Lanai City Grille
828/ B2 Lanai Ave, Lanai City, HI, 96763
Lanai City Grille Menu
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Address :
828/ B2 Lanai Ave
Lanai City, HI, 96763 - Phone (808) 565-7211
- Website https://www.hotellanai.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic, Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Holly B.
A nice change of pace and end to a wonderful, long weekend with friends on Lanai, dining at Lanai City Grille. We haven't been to Hotel Lanai's restaurants since Henry Clay's Rotisserie left Lanai years ago! We enjoyed the following: Lobster bisque with Kauai shrimp-decidedly Thai influence with a coconut base and a little spiciness Beet salad with goat cheese crema- the goat cheese crema was a nice touch rather than the usual chunks of goal cheese, light and flavorful Warm mushroom trio salad-OUTSTANDING warm salad with mushrooms cooked just right, not overdone, and a light vinaigrette dressing Crab cakes-standard fare, nothing outstanding or different to set it apart from crab cakes at any other restaurant Mushroom risotto-creamy and hearty, but again, nothing outstanding or different to set it apart from mushroom risotto at other restaurants 48-Hour Braised boneless short ribs-served over polenta and cooked vegetables with a delicious gravy, tender and flavorful Outdoor seating was comfortable and cool and much quieter than dining indoors. It was calming to be able to gaze up at the stars in the night sky. And there is a cozy fire pit for those who get chilly. Friendly and accommodating staff made for a most enjoyable evening!
(4)Lisa S.
This was our first time visiting this restaurant, and what a huge disappointment. The food was satisfactory at its best. I ordered the Green Tea fish, which included steamed rice and vegetables. It turned out the only pieces of vegetables included, was the little pieces floating around the 3000 milligrams of sodium sauce. Horrible, my husbands dish was the same, enough sodium intake to bring on high blood pressure for even the healthiest individual. Don't do it, go elsewhere.
(1)Brenda M.
We love Lanai, and we love Lanai City Grille! Had dinner two nights in beautiful, historic dining room. This is comfort food taken to world class level. I had nori crusted fresh ahi. Probably the best ahi I've ever tasted. Also tried bites of ribs, roasted chicken, and all great. How do they get the ribs to the table without the meat falling off the bones? Truffle mac and cheese -- need I say more?
(5)C O.
We snuck away to Lanai for a mini-honeymoon last week and ate meals all over the island (which isn't hard, its so small). The best meal we ate, by far, was dinner at the Lanai City Grille. The service was impeccable, the food was masterfully prepared and the dishes expertely concienved. For half the price of fine dining at the resorts the Lanai City Grille is truly an experience not to be missed.
(5)Paul K.
First class. We shared the crab cakes (traditional) and bruschetta (think Caprese meets BLT-the B is actually Parma ham- and they were awesome. I had the Miso Seabass and my partner had the Ribeye, and we each couldn't rave enough. Yummy wine options to accompany. Too full for dessert. Service was impeccable. Marcom (our waiter) was outstanding. He was supported by a team that never left is wanting.
(5)Ira J.
It was my 50th birthday and I could choose to have dinner at any restaurant in the World. Okay fine, I'm exaggerating my jet-setness somewhat. How about this: It was my 50th birthday and I could choose to have dinner at any restaurant in Hawaii... pretty much. I chose Lanai City Grille. I had the same exact meal I enjoyed so much the first time I ate there: the grilled fillet steak (rare) and the lobster bisque. Since it was my birthday, I also had a slice of their peanut butter filled chocolate cake. My expectations were very high. I was not disappointed. Happy Birthday to me!!
(5)Angela C.
Pretty disappointed immediately walking into the restaurant. The hostess didn't find our reservation made one week ago, but made a comment about :"it is not Iike we can't seat you guys right now." Yes, the restaurant was full of empty tables, however, she seat me and my husband outside at a 8-people table. When I said I booked for two, she countered :"like I said, I only had a large table available outside!" Hubby said, forgot about it, let's just have a good celebration tonight. The crab cake and the truffle fries are the two good starters here. The duck confit flat bread was very sweet, and the bread was scarcely laid with duck confit on top. I don't like sweet meat. The $31 dollar braised beef was a disaster. Perhaps it should be called the 10 minute microwaved beef instead of the 48-hr braised beef. It was hard, stringy and no tasty. The 3 small veggie tasted frozen. My husband felt like vomiting after the mushroom risotto. There were strangely large pieces of mushroom. When asked where the mushrooms were from, the waitress said, well, they are not from Lanai! The only two positives were that our waitress were really nice, and she gave us the mud pie dessert for free, and wrote happy anniversary on the plate. The sad things is, the mud pie was not good. Very frozen and industrial. On the menu, there wasn't any free bread, sea bass, cookie dessert or oysters mentioned in other yelper's review. At this price, they should have cloth napkins, but they served with paper napkins. So disappointed. Never again!
(1)Reid I.
Located in Hotel Lanai and in the middle of the town. We stayed at Hotel Lanai on our trip here and always looked at the menu in the front waiting for the shuttle. We decided to go here for our last dinner of the trip. I ordered the Island Style Angus Rib Eye. This was awesome and guaranteed a place on my top 10 steak list. The Rib eye was cooked to perfection and all the sauces made it even more delicious. I would recommend this dish if you are a steak eater. They also play live music too which made the dinner more enjoyable.
(5)Lee H.
A BIG disappointment! The waitress informed us of the evening specials. A fish special or a pasta special. The pasta was linguine with four jumbo shrimps in a white sauce. We ordered the pasta and Steak Frites which the menu describes as 10 oz rib eye. Well, when our dinner came, there was no shrimp and the sauce was red. There was ground beef in a red sauce. Waitress said she was told it was linguine with shrimp in a white sauce. The rib eye looked like kahlbi with one scoop of brown rice (for $36??) That was all there was on the plate. No sauce, no greens; just a small slab of meat that was marinated in teriyaki sauce and one scoop of brown rice. We asked and was told the meat on the plate was 9oz and all the meat dishes are teriyaki style. We ordered a mud pie for desert. Description included oreo cookie crust sprinkled with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup with whip creme. Well, there was no chocolate syrup, no chocolate chips and no whip creme. They topped it with raspberry sauce. duh! We inquired and they brought another mud pie with a little whip creme. LOL! Three strikes in one night; we're gone!
(2)Chris C.
My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at the Lanai City Grille in March on a Saturday night. We were towards the tail end of our Hawaiian trip and had eaten some pretty great meals already at places like Merrimans and Sansei. And at local celebrity chef Beverly Gannon's restaurant on Maui we heard that she had worked closely with Lanai City Grille - our experience did not disappoint and we would highly recommend a stop here if you are visiting Lanai. We thoroughly enjoyed our food - I had butter fish and my wife had bbq ribs. The fish was delicious- very fresh, cooked perfectly and with a lovely sauce and accompanying vegetables. And my wife clearly enjoyed the ribs since she finished them all and would not typically do so. I also had a salad to start of fresh local greens. Now for dessert we had what they call on the menu a "fresh baked cookie" with vanilla ice cream, but this was really like a delicious chocolate brownie in a small cast iron pan freshly made - really tasty and my wife said "to die for". The food was excellent but what really put our experience over the top was the friendliness of the staff and owners (who were there presiding over the dining room as hosts). They also own and run the Hotel Lanai (which is where the restaurant is) and we had the opportunity to take a peek at the guest rooms after dinner which were very charming. All in all highly recommend a visit here when in Lanai!
(5)Patty R.
Went here for dinner last summer. 16 yr. old Son said "best food ever!" Enough said! Very quaint and great option to overpriced Four Seasons restaurants!
(4)H H.
Had dinner twice during our recent stay on Lanai and was very impressed both times. Our servers were very friendly and knowledgable, love the teamwork between servers. The Manilla clams are a must, we had them both nights we dined at the Grille. The fish entree was cooked perfectly. The atmosphere had great energy, a mix of locals and tourists. A definite must if you are on Lanai.
(4)Jen J.
The ambiance is so comfortable, cozy and classy all at the same time. The food was absolutely amazing. We started off with 2 oysters just as a simple starter but ended up ordering another 6 because it was so fresh and tasty. Then I had the shrimp and lobster bisque which was delicious. It was spicy, which I really liked and it wasn't too creamy- which was ok because I was looking forward to the rest of my meal. I ordered the Maui venison mainly because of the mushroom risotto that comes with that dish. I'm not too big into sweet sauces or anything too saucy for that matter so I ended up switching dishes with my boyfriend who ordered the grilled Angus beef. The beef was just slightly charred but it was still an excellent entrée. Lastly, we ordered the bread pudding which was so delicious. I'm not a huge fan of pineapple ice cream but the coconut pineapple ice cream that came with the bread pudding was so good. Our server, I wish I remembered her name (possibly Dina?) was so friendly, attentive and she made our dining experience all the more better. I definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great dinner, great service and nice ambiance.
(5)Ben W.
The best fine dining option on Lanai, hands down. We've stayed at both Four Seasons--at Manele and Koele, eaten at all the hotel dining options, and Lanai City Grille is the best meal we've had on the island. A little on the pricey side, but that's given since everything costs a lot on Lanai. Both the food and the service were excellent--we had a large party and they easily accommodated our change in reservation, gladly split the check for us, and handled every other request with a smile. I had the seafood stew and it was excellent, the flavors were complex and developed. My two friends had the ribs and both were happy with their choices. Good wine and beer list too. If you want a break from resort food, this is easily your best bet.
(5)Don P.
We ate here while staying at the Hotel Lanai. Food was average and a tad bland. Prices were HIGH. Staff was attentive. We went down to the Blue Ginger Cafe on our second night and had a wonderful meal for 1/5th of the cost. I had the Bulgogi. Not much seasoning (pretty bland) and meat was fatty (I could only eat 2/3 of the beef as the rest was chewy fat). My wife had the Shrimp appetizer and the Rosotto. The appetizer was OK (not a lot of flavor) although the portion size was very small for the price. She enjoyed the Rosotto although felt that it too was a tad bland. House Merlot was $13/glass.
(2)Erica F.
This place is simple amazing. Everything I ate from the complimentary bread to the dessert was on point. The service was friendly and fast although they were busy. We were seated within minutes without a reservation. We ordered the oysters on the half shell, pork chops, sea bass and the made to order chocolate chip cookie with vanilla bean ice cream. DELICIOUS!! All of it was cooked and prepared to perfection and we enjoyed every last drop. I rarely eat at a restaurant and feel that every aspect was on par. This place definitely did that. A must do on Lanai.
(5)Jennifer L.
Great option for dining on Lanai. The interior is very nice and well done, it's centrally located and has live music some nights. The food is good, though sometimes just misses the mark. At the table the poke appetizer was ordered, as well as the prime rib (special) and another meat dish. I ordered the lobster bisque and duck salad; the bisque seemed to me to quite literally be a bowl of panang curry with a large crawfish in it, very very strange. Not necessarily bad, but it was definitely interesting to get a bowl of curry when ordering lobster bisque, unlike any bisque (lobster or otherwise) that I have ever had. The duck salad had a lot going on, lots of dressing and toppings and distractions...I'm not sure I would get either dish again but would still go back nonetheless. As other reviewers have mentioned, it is very pricey considering the quality.
(4)Rikki G.
Is go full starts except they were open only 1 out of the 3 days we visited. Either way the food was great. Drinks were even better. Lots of mojitos! The outside area is nice, a little chilly at night so bring a sweater if you're going to sit outside. We also noticed that they put a fire pit outside when they were closed. So I hope they get it working in a few days. Also, they have live music on Thursdays, can't account as we won't be here, but a good tip.
(4)Howard M.
