually pretty empty a little after 10 AM, and we shared the attention of our waitress with just two other couples. The space was cheerful, calm and well lit, and we enjoyed our last meal in Kauai at our leisure. Our waitress was very nice, friendly and particularly attentive. I had a Bloody Mary with my breakfast, and it was strong and tasty, if not the best I've had. It was garnished with olives stuffed with what must have been tuna, which were an interesting touch. There's something luxurious about drinking with breakfast in any setting, but it felt especially pleasant in the relaxed sunny dining room of Red Salt. The food was delicious, so much better than anything we ate at our hotel. We got started with a basket of mini muffins with a sweet whipped cinnamon sugar butter. These were tasty little baked bites that worked well as a breakfast bread basket. For my meal, I had the eggs Benedict which came with a pancetta hash and chive hollandaise. The eggs were poached perfectly, so that the yolk melded into the sauce, and the English muffin underneath soaked it up just right. The pancetta hash was great, too, salty and savory, and with a dab of hot sauce here and there, this was an excellent breakfast. Matt had the French toast, which was made with a soft Hawaiian bread, served with maple and coconut syrups. It was a lovely sweet dish. Red Salt might be the best option for breakfast food in Poipu. It certainly kicked Grand Hyatt dining in the ass with a very pointed toe. The experience was pleasant and the food delicious - it was a great last meal for our Kauai vacation.
(4)Cheryl K.
We almost missed this place driving but finally found the Ko`a Kea Hotel. Phew! We needed to find a breakfast place or the hungry mean me would come out. Walked in and I thought I was under dressed in my beach clothes but to our delight everyone was using shorts, slippers, sandals, yay! The hostess immediately sat us. We ordered their Kauai coffee and I got their French Toast and my husband ordered the Breakfast Burrito. While we waited they served us these little cornbread muffins with a chocolate butter spread thing. We got our food and I loved that my French Toast came with a coconut syrup or maple. I like options with my food. My husband's burrito was really good too. It came with a spicy sauce which we think was Sriracha sauce but the burrito was super nicely presented. We were really happy with our meals as well as the pleasant service. I like the ambiance as you can see the pool area and the beach. Maybe one day we'll come back for dinner. The restaurant is really classy and chic but still chill probably because everyone that eats there is on vacation. The service is great and the prices are decent. If you are in the Poipu area you gotta try this place. Amaze-balls!
(4)Diana L.
We were shocked by the bad service @ breakfast especially since we were staying at the resort. From the time we sat down, it took 5 min before our sever finally came to greet us with waters and menus. His demeanor was not warm and welcoming at all - just the opposite. He seemed surprised that "we" or "us types" would be dining there. All the other tables(all caucasian patrons) around us were greeted very friendly and right as they sat down. Not sure if it was the server assigned to our table or if it was because we looked young and more like locals. Either way, food cost way too much for this type of service. In comparison, all the other lunch plate spots, fish markets and restaurants we ate at on the island gave us very warm and welcoming service.
(1)Janet S.
This restaurant is within walking distance of the place the hubby and I were staying. We didn't have reservations and were seated in the bar area. OK. Our server, who was flaky, took our drink orders and scooted off. When she came back, she had the hubby's beer order wrong, bringing a Kona Longboard instead of the Fire Rock Pale Ale that he ordered. (Hubby doesn't like to make waves -- on vacation after all -- so he stuck with the Longboard.) Hubby ordered a mixed greens salad, and she said she'd bring an extra plate.She did not. She offered fresh ground pepper for his salad. She didn't bring that either. It was just as well. I tasted the salad and it was bland like there was no dressing on it. She brought our bread, two different kinds, and that was good at least, Our entrees, opah for him and mahi for me, were pretty good. I can't even remember what the fish were served with, but I believe mine had Thai black rice. The sauce the grilled fish were laid on was tasty. She suggested a selection of gelato for dessert because I asked whether or not they had ice cream. We decided to go with her suggestion. Then she brought our bill instead of the two orders of gelato. She promptly turned around, remembering suddenly that we ordered dessert. Glad we stuck with the gelato which came in four small square bowls on a square ceramic dish. There were two fruit, a Kona coffee-flavored one with tiny bits of ground coffee in it, and an intense, vanilla-flavored.gelato. Excellent! In retrospect, Red Salt's food was better than the restaurant we went to the next evening. Food pesentation was nice. Only wish the service and the salad was up to par for the prices we paid. Edited to correct beer name & up the rating for the food.
(4)Saminda W.
Ate here our first night as we were staying at the Koa Kea. Service was quite good as well as the food. They were flexible on the menu, too, making adjustments as needed.
(4)Natalie K.
The best meal we had on the island. Everything was delicious and had great local flavors. We ordered the scallops, mahi mahi, ono, root beer float, and gelato. I would highly recommend this place...totally worth the money.
(5)Anita S.
I would give service here a 2 and food 3.5. We got here around 7:45, so can't rate the view, except that it was dark. The decor, certainly tasteful, but nothing special. Service started great, but deteriorated as the night went on, asked more than once but they forgot more bread, butter, and an additional pile of red salt, since everything was under salted. The entire check process took atleast 20 minutes. I am assuming because our waitress was helping to close up the restaurant by 10 pm so she got busy she forgot to take our credit card, until we hollered for her. The mushroom bisque, was our favorite dish of the night. Creamy, mushroomy, what more would one ask from a bisque? We also got the signature Red Salt Poke, beautiful checkerboard presentation of alternating red ahi, white walu over thinly sliced cucumber slices, topped with wakame seaweed, and tobiko, spritz with a ginger soy reduction, but overall it was bland, even adding red salt could not enhance this dish, but maybe that is why they still give wasabi and soy sauce on the side. Still, the fish was undeniably fresh. For my meal I got the appetizer of Togarashi Crusted Seared Ahi....my poor menu selection on my part because it was very similar in flavor red poke, having the same ginger soy reduction, wakame seaweed. While I normally avoid starches like bread, I did have a bread which is just average, but it was the perfect vehicle for devouring that delicious creamy butter topped with crunchy course red salt. Fish is so fresh that a little more seasoning could have enhanced it and made it more memorable. Valet was quick and professional, but that is because we were the last ones out of the restaurant due to the slow check service. Wow, dinner which consisted of 3 appetizers all ordered in the beginning took 2.5 hours. Even on vacation, I consider that service too slow.
(3)John F.
We ate here every morning for breakfast and once for dinner. We should have come here more often, as the restaurants in Kauai leave something to be desired. Breakfast was awesome. Trust me when I say everything on the menu is delicious. Pancakes were awesome, omelets are delicious, and that banana waffle? C'mon man. Dinner is equally outstanding. Seared Ahi Tuna is as good as any we had in Hawaii. I had the rack of lamb, which was awesome. Service was very good and the atmosphere was super romantic. They had all the torches lit outside. Loved it. Considering the somewhat disappointing cuisine in Poipu, I wish we would have dined here more. We will definitely be back.
(4)Bill C.
Great Hendricks gin martini at the bar! Wonderful setting and attentive staff Tofu entree was nice, but needed more of the sauce, and I would have preferred a crispier crust. Beet salad was tasty.
(4)Tom V.
Over priced is an understatement. The place is called Red Salt but the food could've actually used some salt.
(2)Justin E.
The restaurant feels like a hotel lounge that was converted into a restaurant. The service was friendly, but our waiter seemed like he was in the middle of running a marathon. The place is loud, and a bit hot despite the palm frawn fans they had doing one rotation a minute. The "kalua pork" appetizer I had was good, I like the little smoky smoke that emerges as the glass top is removed. The bread was great, especially when topped with the extra creamy butter and the namesake red salt. My fish, Ono was in a delicious sauce, but the fish itself was bland. The bottom line is if I'm gonna pay mass amounts of money for a piece of fish, it should be great, or at least I should have a nice view.
(3)Jill D.
The ambiance is beautiful, as is the decor. The service is friendly and not overly solicitous. The food just wasn't that great. I was very excited to have brunch here with some out of town guests but I just wasn't impressed. I had the much-touted pineapple souffle pancakes and was left feeling like a deflated souffle after eating them. They are literally the TOPS of a lemon souffle with pineapple sauce. They are NOT pancakes by any stretch of a definition. They were very light and airy and made me feel like I basically ate a bunch of lemony/pineapple flavored meringues. NOT satisfying. I would have two-starred this review but the mini-muffin tower that came with our meal was yummy and so was the coffee. The other diners with me were also unimpressed or wowed. The quest for a decent brunch spot on Kauai continues...