Charming ambience , excellent service, surpassing food, totally great experience on this small island with limited resources. We were roomed at the Four Seasons property and had a few meals In-house but Lanai Grill beat them hands down on the menu and cooking. Would have gone "all the way" with 5 stars but the pork chop was really rare when we ordered medium plus. The seasoning was perfect and we wished it was just done to our request. It was a generous portion. My crab cake starter was perfect size for an entrée after my Cesar salad. The desserts pleased everyone: raspberry chocolate tart and chocolate cake with PB ganache (half had to go home for later).
(4)Leah S.
DELICIOUS AND EXCELLENT AMBIANCE!! The service was fantastic and much better than that at the Four Seasons restaurants as well as the food. We ordered the Sea Bass with lobster Mac and a Mac & Cheese for the little one (I think my husband had the special which was fish). None the less there wasn't a bite left on ANY plate. What my son didn't finish we started munching on. Everything was delicious!! The Waitress was great and the Ambiance was just what we needed with our little one. WE LOVED IT! Acoustics were just perfect that you couldn't hear us playing with our son but quiet enough you could have a great conversation. Reminds me of a restaurant in Paris!
(5)Brendan S.
This was such a surprise... The food was fantastic and the service was excellent!! Honestly... The best Poke I had the entire time I was in Hawaii and u stayed at 2 other 4 seasons properties before leaving Maui several days later! Enjoy it...don't miss it!!
(5)Andy G.
This place was a nice alternative to the over-the-top opulence of the Fours Seasons. It's small but not cozy and not too modern, and it struck a good balance between homey and fancy. The food was, however, the reason for coming. We started with the pork wontons, which were good, but not amazing. Not that I wouldn't order them again, it's just they weren't mind-blowing like the Sea Bass which came next. Sea Bass is generally not a local thing, and given that Hawaii is surrounded by delicious ahi, mahi, wahoo, marlin, etc, I try to stick to what comes out the water locally. But, I also live by the recommendations of the server, since food pays their bills. So we ordered it, and it was perferctly executed. Every bite had great flavor and great texture. The sweet and salty glaze, combined with the lobster like texture of the fish made me think of a warm, soft-baked pretzel. It's weird, but my Philly born wife agreed. We also ordered the venison, which was again perfectly executed. My only complaint was that the sauce, which was rich and delicious, should have come with a warning. The sauce was fantastic, but it overshadowed the veal, which can be a bit delicate. Don't get me wrong, I was using the bread to dip in the sauce, which probably had the nutritional value of nutella spread on a piece of bacon, but perhaps there should be less of it? I don't know what the solution is. A warning is probably fair, however. It came with a mushroom risotto that was also outstanding, but, as a disclaimer, if someone would ever find me dead after eating far too much of one thing, it would be me sitting in a pile of risotto, so perhaps I am biased.
(5)Little D.
We stayed on the island of Lanai for 11 days in April. I apologize ahead if the information is not up to date due to my delayed review. We dined at Lanai City Grille 3 nights. We loved their Lobster Bisque for 3 nights. We did not care for the main dish and other appetizers, but I rate for the Lobster Bisque! That's what I remember the best. I get the impression that this is the locals' gathering place on weekends. It could get pretty loud, especially when you are not in the party, and trying to sleep early in the hotel.
(5)Jon E.
This is such a cute little upcountry-style restaurant, and they have great food to match. The meatloaf was delicious and very creatively plated! It was so refreshing to have this restaurant as an alternative to the Four Seasons restaurants. I felt it delivered superior atmosphere, food, and certainly prices to other upscale options in Lana'i. Unfortunately it's only open part of the week!!
(5)Tonia H.
Vegetarians beware. $$$ for cafeteria-style veggies. I don't know how I agreed to pay over $100 for a plate of plain mushy ravioli and a plate of tasteless wild mushroom potato hash, overlooked asparagus and broccoli, with two drinks. At least dress up the plate a little... The chef has an eye clearly toward meat dishes, which seem to be presented well. The salads were just ok. Waitstaff polite, but dull and uninterested. Go to Four Seasons (will take dietary concerns seriously) or the Pele's Other Garden for beer and great veggie pizza!
(2)D F.
This restaurant was good. It wasn't a very busy night so we go seated right away. The waiter and hostess were really nice. The food was good, but was a bit pricey for what we got. If I'm going to pay $45 for a steak I expect it to be epic, but I don't think it was worth that much. It was more of a $25 steak.
(3)Arlene K.
We love this place! The food and service are excellent. Enjoyed the Rib Eye Steak and Pecan encrusted Mahi fish. For Valentine's Day, they even gave us a free molten lava cake, delicious! Try it with the Malbec red wine. Jeremiah, the server was outstanding. We'll be back!
(5)Andrew G.
Located in the town of Lana'i, an VERY easy to miss if you're going there by foot/bike/any other method other than the Four Seasons shuttle, but VERY delicious gem of a spot... Had a great experience here -- the waiting staff and manager were very nice to us (it was our honeymoon trip), and very personable. The food was also delicious (scallops for me, and my wife got the Seafood pasta) -- everything was served well and cooked very well. No complaints here -- great spot to dine for a nice, romantic dinner.
(4)Laura G.
Homey, comfortable ambiance, live music in the back room, friendly staff that greets you warmly and great food made this a restaurant I would not hesitate to go back to. The oysters were some of the best I've had. Big, plump and fresh. Wanting to veer away from fish but still keep it lighter (lighter than roasted pig) we decided on the roasted chicken. I have a motto - you can tell a lot about a chef / restaurant by a roasted chicken. This did not disappoint. Moist and flavorful, crispy on the outside and served with fresh veggies. By glancing on line at the menu or at the restaurant there does not appear to be very many vegetarian option BUT they actually have a separate menu with numerous vegetarian items (for my husband). If anyone at Lanai City Grille reads this review, please include the vegetarian options on your regular menu and on line. We almost didn't go because of this, I'm glad I called. Oh - my husbands goat cheese ravioli was great.
(4)Kevin S.
I highly recommend Lanai City Grille. I'm giving this place 5 stars because of its convenience and food. It's like walking into someone's house and dining really fancy. Convenience - in the heart of Lanai and walking distance to groceries and Dole Park. My wife and I stayed at the Lodge at Koele and you just take the free 2-3 minute shuttle to the restaurant. It's perfect - you can get tipsy/wasted, and you don't have to worry about driving! We went again on our second night and we drove. There's roughly 10 parking stalls, but it's Lanai, you'll find parking. Food - I ordered the Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken( yelp.com/biz_photos/UU5C… ), and it was huge! The portions are very generous and will fill you up. Chicken was tender and juicy - very different from Costco's rotisserie chicken. We were offered dessert, but we decided to buy ice cream across the street at Richard's Market and take it back to our hotel. 31 Yelps Review Challenge - 15 of 31
(5)Shane S.
Visited Sat. Nov. 3rd 5:45 pm As a huge fan of Bev Gannon restaurants on Maui, my wife and I where looking forward to dining here because of the Bev Gannon designed and inspired menu. Located at the Hotel Lanai in Lanai City, this is one of the shuttle stops on the Four Seasons Shuttle. (The other being Dollar Rent a Car, in Lanai City and the other being the two Four Seasons resorts). When we arrived, other than (1) person sitting at the bar, we were the only patrons in the restaurant. The restaurant decor brought back found memories of my grandparents Sugar Plantation style homes of Waialua Sugar on Oahu or Grove Farm in Puhi, Kauai from the 1930's. It had a homey feel and you were kind of expecting a Tutu or Grandmother to come out of the kitchen in her white apron to take our order. With that being said, server was friendly & polite, but inconsistent in coming around to take our order, checking-up on us and suggesting desserts for after the meal. It just seemed the timing was off, which is unexplainable because the restaurant was not crowded, other than the 7-8 people watching the Oregon State & Arizona State football game on the bar flat screen. My wife ordered TK's Favorite, which is a Slow Roasted Pork entree with accompaniments. I ordered the Rotisserie Chicken entree. My wife raved about the Roasted Pork dish being similar to how her mom use to make it. I was a little disappointed in the chicken being a tad dry, but the Macaroni & Cheese side dish made up for the chicken disappointment. All in all, our experience here was OK and maybe our expectations were high from our past experience at other Gannon inspired restaurants. This is great place to meet friends or have dinner with family and take a stroll down memory lane with the older set, who can probably tell you great stories of the old Sugar or Pineapple Plantation days of the past...
(4)Dr Connie M.
Fabulous little, cozy restaurant located in the heart of Lanai City. We were staying at the Four Seasons Koele Lodge and this quaint, clean, neat restaurant (located in a charming hotel with 11 suites) was walking distance. The food was outstanding, ambience relaxed, and the overall experience memorable and delightful. We highly recommend the Lanai City Grill and plan to be back every time we are on the island!
(5)Cindy L.
The Roy's of Lanai. This is the go-to place for a romantic fine dining experience. We had the Manila clams, Pecan crusted fresh catch of the day and the rib eye steak. The Manila clams were a little bit salty for my taste, but it was a generous portion. The Pecan crusted fresh catch of the day was the winner of the night, it was Hawaiian butterfish, totally buttery with individual flakes of meat melting in your mouth. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. The Rib eye steak was done to order. The service was excellent.
(4)Dan R.
Looking to escape from the resort for a night to celebrate my birthday we were excited to eat at Lanai City Grille however the experience didn't live up to our expectations. The food was overcooked (divers scallops) and the entree sides were unfulfilling in flavor. The complimentary slice of birthday cake was a nice touch to save the dinner. All in (2) appetizers, (2) entrees, (1) dessert and (2) drinks cost us $115 + tip.
(2)Marta N.
Over priced, over done fish, frozen vegetables. All and all I wish we would have cooked something ourselves for the prices we paid. Blah.
(2)mike M.
Don't forget the cozy little bar ticked into the corner. This very well could be the friendliest place on the planet! Great service, great pupus, and might even meet a local or two. Highly recommend, no way you leave without a smile on your face. .
(5)Ray V.
Such a treat to find this beautiful restaurant in lanai city. We arrived and was greeted by the owner, the service was impeccable. The menu was very diverse with many options for everyone. The wine list was very thorough with many selections by the glass which is not found too often. I had the monchong fish pecan crusted with chorizo mashed potatoes, my wife had the grilled filet of angus beef which was very well prepared. Highly recommend this restaurant if your looking for a nice evening away from the Four Seasons!!! Thanks Bev Gannon for a wonderful evening.
(4)Kirtis J.
I would really love to give Lanai City Grille a better rating, being that it is the only fine dining restaurant on the island outside of the two Four Seasons Resorts, but it's just not that good. There were four of us at our table and we all shared a bite or more of what we ordered with each other. We got to taste a wide variety this way. The most disappointing of all was the Cioppino. All of the seafood was over cooked and the sauce/broth tasted like a scorched marinara sauce with too many dried herbs. Really disappointing considering it is the best Yelp rated restaurant on the island. On the other hand our server was professional, the atmosphere was pleasant and the wine list was really good.
(2)Olivia D.
This place is a steal! My honey wanted to eat there last Friday because Henry Kapono was performing that night at 8. We had 7:30 reservations and even though the place was hopping at that time, everything went smoothly. Service was great: the hostess was gracious, our server was attentive and accommodating, and the manager came by to check on whether we were enjoying our entrees. Prices are very reasonable and the portions are generous. Best of all, I really enjoyed my food. I started with the steamed Manila clams in a delicious sake butter broth with crisp toasted baguette slices and my sweetie had the spicy lobster bisque. The broth was so delicious that I wanted to get a spoon and drink it. My entree was the pan roasted venison loin seared rare with mushroom risotto and a dried cherry and fig compote in a port wine reduction. It was perfect--perfectly seasoned, perfectly seared, and I just love anything in a port reduction. The only small drawback was that I could smell the oil that they cooked the risotto in, which was a bit bland. I wish they had drizzled white truffle oil on top or flavored it better with more broth/wine/parmesan to mask the smell of the inferior, old-smelling cooking oil. It wasn't terrible, though. As soon as the entrees were cleared, they brought out a birthday dessert I'd previously ordered for my sweetie with a candle on it and wished him a happy birthday. It was a great end to a great meal.