(3)Christine L.
Red Salt was amazing. I'd say it was the best meal I had on the island. The ambiance and decor were perfect, and our waiter was attentive and very courteous. My husband and I got the Island Prawns - taste of three, the Pan Seared Ono, the Red Salt 7 spiced Seared Ahi, the Quattro Gelato for dessert, and 2 martinis that I cannot recall. Everything was excellent. Both martinis were pricey but very, very good. The flavors were on point. I especially loved the ono. It was perfectly cooked, and the hash/broth it's sitting on top of was excellent. I really liked the gelato as well - especially the li hing mui flavor. Very unique and interesting. After tax, I believe we spent about $150 on the whole thing - not bad for fine dining. I was stuffed at the end. Note that if you're having a hard time finding the restaurant, it is inside the Koa Kea hotel and you have to do valet parking. Incidentally, my valet guy was super friendly and nice.
(5)Laurie E.
My husband and I recently ate at Red Salt. We had appetizers, drinks and dinner at the bar. Our bar tender and waiter was Mike. We received excellent service! Mike was not only professional, he was very personable and extremely efficient. We sampled several appetizers and entrées, and all were delicious! The two stand outs were the ahi carpaccio, and the crab cakes with the soy ginger sauce. Our overall experience could not have been better, I highly recommend Red Salt, for drinks, appetizers and or dinner.
(5)Courtney F.
My experience at Red Salt was not the best. I was already hesitant going in based on how expensive the menu is and was disappointed pretty early on which set the tone for the rest of our dinner. Server was very nice although forgot one of the appetizers we ordered and by the time we figured that out our entrees had arrived. Drinks were overpriced, but strong enough that we only needed one each for the duration of our meal. Chef provided complimentary taster of poke, which we ordered for an appetizer so we got one more bite than normal, the servings here are small. We also had the mushroom bisque which was delicious. That was pretty much the highlight of the meal. My lobster ravioli was not al dente and you only get three small pieces. My fiancee ordered the filet medium rare and received rare. Neither of us enjoyed the main part of the meal. The restaurant area is nicely set up, although the huge one leaf fans swaying above are distracting and useless in terms of providing cool air. Red Salt is too expensive for the food, drink and surroundings. I would not recommend this unless you can afford a few different expensive dinners during your trip.
(3)Lily N.
We had just landed on Kauai for the second leg of our honeymoon and I wanted to have a "fancy" dinner with our close friends who were also on the island for vacation. By a recommendation from another friend, we decided to try Red Salt for a late dinner. It was packed when we got there at 8:00pm, so it seemed like a good sign. The waiter was super nice and attentive. The red salt/butter combo was delicious. But, this is where all the goodness ends. We had a red salt poke to share for the table. The presentation was pretty cool, the sashimi pieces were made into a checkerboard. But, that did not help the fact that the sashimi was extremely fishy. Not so fresh for a a $$$ restaurant. I had the warm mushroom bisque. This was also a cute presentation, with a small mushroom croquette in the middle before the poured and served the bisque. But, when they say warm, they mean that the bowl was warm when the poured in the cold bisque. Now, I maybe a total idiot and not understand fine dining as much and perhaps this is how a "warm" bisque is supposed to be served. Nonetheless, it was not warm enough for my taste, and the bisque was not very special. The husband had the island prawns, which he said were very small bites of rubber. For my entree, I ordered the lobster ravioli. I was surprised to see a whole lobster tail on top of the ravioli and was so excited to eat it. But, it was overcooked and dry. Bad choice on my part. The husband had the rack of lamb, which again had a very nice presentation, however was nothing to write home about. We didn't even get dessert, because there was no point. I do have to give a nice shout out to their cocktails though. These were the favorite of the meal, strong and refreshing! I had the martini flight, of which the Wipe Out was my favorite. The husband had the Cucumber Collins and our friend had the Zaya Mojito. Overall, I would say the second to worst meal I had on my two week honeymoon in Hawaii. Come here for cocktails, but spend the rest of the night elsewhere.
(2)Eric L.
Excellent food and service. I got the continental breakfast...fantastic fruit.
(5)Todd C.
I don't know how anyone could give less than 5 stars. The service is impeccable (I especially like how the waiter describes what you about to eat as each dish is brought to the table). The ambiance is relaxed with mellow lighting. Best mai tai in Hawaii. And the food is excellent. Note this review is based on visit for dinner only. Valet parking produces seemless start and finish to your evening.
(5)Jill M.
We stayed at the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort and had breakfast twice at Red Salt as well as their room service option. We were very pleased with all the meals. The macadamia waffles were divine! The Eggs Benedict was also very good, as were the Lemon Souffle pancakes. Service in the dining room was generally good, though sometimes a little slow, but hey, you're in paradise, so slow down and enjoy the view. For our final night, we were tired of eating big meals and ordered two of their dinner salads via room service. We weren't expecting much but both salads exceeded our expectations and my husband still talks about his. He had the salad with avocado, and I had the salad with ahi lollipops (I forget the actual names of the salads). We ate every bite and what's nice is that you are full without regretting eating the entire meal. We'd stay at the Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort and eat at Red Salt again.
(4)Katie A.
Eggs Benedict is a win here! Love the atmosphere, more up scale. Service is alittle slow, but we had a server named Marlina she was very attentive and alert when it came to providing us with the service we needed. We requested for her section the rest of the time we stayed at the resort. I would Highly recommend this place
(5)Jenny T.
Cheryl: "this is just another glorified hotel restaurant" ..and she was right :/ I really wanted to like Red Salt. I really wanted to enjoy a fantastic seafood meal in a charming resort and yelp about how lovely it was.. but that's not the case here. My friend Cheryl ordered the seared Ono and said it was okay. Actually, she said "it's pretty good, I guess.." with a sour look on her face. Poor girl. This is our first time in Kauai and we were both looking forward to some outrageously delicious seafood. We have yet to find it. I ordered the Ahi and basically had the same reaction as Cheryl. "It's pretty good, I guess.." After two bites, I was ready for dessert. Luckily, the Quattro Gelato saved the day. Four cute little squares of gelato - chocolate, strawberry, mango & coconut - for only $9 and it was the best part of the meal.
(3)Matthew P.
The food was delicious. A unique take on some standards. Our favorites were the waffles, bennies, and breakfast burrito. Great atmosphere, and very accommodating for our party of 6's special event.
(5)Bill K.
As good as it gets. Amazing food and service. The breakfast is fantastic (i recommend the macadamia nut waffles.) We also had both their Thanksgiving dinner special menu and another dinner this week and couldn't have been more pleased. Great wine selections as well. If you are considering staying at the Koa Kea Resort, let this on-site restaurant tip the scales in that direction. Top shelf!
(5)Samantha A.
We had a fantastic dinner at Red Salt! 5 star food and service! The blueberry acai martini is perfection! I recommend as a starter the roasted beet salad with goat cheese fondue followed by the pan seared ono with king crab hash in sake coconut broth. And for desert the house made gelato and root beer float with a warm chocolate macadamia nut cookie! My husband had the seared ahi which was also crazy good!
(5)Anton E.
Pricey But Good Red Salt was my favorite restaurant in Kauai. I had breakfast there every morning (part of my lodging package), and loved the breakfast burrito. For dinner one night, I had the rack of lamb, which was moist, flavorful, and tender. There was also a mango gelatin next to the lamb which was super awesome. I loved it. Another night, I ordered a hamburger, which came with a ton of fixins' on the side. The burger was perfectly cooked, and I loved all the toppings I was able to put on it. Although the food is good, the menu is pricey. It may not be the best deal on the island, but I enjoyed my time eating at this restaurant. Service is fine, and ambiance is great (although one night I went when some gigantic group had a bachelorette party that was too loud and annoying). But the food really never disappointed me here, which is why you may want to consider this place.
(4)Brianna G.
My favorite meal on the island!! I had the mahi mahi and the mixed green salad both were amazing!!! I tried some of my fiancés sweet onion soup that was also really good!! He didn't like his pork chop though he said it was dry.....Overall great service and great food!!! We were staying at the Sheraton and didn't realize you could walk the beach to get to the restaurant.
(4)Anthony V.
Let me start by saying / reminding everyone that this review is about my particular experience at 'Red Salt'. I believe they are a much better restaurant than the two stars I'm giving them but as this was my first and only time there I can not score them based on expectation. My wife and I went here for dinner while on our honeymoon based on what we saw on yelp. The place is fairly nice but is located in a mid-range hotel (we were lucky enough to be staying at the Grand Hyatt for comparison). We both had the mushroom bisque soup which was excellent. Unfortunately neither of us completely loved our entrees as aspects of both dishes were both incredibly salty. I had the pork loin which was excellent but the mashed potatoes and vegetables it came with were inedibly salty. My wife had the shrimp linguini with mushrooms and it was tasty but mushrooms were again extremely salty. Nothing on the desert menu caught our eye as most of the yelp recommendations for appetizers and desserts no longer appear to be on the menu. I think I'd be willing to give this place another try but based on the fact that we are on vacation, i probably wouldn't waste another meal here. For the price...I expect better. Everyone is entitled to an off day, and hopefully that is was this was. So i don't want to give an unfair review but...we were disappointed.
(2)Ren O.
Delicious food, excellent service. As already pointed out, there is something wrong with the design or setting of the dining room. Maybe too many tables? Anyway, we highly recommend the ahi (tuna) with edamame risotto and serrano ham. The poke with ahi (tuna) and walu ("white tuna") sashimi stands out as the best dish on the menu. On another dinner, we had the mahi with vanilla sauce (good but not outstanding) and the opah (really tasty). Mega-thanks to our waitress Nancy.
(4)Sarah D.
Four stars for the excellent food and service. Unfortunately, no views! I need ambiance as much as quality food. The Green Flash martini with local Hawaiian Ocean vodka is outstanding. Bryan was our server and not only excellent with service, but also as a tour guide! He gave us great recommendations for our time heading over to the North Shore. If you want to request him, please do- but I request that you tip him well!
(4)Barb V.
Dr. Linda Paul and I had dinner tonight at this wonderful restaurant "Red Salt". Our waiter was just superb, I wish I could remember his name but, he was just great and went beyond great service. We both had the Kauai greens salad and the filet of beef. I just want to tell you that you could have cut that beef with a butter knife, it was so tender I could not believe it, no fat, just pure heaven. It is the best steak I have ever had. It comes with four different sauces to dip the filet in. My GOD, it was too good. The bread was delicious, with red salt on the side. The waiter also surprised us with an drink, in between the courses, squash/coconut purred with a dash of oil on the top........fantastic. I asked where they got this wonderful beef and it is from Idaho. I can hardly wait to go back. Thank-you Red Salt, all the staff and especially the chefs.
(5)Ty T.
I had dinner here my 2nd to last night, before leaving Poi'pu and checking out of the Grand Hyatt (about 1mi away) The Poke was impeccably plated; perfectly plump and symmetrical squares of both Sashimi grade Ahi and Hamachi all lain in a checkered pattern, on a bed of wakame, tobiko, and ginger soy cucumber. It was like a re-imagined, livelier and more delicious version of the Mica tiles in the kitchen of my Mid-century apartment. I had a refreshing bubbling flute of Mumms for a taste of home while in Paradise, it complimented the fish rather nicely. For my main, I enjoyed the 7 Spiced Seared Ahi. It was flaky and the Serrano Ham, brown butter and Edamame-cilantro Risotto with a slight hint of coconut just simply melted on my tongue. A minimal set-up, situated in the beautiful Koa Kea, with an attractive wait-staff, and highly refined/tasty menu.
(5)Riza T.
Great dinner for one fancy night out. Worth it the price tag. It is a good experience. A change in the "island" experience. We stayed at the hotel in which the restaurant is located. We are pretty happy with the service and the quality of the breakfast food.
(4)Brett C.
This place is well worth the money. The menu/food was awesome. Service was perfect. Don't waste your time at Dukes or The Beach House. If you are going to spend $20-40 a main dish, get some food that will give you a foodgasem. They had my car ready when we came out of the restaurant, I thought I was a celebrity except that I was driving a Malibu.
(5)H H.
We had a breakfast and a dinner here as we were staying at the hotel.SO glad we did. It's a wonderful place with staff that really cares. The food was really excellent and delicious. The amuse bouche we had between courses was a shot glass of intensely flavored cold soup. It's upscale foodie but NOT fussy..very relaxing atmosphere. Organic and local is stressed and translates to such tasty food.You feel like you are luxuriating and winding down well after a day of activity on Kauai. Highly recommend this place. It's NOT typical hotel food, rather a restaurant you'd want to go to.
(5)Jennifer O.
The BF and I had breakfast here the other day and it was superb! They start by bringing out delicious mini muffins with cinnamon butter....rich and flavorful. The BF got the macnut waffle, which was one of the best waffles he or I had ever tasted. The waffle was the perfect consistency paired with the delicious coconut syrup and thick whipped cream. I had the benny. It was such a good play on it. I usually don't like traditional bennys because I don't like ham, but this did not have ham, it had a potato and pancetta hash. Ohhhh soooo good. The hollandaise was wonderful...so light, with just a hint of lemony flavor. This is a must for breakfast.
(5)Guy N.
More butter, bread, and hawaiian salt please. That's all I need. The location is tucked away from the beach but the view to the ocean is pretty much unobstructed. The pool and the loungers are the only thing between you and the beautiful Pacific. What was a little deceiving was the conversation we had with the lady on the phone saying that this was a good place to enjoy the sunset, which is not true because the hotel wing blocks the direct view to the sunset. You have to walk towards the beach a little bit in order to enjoy the sunset in all it's glory. What a sight but it definitely wasn't viewable from our table. We walked from the Sheraton to here via the sand strip. It was a nice little stroll. If you go at the right time, it's beautiful with minimal tourist obstable course. The beach is not that wide, especially at high tide so it can be tricky at times. At night, certain parts are pretty dark except for the occasional torch along the way. If the moon is out, it's perfect. As far as the food is concerned, nothing five-star, but it was tasty. I'm not sure if the chef has changed between 2010 and now but at that time, it was okay. Good concept but the concept seemed to stop at the bread bowl where the red salt lay. The diver scallop was the star of the show if we were to choose one. It was cooked perfectly and the sauce (beurre-blanc I believe) was very tasty. It's hard to go wrong with a diver scallop app and there was no exception here. The dinner was not too memorable I guess because I don't remember what I had. The bottle of wine and 3 maitais obviously attributed to the memory loss. I think I had the steak and wife had the rack of lamb??? I would remember if it were bad so I'm guessing it was good. This was a 2 years ago so forgive my procrastination on this review. I do remember the fries though and again the red salt was enough but the sauces served with it were okay as well. This is definitely a great place to have a nice dinner. I do not remember exactly but the wine list was pretty good and not too expensive. Everything is Poipu is pretty close to each other, tourist hotels speaking. We walked to Keoki's, Red Salt, etc. Enjoy and if Red Salt is in the books, you will have a great time.
(4)Robert W.
I live and work on Kauai and have found that the Red Salt Restaurant provides great food, in a very lovely environment. Their prices are reasonable and the service has been great. I am usually hesitant to write reviews on restaurants, but Red Salt is consistently one of my favorite places to go out with family, friends, and business associates.
(5)Valerie R.
Gorgeous! And the best breakfast I've had in the state of Hawaii so far. We found Red Salt from the Yelp reviews and walked along the beach from the Sheraton until we came to some rocks, then climbed up a small hill to the boardwalk fronting the Ko'a Kea. The lobby of the Ko'a Kea is a glamorous combination of black and white with shell detailing. Made me feel posh just walking in there - thank goodness I wasn't overly scruffy! Breakfast is open seating. There are a couple tables by the window so you can look out onto the grounds with the ocean in the distance. The first day we had the eggs Benedict - Hollandaise was lemony and perfect. The second day (yes, we came back!) I tried the souffle pancakes while my husband had the breakfast burrito. The pancakes were incredibly light and airy, but I think I liked the burrito more - there's just something fantastic about meat in the morning!!