(5)Ed R.
Amazing food and friendly service. Spicy Ahi poke tacos are a must. While the dining options on Lanai are limited trhis was a jewel to find. Service attendents were friendly and the food was good. On the first visit I had th epecan crusted fish. tasty. My wife had the filet, not quite Ruths Chris but it was a generous size filet. On our seconfd and third visit we settled on a multityude of appetizers. The Lobster bisque, spicy fish tacos, Ceaser Salad and pulled pork Won Tons stood out to be our favorite.
(5)Crissy K.
Super good food and excellent service -- what more can you ask for? EVERYONE said we had to have a meal here while on Lana'i, and I'm so glad we did. I had succulent pan-broiled venison medallions, served with just the right amount of sauce (I don't remember what kind, but it was subtle enough where the flavor of the venison still came through, mildly gamey, just the way I like it!) and accompanied by a delicious mushroom risotto. My husband had a house special meat loaf, which was brushed with a delightful citrus glaze. The menu was filled with scrumptious-sounding dishes . . . so clearly, we'll have to go back again to try the others. Highly recommended. The food at the Four Seasons resorts is good, but don't miss this gem in the heart of Lana'i City!
(5)S. D.
Delightful surprise to find such an excellent restaurant in the sleepy little town of Lanai City. We spent two nights at Hotel Lanai and dined both evenings in the Lanai City Grille. The food was excellent, live music on Friday night was a treat, and the staff managed to create a friendly, family feel while maintaining excellent service and quality. We especially appreciated the chef's personal attention and the staff and chef's willingness to accomodate special dietary needs. I especially recommend the vegetarian options (often hard to find in small towns), but both nights, vegetarian choices were excellent. If you had a chance to try the beet carpaccio is was one of the most creative and equisite appetizers I have ever had. Bravo!
(5)T W.
What a great restaurant this is!! The food is delicious, the atmosphere warm and inviting and the staff friendly - especially Joe, our waiter! He was warm, friendly and his customer service is excellent! We had the ribs, which were fall-off-the-bone tender and tasty, and the venison, which was terrific. The chocolate cookie-in-a-pan and ice cream dessert was a tasty way to end the meal. We'll be back soon!!
(5)Russel M.
The best food on Lanai. We went two nights in a row. Everything we ordered was prepared perfectly and great Service also.
(4)Tami W.
Great food at much cheaper rates than the resorts! The mac and cheese was AMAZING!!! The fresh sashimi was perfect, the salads were beautifully presented and the fish was cooked and sauced wonderfully. Highly recommend instead of the resorts!
(5)Darrell H.
One of a kind eating place. Food and staff were just great. The building is something to member. If you visit Lanai, this place is a must.
(4)Kristen A.
If you are going to Lanai don't waste your money on this place. Eat at the Lodge at either restaurant there. Prices here are comparable to the hotel's restaurants. This was my second time to Lanai, I live on Oahu and know how food should stake up with the prices the City Grill charges. I ordered scallops, when they brought them out I thought it was a joke. They looked horrible and tasted it. I sent them back and told them that they were over cooked and rubbery. Before they brought me the re-fire the waitress said the chef wanted to know if it was ok if the scallops were not well-done. First, scallops should be cooked to medium, second they brought me out scallops that were still rubbery and slightly over-done. I buy and cook fresh scallops at least twice a month, I think what the chef is doing is cooking in a pan that is too small and too cold when putting the scallops in, or in a smaller pan with too many scallops. I was with my husband and parents. My dad had the same thing as me but didn't really want to deal with sending it back. My mom and husband had a pork dish and both complained about the under seasoning. For dessert I ordered the panna cotta, it was just like the previous yelp reviews made with too much gelatin and too solid. The only thing that was good was the ahi sushi at the beginning of the meal and the Buttered Toffee after dinner drink which was AMAZing. TRUST ME, your money will be well spent if you go to The Lodge to spend this kind of money on a meal.
(2)Rob B.
What a great spot. While staying at the Lodge we gave this place a try, the menu looked very familiar and come to find out Bev Gannon of Hali'imaile General Store is consultant to the restaurant. We started with the pork fried wontons, like Maui it was nice and came in the same presentation. The ribs were awesome and a full rack really could have served two. Prices were reasonable the service was friendly and jovial. I could see eating here every night if you were in town. kudos. SECOND HELPING: We loved it so much we went back for our last night. It was a hit again. The wedge salad was repeated with same success. We tried the beet carpaccio and were less successful. Too much going on, the roast garlic with the goat cheese and it said truffled dressing fought each other on every tone. The beets were there, a few slices but I could not taste them through the cacopahny of ingredients. Pork and Beans for dinner was excellent. It could use some better plating and know it's enough for three people. Shrimp app was good but the shrimp "crisp" was stale from today's rain. Fried to order would have made that shine. Service again was excellent, so that seems a trend and not a blip. Cheers guys! Best meal and deal on the island, FYI saw the locals popping in tonight (Sunday) for some of the dishes
(4)Kevin S.
Had great chicken. Mac and cheese was highlight. Walu fish with pecan was great. Salad too. Better prices than 4 seasons and still great quality.
(5)AsianRunningDiva S.
Quaint little restaurant in a small hotel. We stayed at the hotel and this place was the only place open past 8pm, so we decided to eat here. I'm glad we did! Ambiance: Adorable! We sat near an open "window"! Wood flooring and a small fireplace! FOOD: AWESOME! They give you warm table bread, so we started with the soup (SPICY)--great for dipping the bread into! We had the butterfish pecan crusted dish and the bbq ribs! BOTH came with veggies and potatoes..IT WAS SOO GOOD! YUM! Pricing is about $30 a plate. WINE: Cheapest bottle was about $28 and the cheapest glass of wine was about $9. It took FOREVER to get our wine....we sat down, got water right away, but after we ordered the bottle of wine, it took 15 minutes to get the bottle to the table....deduct a star for that! You need to give people their drinks quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE AFTER PARTY: Dance party in the back room (in the tent)!!! Live music was playing by a local DJ and the locals and tourists were loving it! Ends at 10p, so if you're staying there, just hold out until 10p to go to bed on a Friday night!! I loved how last call was at 945p and then at 10p, the shuttle bus came to pick up the tourists to go to the 4 seasons!!! They have a system worked out!!! BONUS: OPEN TABLE RESERVATION!!! 100 point table when you reserve!!! :)
(4)Robbie K.
We spent the new year holiday on Lanai and ate dinner at Lanai City Grille every night but one - we thought we should try someplace else but ended up back at the Grille. The food was fantastic. I had the pork chops and scallops - both absolutely delicious but the best was dessert, which I usually skip but... Freshly baked and warm chocolate chip cookie in a small cast iron pan with vanilla ice cream - OMG had it every night. Friday music was great. The staff were even better - so friendly and efficient. Obviously a favorite place for locals too. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming - true aloha spirit. Would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Cyn C.
We were going to have dinner here but the menu was pretty overpriced and nothing really jumped out at us, i.e., limited vegetarian options. We did end up grabbing dessert here though. I had the panna cotta which was pretty disappointing. Panna cotta should be just the right mix of gelatin with the other ingredients, just enough to hold it together but still be creamy and melt in your mouth. It had way too much gelatin where it should've been called jello. Our server was nice but he didn't bother giving us any napkins, only utensils. We didn't ask for it either since we were only going back to our rooms (restaurant is located in Hotel Lanai).
(2)Debra Z.
Like the "Little D." review, we liked the Lobster Bisque (although it is fairly spicy). Also, like "Little D." I wasn't impressed with much else. The wine list is good (but small); however, I was disappointed in both of our entrees. The pork chop was ok but merely ok (almost too salty). I would not recommend the meat loaf - it is merely meat loaf with BBQ sauce. Perhaps I expected too much. Service was good, people were friendly, and the restaurant was cute and quaint.
(3)Dan G.
We had a great meal here. This restaurant at the hotel has changed since we were last on Lanai and it is a nice upgrade. We just went on Friday night, which seems to be the happening night around town. The place was packed and there was a band jamming during our dinner. You definitely want reservations on this night as we saw a few couples frustrated by the wait at the bar. There was a great vibe and good music. Was that a synthesizer I heard during "Waiting in vain"? Okay, on to the food. We started with some lightly fried lump crabmeat cakes served with corn relish and spicy aioli and a mixed green salad with candied nuts, grilled zucchini, fruit and stilton dressed in a fig balsamic. These were both nice starts. For entrees my wife had seared sea scallops with wasabi and basil mashed and a tasty little grilled corn relish. On the recommendation of our waitress I had the signature New Zealand venison loin. This wonderful cut was perfectly seared to medium rare and nicely paired with grilled mushroom risotto and cherry reduction. Our selection of pinot noir was an excellent complement to a splendid meal. Dessert selections were disappointingly basic and we had an average apple strudel from the uninspired finishes. Overall this was a very good meal and a welcome discount from the steep resort prices. My venison would have been ten bucks more anywhere else and was every bit as delicious as I've had. Certainly a dinner that should be one of your stops on the Lanai dining circuit. But, what was up with the 80s synthesizer? Wiki wiki wiki
(5)Emily W.
Of the 7 or 8 restaurants we visited during our honeymoon, Lanai City Grille is hands down our favorite. Even in comparison to some "higher profile" places like Spago, Mama's Fish House and Japengo all in Maui, every meal we had was compared to the two we had here. It is one of a handful of restaurants on Lanai but the food was outstanding, service was impeccable, and overall experience was phenomenal.
(5)Jay L.
After eating exclusively at the Four Seasons' restaurants for four days we decided to try one of the few other dining options on Lanai. As prelude, we were really impressed with the Four Seasons' restaurants. We never had a bad meal and had a few really excellent ones. So the bar was set fairly high. Lanai City Grille is a nice change of pace from the Four Seasons experience. Being from the Bay Area, we thought that the place looked a lot like a Berkeley or Oakland restaurant, i.e., a converted 1920s era house, which is a compliment. Service was fine as well. I had the Poke Tacos to start and they were fantastic. Fresh, tasty ahi cubes in a deep fried won ton wrapper made to look like a taco. Perhaps as good as it gets. My wife had scallops as an entree, I had the pecan crusted fish (I don't recall the name of the fish). The entrees were good, not great, and each had a huge dollop of mashed potatoes as a side. The potatoes were the problem, as they were really heavy, almost tasting like the kind of mashed potatoes you get at a steam table. Otherwise, this is a fine restaurant with reasonable (for Lanai) prices.
(4)Max S.
Food like whoa! I haven't had a meal that good in years. If you're staying on lanai, do yourself a favor and take the shuttle here for dinner. Make reservations. We went with 8 people for my wedding party and had a spectacular meal. Everyone was impressed with their food. Prices are similar to the 4 seasons, but I felt the food was worth it. Treat yourself. Recommended items include the lobster bisque, the homemade cookie with ice cream, and about everything else we tried.
(5)shelby f.
The food couldn't have been better. My venison was perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful, and served with a delicious port wine reduction with fruit. My husbands pecan encrusted walu was also wonderful. The wines, while not cheap, are good values.
(5)Lesa D.