(5)Melissa D.
Based on great Yelp reviews, the boyfriend and I went to Red Salt for breakfast while vacationing. Parking is valet only, which is slightly annoying, but the valets were all very nice. The restaurant overlooks the pool/garden area of the Ko'a Kea Hotel and the beach- such a beautiful view to start the day! The food was amazing but the service was a bit slow. We ordered breakfast items a la carte, though I saw that there were other options (buffet, a hotel guest breakfast package). I ordered the veggie omelet sans onions (served with hashbrowns) and the boyfriend had the lemon souffle pancakes. The omelet was perfect, though I had to send it back because it had onions in it. I know accidents happen and the server handled it with grace, so that didn't perturb me. I had a lemon souffle pancake off of my boyfriend's plate and it was absolutely amazing - a must-have for those who have a thing for breakfast sweets! Red Salt was very impressive and should I return to Kauai, I will be back for a plate of my own pancakes!
(4)Mrs. A.
This was the best service I have received on the Island. I think the waitresses name was Marlina, but all the staff was friendly. The restaurant is beautiful. The food is four star but the whole experience is five. We were there for breakfast and it was pretty good and pretty good portions as well.
(5)Miss H.
MAC NUT WAFFLE, MAC NUT WAFFLE! I loved the mac nut waffle and ordered it for breakfast twice during my 3 night stay. The steak and eggs are good too, but there was something about this waffle that just was so satisfying. It comes with delectable coconut, maple, and guava syrup. I had so much fun just dunking into each syrup. I wasn't a big fan of the eggs benedict (kinda bland and not enough acid) nor the lemon soufflé pancakes....my husband liked it a lot, but for me it would be better for a dessert, not as an entree for breakfast, it just didn't have enough body/chew or that satisfaction you get say from eating even regular pancakes. It was too light for me as a breakfast entree. Also as a note, everyone is really friendly here, but service sometimes is a bit slow or sometimes people who get seated after you get their water/coffee first, which is annoying, but just depends when or where you server is for your table and when they know you are in their section. Lastly, early morning at 6:30am - 8am is really quiet and peaceful in the restaurant and can get really loud and obnoxious after that time depending on the other guests.
(4)Marie M.
Since we were staying at Koa Kea, we ate breakfast here almost every day. And it was awesome. MacNut waffle, lemon souffle pancakes.... and just the bread you receive upon sitting down is so freakin good! For dinner, I have absolutely nothing to complain about. From signature drinks and tasty appetizers (the vichyssoise is a must) to the INCREDIBLE main dishes (any sort of fish!) to sumptuous desserts...even their decaf coffee was good. I'm not exaggerating! Also, Bryan, who took care of our table that night, was impeccable. His "timing" (I don't know if there's an official term for it) is so good I had to write about it here: He knows what we need and exactly when without interrupting our long animated conversations. And my husband and I can talk all night, so this means our server was there during our nanosecond-pauses. Psychic! All in all, the experince was lovely. Our final bill was about $200 with tip, but it was so worth it. I am coming back.
(5)Angela L.
Hubby and I wanted to eat somewhere fancy foo-fooey on the island. After much research, we decided on this restaurant. At first I wanted to go to Tidepools but noting that there are no more koi's, I passed. I made reservation for 8pm. We got to the restaurant 15 minutes early. The experience already started out crappy as it was valet parking only. The hotel was nice, very modern. I checked-in with the hostess and she informed me that my table is not ready yet even though I saw plenty of empty tables. So hubby & I sat in the lobby area & ordered Mai Tais - they were actually a pretty decent size & delicious. Finally at 10 after 8pm, the hostess said there was a table ready but that it "wasn't the best seat in the house". Now the restaurant website said it was oceanfront dining, I didn't see anything as it was dark. I guess you got a good view of the pool if you sat by the large windows. Food: 2/3 as it was overpriced and not very good. The menu changed so I can't remember exactly what I had but I remember the red sea salt & beet salad as they were the highlight of this expensive meal. I enjoyed sprinkling the red salt onto the bread. The beet salad was delicious - the beet was sweet & refreshing. As far as entree goes, it was disappointing. I can't even remember what I had. I remember having a pasta dish possibly with either scallops or shrimp. It was a creamy sauce and it was good but I've had better. Hubby ordered the Ono with king crab crab cake. He didn't like it much stating the fish was bland and the crab cake tasted mushy not flaky. Not worth the price. If you want to try the red salt, I suggest just ordering drinks from the bar and then ask for the bred & red salt as complimary appetizer.
(2)Markus G.
My wife and I had chosen this place for a nice dinner, and it sure is lovely, but it's also really expensive. When the cheapest entree on the menu is $24, you know you're in trouble. After a couple of drinks, entrees and a salad, the bill was $110. However, the ambience is great, the service snappy, and the food is exceptional. Just be prepared to pay for it.
(4)Samantha Y.
Go to the bar -- straight to the bar -- ask for Jim and order a martini. Pure happiness. The food was delicious, the bread and butter as good as everyone describes on Yelp. Can't really explain what I had (fish special of the evening). Loved this place.
(5)Douglas F.
This place deserves 20 stars! I'm a chef and I was blown away! The best place to eat on any of the islands!!! This is a must! I will come back to the island just so we can eat here!!! I cant wait for breakfast next time- I heard it is awesome!!! Awesome valet service also!
(5)M M.
Had a really great dinner here on our recent vacation. The Pan Seared Ono entree was amazing and Vanilla Bean Mahi Mahi also great. The Koa Kea Gold was a sinfully delicious cocktail, too good. Great service too, left happy! Had a burger from the Red Salt menu at the pool bar for lunch, it was delicious and yummy fries :)
(4)Kelli H.
This place has great atmosphere, very ritzy! My ahi entree was perfect! My favorite fish of the trip. Unfortunately, David's pork was dry and over cooked. The bread they give you with the salt was very tasty. Drinks were a little pricey, and I think the food was over-priced. I mean, really? Almost $50 for a steak...I could understand $38, but $48 seemed way too high. Salads were good but a little under-dressed. Our server was very good. I would come back if I were back on the island.
(4)Luis M.
Came here for breakfast. Food was good, and the view of the ocean is nice, but honestly it's a bit overpriced. $15 for a Bloody Mary is just a little bit over the top.
(3)Larissa D.
Not as exciting as other reviewers said, and gluten free options are limited (potatoes are tossed in flour and they don't offer rice). Pretty formal, we had very slow service.
(2)Jason M.
We enjoyed a pork special, a salad, the mushroom bisque, the blueberry martini, and gelato for dessert. Food, service, and drinks were all truly first rate! We are very glad we were able to make a stop here during our visit to Kauai.
(5)Toni M.
The Ko'a Kea Hotel is the reincarnation of the Poi'pu Beach Hotel, which has been derelict since Hurricane Iniki in 1992. The Poi'pu Beach Hotel was a beloved institution. We'd never stayed there but have friends who have. They built the Ko'a Kea on the footprint of the Poi'pu Beach, partly because the ability to build so close to the ocean was grandfathered in since the foundation remained and partly because so many have a sentimental attachment to the place. Red Salt is the restaurant in the Ko'a Kea and it's been getting very good reviews so we wanted to check it out. It was difficult to find the place. Signage is still in process. There was a sign on Poi'pu Road indicating a right turn into the driveway shared by the Waiohai, Ko'a Kea and the Kiahuna Plantation. Once you got into the driveway your next move is unclear, but w/ perseverance and dumb luck, Alan found it. I was mightily impressed. The property is valet parking only, so once we confirmed that we were in the right spot we turned the car over and went in. The lobby and bar were empty. There were a few people in the restaurant and the number grew as the evening progressed. The architecture is simple, modern and beautiful. One wall of the restaurant consists of a bow of black framed floor to ceiling windows. It was a beautiful, graceful line. We sat at a two top against that wall, looking out. One waitress took care of the entire room and she was well trained, professional and gave excellent information about the menu and the wine list. She made recommendations and gave her personal opinions as another source of information. We listened as she spoke to other patrons and were very impressed by her presence. We both ordered iced tea. It's been unusually hot and humid this week and that's what we've been drinking for the most part. One of few complaints we had were w/ the size and shape of the glasses. They were small, graceful but small and the slice of lemon on the edge of the glass made them difficult to drink from. Form over function, style over substance. Removing the lemon helped, but larger glasses would be even better. The tea was good and was refilled. I almost forgot to mention the square of cloth under the glass to absorb the liquid. It was about 3 inches to a side and was an elegant touch I hadn't seen before. I ordered the salad of Kalaheo baby greens w/ Big Island hearts of palm, macadamia nuts and Hamakua tomatoes dressed in an avocado vinaigrette. Alan ordered the chilled corn soup w/ a goat cheese croquette. Before our appetizers arrived we were presented w/ an amuse bouche, seared ahi. I forget what adorned it, but it was perfectly prepared and tasty. We were also brought a basket of warm bread and some butter. A small dish of red salt was placed on the table, but the food was well seasoned and we didn't need it. The bread was multigrain and complex w/o being terribly dense. They bake it on the premises, although the dough is sent from Oahu. It was the best bread we've had since we've been here. Both the soup and salad were excellent. We traded our plates back and forth and Alan, who contends he dislikes goat cheese, finished it all except for the bites I had. It told him this must be his goat cheese trip. We pored over the menu. I decided on the grilled ono, served w/ Maui onion, king crab home fries, haricots verts and an olive chardonnay beurre blanc. Alan ordered a 14 oz Wagyu beef steak served w/ red salt fries and three dipping sauces, a truffle butter, a ginger-shoyu sauce and a Madagascar pepper reduction. The steak was huge. It looked much larger than 14 oz. It was tender and flavorful. The fries were good. My ono was a large portion. The onions and the other seasonings enhanced its natural flavor. The crab home fries were flavorful, but a little rich for me. The haricots verts were al dente and wonderful. We had no room for dessert, but w/ the bill came two shell shaped dark chocolates w/ creamy, not too sweet centers. The perfect end to such a meal. This was an excellent dining experience and we will return here the next time we're on Kauai. It hasn't been discovered yet but I have no doubt that w/ time and better signage it will be. The only recommendation I would make, aside from new iced tea glasses, is that the music have a more coherent theme. It was pretty random. I'm fond of slack key and other Hawaiian music and that would be my preference, but good jazz would also provide an elegant soundscape that a restaurant like this deserves.
(5)Gabriel S.
Located inside the exceptional Koa Kea resort. In spite of being a "hotel" restaurant, which we usually shun, we tried it. The best, by far, on the island. We tried them all. Exquisite defines it. We kept coming back, especially after trying the other restaurants in the area. We also tried their sushi bar. Delightful. Paul, Chris, Nancy, Rebecca, oh dear, charming, refined, warm, educated, informative, attentive...sorry, got carried away. We tried a large variety of items on the menu, never a miss. Presentation, plating, freshness, balance, flavors, aromas, superb ambiance, all there at the very top, what else can be said. Looking forward to the next time.
(5)Marty M.
Tried the Pan Seared Ono and Seared Ahi. The Ahi was OK, not as fresh as you would expect on the island. The Ono was fantastic, perfectly cooked and fresh - great atmosphere and friendly staff
(4)Larry S.
On our recent trip to the Big Island and Kua'i we found that recommended restaurants are either local shacks or super fine dining. This is the latter. Expensive but very worth it. Excellent bar. I recommend the Mai Tai and the Martini flights. Comprehensive wine list. We had the Beet and Mixed Green salads, the Ahi tuna, the Wahoo and the Pork. All were excellent. Nice ambiance in Koa Kea beach resort with complimentary valet parking. Excellent staff. Dressy.
(5)L. R.
Oh my, this food is amazing and creative! We only went here for breakfast but what a breakfast it was. It's tucked away and hard to find but Red Salt is really worth it. My dining partner had pineapple soufflé pancakes on the morning we came. They were light and airy and melted in the mouth. The taste was sensational. The other person got eggs but they came out beautiful and as ordered with pleasantly spiced potatoes and applewood smoked bacon which had practically no fat on it. My meal was also top notch. The price reflects the quality of the food. Since everything on the island is imported, it is quite expensive but food like this is worth it. I can't wait to go back. I wish it was less expensive because I'd eat here every day. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and decorated beautifully. You must try this, if not for dinner, then for breakfast.
(5)Tzachi Z.
The restaurant is located in the Koa Kea resort, where we stayed for a week. We were there for both breakfast and dinner. Overall, we had a nice experience. Breakfast The breakfast offers a continental buffet and/or a selection of hot entrees. The buffet has a decent selection of cheese and cold meats. The breads are OK as well. There is oatmeal and a selection of fruit: pineapple, papaya, blood oranges and blueberries were a regular. Strawberries showed up twice and watermelon once. The downside is that in Hawaii i expected a slightly greater selection of fruits. The hot entrees we tried were a fantastic veggie omellette. It was extremely good with great local vegetables. No need to waste space with meats. Hawaii's veggies are exceptional. The macademia pancakes, waffle and lemon-pineapple souffle pancakes were also very good. The staff was very nice and helpful throughout our stay. Notable were Samdi and Marilda, who served us more than once and were great. Dinner A couple of dinners featured excellent salads and a fabulous mushroom soup. The pork tenderloin was just OK.
(4)Philip S. L.
Went for dinner last night, started with a Mai Tai, wonderful. Then a small bread basket was delivered with unsalted butter again very good. Lobster ravioli was next,(3 of them) with a small part of the lobster tail, excellent. Very noisy acoustics, not helped by a table of loud children which the parents refused to control. Definitely worth a visit. Nice ambiance.
(4)Raymond W.
Food didn't offer the value that was expected. While the portions of a fine dining restaurant are small, the lack of quantity is supposed to be made up with exceptional quality. That is not what was experienced here. Food was mediocre and service was slow, not worth the money.
(2)Michael D.
Awesome food here!! We stayed at Koa Kea so we ate here several times and every meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) was absolutely delicious. What a treat! Must visit if you're in the Poipu area, it is worth the trip.
(5)Sea P.
Perhaps the best restaurant in Hawaii when considering all the factors in a fine dining experience. Ambience and service stand out at this restaurant. The food is fantastic too. Of course there are other restaurants that have great cuisine in Hawaii, but this restaurant has it all. Highly recommended.
(5)Chris T.
Bottom line: breakfast is where it's at. We had the continental breakfast, eggs benedict, omelet, eggs/meat, and the steak and eggs. Everything was absolutely great except for the steak/eggs. The filet was small, tasteless, and overcooked. Even IHOP steak doesn't need A1 and this one did. The coffee is BOMB as are the "muffin scraps" that come with breakfast. You seat yourself when you arrive and smiling faces come promptly to help you out. Dinner was typical for $$$ restaurants in the Hawaii area. Tasted great, looked great, but nothing memorable. The pool bar is connected to this restaurant and had many good options. I liked the Mahi sandwich and salads. The drinks are KILLER.
(4)Aimee P.
Red Salt was a surprising find along the shores of Poipu. The restaurant is located in the newly constructed, incredibly modern Koa Kea, a small but gorgeously modern hotel tucked just behind the Marriott. This was my only meal in Kauai that I'd consider 'fine dining' - not that that's what I was seeking when I set out for the islands - but it was a pleasant detour nonetheless. They use red salt in many of their dishes - and it inspires the restaurant's chic, contemporary decor, as well. It has a milder flavor than regular sea salt, which has a more crisp, clean profile. There was red salt along the rim of my mango daiquiri (forgive me for the girly drink, please, but c'mon - it's Hawaii! Plus, their beer selection was lacking...or nonexistant). Red salt is also served alongside the unsalted butter, which was served at room temperature with nice, fresh bread for easy spreading. The cocktails were wonderful, the service was the best I had in Kauai, and the food was fantastic. I had the poke appetizer, which was beautifully presented in a checkerboard of poke and hamachi atop a bed of cucumber strips with a seaweed salad hidden between the two layers. I also had the beet salad: fresh and simple, with gorgeous red and yellow beets and a goat cheese fondue dressing. My friends had the pork tenderloin, seared ahi, and the Wagyu New York strip, which was perfectly cooked and accompanied by a pile of perfectly crispy, red salted fries and four dipping sauces. This is recommended if you're in the mood for a nice, classy meal along the shores of Poipu.