Excellent service, excellent food, creatively presented. There aren't very many choices on Lana'i for the level of food offered at the Lana'i City Grill. The cuisine and skill at presentation are comparable to the Four Seasons, but with a much more local, homier feel (and a bit less expensive). We stayed in the hotel (also wonderful) and ended up eating there twice during a five day visit. The atmosphere was a bit rustic, warm and cozy (despite two good sized rooms). Background music is quintessential old Hawai'il. Service was warm, respectful and attentive. And the food... sigh, the food... Bev Gannon is the Executive Chef and plans the menues - and they are fabulous! With every serving and every meal, things kept getting better. The Bruschetta was MUCH better than Four Seasons (although it not vegetarian and they don't tell you that on the menu), the fish dishes were wonderful, and the bread pudding was to die for. We went on Fridays when they have music. The music room was much more casual - lively, fun and dancing! I've bought the cookbooks, but have little hope of replicating the experience.
(5)Chris P.
With all of the positive reviews for this restaurant, I almost feel bad for posting a two-star experience. I was excited to try LCG, but had a forgettable birthday dinner for my wife. Even though the restaurant was all but empty, we were placed right by the bar area for some reason, which made for a noisy dinner. I ordered the Grilled Filet of Angus Beef, and my wife had the Half Rotisserie Chicken. I requested medium-well, but my steak was WAY overcooked and dry. Both sides were good. My waitress did ask how our meal was, and after I mentioned my steak, she did offer to get me a new one. I didn't really want to waste though, so I just ate most of it. A manager stopped by later and offered the same, as well as a comped dessert. Then, the bartender asked about our meal while filling out water. I felt like she was just being nosy. For dessert, we split a bread pudding. It was good. In the end, my entree and our dessert was comped. I don't really like complaining about food, and I feel like a jerk when I have food sent back to the grill, but this was the worst steak I have had in a long time. I'm going to give LCG another shot. The restaurant has a nice setting and a good staff. Besides, dining options are very limited on the island.
(2)Kate R.
This was the best food we had on the island. That being said, if this restaurant was on Oahu, I'd only give it 4 stars - but compared to the other options on Lanai, it gets 5. We ordered a bottle of wine ($28 - best deal I saw on island at any restaurant), the bruschetta app (thanks to all the reviews pointing us towards that), two orders of ribs, and the cookie dessert. The bruschetta was really, really good. Just as good (if not better) than anything I've had at 3 star restaurants on Oahu. It was more of a caprese salad on toast points as opposed to the more traditional bruschetta that I was envisioning - but delicious nonetheless. The ribs were also great - I couldn't finish mine, but my dining companion ate his up. The meat fell off the bone - just as it should - and the bbq sauce wasn't overly sweet - just right. Only downside to this meal was that the ribs were served on top of the mashed potatoes, which sort of ruined the potatoes for me, as they became very bbq sauce-y. If I were to return, I'd ask for them next to each other instead of piled on. Dessert was yummy, though nothing special -just some cookie dough baked with ice cream on top. Overall, great meal - I wish we had eaten all our dinners here! Much better option than the expensive resort food.
(5)John K.
While the other options on the island are limited primarily to the two Four Seasons resorts and their very rich hotel food, Lanai City Grille serves great food, with good alternatives sure to satisfy both seafood lovers and red meat eaters. And they do some unique things with their menu, which you wouldn't expect after driving around the island and seeing the relative lack of commerce and population. The hostess and staff is excellent and friendly, and the regulars we saw during our back-to-back nights there add to the overall ambience. Only reason this is not five stars is the price. Our two dinners averaged about $200 for two people, including bottle of wine, appetizer, main course and shared dessert. So a bit pricey, but the food was excellent and provides a terrific alternative to the overpriced, outdated and somewhat stuff Four Seasons properties.
(4)Kimo S.
As people have mentioned, Bev Gannon was a consultant here but she is not the owner or cook here. With that being said, Lanai City Grille has actually IMPROVED over Bev's menu based on our experience at her Hali'imaile restaurant on Maui. The food here was fantastic and definitely a tier above her own location, good job Lanai for stepping things up! This was probably our favorite dining experience during our stay, we had Bruschetta and Pork Won Tons to start with. The Brushetta is amazing... fantastic... seriously, order this when you go. The pork won tons were great too, it was a kalua pork stuffing inside so very tender and delicious, served with a hot mustard and shoyu dip. For dinner we ordered the BBQ ribs and the fresh fish which was Walu and prepared with a pecan crusting. I devoured my ribs and felt like an animal doing so, I mean... you have to eat ribs with your hands, right?! Of course they brought me a wet towel once I was finished... but they were such a winner and a big improvement over Bev's own dish. The fish was fresh and had a good texture to it, my wife's only gripe was they needed to give more sauce. So be sure to ask "MORE SAUCE PLZ"! For dessert we had the deep dish apple pie though it seems the popular item was the oven baked cookie because we saw about four of those come out while we were having dessert. They have a small but well designed wine list, if you are looking for an excellent suggestion go with the Au Bon Climat Pinor Noir they have, it is well priced and such a delicious wine.
(5)Erica N.
The bf and I went on a little vacation to lanai this past weekend, and I decided to try LCG since it had such great reviews here on good ol' yelp. I noticed that several people raved about the ribs (which the bf loves) so i made it a point to have dinner here one night. The service here is excellent. Our waitress and the hostess were very nice and personable, the food came out VERY quickly, and the ambiance was warm and cozy...without feeling stuffy and claustrophobic. I ordered the lobster bisque (made w/coconut milk, which was tasty but too creamy for me) and the furikake ahi (pretty good). The bf ordered the ribs (which was why we went) and sadly, he said that it was one of the worst ribs he's ever eaten...saying it was dry and bland. talk about disappointing. we did decide to share a dessert, some sort of apple tart, which was really good! Not sure if our expectations were too high, or we just went on an off night...the service and ambiance is great, the food, just ok.
(3)Brent S.
If you're looking for some great food off property from Koele and Manele, Lanai City Grille is a great alternative. The Steamed Manila Clams were a great starter. Wouldn't say they were exceptional, but definitely worth getting. My wife got the Beet Carpaccio, even though I hate beets. But I actually really enjoyed it. It was served with goat cheese, crushed pistachio, and a drizzling of balsamic. The Pecan Crusted Fresh Catch was excellent. The fish was really fresh and cooked perfectly. The Seafood Pad Thai was interesting, but we'd probably get the ribs. For dessert, we had the fresh baked cookie and ice cream. They make the cookie fresh in a mini cast iron pan with each order so it takes about 15 minutes. But it's so worth it. The staff was incredibly friendly and warm, much like everyone on the island. Really great experience. Definitely check it out.
(4)Mimi B.
For great Lana'i meals you have two choices, the Four Seasons Hotels or the Lanai City Grille. Even if the super expensive Four Seasons Hotels appeal to you, don't miss out on the real Lana'i experience at the Lana'i City Grille. Friday night, six of us had dinner at the Lana'i City Grille. As an appetizer, my wife and I shared the Beet salad (a very thinly sliced variety of fresh beets with crispy goat cheese, pistachio nut crumble and white truffle vinaigrette), which the kitchen delivered beautify split for us. I've never been a fan of beets but this isn't anything like those canned beets you were assaulted with in the past. For the main course, my wife got the Scallops with wasabi pesto potatoes and she says these scallops were the very best she has ever eaten. I went on a little adventure, ordered the pulled pork Won Tons with a sweet chili sauce, followed by Sushi: Spicy Tuna Roll (fresh Ahi tuna, mixed with a great sauce rolled in with cucumbers and avocado); both of these were served with mustard-soy sauce for my personal dipping, yum, yum. Ok, enough about the wonderful food. Michelle, I think she is the dining room manager, made sure our food and service were excellent. The wine list had some great reasonably priced wines that we were familiar with. Our server did an excellent job and made us feel like she really cared about our dining. We'll be back. In fact, Sunday night, all six of us were back again. We experienced the same great caring service. This time we dined family style off the appetizers menu. Crab Dip (great!) with Tortilla Chips, Ahi Poke Tacos (this should get an award...crisp won ton shell stuffed with Ahi, goat cheese and wasabi sour cream), those pulled pork won tons we had Friday, Crab Cakes with tomato corn salsa, Sushi Lana'i Roll (it's hard to believe but even better than the Spicy Tuna Roll of Friday night). We'll be back again.
(5)Amber W.
Best food on Lanai. Friday night is the happenin' evening when the restaurant is packed with visitors and locals and there's a live band in the back. We had a bruschetta appetizer, the fish of the day (SO good) the ribs (amazing) and a banana lumpia dessert that I may have to fly back for. Pretty thorough wine list, full bar.
(5)Sharon N.
The Lana'I City Grille was definitely the highlight of our trip to Lana'i. The food certainly rivals Merriman's and the ambiance and service is warm and inviting. My husband and I had to go back a second night because we stuffed ourselves the first night and enjoyed everything. From the spicy shrimp and lobster bisque soup to the crab dip and kalua pork won tons to the amazing pork chops and steaks, you will not be disappointed. Leave room for the bread pudding dessert. The best I have ever had to date and I have tried a lot of bread puddings. Simply the best
(5)Ryan B.
After eating breakfast at the Four Seasons Manele and lunch at Blue Ginger we topped our day off with a meal at Lanai City Grille! What a way to close out the day. At first both my wife and I were a bit nervous as we both have eaten at several small inn/hotel restaurants before and have been disappointed. We were completely blown away with the quality of the food and the overall high quality of the experience. We started our dinner with a few glasses of Pinot Noir and a tuna pan seared appetizer that was perfectly prepared. We both had the fish specials and they were so good that we almost did not talk through out whole meal. Trust me I am a chatty Cathy so that never happens. We finished off our meal with a little caramel plantain ice cream dish. Fan-FRIGGING-tastic. This restaurant could stand on its own fine and the fact that it is nestled in the Hotel Lanai makes it even that more special!
(5)Mike E.
For a warm, cozy, delicious, fine dining experience, Lanai City Grille is the best thing on the island of Lanai. We were seated promptly, received enthusiastic service, and found everything we ate to be fresh, thoughtfully prepared and tasty. Strong island flavors abound here. I'd recommend the venison entree for meat lovers and the coconut thai lobster bisque soup for those that like something a little tangy and spicy. The coconut cake for dessert was really good too.
(5)Erin R.
When my fiance and I hopped on the last boat from Lahaina we weren't sure we'd get to have dinner on their busy Friday night, but Michelle found us a romantic little table where we cold still watch the action. We ate and drank to much, but god it was so worth it!!!! I'm in love with Hotel Lanai & Lanai City Grill!
(5)Ketchum H.
Where are we?...Lanai?...Fabulous surprise...We booked an eight o'clock reservation on a Wednesday and had most of the room and staff to ourselves...Wonderful wines and a full bar complemented the spectacular list of offerings...While the dinning rooms of Koele and Manele are great the prices will humble and they are a little more formal than we desire...Bev Gannon spun her silk of magic here...not to be missed or missed repeating!...
(5)Julie M.
Mmmmm never thought Bev could do it mo betta...but wow does she impress at this venue. I asked our server for their BEST dish and he steered me toward the venison. OMG I am so glad he did.The venison was stellar in taste, presentation and quantity. My gf had some great ribs too. Lovely bottle of wine and a soft Lanai night.....ooh it can't get any better.
(5)B P.
Great place to eat on Lanai... Gets you out of the hotels high prices & altho not cheap - it's excellent & a good local alternative - especially on a Friday night... It's the only place in town with live music! Great service & wine list - really nice & helpful staff & family mgt. Only serves dinner - or if you're a guest of the cool lil' hotel - 12 rooms & a cottage - then breakfast is also included. Try "Blue Ginger" in town - great homemade pastries & lunches. Really nice place to relax & have dinner on any night. Good vibes & a local mix. Everything we tried was better than good!
(5)George D.
While Im on the lanai adventure Ill rate this fine restaurant as well. First, they are doing their best and are certainly the best of the island. A little short on consistency (been there 8 or more times) and service is spotty. Overall it is a " do not miss" location with an eclectic menu and great Friday night island entertainment. Aloha! Try the pork wanton, pork chop and chicken.