(5)Nathan J.
This restaurant was highly recommended but in my opinion, not the best option on the island and definitely over priced for what you get. The Mai Tai was definitely the strongest I had in two weeks on the islands, one will get you tipsy, two can get you wasted. The pork belly was a delicious starter. Everything else... Just ok. I would reccomend Josselin's or Merriman's over Red Salt. I did hear they have a great breakfast, didn't get a chance to try that however.
(2)Brian S.
I'd heard that Red Salt was one of the best restaurants on Kauai and after eating here I have no reason to doubt that assertion. The staff was gracious and attentive and the food was delicious. Highlights for me were the green salad (I was actually disappointed that I didn't get to have another since we missed the last seating on our final night since we'd gone to see the sunset at the St. Regis), the grilled ono, and especially the bread with butter and a little red salt. So basically the entire meal. If you don't wish to sit in the dining area you can grab a seat or a small table in the lounge area and order off the restaurant menu as well as the lounge menu. We did this on a separate night and the bartender--Jim M--took care of us. A very nice guy and very good service. I've seen a couple complaints about the price of a meal here, but if you compare it to, say, a meal at the St. Regis or Hyatt, and consider the quality and inventiveness of the food at Red Salt, it kind of seems like a steal.
(5)Ben K.
Great fish and seafood and a nice atmosphere. Wait staff was perfect and had an overall good experience. Nothing that outrageous about the menu but its done well. Should consider adding the sashimi from the sushi chef in the bar.
(4)Summer S.
We had breakfast there. We arrived late, probably 5 minutes before the actual breakfast time ended. The restaurant was empty. The service was very good. Hubby had the Egg Benedict and I had the Oatmeal. The Egg Benedict was average. The Oatmeal didn't come with pecans, but strawberries instead, which were not ripe. The ambiance was nice.
(3)A S.
Our family had breakfast here earlier this week and would most certainly recommend this to others. Great food - great service - and great atmosphere. The dining room was made up mostly of couples, so it's not a place I would suggest bringing screaming children. The beach in front of the property is beautiful and definitely something that should be seen prior to leaving the grounds.
(4)Brooke H.
Unless you wipe your butt with $100 bills, don't eat here. It's way overpriced for what you get! We were told this place was a nice, casual, laid back restaurant but I guess that depends on how you define "casual and laid" back because in my opinion it was far from that. It was upscale and stuffy. I was wearing a sundress and my husband was wearing khaki shorts, neither one of us is sloppy or lazy about our appearance but it seemed as though we were snubbed due to our attire. We were asked by the hostess if we were guests of the hotel but we weren't. Not sure if it was our "casual" attire at a so-called, "casual" restaurant or if it was because we were not hotel guests but, we were asked to sit outside of the restaurant and we were seated in the lobby furniture for dinner!!!! I was a little taken back but went with the flow. The waitress was nice and gave us her sales pitch and recommendation for the most expensive things in the menu. I ordered an appetizer since paying $40-60 for an entre that did not include any sides is outrageous. I ordered the Kailua pork spring roll appetizer expecting it to be an appetizer for us but it was a 3" spring roll cut into 2 pieces served on a saucer for $15. Don't get me wrong it was tasty but ridiculously expensive for what you got. My husband's chicken was pretty good but nothing I'd keep going back for. Overall, it was good, knowledgable and friendly waitress, clean and modern atmosphere but I left here pissed off and hungry. I went to Keoki's across the street and got twice the amount of good food for 1/3 of the price and I was not asked to sit outside in the lobby!
(3)David E.
*****Refined, needs to close the gap to perfection***** Red Salt was one of the best meals we had on the island, but let's start at the bar. I ordered the Mai Tai after our server professed it to be the BEST. My wife ordered a Dirty South martini (vodka, juice from cocktail onions and pepporincini) which was not on their menu, but they did their best to accommodate. My Mai Tai was probably the worst, but with the addition of a little pineapple juice, it was fine. Dinner was great! I had the 7 spice Ahi and my wife had the seared Ono. Both had wonderful flavors. The dishes are well conceived and mostly well executed. I say mostly because my risotto should have been cooked a bit longer. It was not aldente, but it didn't have time to release all of its starches to give it that "creamy" feel. I'm nitpicking here. Great food, great service. We'll be back.
(4)Roy A.
We came here for brunch and was not disappointed. My wife got the eggs Benedict and I got the buttermilk pancakes. Both were top notch, especially since we were looking to take a break from the local fare. The view to the ocean is nice and the staff was very friendly.
(4)Gwyneth C.
THEIR MAI TAIS ARE AWESOME!! ORDER IT! I went there on a Saturday night and every Friday and Saturday nights are Sushi Nights. i went there with a couple friends and they picked up the tab so im not quite sure on the final bill but i would assume it was pretty pricey. They also ordered for us as well so i don't know what the name of the rolls we got were (and they don't have a sushi menu on their website) so i wouldn't be able to give you specific reviews on each roll, but they were all amazing. one dish i LOVED was a hamachi sashimi with mushrooms drizzled with truffle oil dish. it was soooo goood we got multiple orders of that. we also got a steak dish that came with red salt fries. it was also delicious. i would definitely go back and see what their dinner menu is like. UPDATE: Lobster Ravioli & Waguy entree are delicious and recommended
(5)Allison L.
This place was so good for breakfast, we came back for dinner in our mere 3 days on the island... Ono- crispy, light, meaty. Potato/crab hash was delish! Ahi- seared perfectly.. Served with cilantro/edamame risotto and a coconut cloud - it even sounds dreamy, doesn't it? We had been torn between what we got and something that came with black forbidden rice in coconut milk---- we weren't as interested in the actual entree, but the side sounded amazing, so the waiter brought us a little dish of it to try :-) The only thing that could have been better was the green salad with hearts of palm. It could have had more palm.... all in all, a wonderful place. Hard to find, but once you do, you just might go back like we did :)
(5)Jennifer F.
Wonderful dinner! We started with a nice bottle of wine, with fresh bread! They bring red salt with the bread, too salty, could hardly handle the tiniest amount. We both started with salads, as usual I had plate envy...husband always orders what I want:) Beet salad was delicious, the garden salad a little bland. Then onto entree's: I opted for just a bowl of the mushroom soup! Incredible! My husband had the Ono, once again plate envy, thank goodness he shares. No dessert, just coffee. The service was very good, Alex was our waiter, the Maitre D was also very nice came around to refill wine, water. Nice touch. Not the most romantic view on the island, but nice view of the pool with the ocean in the distance. We would definitely come back. Really want to try the breakfast!!
(4)don M.
We arrived on time for our 7.00 pm reservation which I had made by telephone two nights before. They did not have our reservation, even though the maitre d' was the same person who took my reservation. I couldn't make a reservation through YELP or Open Table--my preferred way of making reservations. Nevertheless, we were seated without a wait--it makes me wonder what would have happened if they had been busy. We ordered a bottle of chardonnay which arrived at the table with an ice bucket--but as was our experience at Merriman's two nights earlier the bottle had not been previously chilled. What is it with these high-priced restaurants? The restaurant ambience and decor was outstanding. The food was excellent, as one would expect for the prices charged. I had the Ono and my wife had the Mahi Mahi. Service was impeccable, although we did get tired of being asked about every five minutes "how are things so far"?
(4)Rob B.
Red Salt is beautiful and stylish too! It's kind of W 'esque, and the greeting from valet to host could not have been more pleasant! But something is just not quite right. When we confirmed our reservation, they could not find it, and were told they had no openings till 8:45. But no worries they would squeeze us in! Whew! Our starters shrimp with 3 sauces were nice and the checker board Pok'e beautiful! But what caught my attention from the time we arrived till we left, was all the empty tables? Dinner was less successful, Jeff's bleu cheese mash potatoes on his pork filet were so salty that they had to be ejected into his napkin. This cleared the giggle we had to contain from the overly suggestive presentation. Shall we just say, a very manly presentation! My Ono was just that, delicious perfectly cooked, though the "hash" below it ate the sake coconut broth before I could. The crowd was as beautiful as the setting though the frugal vegan honeymooners next to us found pancetta at the bottom of the shared fettuccini with local vegetables. Red Salt is trying hard but it seems they are in need of a strong F&B manager to get them to the next level. Unfortunately, I am afraid they think they are already there.
(3)Morgan S.
Loved everything about Red Salt. We ate at the bar, which we love to do, and were so happy we did. Their bartender Jim is amazingly nice and knowledgeable. We loved talking to him. We ate tapas style, just selecting our way through the appetizers. We had the potatoes three ways, as well as the crab cakes three ways. Both DELICIOUS! We also got the pork belly app and the pork gyotas. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong. Even the bread and butter (with red salt) was yummy. Definitely try Red Salt if you're in the area. Best place we had dinner in Kauai!
(5)LeAnna C.
BEST breakfast on the entire island of Kauai! If you like eggs benedict you will go crazy for their version. One of the best I've had. The soufle pancakes were to die for as well! It's a very modern and beautiful place. The decor is stunning! We didn't make it to dinner there unfortunately but came back a few times for breakfast. LOVE LOVE LOVE Red Salt for breakfast.
(5)Allison K.
Food here is stellar. Service is friendly and warm. Surroundings are lovely. Not to be missed.
(5)Philip H.
My wife had breakfast and dinner here during our 3 night stay at the resort. Our stay was at the tail end of our 2 week honeymoon, so we had several meals from the Big Island and Kauai to compare to. Red Salt was one of the priciest restaurants we ate at for dinner, similar in price to Beach House and Merriman's. I would rank Merriman's #1, Red Salt #2, and Beach House #3. For dinner we had the beet salad, the mixed greens, and the mushroom bisque. Both salads were well prepared but they went a little happy on the red salt. The mushroom bisque presented well, but I found it a bit bland taste-wise. Also, it only had 1/2 of a Hamakua mushroom. The rest was puree. We contemplated ordering the $48 Wagyu Prime New York Steak but decided against it due to doubts that it would be worth $48. See next paragraph. On a side note, I've only had two pieces of good New York Steak, one at Angelica's in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the second that came from a local butcher shop in Wellesley, MA. I tried the $42 New York steak at the Oak Room at the Boston Fairmont Copley, but even at medium rare it was really tough and dry. Anyway, back to Red Salt. We enjoyed breakfast. We shared a Continental breakfast and the Eggs Benedict. We confirmed the Eggs Benedict to be as good as everyone on Yelp and the hotel employees claimed it to be. Continental breakfast had a lot of fresh fruit and cured meat and cheeses. It was a good deal for $12. One warning, which is why Red Salt gets 3 stars rather than 4 stars, is that they sanitize the tables after they clear them with this spray bottle of some kind of chemical. While I appreciate their meticulous care of killing the germs on each table for guests, the proximity of the tables causes ventilation issues, and I found myself getting a whiff of Windex's cousin in between my croissant and oatmeal and during dinner between mushroom bisque and beet salad. I think I lost a few brain cells at the Red Salt.
(3)M T.
Red Salt is amazing! I went here for both breakfast and dinner during my vacay in Kauai. As others have said, the eggs benedict will blow you away. The pancetta hash is delicious and I've never had something like that before. Def one of the best benedicts I've ever had. The coffee was also very good. My other half had the soufflé pancakes. They're very filling but very tasty. Server was very nice but don't remember her name. Dinner was probably the best tasting that we had on Kauai. Had the scallop and poke for appetizers. Both were excellent. Then had the mixed greens and mushroom bisque. Again excellent! Main courses were the steak and mahi. The steak we had was the best we had all week. I think if they had any weakness it was dessert. We thought 22 North's dessert was better. We had the ginger creme brûlée and it was good. I was hoping for a little bit more of a ginger flavor but we still cleaned off the plate! Our server was Ryan and he was perfect. He was helpful with recommendations and was always there to pick up empty plates when necessary but he wasn't annoying or pushy. He was the right mix and just an overall nice guy. We were told by another waitress at a restaurant I won't mention that Red Salt is the best restaurant on the island. I just might have to agree but I'd say 22 North is up there for us as well.
(5)K K.
Awesome meal! Diver Sea Scallops, Pork tenderloin (so tender you don't need a knife), Mushroom bisque....I will miss Kauai. Also great host and server! Valet service was also stellar.
(5)Missy V.
Pregnant women and those with seafood allergies beware!!! We wanted to eat someplace special for my hubby's birthday so after reading all the great reviews we decide on Red Salt. Things started off well, but my mahi came to me undercooked. I had told the server I was pregnant prior to ordering, and when I told her my fish was not cooked all the way she said that it was the way it came and that the chef was aware that I was pregnant. For me this is unacceptable, so I traded my dish with my husbands, but I think the way the server handled the situation was not right. She should have taken the fish back, no comment and should have warned me prior to ordering that this is how they prepared the dish. Later that night my poor husband got sick- was it from the undercooked mahi- we won't know. But I suspect it was and I am so sad that this had to happen to him on his birthday. Additionally, I think this place is also WAY over-priced for the amount and quality of the food. IMO you're better off trying Joseline's or one of the other top-rated restaurants. If a server disregards a persons health condition and doesn't assist with navigating the menu then she or he is not doing there job very well. I don't care how much they recommend a dish- if the person who orders it cannot eat it for health reasons then it's not in the best interest of the customer. I am disappointed in this restaurant and would NEVER recommend it to anyone.
(2)Jolyn H.
Some of the best food we had on the island. The pork luau appetizer is incredible and the mahi and ahi entrees were delicious. We even loved the bread and butter! The mixed green salad was just OK. It's pricey, but that's pretty much par for the course on Kauai. The waitress was sweet and attentive. We were so sad we didn't save room for dessert, but two housemade chocolates came with the bill and they were unbelievable. Be sure to get the blended mango margarita with li hing mui rim! Best margarita on Kauai!
(4)Tim V.
Poke was great. 7 spice seared Ahi was best on island. Went back for breakfast after reading reviews and wasn't disappointed - great Macadamia but waffle and Benedict was outstanding.
(4)Bryan W.
The best restaurant we found in Kauai during our 8 day trip!! We recently stayed at Ko'a Kea and the breakfast and dinners were amazing. The ambiance is very modern / cool and service was always excellent. Breakfast: I travel a lot for work and the breakfast buffet and hot entrees were a level above most nice hotels. The macadamia nut waffle was great, the omelletes were perfect, the smoked applewood bacon was excellent and the service great. Dinner: Amazing! Diver scallop appetizer was awesome. The ahi poke appetizer while small was delicious / fresh. The ahi entree with edamame risotto was amazing. The mahi mahi was excellent. The chocolate torte dessert was great too. Good wine list, excellent service and the prices were better or a better value than lesser restaurants on the island. Red Salt was so much better than the Beach House or Roy's. If you are staying in Poipu go to Red Salt. You won't be dissapointed ~ BW and KL
(5)Scott G.
As experienced diners we were eagerly anticipating our meal at this frequently raved-about restaurant. Unfortunately we found it disappointing and overrated. Whenever we eat at a restaurant new to us we always ask for the house recommendations. In this case that was the vanilla bean Mahi and the 7-Spiced Ahi. Both were dissatisfying - bland and completely unremarkable. The risotto that accompanied the Ahi tasted as if it came from a box and the bok choy was limp and overcooked. Why this restaurant gets such rave reviews is a mystery to us. There are so many other superior places to dine in Kauai that, comparatively, I've only given Red Salt two stars and feel that that's generous. Service was acceptable but not special (although the waitress really didn't seem to react much when we replied "Just okay" to her query about the dinner)and the decor was interesting. Living proof that not every dining experience can be a hit. We won't be going back.
(2)Joshua S.
This is the one place in Kauai you should eat breakfast or dinner. I've done all the typical "tourist spots" including (but not limited to)... The BeachHouse Gaylords 22 North Some swanky place I don't remember in Princeville RED SALT beats them all -- hands down. Awesome food. Modern decor. Oceanfront. I suggest you order a Mai Thai and get their Ahi Tuna.
(5)Greg and Ann P.
Glamorous restaurant with delicious food and polished--yet friendly--service. We each had the poke--artful presentation--the beet salad, a Caesar for hubby, and split the shrimp carbonara (perfect for two!). Beautiful island modern decor. Highly recommended!
(5)John B C.