(3)Reid I.
Located in Hotel Lanai and in the middle of the town. We stayed at Hotel Lanai on our trip here and always looked at the menu in the front waiting for the shuttle. We decided to go here for our last dinner of the trip. I ordered the Island Style Angus Rib Eye. This was awesome and guaranteed a place on my top 10 steak list. The Rib eye was cooked to perfection and all the sauces made it even more delicious. I would recommend this dish if you are a steak eater. They also play live music too which made the dinner more enjoyable.
(5)Paul K.
First class. We shared the crab cakes (traditional) and bruschetta (think Caprese meets BLT-the B is actually Parma ham- and they were awesome. I had the Miso Seabass and my partner had the Ribeye, and we each couldn't rave enough. Yummy wine options to accompany. Too full for dessert. Service was impeccable. Marcom (our waiter) was outstanding. He was supported by a team that never left is wanting.
(5)Holly B.
A nice change of pace and end to a wonderful, long weekend with friends on Lanai, dining at Lanai City Grille. We haven't been to Hotel Lanai's restaurants since Henry Clay's Rotisserie left Lanai years ago! We enjoyed the following: Lobster bisque with Kauai shrimp-decidedly Thai influence with a coconut base and a little spiciness Beet salad with goat cheese crema- the goat cheese crema was a nice touch rather than the usual chunks of goal cheese, light and flavorful Warm mushroom trio salad-OUTSTANDING warm salad with mushrooms cooked just right, not overdone, and a light vinaigrette dressing Crab cakes-standard fare, nothing outstanding or different to set it apart from crab cakes at any other restaurant Mushroom risotto-creamy and hearty, but again, nothing outstanding or different to set it apart from mushroom risotto at other restaurants 48-Hour Braised boneless short ribs-served over polenta and cooked vegetables with a delicious gravy, tender and flavorful Outdoor seating was comfortable and cool and much quieter than dining indoors. It was calming to be able to gaze up at the stars in the night sky. And there is a cozy fire pit for those who get chilly. Friendly and accommodating staff made for a most enjoyable evening!
(4)Angela C.
Pretty disappointed immediately walking into the restaurant. The hostess didn't find our reservation made one week ago, but made a comment about :"it is not Iike we can't seat you guys right now." Yes, the restaurant was full of empty tables, however, she seat me and my husband outside at a 8-people table. When I said I booked for two, she countered :"like I said, I only had a large table available outside!" Hubby said, forgot about it, let's just have a good celebration tonight. The crab cake and the truffle fries are the two good starters here. The duck confit flat bread was very sweet, and the bread was scarcely laid with duck confit on top. I don't like sweet meat. The $31 dollar braised beef was a disaster. Perhaps it should be called the 10 minute microwaved beef instead of the 48-hr braised beef. It was hard, stringy and no tasty. The 3 small veggie tasted frozen. My husband felt like vomiting after the mushroom risotto. There were strangely large pieces of mushroom. When asked where the mushrooms were from, the waitress said, well, they are not from Lanai! The only two positives were that our waitress were really nice, and she gave us the mud pie dessert for free, and wrote happy anniversary on the plate. The sad things is, the mud pie was not good. Very frozen and industrial. On the menu, there wasn't any free bread, sea bass, cookie dessert or oysters mentioned in other yelper's review. At this price, they should have cloth napkins, but they served with paper napkins. So disappointed. Never again!
(1)D F.
This restaurant was good. It wasn't a very busy night so we go seated right away. The waiter and hostess were really nice. The food was good, but was a bit pricey for what we got. If I'm going to pay $45 for a steak I expect it to be epic, but I don't think it was worth that much. It was more of a $25 steak.
(3)Arlene K.
We love this place! The food and service are excellent. Enjoyed the Rib Eye Steak and Pecan encrusted Mahi fish. For Valentine's Day, they even gave us a free molten lava cake, delicious! Try it with the Malbec red wine. Jeremiah, the server was outstanding. We'll be back!
(5)Lee H.
A BIG disappointment! The waitress informed us of the evening specials. A fish special or a pasta special. The pasta was linguine with four jumbo shrimps in a white sauce. We ordered the pasta and Steak Frites which the menu describes as 10 oz rib eye. Well, when our dinner came, there was no shrimp and the sauce was red. There was ground beef in a red sauce. Waitress said she was told it was linguine with shrimp in a white sauce. The rib eye looked like kahlbi with one scoop of brown rice (for $36??) That was all there was on the plate. No sauce, no greens; just a small slab of meat that was marinated in teriyaki sauce and one scoop of brown rice. We asked and was told the meat on the plate was 9oz and all the meat dishes are teriyaki style. We ordered a mud pie for desert. Description included oreo cookie crust sprinkled with chocolate chips and chocolate syrup with whip creme. Well, there was no chocolate syrup, no chocolate chips and no whip creme. They topped it with raspberry sauce. duh! We inquired and they brought another mud pie with a little whip creme. LOL! Three strikes in one night; we're gone!
(2)Ira J.
It was my 50th birthday and I could choose to have dinner at any restaurant in the World. Okay fine, I'm exaggerating my jet-setness somewhat. How about this: It was my 50th birthday and I could choose to have dinner at any restaurant in Hawaii... pretty much. I chose Lanai City Grille. I had the same exact meal I enjoyed so much the first time I ate there: the grilled fillet steak (rare) and the lobster bisque. Since it was my birthday, I also had a slice of their peanut butter filled chocolate cake. My expectations were very high. I was not disappointed. Happy Birthday to me!!
(5)Don P.
We ate here while staying at the Hotel Lanai. Food was average and a tad bland. Prices were HIGH. Staff was attentive. We went down to the Blue Ginger Cafe on our second night and had a wonderful meal for 1/5th of the cost. I had the Bulgogi. Not much seasoning (pretty bland) and meat was fatty (I could only eat 2/3 of the beef as the rest was chewy fat). My wife had the Shrimp appetizer and the Rosotto. The appetizer was OK (not a lot of flavor) although the portion size was very small for the price. She enjoyed the Rosotto although felt that it too was a tad bland. House Merlot was $13/glass.
(2)Erica F.
This place is simple amazing. Everything I ate from the complimentary bread to the dessert was on point. The service was friendly and fast although they were busy. We were seated within minutes without a reservation. We ordered the oysters on the half shell, pork chops, sea bass and the made to order chocolate chip cookie with vanilla bean ice cream. DELICIOUS!! All of it was cooked and prepared to perfection and we enjoyed every last drop. I rarely eat at a restaurant and feel that every aspect was on par. This place definitely did that. A must do on Lanai.
(5)Jennifer L.
Great option for dining on Lanai. The interior is very nice and well done, it's centrally located and has live music some nights. The food is good, though sometimes just misses the mark. At the table the poke appetizer was ordered, as well as the prime rib (special) and another meat dish. I ordered the lobster bisque and duck salad; the bisque seemed to me to quite literally be a bowl of panang curry with a large crawfish in it, very very strange. Not necessarily bad, but it was definitely interesting to get a bowl of curry when ordering lobster bisque, unlike any bisque (lobster or otherwise) that I have ever had. The duck salad had a lot going on, lots of dressing and toppings and distractions...I'm not sure I would get either dish again but would still go back nonetheless. As other reviewers have mentioned, it is very pricey considering the quality.
(4)Rikki G.
Is go full starts except they were open only 1 out of the 3 days we visited. Either way the food was great. Drinks were even better. Lots of mojitos! The outside area is nice, a little chilly at night so bring a sweater if you're going to sit outside. We also noticed that they put a fire pit outside when they were closed. So I hope they get it working in a few days. Also, they have live music on Thursdays, can't account as we won't be here, but a good tip.
(4)Howard M.
Charming ambience , excellent service, surpassing food, totally great experience on this small island with limited resources. We were roomed at the Four Seasons property and had a few meals In-house but Lanai Grill beat them hands down on the menu and cooking. Would have gone "all the way" with 5 stars but the pork chop was really rare when we ordered medium plus. The seasoning was perfect and we wished it was just done to our request. It was a generous portion. My crab cake starter was perfect size for an entrée after my Cesar salad. The desserts pleased everyone: raspberry chocolate tart and chocolate cake with PB ganache (half had to go home for later).
(4)Leah S.
DELICIOUS AND EXCELLENT AMBIANCE!! The service was fantastic and much better than that at the Four Seasons restaurants as well as the food. We ordered the Sea Bass with lobster Mac and a Mac & Cheese for the little one (I think my husband had the special which was fish). None the less there wasn't a bite left on ANY plate. What my son didn't finish we started munching on. Everything was delicious!! The Waitress was great and the Ambiance was just what we needed with our little one. WE LOVED IT! Acoustics were just perfect that you couldn't hear us playing with our son but quiet enough you could have a great conversation. Reminds me of a restaurant in Paris!
(5)Brendan S.
This was such a surprise... The food was fantastic and the service was excellent!! Honestly... The best Poke I had the entire time I was in Hawaii and u stayed at 2 other 4 seasons properties before leaving Maui several days later! Enjoy it...don't miss it!!
(5)Andy G.
This place was a nice alternative to the over-the-top opulence of the Fours Seasons. It's small but not cozy and not too modern, and it struck a good balance between homey and fancy. The food was, however, the reason for coming. We started with the pork wontons, which were good, but not amazing. Not that I wouldn't order them again, it's just they weren't mind-blowing like the Sea Bass which came next. Sea Bass is generally not a local thing, and given that Hawaii is surrounded by delicious ahi, mahi, wahoo, marlin, etc, I try to stick to what comes out the water locally. But, I also live by the recommendations of the server, since food pays their bills. So we ordered it, and it was perferctly executed. Every bite had great flavor and great texture. The sweet and salty glaze, combined with the lobster like texture of the fish made me think of a warm, soft-baked pretzel. It's weird, but my Philly born wife agreed. We also ordered the venison, which was again perfectly executed. My only complaint was that the sauce, which was rich and delicious, should have come with a warning. The sauce was fantastic, but it overshadowed the veal, which can be a bit delicate. Don't get me wrong, I was using the bread to dip in the sauce, which probably had the nutritional value of nutella spread on a piece of bacon, but perhaps there should be less of it? I don't know what the solution is. A warning is probably fair, however. It came with a mushroom risotto that was also outstanding, but, as a disclaimer, if someone would ever find me dead after eating far too much of one thing, it would be me sitting in a pile of risotto, so perhaps I am biased.
(5)Little D.
We stayed on the island of Lanai for 11 days in April. I apologize ahead if the information is not up to date due to my delayed review. We dined at Lanai City Grille 3 nights. We loved their Lobster Bisque for 3 nights. We did not care for the main dish and other appetizers, but I rate for the Lobster Bisque! That's what I remember the best. I get the impression that this is the locals' gathering place on weekends. It could get pretty loud, especially when you are not in the party, and trying to sleep early in the hotel.
(5)Jon E.
This is such a cute little upcountry-style restaurant, and they have great food to match. The meatloaf was delicious and very creatively plated! It was so refreshing to have this restaurant as an alternative to the Four Seasons restaurants. I felt it delivered superior atmosphere, food, and certainly prices to other upscale options in Lana'i. Unfortunately it's only open part of the week!!
(5)Tonia H.
Vegetarians beware. $$$ for cafeteria-style veggies. I don't know how I agreed to pay over $100 for a plate of plain mushy ravioli and a plate of tasteless wild mushroom potato hash, overlooked asparagus and broccoli, with two drinks. At least dress up the plate a little... The chef has an eye clearly toward meat dishes, which seem to be presented well. The salads were just ok. Waitstaff polite, but dull and uninterested. Go to Four Seasons (will take dietary concerns seriously) or the Pele's Other Garden for beer and great veggie pizza!
(2)Andrew G.
Located in the town of Lana'i, an VERY easy to miss if you're going there by foot/bike/any other method other than the Four Seasons shuttle, but VERY delicious gem of a spot... Had a great experience here -- the waiting staff and manager were very nice to us (it was our honeymoon trip), and very personable. The food was also delicious (scallops for me, and my wife got the Seafood pasta) -- everything was served well and cooked very well. No complaints here -- great spot to dine for a nice, romantic dinner.
(4)Laura G.
Homey, comfortable ambiance, live music in the back room, friendly staff that greets you warmly and great food made this a restaurant I would not hesitate to go back to. The oysters were some of the best I've had. Big, plump and fresh. Wanting to veer away from fish but still keep it lighter (lighter than roasted pig) we decided on the roasted chicken. I have a motto - you can tell a lot about a chef / restaurant by a roasted chicken. This did not disappoint. Moist and flavorful, crispy on the outside and served with fresh veggies. By glancing on line at the menu or at the restaurant there does not appear to be very many vegetarian option BUT they actually have a separate menu with numerous vegetarian items (for my husband). If anyone at Lanai City Grille reads this review, please include the vegetarian options on your regular menu and on line. We almost didn't go because of this, I'm glad I called. Oh - my husbands goat cheese ravioli was great.
(4)Kevin S.
I highly recommend Lanai City Grille. I'm giving this place 5 stars because of its convenience and food. It's like walking into someone's house and dining really fancy. Convenience - in the heart of Lanai and walking distance to groceries and Dole Park. My wife and I stayed at the Lodge at Koele and you just take the free 2-3 minute shuttle to the restaurant. It's perfect - you can get tipsy/wasted, and you don't have to worry about driving! We went again on our second night and we drove. There's roughly 10 parking stalls, but it's Lanai, you'll find parking. Food - I ordered the Macaroni and Cheese with Chicken( yelp.com/biz_photos/UU5C… ), and it was huge! The portions are very generous and will fill you up. Chicken was tender and juicy - very different from Costco's rotisserie chicken. We were offered dessert, but we decided to buy ice cream across the street at Richard's Market and take it back to our hotel. 31 Yelps Review Challenge - 15 of 31
(5)mike M.
Don't forget the cozy little bar ticked into the corner. This very well could be the friendliest place on the planet! Great service, great pupus, and might even meet a local or two. Highly recommend, no way you leave without a smile on your face. .
(5)Ray V.
Such a treat to find this beautiful restaurant in lanai city. We arrived and was greeted by the owner, the service was impeccable. The menu was very diverse with many options for everyone. The wine list was very thorough with many selections by the glass which is not found too often. I had the monchong fish pecan crusted with chorizo mashed potatoes, my wife had the grilled filet of angus beef which was very well prepared. Highly recommend this restaurant if your looking for a nice evening away from the Four Seasons!!! Thanks Bev Gannon for a wonderful evening.
(4)Shane S.
Visited Sat. Nov. 3rd 5:45 pm As a huge fan of Bev Gannon restaurants on Maui, my wife and I where looking forward to dining here because of the Bev Gannon designed and inspired menu. Located at the Hotel Lanai in Lanai City, this is one of the shuttle stops on the Four Seasons Shuttle. (The other being Dollar Rent a Car, in Lanai City and the other being the two Four Seasons resorts). When we arrived, other than (1) person sitting at the bar, we were the only patrons in the restaurant. The restaurant decor brought back found memories of my grandparents Sugar Plantation style homes of Waialua Sugar on Oahu or Grove Farm in Puhi, Kauai from the 1930's. It had a homey feel and you were kind of expecting a Tutu or Grandmother to come out of the kitchen in her white apron to take our order. With that being said, server was friendly & polite, but inconsistent in coming around to take our order, checking-up on us and suggesting desserts for after the meal. It just seemed the timing was off, which is unexplainable because the restaurant was not crowded, other than the 7-8 people watching the Oregon State & Arizona State football game on the bar flat screen. My wife ordered TK's Favorite, which is a Slow Roasted Pork entree with accompaniments. I ordered the Rotisserie Chicken entree. My wife raved about the Roasted Pork dish being similar to how her mom use to make it. I was a little disappointed in the chicken being a tad dry, but the Macaroni & Cheese side dish made up for the chicken disappointment. All in all, our experience here was OK and maybe our expectations were high from our past experience at other Gannon inspired restaurants. This is great place to meet friends or have dinner with family and take a stroll down memory lane with the older set, who can probably tell you great stories of the old Sugar or Pineapple Plantation days of the past...
(4)Dr Connie M.
Fabulous little, cozy restaurant located in the heart of Lanai City. We were staying at the Four Seasons Koele Lodge and this quaint, clean, neat restaurant (located in a charming hotel with 11 suites) was walking distance. The food was outstanding, ambience relaxed, and the overall experience memorable and delightful. We highly recommend the Lanai City Grill and plan to be back every time we are on the island!
(5)Cindy L.
The Roy's of Lanai. This is the go-to place for a romantic fine dining experience. We had the Manila clams, Pecan crusted fresh catch of the day and the rib eye steak. The Manila clams were a little bit salty for my taste, but it was a generous portion. The Pecan crusted fresh catch of the day was the winner of the night, it was Hawaiian butterfish, totally buttery with individual flakes of meat melting in your mouth. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. The Rib eye steak was done to order. The service was excellent.
(4)Dan R.
Looking to escape from the resort for a night to celebrate my birthday we were excited to eat at Lanai City Grille however the experience didn't live up to our expectations. The food was overcooked (divers scallops) and the entree sides were unfulfilling in flavor. The complimentary slice of birthday cake was a nice touch to save the dinner. All in (2) appetizers, (2) entrees, (1) dessert and (2) drinks cost us $115 + tip.
(2)Marta N.
Over priced, over done fish, frozen vegetables. All and all I wish we would have cooked something ourselves for the prices we paid. Blah.
(2)Kirtis J.
I would really love to give Lanai City Grille a better rating, being that it is the only fine dining restaurant on the island outside of the two Four Seasons Resorts, but it's just not that good. There were four of us at our table and we all shared a bite or more of what we ordered with each other. We got to taste a wide variety this way. The most disappointing of all was the Cioppino. All of the seafood was over cooked and the sauce/broth tasted like a scorched marinara sauce with too many dried herbs. Really disappointing considering it is the best Yelp rated restaurant on the island. On the other hand our server was professional, the atmosphere was pleasant and the wine list was really good.
(2)Olivia D.
This place is a steal! My honey wanted to eat there last Friday because Henry Kapono was performing that night at 8. We had 7:30 reservations and even though the place was hopping at that time, everything went smoothly. Service was great: the hostess was gracious, our server was attentive and accommodating, and the manager came by to check on whether we were enjoying our entrees. Prices are very reasonable and the portions are generous. Best of all, I really enjoyed my food. I started with the steamed Manila clams in a delicious sake butter broth with crisp toasted baguette slices and my sweetie had the spicy lobster bisque. The broth was so delicious that I wanted to get a spoon and drink it. My entree was the pan roasted venison loin seared rare with mushroom risotto and a dried cherry and fig compote in a port wine reduction. It was perfect--perfectly seasoned, perfectly seared, and I just love anything in a port reduction. The only small drawback was that I could smell the oil that they cooked the risotto in, which was a bit bland. I wish they had drizzled white truffle oil on top or flavored it better with more broth/wine/parmesan to mask the smell of the inferior, old-smelling cooking oil. It wasn't terrible, though. As soon as the entrees were cleared, they brought out a birthday dessert I'd previously ordered for my sweetie with a candle on it and wished him a happy birthday. It was a great end to a great meal.
(5)Ed R.
Amazing food and friendly service. Spicy Ahi poke tacos are a must. While the dining options on Lanai are limited trhis was a jewel to find. Service attendents were friendly and the food was good. On the first visit I had th epecan crusted fish. tasty. My wife had the filet, not quite Ruths Chris but it was a generous size filet. On our seconfd and third visit we settled on a multityude of appetizers. The Lobster bisque, spicy fish tacos, Ceaser Salad and pulled pork Won Tons stood out to be our favorite.
(5)Crissy K.
Super good food and excellent service -- what more can you ask for? EVERYONE said we had to have a meal here while on Lana'i, and I'm so glad we did. I had succulent pan-broiled venison medallions, served with just the right amount of sauce (I don't remember what kind, but it was subtle enough where the flavor of the venison still came through, mildly gamey, just the way I like it!) and accompanied by a delicious mushroom risotto. My husband had a house special meat loaf, which was brushed with a delightful citrus glaze. The menu was filled with scrumptious-sounding dishes . . . so clearly, we'll have to go back again to try the others. Highly recommended. The food at the Four Seasons resorts is good, but don't miss this gem in the heart of Lana'i City!
(5)S. D.
Delightful surprise to find such an excellent restaurant in the sleepy little town of Lanai City. We spent two nights at Hotel Lanai and dined both evenings in the Lanai City Grille. The food was excellent, live music on Friday night was a treat, and the staff managed to create a friendly, family feel while maintaining excellent service and quality. We especially appreciated the chef's personal attention and the staff and chef's willingness to accomodate special dietary needs. I especially recommend the vegetarian options (often hard to find in small towns), but both nights, vegetarian choices were excellent. If you had a chance to try the beet carpaccio is was one of the most creative and equisite appetizers I have ever had. Bravo!
(5)T W.
What a great restaurant this is!! The food is delicious, the atmosphere warm and inviting and the staff friendly - especially Joe, our waiter! He was warm, friendly and his customer service is excellent! We had the ribs, which were fall-off-the-bone tender and tasty, and the venison, which was terrific. The chocolate cookie-in-a-pan and ice cream dessert was a tasty way to end the meal. We'll be back soon!!
(5)Russel M.
The best food on Lanai. We went two nights in a row. Everything we ordered was prepared perfectly and great Service also.
(4)Kristen A.
If you are going to Lanai don't waste your money on this place. Eat at the Lodge at either restaurant there. Prices here are comparable to the hotel's restaurants. This was my second time to Lanai, I live on Oahu and know how food should stake up with the prices the City Grill charges. I ordered scallops, when they brought them out I thought it was a joke. They looked horrible and tasted it. I sent them back and told them that they were over cooked and rubbery. Before they brought me the re-fire the waitress said the chef wanted to know if it was ok if the scallops were not well-done. First, scallops should be cooked to medium, second they brought me out scallops that were still rubbery and slightly over-done. I buy and cook fresh scallops at least twice a month, I think what the chef is doing is cooking in a pan that is too small and too cold when putting the scallops in, or in a smaller pan with too many scallops. I was with my husband and parents. My dad had the same thing as me but didn't really want to deal with sending it back. My mom and husband had a pork dish and both complained about the under seasoning. For dessert I ordered the panna cotta, it was just like the previous yelp reviews made with too much gelatin and too solid. The only thing that was good was the ahi sushi at the beginning of the meal and the Buttered Toffee after dinner drink which was AMAZing. TRUST ME, your money will be well spent if you go to The Lodge to spend this kind of money on a meal.
(2)Rob B.
What a great spot. While staying at the Lodge we gave this place a try, the menu looked very familiar and come to find out Bev Gannon of Hali'imaile General Store is consultant to the restaurant. We started with the pork fried wontons, like Maui it was nice and came in the same presentation. The ribs were awesome and a full rack really could have served two. Prices were reasonable the service was friendly and jovial. I could see eating here every night if you were in town. kudos. SECOND HELPING: We loved it so much we went back for our last night. It was a hit again. The wedge salad was repeated with same success. We tried the beet carpaccio and were less successful. Too much going on, the roast garlic with the goat cheese and it said truffled dressing fought each other on every tone. The beets were there, a few slices but I could not taste them through the cacopahny of ingredients. Pork and Beans for dinner was excellent. It could use some better plating and know it's enough for three people. Shrimp app was good but the shrimp "crisp" was stale from today's rain. Fried to order would have made that shine. Service again was excellent, so that seems a trend and not a blip. Cheers guys! Best meal and deal on the island, FYI saw the locals popping in tonight (Sunday) for some of the dishes
(4)AsianRunningDiva S.