No other restaurant on the island that we tried matched our experience here. Our server was outstanding and while clearly very busy he was attentive, professional and knowledgable. But it was the delicious, sophisticated food that made Red Salt so memorable. All 3 courses held surprises and reflected creativity and originality not otherwise found on the island. The room is nice with a Japanese/mid century modern thing going. Terrific experience on par with what we would expect to find in our favorite spots back home in L.A.
(5)pete k.
My wife and I stayed at the amazing Ko'a Kea where Red Salt is housed. We gorged ourselves on the breakfast here daily (pineapple pancake souffle, holy!), but Red Salt is really about dinner. Top notch food - amazingly fresh fish and stunningly artistic presentations. We also ate at Merrimans and Roys, and felt very underwhelmed at both, especially given their reputations. Red Salt did not underwhelm - it wowed. It was very busy on the nights we went - and you can see why. And yes, they have a nice touch of using said Red Salt, which comes from the northern side of the island. Service was top, top notch - well prepared to answer any question you had - including "how do you pronounce this one?". While busy, the dining area is not huge - so noise not bad and service can easily keep up.
(5)Daphne J.
Stiff drinks (one drink goes a long way), delicious entrees, great service, soothing atmosphere. I have been eating vegan, so I ordered the tofu entree. It was simple, delicious, and filling. I appreciate it so much when tofu is given the same amount of flavor respect as meat is. I was skeptical when I got here, but I left satisfied (and a little tipsy) ;)
(4)Nuntiya K.
Fantastic restaurant located in the Koa Kea resort on Poipu Beach and probably the best seafood meal my husband and I had while on Kauai. Red Salt is definitely upscale, both in terms of quality and ambiance. The dining area looks sophisticated and modern, consistent with the rest of the resort. Another yelper mentioned that the restaurant felt a little too close to the lobby and I agree, but really, it was the only fault I could find. Service was impeccable and more importantly, the food was delicious and a cut above. I had the seared ahi wrapped in serrano ham with cilantro edamame risotto. My husband had the grilled ono with king crab home fries. Both dishes were creative and well executed. Excellent wine selection, as well. Best to stay at the Koa Kea, so that you can roll out of the restaurant and straight into bed.
(5)Hòa P.
We were staying at the Waiohai and after exhausting the various other restaurants on the island we found Red Salt in the trendy Koa Kea resort right next door to us. First let me say that I totally dig the design at the Koa Kea. It's modern and stylish, but still has a nice island feel to it. The Red Salt restaurant is located just past the main lobby/lounge and has a nice view of the garden/pool/courtyard area. As for the food, it was really good compared to the other "fancy" restaurants that we tried. We started off with the poke and the kalua pork. Both were delicious and nicely plated. For our mains we had the rack of lamb, the grilled ono (wahoo) and the pork chop. The rack of lamb was perfectly cooked with a nice demi-glace...yum! The ono was perfectly cooked as well. Let me just say that most of the other restaurants that we tried sadly overcooked our fish entrees so it was nice to see someone get it right. As for the pork chop, it was great and we knocked it out in a heartbeat. For desert we got the ginger creme brulee which was awesome and also the yummy chocolate torte. I live in LA where there's no shortage of upscale/trendy restaurants and Red Salt is on par with what I've come to enjoy and expect from these types of places. Yes the portions aren't huge and the prices are a little higher, but the food was spot on and that's more than I can say for the other places where my pricey dinner was a total waste of money.
(4)Amit P.
Red Salt is a very chic restaurant in one of the best hotels in Kauai. We went here for dinner. We had the Opah and Mahi entree's both of which were $33. The entree's were good but not worth the price. The cocktails were even more pricey. We got the Mango margaritas which were $13 each! These were also nothing special. I would give this a miss and go to Josselin's down the road which is as upscale and has incredible food.
(2)Dan D.
Had 4 people here for breakfast. I had steak and eggs and my medium rare came out decidedly medium. Location is nice but a bit sterile. Food value was good and service was very good. Could do worse!
(3)No B.
Red Salt is in a very attractive room and has a very nice, solicitous staff. Our party enjoyed the lamb and pork meat entrees, but not the accompanying side items, which were creative yet lacking in flavor. The fresh island fish entree and three salads were unremarkable too. The defining quality of most of what was served was blandness and much less than the menu prose would lead one to anticipate. The chef seems to have an aversion to flavorful dishes. Everything was quite bland, except the sauce with the flash seared ahi appetizer, which was very assertive. Our $100 Chardonnay was quite good and should have been. Also the brown and white breads were quite good, especially with butter and the optional red salt added. They were brought out "free" and by far better than most of the menu items we ordered. One does not mind paying a lot in an upscale venue, but the food should be at least average, hopefully better. Considering the rather expensive menu prices and being located in an upscale bear resort hotel, it was a quite disappointing, boring meal. I wish it were not so because I'd love to return to the physical location. Good points: Quiet dining room with very good, caring service. Quite attractive bar (with TV behind) and sumptuously furnished lounge. Valet parking is free, except for tip.
(2)D G.
The chef here knows what he's doing! From the bread basket, to the mushroom soup, to the seafood, I thought they did above & beyond a good job. There weren't many dessert choices, and none that tempted me, but they were willing to bring out some fresh fruit from the back.
(4)Chris L.
This place is a gem on Kauai! We stayed at Koa Kea and had a package that included breakfast every morning and a 3-course dinner for one night of our stay. BREAKFAST: The breakfast menu, while not extensive, is pretty good. They have an eggs benedict, two eggs served any way, three egg omelet, souffle pancakes, and waffles. The eggs benedict is very good, eggs cooked perfectly. The other eggs dishes are also good served with potatoes and ketchup/sriracha. The souffle pancakes are huuuuuuge and pretty tasty. Didn't have the waffles, so I can't offer a take on those. DINNER: Dinner at Red Salt was a very pleasant surprise. We made our reservation for the last night of our stay because we wanted to spend some quality time at our resort before we went on our way back to reality. I have to say, it was by far the best meal that we had on the island. - We were offered an amuse-bouche which was a croquette made out of breadfruit. It was nice and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. A good way to start our meal. - One of our appetizers was a bronzed diver scallop with lilikoi buerre blanc, and sweet potato chips on top. The scallop was cooked very well and the buerre blanc and chips were a very nice touch for flavor and texture. - Another appetizer was a Kalua pork "Luau" which was pared with taro gnocchi. I've never had taro gnocchi before, and I have to say it was pretty damn good. - Mushroom bisque was very flavorful without being too salty, with a nice little croquette in the middle. - We had a salad that escapes me right now. It wasn't that great, which is why I can't remember what it was. Probably the only disappointment of the meal. - One main course was the rack of lamb with mango chutney, cauliflower couscous, and a mango gelee topped with Hawaiian red salt. The lamb was prepared very well and the flavor of the mango chutney went well with the flavors of the meat. The cauliflower couscous was made with Israeli couscous mixed with cauliflower. Delicious! The mango gelee and the red salt were paired excellently together as well. - The other main course was the 7 spiced seared ahi. This was wrapped in Serrano ham with an edamame/cilantro risotto, brown butter sauce, and a coconut foam. The ahi was seared perfectly and the ham on the outside was a nice touch. The risotto was creamy and tasty and the coconut foam added a nice subtle sweetness to the dish. Overall, Red Salt was a pleasant surprise during our stay. If we had known how good the dinner was earlier, we probably would have had another meal there. Kudos to the chef for a standout meal!
(5)Sophie M.
I had the breakfast buffet and my husband had the macadamia nut waffle. Everything was great. His waffle was delicious and I loved the continental buffet. There were nuts and fruit to put in my oatmeal. The mango and papaya were perfect and there were cheeses and juices. It really hit the spot.
(5)Paul G.
Dined here earlier this week and had a great meal. The decor of the restaurant is beautiful - very unique for Kauai. Nice view overlooking the pool and ocean. Not a huge menu but good variety. I had the mahi mahi and it was cooked perfectly. Before that I had a mushroom bisque and that was a good starter. The only downside was the service. Really, it was just our server - everyone else was very helpful. He seemed to have too much going on and wasn't the most personable. Also, somewhat odd that he took orders from the men before the one lady in our party - don't see that much! Overall, enjoyed the meal and will return when back in Kauai.
(5)