Quaint little restaurant in a small hotel. We stayed at the hotel and this place was the only place open past 8pm, so we decided to eat here. I'm glad we did! Ambiance: Adorable! We sat near an open "window"! Wood flooring and a small fireplace! FOOD: AWESOME! They give you warm table bread, so we started with the soup (SPICY)--great for dipping the bread into! We had the butterfish pecan crusted dish and the bbq ribs! BOTH came with veggies and potatoes..IT WAS SOO GOOD! YUM! Pricing is about $30 a plate. WINE: Cheapest bottle was about $28 and the cheapest glass of wine was about $9. It took FOREVER to get our wine....we sat down, got water right away, but after we ordered the bottle of wine, it took 15 minutes to get the bottle to the table....deduct a star for that! You need to give people their drinks quickly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE AFTER PARTY: Dance party in the back room (in the tent)!!! Live music was playing by a local DJ and the locals and tourists were loving it! Ends at 10p, so if you're staying there, just hold out until 10p to go to bed on a Friday night!! I loved how last call was at 945p and then at 10p, the shuttle bus came to pick up the tourists to go to the 4 seasons!!! They have a system worked out!!! BONUS: OPEN TABLE RESERVATION!!! 100 point table when you reserve!!! :)
(4)Robbie K.
We spent the new year holiday on Lanai and ate dinner at Lanai City Grille every night but one - we thought we should try someplace else but ended up back at the Grille. The food was fantastic. I had the pork chops and scallops - both absolutely delicious but the best was dessert, which I usually skip but... Freshly baked and warm chocolate chip cookie in a small cast iron pan with vanilla ice cream - OMG had it every night. Friday music was great. The staff were even better - so friendly and efficient. Obviously a favorite place for locals too. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming - true aloha spirit. Would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Chris C.
My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at the Lanai City Grille in March on a Saturday night. We were towards the tail end of our Hawaiian trip and had eaten some pretty great meals already at places like Merrimans and Sansei. And at local celebrity chef Beverly Gannon's restaurant on Maui we heard that she had worked closely with Lanai City Grille - our experience did not disappoint and we would highly recommend a stop here if you are visiting Lanai. We thoroughly enjoyed our food - I had butter fish and my wife had bbq ribs. The fish was delicious- very fresh, cooked perfectly and with a lovely sauce and accompanying vegetables. And my wife clearly enjoyed the ribs since she finished them all and would not typically do so. I also had a salad to start of fresh local greens. Now for dessert we had what they call on the menu a "fresh baked cookie" with vanilla ice cream, but this was really like a delicious chocolate brownie in a small cast iron pan freshly made - really tasty and my wife said "to die for". The food was excellent but what really put our experience over the top was the friendliness of the staff and owners (who were there presiding over the dining room as hosts). They also own and run the Hotel Lanai (which is where the restaurant is) and we had the opportunity to take a peek at the guest rooms after dinner which were very charming. All in all highly recommend a visit here when in Lanai!
(5)Patty R.
Went here for dinner last summer. 16 yr. old Son said "best food ever!" Enough said! Very quaint and great option to overpriced Four Seasons restaurants!
(4)H H.
Had dinner twice during our recent stay on Lanai and was very impressed both times. Our servers were very friendly and knowledgable, love the teamwork between servers. The Manilla clams are a must, we had them both nights we dined at the Grille. The fish entree was cooked perfectly. The atmosphere had great energy, a mix of locals and tourists. A definite must if you are on Lanai.
(4)Jen J.
The ambiance is so comfortable, cozy and classy all at the same time. The food was absolutely amazing. We started off with 2 oysters just as a simple starter but ended up ordering another 6 because it was so fresh and tasty. Then I had the shrimp and lobster bisque which was delicious. It was spicy, which I really liked and it wasn't too creamy- which was ok because I was looking forward to the rest of my meal. I ordered the Maui venison mainly because of the mushroom risotto that comes with that dish. I'm not too big into sweet sauces or anything too saucy for that matter so I ended up switching dishes with my boyfriend who ordered the grilled Angus beef. The beef was just slightly charred but it was still an excellent entrée. Lastly, we ordered the bread pudding which was so delicious. I'm not a huge fan of pineapple ice cream but the coconut pineapple ice cream that came with the bread pudding was so good. Our server, I wish I remembered her name (possibly Dina?) was so friendly, attentive and she made our dining experience all the more better. I definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great dinner, great service and nice ambiance.
(5)Cyn C.
We were going to have dinner here but the menu was pretty overpriced and nothing really jumped out at us, i.e., limited vegetarian options. We did end up grabbing dessert here though. I had the panna cotta which was pretty disappointing. Panna cotta should be just the right mix of gelatin with the other ingredients, just enough to hold it together but still be creamy and melt in your mouth. It had way too much gelatin where it should've been called jello. Our server was nice but he didn't bother giving us any napkins, only utensils. We didn't ask for it either since we were only going back to our rooms (restaurant is located in Hotel Lanai).
(2)Debra Z.
Like the "Little D." review, we liked the Lobster Bisque (although it is fairly spicy). Also, like "Little D." I wasn't impressed with much else. The wine list is good (but small); however, I was disappointed in both of our entrees. The pork chop was ok but merely ok (almost too salty). I would not recommend the meat loaf - it is merely meat loaf with BBQ sauce. Perhaps I expected too much. Service was good, people were friendly, and the restaurant was cute and quaint.
(3)Dan G.
We had a great meal here. This restaurant at the hotel has changed since we were last on Lanai and it is a nice upgrade. We just went on Friday night, which seems to be the happening night around town. The place was packed and there was a band jamming during our dinner. You definitely want reservations on this night as we saw a few couples frustrated by the wait at the bar. There was a great vibe and good music. Was that a synthesizer I heard during "Waiting in vain"? Okay, on to the food. We started with some lightly fried lump crabmeat cakes served with corn relish and spicy aioli and a mixed green salad with candied nuts, grilled zucchini, fruit and stilton dressed in a fig balsamic. These were both nice starts. For entrees my wife had seared sea scallops with wasabi and basil mashed and a tasty little grilled corn relish. On the recommendation of our waitress I had the signature New Zealand venison loin. This wonderful cut was perfectly seared to medium rare and nicely paired with grilled mushroom risotto and cherry reduction. Our selection of pinot noir was an excellent complement to a splendid meal. Dessert selections were disappointingly basic and we had an average apple strudel from the uninspired finishes. Overall this was a very good meal and a welcome discount from the steep resort prices. My venison would have been ten bucks more anywhere else and was every bit as delicious as I've had. Certainly a dinner that should be one of your stops on the Lanai dining circuit. But, what was up with the 80s synthesizer? Wiki wiki wiki
(5)Max S.
Food like whoa! I haven't had a meal that good in years. If you're staying on lanai, do yourself a favor and take the shuttle here for dinner. Make reservations. We went with 8 people for my wedding party and had a spectacular meal. Everyone was impressed with their food. Prices are similar to the 4 seasons, but I felt the food was worth it. Treat yourself. Recommended items include the lobster bisque, the homemade cookie with ice cream, and about everything else we tried.
(5)shelby f.
The food couldn't have been better. My venison was perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful, and served with a delicious port wine reduction with fruit. My husbands pecan encrusted walu was also wonderful. The wines, while not cheap, are good values.
(5)Jay L.
After eating exclusively at the Four Seasons' restaurants for four days we decided to try one of the few other dining options on Lanai. As prelude, we were really impressed with the Four Seasons' restaurants. We never had a bad meal and had a few really excellent ones. So the bar was set fairly high. Lanai City Grille is a nice change of pace from the Four Seasons experience. Being from the Bay Area, we thought that the place looked a lot like a Berkeley or Oakland restaurant, i.e., a converted 1920s era house, which is a compliment. Service was fine as well. I had the Poke Tacos to start and they were fantastic. Fresh, tasty ahi cubes in a deep fried won ton wrapper made to look like a taco. Perhaps as good as it gets. My wife had scallops as an entree, I had the pecan crusted fish (I don't recall the name of the fish). The entrees were good, not great, and each had a huge dollop of mashed potatoes as a side. The potatoes were the problem, as they were really heavy, almost tasting like the kind of mashed potatoes you get at a steam table. Otherwise, this is a fine restaurant with reasonable (for Lanai) prices.
(4)Lesa D.
Excellent service, excellent food, creatively presented. There aren't very many choices on Lana'i for the level of food offered at the Lana'i City Grill. The cuisine and skill at presentation are comparable to the Four Seasons, but with a much more local, homier feel (and a bit less expensive). We stayed in the hotel (also wonderful) and ended up eating there twice during a five day visit. The atmosphere was a bit rustic, warm and cozy (despite two good sized rooms). Background music is quintessential old Hawai'il. Service was warm, respectful and attentive. And the food... sigh, the food... Bev Gannon is the Executive Chef and plans the menues - and they are fabulous! With every serving and every meal, things kept getting better. The Bruschetta was MUCH better than Four Seasons (although it not vegetarian and they don't tell you that on the menu), the fish dishes were wonderful, and the bread pudding was to die for. We went on Fridays when they have music. The music room was much more casual - lively, fun and dancing! I've bought the cookbooks, but have little hope of replicating the experience.
(5)Chris P.
With all of the positive reviews for this restaurant, I almost feel bad for posting a two-star experience. I was excited to try LCG, but had a forgettable birthday dinner for my wife. Even though the restaurant was all but empty, we were placed right by the bar area for some reason, which made for a noisy dinner. I ordered the Grilled Filet of Angus Beef, and my wife had the Half Rotisserie Chicken. I requested medium-well, but my steak was WAY overcooked and dry. Both sides were good. My waitress did ask how our meal was, and after I mentioned my steak, she did offer to get me a new one. I didn't really want to waste though, so I just ate most of it. A manager stopped by later and offered the same, as well as a comped dessert. Then, the bartender asked about our meal while filling out water. I felt like she was just being nosy. For dessert, we split a bread pudding. It was good. In the end, my entree and our dessert was comped. I don't really like complaining about food, and I feel like a jerk when I have food sent back to the grill, but this was the worst steak I have had in a long time. I'm going to give LCG another shot. The restaurant has a nice setting and a good staff. Besides, dining options are very limited on the island.
(2)Kate R.
This was the best food we had on the island. That being said, if this restaurant was on Oahu, I'd only give it 4 stars - but compared to the other options on Lanai, it gets 5. We ordered a bottle of wine ($28 - best deal I saw on island at any restaurant), the bruschetta app (thanks to all the reviews pointing us towards that), two orders of ribs, and the cookie dessert. The bruschetta was really, really good. Just as good (if not better) than anything I've had at 3 star restaurants on Oahu. It was more of a caprese salad on toast points as opposed to the more traditional bruschetta that I was envisioning - but delicious nonetheless. The ribs were also great - I couldn't finish mine, but my dining companion ate his up. The meat fell off the bone - just as it should - and the bbq sauce wasn't overly sweet - just right. Only downside to this meal was that the ribs were served on top of the mashed potatoes, which sort of ruined the potatoes for me, as they became very bbq sauce-y. If I were to return, I'd ask for them next to each other instead of piled on. Dessert was yummy, though nothing special -just some cookie dough baked with ice cream on top. Overall, great meal - I wish we had eaten all our dinners here! Much better option than the expensive resort food.
(5)John K.
While the other options on the island are limited primarily to the two Four Seasons resorts and their very rich hotel food, Lanai City Grille serves great food, with good alternatives sure to satisfy both seafood lovers and red meat eaters. And they do some unique things with their menu, which you wouldn't expect after driving around the island and seeing the relative lack of commerce and population. The hostess and staff is excellent and friendly, and the regulars we saw during our back-to-back nights there add to the overall ambience. Only reason this is not five stars is the price. Our two dinners averaged about $200 for two people, including bottle of wine, appetizer, main course and shared dessert. So a bit pricey, but the food was excellent and provides a terrific alternative to the overpriced, outdated and somewhat stuff Four Seasons properties.
(4)Sharon N.
The Lana'I City Grille was definitely the highlight of our trip to Lana'i. The food certainly rivals Merriman's and the ambiance and service is warm and inviting. My husband and I had to go back a second night because we stuffed ourselves the first night and enjoyed everything. From the spicy shrimp and lobster bisque soup to the crab dip and kalua pork won tons to the amazing pork chops and steaks, you will not be disappointed. Leave room for the bread pudding dessert. The best I have ever had to date and I have tried a lot of bread puddings. Simply the best
(5)Emily W.
Of the 7 or 8 restaurants we visited during our honeymoon, Lanai City Grille is hands down our favorite. Even in comparison to some "higher profile" places like Spago, Mama's Fish House and Japengo all in Maui, every meal we had was compared to the two we had here. It is one of a handful of restaurants on Lanai but the food was outstanding, service was impeccable, and overall experience was phenomenal.
(5)Kimo S.
As people have mentioned, Bev Gannon was a consultant here but she is not the owner or cook here. With that being said, Lanai City Grille has actually IMPROVED over Bev's menu based on our experience at her Hali'imaile restaurant on Maui. The food here was fantastic and definitely a tier above her own location, good job Lanai for stepping things up! This was probably our favorite dining experience during our stay, we had Bruschetta and Pork Won Tons to start with. The Brushetta is amazing... fantastic... seriously, order this when you go. The pork won tons were great too, it was a kalua pork stuffing inside so very tender and delicious, served with a hot mustard and shoyu dip. For dinner we ordered the BBQ ribs and the fresh fish which was Walu and prepared with a pecan crusting. I devoured my ribs and felt like an animal doing so, I mean... you have to eat ribs with your hands, right?! Of course they brought me a wet towel once I was finished... but they were such a winner and a big improvement over Bev's own dish. The fish was fresh and had a good texture to it, my wife's only gripe was they needed to give more sauce. So be sure to ask "MORE SAUCE PLZ"! For dessert we had the deep dish apple pie though it seems the popular item was the oven baked cookie because we saw about four of those come out while we were having dessert. They have a small but well designed wine list, if you are looking for an excellent suggestion go with the Au Bon Climat Pinor Noir they have, it is well priced and such a delicious wine.
(5)Erica N.
The bf and I went on a little vacation to lanai this past weekend, and I decided to try LCG since it had such great reviews here on good ol' yelp. I noticed that several people raved about the ribs (which the bf loves) so i made it a point to have dinner here one night. The service here is excellent. Our waitress and the hostess were very nice and personable, the food came out VERY quickly, and the ambiance was warm and cozy...without feeling stuffy and claustrophobic. I ordered the lobster bisque (made w/coconut milk, which was tasty but too creamy for me) and the furikake ahi (pretty good). The bf ordered the ribs (which was why we went) and sadly, he said that it was one of the worst ribs he's ever eaten...saying it was dry and bland. talk about disappointing. we did decide to share a dessert, some sort of apple tart, which was really good! Not sure if our expectations were too high, or we just went on an off night...the service and ambiance is great, the food, just ok.
(3)Tami W.
Great food at much cheaper rates than the resorts! The mac and cheese was AMAZING!!! The fresh sashimi was perfect, the salads were beautifully presented and the fish was cooked and sauced wonderfully. Highly recommend instead of the resorts!
(5)Darrell H.
One of a kind eating place. Food and staff were just great. The building is something to member. If you visit Lanai, this place is a must.
(4)Kevin S.
Had great chicken. Mac and cheese was highlight. Walu fish with pecan was great. Salad too. Better prices than 4 seasons and still great quality.
(5)Brent S.
If you're looking for some great food off property from Koele and Manele, Lanai City Grille is a great alternative. The Steamed Manila Clams were a great starter. Wouldn't say they were exceptional, but definitely worth getting. My wife got the Beet Carpaccio, even though I hate beets. But I actually really enjoyed it. It was served with goat cheese, crushed pistachio, and a drizzling of balsamic. The Pecan Crusted Fresh Catch was excellent. The fish was really fresh and cooked perfectly. The Seafood Pad Thai was interesting, but we'd probably get the ribs. For dessert, we had the fresh baked cookie and ice cream. They make the cookie fresh in a mini cast iron pan with each order so it takes about 15 minutes. But it's so worth it. The staff was incredibly friendly and warm, much like everyone on the island. Really great experience. Definitely check it out.
(4)Mimi B.
For great Lana'i meals you have two choices, the Four Seasons Hotels or the Lanai City Grille. Even if the super expensive Four Seasons Hotels appeal to you, don't miss out on the real Lana'i experience at the Lana'i City Grille. Friday night, six of us had dinner at the Lana'i City Grille. As an appetizer, my wife and I shared the Beet salad (a very thinly sliced variety of fresh beets with crispy goat cheese, pistachio nut crumble and white truffle vinaigrette), which the kitchen delivered beautify split for us. I've never been a fan of beets but this isn't anything like those canned beets you were assaulted with in the past. For the main course, my wife got the Scallops with wasabi pesto potatoes and she says these scallops were the very best she has ever eaten. I went on a little adventure, ordered the pulled pork Won Tons with a sweet chili sauce, followed by Sushi: Spicy Tuna Roll (fresh Ahi tuna, mixed with a great sauce rolled in with cucumbers and avocado); both of these were served with mustard-soy sauce for my personal dipping, yum, yum. Ok, enough about the wonderful food. Michelle, I think she is the dining room manager, made sure our food and service were excellent. The wine list had some great reasonably priced wines that we were familiar with. Our server did an excellent job and made us feel like she really cared about our dining. We'll be back. In fact, Sunday night, all six of us were back again. We experienced the same great caring service. This time we dined family style off the appetizers menu. Crab Dip (great!) with Tortilla Chips, Ahi Poke Tacos (this should get an award...crisp won ton shell stuffed with Ahi, goat cheese and wasabi sour cream), those pulled pork won tons we had Friday, Crab Cakes with tomato corn salsa, Sushi Lana'i Roll (it's hard to believe but even better than the Spicy Tuna Roll of Friday night). We'll be back again.
(5)Amber W.
Best food on Lanai. Friday night is the happenin' evening when the restaurant is packed with visitors and locals and there's a live band in the back. We had a bruschetta appetizer, the fish of the day (SO good) the ribs (amazing) and a banana lumpia dessert that I may have to fly back for. Pretty thorough wine list, full bar.
(5)Ryan B.
After eating breakfast at the Four Seasons Manele and lunch at Blue Ginger we topped our day off with a meal at Lanai City Grille! What a way to close out the day. At first both my wife and I were a bit nervous as we both have eaten at several small inn/hotel restaurants before and have been disappointed. We were completely blown away with the quality of the food and the overall high quality of the experience. We started our dinner with a few glasses of Pinot Noir and a tuna pan seared appetizer that was perfectly prepared. We both had the fish specials and they were so good that we almost did not talk through out whole meal. Trust me I am a chatty Cathy so that never happens. We finished off our meal with a little caramel plantain ice cream dish. Fan-FRIGGING-tastic. This restaurant could stand on its own fine and the fact that it is nestled in the Hotel Lanai makes it even that more special!
(5)Mike E.
For a warm, cozy, delicious, fine dining experience, Lanai City Grille is the best thing on the island of Lanai. We were seated promptly, received enthusiastic service, and found everything we ate to be fresh, thoughtfully prepared and tasty. Strong island flavors abound here. I'd recommend the venison entree for meat lovers and the coconut thai lobster bisque soup for those that like something a little tangy and spicy. The coconut cake for dessert was really good too.
(5)Erin R.
When my fiance and I hopped on the last boat from Lahaina we weren't sure we'd get to have dinner on their busy Friday night, but Michelle found us a romantic little table where we cold still watch the action. We ate and drank to much, but god it was so worth it!!!! I'm in love with Hotel Lanai & Lanai City Grill!
(5)Ketchum H.
Where are we?...Lanai?...Fabulous surprise...We booked an eight o'clock reservation on a Wednesday and had most of the room and staff to ourselves...Wonderful wines and a full bar complemented the spectacular list of offerings...While the dinning rooms of Koele and Manele are great the prices will humble and they are a little more formal than we desire...Bev Gannon spun her silk of magic here...not to be missed or missed repeating!...
(5)Julie M.
Mmmmm never thought Bev could do it mo betta...but wow does she impress at this venue. I asked our server for their BEST dish and he steered me toward the venison. OMG I am so glad he did.The venison was stellar in taste, presentation and quantity. My gf had some great ribs too. Lovely bottle of wine and a soft Lanai night.....ooh it can't get any better.
(5)B P.
Great place to eat on Lanai... Gets you out of the hotels high prices & altho not cheap - it's excellent & a good local alternative - especially on a Friday night... It's the only place in town with live music! Great service & wine list - really nice & helpful staff & family mgt. Only serves dinner - or if you're a guest of the cool lil' hotel - 12 rooms & a cottage - then breakfast is also included. Try "Blue Ginger" in town - great homemade pastries & lunches. Really nice place to relax & have dinner on any night. Good vibes & a local mix. Everything we tried was better than good!
(5)Lisa S.
This was our first time visiting this restaurant, and what a huge disappointment. The food was satisfactory at its best. I ordered the Green Tea fish, which included steamed rice and vegetables. It turned out the only pieces of vegetables included, was the little pieces floating around the 3000 milligrams of sodium sauce. Horrible, my husbands dish was the same, enough sodium intake to bring on high blood pressure for even the healthiest individual. Don't do it, go elsewhere.
(1)Ben W.
The best fine dining option on Lanai, hands down. We've stayed at both Four Seasons--at Manele and Koele, eaten at all the hotel dining options, and Lanai City Grille is the best meal we've had on the island. A little on the pricey side, but that's given since everything costs a lot on Lanai. Both the food and the service were excellent--we had a large party and they easily accommodated our change in reservation, gladly split the check for us, and handled every other request with a smile. I had the seafood stew and it was excellent, the flavors were complex and developed. My two friends had the ribs and both were happy with their choices. Good wine and beer list too. If you want a break from resort food, this is easily your best bet.
(5)Brenda M.
We love Lanai, and we love Lanai City Grille! Had dinner two nights in beautiful, historic dining room. This is comfort food taken to world class level. I had nori crusted fresh ahi. Probably the best ahi I've ever tasted. Also tried bites of ribs, roasted chicken, and all great. How do they get the ribs to the table without the meat falling off the bones? Truffle mac and cheese -- need I say more?
(5)C O.
We snuck away to Lanai for a mini-honeymoon last week and ate meals all over the island (which isn't hard, its so small). The best meal we ate, by far, was dinner at the Lanai City Grille. The service was impeccable, the food was masterfully prepared and the dishes expertely concienved. For half the price of fine dining at the resorts the Lanai City Grille is truly an experience not to be missed.
(5)George D.
While Im on the lanai adventure Ill rate this fine restaurant as well. First, they are doing their best and are certainly the best of the island. A little short on consistency (been there 8 or more times) and service is spotty. Overall it is a " do not miss" location with an eclectic menu and great Friday night island entertainment. Aloha! Try the pork wanton, pork chop and chicken.
(3)